“Welcome, sit down all of you. Barski, this side.”
The five officers sat down in utter silence to wait for him to speak. He thought back to his days as a detective in the Los Brezos force. He never showed the kind of respect to his superiors that he now received. The IBI had made quite a name, but it was a difficult reputation to keep up.
“Welcome, all of you.”
He looked down at the display on his desk that showed the files of each of the five officers as they waited patiently. He quickly accustomed himself with their names as he looked back up at them. Jamal, Gomez, Lee were the men, Sosa and Murray the women.
“I would have expected to personally selected you and at least a week to get you up to speed here. But as you are all well aware, time is not an asset we have in abundance. You have all worked in law enforcement long enough to know what you’re doing, and the only thing that has changed is the responsibility which now lies on your shoulders.”
The officers all nodded, but no one spoke. They were all excited to be starting in the IBI but Kaufman was already lowering the tone.
“Therefore, I am promoting Sosa to Lieutenant and Commander of the Victory. She may not be the oldest or longest serving of you all, but she has solved more cases and been involved in more firefights than any of you.”
“Thank you, Sir,” said Sosa.
“On paper you are the right officer for the job, but your entitlement to the rank will be based wholly on your performance in the coming days, weeks and months. That also goes for the rest of you as the team leaders. There is no room for idleness or slack here. If any of you are found incapable of doing your jobs, you will be replaced. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Sir,” they replied.
“Sosa, despite your rank, you will remain subordinate to my Sergeants for the first week of your command, as a probationary period. That’ll be all, report to the gymnasium where you will find Lin and Davis waiting to brief you.”
They all stood up to leave. It was clear that they all were desperate to get ahead in their careers. It was also just as clear that the pressure placed on them was sinking in and the Sergeants appeared relieved that they had not been given Sosa’s responsibility.
The door shut behind the new officers as Barski made his way around to the other side of Kaufman’s desk. Eric peered around the room, still familiarising himself with it. The room had only become his office a few weeks before and he had spent more time aboard the Intrepid in that time than days on the base.
The walls were pale and drab, though they had been cleaned and renovated by the crew that had been in recently. It had previously served as a dormitory for five of the officers on board. For them it would have been a cramped life, but for one Captain’s office it was more than decadent in its usage of space.
Ever since living in Los Brezos, Kaufman had become quite accustomed to making his living space as efficient as possible, due to the small nature of what he could afford. Now he had a sizeable office, larger quarters and the same again on board the ship he commanded. Despite the luxurious change in lifestyle, he had yet been able to bring himself to fill all the space.
Like the wealthy in his home city those who lived and worked in The Spire, he judged his success not in the number or value of his material possessions, but by the amount of space he could afford not to use. For just a short while, he had managed to take his mind off the Doyle case. He tapped a button on his desk to open up a lid that lay flush on the desk. It housed his Baracoo cigarettes.
“They’ll do fine,” said Barski.
Kaufman turned to look at him as he lit the cigarette and puffed out a wisp of the odourless substance. He nodded as he did so.
“I’m sure they will, but I like a tight team and we’re giving a lot of power away to officers we barely know. As a result, I am promoting you to Lieutenant, effective immediately. In fact, I made it official last night.”
“I thought you didn’t want me getting involved with the other crew?”
“No, but neither do I want anyone I promote within their ranks to be superior to all but myself. If anything should happen to me, it is important I have someone I know I can trust to continue onwards. There may also come a time where you will need to act in my stead.”
“You want me to have seniority over Sosa?”
“Yeah, which is why I put your promotion through last night and she is still on a probationary period. You will officially hold the same rank as her or anyone that helms that vessel, but your earlier commission will ensure your status.”
“Well, thanks, I guess.”
“Nothing will change here, Max. You were my number two before and this is only intended to ensure you remain so.”
The intercom light flashed on Kaufman’s desk and he quickly snapped forward to tap it. He had been waiting for a call all night and morning.
“Kaufman.”
“Sir, I have Commander Denton for you.”
“Put him through.”
Lights flickered beside them and the video transmission of their leader appeared.
“Good morning, Sir,” said Max.
“Barski, Kaufman, is anyone else in on this conversation?”
The Commander seemed concerned. For a man who was eternally relaxed and professional, he sounded both vexed and worried.
“You have a direct feed to my office, Sir and no other soul is in sight.”
“Right, I have been doing a little research into Agent Doyle and his connection to both the Northside Crew and Senator Malory.”
“You have some information, Sir?”
“I have something certainly. Kaufman, this is of a highly delicate nature and I am loathe to discuss it further on a transmission, no matter how secure our people say it is.”
“Then what can we do for you, Sir?”
“What I have needs to be discussed with you personally. I cannot leave our headquarters here. It would be detrimental to our work, so I want you to get here with all haste. Trust this information to no one but yourselves. Inform your crew that you are travelling to Earth to pursue a case, the files of which I have already forwarded to you.”
“Sir, what of the new taskforce?”
“Leave one of your teams there to get them up to speed, but this requires your immediate attention. I am also dispatching a team of former officers, which I trust, to act as security on Ganymede.”
“You think we need the security?”
“We cannot be too careful, Captain. With all our successes, we are making many enemies amongst the criminal underworld. We must ensure our infrastructure, personnel and families are protected.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Get to it immediately, Captain. We have work to do.”
“Yes, Sir. We will leave immediately!”
“I’ll be at the docking bay to greet you on landing, Denton out.”
The transmission cut off leaving the two men in as much surprise as excitement.
“Christ that doesn’t sound good,” said Barski.
“Dodgy Secret Service agents with connections to organised crime, and a Senator, what’s not to like?”
Barski grinned with a slight hesitation.
“You know what the Senate would do if they found out we were pursuing any of those angles?”
“Sure, but they employed us to do this work and by hell we’re gonna do it, whether they like it or not.”
“And if the trail leads to corruption in the Senate and in the Service?”
“We have a duty to pursue it even if our trail led us to the President himself.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Kaufman nodded in agreement and immediately got to his feet. He tapped the intercom and relay to give him a live feed to everyone.
“This is Kaufman, all officers and crew of the Intrepid and the Victory report to the main gymnasium immediately!”
* * *
Kaufman stood in front of the crews of both vessels. Much of the equipme
nt that the new teams were being introduced to lay strewn about the floor. The entire room was silent as the officers waited for what their Captain had to announce.
“I have just received word that we are needed back on Earth. I appreciate the situation here and that this is far from ideal. However, our job is to adapt and overcome whatever is thrown at us. Sergeant Lin, you are your team will stay on Ganymede to bring the new taskforce up to scratch. Lieutenant Sosa, your rank is on a probationary period and Sergeant Lin will be in charge for the duration of my absence.”
“Sir, how long do you anticipate that absence to be?” asked Lin.
“It is too early to tell, Sergeant, but it will be as long as is necessary to get the job done. Now to those of you that are new here. Lin will do what she can, but you cannot be spoon-fed. You have all been selected for your skills, abilities and experience. You may be required to become active with little notice and I expect no less of you than our reputation deserves.”
He looked around at the new faces. He could see that there was no fear in their eyes or concern derived from his comments. They were experienced officers who were desperate to get stuck in and prove themselves.
“The rest of the crew of the Intrepid are to proceed immediately to their stations for immediate departure. We lift off in thirty minutes. That’ll be all.”
Sighs rang out from the ship’s crew. After a successful mission, they were eagerly anticipating at least a night on Europa to blow some credits and make merry. He could understand their disappointment, but there was nothing else for it. He wanted to promise them leave in the coming days, but he couldn’t make promises he could not honour.
“Barski, when you get aboard, go straight to my office.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He turned to leave and saw that despite the commotion, Cheryl Kaminski stood as if she was torn between two worlds.
“Sir, what are my orders?”
“For now you are part of my crew and I need all officers with me, especially as we’ll be a team down.”
“I don’t even have a badge, Sir.”
“Don’t you worry about that, you stick with me and you’ll be fine. Prove yourself to be half the officer your uncle was and you’ll do well here. However, you will receive no special privilege based on your family background.”
“Sir!”
“Alright, that’ll be all, get moving!”
* * *
Kaufman strolled into his quarters on board the Intrepid. He had barely had a chance to leave it. He slumped down in his chair and looked up at his long coat and hat on the rack of the far wall. They had been gathering dust for months. For all that he liked about the job, he did miss strolling through the city lights in a nice suit, taking in the open-air sights and frequenting the many bars.
He tapped the console next to him and put on some jazz music. It reminded him of the times which were now seemed a distant memory, despite being less than a year before. Life was never easy in Los Brezos, but those few moments of peace between the chaos of his work in homicide were sorely missed. The artificial air and alien environments could never replace the pollution filled but open lands of Earth.
Returning home was a welcome journey but would also be a bitter reminder of what they had lost. Kaufman knew that Barski felt it as well, but they rarely mentioned such feelings. Many in their old precinct had joked that cops were married to the job, but Kaufman could only wish for such freedom again.
The buzzer for the door went and Max entered. He stopped at the sound of the music, thinking back to the many times they’d hit the town together after a case was successfully closed. Now there was little time for celebration when there was nobody else to continue on working if they did so.
“Maybe with this new team we’ll get a little more time to hit the bars on Europa,” said Barski.
Kaufman smiled and he wished it were true.
“Sadly the new taskforce has been created to double our efficiency, not to assist us personally.”
“Great pay and nothing to spend it on.”
“We both know that isn’t quite true.”
He looked down at the gleaming handgun that Barski wore with pride. A Hogswell & Simms T151, the new generation of handgun, which Kaufman himself held in such regard. The titanium body and graphite grips made the weapon appear to be from a different age than the T141 model he was accustomed to. The grips were inset with the IBI crest, inlaid with silver. Light bounced off the gleaming octagonal barrel.
Looking down at the pistol, Max smiled. The weapon would have cost many months of his salary in their old jobs. By all accounts, it was an outrageously excessive piece to be carrying in their work. It was no less effective than the other sidearms they used, but its worth meant few but wealthy collectors would own and cherish them.
“I am surprised you didn’t look for something similar yourself,” said Max.
“Na, we have changed almost everything in our lives. Sometimes it’s nice to hold on to just a few things of our past.”
Kaufman looked down at his treasured handgun. The case hardened frame showed decades of wear and the hardwood grips had long lost their shine. The pistol had a veteran look about it and he appreciated that as much as its reliability. His name and serial number were engraved onto the side of the barrel, the latter now being long redundant.
“They surely won’t let you keep that forever,” said Barski.
“Who? My ship, my rules!”
Max nodded as he looked to the display cabinet behind Kaufman’s desk. It was inset into the wall with glass doors. Inside were several famous weapons of the previous centuries. Not being a follower of the past, Barski didn’t recognise most of them. However, a Colt 1911 stood out and was undeniably recognisable to anyone who watched war movies. The weapon collection had appeared and rapidly grown in just the last two weeks.
“I suppose you call those investments?” he asked.
Kaufman turned in his chair and stared into the cabinet at the collection he had assembled. For once in his life, he had more money than he knew what to do with. With all living costs paid for by the Bureau, and little time to spend his wage, his bank account was quickly growing. Some of his crew had already invested in homes for the future and shares in companies. They were planning out their future beyond the Bureau. For Kaufman, there was no life beyond his calling. He spun back around in his chair to look across at Max as he took a seat the other side of the table.
“Beats blowing it all away on wine and women.”
Barski had always been a great friend and colleague. Kaufman suspected that deep down he yearned for a quiet family life, but he kept it well hidden beneath his wisecracking façade. Kaufman had never really asked if his partner had wanted to follow him into the IBI. He had always assumed that Max would want the promotion as much as he did. Now he wondered if Barski stayed more out of friendship than desire.
“Just speaking seriously for once, what future do you see for yourself?”
Shaking his head with a sigh, Barski rested back in the chair and let out a weary gasp. He stroked his chin, thinking hard about the question that had been sprung on him.
“Damn it, Eric. It’s a bit much to ask at this time of the morning. Where has this come from?”
“Nowhere, just been thinking about our lives, from the precinct to now and the future. What do you want from your life and in the future?”
“I hadn’t given it too much thought past getting the job done and enjoying the few free times we get.”
“Really, though, what do you want?”
Barski sighed again. He clearly had given it some thought but didn’t want to sound as if he had.
“The job’s good, pay is good. I guess I’d like a family and a little more free time. My parents keep hassling me to visit them but I cannot even guarantee when I will be around. Nor do we often get enough time to travel back to Earth.”
“Do you still want this job?”
Barski looked at his friend and
partner in surprise.
“It’s not like you ever applied for it, Max.”
“And I never turned it down. This was the opportunity we always dreamt of. We’re getting paid a shit load to do the same job we have always done. But now we do it with all the gadgets we ever wanted and travel in style.”
“But we live away from civilization, away from the city life. Our lives are a continuous long haul flight, only divided up by gunfights and paperwork.”
“You make it sound like such a hardship. I think, Eric, you are forgetting what a nightmare our old jobs were. So yeah, we could wander through the polluted and filthy city in our odd moments of free time. Yeah, we could go on dates and meet people, in theory. But honestly, tell me when you last did that?”
Kaufman looked up at the ceiling as he strained to think back to their previous work that now seemed a lifetime ago.
“As detectives, we spent our days sifting through endless data stores, talking to countless uncooperative and idiotic people, and pointless stakeouts. All that work, for a few days of celebration every now and then. It’s easy to think back on those days with fond memories, but the truth is they were few and far between.”
Kaufman nodded. In all honesty he felt the same too, but he was glad to know that Barski was on the same page. Despite the sacrifices they had made for the Bureau, their work was more rewarding than ever before.
“What are you so desperate to return to Earth for anyway? There’s nothing there for you anymore.”
Kaufman remembered his life on the home planet. He rarely thought of his youth anymore. His time in the quiet suburbs was all but a faint memory now. He went into foster care when he was ten years old.
“Sorry, that didn’t come out right,” said Barski.
Snapping back to reality, Kaufman shook his head as if to shrug it all off.
“No, you’re right.”
The camaraderie which had been established amongst the crew had made Kaufman feel more at home on Ganymede and aboard the Intrepid than he had anywhere in his life. He looked across at the large analogue faced clock on the wall. It was a fashion trend that had become common in a nod to older, and what many considered to be better, days. Getting to the stars had been a great achievement for humanity, but for many it appeared to do little to improve their lives at all. Just as he looked at the time the intercom rang out. Anders announced that they were just five minutes from departure.
Starforce Ganymede II Page 5