by Terry Mixon
“On the other side of the balance sheet, finding out that Chandra is more than a local crime lord raises many uncomfortable questions for Mars Security. It also explains his remarkable success in preventing us from arresting him and dismantling his organization.”
Brad nodded, sipping his beer. “If his group is like any other Cadre organization, he’ll have paid informants and even active subordinates in security. Which, by the way, is probably why Commodore Bailey shanghaied you rather than asking for your assistance.”
The Fleet officer nodded. “Exactly. I have no idea who I can trust, so I’m keeping all the data as compartmentalized as possible. If word gets out, Mader vanishes and so does Chandra. We need them to get a lead on the Cadre base.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Huddleston said, “but it’s unlikely that Chandra knows where the base is. Basic information security says you only tell the people who have to know. He doesn’t need to know.”
“Perhaps not,” Falcone said, “but he knows something that will lead us in the right direction. He fences materials they send to him and almost certainly sends shipments back. Those will pass through middlemen, but if we can get their names, that will give us one more stepping-stone toward the Cadre base.”
“Not if the Terror hears about his capture,” Brad said glumly. “He’s more than willing to kill every middleman that could lead us to him. We need to keep the details of this operation as close to the vest as possible.”
Shelby shook his head. “That’s not going to work. No matter how quiet we are, word will get out that we’ve raided Chandra. The Terror would almost have to take steps.”
“Then we need to use misdirection,” Brad said as he thought furiously. “Convince him we didn’t get anything.”
“It’s all too likely you won’t get anything,” Huddleston said flatly. “The cargo you followed here might have led you to his warehouse, but that won’t be where you catch Chandra or Mader. Neither of them will go near the place now. That means your planned assault will almost certainly come up empty-handed.”
“Where will he be?” Falcone asked.
“Chandra has a rather large home in one of the better neighborhoods. What we call the third tier. It belonged to one of the founding families a decade ago, but they moved deeper when he made them an offer they literally couldn’t refuse.”
Brad nodded. “Falcone was telling me about that kind of thing. That means he’s in an area with restricted access that he probably keeps well-guarded. An assault into a residential neighborhood has far too much risk of hurting or killing innocent people.”
“Perhaps not as much as you think,” Bailey disagreed. “I’ve been to some parties in places like that as part of my official duties. The wealthy snobs don’t really like having neighbors at all. They design their homes so that they don’t have to worry about running into them.
“That means we might be able to manage a breach into part of the housing complex that is safe for the use of heavy weapons. We’d also end up behind their defensive perimeter. Remember, criminals aren’t trained fighters like my Marines. They don’t think about defending places the same way. Of course, that changes if there are Cadre goons on top of the usual suspects.”
“There may be something to that,” Huddleston admitted, “but I think he’ll be ready to defend himself with lawyers, not guns. What weapons he has will be to delay security while he makes his getaway.
“Speaking of which, he’ll have an escape tunnel to get him clear. One that will lead to an area where he can board a shuttle and get up into orbit. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has a fast ship waiting there to get him clear of Mars in a hurry. Mader, too.”
“Is there anything we can do about that?” Brad asked Bailey.
“I’ll lock down all orbital traffic as soon as we kick this off. If someone decides to make a run for it, they’ll find out how fast my picket ships can run them down. Mars Traffic Control will raise all kinds of trouble, but I can make it stick long enough.”
“Is it possible to get the plans to Chandra’s home?” Falcone asked. “I realize they won’t be completely accurate, but we have to have something to start with.”
Huddleston nodded. “I can do that without raising any eyebrows. It’ll take about an hour, though.”
Brad smiled. “That’s okay. I need about that long to get a diversion up and running.”
“What kind of diversion?” Falcone asked, an eyebrow edging up.
“The kind that everyone sees coming but doesn’t recognize it for what it is. I want you to get your friend Randy on the com for me. He’s going to play a big part in this.”
Brad walked to the other side of the room once Falcone had Randy on the com for him. “Have you found your leak?”
“Not yet,” the CIA agent said through tight lips. “Whoever it was, they’re deep. I didn’t trust many people with information on this project. Now I don’t trust any of them.”
“I’m taking a risk trusting you, too,” Brad said bluntly. “Falcone says you’re a good man, but you could be in the Cadre’s pockets. Can you think of a good reason I shouldn’t cut you loose?”
“Not really. I could protest my innocence until the end of time, but that proves nothing. In my defense, I will offer that the odds of them catching you would’ve been a lot higher if I was on the take. They could’ve had people waiting to take you into custody the moment you touched down.”
Brad had already considered that. It didn’t prove anything, of course, but it was evidence in the man’s favor.
“We don’t really have a lot of choices. Like you say, if you’re on the take, we’re screwed. I need you to get us men and equipment to get into the warehouse quietly. That’s still the most likely area where computers containing Cadre data are sitting. Unless they can be accessed remotely.”
“They won’t be connected, but I’ll verify that and get word to you if I’m wrong,” the agent said. “What kind of timeframe are you looking at? I need to work around my usual people, and that’ll take longer.”
“Do they know you suspect a leak?”
“I doubt it. I’ve kept things low-key.”
“Then don’t worry about hiding it. Make noises like you’re having doubts about someone outside your organization, and get the same people you used last time working on helping us slip into the warehouse.”
Randy opened his mouth to object but stopped, his eyes narrowing. “You’re not going after the warehouse.”
“We’re not only going after the warehouse. It remains a target, but you’ve just become the diversion.”
The other man nodded slowly. “You’ve found other people to help you. Who?”
“I’m keeping that to myself, just in case I’m wrong about you.”
The made the other man smile a little. “Smart. Well, I’ll leave that part to you. What about your people here in orbit?”
“They can stay there. Did you warn them that our cover was blown, so that they could keep their guard on higher alert?”
“I did. Someone named Trista told me not to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, whatever that means.”
It meant that he’d really spoken to Trista, for one thing. She occasionally came up with the oddest sayings.
“Are you going to have an alternate means to get back up here tomorrow?” Randy asked. “I remember you said that part of the schedule was nonnegotiable.”
“This is going to be settled one way or another before I have to worry about that. I want you to have the people down here and ready for an infiltration mission a few hours before local dawn. Let that information slip and then try to backtrack on it. That’ll make them sure the timetable is accurate.”
“You’ve done this before,” the other man said in an admiring tone. “I’ll make it happen. Should I be expecting all hell to break loose?”
“I would, in your shoes. This might be the perfect time to find your mole, when everything starts going to the Dark.”
�
�I’ll do that. Good luck.” The other man ended the call.
Brad walked back to the common table and handed Falcone her wrist-comp back. “It’s all set. Randy is going to arrange everything so that we have forces to infiltrate the warehouse.”
That brought a slow smile to her face. “And that he’ll make sure gets leaked about from a source that Chandra trusts. Very nice. That’ll draw defensive forces from Chandra’s home.”
She gestured toward the table. “We’ve been going over the plans and have spotted a few potential avenues of access and some possible escape routes. Two platoons of Marines isn’t going to allow us to keep them from running, but we might be able to ambush them when they do.”
“I’ve got an idea about that,” Huddleston said, looking up from her comp. “I’ve organized a manhunt for the two of you.”
Brad blinked. “And that helps us how?”
“It gives us access to mobile manpower. I’m going to gather them together for a group planning session about the same time you’re making the push into Chandra’s home.
“I’ve conveniently chosen the closest security station to his place, by the way. When you signal the intrusion has started, I’ll make certain that someone reports you in that area and get our people out in force. We’ll make sure no one manages to slip away.”
Falcone sighed. “I don’t like this. There are far too many people running around that have no idea what’s really going on. The potential for the Marines and security forces to shoot at one another is too high.”
“We’ve taken that into account,” Bailey said, not bothering to look up from the part of the map she was examining. “The Marines have strict rules of engagement, and Lieutenant Huddleston will make certain that no one gets too close to Chandra’s place.”
“And if things start coming apart, I’ll tell them what’s really happening,” the security officer said. “It’s going to piss my bosses off, but they’ll be happy we’ve taken Chandra off the table.”
“When are we planning on moving into staging positions?” Falcone asked.
“Two hours,” Brad said decisively. “I want to give them time to move people to the warehouse. We launch the attack on his home in no more than four hours.
“One way or another, I want Mader and Chandra alive,” he said grimly. “They’ll get us to the Cadre base. Someone I deeply care about is depending on me and I’m tired of waiting. From this moment forward, I’m taking the offensive.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“How do we get in?” Brad asked as they rode toward Chandra’s home in the back of a windowless delivery van. Falcone sat beside him and Bailey sat across from them.
“The place is dug into solid stone,” Falcone said. “Its walls are thick, too. Rich people don’t like the idea of people getting to them easily.”
If the task sounded daunting to Bailey, it didn’t show on her expression.
“Marines have done this kind of thing before. While they can be subtle, this isn’t one of those times. They’ll slap shaped charges on the walls in four separate locations and blow them all at once. Then they’ll go in shooting anyone that has a weapon.”
“Not that I’m objecting,” Brad said, “but aren’t you worried about collateral damage? He has a family, right? Serving staff that aren’t criminals?”
“It’s not likely those people will be shooting at Fleet Marines holding automatic weapons,” she said bluntly. “If my people have any doubts, they’ll use less than lethal force, if possible. I’m sure that won’t satisfy Mars Security, but they didn’t solve this problem with their methods, so we’ll do the best we can.”
The van slowed and made a sweeping turn to the left. It came to a halt a few moments later and the back door popped open.
Four Fleet Marines in full combat gear gave them a look before stepping back.
Bailey climbed out first and motioned for them to join her.
A Marine officer in combat armor walked out of a side room and saluted the commodore. “Welcome to forward base gamma, Commodore. We’ve got eyes around the target and teams in position to plant the breaching charges when we get the word to proceed.”
Bailey introduced the man as Major Damien Rico, Eternal’s senior Marine officer. “The major is a seasoned combat officer and I trust him implicitly, Commodore Madrid, but this is your operation. I’d like the two of you to work together to make sure we’ve covered all the bases.”
“Thank you, Commodore,” Brad said. “If you don’t mind, Major?”
The man inclined his head and gestured for Brad to precede him into the side room.
“I actually do mind,” Rico said bluntly. “You might have combat experience, ‘Commodore,’ but you’re not a combat officer. Platinum mercenary or not.”
Brad restrained his first choice of words and counted to five silently.
“I’m not going to tell you how to conduct this breach, Major,” he allowed. “Not directly. What I will do is make sure that nothing in the plan represents an obstacle to getting the information we need.”
He took one step forward and looked up into the Marine’s face. “That said, I wouldn’t go out of your way to piss me off. I might only be a mercenary, but I’ve fought the Terror blade to blade. That fight is still unresolved and I’m not going to allow some puffed-up Marine officer’s ego to screw it up.”
The other man’s lip twitched and a glimmer of humor made its way into his eyes. “I see we have a middle ground. I can work with that. This way, Commodore.”
Inside the small side room, they had an old-fashioned paper map unrolled onto the table. A dozen officers and senior enlisted Marines stood around it, discussing something in soft voices. They all looked up as their commanding officer and Brad walked in.
“Listen up,” Rico said. “This is Commodore Madrid and he needs to hear the operation plan from start to finish. Tomas, take us through it one more time.”
A slender woman with the rank tabs of a Marine lieutenant nodded. “Rachel Tomas, sir. We have four entry points selected as primary, and two additional ones in reserve.”
She pointed them out in sequence. “We chose these four because of the areas behind the walls inside and how easy they were to get to on our side. We’d rather not come in right on top of the enemy. Surprise works both ways.”
Brad nodded. “Understood. Please continue.”
She ran him through a breaching plan that Saburo would’ve approved of. Nothing seemed to have been left to chance. Still, the enemy had a knack for turning the best-laid plans on their heads.
He made a few suggestions but nothing substantial. His ego didn’t require he change a perfectly adequate plan simply because he hadn’t thought of it.
“How long until you’re ready to move?” he asked when the last details had been worked out.
“I’d like to put my people in place about an hour from now,” Rico said. “It’ll be the middle of the night, so we can make reasonable guesses about where the targets are going to be.”
“I’m going with you. I’ll need armor and weapons.”
The Marine officer’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think so. Our mandate is to make the assault, not shepherd a civilian through the fight. No matter how experienced he may be.”
“Make no mistake, Major, I will be coming along.” He paused to let that sink in. “The targets of this mission are my ultimate responsibility. And, if I were you, I’d plan for armor fitted for a woman, too. My partner is not going to hang back.”
A rap at the door interrupted the man’s response. It was Falcone. “We have a situation. Lieutenant Huddleston is on her way.”
The Marine officer looked at Falcone for a long moment and then nodded to Brad. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Brad followed Falcone back out. “Do we know what’s gone wrong?”
“No clue,” she said. “Huddleston called Commodore Bailey and said she had a hot delivery that couldn’t wait. Her ETA is five minutes. She should have just enough time to
drop it off before she has to run to her big briefing.”
He turned to Bailey. “And she didn’t tell you what it was?”
The Fleet officer shrugged. “Just that she had to get it to us before the attack. Everyone, clear the room. She might not be alone and I don’t want anyone tipping off her companions. That goes for you, too, Madrid.”
Brad and Falcone hid out in the Marine planning room, but they planted a video camera out front so that they could see what was so important.
A security van pulled into the room and Huddleston stepped out of the passenger side. She didn’t say a word, only banged on the side of the vehicle.
The rear doors of the van popped open and two armored figures stepped out. They had weapons in their hands, and the Marines behind Brad surged forward.
“Stand down,” Brad said. “Those are my officers.”
Trista and Lisa had arrived. Somehow.
Brad waited to see if the security lieutenant said anything, but she only climbed back into her van and drove away. Once she was clear, he stepped out.
“How in Darkness did you two get down here? Better yet, how did you find Huddleston?”
Trista took her helmet off with her uninjured arm. “It wasn’t as hard as you might think. A Fleet captain dropped by the ship and identified you both by name. He was in the company database as someone we could trust, so when he said you needed us, I assumed it was on the level.
“The detective was waiting for us when the Fleet shuttle landed. She had us get armored up and brought us right over. Did I make a mistake?”
“No,” Brad said with a shake of his head. “I actually do need you but wasn’t sure how to make it work. I don’t suppose you brought my armor and weapons, did you?”
Lisa hefted a duffle bag. “Right here, sir.”
Brad turned to Rico. “Looks like you only need one set of armor and weapons.”
It took almost an hour to get Falcone into armor and armed in a way that satisfied Rico. That put them closer to the planned assault time than Brad liked, but they didn’t have far to go.