Free Nova by Lora E. Rasmussen Page A

after keying in a few commands, handed it over to the waiting Tedrar. The commander
then returned to Proconsul Tanad and handed her the portable data–screen. The
Vosaia government official placed the five fingertips of her left hand on the
screen and then intoned in an official voice: “Proconsul Far’allyn Tanad, zero–zero–nine–XR–five–TT–three.”
    With her Arca enhanced vision and hearing, Captain Serros
could see the small screen light green and could hear the gentle chime of
confirmation. She could also see Z’arr’s purple eyes covertly tracing and
marking every move the intermediary and Proconsul made. With a nod, the
Proconsul sent the fully armored commander back to the STF Agent with the data–screen.
    K’llan Z’arr confirmed the screen then stated politely,
“Thank you, Tedrar.”
    “You are welcome.”
    At the feminine voice, Z’arr’s hand froze mid–move from
retrieving something else… the Arca Microtech Enhancement data?… from
the same pouch.
    “Proconsul Tanad,” The STF Agent pronounced firmly, hand
casually inching away from her pouch and closer to her pistol, “please have
Tedrar remove her helm.”
    The Vosaia representative’s faint smile faltered as she asked
“Excuse me, Agent Z’arr? Each member of my guard is deliberately wearing full, heavy–armor
to conceal his or her identity as well as for protection.”
    “Acknowledged. However, I insist that Tedrar remove her helmet
now, before the exchange. I am sure you understand; this is a legitimate
security measure.”
    “Agent Z’arr, identification of my mercenary guard was not
stipulated in our exchange agreement penned by our seniors. Now do your duty.”
Tanad’s voice had turned frigid, her tone that of a superior to a subordinate
expecting to be obeyed.
    “Exactly. I will do my duty. The helm .” If anything, Agent
Z’arr’s tone was even colder and more resolute than the Proconsul’s.
    The entire group as well as the still concealed Nova Squad seemed
clasped by absolute stillness for several, high–pressure seconds. Then without
warning, Tedrar’s fist lashed out at Z’arr’s head with the speed of a launched
missile, only to contact empty air.
    Z’arr had reacted with astonishing swiftness to evade the
blow, her open palm slamming with unerring accuracy into the other woman’s more
vulnerable neck from her crouched position. Z’arr then followed the strike up with
a half spin, sweeping her leg under Tedrar’s and causing the commander to spill
to the ground. However, the action resulted in the belt pouch at Z’arr’s waist
slipping free as a dying Tedrar made a grab for its contents.
    Avara couldn’t make out whether or not she succeeded in retrieval
of the pouch, for a heartbeat later the entire plaza erupted into pandemonium
when Proconsul Tanad shouted “Execute Z’arr and bring me the data !”
    Immediately, bullets started slicing through the air as Lieutenant
Z’arr jumped and then rolled to somewhat dubious safety behind the plaza
fountain. Having hardly reached cover, Serros heard the Vosaia STF Agent forcefully
yell: “ Command Guardian enacted !”
    At Z’arr’s cry, four of the huge birch planters literally
exploded, revealing fifteen foot tall, iron colored battlemechs ponderously
shaking free of cracked porcelain with miniature avalanches of soil tumbling
down plating and circuitry. Without delay, the mechs began to fire enormous cannons
at the gray–armored unknowns and at the Vosaia Proconsul, interrupting their
concentration on Z’arr.
    Contemplating the scene for an instant, Captain Serros deactivated
her camouflage and stood to her full five foot ten height, keyed the Voc
enhancement feature of her armor, and then clearly shouted, “In the name of the
Quorum and on Shield authority, I order all present to cease fire and stand
down immediately!”
    The unknowns and two Vosaia paused their actions for all of
a split second, then the Proconsul and her forces