In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

"I can’t see how attacking us can be a part of Lewiston’s plot," she murmured to Corrine. "She has to be doing this on her own."

“I wonder," Corrine said thoughtfully, "if Lewiston expected us to recognize her and refuse to give her group refuge. He could claim we violated maritime law by our refusal. It would be a lever to use against us in Parliament."

"Lewiston has no voice in Parliament. The complaint would have to come from the DeMedicis and Donna DeMedici wouldn’t start something like that unless she was ready to go to war," Katherine objected.

"They’ve opened the tunnel door, Mi’Ladies," Mia informed them, diverting Katherine’s attention from Parliamentary plotting to more immediate concerns. She covered her mouth with her fist to keep from crying out as she watched Zack approach the open doorway. At least no one shot at him right away. His fighters were lined up on either side of the door so they couldn’t be seen by the rooms’ occupants.

“We’ve got an open door in the Lodge," Joseph said. "I read ten heat signatures."

“I’ll notify Lord Vernal," Mia replied.

When Zack joined the fighters waiting at the tunnel mouth, he signaled for the door to be opened.

“Sorry for the delay folks," Zack said, attempting to look as harmless as possible. "If you’ll gather up your stuff, we’ll get you into more comfortable quarters as soon as we can."

As he spoke, he moved slowly toward the infirmary door. The six men gathered on the other side of the room eyed him suspiciously before one of them spoke.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, "I know you. You were on Loki with the unit that saved our butts when the weasels had us pinned down. Jackson, isn’t it?"

"Yes, I was on Loki. Weren’t you with Lewiston’s unit?"

"Yeah, that’s right. I’m Thompson." He swapped looks with the others and a decision seemed to pass between them. "This here wasn’t our idea, sir. When we took service with the DeMedici’s we thought we were mustering out and becoming civilians. Then we hear Lewiston’s taking over and suddenly we’re back in service again, only there’s no uniforms and we’re attacking civilians. We don’t like it. Do you know what’s going on, sir?"

"Yeah, I do soldier. If you six will give me your word not to take any further action, I will explain it to you."

They swapped looks again. "You've got it sir," Thompson, who seemed to have made himself spokesman, replied.

Zack nodded. "Okay, give me a minute." At the other’s nod, he spoke into his com. "Stand down guys, we’re okay here. You can come in and move out the fishers in the infirmary." He touched his com again. "Katherine, Vernal, we have a truce here, but it’s only for these six. I have to settle a few things here, and then I’ll join Vernal. In the meantime, tell Cora to get beds ready for some of the injured fishers."

"Okay. Stay safe, love," she responded. His com beeped Vernal’s acknowledgement.

Zack turned to the waiting ex-soldiers. "Well boys you were right to suspect a rat in the woodpile. First, the DeMedici’s really were looking for immigrants to replace the males who were lost or sterilized during the war. I don’t know what kind of deal they offered you, but whatever it was may not be what Lewiston told you because he has a different agenda. From what we learned, he apparently has a worldwide coup planned. I suspect it’s like that failed coup on Janus just as the war ended. Michaels, our Colonel told me he suspected Lewiston was a part of that. We also discovered that Lewiston is using some kind of drug on Donna Sabina to make her compliant. When this is over, you have my word I will ask O’Teague to speak for you to your Dona."

"What if she won’t take us back?" Thompson asked.

"Then I’ll speak for you to the O’Teague about switching clans," Zack promised. "You understand I can’t guarantee anything, because it isn’t really my decision, but the Laird’s a reasonable woman. In the meantime though, I will have to ask you to leave your weapons behind and we need to put you under guard until this is finished."

The men exchanged looks again and then removed weapons. "Thank you, sir," Thompson said.

In the command center, Katherine breathed a sigh of relief.

“I do like a man who can talk his way out of a fight," Corrine said approvingly. "Now, if only Vernal can be as successful..."

"That may depend on which group Lister is in," Katherine reminded her. "Somehow I don’t see her as being willing to give up world dominance."

"We’ve got more heat signatures, this time on the front and back doors to the barn dome," Mia reported. "I've notified Lolli and Lord Vernal."

"Do we have any visuals yet?" Katherine asked.

"No. No audio either. They seem to have been able to jam the vid signals," Mia reported.

Corrine nodded. "I'm afraid we will have to send out some scouts and have them report back. Mia, while we still have internal communications, notify Lord Zack, Lord Vernal, Master Drover Brinna and Security Spec Nigel that the coms will probably go down as soon as the attackers enter an area. They’ll need scouts and messengers. We will need a few messengers here too."

"Yes, Mi’Lady," Mia responded and began give low-voiced instructions on her com. Shortly thereafter, Rupert, Roderick and two other teenagers appeared in the Command Center.

"Reporting for messenger duty ma’am," the oldest of the girls told Mia who nodded acknowledgement.

Corrine turned to Juliette. "First Daughter Juliette," she said. Juliette jumped and looked at her. "You will be giving instructions to our messengers. Please see they have a place to wait until we need them. You can also make sure that everyone here has food and something to drink. The robochef is over there," she said pointing to the back wall.

Zack saw to the disposal of the six DeMedici soldiers before touching bases with Vernal, who