“We have before.”
Jason said, “Ms. Highland has an emergency transponder chip. They’ll only find it here with a tight directional scan, but any port will show it.”
“It’s deep, too,” she said. “When I had my gall bladder worked on, it was set then.”
And at that moment, her expression changed, to that of a person who knew she was being hunted to death, regarded as a trophy and convenience, and who’d been completely betrayed.
Elke felt the tickle run up her spine, and kept her smirk hidden behind sleeve and glasses. That was the intangible she wanted out of this, and it was very sweet.
Shaman said, “I would be reluctant to go digging, without a modern clinic.”
Jason said, “Which we’re not going to have access to.”
“How long can we lie low?” Bart asked?
Alex said, “If we can’t pull this off, it would have to be until after the election. At that point, they’ll shrug and look embarrassed, accuse us of paranoia and kidnapping, and wait for it to fade in the loads.”
Highland said, “I am not missing the election!”
Jason looked at her. “Nor are we going to be accused of kidnapping, again.”
She didn’t even look sheepish. The woman was an uncaring sociopath. Elke might be herself, but at least her suggestions were practical.
Aramis said, “I don’t see what other options we have. Delay, escape, or fight are the three courses.”
“Well, I guess we fight,” Jason said. “We stir up enough noise, they have to see us, see the threat against Ms. Highland, then they either give her the protection as her due, or take it from us and make the same jokes about us everyone does, pay our fee, and she’s alive, mission accomplished. We’re Ripple Creek’s best team, and we don’t care about cover stories, or looking good in the press.”
Shaman said, “We’ll be outnumbered.”
“Likely not. I expect the unofficial government agents on planet are under ten, possibly as few as two.”
“Based on?”
Elke said, “Based on what we both know about BuIntel paramilitary teams. We’ve both considered applying.”
Aramis said, “Paramils?”
Jason said, “Who do you think snatched you, knew enough to keep you alive, and had locals do the dirty work so there was no connection? That was meant to deliberately scare us into either leaving, doing something foolish, or embarrassing Ms. Highland enough we got dropped. Now that the lethal force is out, we had a very well-thrown grenade, using primitive tactics, and someone able to steal an armored vehicle and get it to our location. Even with foreknowledge, that’s an expert.”
“Shit,” Aramis said. “Yeah, that makes sense, but . . . aren’t all those guys former Recon?”
“Or before it was Recon,” Jason said. “Spetznaz, SAS, Kopassus. All professionals, with extra training.”
“What do we do about them?”
Alex said, “We’d have to kill them. Ms. Highland?”
Slowly, she said, “If they ally against the government, which is me, then they’re enemies.” At least moral decisions were easy for her, as long as they benefited her.
“Elke?”
“I could use the practice.” This would mean some nice overpressure.
Bart said, “We can get allies too.”
Aramis said, “We could get dead, too, though that or mindwiping seem to be the choices.”
“We’ve faced that before.”
“So, you’re seriously proposing attacking the paramilitary arm of BuInt?” He looked shaken, but then, he had been captured by the bastards and tortured. She’d have to add in a factor for that, when she built her charges.
“I don’t see what choice we have.”
“Alex, we’re good. We’re really good. But jokes about ‘we might be the best’ aside, those skullbangers are the wrath of the gods themselves.”
“They’re also few in number, don’t want to be discovered, and aren’t likely to risk their lives for a campaign.”
“Possibly. It’s not like we can call a truce and ask them, though.”
“We can maneuver around them and hint, and let them tell us how they’re playing it.”
Highland cut in with, “Are you discussing abandoning me?”
Elke got another thrill. The woman knew she could be a bargaining chip, or just ballast in a sack.
With that score, Elke decided she needed one of Jason’s cigars, and a bottle of eiswein.
Jason said, “Not at all, ma’am. We’ve never done so and won’t start now. We are discussing, however, the best way to keep everyone alive. I think in this case, we have an extra asset.”
“Yes?”
“JessieM can misdirect for us.”
Elke looked at her and said, “I opened a new churp for you. It won’t stay open long unless your followers can secure a pipe and mirror it.”
“They can! And they will!”
“Assume someone will try to hack as soon as you make your first churp.”
She nodded. “What do I need to say, then?”
Aramis said, “Keep it simple. Your communications are compromised and you need your followers to hold the channel and relay. You won’t be able to churp often, they need to be alert. Ms. Highland is battling subversive elements. They’ll want to hear that. Leave it there, pull the card for Elke to secure, and after that you’ll be sending leading messages to get people where we want them.”
“What are you going to do then?”
“Kill them by the fucking thousands.”
Jessie whimpered.
Aramis grinned.
“These fuckers dismembered me, tried to kill you, tried to kill my friends. They need to be taught not to do that. Then, there’s this thing about killing Ms. Highland, who is under our protection. That’s a professional issue, and it’s also a Marketing issue. If you screw with Ripple Creek, we will turn you into a goo sack.”
“Ready, then, Aramis?”
“Yes.” He looked much more himself, now that he had an enemy to aim at. That was all he’d needed, Elke realized.
“Lead the way. Elke, you drive.”
They loaded the car as they’d unloaded, in three groups. Aramis went with Elke. Highland went with Bart, overwatched by Jason, and boarded at the next corner. Shaman took Jessie down. Alex and Jason went last, locking and securing as they went. It was unlikely they’d return to this apartment during this mission, but if they could recover supplies afterward they would. In the meantime, even a poor safehouse was better than none.
They moved quickly and quietly, each carrying a basic box, bag or case with supplies. They had field rations, bottled water, lots of ammo, basic weapons and two big support weapons. It didn’t seem like enough to start a battle with, much less win one.
That’s why Elke had her toys ready.
Shaman was already curbside, climbing into the van in the cool morning air. Elke checked conditions. It should remain dry.
There was a momentary but tense mixup, since Highland had to be in the middle for best protection and bailout. She was flanked by Bart and Jason. Aramis and Elke were up front. That left Alex and Shaman to squeeze into a rear already stuffed with gear.
Elke pulled smoothly into traffic, got onto the thoroughfare, crossed one major intersection and turned into another quiet area.
“Aramis and I are to be seen as a couple. Jason, switch with me and drive. Aramis has directions.”
“Understood.”
They got out, walked rather than ran, and were still back inside in under three seconds. Jason pulled out faster than Elke had, and nodded as Aramis pointed.
“You will come back here afterward,” she said and pointed. “At the house, we can all load stuff inside, then most of you will leave with the van, and return with a load of furniture.”
“Perfect.”
“That’s very clever,” Highland said.
Alex said, “Thank you. We’ve had a lot of practice at evasion.”
“I can see where a lot of incidental expenses go.”
“Yes. We’re more flexible than official agencies. That costs money at times.”
Bart and Shaman remained because to their distinctive appearances. Alex stayed with the principal. The rest went out to get furniture. They chattered a bit as they left, to keep attention on themselves.
Bart moved quickly, placing blinds and curtains. Alex laid out weapons and ammo where they could be reached in a hurry, in several locations. Any intrusion would mean a retreat to the hard center of the domicile, and hopefully Elke would be on hand at that point, to dissuade people.
Highland actually sat quietly. She fidgeted and twitched, but didn’t interfere. Nor did she offer to help.
When the “movers” returned, they also brought food. Jason took a box into the kitchen and started tossing stuff onto the counter.
“We have fresh ingredients. Salad and fruit and sautéed beef to follow.”
To Highland’s glance, Alex said, “Jason believes he’s the best cook here. He believes that because he’s demonstrated it repeatedly. We just help with cleanup and perimeter security while he does.”
In three clunky trips, furniture came through the door and was set to barricade and cordon the rear and one of the windows. Out of the drawers came clothes, weapons, ammo and assorted supplies. That done, Jason went back to the kitchen.
Shortly, he came out with bowls of salad, two at a time. It was an interesting dish, Alex thought. Romaine hearts supported wedges of tomato and apple, and were surrounded by cucumber, goat cheese, chicken and scallions. Fat olives stuffed with garlic, and pepperoncinis garnished it, under grated ginger, ground pepper and a drizzle of oil and vinegar.
Alex wasn’t a salad person, but it was refreshing, especially after field rats and the scavenged canned stuff they’d had the last day.
By the time he’d finished, Jason had placed a thick roll of pita in front of him stuffed with sautéed shaved paper-thin sirloin with mushrooms, onions and slivered almonds. There were eight liters of raspberry juice to sluice it down with.
“Ah, that’s good. I’m ready to sleep or fight. What’s our status?”
Shaman said, “Ms. Highland is reported kidnapped, speculation pointing at us or some ‘right wing faction.’ There’s lots of human interest stories by her supporters.” He turned to face her. “So, ma’am, your popularity is benefiting from this.”
“Excellent,” she said. “I’m glad their plot is working against them.”
Alex said, “Unfortunately, it makes it more worthwhile for them to find a way to eliminate you and blame either us or some faction. As we’ve been portrayed as several kinds of puppy-abusing sociopath, if they can hit you, they can blame us. Our lawyers can probably save us, at a cost of tens of millions, but you’d still be dead. By then, of course, it will no longer be news and no one will care.”
Highland looked shocked, and attentive. She finally seemed to be grasping her actual place in things, far below the lofty station she’d assigned herself. She wanted to be SecGen, but that carried a huge tag in risk and outlay. She probably had the outlay. She had to pay the risk.
Next to him, Elke sighed slightly. It sounded creepily sexual. She must be thinking of explosive again.
Highland almost shivered.
“I hadn’t expected this level of treachery. I’m loyal to the party. I’d hoped they’d be loyal to me.”
Given her own backstabbing tendencies to anyone and everyone in her path, it hardly seemed surprising she’d be regarded as a threat. No doubt she thought her own goals those of the party, and they might even intersect, but she wasn’t the Equality Party Committee. They’d probably even tried polite measures, and found her oblivious.
Well, people had tried to kill them before. Though usually, not multiple professional and freelance factions combined.
Alex didn’t think he was going to rest well.
Shaman continued, “The search continues for Minister Highland. All the latest gear is being used, and it is hoped her biometrics or personal gear will be traced soon.”
Alex felt a shiver.
“Can we do anything about that transponder?” he asked. “Lead vest, Faraday cage?”
Jason said, “We can make a mesh vest easily enough, for her to wear under her coat. It won’t be a hundred percent, but it will certainly help. I don’t think we have time to figure out how to spoof it.”
“Do it. Even if it only reduces detectable range.”
Elke said, “I’m going to reconfigure some charges as well. I’ll do her vest first.”
“Ms. Highland, you need to try to rest. So do you, Jessie. Everyone else on shift rotations.”
He was going to enforce it, too, even on himself. They were all wired, tense and determined to hardball it, but they needed rest or they’d be ineffective.
Jason looked at him, and said, “You first. I’m up.”
He nodded. Jason’s schedule was all messed up with having a different clock at home than Earth, and that different from here. There was some sense to the military staying on Earth’s clock. Unfortunately, they couldn’t.
He sprawled in the corner on a pile of crushed boxes. They were reasonably comfortable, he placed his carbine over his lap, and closed his eyes.
CHAPTER 22
HORACE TOOK WATCH WITH JASON. He’d rest, but he wanted to be sure of the others first.
Aramis presented functional. The man was resilient, and action kept him busy, which seemed to help. He had paper maps and scales, saved files of routes from street and air, drawing implements in hands, and a carbine across his knees.
Elke and Jason each took a piece of mesh and sewed wire along seams. Then Jason finished while Elke prepped charges in the kitchen, turning the stove and sink into an explosive lab. Her mental health was not in doubt. Intensely focused, asocial, very high functioning sociopath.
“Ms. Highland, I need to measure you.”
“Oh, yes.”
Highland was a bundle of live wires. This was far outside her experience and background, which was common for them, and anticipated. He wasn’t going to tranquilize her unless necessary, because it would be necessary, and he neither wanted to overdo it, mess up her metabolism, or create paranoia.
Jason held up the vest, and said, “Arms apart, stand straight.” It fit against her well enough.
“You’ll need to try it on, please. Be careful, it’s not strong, and it may be a bit scratchy.”
She nodded. Her expression was blank but showed comprehension. He held it as she skinned into it. It was loose, but covered her from collar to waist.
“You need to leave it on. You can wear clothing under or over or both, but that will offer shielding from scans.”
“How effective?” she asked.
“I can’t say. Better than nothing, but not perfect.”
Alex was asleep, sprawled but with a faint tension of readiness. That should be addressed. The stress was getting to him.
Bart looked relaxed enough, though that sleeping angle was going to lead to muscle spasms. He was half on a chair, half leaned over the table, jaw in hand, gun in other hand.
Jason said, “We’re done, ma’am, go rest. Just keep it on.”
Highland nodded and said, “Bathroom first. Excuse me.” She moved tight-legged. Yes, it had been several hours for all of them.
JessieM spent a few minutes rolling up the hidden hood of her knitted brynj, and adjusting pillows. She made two spots, one for her, one for Highland. The location put a chair directly between them and the back door. That was either tactically smart or cautious.
Horace felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. He was reaching his own limit. Elke came through, very carefully laid out her weapons and kit for fast recovery, leaned into the wall with her knees up, and passed out. Highland came back through, crawled down next to JessieM in a most undignified fashion, and tossed a bit while going to sleep.
His own fatigue crushed him down as Jaso
n said, “You’re down. I’ll wake Aramis for a bit.”
“Thanks,” he muttered, and leaned against the couch.
Jason’s taskings kept him in the house, without a window for fresh air. They needed to minimize traceable pheromones.
Elke and Aramis made several forays for food, clothing and general supplies.
“We have enough weapons for now,” Alex said. “We need support gear, rations and camouflage.”
The news loads were all about Highland’s “disappearance and suspected abduction.” Jason followed several threads and compiled a chart. The next morning he had a good cross section.
“I actually like what I see here,” he said.
“So do I,” Alex said behind him. “Please elaborate.”
“Certainly. First, we’re only one possible suspect. There are also respected authorities, and commentators who shouldn’t be respected but are anyway, blaming the administration, the military, Huble and the Amala, as well as some of the Shia and the Faithful of The One True God sect of Christians. It appears Ms. Highland’s Mtali Assistant for Development is following all leads at once.”
She muttered loudly, “Ferin never could find his ass with both hands. He just does what he’s told and smiles vacuously. He’s also not my assistant, he’s a third-tier functionary. At least Jaekel is on Earth, keeping things stable.”
Jason continued, “The good news for Ms. Highland is that this is creating a surge in popularity, over the needed mark. Of course, that also means at this point, any hostiles will simply go for her demise, and try to blame anyone, probably us, for it.”
Alex said, “We need to identify who, and we don’t have the intel resources we need to do so.”
“So we get them all fighting and see who issues what releases first, or who tips their hand.”
Alex said, “Ms. Highland?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Obviously, I’m thrilled at the boost in numbers. Without any political talk, it shows that I do have a good image, and yes, I can see why that would be a threat. Hunter wouldn’t have the means to stop me. That idiot Cruk is both slimy and vicious enough to do so. He’s really not very bright himself, but his cabinet and many of the ambassadors put him in so they could get their positions, junkets and graft. That’s been covered in the news, and no one with a brain disputes it.”
When Diplomacy Fails . . .-eARC Page 28