by C. R. Daems
Twelve hours later, Hadley had stripped the WavCom and found the following message:
TO HAPPY JOBBER/SHADOWS REST
UPDATE: CUSTOMER INVOICE: #21723342342 ON SCHEDULE FOR DELIVERY.
FROM: AXA/TRUTH STAR
"Two down and one to go. This is fun. I appreciate you getting me out of the office, Anna," Hadley said and laughed. "How about we solve the string to the Traveller?"
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HoBo Business
"Corporal Coburn, Sergeant Orozco," a tall wiry Gunnery Sergeant shouted as he made his way out of the training bay toward the Marine sleeping quarters. The two younger men ran to catch up. They were average height but had muscular physiques.
"What's up, Wambler?" Orozco asked when the door to Wambler's room closed behind him. Orozco had a friendly looking angular face, but his eyes were that of a predator. Although Coburn was the youngest of the group, his scarred face made him look older and more dangerous.
"We have a very lucrative party to attend," he said with an evil grin. "A one-million-credit bonus."
"Sounds great," Coburn said. His eyes were wide with excitement as he rubbed his hands together.
"Sounds dangerous," Orozco said, although he too looked excited.
"If it were easy, they wouldn't need us," Wambler said, laughing, but quickly turned serious. "They want us to kill Commander Paulus and her companion, a Commander Hadley."
"Isn't Paulus the one the HoBos from the Hecate kidnapped and turned over to the FPU?" Coburn asked while scratching his chin. "And they found her in Eastar with the FPU cruiser."
"Why do you think they are paying a million credits?" Wambler asked.
"Could have been a trap the UAS set for the FPU," Coburn said. "If so…"
"Yes, if so, our lives are on the line," Wambler said.
"Sounds like fun," Orozco said, smiling. "Grabbing a red-headed krait out of a pit of vipers."
"I agree with the second part. She's guarded by specially trained Marines, and Paulus is known to be competent with the multifunctional weapon she carries at all times. It will only be fun if we live through the experience and don't get caught," Wambler said, frowning. "Orozco, I'll get you a three-day pass to investigate. She will be arriving on the Scylla tomorrow morning."
* * *
Orozco used the Internet to set up a rendezvous with their contact on Oxax at a nightclub halfway across the city, to avoid being seen by anyone he knew. Several hours later he entered the Top Hat and took a seat at the bar, dressed in civilian clothing: gray slacks, long sleeve green shirt open at the neck, and a brown leather jacket. Fifteen minutes later a young woman slid into the seat next to him.
"Looking for something?" she asked with a soft sultry purr. Orozco almost forgot the agreed-upon response, tempted instead to say not any more.
"A man named Jack," he said, while looking her over. She was gorgeous from head to foot in a tight black dress that fit like it had been painted on.
"He's waiting," she said and left the bar, with him running to catch up. Outside, she waved and a dark colored luxury sedan pulled up to the curb. "Get in."
Inside the back seat a man sat, clothing covering all his skin, hiding any identifying marks, and a mask covered his head and face.
"Sorry, but it's best to be careful," his soft voice said. "The Scylla is due to dock early tomorrow. Commanders Paulus and Hadley will depart almost immediately for the Oxax NIA office, with their security. Most likely Colonel Pannell and anywhere from four to eight Marines. Since the Oxax NIA facility has a skimmer pad, they may use a combat shuttle directly from the Scylla to the NIA facility. I expect they will be there several hours. In the past they have returned directly to the cruiser, however, Paulus was stationed here so they may stay longer or go someplace to eat. Paulus is the main target, although they would prefer you also kill Hadley."
Orozco whistled. "That's an awfully short window of opportunity. They are leaving the cruiser in a combat shuttle, leaving it with heavy security, to enter a secure building for a few hours, and entering the shuttle to return to the cruiser."
"Think of it as getting a million credits for a few minutes’ work." The man's voice never changed although there was a hint of amusement in it this time. "Of course, if you don't think you are up to it…"
"The problem isn't killing Paulus. It's living to spend the credits," Orozco said almost to himself as he struggled to find a solution. "I'll let you know what we will need," he finally said, knowing Wambler wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to earn a million credits regardless of the risk, and the challenge excited him. The man tapped on the window and the door opened for Orozco to exit. When he did, the woman slid inside and the car sped away. He idly wondered what their contact was being paid for providing information, weapons, cars, and forged documents when necessary.
* * *
"How did it go?" Coburn asked when he returned later that evening. Wambler looked up but said nothing.
"About what you would expect for a million-credit job. Fifty-fifty odds we either succeed and get rich or we fail and get killed." He smiled when he realized, by his buddies' reaction, that was acceptable to everyone, including him. "Here is the situation…"
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Oxax NIA Office
"Even knowing what that string is supposed to contain, it still isn't easy to decipher," Hadley said after almost a full day working on the problem. I agreed and so did Red, who was still in my hair with his head on my forehead. "And that's creepy." She pointed to Red.
"That's it!" I said, looking up from the notes I had been making on my tablet. There were no zeros in the string after the date. So, twenty-six letters in the alphabet divided by nine digits, one through nine, equals two point eight nine…or…eight times three plus 2. I waved for Hadley to come closer as I made the table:
ABC
DEF
GHI
JKL
MNO
PQR
STU
VWX
YZ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
"If I'm right, the string must contain the names Oxax, Hecate, and Holy Star, based on the activity scan you made of the ship's activities on the one hundred and eleventh day. In that case, the string must contain the number '51' for Oxax, '32' for Hecate, and '37' for Holy Star. And there they are!" I pointed at the string of numbers—#11123237351
"And substituting we get:"
"Date, '2,' Hecate, Holy Star, '3,' Oxax.
"But what are the 2 and the 3 in the string?" Hadley asked, turning her head as she looked at the string from difference angles, as if that might disclose the answer.
"That is what has been making it so hard to translate. Because if you separate the string into pairs you would get '51' but not '32" or '37'. I'm guessing, but the '2' may indicate a cruiser, so as not to be confused with a merchant ship, and the '3' may have something to do with the time," I said, positive I had deciphered the string correctly.
"I think you are right," she said, pointing at her tablet. The Hecate left Holy Star at eight hundred hours, which would be a 3 if you divided a twenty-four hour day into eights." Hadley clapped and produced an ear-to-ear smile. She was about to give me a hug until she saw Red on my shoulder. "Consider yourself as having received an award-winning hug."
* * *
We docked at the Oxax space station in a combat shuttle early the next morning, and were on our way to the NIA office building by eight hundred hours, with an estimated arrival in the late morning.
"Commander Paulus, one of the cruisers you identified is in port. They arrived yesterday," Pannell said quietly while leaning into the open space separating us.
"The Hecate? I asked, hoping it wasn't the Laelaps, not that one group would be more competent than the other but… He nodded.
"A good reason to be extra alert whi
le planet side," he said, looking worried and the reason he had eight Marines along. Couldn't blame him. These weren't just professional killers, they were Marines. I idly wondered where I would consider the best place for an assassination—traveling to the NIA building, in the building, or on the way back? I decided the best place would be in the NIA building. They could ambush us on the way to or from but with unpredictable results—they wouldn't get paid for wounding us. Besides, if I were right, the HoBos wouldn't number more than two or three individuals, so shooting at us in cars or walking into the building with seven Marines on alert didn't seem a good strategy. Of course, I would never have guessed they could have snatched me out of an elevator with Marines there and in the lobby.
Pannell had rented two vans: four Marines in one van with Hadley and four with Pannell and me in the other one. I was still considering the problem when the vans stopped, and I saw we were in front of the NIA building. Pannell spoke into his communication device and the three Marines exited with Hadley. When they were inside, Pannell and the three Marines led me into the building. I smiled. A clever strategy if you thought the contract was for Hadley and me. If so, then splitting us up would destroy a sudden attack, since they couldn't get both of us.
After we entered the building, the remaining Marines drove the cars off, probably to avoid them being tampered with. We passed through the security checkpoint with only a small delay as our visit had been cleared with Admiral Stauffer. I slowed as we neared the elevators, shook my head, and motioned toward the back of the building where there was a second stairway.
"What's wrong with these stairs?" Pannell asked.
"I like the rear ones since we would be unlikely to use them." I grinned.
"Can't say I blame you." He waved four Marines toward the rear stairway and we followed.
"You think they could have tampered with the elevator and the stairs with all this security around?" Hadley asked.
"Last time they wanted me alive…" I didn't finish the sentence and Hadley's face turned a bit pale. "Anyway, the exercise will be good for us."
"Speak for yourself, Anna. I'm not as young as you." She laughed good-naturedly and began climbing the stairs. I stopped when Red began hissing.
"Stop!" I said not about to ignore Red. Pannell looked to me with a questioning stare. The two leading Marines were already on the halfway landing. I scanned the area as I slowly turned in a circle, stopping when I saw the rear exit and pointed. "I wonder if the alarm on the door and the camera work," I said, feeling a bit foolish but positive something was wrong.
"Why?" Pannell said as he looked toward the door. "Because that would be a good way in and out."
He nodded. "Corporal Jennings, check with security to see if this camera is working. Be sure you can see us in the stairwell. As the corporal ran off, he went over to the door and began inspecting the alarm mechanism. He shrugged. "Hard to tell and I don't want to open the door in case it's working. Several minutes later, his CDC device beeped. "Stay there. I'm going to open the door." He moved to the door and opened it—nothing happened. He looked to me. "How?"
"Advanced FPU paranoia," I said with a grin. "They are very clever. Create chaos and have an escape route." I stroked Red, convinced he knew and had warned me, although that was impossible and illogical—but true. I smiled.
Pannell punched something into his CDC and waited. "Captain Duckett, this is Colonel Pannell in charge of NIA security. I'm declaring an emergency at the NIA offices. I need two squads of Marines and a bomb squad. I'm going to clear the building and want you to station men at the front entrance and at each side toward the back. Don't enter the building until I give the all clear. I'll be guarding the back door, where I'm expecting the unauthorized individuals to exit. They are armed and dangerous." After a moment he clicked off. "Corporal Jennings, as soon as you see the Marines arriving, have security issue a fire alert and clear the building." He clicked off and called another number. "Bring the cars around to the rear of the building," he said as he looked around the area, which was a reserved parking area with some ten to fifteen cars in a line. A minute later the two cars pulled up. Pannell stood chewing on his lower lip for several minutes. Commander Paulus, you ride in one vehicle and Commander Hadley in the other. I shrugged, opened the passenger side, and got in as another Marine joined the driver. As he closed the door the car sped away, followed by the second car with Hadley.
* * *
Gunny Sergeant Wambler clicked on to Corburn's comm. "What's happening?" he asked, thinking Paulus and her party should have cleared security by now.
"No idea. They arrived several minutes ago but haven't used the elevator or stairs. So it could be taking them longer to clear security or Pannell stopped to talk with Naval security."
"What about the rear stairs?" Wambler asked.
"I have eyes on the second floor and they aren't here," Corburn said while looking down the hallway.
Wambler clicked on to Orozco's comm. "Anything?" he asked, now a bit concerned.
"Nothing. The elevator has dropped off a few individuals but not them, and no one has used the stairs, front or rear."
Wambler opened a channel to both men. "There is no one on the fourth floor either. I don't like the feel of it." Wambler swore, trying to decide on possible problems."
"You worry too much." Orozco laughed. They are being cautious after Paulus's kidnapping. If need be, we can create enough chaos—" Just then the fire alarms began ringing and the loud speaker came to life with a squeal.
"Attention, this is a mandatory evacuation. Please stop what you are doing a leave the building by the front door. Do not use the elevators…" The announcement repeated several times.
"What do you think?" Corburn asked as he watched the people on the second floor exiting their offices and work areas, heading for the stairways.
"Could be a real fire or a planned drill," Orozco said.
"Or Marines could be getting ready to storm the building," Wambler said, while he debated their options. He hated to leave a million credits lying on the table, but he would also hate to be caught in the building.
"I vote we wait and see why the fire drill," Orozco said, excitement in his voice.
"Let's meet on the first floor back stairs. That will give us a view of the front door and an easy exit if necessary," Wambler said. After hearing acknowledgements from both men he closed the connection. When Wambler arrived at the first floor landing, Corburn and Orozco were waiting.
Orozco laughed. "Serge, no reason we can't leave and come back when they are finished searching the place."
"Agreed, let's go." Wambler nodded to Corburn, who opened the back door a crack, then several inches.
"Looks clear," he said, pushing the door open and the three exited. As the door closed, Pannell and three Marines appeared from behind the parked cars.
"Freeze and raise your hands. Any aggressive move and we will shoot to kill." Pannell's voice was loud and clear.
But Wambler was prepared for just such an event. He pressed the button on the device he had in his hand, which activated the bomb in the second floor conference room. A second later the conference room windows exploded outward with glass, brick, and furniture. Pannell and his men reflexively dove for cover and Wambler began running to his right, while Corburn and Orozco raced to the left. Wambler drew his laser, wishing he had brought a multifunctional weapon, but he hadn't anticipated a shootout with Marines. He fired toward anyone looking to have recovered enough to shoot at him. He didn't want to hurt anyone—they were comrades in arms—just to keep them from killing him before he reached the end of the building. Resignation hit him as six Marines appeared and seeing his laser fire. Multiple shards slammed into him, shredding him.
Orozco and Corburn had the same thoughts as they raced for the end of the building, but six Marines at that corner quickly ended the dream. Both were dead before their bodies hit the pavement.
Captain Duckett left the Marine squad to examine the bodies and
strode over to where Pannell and his men were seeing to their wounds from the explosion.
"Captain Duckett, reporting for duty," he said and gave Pannell a salute. Pannell returned his salute.
"Excellent timing, Captain. I'm afraid I didn't expect them to detonate a bomb. Without your support, they might have all escaped."
"Can I let my team into the building now? I have a bomb squad along and, from the look of things, they should poke around. What were they after, if you are free to tell me?"
"They were after Commanders Paulus and Hadley. And yes, tell your men to clear the building."
"Paulus…wasn't she the one that foiled an attack several years ago by a group of mercenaries? I was a lieutenant back then."
"Yes, the same Paulus, and she also foiled this group's attempt. She noticed someone had tampered with the rear door alarm and camera. Otherwise, I wouldn't have called you."
Duckett clicked on his CDC unit and talked for several minutes. "They will let us know when it's safe to enter."
Just then a sergeant came running up. "Captain, we identified the three men. They are Marines assigned to the Hecate."
Duckett looked to Pannell, concern on his face. Pannell nodded.
"The price on Paulus's head is a million credits."
* * *
It was late in the afternoon when the bomb squad finished and Admiral Rawls had us convene in her conference room. She had a catering service provide dinner, feeling that was safer than going to a restaurant. When everyone looked to have finished their dessert and was nursing something to drink, she spoke.
"Captain Duckett informed me that the bomb squad found explosives in our three conference rooms and in Stauffer's and my office. And from what Colonel Pannell tells me, they apparently were waiting for Paulus and Hadley to settle in one of those rooms, detonate the bomb, and exit the rear door in the resulting chaos." Rawls said, summarizing what she had learned. "And the three Marines are part of a ring of criminals who are operating from Naval cruisers." She looked to me. "Paulus?"