All Enemies Foreign and Domestic (Kelly Blake series) by Rodney Smith

commandos got away clean and no harm came to his wife or the Elder.
          Kelly acknowledged the team leader’s report, but he was left with a cold, hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.   His wife and unborn child were out there, under the control of whoever those raiders were.   He needed to get to the embassy and report this so he could get the forces together to find and free his wife.   The security team didn’t want him to leave, although he informed them in no uncertain terms that he needed to contact his embassy immediately.
          It wasn’t until Baron N’Gana arrived, with Elders J’Kol and G’Tol, that medical care was provided – along with a communicator to contact the embassy.   Kelly informed the duty officer of the situation as best he could; given the adrenaline was wearing off and the pain medication taking effect.   He asked that the Defense Attaché staff be assembled and ready for him as soon as possible.   Kelly finished by saying he would return to the embassy as soon as he could.
          Baron N’Gana, in accordance with treaty protocols, got Kelly’s details of the twin abduction.   Treaty or no, pain medication or no, Kelly wanted to give them all details he could to assist in getting Candy back unharmed.   They only held him for the minimum time needed to get the details of the abduction and released him to a waiting medical team to stabilize his broken bones and an imperial ground car to deliver him to the embassy.
          The embassy triage team met Kelly at the entrance, examined the care given him by the K’Rang medics, and pronounced it excellent after reviewing the med-scans.   Kelly was placed in a hover chair and taken to the secure room where Alistair and the acting ambassador were awaiting him.   He recounted the evening’s events and helped prepare the reports to be sent to Earth.   When they had all the information out of him they could expect to get, they called the doctor in to give him a strong sedative (against his wishes) and set him up on a cot in his office.
     
    * * * * *
     
          The president’s personal aide entered his bedroom and turned on a table lamp.   He said, “Mr. President, wake up, sir.   You have a call from Admiral Craddock.   He says it’s urgent, sir.”
          A groggy president took the phone from his aide, realized if Tom Craddock was calling him at 0300 it must be damned important.   He took a second to sweep the cobwebs from his mind and asked, “What is it, Tom?”
          Admiral Craddock replied in his crisp military style, “Mr. President, we may have a coup in process on G’Durin.   Senior Elder J’Gon has been abducted from his palace.   My son-in-law and daughter were with J’Gon when the abduction took place.   My daughter was taken hostage by the abductors.   Her condition and whereabouts are unknown.   Kelly has a mild concussion and a broken leg from the abduction, and a broken collarbone from an overenthusiastic security member.   He is back at the embassy and sedated.   The K’Rang are downplaying this, but they have their security apparatus on full alert.   A line has been crossed here, sir.   The Elders are supposed to be inviolate.
          “The ambassador has been informed, will leave Earth, and be at the embassy within the hour.   The acting ambassador and chief of station are working the diplomatic and intelligence problems and will issue reports when they have any further information. So far this appears to be an isolated incident.   The other Elders are secure and no other coup activity appears to be in process.   That is all the information I have at this time.   Do you have any questions, sir?”
          The president involuntarily yawned and said, “Tom, keep me informed. Summarize all you just told me for my morning briefing.   If there is anything you need in the way of authorizations or resources, let me know and you have it.