Lisanne Norman - Sholan 02 - Fortune's Wheel

Fortune's Wheel

Lisanne Norman

Cover art by Romas Kukalis.

DAW Book Collectors No. 996.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as "unsold and

destroyed" to the publisher. In such case neither the author nor the publisher has received any^payment for this "stripped book."

First Printing, August 1995 4 5 6 7 8 9

DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED

U.S. PAT. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES

——MARCA REGISTRADA.

HECHO EN U.S.A.

For my son Kai, and my brother Richard, who enrich my days by sharing with me their unique outlook

on life, and because I love them both dearly.

With special thanks to the following people and their expertise, Sholan Medical Guild Master - June

Third

Commander of the Sholan Forces - John Quadling

Adjutant & Adviser to the Commander - Gina Quadling

Sholan Tactical Commander - Steve Barrett

Sholan Technical Commander - Andrew Stephenson

Sholan Brotherhood sub-Guild Master - Les Heasman

Sholan Telepath Guild Master - Sherry Ward

Sholan Communications sub-Commanders - Linda Apperley - Judith Faul

Sholan Research & Development - Merlin Sholan Catering - Mike Hawkes

PART I

KHALOSSA

Prologue

Adjutant Myak pressed the chime on the outside of Com-mander Raguul's private quarters and waited.

He could have used the comm, but both he and the Commander preferred the personal touch. As the

door slid open, he stifled a yawn, extending his claws to scratch vigorously behind his left ear. He'd get

no more sleep that night either. The starship Khalossa was already on Yellow 2 alert.

Commander Raguul lay propped up on one elbow, regard-ing him balefully. The set of his ears showed

his irritation at being disturbed in the middle of his night.

"Yes, Myak?"

"The duty crew thought you'd like to know we've just re-ceived a transmission from the Sirroki, sir."

"The Sirrokil" Raguul frowned, ears flicking briefly. "She's the one that missed the rendezvous in the

sixth quad-rant, isn't she?"

"That's right, sir. You just posted her as officially miss-ing."

"You didn't wake me just for that, surely. What was it this time? Not more freak storms?"

"Not this time, sir. They've found the Others." Myak could hardly keep his tail from swaying with

pleasure.

Raguul sat up. "Found them?"

"Yes, sir. The Sirroki was shot down by them on a planet designated as KX 1311. Our people are in

hiding with a sec-ond group of aliens and request that we go to their aid."

"Natives, eh?"

"Not natives, sir, colonists, a new species. Sub-Commander Kolem thought you might want to hear the

original transmis-sion yourself."

Raguul was already out of bed and dressing. "Tell me about the Others," he ordered as he pressed the

seals on his jacket.

"They've a substantial base on the planet, plus two domed cities and garrison posts at each of the four

colony towns. They're capable of putting up a formidable resistance."

"Has—whatzisname—transmitted the locations of these occupied zones?" demanded the Commander,

fumbling with his belt.

Myak moved forward to help him. "Captain Garras, sir. Communications is still decoding the message,

but we be-lieve so."

"These colonists, what're they like?"

"They're upright and bilateral like us, and there's a tele-path among them," said Myak, stepping back as

he finished with die Commander's belt.

Raguul's tail began to flick as his ears and head swiveled round to look at Myak. "Telepaths, you say."

"Yes, sir. It seems that our telepath has formed a link to one of the female colonists."

"Has he now?" Raguul took the brush Myak was holding out toward him and, flattening his ears out of

the way, ran it cursorily across the top of his head. He handed it back to his adjutant.

"Apparently, sir," said Myak, returning the brush to the night table.

"Any more tactical details such as the numbers of the Others on the planet, their firepower, capabilities of

their craft?"

"There could be, sir. As I said, they're still decoding the message," replied Myak, following the

Commander out.

"Has a course been set for KX 1311?"

"They're waiting for your orders, sir."

"Tell die bridge to have a chart of sector six set up on the main screen."

When Raguul reached the bridge, it was humming with suppressed excitement. Sub-Commander Kolem

rose from his seat, offering it to the Commander. With a nod of thanks, Raguul sat down.

"Have you finished decoding the message?" he asked.

"Just finished, sir," said Communications. "Putting it on audio now."

Raguul and his bridge crew sat and listened to the voice of Mito Rralgu, the communications officer from

the scouter

Sirroki. Though terse, the message held all the information they had hoped it would.

Getting to his feet again, Raguul turned to Sub-Commander Kolem. "I want yourself, Tactics, Weapons,

and Sub-Commander Chaazu in my briefing room today at the fourth hour. See that the chart of sector

six is set up on the holo-table. Keep the ship on Yellow 2 alert and ensure Chaazu gets the message.

With a week of transit time ahead of us, I want those ground troops of his ready before we reach KX

1311."

"Yes, sir."

"In the meantime, relay that message to my comm. Sholan High Command will want to hear it. The

bridge is yours."

"Aye, sir."

* * *

Raguul was finishing his meal in the bridge mess when he was paged through the comm system.

"Approaching KX 1311 now, sir," said Sub-Commander Kolem's voice.

With a growl of annoyance, he gulped down his mug of c'shar and got to his feet. Changing his mind, he

turned and neatly speared the remaining piece of meat with a clawtip. These disturbed meals weren't

doing his gut-ache any good. Up until a week ago this had been a boring, routine mis-sion. He had a

feeling it wasn't going to last. Mop-up oper-ations had a way of getting very messy.

Kolem rose and stood aside for the Commander.

Raguul waved him back. "Sit, sit. I'll stand for now," he said, looking at the view screen displaying the

KX 1311 sys-tem. "I presume there's no sign yet of that back-up we were promised?"

"Not yet, sir."

A sudden burst of sound filled the bridge, then stopped.

"Our long-range scanners have activated a coded message from the life pod, sir," said the comm officer.

"Get onto it immediately," said Raguul.

''I'm picking up an incoming signal in sector five, sir," said Navigation. "It's an Alliance fleet identity. They

should be on screen any moment now."

A portion of the upper right-hand quadrant of the screen appeared to waver, then steady as a group of

ships material-ized out of jump.

"Identities coming in now, sir. Battleship Cheku, accom-panied by the cruisers T'chelu, Rryabi, Vriji,

and the Vek'ihk, a Sumaan craft."

"Signal from the Cheku, sir," said the secondary commu-nications officer. "Cheku's comm officer says

Commander Vroozoi wishes to speak to you in private. He adds that the tanker and escort ships are

following."

"Patch it through to my briefing room," said Raguul, turn-ing away from the screen.

"Force Commander," said Raguul, a flick of his ears ac-knowledging the other's superior rank. "What

can I do for you?"

"Raguul. I see you struck it lucky this time," said Vroozoi. "High Command says you've found a den of

these Others."

"Yes, Commander. As you know, our report says there are only a few thousand of them on the planet.

Though I doubt we'll need all your firepower, it's still comforting to have it. We aren't equipped for an

extended military campaign."

"Each to his own, eh, Raguul?" Vroozoi dropped his mouth in a lazy smile. "That's why we're here." His

tone changed and became sharper, more businesslike. "I want you to join me an hour from now for a

tactical briefing. You'll get a copy of your new orders then. Your assault craft will remain on the

Khalossa, but they and their crews will form an integrated part of my task force. Once the planet has

been secured, you'll be in charge of the diplomatic side. I'll see you within the hour," he said, reaching

forward to close the channel.

Raguul frowned at the comm. He'd come across Vroozoi before. An ambitious male, that one,

determined to climb as high as he could within the forces. Rumor had it that there were more than a few

people who had had the misfortune to be between him and what he wanted. Their shattered careers

littered his past like fallen leaves. Raguul didn't intend to become one of them.

He sighed and, leaning forward, paged Myak, requesting him to join him. Switching off the comm, he got

to his feet and headed back to his bridge.

Sub-Lieutenant Draz looked up from the scanner display as the Commander reentered the bridge.

"Scans show no sig-nals going in or out. I'd hazard a guess that our people have done some heavy

damage to their coastal base. The Others appear to be blind and deaf."

"Let's hope you're right. The last thing we want is a pro-longed campaign. I'll take that seat now, Kolem,"

he said. "Order my shuttle made ready. I'm to join Vroozoi on the Cheku within the hour."

"Yes, sir," said Kolem, hurriedly standing up and moving to one side.

"Message decoded, sir. It's for our resident Leskas," said the communications officer.

"What?" Raguul swung round to face him.

"It's from the Sirroki's telepath, Kusac Alda, to our Leska pair."

"You said that," said Raguul testily. "What's it say?"

"It's security coded, sir," the comm officer said apologet-ically.

"Then pass it on, and tell them I expect an explanation," said Raguul, pressing his hand to his stomach as

a stab of pain hit him. He grimaced as he kneaded his gut to relieve the pressure. He just knew this

mission was going to be messy. Some people had weather-wise joints. He had a trouble-predicting gut.

"Message incoming from Shola, sir," called out the sec-ondary comm officer.

Raguul stifled a groan. This was all he needed. "I'll take it on the main screen. Patch it through."

The image of Chief Commander Chuz of the Sholan High Command replaced the view of KX 1311.

"Commander Raguul," he said, ears flicking in acknowl-edgment. "You've located the Others."

"Yes, Chief Commander Chuz. We've located some of them at least. Seems they were using this planet

as a hospital and R & R base. They call themselves Valtegans. I'll be able to tell you more when we're in

contact with our people on the surface."

"I want information from these Valtegans as soon as pos-sible, Raguul; so does Alien Relations. I've put

you in charge of interrogating all prisoners. I want to know as a matter of urgency why they destroyed

our colony worlds. AlRel also wants information collected on this new species of natives. Get your First

Contact people onto that. Send us the results of the Sirroki's debriefing as soon as you have it; at least

it'll give us a starting point." He stopped talking to glance briefly to one side.

"I've been asked to remind you to convey the message from Konis Aldatan to Kusac Alda as soon as

possible. Until we received your report regarding the Sirroki and the Others, Konis had no idea where

his son was. Kusac disappeared a year ago and hasn't been in touch since." ^

"I'll pass the message on, Chief Commander."

"Good. Keep me informed of your progress." The screen went blank.

A glass of white liquid appeared in front of Raguul. He took it gratefully from Myak. "Thank you," he

said, down-ing the contents and handing the empty glass back to his ad-jutant. "Couldn't you make it

taste more palatable?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not, sir. I'd have to see the dispensary about that."

"Then do it, please. I've a feeling I'm going to be taking a lot of this vile brew."

"Rhian and Askad, our resident Leska pair, are waiting, sir," said Myak.

"Send them in."

The two telepaths came onto the bridge. One look at the set of their ears and Raguul knew their news

was not good.

"Commander, we're here to report on the message we re-ceived from the life pod. It was from Kusac

Alda, telepath on the Sirroki," said Rhian, the female.

Raguul nodded and waited.

Rhian looked at Askad.

"Well?" prompted Raguul. "One of you had better tell | me!"

"Kusac's requested our intercession on behalf of his Leska," said Askad.

Raguul frowned at them, his ears flicking briefly. "His Leska, you say. As far as I'm aware, he doesn't

have a Leska. Myak, what do you know about this?"

"We have him listed as a grade five telepath, Commander. At that basic a level of talent they don't form

Leska Links," replied his adjutant.

"I'm afraid he has one now, Commander," said Askad. "His Leska isn't a Sholan, she's one of the people

who live on the planet. A Terran."

Raguul closed his eyes. "His Leska is an alien?"

"Yes, sir. He's asked that we meet him on Keiss and…" began Rhian.

"Keiss?"

"What they call their world, sir. He wants us to meet him on Keiss and take charge of his Leska. He's

afraid of her be-ing seen as a specimen for the Medics to study. Apparently she's a healer."

Raguul took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "What in Vartra's name is he trying to do?" The question

was rhetor-ical. "We meet another telepathic species for the first time in five hundred years and he goes

and forms a Leska Link to one of them without even a by your leave! They haven't even been

investigated yet! Surely even the densest cub would be aware of the diplomatic implications. I'll have his

hide on my wall for this!" he promised grimly.

"Commander, you can't create a Leska Link," said Rhian. "It's a gift from the Gods. It just happens to

you, you have no power over it."

"He's not responsible for forming the link, Commander," said Askad.

Raguul let loose a string of invectives. "Then you'd better get permission from Mentor Mnya to go down

to this… Keiss… when it's been secured!"

"Yes, sir."

"See to it now. Dismissed!"

When they'd left, he turned to Myak. "This situation has all the makings of a powder keg ready to blow

up under us. What the hell is Kusac playing at? With his background he should know better!"

"Oh, it gets better, sir," said Myak quietly. "While Rhian and Askad were with you, contact was

established with Cap-tain Garras of the Sirroki. He's requested an armed escort for Iris first officer who

is under arrest for mutiny. He Chal-lenged Kusac Alda against orders. This same male is making

allegations against Kusac of mentally controlling this Terran female and forcing her to become his Leska

for sexual rea-sons. I know, sir," he said, seeing his Commander's eye ridges go up. "That means Kusac

and his Leska will have to face a Telepath Guild hearing."

'"As you said, it gets better by the minute," said Raguul testily. "The Gods know what Vroozoi will make

of all this! So Kusac's a runaway, is he? Well, at least he's shown more spirit than most telepaths! His

father's going to create some

Chapter I

"I think you'd better come and see this for yourselves," called Davis from his concealed position at the

mouth of the cave.

Garras, sitting near the entrance, pricked his ears, turning to face the circle of daylight.

Mito leaped to her feet and ran outside. "They've come!" she yelled, her voice all but drowned out by the

now audible sound of high level airborne vehicles. There was a general rush to the cave mouth as

everyone surged into the open to stare up at the approaching craft. Even as they watched, a group of

them banked toward the Valtegan base, the faint glow of energy weapons lancing down. Plumes of

smoke be-gan to rise, accompanied by the sounds of distant explo-sions.

"All right!" yelled Davies, waving his rifle in the air as a salute to the avenging craft.

"My God, the sky's almost black with them," said Skin-ner, watching as more vehicles headed out

toward Geshader and Tashkerra.

"They certainly know where they're going," said Nelson. He turned to Mito. "Just what did you put in that

message?"

"The location of every strategic Valtegan unit," she said smugly. "It seems they got the message

correctly."

"Get under cover," ordered Skinner. "We're far from safe yet, this is only the beginning." He pointed to

the south where some Valtegan craft had just taken to the air. "If they see us, we've nowhere to hide.

Believe me, within hours this planet will be crawling with Valtegans trying to escape cap-ture. Get

moving!" he bellowed as everyone hesitated, torn between a desire to watch the forthcoming aerial battle

and the need to remain hidden.

There was a mad scramble to get back under cover and to secure a good vantage point at the mouth of

the cave. Garras took advantage of the confusion to have a quiet word with Skinner, who glanced

sharply at Guynor, then nodded. Casu-ally, he went over to Anders and Hughes, drawing them aside. A

few words with them and they returned to the group at the cave mouth, flanking Guynor on either side.

Having observed the interchange, Kusac limped over to where Carrie stood on tiptoe, trying vainly to see

over the heads of Jo, Edwards, and Davies.

"I told you they would come," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You were right," she said, her tone somber. "Time doesn't stop for anyone."

Kusac tightened his grasp reassuringly. "You see your future up there in the skies, not Sholan war craft. I

under-stand," he said.

Come, it's safer if we move away from them, he sent, nod-ding in the direction of Guynor. Anders and

Hughes had just taken hold of the Sholan male, placing him under close ar-rest.

Now the Khalossa is here, Garras doesn't trust Guynor's parole. His hatred of us is so strong he

may not wait for the results of my hearing or his court martial before deciding to take the law into

his own hands.

Carrie turned away from the cave mouth, moving out from under his hand.

"I wish I had your confidence in the future," she said, un-willing to look at him.

Acutely aware of her growing unease and withdrawal from him over the last few days, Kusac took her

by the arm, urging her farther into the cave with him. He led her past the group gathered round the Sholan

transmitter, toward an empty table at the far side of the main cave, sensing as he did so her reluctance to

be alone with him.

Carrie, I think it's time we talked.

For a moment he felt her resist. Then, as he eased himself down with his back to the wall, she slipped

onto the bench facing him. Inwardly he sighed, trying to block his annoy-ance over yet another of her

unsubtle hints that she was a person in her own right, apart from him.

"I prefer to vocalize," she said in Sholan.

Kusac shrugged, leaning his elbows on the table. "It makes no difference to me," he said mildly. "I said it

was time to talk, and it is. I know you can shield some things from our Leska bond, and should I choose

to pry, I could probably find out what." He held up his hand to forestall her as he felt the indignation and

denial that rose to her lips.

"I choose instead to ask you," he continued. "So tell me why this is the first time in three days that we've

been alone."

Carrie examined her hands. "I'm not avoiding you, Kusac," she said at length.

'True," he agreed amicably. "You're just avoiding being alone with me."

"I'm not really. I only want to spend what time I have left on Keiss with my own people. It came as a

shock to realize how soon I would be leaving everything I know behind, and how much there was to

leave."

"You've said these words before, Carrie. While I recog-nize their truth, I'm listening for the words you've

not spo-ken."

Carrie looked up with a faint smile. "I forgot that half truths aren't possible between us."

The smile faded and she sighed, reaching for his hand. She held it between both of hers, stroking the dark

fur be-fore turning it over to look at his palm. It was much like hers, flesh-colored, the fingers long and

narrow. The sharp tipped claws were retracted now.

"You know what I feel about you, Kusac," she said, as he turned his hand to clasp one of hers. "Our

Link makes it im-possible for me to hide it, and I know what you feel for me. Your conviction that our

Leska bond must be like the Sholan one—linked as life-mates, body and mind—frightens me."

His hand tightened on hers, claws automatically coming out, to be retracted almost as soon as they

touched her.

"Do you wish the Link hadn't been forged?" he asked, trying to keep his voice and thoughts neutral.

"No," she replied quickly, frowning. "I don't wish it un-done, but I wish I had had a choice! It seems that

all my life other people or circumstances have dictated what I do. Just for once I'd like to have some say

in the matter."

"What do you want to do?" he asked, cursing inwardly as his tail gave an involuntary flick against her

legs. "Do you want to remain on Keiss?"

"I don't want to stay here," she said. "No, I intend to leave with you. Apart from anything else, we have

to attend your guild hearing and Guynor's court-martial. I wouldn't let you go through those alone no

matter what I felt for you."

"Thank you," he said dryly.

"So much has happened since we left my home," she said, her eyes taking on a distant look. "Do you

realize it was only about a month ago? Who could guess so much could happen in so short a time?"

She came back to the present, giving herself a little shake, a gesture that was almost Sholan.

"I just need some time to adjust to the changes in my life, to decide what I want to do." She looked

intently at him. "Could you do that? Would you let me have some time to myself?"

"If it means so much to you, then take the time that you need," he said, carefully keeping his voice level.

'Thank you," she said quietly. "I know what this costs you." She released his hand and rose from the

table, smiling before she left.

Left alone, Kusac clenched his hands into fists, his claws drawing blood from his palms. The pain

stopped him think-ing, stopped her picking up the worry that would otherwise be in his mind. Facts

about telepathic links, Leska Links in particular, were what he needed. The Telepath Guild's files on

board the Khalossa held the information. Once there he could access them; then he would know for sure

what at least a normal Sholan Leska Link entailed.

For now he needed a distraction, something to do to keep his mind occupied. If only Vanna's medikit

carried some psychic suppressants, he could have escaped the constant iwareness of Carrie that was

rubbing his senses raw. Her de-cision to keep him at a distance mentally and physically was exacerbating

his situation. Unfortunately, investigatory icams like theirs didn't normally include telepaths, so the drug

wasn't contained in the standard medikit.

He heard a cry of pleasure from the direction of the trans-mitter and looked up.

"We're in contact with the Khalossa!" shouted Vanna, catching his eye.

Kusac grinned and, unclenching his hands, pushed himself to his feet and went over to join them.

"How're things going?" he asked her.

"Fine. Six or seven Valtegan ships made it off planet, but were tracked by our craft. Two have been

allowed through the cordon, the others were destroyed."

"Why let two through?"

She shrugged. "I presume to warn the Valtegans that their R and R planet has been returned to its rightful

owners."

Kusac digested this for a moment. "Surely they'll retali-ate?"

"Garras thinks not," said Mito. "If they used Kei^s as a relaxation base, then it must be far enough from

their war zone to be safe. Being at war, they won't want to start an-other one with us, will they? It would

split their resources."

"I expect they'll leave well alone now that they know there are two races capable of retaliating in this

sector of space," said Garras.

"Any other news?" Kusac asked him.

"They plan to airlift us out of here as soon as possible and take us to Seaport to rendezvous with the

Tarran leaders. They're sending down our top negotiators to begin the treaty talks."

"Seaport's a good choice. Part of the original Terran craft is there with their computer records and

transmitters. Any news about the Terran colony ship?"

"They've sent a message for two escort ships to meet it and bring it directly here," said Vanna. "Keiss is

shortly go-ing to seem very crowded."

Kusac nodded. "Life moves on," he said.

Vanna frowned as she looked at him. "That's a strange thing to say."

"It just seems a very rapid solution for a problem that was almost insurmountable a few weeks ago."

"You're being too profound," she said, showing her teeth in a wide Sholan grin.

"There're two personal messages for you, Kusac," said Mito, looking up at him, a strange expression on

her face.

"Personal?" repeated Kusac, looking startled.

"Yes. Rhian and Askad, Leska telepaths on board the Khalossa, thank you for the message and say that

all has been arranged and they will meet you at Seaport."

"Ah," said Kusac, glancing sideways at Garras, ears flick-ing with embarrassment, but the Captain

appeared engrossed in listening to the transmission.

"And your father says he is glad you are well. He says he awaits with interest the pleasure of meeting you

and your Leska."

Kusac took a deep breath. "Damn!" he swore.

All the eyes of the little group were now on him.

"Is there some problem?" asked Vanna quietly.

"Just more complications I could do without," he said, sit-ting down beside her and stretching out his

injured leg. "I'd hoped to tell him myself. I should have known better."

"How, in a military emergency such as this, could he get a message through from Shola?" asked Mito.

"How did he know you'd found a Leska?" asked Vanna. "Did someone on the Khalossa inform him?"

"I don't know," said Kusac, shrugging. "Just leave it, please."

"It seems there's more to you than meets the eye," said Garras, glancing appraisingly at him before

returning his at-tention to the transmitter.

"He must know someone important to be able to use the military communications to send a personal

message during a state of war," Mito continued, unwilling to leave the matter alone.

"I said enough, Mito!" said Kusac, standing up. "Captain, I claim a telepath's privilege of solitude. I need

to leave the cave. Have I permission to go?" he asked curtly.

Garras glanced briefly at Vanna, obtaining an almost im-perceptible movement of her ears in assent. The

risk of him encountering Valtegans on the run was outweighed by his need for solitude.

Lisanne Norman - Sholan 02 - Fortune's Wheel

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