The Quarry

[Rage Menelas]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]They got back to Charlie's tower and went directly to Saar'floe. They were rushing so much that Ryan began to feel like a bank robber trying to get away before the cops arrived on the scene. They went through the take-off sequence and then Charlie took her out of the hanger bay, the entrance closing as she cleared it. Up ahead Ryan could see three unusual skycraft moving in their direction, noisy alarms sounding.

Charlie spun the ship in a tight semi-circle and pitched her nose upward at a sharp rake. He hit the gas. Saar'floe screamed off through the hazy skies, dove into the cloud bank and kept going.

Ryan looked at him sideways. “Was that the police back there?”

“It was,” Charlie affirmed without looking at him.

“Were... they... coming for us?”

“I do not know, my apprentice. And did not wish to query them concerning the matter.”

“So... does this mean we can't come back here...?”

“It would be best to come back only after we solve the riddle of this investigation, I believe.” He looked at his apprentice and winked. “Just to be safe.” He leveled out the ship now, making Ryan arch an eyebrow, and rode laterally through the clouds for several long moments. Up ahead Ryan could see eerie flashes of lightning. “Web up,” Charlie ordered and Ryan noticed he was doing that very thing himself. Suddenly the ship began to exhibit all the traits of a bucking bronco as they got closer to the flashing light show. Ryan did as instructed, covering himself in the sticky webbing. Now he knew what they were doing, heading into one of the polar magnetic zones.

“Want to tell me what's going on...?” he asked.

“I want to make a clandestine exit from this planet. The best way to do that is over one of the poles.”

“Aren't they expecting that?”

“Perhaps... but no sensory suite available can cut through the noise created there. By the time they know we are off-planet we will be far ahead of any pursuit vessel.”

“Why would they be following us?”

Charlie shrugged. “I don't know that they are... but someone in the government is acting as an inhibitor to our investigation... this I feel certain of... and I do not wish to leave anything to chance.”

“But...” Ryan was still somewhat confused by these tactics, “won't we look suspicious... exiting like outlaws?”

“Yes... assuming anyone tracking us can cut clearly through the clutter caused by the magnetic field. But they can't. When we begin to come out of it, we will appear as an intermittent contact on their sensors, jumping all over the place, and then firm up once we are away from the grip of Dalca'odge's magnetic field. At that point I will make a sharp course change. That should leave just enough doubt in anyone's mind... Besides there is a sharp division in jurisdictions. We will be in federation naval jurisdiction as soon as we leave the atmosphere. They are different and quite distinct from the planetary government of Dalca'odge. Any ship that is awaiting us after leaving the planet will be Federation Navy. They may stop us, question us, check our credentials... but then they will allow us to proceed,” Charlie stated succinctly, then added in a bare whisper, “I hope...”