Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 44

bruised to be dead. I hope you like purple and yellow,"

Ver stifled a grin. "On you, my love, any color,"

He made his way to the hatch and opened it.

Another aircar, with Protectorate flashes, was descending.

The other aircar landed and half a dozen Protec- torate men hurried out, all with their arms bolstered. The man in the lead hurried over to Ver.

"Lieutenant Nkomo, Citizen Ver," he said with a brisk salute and an apologetic air. "Sony we had to bring you down like this."

"No more than I am," said Ver drily.

'The trouble is," the young man went on, undaunted byVer's imposing manner, "we have a very bad situation here. It developed very fast, and we're still trying to get solid information on it. You know how hard that can be."

Ver was curious now. "What is the situation, Lieutenant Nkomo?"

"We had to bring you down," said Lieutenant Nkomo, including Jessine in his explanation.

"Logistics forces have shot down everything approaching the Palace for the last half hour.

"We have reason to believe that there is a group of Logistics men in the Palace. Our best guess is that Admiral Sclerida is there with them."

226.

"Sounds like a tempting target," said Ver.

'Trouble is, the scanners also show that Tira and Wiley Bouriere are in the Palace as well.

They may be hostages." Lieutenant Nkomo scowled. 'We've - the Protectorate Office - ringed the entire Palace, but we're not author- ized to use heavy weapons against the Palace.

We can't put the High Secretary in danger."

"The High Secretary is dead," said Jessine.

"The High Secretary Wiley," Lieutenant Nkomo said. "Sony, Madame Bouriere."

Jessine nodded. "Poor Wiley," she said.

"I understand," said Ver. 'Where is your Situ- ation Command set up, Lieutenant?"

"Not far," said Nkomo. 1 can take you there at once."

"Good," said Ver. "Do it."

The Protectorate Office had taken over the Ministry of Horticulture and Agribusiness out- side the walls and the Appointments Division inside the Palace.

"Can you get us inside?" Ver asked as he and Jessine got into the Lieutenant's aircar.

"Inside the Palace, sir?" asked Nkomo as the aircar rose.

"Yes." Ver fastened his harness as the aircar banked steeply and shot down the street toward the wide boulevard that would lead to the Minis- try of Horticulture and Agribusiness.

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Chetsea Quinn Yarbro

"I don't see how, sir," Nkomo answered. 'The Admiral's forces -"

Ver reached over and took Jessine's hand. "If I can get inside the walls, all the way to the Palace, do you think you can get me to the Appoint- ments Division?"

Lieutenant Nkomo thought carefully. "I sup- pose it's possible."

They set down in the central quadrangle of the Ministry of Horticulture and Agribusiness a few minutes later and were at once surrounded by a squad of Protectorate officers in body armor.

As soon as the squad's captain - Harbinger, by his tags - recognized Ver he ordered the men to form an honor guard,

"Lieutenant," said Ver over his shoulder to Nkomo, "please come with us."

The main reception hall had been cleared of its vast collection of potted and tubbed plants. In their places a number of hastily a.s.sembled holo- graphic displays were being monitored by Protectorate officers and Kona Tatsu men in black, working, openly for once side by side.

"This is the most recent material we have," said Captain Harbinger, directing Ver to me largest of the displays. "The contact is in lira Bouriere's suite."

Ver settled down to watch the playback of Admiral Sclerida's arrival.

228.

The figures in the holograph were no larger than rats, and they waited like intangible dolls to be put into motion again.

Jessine found a place near the window, and realized that there were Protectorate marksmen on the roof. She looked toward Lieutenant Nkomo. "You're using snipers?"

For an answer he tried to move her away. "You don't want to make yourself a target. Logistics has marksmen, too." As he spoke, a Logistics man patrolling the balcony on the forty-fourth floor of the Palace lurched and crumpled as a Protectorate marksman found his target.

"Point taken," said Jessine, moving. "How many have you got so far?"

'Thirty-one of them. They've lolled nineteen of ours," said Nkomo.

There was a flurry of activity as the holo- graphic console reran the incidents in Tiras apartments.

"How long ago did this happen?" Ver asked as the replay began.

"Four minutes, thirteen seconds," said the Protectorate technician seated at the machine.

Admiral Sclerida appeared, his Campriani clapped to Wiley's head. "We are going to v/ork this out. You'll see."

Tira shrank back, her eyes enormous v.'i{h horroj.

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Chelsea Quinn farbro

"Let me explain," said Admiral Sclerida at his most genial. "Unless one or the other of you is willing to kill me and - well. High Secretary Wiley Bouriere - you'll have to accept me as the victor. In spite of the set-backs we have encountered, I have prevailed, wouldn't you say?"

No one answered him.

"Well, think it over a short while. It may take some getting used to." He achieved a wolfish smile. "Don't a.s.sume I won't Idll this boy. I've done worse to get this prize and I won't let him stop me."