All That Glitters Ch. 24

"Knowing Omair Noor, it will be difficult for him to sit idly by when such atrocious actions are taken against the innocent, especially if the innocent is his own daughter, even if she is apostate. I'm not sure what he would do when he finds out that Andjuran intends to execute her." Fayad finished.

"That means we have less than a week to plan a rescue and prevent an execution," Ramison stated formally.

"We'll take one of my Valour Class ships," Raymond said. "They have the legs necessary for swift deployment to Anuura. I can do a Space Jump into the compound and catch people by surprise if necessary, while the ship lands to provide a diversion at the local shuttle port. We just need to decide who will go."

"We'll use the Valour," Fiona stated. "I will go, because I can be the biggest diversion by just being there."

"I will go as well," Fayad stated. "As long as you keep Hanalei safe for me. You will need my knowledge of the local community to help you when we arrive."

"WE will go," Hanalei stated, in a no nonsense fashion that brooked no opposition. "You are no longer Tcholla, which means we can be married and I am tired of waiting for you. I will meet your intended Junelliea, and we will have the ceremony. We will form OUR new house."

"I would not go against her wishes, son," Heist noted, with a smile. "She is one very formidable lady and lucky for you, she is on your side."

"Have you chosen a name for your new house?" Fiona asked, trying hard to suppress a smile.

"Piscium," Hanalei said.

"Why Piscium?" asked Fayad, curious.

"It is where your fortunes and mine, changed. It is significant in your life and also in my life. It is where you made your small fortune and where you finished your act of contrition, your Tcholla." Hanalei informed him.

"Piscium is not a name that follows the old forms," Fayad told her.

"It wouldn't be the first time that a non-traditional name was used to form a new house," Hanalei returned. "Besides, it is unusual enough to stand out and to easily be recognized by the community."

"We'll discuss it," Fayad said.

"You will discuss it," Hanalei said. "And then you will agree with me."

There wasn't anything further Fayad could say, so he wisely didn't.

Both Fiona and Gillaya tried unsuccessfully to hide the smiles from their faces.

Courtyard of the Grand Temple of Andanii, Aereet City, Andanii District, Planter Anuura

The first day of the second month had arrived. Wassim Andjuran and his clique had been stirring up the members of the church by stating they had captured an apostate member who had been on the run for many years and who had been actively criticizing and insulting the church in Union space. They had told the populace that this person had been actively undermining the credibility of the church in the eyes of the Terran Union Government Authority and deliberately working to destroy the validity of the church in Union space.

This brought the population to a fever pitch, and they were ready for blood, which Wassim intended to provide with a scourging.

There would be three people being scourged today, all three vehement opponents of Wassim Andjuran, the Chief Cleric, and if they spoke out against the Chief Cleric, they spoke out against the Church.

First was Sa'ir Boutros, who had spoken out against Andjuran's handling of certain Church matters that should have been handled by the Matriarch of Andanii and not by the Chief Cleric.

Andjuran had no official wife, and did not want the elected Matriarch of Andanii, the wife of one of the Senior Clerics, to act in her official capacity, so prevented her from coming to the temple. Sa'ir had spoken out against this and about edicts Andjuran had enacted without the support or advice of the Matriarch of Andanii.

Wassim had Sa'ir dragged from within the compound and stripped naked in front of the population. His hands had been tied at the wrists and those ties were slung through rings at the tops of two poles several feet apart. His feet were tied to the poles and stretched out so that he was just barely standing on his toes. Najmaddin Anduura, Wassim's foremost henchman, came forward with a whip in hand.

"This man has spoken out against the Church of Andanii! He is to be scourged with twelve lashes!" Wassim shouted above the din the crowd was making.

Anduura stepped up and struck the first blow with the whip. It left a long, ragged slash across Sa'ir's back, who screamed in pain and shock. Again and again, Anduura struck the man's back as the crowd loudly shouted out each stroke. By nine, the man had fallen unconscious, dangling from his wrists. The crowd was undeterred, they wanted the full count, and the got it. When the twelfth stroke touched Sa'ir, his back was a bloody mess.

Sa'ir was unceremoniously cut down and dragged away. His family had paid handsomely though, so they took his mangled body and ran off with him to medical aid to the jeers of the crowd.

Urrab Najjiran, was next. He too was unceremoniously stripped in front of the crowd and tied to the poles. But Urrab was a young man, a good man, and known to the crowd. Those in the front ranks, all people who supported Andjuran, still shouted for punishment, but those behind were shouting for justice. Words that Andjuran didn't want to hear, there being a great difference between justice and punishment.

Andjuran spoke about how Urrab had spoken out against his proposals to aid those who had lost much, how Urrab had tried to stop this support to the community.

Urrab, however, had spoken out against the aid having strings attached to it that prevented those receiving it from speaking out against Andjuran. Urrab had said a gift with strings attached to it was not a gift, but bribe from the Chief Cleric. Such bribes were not in the spirit of community support to those in need.

Andjuran, of course, got his way, forcing those who took the 'gift' of need from speaking out against him. Urrab continue to press the issue, claiming that such gifts were not in the spirit of community that the Chief Cleric should be espousing. Andjuran had him brought in and, under torture, Urrab had confessed to acting against the Chief Cleric and the Church. He was to be scourged today and renounced by the community in two days time, on the third day of the second month.

Andjuran had no plans for Urrab to survive his scourging and had asked for twenty lashes. He gave the nod to Anduura who, knowing his master, laid in with a vengeance. Each stroke pulled more flesh from Urrab than had been pulled from Sa'ir. Each stroke laid more and more of his back bare. Each stroke brought Urrab closer and closer to death from shock.

The blows were so strong and damaging that Urrab had feinted on the sixth stroke. By the twelfth, he was barely breathing. By the twentieth, he was barely clinging to life. He was unceremoniously cut down, but his family was prevented from giving him aid, as he was to be renounced on the third day of the month. His body was dragged back into the Grand Temple. He would die later that day, his unattended injuries bringing about his death.

"And now the last and worst of the three," Andjuran roared. "An apostate female who has spoken out in villainous manner against the church out there! Out in the Union! She has painted the church in the vilest of lights to all who would listen to her!

"I, the Chief Cleric, demand for her the most extreme punishment for her crimes, EXECUTION!" Andjuran shouted and his followers followed with screams of their own.

"EXECUTION! EXECUTION! EXECUTION!" They shouted again and again, until the woman was led, naked from the temple.

On seeing the woman, the crowd suddenly lost much of its power. The woman was already naked, gagged, and stumbling, barely able to stand.

Henadi, was of course, embellishing her condition for the sake of the crowd. She had not been fed more than a few times since she had arrived, so her stumbling was only partially an act. Her body was black and blue from the way it had been handled by those bringing her to Andjuran. Her stumbling movements were meant to show the crowd how badly she had been handled, allowing her to show her injuries to as much of the crowd as possible, and it provoked anger in the crowd.

"What have you done to this woman, Andjuran?" a voice demanded from the crowd. A low murmur of discontent could be heard.

"Why is she gagged, Andjuran?" another voice asked. "All are permitted to speak when being punished according to the Laws of Andanii!" the voice continued.

"Why is she injured, Andjuran?" another voice demanded. "What have you done to her? Have you defiled her Andjuran?"

"In the Temple?" asked another voice, in shock.

"Have you thus defiled the Temple?" more people asked.

This was not going the way that Andjuran had anticipated. Not going as he wanted, not at all.

"This woman is a criminal apostate! And you would ask for leniency for her?" he shouted against the crowd, suddenly bringing it to silence.

"She is gagged to prevent you from hearing the lies she would cry forth! She is naked because she has not cooperated with her guards, not even when given the chance to conduct bodily functions. Her body has not been defiled by the Temple Guards nor by me! She will be scourged today, and she will be executed in two days time!" Andjuran roared.

Andjuran's faithful roared with him, but those behind them were suddenly silent. Andjuran didn't notice. He heard only his faithful.

The woman was bound to the poles and Andjuran stepped forth again.

"Twelve strokes for this criminal apostate!" he shouted, to the roar of his followers. It was not his intention to have her die of shock from the scourging.

Anduura stepped forth and struck the first lash, forcing a scream from Henadi that was muffled by the gag.

Henadi couldn't believe how painful the whip was as it touched her back for the first time. Fire tore through her back, exploding along her nerves. Tears stung her eyes, but she saw how Andjuran was gleefully enjoying her 'punishment'. She was determined not to give him anymore pleasure.

The second lash struck her and she jumped, but she didn't cry out. Again and again, the whip touched her back, and still she refused to cry out. Each lash brought stubborn determination from her.

The crowd was going silent and Andjuran was becoming afraid. The crowd was beginning to chant the number of strokes, but not in a gleeful manner. The numbers were called out quietly, resolutely, admiringly. Andjuran was suddenly aware that the crowd was beginning to side with this woman!

He couldn't believe the strength in this stubborn woman. He looked into eyes filled with hate, directed at him. Fear began to bloom in his heart.

This woman could destroy me! he thought to himself. I must complete her execution!

Henadi endured the twelve strokes and stood as best she could while being tied. Her bindings were cut, she stumbled but did not fall. Slowly, painfully slowly, she turned in the direction of the Grand Temple, and stepped forward. Pain blazed in her back, causing her to stumble, but she resolutely held her head high and took pace after faltering pace toward the temple until she reached the first flight of steps.

The first step up, almost did her in. She couldn't believe how much extra pain that step up caused her, but she managed it and the next and the next. She reached the first level, and drunkenly swayed forward moving to the next small flight of stone steps. She didn't make it.

The world suddenly lost it's focus to her and she felt herself beginning to sway uncontrollably. Hands grabbed her. Female hands. The tears in her eyes blurred her vision, so she couldn't tell who had grabbed her, but two women put her arms over their shoulders and helped her into the Grand Temple. Somewhere between the steps and the coolness of the interior of the Grand Temple, Henadi lost consciousness.

Andjuran was left alone in the middle of the Grand Square, unable to decide what to do.

"Andjuran, what have you done?" asked a vaguely familiar voice from the crowd.

The crowd, as one, turned their backs on Andjuran even his 'faithful' followers. Fear bloomed once more in Andjuran's heart and he ran from the open square, up the steps and into the Grand Temple.

"That Bitch!" Andjuran screamed in his private rooms. "I WILL have her head!"

The Valour, High Orbit, Planet Anuura, Caiden System, Fifty-Six Light Years from Terra

The Valour came into the system in high orbit and slowly made its way down to the planet. As she slipped down, she let two small objects out of her main hatch.

The objects were two pods heavily painted with absorption coating. The momentum of the Valour allowed the two pods to move down into the atmosphere on a trajectory that would eventually bring them over the Andanii District of the planet.

The Valour would also make its way to the Andanii District, later in the morning, being the obvious distraction that would help hide the two pods, which had now separated a considerable distance from the ship.

As the pods hit the atmosphere, they began to glow, much like meteorites would do. The two objects fell in trajectories that mimicked falling meteorites and exploded together high above the planet's surface, raining smaller pieces of debris in in all directions for planetary radar to follow.

Two people were ejected from the pods just before they exploded. They were wearing space jumper gear, which consisted of a specialized Jumper Suit heavily coated in absorption dye. The two opened their arms and legs and the excess material caught the thin atmosphere of the high altitudes, giving them limited control over their 'flight'.

They had only an hour to get to the surface before the arrival of the morning sun, so they folded their arms and dived down through the thickening air, occasionally opening their arms and legs to slow themselves down. Eventually, they made it down to a level that they could actually breath the air and they opened their oxygen masks for their first breath the planet's air.

At three thousand feet, they opened their chutes, well away from the compound they were aiming for. The chutes were highly aerodynamic and could fly to a limited extent. They directed themselves towards the roof of the compound they were attempting to get too, the dark of the moonless night hiding their flight down, both of Anuura's moons having set much earlier.

The two flared at the same time, quietly touching down and swiftly deflating their chutes. They swiftly bundled them and disposed of them behind a convenient piece of discarded wood, temporarily hiding them.

It would be light soon, and they wanted to be in position before the Valour touched down.

The Valour, Aereet City, Planet Anuura, Caiden System

The Valour made a great show of entering the atmosphere in the early morning, intending to be on the ground by 08:00 local time. As soon as the Valour announced herself and her intended landing point, Planetary Control asked of Director Fiona Marsh was aboard.

"Planetary Control, this is Commodore Fiona Marsh of the Terran Union Navy, commanding the Piscium System Defence Force. Is there a reason why you are looking for Director Marsh?" she asked sweetly.

"Valour, be advised that there is an arrest warrant for one Fiona Marsh, Director of Liamor-23. How do we know that you are not one and the same? And if not, how do we tell the difference?" asked Planetary Control.

"Simple, I will be in uniform," she returned. "I guarantee that if you arrest me, there will be hell to pay.

"I am here to conduct the arrest of Senator Wassim Andjuran, under warrant from the Terran Union Senate for misappropriation of funds from a senate controlled organization. Wassim Andjuran is temporarily stripped of his senatorial privileges until such time as this investigation is completed.

"As this is a Terran Union Warrant, it supersedes any and all local warrants for the arrest of Senator Wassim Andjuran. Any and all persons who oppose this action will be considered accomplices to Senator Wassim Andjuran, and may be subject to arrest under this warrant, or be subject to arrest under Anuuran Law for interfering with a police matter," Fiona finished.

"Commodore, why would the Senate send a Navy Commodore to arrest Wassim Andjuran and not a member of the IPPF?" Planetary Control asked, pointedly.

"Control, we have IPPF with us. We are also looking to confirm if Wassim Andjuran has one Henadi Noor with him. If so, he is subject to charges of kidnapping and forceable confinement. Henadi Noor is a free citizen of the Terran Union and a Captain in the Terran Union Navy. As such, the kidnapping of this person is a Union level offence and the reason I am on this vessel," Fiona finished.

"Valour, we have no indication that Henadi Noor is on this planet, however, Henadi Noor is a citizen of this planet and a member of the Church or Andanii," Control returned.

"Control, Noor is an apostate member of the church, and as such, would never return to Anuura under normal circumstances. If she is here, it is against her will," Fiona replied. There was a long pause before Planetary Control spoke again.

"Valour, you are permitted to proceed to the requested landing zone. Local IPPF have been notified of your intentions and will meet you at the landing zone. Cooperate with local authorities in this issue," Control ordered.

"We understand, Valour, out."

The Valour set down twenty minutes later and was swiftly surrounded by local police. The hatch opened and seven people stepped out, Commodore Fiona Marsh and her aide-de-camp, Commander Helga Hellebore in full Navy regalia stepped forward with a civilian wearing an IPPF badge. Behind them was Gillaya, Fiona's bodyguard, and Fayad Ouihya and Hanalei Anar both in PSS accompanied by Lieutenant Ululla Mbibo, armed to the teeth and in full Marine regalia.

The local police backed away several steps as the people descended the ramp. They were met with a delegation in local clothing, who wore IPPF badges.

I am Chief Superintendent Faarooq Burhan, Director of Operations IPPF on Anuura," the man stated.

"Carolyn Justine, Special Agent Special Operations Officer Level 8 for Special Operations Group 3, IPPF Terra, responsible for issues within the Senate of the Terran Union," she stated, showing her ID from her comp.

"We are here on a warrant from the Senate for Senator Wassim Andjuran, who is suspected of misappropriations of funds from the Human Resources and Refugee Committee, of which Senator Andjuran is a member," she pulled up the relevant files and showed that to C. Supt. Burhan and sent him a copy.

"Commodore Fiona Marsh is here on an issue related to Captain Henadi Noor, who we believe was kidnapped by Wassim Andjuran and who we believe is here at the Grand Temple. If this is so, then Wassim Andjuran will be arrested on charges of kidnapping and forceable confinement of a free citizen of the Terran Union, and the kidnapping and forceable confinement of a Captain of the Terran Union Navy. These are serious charges and must be dealt with together and immediately," Justin finished.

"Why the rush?" Burhan asked.

"We believe that Andjuran plans to execute Henadi Noor as a criminal apostate today at the Grand Temple," Fiona interjected. "We need to get to the temple, find Andjuran and find Henadi Noor before that can happen."

"Shit," was all that Burhan said before turning and calling out in the local language and started running toward the temple, three kilometers away. Ground vehicles were not permitted within the greater compound of the Grand Temple, which the Shuttle pad abutted.

Grand Temple of Andanii, Aereet City, Planet Anuura, Caiden System