No Surrender - Jeff Mariotte [18]
“I have with me nearly a hundred prison guards and staff—tools of the corrupt government. We have offered them the opportunity to join our movement, and many of them have agreed, because they understand that they were used by an unjust system to oppress their fellows. Others, however, have declined to join us. I am sorry to say that, unless the Aulyffke, Regent of Kursican, and his puppets step down from their posts within one Kursican day, these hostages will be killed. And that regrettable act will only be the first of many. Aulyffke, you will not survive another day and night, and neither will those who help you cling to power. Unless you step down, blood will flow. It is in your power to prevent this bloodshed. If you have any decency whatsoever, any love for the people you claim to represent, you will announce your abdication from power immediately.
“Additionally, all Federation personnel, including the Starship da Vinci, must leave the system at once, or risk being violently expelled.
“Bradford out.”
Malkety shut down the broadcast instantly, lest the source be traced back to this forgotten outpost.
“How was that?” Bradford asked.
Around him, his people broke out in cheers.
“Is that the Gus Bradford you remember?” Bart asked.
“Yes and no,” Gold said. “He’s every bit as stubborn as I remember him. But a good deal less sane, I would say.”
“Well, yeah,” Bart said. “I mean, he was a starship captain, right? He would have to have been more sane at some point. He sounds pretty much like a madman now.”
They were in Gold’s ready room, watching the recording for the third time with Carol and David McAllan, the ship’s tactical officer. It had been broadcast all over the system, and Gold had relayed it on to Starfleet. The official response had been to stay and collect Ambassador Uree, after which the Kursicans could deal with their own problems. “Collecting” Uree could be tricky, though, since Gold had no idea where on the three planets Bradford and his hostages were.
But maybe the Kursicans did….
“Get me Aulyffke,” he said. A few moments later, the Kursican Regent appeared on the viewscreen.
“Yes, Captain Gold? I have a bit of an urgent situation developing here, as you are no doubt aware, so I cannot spare you much time.”
“I don’t need much time, Regent. I want to talk to Gus Bradford. Surely you have some way of contacting him to discuss his demands.”
“He is a terrorist,” the Regent said flatly. “We will not negotiate with him.”
“I’m not asking you to; I’m simply asking if you know how to reach him.”
“I am given to understand that he is an old friend of yours, Captain Gold,” Aulyffke replied. “How do I know you aren’t working with him?”
Gold shook his head wearily. “Because I represent the Federation that he hates?”
“This is true,” Aulyffke granted.
“So, how about it?” Gold pressed. “How do I reach him?”
The Regent hemmed and hawed, then finally said, “We not only know how to get in touch with him, Captain—we know where he is.”
Gold bit back a comment about how stunned he was that the Kursican government had actually managed to accomplish something on its own. “Good. Where?”
“A base in orbit around Val’Jon. And we plan to obliterate it.”
“What!” Gold leaned forward. “You can’t do that!”
“We do not negotiate with terrorists, Captain Gold,” Aulyffke repeated. “That is a cardinal rule. There are no exceptions.”
Gold’s mind raced furiously. He pictured Deborah and little Ben—then pictured them being vaporized. “Give me an hour, Regent, please.”
“To do what?”
“What you’re not willing to do—save lives.”
“Captain—”
“You may not negotiate with terrorists, but I’ve been ordered to save the lives of Ambassador Uree and the other two Federation citizens he’s holding. Those orders came from the same Federation