By the time Jacob arrived at the offices of Rowe Enterprises, he was already tired and irritated – a state he was unaccustomed to even if it had been a very long day. He also found himself in need of the bathroom. Striding past Goss’s office, he noted that the door was open, with neither Goss nor Marten anywhere to be seen. It wasn’t unusual – Goss in particular worked to his own agenda, while Marten’s sole purpose in life seemed to be hanging onto his master’s coat tails.
Jacob first visited the restroom and then walked down the hall to his office. Pushing open the door, he was surprised to see Goss sitting behind his desk, apparently trying to access his personal terminal. Marten and Capper were both standing close by.
“Would someone like to tell me what’s going on?” said Jacob.
“I require a copy of the latest intelligence report from Sergeant Powers,” said Goss. “You were not here.” He managed to make it sound very much like an accusation.
“No, I wasn’t,” said Jacob, his irritation flaring. “I was following up a lead.”
“What kind of lead?”
“One relating to Powers, as it happens. But wherever I was, it doesn’t give you the right to walk into my office and access my personal terminal. Certainly not without my permission.”
“I think in this case, it does.” said Goss.
“And I think you forget your place.”
“With respect, I do not.” said Goss, rising to his feet. “Colonel Rowe, it is my duty to inform you that you are relieved of command – effective immediately.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You are relieved of your command, sir,” repeated Goss bluntly.
“By whose authority?”
“The orders come directly from Admiral Haspat’s office at Tarsus Centre.”
“Haspat? Since when has Haspat been involved in operations?”
“Admiral Haspat was promoted to Director of Operations three months ago. I imagine you would have been notified.”
“No, it must have slipped someone’s mind…” Three months ago? Just before you were posted to Tycho, thought Jacob. How’s that for a coincidence…
“If you’d care to check of your personal communications, I believe you’ll find an encoded message from Tarsus Centre confirming the orders,” said Goss, stepping away from the console.
Jacob replaced Goss in front of the screen, waiting until the other man was on the opposite side of the desk before entering his password, a pointless gesture, he soon realized, for there in his inbox was a message from ‘Cousin Robert’ one of several pseudonyms used by Tarsus Centre. He ran the innocuous looking message through the decoding software, and there it was: Relieved of duty with immediate effect… turn over any and all operational data to Major Goss…
“Admiral Haspat feels the intelligence division is in need of reorganization,” said Goss as Jacob looked up from the screen. “Over recent months there have been too many failures, especially here on Tycho. The loss of Agent Kingpin has been especially damaging.”
“I fail to see what the loss of Kingpin has to do with either me or this cell.”
“Call it a symptom of an overall malaise,” said Goss. “The admiral is concerned by the general lack of progress. Despite the number of agents in the field, we are still none the wiser as to the Alliance’s intentions. The admiral feels that you – and others – are no longer making best use of your resources.”
“No longer making best use of my resources?” Jacob almost laughed. “Since my intelligence sources are necessarily secret, I have to wonder how Admiral Haspat could have come to that conclusion.”
“I found it my duty to inform him,” said Goss candidly. “Part of my mission here was to assess the overall efficiency of this cell. I have found it lacking.”
“Is that a fact? And since when have either you or Haspat become experts in handling agents on Tycho?”
“I remind you once again of the orders specifying a period of maximum effort,” said Goss, ignoring the jibe. “Despite my objections, you have repeatedly failed to execute the orders as laid down – orders which were made for good reason. Did you not understand that it is vital to the future of the Combine that we utilize our assets to the full?”
“To the point that some of those assets are exposed?”
“Some sacrifices may well be inevitable. Is that not always the way in war, Colonel?” said Goss. “After all, our armed forces put themselves in harm’s way each and every day. Should we be any different?”
“No, we should not,” said Jacob, “but remember that operatives like Franklin,” and Powers, he might have added, “already are in harm’s way – each and every day. And while new ships can be built and recruits can be trained to order, deep cover agents are not so easily replaced.”
“Strange,” said Goss. “I would have thought that you of all people would have realized the meaning of sacrifice.”
“By which you mean?”
‘I understand your family was lost at the beginning of the conflict.”
“They were murdered by the Alliance – I’d hardly call it a sacrifice.”
“Murdered? Perhaps… Perhaps not. The opening months of the exchange were vicious enough – I suppose it may well have been an Alliance raider. At the very least it’s conveniently plausible. Perhaps you’d be interested to know that my final thesis at the Braga Institute dealt with political decision making during the initial stages if the war.”
“Is that so?” said Jacob.
“During my research, I was allowed access to a number of documents dealing with the first phases of the conflict. One in particular dealt with the loss of the hyper-liner Sunrise on route to Sanda. I have to say, Colonel, that on studying the history of the era, I find it unlikely that the liner in question was destroyed by the Alliance. Far more likely was that the attack was ordered by the Combine high command, a decision made for purely political considerations. A necessary sacrifice, if you will. Forget the fact that the attack took place close to Sanda, out of range of all but the largest of Alliance militia vessels, all of which were accounted for at the time of the attack, I might add. Forget also that no distress call was made until the liner was under fire, apparently from a ship at very close range. Would a Combine flagged liner allow an Alliance gunship to get that close without a challenge? I think not. A Combine warship, on the other hand… Your family hailed from Minden, did it not?”
“It did,” said Jacob guardedly.
“Along with several other systems in the sector, Minden was at the time wavering between the Alliance and the Combine. My understanding is that it was deemed necessary to give some urgency to Minden’s decision making apparatus, and what better persuasion than the callous murder of innocent civilians by agents of the Alliance. Certainly, that is how it was made to appear, and while the official account may read differently, I doubt very much if the victims fell to Alliance guns. Regardless of who was responsible, Minden and her neighbors declared for the Combine a few weeks later, so it seems that the sacrifice was not in vain. Would you not agree?”
“You’re telling me that the Combine government deliberately destroyed a hyper-liner in order to bring Minden into the war on their side? Seriously?”
“Such as the Combine government was at the time, but yes. I imagine they saw it as the most cost effective strategy. Certainly, there are enough historical precedents. The needs of the many…”
“Outweigh the needs of the few…”
“Exactly. You should be proud. Their names are revered even now, so many years after the event, when so many of the dead have been forgotten, or at least reduced to mere statistics.” There was no hint of emotion in Goss’s words, just cold logic.
‘A necessary sacrifice’… it was just a cheap synonym for the consigning of innocent people to their deaths. People died all the time, of course. The lucky ones died peacefully in their beds, victims of nothing more sinister than old age. The almost as lucky might be obliterated by a direct hit from
a heavy caliber weapon – gone in the blink of an eye, or at least in a flash. The not so lucky died in a whole host of ways that didn’t bear much thinking on.
Jacob had never dwelled upon the subject of how his parents and siblings had met their end; whether they were amongst the ‘lucky’ ones who were killed outright, or amongst the not so lucky who lingered in some gruesome way. The only way that he could rationalize it was in the knowledge that by the time the news of their deaths had reached him, their suffering had been at an end. It was cold comfort, but comfort just the same. And then the slightly built, middle aged man had appeared at their memorial tablet and given Jacob’s life new purpose and meaning. But if Goss was right about the fate of the Sunrise, how was he to value that purpose? And as for meaning…
Jacob felt suddenly deflated. He’d given the best years of his life to the Combine cause – the very best years – only for it to come down to this – whatever this was. Perhaps he’d been in the game too long; perhaps it was indeed time for him to leave. The idea felt suddenly appealing. Would he really miss all of this? He decided he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t miss the stress, the constant strain of being on his guard each and every hour of the day. He wouldn’t miss Sgt. Powers or Major Carver or whatever his name was, and he certainly wouldn’t miss Goss. Whatever the truth, it was all beyond his control now. Orders were orders whether he liked them or not. “So what happens now?”
“In accordance with the instructions from Admiral Haspat, you are ordered to hand over any and all information pertaining to this cell – contacts, sources, access codes and action protocols.”
“Fine,” said Jacob, accessing the hard drive and disabling the security features one by one. “There. You’ll find everything you need.” There was surprisingly little – just a file for each contact, each containing the contact history along with the necessary protocols.
“If you’ll permit me?” said Goss, ushering Jacob aside and scrutinizing the monitor. As he scanned the contents of the drive, it seemed to Jacob that the man wore an expression of almost infantile glee. “Yes…” he murmured. “Everything seems in order. I take it there won’t be any further obstacles hidden deeper within the files?”
“No,” said Jacob. “All the security protocols have been removed. You will need to replace them with some of your own – something you should attend to sooner rather than later.”
“Of course.”
“I do have one question,” said Jacob. “What happens to Capper?”
“Capper now reports directly to me,” said Goss.
Jacob looked over at Capper who gave an almost imperceptible shrug, a deep frown lining his normally friendly face. So he knew nothing about this either.
“I imagine that this must all come as a surprise, Colonel. If you have any grievances, you may of course lodge them with Admiral Haspat’s office upon your return.”
“My return to where?”
“You are being recalled to Tarsus Centre,” said Goss, softening his tone. “Admiral Haspat feels it is now time for you to retire from front line service and return home to Tarsus.”
“Tarsus isn’t my home. It never has been.”
“Well, after your debrief, I’m sure you’ll be free to retire to whatever system you choose. Minden, perhaps? Think of it as a reward for many years of fine service. And after the final victory, perhaps even back here on Tycho. But for now, a courier will be leaving Tycho space dock this evening. You will be on it. Marten here will escort you.”
“I think I can manage on my own,” said Jacob.
“My orders are quite explicit, Colonel. Marten will accompany you to Tarsus. In fact, he is at your immediate disposal. I imagine there will be things for you to put in order before you leave. Marten will be happy to help out in any way he can.” Jacob looked over at Marten who nodded obligingly.
“Oh, one last thing, Colonel, I believe you said you were following a lead regarding Powers?”
“Yes, I was,” said Jacob, looking Goss squarely in the eye. He was duty bound to divulge everything he’d discovered at Statham Park, and a voice inside said it would be worth it just to see the look on the younger man’s face. Another voice reminded him that Goss had been sent here as part of his training – to learn his final lessons from the ‘master’. With a little persuasion from the two hundred seventy three lost souls from the Sunrise, the master decreed that some lessons were best learned the hard way. “Unfortunately, the lead turned out to be… a dead end.”
“I see... Well, since you have a ship to catch, I won’t detain you any longer. On behalf of Admiral Haspat, I thank you for your service here on Tycho and wish you a safe journey home.” He nodded to Marten who opened the door and stepped outside, holding the door for Jacob to follow. Jacob looked once from Goss to Marten. Goss’s expression said that the audience was over. Marten’s expression clearly suggested that it was time to leave.
Standing a few feet away, Capper’s face betrayed not the slightest emotion, but as he caught Jacob’s eye he raised a hand and stroked a finger behind his ear. It was one of the many signals they had developed over the years and its meaning was unmistakable.
Danger!
Chapter 28: One Last Hurrah
Tycho City
Jacob owned several properties in and around Tyco City – a legacy of his years at the helm of Rowe & Son. Sergeant Powers would have no doubt labeled him a war profiteer, a charge that Jacob would, in all honesty, have found very difficult to refute. True, he had never been directly involved in either the production or sale of arms, but vessels owned or chartered by Rowe & Son had shipped all manner of war cargo from one side of Alliance space to the other. From iron ore to missile guidance systems, from office chairs to battle tanks, they’d carried it all, and all for a handsome profit. And then Jacob had sold a majority share of Rowe & Son to the armaments board and immediately acquired more wealth than any man could reasonably expect to spend in one lifetime.
The irony that he was at the same time an agent of the Combine was not lost on him. An even larger irony was that his considerable personal wealth was now worth precisely nothing; unless, of course, the Combine was to overcome the Alliance and then Jacob was somehow allowed to return and claim his inheritance.
At present, he wouldn’t give odds of either happening. Capper’s danger signal had told him all he needed to know about the present situation. It was a signal only used in the most immediate and gravest of circumstances, signifying a threat that soldiers on the battlefield would refer to as ‘danger close’ – imminent, mortal danger.
It was a danger he’d one day expected to materialize in the form of an Alliance counter intelligence agent and not from one of his own. He could only wonder what Marten had been instructed to do, and just as importantly, where the orders had originated. He doubted if this was all Goss’s idea. It couldn’t be; Goss didn’t have the authority, though he was certainly arrogant enough. No, it would have to have come from higher up – Haspat, in all likelihood. But why?
Because! Jacob told himself. Haspat wanted results, and in his impatience he’d sent Goss the achiever to hurry things along, and at the same time look for signs of ineptitude or incompetence… or even treachery, he realized. And of course, Goss had made damned sure he found something. But right now the why was irrelevant. The only question on his mind now was whether Marten had been tasked with seeing Jacob safely off planet to whatever fate awaited him on Tarsus, or whether he’d been charged with pulling the trigger himself.
Right now, the two of them were en route to Jacob’s apartment on the top floor of the Niko Building, just a few kilometers from the offices of Rowe Enterprises. As their vehicle wound its way through the city traffic, Marten stared straight ahead, sitting with his arms folded. Jacob glanced once at the man’s jacket, wondering if he was carrying some kind of firearm. Jacob saw no telltale bulges in the material of the coat, but that meant nothing. Combine covert weapons were compact, easy to conceal and above all deadly. For his own part,
Jacob seldom carried one; partly because he had rarely found the need, but mostly because of the complications that would arise if he were to be caught with one in his possession.
Considering Capper’s warning, Marten was sure to be carrying some kind of weapon. Even unarmed, he would be a difficult adversary to overcome. Jacob was trained in the art of self defense but the speed and strength of the younger man would surely tell. Jacob’s only hope was to make it as far as his apartment in one piece. Once there at least he’d have a fighting chance.
It was with no small relief that Jacob saw the Niko Building come into sight. A minute later, the car pulled off the road and entered the building’s parking lot. At this time of the day there were enough people around to make an immediate attempt on his life difficult. He was counting on Marten waiting until they’d reached the privacy of his home.
He got his wish. As the car drew to a halt, Marten stepped out and waited for Jacob to follow. Together they walked through the lobby, Jacob greeting the concierge as they passed by. From there, they took the public elevator to the thirty fifth floor, and thence the private elevator to Jacob’s apartment. Unlocking the front door, Jacob wondered if it might be his final act; if Marten wanted to shoot him in the back, it would be the perfect opportunity. Jacob involuntarily braced himself for a shot that never came. So far, so good.
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