Four C-1 Assault Landers touched down at the centre of the small valley. Akari Joint Sovereignty troops deployed swiftly from the landers.

A series of explosions rippled across the valley, reducing the landers to smouldering wrecks. The troops scrambled for cover as a dense curtain of automatic fire shredded those caught in the open. More explosions followed, mingling with the gunfire, screams and smoke. Those that could returned fire, trying to disengage. But the ambush was text book perfect. The survivors soon joining their either dead or dying comrades.

The gunfire ceased, only the cries and moans of the wounded punctuating the still air. Dai-Khan Troops emerged from their concealed positions and advanced down the slopes to the valley floor. One by one the wounded were silenced, no prisoners were taken.

Eventually an oppressive silence settled over the valley.

Lieutenant colonel Kim Swanson woke up in a cold sweat. He was somewhere dark. But where? Was he awake or still dreaming? Slowly he realised where he was.

"Lights." He managed, choking back the rising panic.

The expanding light revealing a comfortable, yet austere hotel room. The walls covered with azure and gold patterns, typically Kajarian. Kim now knew where he was. Muya, the capital of Kajar, a planet five hundred light years from the ambush on Trancor.

Kim just lay there sucking in deep breaths, forcing himself to relax. Three years from that day on Trancor.

Out of a Special Services Regiment of four hundred and two, only four including himself, survived. Only then because Kim was at an emergency meeting in Trancor’s capital. By the time reinforcements arrived at the ambush site, only death remained.

Then came the investigation. Hours of interrogation, had he or the other survivors betrayed his own command. Why that last minute meeting.

Kim knew why and so did the investigators, eventually. Suspicion fell on a senior diplomat at the Joint Sovereignty’s Embassy on Trancor.

Pilor Inia, the name forever etched in Kim’s memory. A man with powerful political connections and allies.

Kim decided he needed a shower to wash away the dried sweat and the after image of Inia. Getting out of bed he made his way into the small bathroom. Turning on the shower he stepped in and let the warm-hot water pound his skin.

Kim let his thoughts return to the tribunal that decided Inia’s fate. Without firm evidence the only course of action was to recall Inia to Shrangea, the Joint Sovereignty’s capital. It taken all of Kim’s self discipline not to react as Inia passed him, especially when he gave Kim a small sneering smile.

Feeling better he turned the shower off, letting warm air dry him. Stepping out he saw his face in the mirror.

A youngish Falkarian face stared back, the unaltered humans of the Joint Sovereignty. No ochre coloured face of a quan. No amphibian build, yellow neck patches nor webbed and feet for his ancestors.

Why the Seeders done that to the quan’s ancestors remained a mystery. Hell he thought, humanity’s whole existence on Falkar and Quan was a mystery. There were times he thought, when the mysterious was more common than the truth.

That thought brought Kim back to his nightmare. Why had it returned after an absence of six months? What was his sub-conscious trying to tell him? Somehow there was a connection between the ambush on Trancor; its aftermath; and Muya, the location of his first operation since then.

Back in his bed, now with clean sheets. Thanks to a small domestic ‘bot disappearing through a small door beside the bed. Kim just lay there thinking. Wary that the nightmare would return, Kim prepared himself before relinquishing his hold on consciousness.

The ghosts returned. This time they demanded vengeance for happened, not condemnation. Kim wondered how he could do that, light years from Shrangea.

Sunlight filtered through the partially opaque window, dragging Kim out of a troubled sleep. Reluctantly he opened his eyes and checked the time 0630. Time to get up, Kim thought, kicking his feet out from under the covers.

Dressed and fully awake Kim made his way to the dining room. Clanging utensils, local music, and voices greeting him as he entered. The other five members of his team were all ready eating breakfast. No formalities as he gave his order to the auto chef - too dangerous, one slip of the tongue would be fatal.

The two Kajarians that ran the guest house knew who the commandos were. They were unlikely to betray them, being members of a Joint Sovereignty intelligence network. The guest house doubling as a safe house.

"Good morning Kim." Said the older Kajarian cheerfully. Her face doing a good imitation of a human smile.

"Good morning L’Klarr." Replied Kim, managing a thin smile - grateful for the nano-translators located in his brain. He rather liked the marsupial like creatures.

Kim found a set next to his second in command. Impressions from the previous night dominating his thoughts. Experience telling him that his sub-conscious was trying to tell him something. Part of the answer him - a blinding statement of the obvious as one of his instructors had put it years earlier.

"What’s up?" Asked sergeant major Yas Inalyn - the second in command. She had seen Kim’s thoughtful expression as he sat down.

Kim was about to reply when his breakfast arrived. The local version of toast, eggs and coffee looked as though some mad painter had gone crazy with the food dye. Kim shrugged off his body’s initial quizziness as he began eating. A necessary survival trick, soldiers learnt very quickly.

"Something about this whole operation doesn’t fit." He said in between mouthfuls.

"That something wouldn’t be that extradition treaty that we have with the Kajarians?" Asked Yas who had similar concerns to Kim’s.

"Exactly. Whatever we may think about Raber, he is an escaped convict and therefore still subject to due process. I just wish we knew why the Kajarians haven’t done anything."

"Perhaps it’s because they don’t know" Yas replied.

"What the hell do you mean Yas?" Asked Kim.

"I got Mal to run a check first thing this morning." Yas replied.

"Mal could you please in here please?". Kim said into his wrist com.

An a metre long metallic oblong shape floated into the room and came to a halt opposite them.

"Yes Kim?" Asked the aumech in a soft voice.

"Yas asked you to run a check for her on Raber." Kim explained.

"Ah yes. No formal, or informal requests, or notices, have been made regarding Raber." Mal answered without hesitation.

Great Kim thought, what the hell was the government up to? From what he knew of Raber’s history. The man would resist being captured. The damn thing could turn into a bloody fire fight. Exactly what he wanted to avoid.

"Looks like someone is setting Raber up. With the added bonus of souring relations with the Kajarians." Yas said as if reading Kim’s thoughts.

"Possibly, but we are going to do everything we can to not to let that happen. We’re meant to be diving again today, like good little tourists. Kim said sardonically. "Where is it?"

"Pulani Point - then some island for lunch, afterwards." Yas replied

"That’s when I’m supposed to meet with the Kasin. Yas make sure that everyone has their sidearms with them." Kim said

"Expecting trouble?" Yas asked.

"I don’t know, but I’d rather be paranoid than dead." Kim said.

After breakfast the team assembled outside the main entrance. Their gear neatly piled beside them. A mini-van pulled beside and they loaded their gear before climbing on board themselves.

"All set?" Asked the young Kajarian all ready on board.

"Yes." Kim replied.

Soon the mini-van was making its way along Muya’s roads towards the capital’s largest marina.

Kim spent the journey looking at the changing cityscape. The eccentric blend curving shapes and clashing colours often overwhelmed the newcomer to Kajar. But Kim had been here before and rather liked the eccentric nature of the city. The thought that this could his last visit, bothered him.

The mini-van eventually reached the marina’s carpark and found a space close to the jetty they needed. The boat they were using lay moored mid-way along it.

The boat, a thirty five metre hydrofoil hummed into life with their arrival. The boat’s captain, an older Kajarian female about L’Klarr’s age welcomed them aboard. Once the gear was stored she gave the order to cast off.

The boat cleared the marina before lowing its foils and gathering speed. It took them thirty minute to reach first stopover - three kilometres of Pulani Point.

The location was popular one for both local and tourists alike. The underwater sights including an old wreck, Kajarian marine mammals and at the right time of years large migrating bottom feeders.

Kim pulled himself onto the boat - removing his tank and fins. The captain appeared from the cabin

"It’s time." She informed him.

Kim nodded and signalled to those still in the water.

Kim watched as their destination grew bigger as the boat approached the small island. The foils lifting up to avoid being damaged on the uneven sea floor. The boat came to halt a few metres off shore.

"Jena with me." Kim ordered, extracting his pistol from his dive bag.

The woman soldier did likewise and together they slipped into the shallow water. Once ashore they split up to search the barren flat surface. With no effective cover the only likely hiding places being concealed pits or trenches. Their search found none. Satisfied Kim signalled the all clear to the boat.

After lunch Kim found a spot away from the others. Kajar’s sun pleasantly warm as he looked out across the brown-green sea. Almost tranquil enough for Kim to relax.

A flash on the horizon brought Kim out of his reverie. Looking hard he could just make out the shape of a sea craft. Quickly he made his way back to the others.

"Stand to." He ordered, checking that he still had his own weapon.

The other commandos reacted by spreading out to cover both Kim and the boat. Their weapons within reach.

Kim waded out to the boat and was helped aboard by the captain.

"It’s them." She said, handing Kim an active screen imager.

Kim nodded as lifted the device to his eyes. The approaching craft was a hydrofoil similar to the one he stood on. It eventually slowed and came to rest alongside.

Kim recognised the quan woman on the aft deck. She appeared to have a regenerative bio-cast on her lower left leg.

"What the hell happened to you Kasin?" he asked, trying, unsuccessfully, not to laugh.

"That’s a fine greeting." She snorted with mock hurt. "I slipped on the embassy steps the other day.

"Stay there I’ll come across, don’t want you drowning." Kim said, crossing the narrow gap between boats. They greeted each other warmly.

"It looks like you’re expecting trouble." She noted.

"Yeah well we’re just being careful." Kim replied quietly, yet there was an edge to his voice.

"Has something happened?" She asked.

"No, I guess we’re a little on edge. After all this is our first mission in three years." Kim said, deciding not to mention his concerns to Kasin. He doubted that she would be able to tell him what he wanted to know.

"Somehow I think it goes deeper than that" Kasin sounded unconvinced.

"Perhaps, but I’ll sick with first time nerves." Kim said quietly. "So what do have for us?"

She looked at Kim, sometimes being local Chief Of Station for the Intelligence Service was difficult.

"Updated intelligence on Raber and an amendment to your orders." She replied.

"Sounds ominous." Kim smiled

He looked like a Kuyin just before it feeds. Kasin shuddered inwardly. The Falkarian land predator was not a creature one encountered voluntary and without protection.

"A Dai-Khan cruiser and three destroyers docked at Kajar’s main space port twelve hours ago." She said.

"Not unexpected. Presumably that’s how they plan to get Raber to their home world. What else?" Kim relaxed a little.

"Speaking of Raber my sources indicate that he will arrive in Muya sometime in the next twenty four hours."

"Good, our visas run out in four days time. I really didn’t relish having to renew them. Anything else?"

"Yes a special government review team arrived yesterday."

"That’s nice - so what?." Kim was puzzled, such things were not his concern unless...

"The team includes Pilor Inia." She said without hesitation, preparing for Kim’s reaction.

Kim’s features clouded over, his pupils narrowing to pinpoints. His knuckles whitened as he clenched his hands into tight fists.

"Why?" The tone in his voice - disturbing.

"Because his political allies convinced the new prime minister that Inia is not the mole and that he has been treated unfairly." Kasin replied.

"Huh? And Delaru went for it? What about the security investigation?" Kim asked, the pain of betrayal evident in his voice.

"Dropped. No evidence that Inia has ever been involved in espionage activities." Kasin answered, like Kim she believed Inia’s guilt over the Trancor ambush. "We tipped our hand, shipping him back to Shrangea."

"Inia’s not stupid and would play the aggrieved diplomat to the hilt. Even going so far as to demand an investigation - just to clear himself. Intelligent bastard." Kim said, wrestling the conflicting demands of duty, emotion and ethics. "So where does leave us now?"

"Basically your mission remains unchanged. Retrieving Raber is your objective." Kasin handed Kim a single sheet of paper. Antiquated but still an effective security measure. "You are not to deviate from your mission in order to get Inia. He is until otherwise notified, off limits."

Kim sat in the cabin of the Rierian passenger liner watching the news. Inia’s body had been recovered from a gully on the outskirts of Muya. The camera showed them lifting the body out of the gully. The thin sheet slipped and Kim caught a glimpse of Inia’s face. No nose or ears, part of the ritual used by the Dai-Khan when punishing traitors. Kim knew then that the ghosts of Trancor were laid to rest.

 
"You know he’s going to cross our path, despite what they think in Shrangea. What do I do then? Ask him, Raber and the Dai-Khan to wait while I contact Shrangea for orders." Kim shook his head, handing the sheet back.

"If that happens, act accordingly. Above all else Raber is not to leave Muya with the Dai-Khan.".

"Fucking marvellous." Kim didn’t usually swear, but this was really frustrating. "What can you do about Inia?"

"We can keep him out of the loop for at least three days. The ambassador has arranged a trip to one of Kajar’s other main cities." Kasin offered.

"Fair enough. Anyway if everything goes according to plan, we’ll be gone before he finds out." Kim commented.

"Well I guess that’s it then. Take Kim." Kasin said

"Take care Kasin and watch the steps eh?." With that Kim returned to his boat.

The second hydrofoil rumbled into life and manoeuvred away from the first one before speeding off into the horizon.

Kim waded ashore to inform the others. They stared at the ocean in disbelief. Kim let it sink in before reminding them that they had a mission to complete. They all felt the same emotions as Kim did. But they were all professionals, this was not the time for revenge.

They returned to the hydrofoil and the Kajarians saw the black anger held in check. Without a word the captain started the engines and turned the boat towards Muya. Rising up on its foils it sped homeward.

Back at the safe house Kim informed L’Klarr of the meeting.

"....we’re ready Kim. Your tickets are open, so it’s just a matter of when." She said finally.

"Good, I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me." Kim said heading up stairs.

Kim sat on the bed, his pistol beside him. He looked over the other weapon - a sub-machine gun. He stripped and checked the weapon before reassembling it. Both weapons were basically electromagnetic rail guns firing 5.7mm projectiles. They operated using small, highly efficient power packs that sat atop the barrel housing. He made sure both weapons’ had fully charge power packs. He then check of his magazines and loaded up a couple that were empty. He loaded a full magazine onto each weapon and placed the remainder in various pouches on his assault vest. The rest of his assault kit was laid out on his bed.

There was a soft knock on his door.

"Yes?" He said activated the pistol and covering the door.

"It’s me" Replied Yas.

"OK enter." Kim deactivated the weapon, putting it beside him.

Yas was smiling as she entered.

"What’s up?"

"Raber’s expected to arrive at target one within the hour."

"Shit that’s fast, where are the others." Kim literally sprang off the bed.

They’re in the rec room. That Kajarian couple is having one helluva fight over him too." Yas replied, smiling.

"Really I don’t want to miss anything." Kim said, propelling Yas back through the door.

Kim reached the rec room to find the rest of his team and two Kajarians seated. Mal hovered in the centre. Once everyone was seated the aumech projected a holographic recording at one end of the room.

"...Etavi you never told me that it would be Tyli Raber." Sobbed the young female Kajarian.

"Does it matter?" Asked the bewildered male Kajarian.

"Of course it matters Etavi! The quan’s a murderer!" She yelled.

"Just Joint Sovereignty propaganda, designed to discredit him. People die in war - you know that." The male returned.

"No, what he did wasn’t war. I saw his eyes during a news cast once. They were dead - that quan has no conscience.’ She countered.

There was silence for a minute as the male paced about the room.

"All right Byrat I will have to make arrangements to find an alternative location for Raber. Although he may have to come here, at least temporarily." The male eventually said.

"OK but he stays no more than half an hour. I mean it Etavi." She said.

The hologram flickered and then ended.

"The sensors recorded this about an hour ago. The male made a number of phone calls, and got agreement to move Raber within two hours. He is currently waiting for confirmation of where to take him." Mal informed them.

"They’re using the phone system? Why?" Asked one of the commandos.

"Because that network took delivery of black market scrambler system recently." Explained Mal.

"Courtesy of our intelligence service?" Kim speculated

"Yes." Responded Mal

"Clever, but why go to all this trouble for a one-off?" Asked Kim.

"What makes you think that this was a one-off." Replied Mal enigmatically.

Kim knew that was all the answer that he was going to get.

"There is an incoming call - audio only." Mal said.

"Yes." Said the voice of the male Kajarian.

"He will with you in thirty. Take him to warehouse on Jamta in hours time. Show him to the office on the ground floor. and return home immediately. Understood." Said a distorted voice on the other end.

"Yes." With that the line went dead.

Kim looked around the room - their mission was moving into its final phase.

"Mal do we know which warehouse?" Asked Kim.

"Yes." The aumech replied.

Good, we’ll need hard copies. OK final briefing...." Kim began giving his final orders.

Kim stood in his room, the assault kit where he had left it. Three years since he’d last worn it. Without hesitation he changed out of his civilian clothing and put on the blue-black coveralls. With the team now in action - all doubts evaporated.

Kim lay on top of the warehouse, surveying the immediate area. The buildings security system bypassed. The area was clear of any traffic, the rest of Kim’s team spread out in rough star formation. The aumech at its centre.

Kim saw a vehicle arrive in the warehouse’s carpark. Through his night-specs, he saw two people get out . One was the male Kajarian, Etavi the other, Raber. Kim signalled to the others.

Leaving Mal as lookout, the six commandos made their way to a large hole cut in the roof. They repelled through the hole and make their to ground floor.

One this Seven over." Mal’s voice clear in Kim’s ear-piece.

"Go." Kim replied.

"I have one more vehicle arriving. One occupant - human, male. It’s Pilor Inia. He is making his way inside now" Mal said.

"Acknowledged. One out." Kim replied, hearing a door open and close at the far end of the building. He heard another open and close not long after.

The team kept moving towards the ground floor office. Stealthily they took up positions near the door. Kim could hear the sounds of two people talking in the standard language of the Joint Sovereignty.

"It is good to see you again Tyli." Said the unmistakable voice of Pilor Inia

"You too cousin, I am glad to be free." Said an older and tired sounding voice, obviously Raber himself.

"Our aunt sends her apologies for not being able to visit you in prison." Said Inia.

"Such is life Pilor, she would have exposed herself. It is the cause that matters." Raber sighed. "So what now."

"We wait for the Dai-Khan. It shouldn’t be long." Inia said.

"Good, I brought some wine. Will you join me?" Raber asked.

"Certainly."

The sound of a bottle being opened and glasses filled.

"To freedom." Raber toasted.

"To freedom." Inia agreed.

After a short pause there was a thud.

"Colonel Swanson, would you please me." Raber called out.

Kim looked at Yas who shrugged in the ghostly light.

"Jena with me, the rest wait here." Kim said quietly, moving forward with the others covering him. He and Jena removed their night-specs and entered the office.

They found Raber seated at a small table and Inia lying on the floor. Kim swung his sub-machine gun to cover Raber.

"It’s all right colonel he’s unconscious, not dead. Knock out drops in his glass." Raber said.

Kim indicated to Jena to cover Raber while he ran a med-scanner over the motionless Inia. Sure enough the quan was merely unconscious. Kim was really puzzled.

"OK what’s going on Raber?" Kim asked, the whole situation was bizarre.

"A trap colonel." Raber replied.

Kim activated his weapon, bringing it up level with Raber’s head.

"I know that this is trite Raber, but I go, you go first." He said.

"The trap is not for your, or your team colonel, but for my cousin." Sighed Raber.

"What?" Said an astonished Kim stepping back, the quan was mad.

"It’s a long story colonel." Raber said.

"I’m listening." Respond Kim.

"I suppose you deserve to know some of it colonel. You see I’ve been a double agent for five years. Then a year ago I decided it was time to in."

"That’s when you were supposedly betrayed by a mole and captured. Which of course was you, but why become a mole?"

"I discovered that what the government had said about the First Families was true.

"That they had been willing collaborators during the Dai-Khan occupation."

"Yes, I felt betrayed, angry and abused. Everything that I thought, was for a righteous cause, was nothing more than a sham."

"So you turned and hit back. You knew or found out that Inia was working for the Dai-Khan."

"Yes, Pilor is one of their key links with the First Families Restoration Movement. Perhaps even their most important link."

"So the trap is a way of exposing him."

"Expose him, and we expose their role within the movement. I have also arranged for damaging information to be leaked to the media. Oh don’t worry, the government is aware of my plan. All this should help to discredit the movement.

"Of course a coordinated effort will weaken the movement without too much bloodshed."

"Exactly."

"But why here?."

"Two reasons; one - he’s isolated from his power-base and two - the Kajarians. They will verify what I am saying."

"So they know that you’re here?"

"Not yet colonel. That’s where you and your team come in."

"The Dai-Khan have to believe that Pilor is the double agent."

"How?"

"A sacrifice if you will."

"Whose?" Kim asked, edging further back from Raber. The other commando began moving with him. Both of them still covering Raber.

"Mine. You see colonel, I’m dying. I only have a month or two at most." Raber explained.

"Won’t they find out eventually?" Asked Kim.

"Yes but that will only add to their confusion. If the Dai-Khan follow true to form, they will consider all their networks compromised."

"One last question - how did you know it was me outside?"

"Because we chose you, or I should say I chose you. You have always done what is necessary to complete the mission."

Kim looked at the quan and realised what he was saying. He also remembered the conversation with Kasin earlier.

"I know the orders that you have received about my cousin. Consider those orders changed." Raber paused to get his breath. "There is a gun on the table."

Kim found the compact pistol. Picked it up and checked that it was loaded. He looked at Inia’s still unconscious body. Judging the approximate height, he raised the pistol level with Raber’s chest. Without hesitation he fired two rounds into Raber. The quan slumped in his seat.

"Thank-you colonel." He said and twitched briefly before becoming very still. A strange smile on his face. A check of his pulse showed that he was dead.

"All stations this One - Anvil now."

A that point the rest of the team burst into the room.

"We got most of it boss." Said Yas shaking her head.

"Good, Everyone out of the way." Kim said as he placed the pistol in Inia’s left hand. He squeezed Inia’s hand, firing off remaining rounds into the wall behind Raber’s body.

"Yas got the revive." He asked

Yas nodded and placed the spray under Inia’s nose.

Inia looked about him, seeing first the commandos, then Raber.

"One this is Seven, those shots have attracted attention over." Mal informed Kim.

"ID, numbers?" asked Kim.

"Looks like Dai-Khan, about eight to ten. On."

"How far off?" asked Kim.

"About two minutes."

"Acknowledged. One out" Kim signalled to the others. "Right let’s go."

The commandos withdrew from the room, Kim taking up the rear.

Inia, who by now had realised what had happened to Raber began to moan. He dropped the pistol like it was on fire.

"Whose coming?" He asked numbly.

"Dai-Khan." Kim replied.

Inia went a little more pale.

"You’re Joint Sovereignty aren’t you." He stammered.

"Maybe" Replied Kim.

"You’ve got to take me with you." He demanded.

"No." Kim said

"They’ll kill me. They’ll think I killed that man. Pleease take me with." He implored, grabbing Kim’s arm.

Kim released himself and pushed Inia back, aiming his weapon above him, and firing a quick burst. The diplomat dive onto the hard floor.

"Tear gas." He said lobbing a grenade into the room, leaving Inia to cough and splutter.

They withdrew to their ropes and using tiny motors lifted themselves up to and onto the roof. Once there the team collected Mal and moved quietly over the roof tops of a number of buildings before descended to rendezvous with their transport.

The next morning the team finished packing up before leaving Kajar on the first leg of their homeward journey. There was no news about what Inia or Raber. Although the warehouse itself had been destroyed in a suspicious fire two hours after the team left it.

Kim sat in the cabin of the Rierian passenger liner watching the news. Inia’s body had been recovered from a gully on the outskirts of Muya. The camera showed them lifting the body out of the gully. The thin sheet slipped and Kim caught a glimpse of Inia’s face. No nose or ears, part of the ritual used by the Dai-Khan when punishing traitors. Kim knew then that the ghosts of Trancor were laid to rest.