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"Probably the right thing to do," Fly
"Lieutenant Sam Foxleigh, TDE Air Defense," Jensen confirmed. "How did you know?"
Fly
Jensen snorted. "Bullheadedness is hardly a quality unique to pilots," he pointed out. "What did you mean, it was the right thing to do?"
"I meant that if he was a pilot, it was right for him to take on the job." Fly
Jensen grimaced. "Look, Fly
He nodded back toward the mountain behind him. "But I think maybe talking with Foxleigh put it into a little better perspective. In warfare you do what you can, and you play out the hand that's been dealt you, and you don't look back. The only purpose for second-guessing is to find the mistakes you made so that you don't make them again."
"Sounds like the wise advice of a grizzled old warrior," Fly
Jensen nodded. "Foxleigh was all that," he agreed.
"I meant you," Fly
"Watch your mouth, kid," Jensen growled, mock-warningly. "I'm not so tired I can't run you through a couple of sparring sessions."
"I'll pass," Fly
"Or at least to get you?"
Fly
"Neither is stamina," Jensen said. "Which is just as well. Two of the techs Security sent in are still alive, but with my ribs the way they are I knew I'd never get them back here on my own."
"I can go do that now," Fly
"We'll go together," Jensen said, peering out into the darkness. "And before we leave this place entirely I need to stop back at Shelter Valley. I think that Doc Adamson and his son would appreciate knowing how Foxleigh died."
"Sounds good," Fly
The story of the man who'd lived in secret shame for thirty years ... "Not to worry," he murmured. "They already know all the rest of it."
Shaw and Caine were waiting at the rendezvous point when Galway and the others arrived. "Caine,"
Galway said, watching the younger man warily as they walked over. The last time he'd seen Caine the two of them had been enemies, and Galway had treated him accordingly.
But if Caine was holding a grudge, it didn't show in his face. "Galway," he greeted the prefect in turn.
"Welcome back to our side."
"It has been a while," Galway admitted, turning to Shaw. "Tactor," he said, nodding.
"It's good to meet you at last, Prefect," the other said. "And for you to truly meet me, as well."
Galway had to smile. The quiet, confident man standing in front of him was so very different from the picture Judas's reports had painted. "Indeed," he said.
"You have any trouble getting Caine out?" Lathe asked, stepping up beside Galway.
Shaw shook his head. "They were about as unready for trouble as it's possible for military men to be."
He nodded past Lathe's shoulder. "I see you brought his evil twin with you."
"Not evil any more," Lathe assured him. "He's had his Whiplash, and is busy regaling Mordecai and Spadafora with the details of the government center security layout. If you're interested in hitting it sometime, that is."
"I might," Shaw said, a touch of quiet pain coloring his voice. "But I lost a third of my men at Khorstron tonight, killed and wounded. I'll have to wait to see what kind of force I can put together."
"You should have Whiplashed the guards at the strongpoint after you got Caine out," Galway said.
"Oh, I did," Shaw assured him. "That should help." He looked at Lathe. "Did you deliver your message?"
Lathe nodded. "We found the half circle hiding in their lounge, behind about a dozen warriors. Between them and the Denver Security people Skyler should have talked to tonight, I think the high command will take the suggestion seriously."
"If they don't, we're in for a long, hard battle," Shaw warned.
"But at least it's a battle we know we'll ultimately win," Lathe said. "It's amazing what a difference hope can make in a person."
Galway's eyes drifted upward to the stars overhead. Hope. For most of his professional life, he reflected, all he'd ever hoped for for the people of Plinry was a little safety, a little security, and a fighting chance to live out their lives without u
It was only in the past twenty-four hours, when the loyalty-conditioning had been stripped away from his mind, that he recognized how low his goals had actually been.
He'd had his own small taste of freedom. Now, he had the chance to help bring that same gift to his people.
Someone was calling his name. "Sorry?" he said, lowering his eyes back to the others.
"I asked if you wanted to get some rest," Shaw said. "Maybe have your hand and face looked at. I have someone ready to take you to a safe house."
Galway snorted. "Rest? Now? You've got to be kidding. With all the chaos still going on at Khorstron, we have a golden opportunity to hit the government center before they can get themselves reorganized. I can let you inside—"
"Whoa," Shaw said, frowning as he held up a hand. "How are you going to do that? Haberdae knows you got us into Khorstron, doesn't he?"
"Sure," Galway said. "But he's the only one who does. Why couldn't it have been him who betrayed the base instead of me, with him having been left tied up to confuse everyone? It's exactly the sort of thing Lathe would do." He looked at Lathe. "Comsquare? There must be a way to pull this off."
Lathe was staring into space, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips. "I think there probably is," he agreed. "Okay, Galway. Let's try this ..."
EPILOGUE
The blackened pieces of burned wood crunched beneath Caine's feet as he walked through the blockwide path of destruction that had been cut across the city of Capstone. "They did this on their way out?" he asked, a shiver ru
"Yes," Lathe said, an edge of contempt in his voice. "Apparently the Ryq commanding the troop carriers' escort decided Plinry in general and Galway in particular needed a parting lesson in what it costs to cross the mighty Ryqril. Or something like that."
"As if any of these people had anything to do with that," Caine growled. "If they wanted to send messages, they should have hit Hamner Lodge instead."
"I'm sure they would have if there'd been any actual military reason to it," Lathe agreed. "But as I said, it was nothing but a final symbolic slap in the face." He gestured around them. "Fortunately, De Vries anticipated they might do something like this on their way out, and he and Haven were able to figure the likely target zone from their probable lift vector. He got emergency gear in place and was able to slip a lot of the residents out before the attack came. We could have lost a thousand or more, but we actually only lost twenty."