id.

Dave risked a look around the corner, then stood with a sigh of relief.
The person at the entrance was wearing power armor, which satisfied him
that she was what she was supposed to be. "I'm tossing the gun out,"
he said, doing so. Then, raising his hands, he stepped out of cover.
"Boy, am I glad to see you! Ranger Tarlac needs a medalert team, with
a lifepod."

"He's here?"

"Yes, sir--I'll show you."

"Wait one." Dave couldn't hear what she said next, but what his
mother's stories had led him to expect was confirmed when she said,
"They're on the way. Let's go."

Dave led her to his patient, not at all surprised when she swore
bitterly before picking up the unconscious man. "The team'll meet us
outside--they'd never get a pod in here."

"Yes, sir." Dave led the way again, blinking as he emerged from the
dimness into bright afternoon sun. A couple of decade Marines in power
armor were guarding the perimeter of a new clearing, while several more
in camouflage battledress held a number of rebel prisoners at gunpoint
near one edge. The medalert team had obviously been in readiness
nearby, because a lander with medical markings was already settling
toward the clearing's center.

An armored Marine with captain's bars and "Chiun" stencilled on her
helmet gestured the one carrying Tarlac toward the medical lander, then
turned her attention to Dave and stood silently looking at him for
several moments before she removed her helmet and smiled. "You'd be
David Scanlon, then?"

When he nodded, surprised, she gave him a half-bow--people in power
armor didn't offer to shake hands--and said, "Captain Heidi Chiun.
Pleased to meet you. Now that we have Ranger Tarlac safe, an assault
group will be hitting the main rebel camp. The Empire owes you some
powerful thanks, young man."

"My pleasure," Dave replied, wanting to be polite though he wasn't
quite sure which statement he was responding to. Then curiosity took
over. "How did you know me? And why're you here now instead of
tomorrow?"

"Two questions, one answer." Chiun frowned. "One of the rebels
reported the torture and rescue to us, through the local IntelDiv
office. Unfortunately, we couldn't get him out; he was killed while he
was still on the screen. That's something we don't intend to have
happen to you; His Majesty invites you to stay on the Empress Lindner
until it's safe for you to go home, probably sometime after Ranger
Tarlac recovers a