by Dennis Young
She turned, headed back upship, to her cabin, where she knew Evans was.
Probably waiting for me. Fucker.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ready for the Big Time (Part Three)
Gut Check
“A leader leads by example not by force.”
Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”
Bird One…
Bird One…
Talice pounded on the cabin door. “Mr. Evans, we need to talk! Now!”
The door opened slowly after a minute, and a disheveled Evans stood before her. “What the hell? I told you I was going for a rest.”
Talice forced her way through the door and backed him against the bunk. Haven’t we done this before? Fuck. “I just had an interesting discussion with a mutual friend. I’m told you know this target by the name of Mikal, yes? That you and he are sharing some secrets from just about everyone else… on both sides of this operation.”
Evans blinked twice and rubbed his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Talice closed on him, her hand on the butt of her gun. “Sure you don’t. You were embedded in Nemesis Corp for a year. You were in deep, in more than one sense of the phrase. Hell, you were fucking one of my former teammates. Were you fucking Mikal, too? What the hell are you not telling me, that might get my team killed?”
Mac’s hoverchair edged into the doorway. “Talice?”
“Stay out of this, Mac. For all I know, you’re in on it, too.”
“In on what? Why do you have a gun? What the hell is wrong with you?”
Talice kept her eyes on Evans, who was obviously still not fully awake. Drugs? Dope? Just drunk? She glanced around the cabin, seeing nothing obvious.
“I asked a question, Talice. I deserve an answer.” Mac’s chair didn’t move, but Talice caught her leaning forward from the corner of her eye.
“Guess who I just had a chat with? Sweet little Konee, our former Marine teammate. Know where she is? In a fucking target building. With Mikal. And Jance.”
Evans shook his head. “Of course I know who Mikal is, he’s high in the order. I have no idea who these women are.”
“Konee, olive skin, dark hair and eyes, I think the term use to be ‘Mediterranean’. Jance is a tall redhead knockout.”
Evans thought for a moment, then stifled a yawn. “Yeah, okay, but those aren’t the names I knew them by. I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Talice glanced to Mac, still on the edge of her chair. “Konee just tapped into our shipcom. She said Mikal is deep cover, like Evans here. She’s scared and wants out.”
“And we’re supposed to believe her? And save her? Come on, Talice, you’re not that dumb.”
“Trap,” said Evans. “Mikal may be feeling the heat from the rest of the leaders. He and I, yes, we had a… relationship. I’m sure when I disappeared, it brought a lot of inquiring eyes his way.” He paused, his gaze going between Talice and Mac. “It was his henchmen who were pursuing me when you picked me up.”
“And knowing you’re still alive, he’s trying to draw you back in, and us with you?” Talice considered. “If he’s really trying to get out, it’s because someone spilled the story. So which is it?”
She turned to Mac. “Konee doesn’t know the team is here. She thinks I’m with Fawkes and the Marines.”
“How does she know Fawkes is in command?” asked Mac.
“Because Northland Base’s comm was compromised. That’s why we have our secret stash.” Talice saw Evans’s inquiring look. “None of your business, Mr. Evans. We have our own secrets and I’m damned well gonna keep them.”
Mac looked back to the corridor. “Talice, the team is on-station. They need us to monitor. I’ve got two drones in the air for cover.”
Talice looked one to the other. “This is beyond my pay grade. What the hell do we do now?”
“Depends,” replied Evans. “Do these people mean anything to you? Mikal is still a target. You have your orders.”
Talice looked to Mac again. “Mac… I’d sure hate it if Konee’s telling the truth and gets killed.”
Mac shook her head. “She’s made her own bed, no pun intended. Mr. Evans is right. We have a job to do.”
Talice looked to Evans again. “Does Fawkes know about Konee and Jance?”
“How should I know? But likely, yes, as they have more detailed files than were given to you. Our targets are the leaders. Everyone else is collateral damage.”
Talice looked away, then back to Mac once more. “Konee’s waiting for an answer. What the hell do I tell her?”
Mac’s face drew taut. “You tell her goodbye.”
Talice stood silent for only a moment, then slid past Mac’s hoverchair and headed for the cockpit. She withdrew her private wristcom and typed a message to Abie. I need a way to communicate with Theia. How can we do that, undetected? Talice.
“What now?” Mac followed, with Evans behind her.
“I need to talk to someone.”
“You know we’re on comm-silence. No way.”
“Dammit, Mac, I’ve got to find out who’s telling the truth!” Talice’s wristcom buzzed. No problem, there are hyper-relay satellites set up in orbit around Eos and also in the planetary orbit back to Theia. It’s directional, no delay, and can’t be tapped unless the receiver is in a direct line. All I need is an address. Abie.
Talice breathed a sigh and typed in an address quickly. Ask for Scarbach. Tell him Trouble in Paradise. Talice.
“Who are you talking to, Talice?” asked Mac.
“A friend.” She looked to Evans. “We’ll wait right here, and in the meantime, you can tell me your real name and who you’re working for.”
“I… Gorg Evans is my real name. Yes, everyone thinks it’s a cover, but it’s so unlikely a name, I decided to keep it.”
Talice shook her head in disbelief. “So you go through daily life with aliases? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I don’t have a daily life. We’ve had this conversation.”
“Talice…” Mac touched her hoverchair controls and began to close.
“Stay where you are, Mac. Right now, I’m not in a trusting mood about anything or anyone.”
Mac slowed to a stop. “Alright. What are you trying to prove, because I don’t understand.”
“You told me Fawkes asked you to keep an eye on our guest.” Talice motioned to Evans, who showed little surprise. “I need an unbiased source of information, someone not involved with you, me, or him. Or anyone in Nemesis Corp.”
“That you know of, you mean.” Mac frowned. “You’re taking a big chance.”
“What the hell am I gonna do? Believe you? Or him? Or Fawkes? Everybody I know has secrets! I hate it! I’ve got a team out there now, approaching the bad guys, and I don’t know who’s on my side anymore!”
Her wristcom buzzed. Ready. Abie.
Talice pushed the voicecom button. “Put it on speaker, Abie. I don’t want anyone to miss this. Cockpit, too.”
“Okay, give me a second.” Talice watched Mac and Evans as they waited. “You’re on.”
The speaker crackled. “Who is this? Talice?”
“Hello, Mr. Scarbach. How’s business?”
“Where are you? Do you know what time it is?”
Talice chuckled. “Not important at the moment. I need your help. Abie, transmit our guest’s picture on this comm. No data, just the image.” They waited again. “Now, please tell me if you know this person, Mr. Scarbach.”
A pause on the other end. “… I have no idea. Who is he?”
Talice looked at Evans, who showed stoic relief. “Again, not important. Abie, transmit the picture of Target Five. Again, no data.”
Another pause. “Yes. And I assume you know who he is, too. Where did you get this? What the hell is going on?”
“Tell me who he is and how you know him. And what he’s involved in.”
“On an open channel? You’ve got to be kidding.”
/> “Ask him if the name is the same as one of the four archangels,” whispered Mac.
What the hell is an archangel? Talice nodded. “Is his name the same as one of the four… archangels?”
“… Yeah, I guess it is. Different spelling, though.”
Evans chuckled. “Clever.”
“And he’s a bad guy?”
“Shit, Talice, he’s… to my knowledge, he’s a… well, he’s a merc, but with a lot more connections than anyone I’ve ever known. I don’t know him, I mean personally. He works a lot through intermediaries. Mostly women. Beautiful women.”
“Sound like anyone you know?” Talice looked to Evans, who shrugged and nodded.
“Who are you talking to?”
Talice thought about it. “Someone you say you don’t know. Alright, I think I have the info I need. Thank you.”
“Are you… back in town soon? We need to talk.”
“Yeah, we do.” More than you can possibly imagine. “Thanks again. Out.” Talice switched to the ship comm. “Abie, kill the signal and wipe the files. This conversation never happened.”
A pause. “If you say so, boss.” Abie broke the link.
Talice looked to Mac, then Evans again. “Appears you get to live through this.” And Konee was telling the truth. Geez, I can’t let her die…
Evans coughed a laugh. “What about your orders? Mikal is still a target. They want him eliminated not just because of Nemesis Corp, but other things.”
“So you know more about him than you’re willing to say, right?” asked Talice, glancing again at Mac, listening.
“You’re not in that loop, Captain. Again, you have your orders. And I have Colonel Fawkes’s ear.”
“So do I,” replied Mac. “Don’t threaten us. They’ll never find the body.”
Evans was silent, then shrugged. “Still, what difference does it make? If he’s a merc, he’s a rival of yours. And he’s apparently done some pretty impressive work, getting inside this deep. And I know what he knows.”
“So why do we need him, is that what you’re saying?” Talice shook her head. “Yeah, we’re mercs, but I’m not quite as merciless as you are. Let’s just say I don’t want to kill him if he can be useful.”
Evans shrugged again. “I can see that logic. What now?”
Talice looked again to Mac. “Team is on-station, right?”
Mac nodded.
“Then let’s do our jobs. Mr. Evans, you’re with us at TacOps. We’re gonna bust this little operation wide open. Then I’m gonna get some real fucking answers.”
* * *
Talice stalked the short corridor to the TacOps station, put her headset back on, and handed the spare to Evans. Mac rolled up to the control board and hit the comm button. “Briggs, status.”
“Thirty minutes out, sun is rising. They timed this just right. I sure hope they’re not counting noses when we enter the gate.”
“Stand by.” Mac turned to Talice. “Orders? What do they do if they’re challenged?”
“They’ve got Mr. Evans’s fake IDs. If that doesn’t work… I don’t know. I’d hoped they’d be inside by now. They’ve obviously slowed the column by thirty minutes or more, to coincide with sunup.”
“We can’t leave them alone.” Mac turned back to her board, watching the feeds from helmetcams.
Talice touched her wristcom. “Abie, what’s going on with the Marines?”
“Jamal says the comm has increased in the last half-hour. Looks like they’re getting ready for the big push.”
Talice looked to Mac. “That means the frontal assault will be Nemesis Corp’s first priority. The team might get through without much trouble. Briggs and Rory have the SmartGuns.”
“They’d never make it through,” said Evans. “The auto-feeders would take them out in seconds.”
Talice glared. “I won’t sacrifice my team. I’ll pull them out before that.” She stepped away. “I’ve got to contact Konee.”
Mac took Talice’s arm. “You can’t give her any warning. If she’s lying, she’ll pass it along to Mikal and Jance, then we’ll have to dig them out of hiding.”
“I know. Trust me.” Talice punched in the code given her by Konee, then put the audio on speaker.
“Hello… hello?”
“Konee, it’s Talice. I want you to stay with Jance. If you see any indication of her getting nervous, take her out. If what you’ve told me is true, Mikal is too important.”
Mac nodded and released Talice’s arm.
“I… I’ll try. Talice, I’m scared. Jance is just…”
“Understood. You’re a Marine still, so remember that training. You can do what has to be done.” She glanced at Mac. “That’s an order.”
“Alright. Will you call back later?”
“Yes, but right now I’m pretty busy. Take care.” Talice broke the link. “Fuck.”
Evans watched her carefully. “What do you think is going to happen now?”
“Either Konee is telling Mikal and Jance all about what we just discussed, or she’s actually watching Jance. Either way, I’ve given her nothing to help them.”
Evans nodded after a moment, then looked to Mac. “I don’t know what we can do from here.”
“We’ve got to keep the team safe, otherwise, our mission is shot.” Talice hit the shipcom button. “Abie, get Bird One ready to lift. We’ve got a job to do.”
“But… our heat plume will light up the sky.”
“Understood. We’ve got a rescue mission coming up. Double-time, get it done.” Talice turned to Mac. “I’m going to suit up. Keep an eye on things. We should be ready to go in ten minutes.”
“What the hell are you going to do?” asked Mac, dread in her eyes.
“The job. I’ve got to find out what’s going on with Konee and Jance. And Mikal. I owe him a big one.”
“You made a promise. To Fawkes.”
“Yeah, well, Fawkes isn’t here. My guess is, he has no idea what’s going on in that building.” Talice turned away.
“Wait.” Evans held a hand, and she turned again. “Need some help?”
Talice gave him a look. “If you’re not serious, don’t offer. But yes, I could use cover.”
“I need an HCS.”
Talice looked him over. “You’re about Junior’s size, and there’s a spare suit in his cabin. Have you ever handled a pulse rifle, Mr. Evans?”
He shrugged. “Release the safety, point, pull the trigger.”
Talice gave Mac a half-grin. Mac shook her head. “Close enough. Let’s go.”
* * *
Ten minutes, and Bird One rose on thrusters, shattering the icy plain into a million mirrorlike fragments. They hung on to whatever was handy as Abie took them to fifty kilometers for a good look around, transmitting the vid to TacOps.
Evans headed for his cabin and Talice her bunk. She slapped on a spare patch, struggled into her HCS, then stopped by to help Evans with his. It was obvious he’d never worn one, and she had to show him the basic controls. They eased their way through the corridor upship to TacOps.
Talice pressed the button for the link to Briggs. “Big guy, it’s Talice. Drop both teams back, get the ATV’s to cover, but don’t draw attention to yourselves if you can help it. Regardless, defend yourselves if you have to.”
“What the hell is going on?”
She glanced to Mac. “Change of plans. New intel makes it necessary. Looks like we’re gonna have to shoot our way in.”
There was a pause on the line. They could hear the ATV throttling down. “Dammit, Talice, this sucks. We had a plan.”
“Yes, and that plan is now unworkable. Get to cover and I’ll get back with OpCom as soon as possible. We’ve got drones in the air for intel and cover.”
“Niky’s tapped into their comm and says they’ve spotted one of the drones. They’re getting ready to take it out.”
Mac turned to her board quickly. “I’m taking both drones to ten kilometers. That should get them out o
f anything short range.”
“Copy. Alright, Captain, peeling off and looking for a safe place. Out.”
Talice closed the link. “This fucking better work.”
Mac huffed. “You talking to me? This was your idea.”
Talice heaved a sigh and touched the shipcom button. “Abie, status?”
“Hovering at fifty kilometers. Tell me what to do, boss.”
Talice passed a glance between Evans and Mac. “Wait two minutes, then head for the compound. Stand by weapons. Get ’em hot, Abie.”
“Copy, weapons coming online… now.”
Talice watched the drone monitors for a moment with Evans at her side. “There.” She pointed. “He put them in that crevice and under an overhang. Good spot.”
“Briggs is a good ground leader.” Mac looked to Talice, then Evans. “He learned from the best.”
“I just hope that’s not his epitaph.” Talice nodded to the screens. “Talk to him, Mac, help him like you’ve helped me. Let him know they’re not alone, that we’ve got eyes on them.”
Mac nodded and opened the channel. “Briggs, keep your engines running, no reason to shut down. We’re headed for the compound now. It’s going to get interesting in just a few minutes.”
“Copy. Prepping weapons, going to Headup displays. We need a clear channel into the compound.”
“That you will have, I promise. Watch for Bird One in about two minutes. Stand by for OpCom.”
“Damn, you’ve got the voice for this,” said Talice, laying a hand on Mac’s shoulder. “I always sound like a teenager.”
Mac nodded absently as she scanned the suit feeds and helmetcams. “I’ll give you voice lessons.”
“Talice, Abie. Weapons online, give me a target. One minute to compound.”
“Take out all three gates if you can. If not, at least two.”
“That’ll take two passes. For all three gates, I mean.”
Talice shook her head. “Go for two then, west and center. The ATVs will follow. Once you’ve made your pass, go back to fifty kilometers and hold.”
“Copy, commencing run.”
Bird One tilted hard to the left, then back to the right. Abie sent the weapons camera feeds to Mac’s board, and the secondary screens lit.