by C. R. Daems
"What, throw Newman out the conference room window?" He laughed then sobered. "Bring him up on charges. He would have deserved it."
"Truth be told, Master Chief, I'm as frustrated as he is at being coerced into the position of Eastar NIA Station Chief."
"I think you'll find most everyone thinks you belong here. I do."
* * *
"How are you adjusting to your new position?" Alexa asked at dinner, concern in her voice.
"Master Chief Stamm says people believe I belong as station chief and I feel comfortable around my peers, and Lulltrel has been supportive…"
"Seems to me you are settling in better than expected. Master Chiefs aren't ones to tell you what you want to hear."
"I'm afraid people like me because it appears I'm on the trail of Hijackers, and if it turns out I'm wrong…they may be just unexplainable anomalies."
"You're doing what Lulltrel wants you to do, look for anomalies and check them out. No one else is looking. You are forgetting the philosophy that's helped you survive."
"I'm worrying about the future." I nodded.
"You've taught me to enjoy each day and not worry about the future, and I find life far more enjoyable. I have a daughter who is the love of my life, and together we can handle anything life throws at us." She put her arm around me and pulled me close. With that, my worries melted away.
CHAPTER FOUR
Eastar: No Longer Anomalies
"Good morning,” I said as I entered the room. To my surprise, a group discussion was in progress. Normally the room was quiet, with each person sitting or standing alone. They dispersed with cheerful "good morning," or "morning ma'am," and everyone looked in a good mood. The thought crossed my mind I had entered the wrong room or was at the wrong meeting, but the people present were my staff. Even Pannell looked relaxed as I sat. I waited to take a sip of the coffee Stamm put in front of me, just to make sure I wasn't daydreaming.
"Newman, if you would begin," I said and crossed my fingers and ankles as Red wound around my neck and faced him.
"Yes, ma'am. Veldez and Peters spoke to the coroner, who took a closer look at her report. Her report did notice some bruises on the body, which could have been someone restraining the colonel, but she doesn't have the body so she can't be sure. They also checked the ports records. There were two Navy cruisers in port during that period, the Boreas and Laelaps." He went on to explain his current cases. Atkins was next and then Cooper. When she finished her weekly report she hesitated, and then turned on the monitors.
"Ma'am Newman, Atkins, and I split up the missing cruisers." She paused, waiting for me to comment.
"Good idea," I said and managed not to smile.
"I took the Alandan and Pereus, as they were both out of Amend, and the Free Spirit out of Fire Rock. Atkins took the Deal Maker and Pegasus as they were out of Holy Star. And Newman took the Hercule out of Truth Star and the Easy Lady out of Black Water." She tapped on her tablet and a matrix appeared:
Merchant
ship
Navigational
crew
Engines
ECM
Weapons
Hercule
Exp: 10 years +
Team: 5 +
Excellent
Very Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
Easy Lady
Exp: 15 years +
Team: 9 +
Excellent
Very Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
Aladan
Exp: 13 years +
Team: 7 +
Very Good
Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
Deal Maker
Exp: 7 years +
Team: 3 +
Very Good
Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
Pegasus
Exp: 12 years +
Team: 12 +
Good
Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
Free Spirit
Exp: 8 years +
Team: 4 +
Excellent
Very Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
Pereus
Exp: 11 years +
Team: 11 +
Excellent
Very Good
Missiles: 2
Lasers: 30cm
"Frank, you want to go first?" Cooper asked, using Newman's first name. He stood.
"Thank you, Shirley. The Hercule and Easy Lady didn't have a navigational problem, based on their bridge crews. They were all licensed in their positions. The captain, navigator, and pilot on the Hercule each had ten or more years of experience at their positions and had been working as a team for five years. They were experienced and had previously made thirty-five jumps to Safe Harber over the past several years. And as the chart shows, they had top-of-the-line engines and ECM, and were armed with missiles and lasers. They wouldn't have allowed even a well-armed merchant to board them without a fight and screaming for help. I think your suspicions are well founded, ma'am," he said and sat.
"Chuck," Cooper said, and Atkins stood and talked about his two merchants.
"I agree with Frank and I think this is going to be an interesting case." When he sat, Cooper rose and went through her three merchants.
"Ma'am, we all agree you're a witch—a good witch. You knew right from the beginning what to look for." She blushed slightly.
"Thank you, that was excellent work, individually and as a team. And a lot of hard work and overtime to finish this quickly. I need to brief Admiral Lulltrel, but I believe this will be designated as a project. If it is, I will call for a meeting with you to discuss the project and the next steps." I turned to Stamm. "Master Chief, would you see if Lulltrel will see me at her earliest convenience? Tell her I have an update."
* * *
"At ease, Paulus. I'm told you have an update for me." Lulltrel waved toward the two chairs, indicating she was in a hurry.
"Yes, ma'am. My team has eliminated any doubt that the missing merchants might have had a bad jump. Their research indicates each merchants had made thirty or more jumps to the system where they went missing, and that the bridge crew were all experienced and had been together for many years."
"And you are recommending?"
"We make it an official project, code name…Rabbit," I blurted.
"Why Rabbit, Paulus?" Why not Tiger, or Dragon, or something strong, menacing?"
"A rabbit suggests caution, which I believe will be necessary. If these are Hijackers, they are merciless and caution will be necessary." I smiled. "And Rabbit doesn’t give any hint as to the project's objective. I think the Hijackers are well connected and I'd rather they didn't know we were on to them until the last minute." I thought they would be much like the Raiders, vicious killers who would try to eliminate any threat.
Lulltrel nodded. "I'll talk to Admiral Webb. He isn't going to be happy." She laughed. "In fact, stay available. You might as well share the experience with me since you discovered the bad news."
* * *
Back in my office, I had barely sat down when Stamm knocked and entered. "Ma'am, Admiral Lulltrel wants you to join her on the twenty-first floor." He was frowning. "That's Admiral Webb's domain."
"Admiral Lulltrel wants me to deliver the bad news. She wants to make sure Admiral Webb doesn't kill the messenger." I smiled as Stamm's frown deepened. "Not to worry, Master Chief, I have Red to protect me," I said as I headed for the elevator. In the elevator I stroked Red, who was on my shoulder and seemed interested by his changing positions. When I exited, Lulltrel waved from down the hallway. When I got there, a commander was holding the door open. We entered, braced to attention, and saluted.
"Well, Paulus, the news must not be good since my NIA Chief brought you along to deliver it."
"Sir, as you are aware, my team has been loo
king into reports of missing merchant ships. A review of last year revealed eight, seven of which were unexplained. Further review indicates the Bridge crews on those merchants were knowledgeable of the area, having made many similar jumps, had good ships, and experienced Bridge crews."
"And you believe?"
"It appears to me that it is highly probable that the merchants were hijacked."
"Without a trace?"
"Yes, sir. Without a call for help, no debris, no unusual sightings, and no survivors," I said. Webb's eyes narrowed as he looked from me to Lulltrel.
"My NIA Chief brought you because she doesn't want conjecture on what that could mean. But my Eastar NIA Station Chief might, since she hasn't learned adult speak yet." He gave me a questioning look.
"No, sir. I'm working on it but it's difficult for a woman who still lives at home with her mother."
Webb laughed. "You can always claim Red made you do it," he said and nodded for me to continue.
"I have no proof, but all the indications—no trace of the missing ships or their crew, all the merchant ships went missing while jumping to one of four systems we are calling the Northern Rim, all the missing ships did most of their trading in the Rim, and all were registered in the Middle Corridor—suggesting cruisers supported by an extensive support network—"
"The fucking UAS committee is going to love this and blame me, either for not discovering it sooner or letting it happen, and demand I protect all—" He stopped shouting and looked to me.
"Four hundred thirty-one," I said.
He frowned. "Your red-headed companion doesn't appear agitated by my shouting."
"No, sir. He only gets agitated when I'm threatened. He obviously doesn't believe I'm being threatened."
"You're not. My problem is I've got damn good people reporting to me. If Admiral Lulltrel hadn't the wisdom to coerce you into becoming the Eastar NIA Station Chief and expanding your responsibilities, we probably wouldn't have known we had a problem for years." He crossed over and poured a cup of coffee and waved for Lulltrel and me to do the same."
"Sir, Paulus has suggested we identify a project team and given the project the designation, Rabbit—"
Webb choked on the coffee he was sipping, spraying it several feet. "Rabbit?"
"For caution, sir. She wants to keep the project and the team members a secret for as long as possible. She feels they are vicious killers and well connected," Lulltrel added quickly. Webb sat silent for a long time.
"Commander Paulus, I will get you P1A authority and any team members you feel will need it. Your only priority is project…Rabbit." He shook his head in disbelief.
* * *
The room was subdued as each section chief recapped their weekly activities. When Cooper finished, she coughed for attention.
"Ma'am there is a rumor that you had a meeting with Admiral Webb. If it isn't a secret…" she paused, leaving the question hanging.
"It can't be much of a secret if everyone in the room, plus the rumor mill, knows it," I said, hiding my amusement. "Yes, Admiral Lulltrel took me along to explain what you have discovered. He was pleased with your findings and holds you responsible for stopping the hijacking." The look on their faces was priceless—wide-eyed shock and mouths hanging open. I said nothing for several minutes. "All right, I'll help," I said, which eventually produced smiles and laughs. "The project name is Rabbit—"
"Why Rabbit?" Newman asked, looking puzzled.
"Rabbits are cautious and what we are going to be for as long as possible. The minute the Hijackers hear a NIA team is searching for them, they are going to try to eliminate the team."
"Commander," Pannell said, surprising me. I nodded.
"The minute these people hear Commander Paulus is heading the team, she will be on a Dead-or-Alive poster. Last time it reached two million credits and they raided the NIA headquarters in Oxax. They would have killed the team as well as Commodore Stauffer and Admiral Rawls if Commander Paulus hadn't killed several and warned the building. Everyone connected with the project will be in danger," Pannell said.
"That is why I want each of you to consider long and hard whether you want to participate in project Rabbit," I said, looking each in the eye.
"I'm in," Cooper said almost immediately. She looked excited and ready to start work.
"Me too," Newman said. "I withdrew my transfer request. I told Admiral Lulltrel I still had much to learn and thought you were the person to do it. So if you don't mind…"
"I'd be pleased to have you on the team, Commander Newman."
"Count me in," Atkins said, smiling. "But only if you are going to help."
Everyone laughed and the room became quiet.
"At Admiral Lulltrel's staff meeting, project Rabbit was proclaimed NIA's highest priority and restricted on a need-to-know. We want, we get. For now, the Rabbit Project team is my staff. We will add resources as we determine we need them. Talking about it outside the need-to-know circle could get you prison time. This is a P1A project."
"Wow," Cooper said. "What's next, ma'am?"
"First, we aren't going to stop the Hijackers quickly. If I'm right, they have a very sophisticated operation and it could take years to understand it enough to break it. So patience will be required. We will continue to meet once a week but will expand the staff meeting to all afternoon. For the next week, I want you to consider how the Hijackers are managing to stop merchants who are well armed and know Raiders are likely to kill them and steal the ship if they board. Consider how you would go about it if you had unlimited funds and connections."
* * *
"Well, Daughter, how is the Eastar NIA Station Chief doing with her new responsibilities? You don't appear to have brought any work home."
"Mother… I'm afraid I'm involved in another high-profile project." I felt like crying. I had caused Alexa enough stress and worry over the years, and I was going to do it again. She got off the couch and came and sat next to me, wrapping her arms around me.
"Anna, I've come to the conclusion that is what you were meant to do and the reason Red sought you out. And I've learned to get the most out of each day and not worry about tomorrow. I have a daughter who is the love of my life and life is wonderful. We'll deal with tomorrow when it comes, not before."
"I'd resign before I'd hurt you," I said, meaning it with all my heart.
"I know and it's what makes you so special… So Webb has approved your quest?"
"When I told Lulltrel what we had found she took me to see…" I went on to explain our meeting with Webb. "So the first step is to determine how you get an armed merchant ship to stop to let pirates board."
"You think they want the ship?" Alexa asked. I nodded.
"Although each ship had a cargo worth stealing, I believe their primary target was the ship. Those ships can cost in the neighborhood of a billion credits. The cargo is icing on the cake."
"That means disabling the ship isn't an option." Alexa sat quietly for some time. "Unarmed merchants would probably stop if you exploded a missile or two close enough to rattle them, but I doubt armed merchants would stop for anything less than a military-armed cruiser. Better to take your chances in a fight. Nothing to gain by letting them board."
"But they apparently did because there was no debris or indication of a battle in the lanes the merchant ships would have been using. And no one reported an armed ship threatening them. The ship had literally disappeared and the reason the Navy hasn't gotten involved."
"You have a real mystery, Commander Paulus. Let me know when you figure it out." She laughed.
* * *
I sat with Red lying on my forehead, looking at the responses to my inquiry as to the Navy cruisers in port during the time of the murders where military weapons or equipment were reportedly involved. Unfortunately, the space gods weren't helping because as many as three cruisers were in port during several of the incidents.
System
Date / Incident
Ships in Port
/>
Eastar
12/5 / Col Duarte. Robbery? Marine-like knife.
1) Scylla, Ceto,
Typhon
Shadows Rest
7/20 / Morris Owen. Robbery? Marine ammo
1) Boreas,
Black Water
4/11 / Ernesto Riuz. ? Marine-like knife
1) Boreas, Uramis, Sparta
Stone Ring
1) ** (3/18) Kelvin Montgomery CEO of a shipping company. Unknown. Marine ammo.
1) Lapis, Ceto,
Vulcan
Westar
1) ** (1/23) Jonnie Lyons, Fight? Killed with a knife unique to the airborne marines
1) Hecate,
Romulus
The only glimmer of hope was that the Ceto appeared twice. The bad news, if I were correct, was more than one ship was involved—at least four. I concluded I needed more information but was unsure how to get it. I couldn't just ask for all the murders over the past year. There had to be hundreds, and even if a Navy brotherhood of murderers existed, they wouldn't have committed them all. Even Red was disgusted and had disappeared into my sleeve over an hour ago.
"Ma'am, time for your staff meeting," Stamm said, breaking into my brooding.
"Thanks, Carl." I rose and headed for the conference room. Everyone was there, looking eager to start. I sat. "Who has solved the riddle—why do you stop for pirates to board when you are armed and you know it could mean death?"
"Maybe they convinced the merchant they only wanted their cargo," Newman said.
"That would imply a mercenary ship armed like a war ship," Atkins said.
"A couple of explosions close enough to show they were serious," Cooper said.
"These merchants were well armed. Why would mercenaries target them?" I asked.
"Because of the merchandise," Atkins said.
"But it had to be the ship they were after, since all seven are missing," I said. "So attacking it doesn't make sense. Besides, once you attempt to seize it you can't stop, otherwise it would have been reported as an attempted piracy," I said. "And as far as we know, no ships were destroyed. Conclusion, they get on board."