by Saxon Andrew
Ka looked at the computer she was given to examine and saw Earth was far behind the colonies in computer science. It wasn’t that their computers weren’t any good, they were just slow and memory storage was rudimentary compared to those used in the colonies. Dr. Christophal Meier looked over her shoulder and asked, “What do you think?”
Ka looked up and shook her head, “If you can get a good computer system, your work would go so much more smoothly.”
“Is there anything you can do about it?”
Ka nodded, “I need you to gather your best computer engineers in one place and allow me to meet with them. I brought some critical parts from the colonies inside some of my instruments; I’m going to take them apart and try to get them duplicated. Can you make that happen?”
“Yes, would tomorrow be all right?”
“My but you work fast!”
“You have no idea.”
“It can’t be here.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“I’m going to assume many of them are not in the military and it would be a mistake to allow an infiltrator inside this building. They would learn quickly that Earth has a stardrive.”
“You’re right. I’ll set it up at our main manufacturing facility.”
“Will that delay you?”
“No, plan for me to take you there first thing in the morning.” Ka nodded and stood up, “Where are you going?”
“Doctor, I’m going to my room to disassemble some of my trinkets.”
“Call me, Chris. May I go with you?”
Ka looked back at him, then smiled, “Sure, why not.” They left the lab and Ka saw Chris was interested in her. She could use that to get ahead on Earth. It might be that she would ultimately replace him; that felt like a good idea. She wondered what Tal and Sha were up to.
• • •
The next morning, Tal woke early and found Sha still firing darts at the cutting board. “Did you sleep?”
Sha nodded as she blew another dart, “I don’t need much sleep. I got up early to work on this.”
“Take a break, we need to go and meet with General Lein.”
“What’s going on?”
“The Guild Master was told that an informer was going to be moved inside this facility. We need to check and see if they managed to do it.”
Sha stood up and headed toward her room, “Do you have any idea who it might be?”
“Not a clue. We can use this as a trial run to see if we can ferret them out,” Tal replied.
“Give me a minute to change.”
“The stretch suit looks fine on you.”
“Too, fine, Tal,” she said as she started out of the room.
“That might be an asset.”
Sha stopped and thought about it. Her expression showed she was thinking about it, and then she turned and walked back into the room, “You’re right. If anyone is not distracted, then we’ll know they are worried about something.”
“Or they have poor vision,” Tal added with a chuckle.
Sha smiled, “Good point.”
• • •
General Lein saw them enter the lab and turn toward his desk, which was located near the gate. They walked up, went to attention, and saluted. Lein returned their salutes and leaned back in his chair, “I do not follow normal rank protocols in here. Treat me like an equal and forget all the saluting and coming to attention. If you’re here to ask about your IDs, they should be here this afternoon.”
“Sir, I’ve uncovered that there is a colony mole that was expected to be transferred to this installation sometime within the last forty-days. Do you have a list of all the new personnel that have arrived here during that time?”
“Where did you learn that?”
“I’d rather keep that confidential, but if you order me, I’ll tell you.”
Lein looked at Tal with a furrowed brow and then turned to his right, “Colonel, pull up a list of all new personnel that arrived here within the last forty-days.”
“Is that personnel in the lab or the entire installation, Sir?”
Lein looked at Tal, “All personnel, Sir.”
Colonel Sato turned to his computer and began making entries. Sha looked around and turned to General Lein, “Where is my mother?”
“She’s gone with Dr. Meier to see about manufacturing the items needed to build a new computer.” Sha glanced at Tal and didn’t see his expression change. She knew he had better control than she did, but there was no way this information didn’t bother him.
Chapter Eighteen
Colonel Sato looked up from his computer screen, “Sir, we have seven-hundred transfers during the period in question. Sha’s head went back slightly and General Lein shrugged, “There are more than fifty-thousand personnel assigned to this installation. This lab is one of many scattered around this base and we have a fully operational spaceport. With that many here, seven-hundred transfers are not that unusual.”
“That needs to stop, Sir,” Tal said as gently as he could.
“Why is that?”
“You have too many doors open for an infiltrator to arrive. I believe that the colonies want to know about what’s going on in your labs here and the level of danger your warships represent. They’ll try to get in both and this constant coming and going of personnel is dangerous.”
General Lein stared at Tal and turned to Colonel Sato, “Is there anything we can about this?”
‘We can change the requirements of working here, Sir.”
“Which ones?”
Sato pulled up a document on his screen and read it. After a moment, he turned to General Lein, “Assigning someone here is viewed as a cushy assignment. Many of the senior ranking NCOs in the Army are granted transfer requests in the last few-years of their enlistments. Half of the replacements are to fill the positions of military personnel that retire.”
“Change the protocol such that any personnel with less than ten-years remaining in their enlistment will not be allowed to transfer here,” General Lein replied. “What about the other transfers?”
“Sir, many scientists come here from various Universities to work on short-term projects and then go back to their teaching positions.”
“Why do you do that, Sir?” Tal asked.
“The program is designed to bring our brightest scientists up to date on the most recent developments we’ve made.”
Couldn’t that program be set up in one of the universities, Sir. Obviously, you’re not sharing classified information with them and it doesn’t have to be done here.”
Lein’s expression showed his discomfort, “We are sharing some information with them that is classified.”
“Why would you even think about doing that, Sir?”
“Tal, we need all of our scientists on Earth working on developing new technologies and most them aren’t here on the base. We screen them carefully and make sure they can be trusted.”
“And what happens if a guild assassin kills one of them and mimics them?”
“We should be able to determine that, wouldn’t you think?”
“Absolutely not, Sir. They not only assume the scientist’s physical appearance but can transfer his memories into their brains. There is no question you could ask that they wouldn’t have the answer.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.”
“It’s true, General. The infiltrator will kill the one he’s mimicking and remove their body. Every physical screen would not detect the difference and nothing you used to question them with would work.”
“Are you saying that we’ve been infiltrated?”
“I’m suggesting you probably have been. We need to start with the recent transfers and work our way through the rest of the personnel here. I suspect some of the crew members on your warships are infiltrators.”
“Why do you think that, General Tal?”
“Because the Guild Master told us that Earth’s warships were at the very least equal to the colonies’ ships and probably b
etter. If he has that information, so does the colonies’ military intelligence.”
“How do you want to do this?” Lein asked.
Tal thought for a moment and Sha spoke up, “Schedule a meeting with all the newly transferred scientists to go over any issues they may have with the transition moving here. We’ll tell them their views are important and we need them to tell us what they are. After the scientists, we’ll meet with the recently transferred military personnel.”
“And you believe you’ll be able to determine if any infiltrators are among them?”
“Yes, General, I believe we can,” Tal responded.
Lein turned to Sato, “Set up the meetings and make them mandatory. I want the names of anyone that doesn’t show up.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Schedule the first meeting in the morning.”
“Do you want guards present?” Sato asked.
“NO!” Tal interrupted. They both turned to him. “We need to track anyone we uncover and determine who they’re working with.”
“If there are any scientists in this lab, they will know we have a working stardrive!”
“The colonies don’t know it yet. That information will have to come from a recent transfer, Sir.”
General Lein thought for a moment and Sha said, “We won’t alarm any we find. We’ll decide what to do about them afterwards.”
General Lein stared at them and turned to Sato, “Schedule the meetings.”
Tal smiled and looked out at the lab, “We need to go and introduce ourselves to the ones working in here.” Lein’s head tilted. “We need to make absolutely sure there are no colony agents in here.”
Lein nodded toward the main room, “Knock your lights out. I’ll be greatly surprised if you find any in here.” He stood up and led them out into the lab.
General Lein stopped at the first worksite and Sha scanned the room. She saw a data-entry clerk stand up across the room and head toward the restrooms. As her gaze crossed the room, she saw a scientist working in another group see them, leave the group, and go to a desk at the rear of the facility. Tal also scanned the room and saw that no one in the room was mimicking. He connected with Sha, “There are no mimics in the lab.”
“How can you tell that so quickly?”
“I put on a special contact lens in my left-eye this morning. It allows me to see any genetic deviation. The mimicking process isn’t perfect, there is always some variance in the guild’s mimicking process.”
“What about the one we use?”
“There are variances inside us, but the outer body is perfect. We won’t be detected. That’s assuming the colonies have the technology I’ve developed in the contact lens; I highly doubt they do. It’s up to you to find any that might be here.”
“Can’t you see if someone isn’t being honest. Tal?”
“Yes, but I could miss someone trained by the guild.”
“Do they train anyone not an assassin.”
Sha, they work with the military and trade training between their organizations.”
“But that would mean that some here would have to come from the colonies.”
“No, a trainer would have to come to Earth and recruit here. There’s no reason to take a chance on my missing someone.”
“Then you need to get out of here.” Tal’s head cocked, and eyes narrowed. “You’ve determined there’s no mimics and your and General Lein’s presence will only make everyone nervous.”
“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”
“Tal! Even the innocent would be nervous around Generals.”
Tal turned to General Lein, “Make an announcement to the lab that Sha is Ka’s daughter and wants to meet everyone here. We need to go back to your desk and look busy.” Lein looked puzzled and Tal smiled, “High ranking officers make people nervous.” Lein nodded and made the announcement.
Sha went to the first work group and introduced herself. In no time at all, they felt comfortable and tried to stop her from leaving. “I want to meet everyone, and I’ll talk to you later,” She told them with a smile, and walked to the next group.”
Tal watched her out of the corner of his eye and saw that beauty was a real asset and both Ka and Sha used it well.
Sha worked her way around the lab and introduced herself to each person in every work group. She asked them questions about how they came to the lab and how they liked it. Tal left with General Lein and Colonel Sato was ordered to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Sato stared at his computer screen but was looking over it out into the lab.
Sha finally arrived at the scientist’s desk that had left his work group, “Good day, Mr….?”
“I’m Dr. Edmundson.”
“My name is Sha Talent and I’m so impressed with what you’re doing here. Do you enjoy your work?”
“I do, Mrs. Talent.”
Sha’s eyes narrowed, “Are you from here. I think I hear an accent?”
“No, I’m from Scotland. I’ve tried to keep my accent hidden. I get some ribbing about it from my peers.”
Sha chuckled, “Well, I like the sound of it, Doctor.” After a few minutes, Sha smiled, “It’s nice meeting you, Doctor Edmundson.”
“And it’s a pleasure meeting you as well, Colonel.”
‘Call me, Sha. Let’s save the rank for the enlisted, shall we?”
“I look forward to seeing you again…Sha.”
Sha smiled and headed toward the data-entry terminals. The woman that left when they entered was back at her console and Sha took her time getting to her. When she finally walked up, she smiled, “Hello, my name is Sha. And you are?”
“Allison Anders, Sir.”
“Are you enlisted?”
“Yes, Sir, I’m a corporal in the Army.”
“How long have you been in the service, Allison?”
“Five-years, Sir.”
“How do you like it?”
“It has its moments.”
“You don’t like being kept chained to a desk, do you?”
Allison sighed, “I joined the service to see the world and now all I see are these four-walls.”
“I can understand that. Are you married?”
“I was. My husband left me.”
“Any children?”
“Why do you ask, Sir?”
“I’m really hoping to have children one day and everyone tells me I should hold off and enjoy my life before I do that.”
“Children will change your life and priorities, Sir. They demand so much time but are well worth it.”
Sha smiled, “I really think you’re right about that. Who keeps your child while you’re working? I mean, that can get expensive.”
“I have someone that does it for a reasonable price, Colonel.”
Sha saw the instant change and nodded, “You’re fortunate Corporal. Keep up the good work and try to make the best of a bad situation.”
“It’s not a bad situation, Sir. The people here are very nice and make it worthwhile.”
Sha’s smile was instant, “I’ve seen that.” Sha looked out at the lab, “I’m impressed with the people I’ve met here.” She turned back to Allison, “Have a nice day.”
“You too, Sir.”
Sha walked out of the lab and saw Tal and found General Lein sitting in the cafeteria. She went over to the food line and fixed a plate. She came over to their table and General Lein said confidently, “I told you there weren’t any agents working in my lab.”
Sha took a drink of milk and smiled, “You’re right, for the most part.”
Lein’s eyes narrowed instantly, “What do you mean?”
“There are two-agents in the lab, General.”
“WHO!?”
“Dr. Edmundson is one; I suspect he’s doing it because he wants to do it. There is a young woman, but she’s being forced.”
Tal asked, “What do you mean by ‘forced’?”
“I think someone is threatening her child.”
General Lein stood up and Tal said, “General, you shouldn’t act on this now.”
“WHY NOT! THEY’RE A THREAT TO OUR SECURITY!!”
“They’ve been a threat prior to today and we need to see who they’re working for,” Sha explained. “Dr. Edmondson has not had an opportunity to contact his liaison. Why is that, General?”
Lein sat back down and took a breath, “No one working in the lab can leave the base for six-months. Dr. Edmonson hasn’t been here that long.”
“That means his communication device is not on base, Sir,” Sha added.
“What about the woman?” Tal asked.
“She’s been working here for over a year. She leaves the base every day,” Lein confirmed.
“That means she’s not telling the one working her what’s going on in the lab.”
Lein turned to Tal, “And just how do you know that?”
“The colonies aren’t aware that Earth has a stardrive; she’s withheld that information.”
“She’s being forced to do it, Sir.” Lein turned to Sha. “Before we confront either of them, we have to remove the threat to her.”
“Why?” Lein asked.
“I’m reasonably certain that Edmundson knows she an agent,” Sha answered. “We need to prevent Edmondson from leaving the base until the threat is removed. How long before he can go?”
Lein lifted his communicator and asked Colonel Sato, “How long before Dr. Edmondson can leave the base?” Lein listened and nodded. He looked at Tal, “He can leave next Wednesday.”
“Has Dr. Edmondson suggested any scientist to Dr. Meier to join the project?” Tal asked.
“Dr. Laramie is a recommendation of Dr. Edmundson.”
Sha interrupted, “I didn’t meet anyone with that name, Sir.”
Lein turned to Sha, “He’s currently going through orientation and will join the lab next week.”
“Will he be in the meeting tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, Tal, he will. What are you thinking?”
“We’re going to hold the meetings and afterwards remove the threat to the woman. Once that’s done, we’re going to pay a visit to Dr. Edmundson’s residence. May I assume he has off-base housing.”
“We set it up for him on the first of this month,” Lein answered.
“Leave this to us to handle, Sir.”