Cracks in the Spires

40: Shifting Sands

Asken Verde had spent the night with his Pcoms virtually glued to his ear listening to reports and trying to decide whether they should evacuate the citizens of UpCit down to Hi-Mid. The problem wasn't so much where to put them as how to do it without causing massive panic. He and Varlon were crouched near the bottom of the tunnel on a couple of cushions trying to make themselves heard above the hubbub of several hundred people.

"You've got to order it Asken. There may well be panic but Stravel is clearly waiting for reinforcements. Once they arrive he can round up everyone in UpCit and then he's got hostages for our surrender unless you want to see upwards of 200,000 people slaughtered or shipped off to be slaves."

"I agree with you except the evidence Arn and the others are taking to the Free Isles should stop the use of projectile weapons. Then we have numbers on our side."

"But can you be sure? Kvernstat will protest but will Denil? The elites control that City and they have more to gain by supporting each other than falling out. You're assuming the rules will hold but would Futura being doing this if they thought that?"

"No possibly not. We need to prod Stravel to do something but those damn weapons mean he has an overwhelming advantage. If we attack him we're likely to lose hundreds of men for every one of his. We've done as much as we can by subterfuge and traps. We can't deny him power because the Spires have their own supply. We can't poison the water because it's the whole City's supply." Asken heaved a huge sigh "Damn, damn, damn. What have we overlooked?"

"Nothing. He can't find us. We can wage a covert war against a couple of hundred or even a couple of thousand. Look, the boys interview last night may have had you rolling your eyes but it worked. People have been contacting admin, that's how we know they raided the food depot. Clear out UpCit and in order to get to us they've got to come down the vators or fight their way in through level 50 and that's not easy. They have to come up the ramp to the gates and if we put a few of the captured projectile weapons down there that puts them at a disadvantage. They can't blast their way in because it is also the reservoir wall. They can seize our crops but we've got mycro-protein plants to feed the citizens."

Asken nodded reluctantly. It was the least worst option. "Let's get D.A. Gore down here and the resource and maintenance managers. We're going to need to know where to put people and how to feed them. Otherwise it'll be chaos everywhere."

The plateau was being cleared of all signs of use. The prisoners from the raid were loaded and secured and it was just a case of waiting for the light to strengthen before the skimmers could take off. In the meantime the portable solar generators were being loaded into the heavy lifter. Food and water were being brought up the tunnel and stowed in the skimmers for the pilots. Per and Arn had been co-opted onto loading duties; Ben and the others along with the spare guards were picking up empty food containers, water tubes and other signs of occupation and dumping them inside the tunnel. Pilots were in their machines checking them ready for take off. Evrin standing on the rocks outside the tunnel and watching the purposeful activity thought that the plateau would be cleared within ten or fifteen minutes. He wondered whether to contact his boss and check if they were to keep a look out on the ridge then thought Asken was probably busy enough and it wasn't a decision that needed to be made now. The short wave radio sprang to life with the KFI call sign. Throwing caution to the winds he leapt down the rocks and flung himself down by the radio.

"This is Kvernstat Free Isles station acknowledge, acknowledge, this is..."

Evrin pushed the transmit button "Acknowledged, KFI this is Esperance."

""Have your people left with the evidence?"

"They are about to take off."

"Then stop them. I'll explain but do it now. It's vital." The strain and tension in Jorni ten Dostra's voice made Evrin act without hesitation.