Chapter 19

Chapter 19

The situation on Serpalal III stabilized once the last of the offworld ships had fled. An optimist might believe the Serparnians had expended their anger and hatred. Brett knew for the moment they’d run out of people to fight. Eventually they’d find another target. He only hoped to be gone by that time.

The turbolift doors opened and to his surprise, Robyn emerged from the car. Her eyes were dry, hair combed, and uniform immaculate. She marched across the bridge with perfect Starfleet posture. No one would have ever guessed three hours ago she’d passed out drunk in Brett’s quarters.

“Anything to report, Commander?” she said.

“All’s quiet on the western front.”

“That’s good news. Nothing else from the rebels?”

“Not a peep. They’re probably stewing after we cancelled their little fireworks show.”

She nodded at this. “I’m sure we’ll hear from them again. In the meantime, we need to figure out who set up that surprise. I want you to take Lieutenant Hurd and a security detail to investigate that soil mining company he mentioned earlier.”

“I hate to remind you, Captain, but we don’t have any jurisdiction to go breaking into Serparnian businesses.”

“I know. See if they’ll cooperate. If not, try to persuade them it’s in their best interests.”

This was so out of character for Robyn, Brett wondered if she’d been replaced by a Dominion agent. Robyn respected due process almost as much as duty. “Are you sure? If Starfleet Command finds out—”

“Commander, do I need to remind you we just lost two crewmembers? We have an obligation to find who is behind their murder. Is that understood?”

“Crystal clear, Captain. Ramirez, let’s go.”

In the transporter room they were reunited with Hurd and the two security guards who’d helped rescue them. For this mission, Brett made sure to bring along a phaser. He discreetly checked the power to make sure it was fully charged.

Hurd provided the coordinates for the Senblup Valley Soil Mining Concern. They rematerialized at the front gate, a wooden fence guarding a nondescript mud dome. “This is it?” Brett said in disbelief.

“As I said, it’s a small operation,” Hurd said.

“Well, do we knock or go right on in?”

“There should be a guard, especially with all that’s been going on,” Hurd said.

“We better be careful then. Everyone keep their eyes peeled for any trouble.”

Brett unlocked the wooden gate with a low-powered shot from his phaser. A dirt path led from the gate into the mud dome. Along the path, Brett kept waiting for someone to jump out and demand identification or maybe they would forego the preliminaries and just start shooting. But nothing happened. No one challenged them as they stepped into the darkness of the mud dome.

The security officers shined their lights around, the beams falling on pieces of machinery and piles of saffron-colored mud. Still they didn’t see a single worker. Brett’s stomach churned with a sense of déjà vu. The Serparnian Liberation Army might have already been here and slaughtered the workers just like the mining crew in the asteroid belt.

“You think everyone’s gone home?” Ramirez said.

“That might make our job easier,” Brett said. “Let’s find the offices and see if we can turn up anything useful.”

A staircase of dried mud led down into a pit similar to the prayer pit they’d visited the last time. Only this pit was divided into offices with chairs, desks, and computer terminals much like those of their human counterparts. Stopping at one desk, Brett even saw a picture of a Serparnian family.

“Well, Hurd, this is your show. Where do you want to start?” Brett said.

“Always start at the top. This way.” Hurd led them to the largest office at the rear of the pit where the chief executive officer resided. Like everyone else, he was either still at home or otherwise disposed at the moment. Hurd sat in the uncomfortable wishbone-shaped chair and began typing at the executive’s computer terminal.

As Hurd worked on the computer, Brett poked around the office on his own. He tapped at the mud walls for any sign of a hollow spot that might reveal secret documents or something else of use. The walls were all solid.

“This is a waste of time,” he said. Ramirez and the two security officers seemed inclined to agree with him. For all any of them knew, the Serparnians had already taken anything of value and bugged out.

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Hurd said. “There’s nothing interesting on here, all routine stuff. If this really is a front, they’re doing a good job disguising it.”

“Wonderful. I suppose we might as well get out of here while the getting is good,” Brett said. “Unless you have any bright ideas to share with the group.”

“I don’t have anything.”

“Orion, five to beam up.” They rematerialized on the Orion’s transporter pad none the worse for wear. No slaughtered workers, no assassins, and no dead comrades to bring back. A wild goose chase all the way around.

Brett’s communicator warbled. “Commander, I need to see you and Lieutenant Hurd in the ready room,” Robyn said. She broke off the connection before Brett could ask why.

He supposed she wanted to discuss the results of the wild goose chase. Whatever Robyn had been hoping to find down there, they hadn’t found it. The chances of finding anything on such short notice were relatively low anyway. This kind of detective work took weeks of careful planning, as Hurd well knew. Only in holonovels did anyone beam right down and nail the culprit.

The grim look on Robyn’s face told Brett she didn’t want to go over the results—or lack thereof—from the away team mission. As soon as the door closed behind Hurd, she said, “We’re running out of time. I just spoke with Admiral Gridley about the situation. She wants us to go directly to Serpalal Prime and speak with their government.”

“Sounds like a good idea. They might have some information on these rebels,” Brett said.

“This isn’t going to be a friendly chat. We’re going there to deliver an ultimatum: either they put a stop to these rebels or else Starfleet will.”

“You can’t be serious. We’re not in any condition to fight the Serparnian military.”

“I’m not talking about us. A task force is being assembled to go in if things continue to escalate,” Robyn said.

“An invasion?” Hurd said.

“A peacekeeping mission is what Starfleet is calling it.” Robyn sighed as she backed away from her desk. “Whoever this Serparnian Liberation Army is, they’ve scared the wits out of businesses all through this sector. Neighboring systems are worried about another flood of refugees. And fifty Starfleet officers are already dead. If the Serparnians aren’t going to contain the violence then it will be up to us.”

A chill went through Brett. A “peacekeeping” mission would only add to the carnage. Not to mention a task force of Starfleet ships would sway more Serparnians to the side of the rebels. That’s what the Serparnian Liberation Army had been angling for all along.