Free Blackcollar: The Judas Solution by Timothy Zahn Page B

he pulled out the shuriken and returned it to his pouch. "They've obviously pushed their perimeter out farther than I expected. Help me get him back up the hill." The Ryq was on the smallish side, as Ryq went. Nevertheless, it was no small task to lug his deadweight back up the hill overlooking the base. Making sure they themselves stayed low and out of sight, the two men eased the body over the top and let it roll down the steep slope into the darkness below. "That's not going to fool anyone for long," Flynn warned as they again eased their way back down their side of the hill. "As soon as they see that wound they'll know what happened."
    "True, but having to haul the body out of there may buy us another hour or two," Jensen pointed out.
    "Maybe," Flynn muttered. "Skyler just better get that car out here fast."
    "Actually, I hope he doesn't," Jensen said. "Because we're not linking up with him and the others just yet."
    "We're not?" Flynn asked cautiously.
    "No," Jensen said. They reached the bottom of the hill; getting his bearings, he turned northwest. "We're heading for the back door into Aegis Mountain."
    "To do what?"
    "Like I told you," Jensen said, hearing the grim set to his voice. "To make sure the Ryqril don't get into the base. Quiet, now—there may be more sentries around."
    * * *
    "Colonel Bailey?" a voice called in the darkness. "Colonel?" The darkness grew lighter, and Bailey opened his eyes to find a Security medic peering anxiously down at him. "How do you feel, sir?" the medic asked.
    "How do you think I feel," Bailey growled. He started to lift his head, instantly thought better of it.
    "What happened? Who's in charge?"
    "I am, sir," a young officer said, stepping into view from behind the kneeling medic. "Lieutenant Ramirez, from the Boulder Security office. I'm afraid they got away, Colonel, the assailants and Reger's people both." His lips compressed. "And they seem to have taken General Poirot with them."
    " What? " Bailey snapped, ignoring the pain in his head as he forced himself into a sitting position. "Why didn't you stop them?"
    "We didn't know until the ground team had penetrated the estate that the general had been taken," Ramirez said, his voice under rigid control. "All the spotters could see was that one of the escapees was carrying a bundle over his shoulder wrapped in a blanket."
    "Why didn't they come down for a better look?"
    "The general had ordered them previously to hold position," Ramirez said. "There was a shouted alert, but no new orders."
    "That's because no one was available to give them," Bailey ground out. "Do you at least still have them under surveillance?"
    Ramirez's cheek twitched. "Actually—"
    " Damn it, all," Bailey snarled. "I want those pilots on report. Every one of them."
    "It wasn't their fault," Ramirez said firmly. "The escapees had eight cars, and they set off a smoke bomb before sorting themselves out among the vehicles. They split up just outside Denver, and ... well, there was a certain lack of coordination between the Denver and Boulder offices. By the time we'd sorted it out and had enough spotters in position, we'd lost three of the cars."
    Bailey bit back another curse, a chill running through him. It was starting again, just like it had a year ago. Comsquare Lathe and his blackcollars were on the move, and already two jumps ahead of them. "What about the cars you haven't lost?"
    "Their occupants have gone to ground, but we have the various locations under surveillance," the lieutenant said, sounding a little more confident.
    "Go in and get them," Bailey ordered. "Paral-darts only. I want them alive and able to talk."
    "Yes, sir." The lieutenant pulled a comm from his belt. "This is Lieutenant Ramirez. All Operation Seven surveillance units: move in." He got acknowledgements and returned the comm to its holder. "Maybe we'll be lucky, sir, and General Poirot will be in one of those groups."
    "We're never that lucky," Bailey growled, pushing himself to his