by H. M. Clarke
“What type of incident?” Chandler snapped at him.
The SIO Director ran his eyes around the chamber only stopping when they crossed those of the First Councillor. “Please excuse me.” Prockter disappeared out the door before any more questions could be asked.
Joshua moved uncomfortably in his chair. I hope whatever this incident is doesn’t affect our negotiations. We need Federation help.
But the abrupt departure of the SIO Director put Chandler in a flap. At least Prockter’s interruption will stop Joshua contemplating punching the lights out of the First Chancellor.
Tersely, Chandler called the meeting to a close and the councillors did their best to hurry out with the utmost dignity. Joshua found himself sitting in a near empty chamber.
“Elder Val Myra?”
Joshua looked up as the man approached him. “Yes?”
“Ms Pritchard would like to invite you to have lunch with her.”
Joshua rose from his seat and inclined his head gratefully to the silver haired woman now standing by the doors to the Senate Hall. “I’d be honored to.”
“Leave it Tom, I just had a bit of a run in on my way back to port last night.”
“A bit of a run in! You’ve got a gash that runs clean up your forearm!”
“It looks worse than it is Tom.”
“It should be reported.”
“Those five got what they deserved-”
Tom cut her off. “Five! You were attacked by five men?”
“None of them were standing by the end of it. Anyway, I had a bit of help from a civic minded citizen, who called the police.” Katherine tossed in the last as she saw Tom puff up for another outburst.
“I don’t want to create an incident. Anyway, we’ve got bigger things to worry about at the moment.”
“You mean Hyde.”
“Yes him and a rescue mission.”
Tom raised an eyebrow. “Is that what last night’s meeting was about?”
“Yes.” Katherine did not elaborate more. She had trusted Tom with many things, but not with this. Yunga was something she was not yet ready to tell; may never be ready to fully tell. But Tom will eventually need to know the basics because he will be the only one Katherine could trust to take with her to rescue Daniel.
Tom knew Katherine well enough not to push her for more information.
A car collected them from the Port and chauffeured them to Federation House, the main center of Federation Government on Junter Three. They were going to meet with the Ambassador and to sit in on the meeting that would occur with the Val Myran representative and the New Holland Governor General.
But when the car pulled up to Federation House, they were met by a group of New Holland SIO officers who very politely ushered them both inside the complex to a small security office that ran off of the main foyer. The office barely contained the presence of Robert Prockter.
“What is all this about Director Prockter?” Katherine asked, not bothering to keep the annoyance from her voice. “We are due to meet Ambassador Kirk in fifteen minutes.” Katherine felt Tom’s solid presence beside her.
“I want to show some footage to you Commander, and then I want you to explain it to me.” Prockter ran a finger over a datapad and an optic screen flashed out from a wall projector.
“Director, we do not have time to watch vids-.” Katherine’s words suddenly stuck in her throat as the footage rolled over the screen. She saw herself standing alone on a street; she saw the five men pull out of the shadows; she turned away from the rest.
“There is not much to explain. The whole thing looks very evident to me.” Katherine felt Tom’s presence flare up beside her as he watched the footage. His emotional discharge washed over her and Katherine had to fight hard not to let them over run her. Having known Tom a long time had made Katherine more attuned to his ‘Talent’ and when strong emotion gripped him she felt it as well.
“Why did you not report it?”
“I saw no need. They won’t be taking out their frustration on any more innocent people.”
“You are Federation personnel Commander Kirk. For all you knew they could have been Alliance Agents.”
Katherine barked a laugh.
“You’ve seen that footage so I know you don’t really think that Director.” Katherine’s grey eyes looked shrewdly at Prockter. “What is this really all about?”
“Alright.” Robert Prockter played a moment with the Datapad in his hand and then gestured to the screen. “I want to know who this is.”
Katherine turned to the screen and saw a frozen image of herself and Joshua standing in the street. The picture was grainy and Joshua was standing obscured in the shadows.
“He was just someone who came out to help me.” Katherine crossed her arms defensively across her breast ensuring that the injured arm was on top. “He then helped clean up my arm. He committed no crime that I can see that would warrant this ‘meeting’ Director.”
“So, you don’t know who he is.”
“No. I don’t.”
Prockter starred at her a moment as if waiting for Katherine to say more. When she stayed silent he rose from his chair.
“Thank you very much for your help Commander, I have delayed you long enough.”
Katherine blinked. What is going on? But she did not let her confusion show on her face. Katherine gave Prockter a polite nod before leaving the office.
Once they were several corridors clear of the Security area, Tom exploded.
“What were you thinking? That looked worse than the simple dust up you said it was.”
“They went down; I walked away. Let it go.” She brushed away Tom’s fury.
“That’s fine to say for a combat situation but this?”
Katherine stopped walking and turned on Tom Shepherd. “I said leave it.” But as she saw the anger and the worry on her best friends face, she softened a little. “I know you worry about me but wasn’t it you who said I should go out and get a life? That was what I was trying to do last night.”
“Yes, I know I said that. But not like this. Not by looking for a fight.”
“That was incidental. I was actually looking for a nightclub.”
“Really?” Tom said in confused surprise.
Katherine laughed. “Really. But I never found one. Now that you know my secret desire to become a club hopper, you can take me to one when this mission is over.”
“Deal.”
“And you never know. I might even consider trying ‘to pull’ a guy.”
“Kath!” Tom sounded scandalized.
“Well. You’re never available Tom. You always manage to have some woman hanging off your arm.”
“I’ll always be available for you Kath,” Tom replied but Katherine barely registered it. She had already started walking again.
“One thing that I would like to know at the moment is why Prockter was so interested in Joshua?”
“Joshua?”
“The man who helped me last night.”
“Maybe he’s wanted by the authorities here.”
Katherine shrugged. “I don’t think Joshua is a member of New Holland’s criminal element Tom. And I think that Robert Prockter knows exactly who he is.”
“And who exactly is he?” Tom frowned.
“I got the impression last night that he is some type of public servant. Maybe he is higher placed in the government than I thought.”
“It looked a shady part of town, maybe they want to know why he was there in the first place?”
“But why expose internal politics to outsiders?” Katherine shook her head. “I’ve never been good at this bullshit.” Her shoulders heaved as she exhaled a sigh. “Come on Tom. We’re going to be late for our meeting with the Ambassador and we need to get directions…”
As they turned the corner, Katherine heard someone call out her name. Katherine smiled as she recognized Liam coming towards them. “Hello Liam.”
“The Ambassador sent me to find
you when he heard that the Director had ambushed you outside.”
“It was nothing for the Ambassador to worry about,” Katherine said as Liam started leading them through the rabbit warren of corridors.
“We heard that you were attacked last night.”
“She was.” Tom spoke out beside her.
“But it was nothing serious,” Katherine quickly said as she saw concern flash over Liam’s face. “They came off worse than I did.” Katherine saw Liam’s eyes flick to her Second Officer; she introduced them as they walked.
“Liam, this is Tom Shepherd. Tom, this is Liam-” Katherine turned to look at the security officer; she did not know his last name. Liam gave her an embarrassed smile.
“Prockter, Liam Prockter.”
Katherine’s eyes widened in shock, “Not-” But Liam supplied the answer before she could finish her question.
“Yes, I am related. The Director is my uncle.”
Thank God he is not a son!
“I won’t hold that against you.” Katherine grinned.
“I’m glad of that,” he replied with an answering smile.
“So why are you running the Ambassador’s errands? I thought that was what Ms Hayes was for.”
“I have been reassigned to the Ambassador’s Staff. I am a Federation Officer Commander; I am not with the NHSIO.”
Katherine nodded and it was not long after when Liam showed them into the suite of offices that had been assigned to the visiting Ambassador and left them to wait. Katherine recognized the room as the one she had met her brother in last night and her jovial spirit quickly left. Immediately Katherine felt Tom’s presence beside her, still trying to nursemaid her. That’s what you get for having a best friend with Ontolic abilities.
Then John entered the room and Katherine readied herself to have to explain again about the assault last night, but John had other things on his mind.
“We haven’t much time,” John said quickly. “We’re over due to have lunch with the Governor General and the Val Myran Representative today.” He herded the Fleet Officers quickly to the door. “Katherine, the Rep is a member of the Val Myra family and was one of the last to leave the city. I would like you to talk to him over dinner.”
Katherine shot John a dark look.
“The Commander isn’t very good at making small talk Ambassador,” Tom said.
Katherine saw a flicker of annoyance cross John’s face and she smiled. He had Hayes to annoy her; she had Tom to annoy him. That goes a small way to make things even between them. “Don’t worry Tom. I know what he wants of me and it’s not to make small talk.” Katherine moved forward to walk beside her brother. He looked down at her as she said bluntly. “We work together but the final command decisions are mine.”
“Agreed,” John said. “I’ll have Julie send across to the Adelaide all the intelligence the NHSIO has gathered so far.”
Katherine glanced back at Tom who had dropped back to give the siblings some conversational privacy.
“Does he know?” John jerked his head at Tom.
She turned her eyes back to the corridor before her. “No. I haven’t told him.” A flash of satisfaction crossed John’s face and Katherine could not help herself but try to remove it. “But I will be taking Shepherd with me John when I bring 5…Daniel back.” Katherine stumbled over the name. He was Subject 56, she was 72, and now he had a real name. Does he know mine?
John gave her no answer and the trio walked the rest of the way in silence. Katherine used this time to mentally review the Adelaide’s mission brief, bringing the New Holland’s Governor General’s name, Andrea Pritchard, and the Federation’s last assessment of the Val Myran situation readily to her mind.
They were met by Ms Pritchard’s aide and were shown through a large and opulent dining room that was obviously designed for state occasions to show off the wealth and power of the Federation (At least the Australian arm of it), and into a small, private dining room. As they entered the room, its two occupants rose from what looked to be a cozy conversation. Katherine now stood behind her brother with her lieutenant. The grey haired woman is obviously Pritchard and – Katherine’s thoughts came grinding to a halt as instant recognition hit her.
“Katherine?” the man with Andrea Pritchard said in surprise.
“Joshua,” Katherine said in resignation.
Things today just could not get any worse.
Chapter
nine
“At least we now know the reason behind the NHSIO interest Kath,” Tom whispered.
Katherine jerked her head in agreement, but her mind was momentarily frozen as the full weight of who Joshua actually was sunk in.
“You know each other?” John raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“We met last night,” she replied quickly. John’s face hardened and Katherine knew where his thoughts were racing. He can think that she was already trying to track Daniel down all he wants; she was not going to disabuse him of it.
“How is the arm?”
Katherine heard so much more in that question. “It’s fine. I thank you again for your help last night.”
He regarded her through narrowed eyes at the formality of her tone, but chose to ignore it. “I should have realized when you said you were a spacer that you were military, especially after the way you handled those men last night.”
“This sounds like a story to tell over lunch,” a light voice cut across the conversation. All eyes turned to the small grey haired woman.
“I’m sorry Andrea,” John moved forward and gave the New Holland Governor General a light kiss on the cheek.
“It’s fine John. It’s nice to see the youngsters on this planet playing nicely for a change.”
John raised an eyebrow at the statement but Andrea Pritchard waved away his query. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”
“Let me introduce you to Commander Katherine Kirk of the AFV Adelaide,”
Joshua stepped away as Andrea stepped towards Katherine. “This isn’t the Katherine?” the old woman asked her brother. When he nodded, the Governor General suddenly embraced her and kissed both her cheeks. “I’ve heard so much about you, it’s like I know you already. It is nice to finally meet you in the flesh.”
Katherine looked in astonishment at her brother who could only shrug his shoulders.
Joshua stood back now looking totally out of place in what clearly looked to be a ‘family and friends’ reunion. John smiled at him as he explained apologetically. “Katherine is my sister.”
Katherine watched the blood drain from the Val Myran’s handsome face as the realization finally sunk in. Not only had he slept with the ranking Federation Officer attached to this embassy, she was the Ambassador’s sister to boot.
“Ms Pritchard.” Katherine addressed the old woman when she was finally released from the embrace. “This is my Second Officer Thomas Shepherd.”
Tom bowed low over the Governor General’s pro-offered hand and gallantly kissed it.
Pritchard smiled in surprise. “Lieutenant Shepherd, why waste all your charm on an old woman like me when there are better candidates around,” she said obviously pleased.
“It’s no waste ma’am,” Tom replied with a sly smile. He liked this old woman.
Pritchard gestured Joshua over to her. “I would like to introduce to you Joshua Val Myra. Joshua, this is the Federation Ambassador John Kirk.” Joshua offered his hand and John shook it warmly. “This is Lieutenant Thomas Shepherd and it seems that you and the Commander are already acquainted.” Both Katherine and Joshua offered her a weak smile. “Come, let us sit down to lunch and both of you can tell us what happened last night.”
To Katherine, lunch seemed to go on forever. She was seated between John and Joshua at the small circular table. John and Joshua did most of the talking as they began the complicated dance that was interstellar diplomacy and when it came to the telling of what happened last night Katherine told only the bare facts, leaving out certain elements t
hat might embarrass both John and Joshua. After that, lunch finished quickly with John arranging to meet formally with Joshua later that evening to begin the negotiations in earnest.
Tom had hurried back to the Adelaide at the earliest opportunity, leaving Katherine to the small talk between the three bureaucrats. She’d make him pay for it later.
“Commander Kirk, can I have a private word with you?”
Katherine tried not to grimace as she felt Joshua’s presence behind her. She had been dreading this moment. John looked at her, his eyes clearly saying Try to get some useful information from him. And it took all of her self-control to keep a calm composure when she turned back from the door to see Joshua. Pritchard and her brother quickly shut the door to the room as they left, leaving them alone.
They stood looking at each other in silence. And then Katherine’s calm collapsed into regret.
“If I had known who you were Joshua, last night would never have happened. I’ve put you in a bit of a predicament.”
Joshua frowned. “I was there; it was my choice as well. And knowing what I know now I would not change what happened last night…” Joshua shook his head. “Anyway, that is not the reason I wanted to talk to you Katherine.”
Katherine raised an eyebrow as she looked up into his dark eyes. This was not what she expected.
“You mentioned last night that you are looking for a man.”
“Yes. In fact I am now looking for two.”
“They must be dangerous men to send such a decorated officer after them. Were they involved in the attack on Val Myra?”
Katherine stiffened and the simple medal now felt heavy on her breast. She had been decorated with the Victoria Cross after Yunga. She had saved an enemy officer but she had also bought out patchy records on the number of Federation people who had been killed there.
“If you can’t tell me who, just tell me if they were involved with Val Myra,” Joshua hurried out as he saw the frown deepen.
“One man is a hunt and capture mission. An Alliance Black Ops operative who we know was involved in coordinating the attack on your home as well as Federation colonies.” Katherine drew a deep breath. “The other is a search and rescue mission.”