Skirmish (The Stork Tower Book 8) Read online

  Seeing Leah was ready, Purtinfors gave the order to enter the portal. As the first soldiers approached, the mist seemed to reach out and almost pull them in. Leah held her breath as the mist reached her and had to hold in a silent scream as the mist slid over her skin. With her sensory perceptions working to provide her with a clear image of her surroundings, the pain was excruciating. This, coupled with the loss of image, shredded her concentration, and she took in a sudden breath only to find the mist set fire to her lungs.

  Fortunately, the pain was only momentary, but the sudden pain triggered an avalanche of signals across her nervous system and several thousand neurones along her arcuate fasciculus were excited and although the signal found no connection to her mostly destroyed Broca’s area, the slight transition was measured by Three who simultaneously manipulated Leah’s avatar to give out a low moan at the same time as sending a complete description of what happened to Gèng and Dr Roberts.

  The moan itself didn’t register on Leah’s consciousness, but the vibration in her throat did. If it wasn’t for the sudden resumption of the sensory stimulation across her skin forming an image of her surroundings, Leah would most likely have tried to log out. As it was, it dragged her attention back into the game, and although she immediately tried to form a moan or scream, she had no success.

  12

  December 27, 2073

  PNEUMATICA - GRAH

  The image imprinted on her skin showed the entire torus-shaped room. Within sight of their exit were thirty or so soldiers, and most had stepped toward the Resistance soldiers dressed as Taranna guards. Still, Leah could sense their attention was focussed on the three Pyranthians who were hissing and shrieking wildly. None gave more than half a glance at Jamaree, Adelia or her, which was just as well because she was still recovering from the shock of the semi-conscious vibration in her vocal cords as well as feeling like she had no strength in her body because of the transition.

  By the time she’d taken this in and refocussed her attention, the guards were almost within reach of the cage with the three Pyranthians. As her strength returned, their cage was surrounded by the elite from Partivar. Leah could sense the moment when Kimtora released the sides of her cage, and Leah did the same on the one she was in.

  Even though Takobi, Rundar and Kimtora were in the middle of several dozen enemy soldiers, Leah bypassed them. She headed for a group who were coming into view to see what the noise was. Most of the Resistance fighters attacked those fighting the Pyranthians, although Purtinfors, Adelia and five others headed in the opposite direction around the torus than that taken by Leah.

  Leah had two swords and several disc-throwing pistols. With her increased accuracy and awareness of her surroundings, Leah was able to move steadily around the central section dispatching the elite soldiers she encountered. From their reaction to her appearance as a ja’mar, she decided most of the so-called ‘elite’ had very few encounters with the ja’mar as they seemed to baulk when they saw her.

  Before she was even a third of the way around Takobi and Kimtora joined her, and together they more than covered their half and met Pertinfors almost two-thirds of the way around. Once Leah could sense the portal room was under her control, she had Pertinfors set guards at all the entrances. He used the various cages and equipment in the room to prepare some barricades where the portal room connected to the city of Partivar.

  While they did that one of Purtinfors’ soldiers began working to attune one of the outer portals to the Pyranthian enclave on Pneumatica. Leah tried to see what she was doing but wasn’t able to understand the ma’nav script which was used to label the various switches and dials. Despite this, she had Jamaree translate as each dial was used. She finally decided that whatever ‘science’ was being used to explain the portals it had little to do with reality in any way.

  While she was waiting, she received a message from Three. “3: Edison says he has areas already prepared for the entry into the various worlds and will use those in the long term, but the game is set up to permit a portal to be opened almost anywhere. He will have the AI open one of the other portals to his planned departure point, but where you set up a portal is up to you.”

  Leah was still for a moment as she focussed on the map of Aeropile that she had in her head. After working out distances, she asked, “Three, what about Thad and Kate?”

  “3: Both of their avatars are with Caoimhe at the Nest. Sharon said she is free if you need something done in Aeropile.”

  “First send a message to Thomas Willeford and see if he can help. If he can, then ask him to lease or purchase the large area of vacant land which is adjacent to the railway-tracks which go past the privateer airfield. The land is on the privateer side of the tracks and maybe a half-league from the airfield. If he needs funds, then ask him to contact a Mr Billy Bartle for funds. If more is required, then he might ask Lord Grafton if he might assist Commodore Charlotte. If Thomas can’t help, then have Sharon do the same thing. I’d like to get Thomas involved because he’ll have contacts in the business community already.

  “If Thomas needs details, tell him I have access to a portal which can operate alongside the official Pneumatic expansion portal into the new worlds. He’ll understand the business opportunities. Tell him he can bring in like-minded players as investors as long as I maintain a fifty-one per cent share. Run that past Stephen before you discuss it with Thomas.”

  By the time Leah had finished her planning with Three, the portal to the Pyranthian enclave was ready to be initialised. Leah watched as the red mist formed within the portal. Within a minute, the entire area was beginning to shimmer and swirl as the mist condensed. Jamaree pointed out the spring-operated readings on the console. One showed the hanji available and the other the state of the portal.

  As soon as the portal formed, Leah nodded to Takobi and Rundar who stepped towards it only to be pulled through. Leah turned to Purtinfors and said, “Can they cut the portals’ access to hanji?”

  “P: Not directly. They could cut the portal access to hanji, but that would cause all the portals to stop functioning.”

  “Do we need to take control of the facility which uses the hanji to power the portals?”

  “P: Not for some time. The entire system shares the load, and we have control of the facility at Taranna. It is in an offshoot area in the control room. There is sufficient hanji to keep the open portals operating for perhaps half a year. If we keep opening and closing portals, this might only last a few days.”

  While they had been talking the portal to Pyranthia had become fully stable, and the operator looked towards Purtinfors and asked, “Sir, where should the next portal be aimed?”

  Leah walked over the next console and after some discussion was able to pinpoint the area near Aeropile that she had mentioned to Three. The portal took longer to initialise because the site had not been used before and because the portal was so close, cosmically speaking, to the one Takobi had used. Altogether it took half-an-hour to form and become stable. When it was ready, Leah stepped toward it and had Three lower her rate of perception as it drew her in.

  PNEUMATICA - AEROPILE

  There was no pain during the long transition, both because it was attuned to humans and because of the reduced perception. Three increased perception as Leah was released from the portal. Leah took several steps forward and focussed on the image displayed against her back of the large circular portal she’d come through. Jamaree had explained that the octagonal shape was decorative and had been used historically for the eight major power centres on Grah.

  After double-checking her position, Leah turned and started running toward the airfield she could just see almost three thousand paces away. Twenty minutes later, Leah slowed as she reached the entry gates to the aerodrome. There was a guard who moved to stop her, then stepped back and said, “Commodore Charlotte, we had thought you dead. That you live is a cause for great rejoicing. My happiness, though, is somewhat lessened as you appear to be grievously wo
unded and bereft of vitality. If it pleases you, then please take a seat within the guards’ station while I arrange for a doctor.”

  “Thank you, Sergeant, I do appreciate your kind words and appreciate that I am in need of some extended care. Unfortunately, events are occurring which require my immediate attention. As I travel at a more leisurely pace toward the Tempest, could you send a runner ahead that they might not be taken unawares by my appearance?”

  The guard sent a runner and assigned two of the guards to walk Leah to the Tempest. As they approached, Leah could see the large bleeding-eye flag being raised from half-mast across her entire fleet and hundreds of her aeronauts hurtling to form into rows in front of the Tempest.

  As she stepped close, they all came to attention, and Captain Luella Baker stepped forward and said, “B: Welcome Commodore. Might I suggest the ship’s surgeon?”

  Leah said, “Thank you, Captain Baker, but I am not as wounded as it appears and I am in the midst of a somewhat time-sensitive enterprise. While I take the opportunity to review the personnel before me, could you arrange for Major Daniels to gather as many volunteers as he is able in a short time? They need to be armed for battle and have victuals for several days. Inform the Major that we will be travelling to another world upon which I have been held prisoner. The aim of the expedition is to bolster some local forces to bring an end to the despotic rule of that world’s leaders. I will give more information to those who are willing to go.”

  “B: It will be as you say, Commodore. If I might be bold, it seems your speech come through closed lips. Are you certain you do not need the surgeon?”

  “I do have a variety of cuts and bruises that could benefit from a surgeon’s care, but the enterprise of necessity has precedence. As for my speech, that is from an altogether different source. As you know, we from the aether worlds do travel between different realities. In most, we cannot be harmed or killed permanently. On our home world, however, such injuries are to us what these injuries are for you, here on Pneumatica. Enemies on my home world arranged for me to be kidnapped and killed. I escaped but suffered some disabilities which continue to hamper me. One of these is that I cannot use my voice. If you look closely, you will see I move my fingers in what seems a random pattern, but instead, the movement forms words which are then formed by the machines of my world.”

  “B: You said disabilities, Commodore. Are the others less serious?”

  “Unfortunately, Captain, they are not. I am also both blind and deaf. The deficits are not able to be easily rectified by machines, for the damage is in my brain. Instead, there is a machine which translates your voice into small pressures that are played upon my finger. I translate these into your words. As for sight, I have a machine which changes the world to a map which it impresses upon my skin. With these aids, I am able to continue with my life.”

  Captain Baker’s face had turned to stone, and she said, “B: As you say, Commodore. I will arrange for Major Daniels to find volunteers from amongst the marines and other fighters. Perhaps you might forego the review to see the surgeon and take some rest.”

  “While I would appreciate the opportunity, I think I must in all good conscience let these fine aeronauts know of the esteem with which I hold them. I have heard good reports of their courage as they helped rescue our citizens from Pyranthia.”

  Captain Baker walked Leah to the first row of aeronauts, then hurried to one side where Ian was waiting with the other captains. Leah walked through the ranks and made several comments in each row. For those who showed wounds, she expressed concern and gratitude. Several she knew, and she greeted them. Occasionally the aeronaut had some part of their uniform out of place, and Leah either mentioned it obliquely or stared at it momentarily before shaking her head and moving on.

  Captain Baker joined her towards the end and said, “B: Major Daniels needs ten minutes to finalise the first wave of volunteers. Perhaps you might like to retrieve some more suitable weapons from your cabin?”

  Leah looked down at the gore-covered and claw-shredded clothes she was wearing, and at the swords and muskets she’d claimed, and said, “I would love to. Unfortunately, those we go to help have no such luxury. At least for the next few hours, I believe it is important to show solidarity with their position however I might. When I return, I will need to bathe and change my attire. I shall return within two hours of when Major Daniels leaves. Perhaps you might see if there could be some hot water available and a surgeon?”

  “B: As you wish, Commodore.”

  13

  December 27, 2073

  PNEUMATICA - AEROPILE

  Leah could see Ian speaking with those who had been on review, and they had all left at a run. Ian stared over at her a few times but left her talking with Captain Baker and the other Captains, all of whom came over to talk. After the ten minutes were up, there were almost five-hundred men and women standing in lines and ready to move.

  Ian stepped over and said, “Commodore, the force is ready.”

  “Thank you, Ian. I do apologise that there is no time for the niceties of polite conversation, but we must move along immediately. I need to address the force and see if there are any not willing for the task we have. I shall not hold this against them, but it must be done.”

  “I: All are willing, Commodore.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. Let me give them some details, then we shall see.”

  Leah stepped over, then after asking Three to amplify her voice, she said, “Thank you for the alacrity with which you have both volunteered and gathered. There are, however, several aspects to this mission which may change your willingness to participate. If this is so, then please feel no dishonour nor reticence to step aside. This will not be held against you.

  “Firstly, the mission is not on this world but on another, one called Grah. We will get there by travelling through a portal which takes us to another planet moving around another sun. Those that live upon this planet are not human but are called ma’nav. Their world is plagued by creatures from our nightmares, and you may be called upon to fight these creatures.

  “In the past, many from Aeropile have been sent to Grah as slaves. I have yet to find out who within the city has done this, but when they are found, they will be brought to justice. These slaves are used either to mine for precious metal or as fighters against the undead who plague this world. When they die, they are made into undead and used to pleasure those who rule. I tell you this because our actions today may put us against those who have great power in this world.

  “Finally, the leaders of Pyranthia have also sent slaves to Grah. Even now, a Pyranthian is raising soldiers to help the Resistance as I am. What this means is that while here, they are our enemy and we will stop their advance toward this city. There, on Grah, they are not our enemy but our allies. If you cannot work with a Pyranthian to stop this injustice, then do not volunteer.

  “Any who fight against them while on this mission will be charged with insubordination. Should you not be able to volunteer having heard what is happening, then you have one minute to move from your place before we leave. The portal is almost three-thousand paces from here. By the time we arrive, you need to have decided. All those who step through the portal with me are agreeing to fight alongside all races in the Resistance and against the leaders of Grah.”

  Leah waited a minute then turned and led the way from the airfield. At the front gate she found a steam carriage waiting for her, but she waved it aside and said, “Thank you, but I need to lead the way on foot.”

  Billy Bartle poked his head out of the doorway. “3: F is for Billy Bartle.”

  “F: Commodore, this is from me, not your personnel. There are a few things I need to discuss.”

  Leah nodded to Ian, then stepped aboard the carriage. As she sat, Billy said, “F: Pardon my intrusion, Commodore, but time is of the essence. Mr Willeford approached me, and both Lord Grafton and I have, on your behalf, advanced a significant loan towards this enterprise. We both have also
joined the new corporation as shareholders in our own right. Our involvement is due to your reputation and name without even the slightest whisper as to its intent. Mr Willeford has been the soul of discretion and shared nothing of the details.

  “Despite this, it seems that Prince Albert has taken an interest in your affairs and somehow, and I know not how, he has connected you with this fairly simple, though significant, purchase of property. He has, it seems, made some appeal to the Governor of Lands who has put some hold on the purchase. While reviewing the material you appropriated from the late Lord Emerson, I had noticed some documentation which I daresay would show the current Governor of Lands had acted against the true intent of the law in several matters. Would you be affronted if I used the existence of these documents to remind the Governor of his legislated duty?”

  “Not at all. The documents are at the Herrington. Please feel free to ask Mr Lincoln to give you entrance to my suite.”

  “F: Thank you. I will let you out to travel the rest of the way with your force. When we meet, you must tell me about your new gift of ventriloquism.”

  “Thank you, Mr Bartle. I shall explain things at a more convenient time.”

  Leah didn’t even wait for the carriage to stop but opened the door and leapt out. She turned her jump into a roll and headed towards the portal. Leah was already at the front of her forces, and her pace forced them to speed up. When she arrived in front of the large swirling circle of mist, she stopped and turned to face the lines of mostly marines and said, “Once we step through this portal we will be on the world called Grah. You all know what Pyranthians look like so I shall forego describing them, except to say that those on Grah are my allies. Those leading the Pyranthians have saved my life several times over, and I count them as friends. Should I meet them in these skies, I shall do my duty and fight them. On Grah, I will defend them. The other race you shall meet are called ma’nav. They are recognisable from the horns which grow on their face, among other things. Some are friends, others enemies. Those we meet in the room we enter are friends. The portal is not instantaneous, and I recommend you hold your breath, if possible, during the passage as it can be painful. Step through one at a time. Leave a space of one breath between moving into the portal.”