‘Yes, Sir,’ Drake nodded.
Crane stared directly at Chloe, ‘General Armitage, I will hold you to your word - I expect the heads of the Mirovar cell on a platter within a week.’
‘Yes, Sir, certainly Sir.’
The meeting turned to other operational topics which engaged Marcus Drake, Washington Jones, and Haras Mosule. Chloe gave her respects, left the room, departing to the adjoining Shadowstone airfield where a hypersonic drone was waiting for her. Half an hour later, she was at 82,000 feet with the digital windows open, she normally enjoyed the near space view of the Earth curving beneath her, but not on this flight.
That was close.
She tapped the end of her armrest with her finger.
Now I have to work out how to draw out the Mirovar team in a week. Francis Mirovar is a very slippery fish - just how am I going to do this?
It was not often that Chloe felt rushed by shifting circumstances, she did not like it, not one bit.
Why did I make that promise? ... There was no other way. I will have to adapt, and adapt quickly; and what of Crane’s new super soldiers, what are they really and how can I turn them to my advantage?
General Chloe Armitage spent the rest of the flight reconsidering and adapting her plans.
Chapter Four
BODY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SHADOWSTONE
INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
COUNTRY: (U) UNITED STATES (USA)
THE GENERAL SITUATION:
A. THE OPERATIONAL TEMPO OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS WITH A REVOLUTIONARY AGENDA HAS BEEN STABLE SINCE THE LAST REPORT.
B. THE ORDER OF THOTH IS THE PRIMARY TERRORIST ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. THE RED EMPIRE HAS NO IDENTIFIED OPERATIONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
C. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, ABANDONED SAFE HOUSES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AT GRAY MOUNTAIN COCONINO COUNTY, ARIZONA, AND AT NARRAGANSETT RHODE ISLAND.
(... REDACTED IMAGES ...)
D. ANALYSIS OF EVENTS INDICATE AT LEAST FOUR OPERATIONAL ORDER OF THOTH CELLS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
TOP SECRET/FGEO
RQ
#5390
NNNN
CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET, SECRET
- Content from a partially declassified preliminary Shadowstone information report.
* * *
Boston
June 10th
07:00
Bright sunlight splashed off the iron roofs of the outdoor farmers’ market.
Anton pushed a shopping trolley along one of many market aisles, on both sides were arrays of fresh produce, Li selected and purchased items, crossing them off a list as Anton placed them into the trolley.
Gang had given Li and Anton the list earlier that morning and asked them to go to the market for supplies to cover the family’s needs for the next week. Normally, all the food would be brought in bulk and delivered fresh to the Noodle House for the weekend trade, but not today, as the restaurant was not taking bookings for the weekend. Gang had emphasized the need to ensure that there was no one around if the Tiger Clan showed up in force.
Anton reflected on the way that Gang had spoken.
He believes there will be a confrontation tonight.
Anton did not feel any concern for what might happen. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and Li smiled as she handed him a bag of apples. He wore a new gray hooded sleeveless top, his peaked cap and sunglasses. His garments matched the warmth of the day and kept his face away from prying cameras.
It was peaceful and pleasant; he was enjoying being with Li while not being hit by her. The training sessions all week had been especially tough, his bare arms revealing bruises, scrapes and a sutured cut where Li had allowed her sword strike to make contact.
They had shifted from the Hardwood Bokken to metal swords five days earlier. Initially, Anton had been deeply worried that he might accidentally hurt Li. By the end of the first day with the katanas, he realized that there was no chance that he would make contact with her as she was always a step ahead of him.
Anton and Li were nearing the end of the aisle, Anton could see that the list was nearly complete and the trolley was filled with all manner of fresh fruits, and vegetables. Li suddenly jumped backward, as something big and hard hit him from behind his left shoulder, throwing him into a display of cabbages, the trolley went flying, tipping over onto its side, spilling everything they had bought onto the floor.
Rebounding back to his feet, Anton stood next to Li. The stall holders were screaming at him in angry Chinese; he ignored them as Li and himself were surrounded by six of the gangsters from the previous Saturday night.
Li whispered quickly, ‘don’t kill anyone, we need to get away from here.’
Directly in front of Anton was Sleazy, the one who had insulted Li. The gangster flipped open a pair of butterfly knives, one in each hand, and lunged at Anton. Anton ramped, immediately turning outside the lunge, and trapping Sleazy’s right wrist. With a quick twist, he snapped the bones and Sleazy screamed, slashing wildly at Anton with his other hand. Stepping back, Anton dodged aside as the rest of the gangsters attacked.
Anton saw two of the gangsters going after Li, they were unarmed, except for wet cloths. A sudden memory erupted into his mind, of Marcus Drake and a drugged cloth.
A snatch and grab, the cloths will be doped.
The Ramp faded and Anton slowed down, instantly running out of space, blades came from all directions, it was impossible to see and dodge everything slashing toward him.
Suddenly ramping, Anton trapped a stabbing arm, dragging the gangster forward, and driving the knife he was holding into the lunging arm of one of the other gangsters. Using the man’s body as a pivot, he leaped over him, collecting another gangster in the face with his knee as he went over the top of the ring of men around him.
Now behind the gangster, he kicked out the man’s left knee, pushing him hard back into the melee where he toppled over one of the other men dragging them both to the floor. The man with the broken knee began rolling on the ground clutching his shattered joint and groaning with agony, while another gangster dragged a bloody knife from his forearm.
To his left, he heard a guttural scream and he glanced to see Li standing a yard in front of the looming form of Fats while another gangster rolled on the ground, his right elbow bent backward at an extreme and unnatural angle.
Anton didn’t have time to watch Li defend herself from Fats. The other three gangsters had regrouped and were charging toward him, Sleazy, his right arm cradled low, lunged with the butterfly knife in his left hand. Anton blocked the lunge with his right hand and drove in hard with his left hand, his fingers extended like a knife penetrated deep into the man’s diaphragm. With a great whoosh of air, he folded forward over Anton’s hand, before falling away to the side. One of the other two gangsters slashed at Anton as he twisted away, catching his arm, a line of blood immediately appearing on the outside of his bicep.
Anton grimaced, and the grinning gangster who had cut him slashed again, but before his blade could land, Anton punched him straight in the face. His nose imploded, splattering across his cheeks, he fell backward, unconscious before he hit the floor.
The last gangster pulled a thick bladed chopper, swinging it overhand directly at the top of Anton’s head. Ramping again, he stepped underneath the strike, trapping his assailants arm and pushing forward while ducking beneath the gangster’s armpit. Twisting and turning, he ended up behind the gangster with the chopper released and now in his own right hand. The man followed the arc of his arm, falling to his knees in front of Anton. His eyes widened in helpless terror as he stared into Anton’s furious face.
Anton’s arm snapped down, the blade following like a shining stone.
Li’s foot flashed in front of him, and the chopper was kicked from his hand. She dragged him awa
y from the kneeling man, he resisted for a moment, then released the terrified man and went with her.
‘Come quickly,’ Li hissed.
Ignoring their produce on the ground, and a circle of unconscious, moaning, and sobbing gangsters, they vanished into the market crowd.
* * *
The morning sunlight streamed through the branches of the trees in Gang’s garden.
Anton, Li, and Gang sat at an outdoor wicker table, where Gang had supplied a generous breakfast of Congee, boiled eggs, toast, butter, homemade strawberry jam, a selection of cut fruit, glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice, a pot of strong black tea and a jug of fresh milk.
‘Eat first, fill your bellies, drink some tea, and then we will discuss important matters, starting with what happened at the market an hour ago,’ Gang said.
The three of them ate quietly for about five minutes, Gang poured three mugs of steaming tea, and followed with a dash of milk to each mug.
Gang sipped his tea and said, ‘this tea is excellent, its flavors are strong, decisive and authentic; much like the conversation that we will now have.’
He looked at Anton, ‘would you like to tell us what happened this morning.’
Taking a deep breath, Anton reflexively felt the fresh dressing over the cut on his arm, Li had sutured it ten minutes ago.
I’m going to get grilled and I deserve it.
‘I know that Li will have spoken with you, and that’s okay. We got into a brawl with the Tiger Clan, they jumped us with knives, a pair of them also carried wet hand towels which must have been drugged. They were obviously after Li; it would match their boss’s agenda as he clearly wants her and he doesn’t care who gets hurt as long as he can have her.’
Gang nodded.
Anton paused, wrestling with turbulent emotions.
Gang waited patiently, sipping his tea. Li sat quietly, her tea untouched and cooling in front of her.
Anton looked at Gang, finding no judgment in his eyes, only a compassionate interest in his welfare.
‘Li’s safety is important, but that was not the real issue today.’
‘I wanted to kill him,’ Anton sighed.
‘Anton, it is good that you struggle with the acquisition of power. I would be concerned if you were not facing these issues.’
‘I really wanted to kill him, and I would have enjoyed it. I love the training,’ Anton said, grinning sheepishly at Li, ‘even though it hurts. I love the Ramp, and what’s happening to me, the increase in power across the board. I love it all, and I want it all.’
‘It’s good to be stronger and faster; but you need to remember that the average human being, even misguided ones like the Tiger Clan, are not the enemy.’
Anton nodded.
‘The average vampire, and I mean the average vampire is three times stronger than you are now. Some of them, like Marcus Drake, are substantially stronger than that. They are also faster, and Chloe Armitage is twice as fast as you are now. In combat, they will either push past your blade and hit you, or hit you before you can defend yourself.’
Gang continued, ‘did you maintain good personal security this morning? Didn’t lose your hood, hat or sunglasses.’
‘Yes Gang, everything stayed put.’
‘Good work. We have to keep ourselves secret from Shadowstone and the Vampire Dominion. I must emphasize this point - it is essential that we remain hidden. If we are discovered by our enemies, then we are most likely doomed.’
Gang paused, sipping his tea, allowing Anton to absorb the point that he had made.
He continued, ‘It’s important that our skills are not displayed in public. There are -’
‘Father, they were trying to kill him,’ Li interrupted, ‘and kidnap me.’
‘Be that as it may, you can’t be ramping in full daylight, and probably in front of a CCTV camera.’
‘We were quite restrained,’ Li continued, ‘in fact, anyone watching would simply see a pair of skilled Kung Fu experts defeat a gang of thugs in a Chinatown market - it’s a cliché.’
‘Except that there are six gangsters in Tufts Medical or Massachusetts General emergency rooms by now, and what’s on the news? How long before a video shows up on YouTube? There are people out there explicitly looking for incidents just like this - and they will not see Kung Fu experts - they will see Order of Thoth operatives.’
Anton was surprised by the core of tension that he could feel within Gang, he had never seen him the least bit agitated.
There is a lot more going on here.
‘Gang, the only reason I’m still alive is because Li and yourself gave me refuge. What do you need from me?’ Anton offered.
Gang sighed and rubbed his face, ‘Anton, this is not your fault. You’ve been with us for what, five weeks, perhaps a little more than that, and I know that I’ve charged Li with beating you into shape, and she’s done a great job. But you are still very early in your training, there is much that you still have to learn, I have been remiss, there are things that you must know before we go any further.’
Anton nodded.
‘I have been trying to contact your grandfather since the day after you arrived, but I have not heard from him. Which while accounted for in your grandfather’s plans, is unexpected. He may be in serious trouble.’
Li rubbed her temple as if she was getting a headache.
‘Is there anything that we know for sure?’ Anton asked.
‘No, just that he has not responded. It is possible that he is simply in a location where he has no Internet access.’
Anton looked intently at Gang.
What kept my grandfather from protecting his family?
‘Can you tell me about him? I barely remember him.’
‘Arthur Slayne was a prominent Force Leader and the obvious succession plan to George Madison, our previous head of the Order of Thoth. He -’
Anton held up his hands, ‘I’m sorry Gang, ah, what’s a Force Leader?’
‘I will try to explain terms as I go, you will have a new vocabulary by the end of the morning. A Force Leader commands a team of operatives, they have total authority over their teams, and how they operate. The Head of the Order typically comes from the ranks of the Force Leaders, many of your ancestors have been Force Leaders, and quite a few have been Head of the Order.’
‘If a Force Leader has total authority over operations, what does the Head of the Order do?’
‘Set policy, coordinate actions, settle internal disputes and guard the integrity and secrecy of the Order. The Head cannot order a Force Leader to any action, but must rely on persuasion and soft methods of negotiation. The role of Head of the Order is intensely political.’
‘What about the third rule, operational obedience?’
‘Doesn’t apply to Force Leaders and the Head of the Order,’ Gang frowned, ‘which is why it suits the present incumbent so much ... Ramin Kain.’
‘Who is he?’
‘The man who succeeded George Madison as the Head of the Order. You’re familiar with the term “Cui Bono”?’
‘Literally “To whose profit?”’
Gang nodded, ‘Ramin Kain was the principle person to benefit from the murder of George Madison and the subsequent conviction in absentia of Arthur Slayne for the crime - by replacing Madison as Head of the Order and removing his main rival.’
‘What happened?’
‘Well officially, George Madison and Mary Creeley were killed in their sleep by Arthur Slayne. Not that I believe it. Arthur is no murderer, he had no motive and he was on good terms with Madison.’
‘How was he convicted, what was the evidence?’
‘There was no evidence, there were only lies.’
Anton pushed his hand back through his hair, perplexed, ‘how does that happen?’
‘There was a coup d’état.’
‘What the hell? The Order is at war with the Vampire Dominion, and there is a coup d’état? Factions versus factions? You would think that people migh
t just focus on the main game - on killing vampires.’
‘The Order is very high-minded, many of the core inventions within human history, such as agriculture, writing, mathematics, and science either originated from Order members or have been advanced by the Order. But there are always people who can hide the darkness within, blend in, and wear a mask in public that hides their own selfish interests. There is a cabal, centered on two men, Samuel Luther, and Ramin Kain. The Kain/Luther cabal is currently in power within the Order.’
‘So Samuel Luther and Ramin Kain framed my grandfather for murder?’
‘Yes, I believe so, but I can’t prove it.’
‘So there is no legitimate authority within the Order?’
‘Only the appearance of it. Anton, please do not underestimate these men, they are in a powerful position, there are many in the Order who will follow their lead and who will defend their lives because of their own loyalty to the Order itself.’
Anton frowned, ‘so how goes the war against the vampires with this cabal in charge?’
Li snorted, ‘quietly.’
‘Li has it right. Since the rise of Ramin Kain, there have been no vampires of any significance killed by Order operations - especially within the north east.’
‘There have been many young vampires killed, freshly turned, less than a year old,’ Li added.
Gang nodded, ‘Ramin Kain has established a reputation for the finding of new vampires. He claims that he has a special intuitive capability, a power to “sniff out young vampires”.’
Li touched Anton’s hand, ‘we think that the new vampires are being deliberately created and then thrown to the Order for killing.’
‘Cui Bono?’ Anton said.
‘Cui Bono indeed,’ Gang said. ‘The current regimes in both the Order and the Vampire Dominion benefit - there is a secret detente.’
Li said, ‘strategically, Crane gets a quiet flank while he directs his efforts at the Red Empire. Kain gets to look like a hero of the Order, and secures his own position against challengers.’
A Subtle Agency Page 14