Messinants

by S. H. Jucha

  “Would you rather be kept in the dark?” Liam asked.

  “No,” Devon replied dejectedly.

  “Maybe we’re going about this all wrong,” Liam mused. “If we can’t introduce these recordings, then we need to think of another way to put the commandant in jeopardy.”

  “What’s your idea?” Devon asked.

  “I don’t have one, but I’m thinking we might have someone who would,” Liam replied. “Call Sergeant Lindstrom in here.”

  “You sure you want to involve someone else, Liam? We could be risking Cecilia’s career.”

  “Do it, Devon. We’ll approach the subject sideways. Maybe we can get her help indirectly.”

  After Devon made the call, the men returned to the subject of the Triton aliens, postulating what they might do next.

  “I’ll tell you what scares me,” Liam said. “It’s the two captains at Emperion.”

  “You’re referring to Harbour and Cinders.”

  “Yes, absolutely,” Liam replied. “There’s a strange synchronicity at work between those two. It’s like you put together two people who shouldn’t fit, but somehow, they energize each other. If the aliens appear again, I’m wondering if they can resist returning to Triton.”

  “I’ve a different take, Liam,” Devon replied, leaning back in his chair and smiling. “If the aliens return, I can’t think of two better people to go out there and greet them than Harbour and Cinders.”

  “That’s true,” Liam acknowledged. “Hopefully the aliens won’t eat them.”

  Responding to a rap on the door, Devon checked his hall vid feed, signaled the door to unlock, and admitted Sergeant Cecilia Lindstrom.

  “Am I going to hear one of the commandant’s downside calls?” Cecilia asked, after she closed the door and heard the lock snick.

  “Sideways approach, huh?” Devon said to Liam. In reply, Liam wore an expression that looked like he’d tasted something sour.

  “Sergeant, what do you know?” Liam asked, indicating a seat for Cecilia.

  “If you’re asking if I’ve listened to the commandant’s calls, I haven’t, Major,” Cecilia replied. “I presumed I was invited to Lieutenant Higgins’ office to hear the latest one, due to the timing.”

  “The timing?” Devon asked.

  “Yes, Sir,” Cecilia replied. “When the commandant links with the downside connection, he always calls the same number. As soon as he makes a connection, your link code is added to the call, but it’s in passive mode.”

  Liam and Devon shared looks of trepidation.

  “If you two are afraid that you’re risking your jobs for illegally spying on the commandant, I wouldn’t worry,” Cecilia quickly said.

  “You’re going have to explain this carefully to us, Sergeant,” Liam said.

  “You must remember that I was trained on comm systems and code enforcement, Sir,” Cecilia replied. “In addition, I was involved in the investigation and arrest of the governor.”

  Liam nodded his understanding, and Cecilia rushed on. “So many things about the Andropov affair never fit together for me. Then there were your attitudes toward the commandant, Sirs. You were, at best, cordial but never friendly or helpful. That’s when I decided to do a little investigation of my own and found the commandant calling two numbers downside. It took me a while to cross-trace the numbers, because the downsiders aren’t in our comm records. But, I finally identified them as belonging to Markos Andropov and Lise Panoy. After we arrested Andropov, the commandant’s calls continued to Lise Panoy.”

  “Lise Panoy is the governor, Sergeant. Why wouldn’t the commandant talk to her?” Liam asked, testing Cecilia.

  “Now she is, but she hasn’t been in the years that the commandant’s been calling her,” Cecilia replied.

  “Years?” Devon mouthed silently, and Cecilia affirmed the length of time with a tip of her head.

  Liam cleared his throat. The conversation was taking so many unexpected turns that it was difficult keeping his focus, but there was one subject that he definitely had to pursue. “Sergeant, if you found out that Devon’s comm code was linked to the commandant’s calls downside, why couldn’t others discover the same thing?”

  “In the first place, Major, they’d have to be looking for it. People make twenty to thirty comm calls a day. Multiply that times the number of Pyreans, and you have an idea what’s going through the JOS comm servers. The only people who have access to these records are security, who require a warrant. Except for present company,” Cecilia added, with a quick grin.

  “Continue without the side comments, Sergeant,” Liam replied sternly. The fact that someone was aware of Devon and his illegal monitoring had shaken him.

  “Sorry, Sir,” Cecilia replied. She wanted these two officers, whom she deeply respected, to know that she would support them. Belatedly, she was realizing how nervous they were about what she knew.

  “Sirs, the data that I’ve described are in two different applications. Security personnel would have to search the comm connection logs for that specific pair. Then they’d have to access the server switch logs to see if there were ancillary code connections to that pair, at that time. In addition, accessing the server logs is only allowed by seven security staff and every one of us must log into the server, and our code is attached to anything we review. I’ve made sure that no one else is looking at what I’ve been observing.”

  “Quite inventive of you, Sergeant,” Devon commended. “However, your access code is attached to these records, and you have no warrant. That places you in a great deal of jeopardy.”

  “It would, Sir, if my code were still there,” Cecilia replied.

  Liam stared hard at Cecilia, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He’d decided to promote her during their efforts to arrest Markos Andropov, impressed with her skills and maturity. This conversation had enabled him to see that he’d underestimated her, and he burst out laughing.

  “Aren’t we a threesome?” Liam declared, when he regained his breath. “Okay, Sergeant, you’re on board. Obviously, you know the dangers, based on the protections you’ve taken. The lieutenant and I have a host of recordings of the commandant conspiring with Lise Panoy on many subjects. But, as you cheekily pointed out, they’re illegal.”

  “Could I ask the type of subjects that we’re talking about, Major?” Cecilia asked.

  “Quick summary, Sergeant,” Devon replied instead. “The commandant supported Andropov’s dethronement with Lise Panoy. He’s running a secondary investigation to discover the streak distributor who pressured Lily Tormelli.”

  “Why?” Cecilia asked.

  “We heard the commandant tell Lise that Lily left a message on her comm unit. It was to Emerson, and it told him that she couldn’t hurt him and couldn’t live without her streak. The commandant erased the message.”

  “The commandant knew Lily?” Cecilia asked, looking between the officers.

  “Lily was the commandant’s coin-kitty for most of a year. Emerson believes Lily was pressured by her streak distributor. She could either patch the commandant or lose her streak supply. She chose not to hurt the commandant.”

  “Wow,” Cecilia whispered.

  “The commandant has Lise chasing down the downside streak suppliers to learn their JOS distributors,” Liam said.

  ‘The commandant has that much sway over the governor?” Cecilia asked, in confusion.

  “Lise needs a new agri-dome, which requires approval of expedited shipping via the El. Emerson has been sitting on that until he gets what he wants,” Devon explained.

  “Quite the pair,” Cecilia commented.

  Liam and Devon glanced at each other. They both liked Cecilia, and it seemed a shame to divulge everything they knew, but there was no value in holding back now.

  “Sergeant, those are our minor concerns,” Liam said quietly. “Lise Panoy wants to use the present anxiety over the appearance of the aliens to make a move to become the de facto leader of Pyre.”

  �
�No,” Cecilia replied.

  “Afraid so,” Devon said, with regret.

  “No, Sirs. I meant to imply that there’s no way that’s happening, if I can help it,” Cecilia declared hotly, and the men chuckled.

  “Then we’re in complete agreement,” Liam replied. “However, there’s even more going on. It concerns the Belle, or more specifically Harbour, and it has the commandant and the governor scared. We’ve learned that original documents were taken from the colony ship’s library, but that’s all we know. Captain Stamerson is in the loop, but he’s not sharing.”

  The two security officers waited for Cecilia’s reply. When she offered none, they thought they had burdened the sergeant with too much information, and they shared expressions of chagrin.

  Despite the presence of senior officers, Cecilia tucked her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. A single thumbnail rested against her front teeth. This was Cecilia’s favorite position, which she assumed when wrestling with a problem. Cecilia stayed curled for several minutes, and, uncharacteristically, the officers remained quiet.

  Finally, Cecilia unfolded her legs, looking from Liam to Devon and back. “The way I see it, we can’t ever use the recordings you have, correct?”

  The men nodded.

  “Then, the question I’d like to ask is: Should we be trying to keep tabs on the commandant, or should we be trying to prevent the illicit liaison between the commandant and the governor?” Cecilia asked.

  “Both, if we could,” Liam replied. “If not both, then the latter would be the more preferable. Let’s start with that one. What’s your idea?”

  “I was thinking we could sow a little discord,” Cecilia replied, with a grin. “What if the next time the commandant calls the governor, a call tracer is placed on her comm unit?”

  “How could that be done?” Devon asked. “We won’t get access to the commandant’s unit.”

  “It would have to be done in real time,” Cecilia replied. “I could set up a piece of code on the comm servers. Then, when the server detected the next time the two connected, I would be pinged. After I responded, it would all happen automatically.”

  “What’s your exposure, Sergeant?” Liam asked.

  “I would receive a notification when the piece of code was downloaded. I would then go back into the servers and erase my footsteps,” Cecilia replied.

  “Everything you’re saying is supposed to be impossible,” Devon objected.

  “The Review Board’s warrant system created the holes, Sir,” Cecilia replied. “Before that process was added, the comm system was secure. You still need the warrant code to legally secure a full record of the calls and messages. What I’m doing is acting surreptitiously intervening as a third party on the call.”

  “Do you know if anyone else can do this?” Devon asked.

  “Three or four others in security have the basic skills, but I don’t think they’ve put them to use,” Cecilia replied.

  “Why’s that?” Liam asked.

  “I would have seen their tracks,” Cecilia said.

  “How did you come by these skills?” Liam asked, his eyes narrowing.

  “The information has been passed down through generations, Sir,” Cecilia replied. “It was one of my ancestors who created the warrant system. He was a little paranoid about the power structure of the domes and security. He knew the ways that the comm system might be manipulated and taught it to his son, who became a security comm operator. That information was passed to his daughter, my mother, who taught it to me.”

  Liam and Devon stared at Cecilia, who lifted a single eyebrow at them.

  “Wow,” Devon whispered. “The things you don’t know.”

  “Okay, Sergeant,” Liam said, gathering his thoughts. “What happens when Lise Panoy gets this code?”

  “What would you like to happen?” Cecilia asked, and the two officers grinned at each other.

  * * * *

  Lise Panoy sat at her desk, reviewing the list that Jordie MacKiernan, her chief of security, had delivered.

  “Is the list complete?” Lise asked.

  “No, Governor,” Jordie replied. “The information quality varies. I’m relatively sure that we’ve located every streak manufacturer, and we’ve identified the vast majority of significant nut suppliers, but we’ve yet to gather all the names of the little ones, of course.”

  “The little ones?” Lise asked.

  “The household suppliers,” Jordie replied. “My investigation has revealed that nearly every household with one or more plumerase trees in the garden is acting as a supplier. We just don’t know who those people are within the households. They could be the gardener, the cook, the home owner —”

  “I get it,” Lise said, holding up a hand to interrupt Jordie. “What about the JOS side of the list, the distributors?”

  “That’s where the list is most incomplete, Governor,” Jordie replied. “Without having an opportunity to interrogate the manufacturers, I can’t tell who’s receiving what they’re shipping topside. You indicated earlier that you weren’t interested in me taking any hands-on action.”

  Lise drummed her nails, while she thought. “And I’m still not, Jordie,” she eventually said. “If I gave you another two weeks, could you improve on the names of the JOS distributors?”

  “Not significantly, Governor, unless you approve the snatching of a few manufacturers and allow me to persuade them.”

  Lise quickly sorted the list on her monitor. The number of manufacturers was double what she thought it would be, and the list of nut suppliers was lengthy. The last group, the JOS distributors, had only six names. She returned to the list of manufacturers. They were family heads, except for two names.

  “We haven’t any more time, Jordie. I need the commandant’s approval for the expedited El shipping, and he wants the distributor names.”

  “If I might suggest, Governor? The commandant has no idea of the extensiveness of streak production and distribution. I, myself, was unaware of it. If we supply him with these six names and tell him that’s everyone, then what reason does he have to doubt it?”

  “He’ll probably doubt its completeness simply because I’m the one sending it to him,” Lise said quietly but harshly.

  “In which case, if we sent him a list with twenty names, Governor, he’d think the same thing.”

  Lise stared hard at Jordie, who smirked. “That’s quite true, Jordie. I applaud your twisted thinking. Okay, the investigation is over. Time to trim the plumerase supply chain.”

  “Understood, Governor, how would you like me to proceed?” Jordie asked, pulling out his comm unit, accessing the list, and ready to note Lise’s instructions.

  “Let’s start with the two manufacturers, the ones who aren’t family heads,” Lise said, leaning back in her chair and staring at the fresco on her ceiling. “I need a message sent to my associates who’ve ventured into foolish business practices.”

  “No disappearances then … something a little freakishly accidental at their manufacturing sites,” Jordie suggested.

  “Yes, that would do it,” Lise replied, continuing to admire the delicate painting. It was an idyllic landscape of old Earth, a scenic valley in autumn colors, with a river winding slowly through it.

  “And the nut suppliers?” Jordie asked.

  “They need trimming the most,” Lise replied, never taking her eyes off the ceiling. “That’s too many people for accidents, and it’s probably not necessary to remove even the majority of them. Once the two manufacturers encounter their tragically needless accidents, the family heads will get the message. Select a fifth of the suppliers. Some of the largest ones and show them the dome exits. Make it quiet, and do it in a narrow time window. Rumors will fly, and we’ll add our own to the mix to decry the illicit streak operations to the domes’ population. People will presume it to be a struggle for streak trade dominance, and I’ll announce a crackdown. Then you can arrest another fifth of the suppliers, who will quietl
y be judged and sentenced, with the same result as the others.”

  “Anyone you specifically have in mind, Governor?”

  With a sigh, Lise broke her attention away from the fresco and focused on the list. She tagged a multitude of names and sent the list to Jordie. “Those individuals aren’t to be touched.”

  “Understood, Governor. When do you want me to start?” Jordie asked.

  “The manufacturers … as soon as you’re ready. Wait a few days and then the suppliers. Take them out in one night.”

  “That’s fourteen people, Governor. My security team can’t handle that many people in one night. If I bring new people on too quickly, we risk exposure.”

  “What’s your proposal, Jordie?”

  “Either make fewer disappear in one night or spread them over two nights,” Jordie replied.

  “Let’s make it the first option, Jordie. I’m sure the family heads can put two and two together and get my message once two manufacturers and a handful of suppliers are eliminated.”

  “Yes, Governor. Anything else?” Jordie asked.

  “No, Jordie, start when you’re ready,” Lise said.

  Jordie excused himself and was nearly to the door, when he heard, “Oh, Jordie, was there a reason you didn’t include your name in the nut supplier’s list?”

  Jordie turned around and quietly cleared his throat before he replied, “I wanted to give you the most up-to-date list, Governor. I closed my business two weeks ago and eliminated any connection I had to plumerase nut collection.”

  “I had noticed Stevens’ absence from our security team. Thorough of you, as I would expect, Jordie,” Lise said, and sent him out the door, with a shooing of her fingers.

  Jordie softly closed the door behind him and paused. His heart was beating fiercely. You dodged a trip out a dome’s airlock on that one, he thought. Best you stick to security, Jordie, and leave the business opportunities to others.

  -11-

  Suspicions

  “Governor,” Emerson acknowledged, after he closed the office door to take Lise’s call.