“It’s safe for you to come down but be careful. That first step’s a doozy,” he yelled up to the two waiting anxiously for their turn to descend into the darkness.
Chapter 9: Looking Bad
Mark entered the 33rd precinct with a cell phone pressed to his ear. He flashed the NSA credentials hanging around his neck and was let in without question. His partner Ryan took the lead heading for the interrogation rooms while Mark handled his business on the phone.
Word of the seemingly unproductive raid traveled fast to his superior back at Maryland headquarters. It spread entirely too fast, Mark thought as the director chewed his ear off. The informer wasn’t Ryan since the field agent was in the car with Mark the entire ride back to the station. Mark winced when he deduced the only logical source; New York’s finest had a tattletale among their ranks.
“You get paid for results. For six weeks now you’ve been venturing away from your charge and the results have been six failures. Those aren’t results that keep your program funded or you employed,” the angry voice shouted in his ear. “Your strong arming is burning bridges we may need down the road and for what, some radiation frequency reading? If you ever want to sit in my chair you’d better pull it together and fast.”
Mark entered the observation area adjacent to the interrogation room and shut the door. Through the two way mirror he saw Hasim was already handcuffed to the table looking like he wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Mark focused his attention back to the phone conversation.
“Terrance, you know I hate cutting you off when you’re on a roll, but I have a suspect that needs a good talking to. We can finish this later,” Mark said and quickly folded the phone shut before Terrance could object.
The only non-NSA occupant in the observation room was the smart-ass SWAT team leader. Apparently he felt entitled to know what was going on. Mark paid the captain a quick glance and then reached back and opened the door behind him. “Get out.”
Captain Williams stood his ground. “After what I saw in the apartment, there’s no way I’m leaving you alone with my prisoner.”
Mark left the door open as he calmly walked to the table and took his time neatly setting a stack of file folders on it. Suddenly Mark lurched forward ramming the defiant police officer chest first forcing him backwards a few steps. Mark took a firm stance precisely where the captain once stood. “You say that like you have a choice in the matter.”
Mark pulled out the pistol he ‘borrowed’ from an officer back in the apartment that he used to aerate the fancy television. He presented the incriminating weapon, handle first, toward the SWAT team leader. “A member of your team lost his cool and shot an expensive appliance without provocation with this pistol back in the apartment. He compounded this error by leaving his weapon unattended at the scene afterwards.”
Mark gestured to Ryan standing behind the confrontation, “These are serious breaches of conduct and I have a witness. Your team’s performance today was otherwise exemplary, so I was willing to let it go unreported; should I reconsider?”
The captain’s stare could have burned a hole through Mark’s skull. “We’ll just see about that. Those fancy credentials on your chest may do a lot, but they don’t work miracles.”
Mark popped a mocking grin, “Well perhaps you should go write up a complaint about it. Your desk would be a perfect place for that. Off you go now.”
Captain Williams snatched the gun from Mark’s hand and marched his way to the door. “I’ll lodge a complaint all right.”
Ryan shut the door behind the fuming captain. “I don’t think he liked your suggestion. I can identify with his frustration though. Why are you putting so much effort into these raids? This is the sixth wild goose chase I’ve been on with you trying to get to the bottom of this radiation frequency business. What is so important about it anyway?”
“We’ll need to add a few zero’s to your paycheck before that conversation can take place I’m afraid. For right now just know that I think the source of the frequency will lead us to bad people trying to do bad things.”
“You are right to question why we’re being led around,” Mark pondered. “It’s like someone knows exactly what I am looking for, and they keep teasing me with it.”
“Maybe their goal is to keep you chasing your tail long enough for Terrance to shut your division down,” Ryan added. “Why not avoid career suicide and just let it go?”
“That very thought has crossed my mind many times,” Mark answered. “In the end I keep coming back to the time I spent in East Berlin during the cold war. Once I had to get a nuclear physicist to the other side of the Berlin Wall. To do so we rigged a car with a hidden compartment under the back seat. The problem was the extra weight of a grown man back there made the car ride low.”
“A low riding car would definitely draw a close inspection from the border guards,” Ryan commented. “What did you do, rebuild the shocks so the car would ride higher?”
“We didn’t have time to do anything that sophisticated,” Mark continued. “Instead we loaded six cars down with all the supplies, trinkets and knick-knacks they would hold. Those six cars were riding so low they practically scraped their tailpipes going down the road.
“When we drove to the checkpoint I put three overloaded vehicles in front and three behind the car concealing the physicist. The guards were so busy checking the low riders that it was a relief to see one riding relatively high. They let me and my human contraband roll through without a second glance.”
“So your point is whoever is behind these radiation frequency readings might be creating a bunch of distractions so their real objective can slip past unnoticed?" Ryan theorized.
“It’s what I’d do,” Mark concluded. “Either something big is going to happen soon, or somebody is going to a lot of trouble to run me all around and make me look incompetent. I’m virtually certain it’s the former, but I haven’t entirely ruled out the latter either.”
Mark glanced back through the mirror at the suspect. “He looks about ready don’t you think?”
Mark didn’t wait for a response. He snatched the top folder from the stack on the table, walked around, and entered the interrogation room. He grabbed a rickety metal chair and dragged it towards the table. The chair screeched along the tile floor making finger nails on a chalk board sound like a symphony of violins by comparison. Hasim grimaced at the noise while Mark sat in the chair and slapped the fake student visas on the table.
“These show decent craftsmanship, Hasim, but we both know they’re as fake as a porn star’s tits. They can pass a cursory glance no problem, but if a specialist takes a close look you and your friends are on a one-way flight back home.”
The look on Hasim’s face showed real fear at the threat of being sent back to his home country. He glanced around the room for cameras and then focused on the mirror.
“You don’t have to worry,” Mark assured the suspect. “This conversation is not being recorded and the only person behind that mirror works for me. What you say in here stays in here.”
Hasim’s only response was a doubtful look.
“You want proof?” Mark asked. He stood up and spoke loud and clear. “I illegally drew a fire arm and shot this man’s television. I then proceeded to intimidate him by putting the gun between his legs.”
Mark let the words echo around the room for few seconds. “See. If any officer of this precinct was listening to that admission I’d be placed under arrest, same as you.”
Mark took his seat in front of Hasim once more and waited for a response.
“My friends and I are considered political dissidents in Iran. Going back there would mean suffering a fate worse than death. Please. I know nothing about radiation. I just want to live a peaceful life.”
“The video game console had a transmitter attached emitting the radiation readings we detected,” Mark said. “That means today is your lucky day, I’m not after you. I only want the person who sold you the system.”
Hope returned to Hasim’s face as Mark continued. “If you can lead me to that person, you and your friends can go. You’ll be free to bang hot American girls, or continue having your brains sucked into the television while you click buttons and pretend it adds meaning to your life.”
“I purchased the consol online.” Hasim said. “I simply had it shipped to the apartment. I never met the vendor.”
Mark looked back at the mirror behind him. “Ryan let’s get this man a computer so he can lead us to the seller’s online account.”
While Mark sat with the suspect waiting for Ryan’s entry, his cell phone rang. Mark checked the display and cringed when he recognized Terrance was calling him again. He left the room and opened the phone in the hallway.
“Terrance, I’m rather busy you know.”
“Yes, I know. You’ve been busy shooting up apartments, arresting kids for playing video games, and threatening New York City police officers. You are out of control, and I want your ass back here at HQ ASAP.”
“I don’t know, Terrance. With this short of notice I might not be able to find adequate transportation,” Mark mocked.
“Hop a plane, catch a cab, or thumb a ride; I really don’t care. Either way you’re sitting across the table from me in two hours. You got that?”
“I look forward to it,” Mark said. “Till then, Terrance. Bye, bye now.”
Mark closed his phone and ran through a litany of curses inside his head. Being called back to headquarters was a bad turn of events. Mark dashed into the observation room, grabbed the stack of files and proceeded down the hall. He glanced up to see Ryan walking to the interrogation room carrying a laptop.
Mark issued a set of curt orders as he stalked down the hallway past Ryan. “Get everything you can about the seller from Hasim, and then follow the leads until you find the person or you die of old age. You got me?”
If Ryan uttered a response Mark didn’t hear it. His temper was up again and it needed release. Mark opened his cell phone, dialed, and put the receiver to his ear. He kept the conversation short by uttering two words to his associate on the other end. “Do it.”
Mark hung up the phone, counted to thirty in his head, and then made his way into the squad room. The SWAT team, along with the precinct chief, was huddled around a television on someone’s desk. Mark came up behind the group and noticed the movie Men In Black II was playing. The officers laughed as Will Smith started beat boxing in the mail room to signal the alien workers to reveal their other world identities. Hollywood makes it look so easy Mark thought before announcing his presence to the group.
“Tax payer dollars hard at work I see,” Mark blurted in a self righteous tone.
The SWAT team leader turned around. “We’re off duty. Besides, we’re not the ones wasting time raiding apartments to apprehend ultra dangerous video game players.”
“No,” Mark said. “You’re just the leader of a strike team that’s been siphoning off drugs and money from busts over the last six years to an offshore account.”
Everyone watching the television instantly spun around to face the accuser. Captain Williams, for his part, looked like the words drained every ounce of blood from his body.
The bureau chief stepped up to defend his men. “I don’t care who you are. An allegation like that better be backed by a whole mountain of irrefutable evidence.”
Mark tossed the chief his stack of bulky file folders. “Those represent the snow covered peak of that mountain of evidence. The rest was handed over to internal affairs thirty seconds ago.”
Mark shifted his gaze to Captain Williams. “Those living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Here’s a survival tip for you. You need to know everything about the person you’re trying to screw over before you bring out your puny plastic tool; not after. You never know when you’ll run across someone who has an entire home improvement store at his disposal.”
Mark backed away from the group of stunned men with a contrite grin. “Here’s another tip. To survive in prison, the first day you need to either kick someone’s ass or be their Prag. Hope it’s useful.”
Mark let out a satisfied grunt as twelve uniformed officers entered the squad room to apprehend the SWAT team members. Torching the one who burned him felt good, but his meeting with Terrance in Maryland still loomed. The damage was already done.
Chapter 10: The Third Planet Please
“Let me make sure I understand what you’ve told me so far,” Dr. Holmes said to his patient. “Your fleet was ambushed. You took command once the fleet admiral was killed. You managed to fight off four to one odds and ultimately escaped the trap by flying your ship straight through another vessel to causing its destruction.”
“Yep, those are the highlights so far,” the patient responded.
“You certainly lead an exciting life, Hastelloy,”
“Just wait till I get going,” Hastelloy said with a sly grin.
**********
“Tonwen, what’s in this system? I need to know what obstacles and cover we might be able to use,” Hastelloy asked of his science officer.
“The system has eight full planets and a couple dwarfs orbiting a medium sized yellow star. The star is not giving off nearly enough activity to disguise our presence here so that option is out. The fifth and sixth plants are gas giants with dozens of moons; we might be able to hide among them. Also of interest, there is an asteroid belt between the fourth and fifth planets that could provide cover,” Tonwen reported.
“Ah, that asteroid field will do nicely. Take us in Valnor, and park us next to one of the largest rocks you can find,” Hastelloy ordered.
The captain decided now was as good a time as any to update the crew on some bad news. “We made the space fold before I could verify the readings completely, but I suspect one of the Alpha attack ships survived the Onager explosions. Unless they were completely crippled by the blast, they’ll be coming to finish what they started.
“They might be too badly damaged to mount a sufficient attack,” Valnor suggested hopefully.
Hastelloy shook his head back and forth. “Even if their ship’s badly damaged, they know our vessel will be no match, particularly since we only have two-fusion torpedo’s left to shoot at them. Our only option is to hide and hope they don’t find us before our reactor cools down enough to create the space fold to get us home.”
“Well, that should only take twenty minutes; I can play hide and seek with a damaged Alpha ship for that long no problem,” Valnor declared.
“I have a problem with that plan,” Tomal interjected. “The reactor won’t be cooled down enough to make the second jump for another three hours.”
“Why so long?” Valnor asked. “We need to get out of here. Isn’t there anything we can do to speed it up?”
“The more lives the Nexus holds, the more power it draws from the ship’s reactor. We’re carrying over 20 million lives so everything is running white hot,” Tomal replied with the ominous tone of an executioner. “I think we should consider jettisoning half the inventory so the reactor can cool down within the hour rather than waiting it out. The risk is too great.”
“Inventory,” Gallono quickly repeated in utter disbelief. “Are you insane? This isn’t a shipment of grain or mechanical parts we’re talking about. These are lives of fellow soldiers of the Republic who fought like champions so we could bring them back home. You’re way out of line, Lieutenant. In fact, you can’t even see the line from where you’re standing.”
Tomal sprung to his feet and gave justification to his argument. “From where I’m standing I see a guaranteed way to get ten million of those heroes home safe versus a noble effort to get everyone home that’s really a far-fetched gamble with long odds. Ten million men home safe is worth more that twenty million stranded in space trying to get home with a dangerous foe chasing after them.”
Gallono exploded from his chair and looked as if he was ready to tear Tomal limb from limb.
“Eno
ugh!” Hastelloy shouted. He paused to let the induced silence resonate for a few seconds, and then continued calmly, “I already had this debate in my head when we arrived in this system. The bottom line is I’m not about to commit genocide against my own soldiers by pulling the plug on half of them. It’s all or nothing; there is no other choice. Now sit down both of you.”
Hastelloy looked around the bridge. Clearly waiting around with nothing to do for three hours while contemplating their impending doom, was not going to be good for morale. The men needed to occupy their time.
The captain picked up a data pad he had been working on. “Tomal, go to the torpedo room and reprogram the last two projectiles with these specifications and adjust the launcher sequences accordingly.” The captain handed him the technical data pad and Tomal stormed off the bridge without a word.
“Gallono,” Hastelloy continued, “go check on the Nexus and see if there are any other ways to speed along the cool down process. I don’t care if you have to personally stand there with a water hose over the damn thing; get it cooled down.”
Gallono headed for the exit, but Hastelloy quickly blocked his path. “Also, I need you to steer clear of Tomal until we get home. I know he offended your morality, but he had a valid point and it was his duty to make sure I considered it. Don’t hold that against him.”
“True, but he didn’t have to argue it with such conviction.” Gallono replied. Still seething with anger, he walked off the bridge to carry out his assignment.
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