The Traitor Within, part-one

Firefly · 2003-12-17, 02:33 PM

Due to the overwhelming popularity of my last story

I have decided to grant the wishes of the masses and post another one. Try to contain yourselves, and limit your praise. Unlike the last time where I had a million posts within the first ten minutes of my posting, I'd like to keep this one low-key.

With the whine of the transport shuttle�s massive engines dying behind him, Dexar stood in front of the door that opened into the boarding ramp looking at the large mezzanine before him. A pair of information terminals lined the railing, and a pair of equipment terminals flanked either side of the door, arrays of nanite construction engines flanking each pair. The shield and sword emblem of the Terran Republic were proudly displayed on banners that hung from the ceiling.

As Dexar strode down the stairs to the lobby of the shuttle building, he could see eight giant figures waiting for him. They were standing in the shadows cast by the mezzanine level, illuminated by the flickering holographic arrays of the equipment terminal. Each figure carried a massive weapon strapped to either arm, the smooth designs of their barrels and weapon casing glinting in the erratic light. The bluish glow flickered off holographic poster displays adorning the walls, proclaiming the Republic�s superiority with various images of their military might.

The slender, gaunt man standing in front of their formation brought the armored troopers to attention with a mutter and a gesture. He stepped forward as Dexar reached the last few stairs, and the clanging of the shuttle facility�s closing-door warning drowned out anything he may have said. Suited in red and black reinforced armor, resplendent with shoulder pads and knee pads that line soldiers did not have access to, he was a foot shorter than the troopers wearing mechanized assault exo-armor. He carried his helmet in hand, his close-cropped gray hair contrasting with the deep red and flat black of the armor. A pair of Terran Republic service pistols was strapped to his legs, and his chainblade was snug in its sheath along his chest armor. A Cycler automatic rifle hung from his back.

�What�s this?� Dexar asked with a nervous grin, glancing at the armored troopers who moved in to circle the two men. �Come to escort me to a hero�s welcome?�

Colonel Kai Bauknecht of the Terran Republic�s Colonial Guard seated his helmet on his head and buckled the straps. �Only in your wildest dreams, Dexar.� His even, quiet tone and measured stare sent shivers up Dexar�s spine.

�Well what�s going on, then?� Dexar demanded hotly.

�Give me your weapons,� the officer ordered, ignoring the question. He held out his hand and waited. Men did not often question an officer, although as of late discipline had waned just slightly.

Dexar was tempted to protest, but he saw the smoldering fire in Bauknecht�s eyes and he did not want to risk his wrath. Things could go very poorly from here on out if he was not on his best behavior. The colonel looked like he was expecting trouble, and would be happy to oblige anyone that gave him trouble. The squad of MAX troops behind him gave testament to the colonel�s ability to dish out trouble with the best of them, so Dexar did as he was ordered.

�Fall in,� Bauknecht ordered to the squad as he wrapped the pistol belt around his hand. He bade Dexar follow him, and he stepped out of the shuttle building with a rapid pace.

�So what�s going on, and are you going to tell me where we�re going?� Dexar asked, struggling to keep up with the long-legged officer.

Bauknecht kept his eyes forward, giving no sign of having heard the man. After a moment of hard striding, he quietly snarled, �Hold your tongue or I�ll have it cut out.�

They stormed across the grass-covered parade grounds of the Terran Sanctuary, heading for the Colonial Government center. Dexar�s confusion grew as they continued to march right up the steps through a crowd of soldiers wearing reinforced armor and toting rifles, which oddly enough were held at the ready. The soldiers were staring hard at him, although simultaneously scanning the growing crowd for trouble. A pair of Marauder assault trucks pulled up and flanked either end of the red marble steps.

The MAX troops pressed tight as they went in the doors, nearly squashing Dexar against Colonel Bauknecht. They moved down a narrow side corridor, passing through lead-lined airtight vaults and into the building�s basement. Orderlies in red scrubs fell in and accompanied them. Dexar began to tremble.

He ceased trembling as they arrived at the end of the hall. The MAX units pressed against the walls, and Bauknecht shoved the man into a small room. The orderlies followed, and Bauknecht sealed the door behind him. One of the orderlies shoved Dexar into the chair that occupied the center of the dimly lit room.

�Tell me why you�re the only survivor of your squad.� Kai Bauknecht looked at the pistol belt and holster that Dexar had given him. He idly drew the captured scatter-pistol from the holster and looked the hand-cannon over.

�I don�t understand what you mean,� Dexar said, a slight tremor to his voice. �We dropped outside the base at the drop zone, which was behind a large hill. The base�s radar couldn�t have picked up the dropship. We moved in with our infiltration suits already on, and we even got access to the base without triggering any alarms. But when we got down to the vat rooms, there were two squads waiting on us, weapons aimed right at the door.�

�Again,� Bauknecht said, replacing the weapon in the holster, �why are you the sole survivor?�

Dexar shot a confused look at the officer. �Aren�t you more concerned with why they were waiting on us?�

Colonel Bauknecht shrugged nonchalantly. �That is not my area of concern. What I want to know is, why did you walk away alive when no one else did?�

The infiltrator shook his head. �I don�t know. I was standing near the back of the formation � they cut everyone down before we even got into the room. They didn�t ask for a surrender. I turned and bolted, with another soldier. He died covering my withdrawal.�

Kneeling before the man, Bauknecht grabbed his chin and stared him right in the eyes. �So you ran away before you reached your objective.�

Dexar wrenched himself free, his face tinged red with anger. �No, sir. We got to the objective and it was occupied. There was nothing we could do. The mission parameters are very clear � if we can�t accomplish the mission, then avoid being captured. I did that, and so did the rest of my team.�

Bauknecht stood and went to the door, ushered the orderlies out. They looked positively sad at not being able to pump the prisoner full of toxins.

�You followed the mission exactly, and you swear that you had nothing to do with the men of your team being cut down?�

Dexar nodded. �I am a man of honor, Colonel. I trained with my team for a year. We were bonded in the trial by fire. If I had intended to sell them out, I would have at least allowed them to live.�

Colonel Bauknecht turned to leave, then stopped and turned around. �The governor wants you to hang, for cowardice and possibly betraying the Republic. Other investigators are digging at why you were ambushed. I shall tell them what you told me, but others believe that perhaps you sold your team out, which is why you and only you managed to escape.�

�What do you believe?� Dexar asked quietly, resigned to his fate.

The commander of the Colonial Guard shrugged noncommittally. �I believe we have a traitor within. Who it is, exactly, will be ferreted out soon enough. In the meantime, you�re being kept here in case the traitor tries to make contact with you.�

He turned to leave, and Dexar chuckled. �What if you�re the traitor?�

Bauknecht tossed the pistol and the belt to the man. �Then you�d already be dead, fool.� With that, he slammed the door shut and stormed down the corridor to make his report.

--FIN

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