by Chris Hechtl
“And they didn't. But we've been following you for years beforehand,” the lead agent said, laying out another image. “We have full video and audio of this and all of your other meetings.” He put down an image of the handler being arrested. “Unfortunately, your handler committed suicide rather than be detained. We should have stunned her and searched her for a suicide device. Unfortunate,” he said with a grimace.
“I …,” April frowned. “I'm not sure what to say,” she finally murmured and then fell silent.
“Normally we would have left you in place. We have for several years after all, just monitoring you and your movements. But we've had to wrap the case up because of certain extenuating circumstances,” the agent said as he laid out another image, this one of a woman being arrested.
April frowned and looked down at the image, clearly puzzled. “Is this supposed to mean something to me?”
“Yes. The guild found out about our surveillance and put out a hit on you. She took the contract to terminate you. We caught her before she could kill you. She committed suicide.” The image froze at the deathly look on the woman's face as she laid there on the ground.
“I …,” April frowned, feeling a bit dizzy and sick inside. “I think I need my lawyer,” she whispered.
“Oh, two more things,” the lead agent said, taking out two more images. He carefully laid the first down in front of her but held the second.
“Irma? What is Irma doing there?” April asked.
“Subject's vital signs are indicative of genuine surprise,” the female agent murmured. “I think she didn't know.”
“I agree,” the lead agent stated. “Miss O'Neill, your assistant is also a member of the Guild, as are others in your company. We've picked them up as well as this woman,” he said, laying down the second image.
“Mrs. Garrett?” April demanded eyes wide. “No, no, this has got to be a mistake!” she said, eyes wide.
“No mistake,” a fresh voice cut in. She recognized it instantly. The one-way mirror cut out and Admiral Irons was standing there. She stared at him, lower lip quivering. He stared back for a long moment before he turned and left without a word.
“John,” she murmured, rising slightly to go after him, but the female agent pushed her back down. After a moment, the door opened, and Admiral Irons entered the room. “I've known about you, Red, for a long time,” he said heavily.
She stared at him for a long moment, wishing it was all a bad dream. “You did?”
“Sprite figured out that Miss Willis had a partner on Destiny. ONI confirmed it a few years ago. It didn't take her long to figure out it was you. Oh, I know your getting injured was not a part of your plan. It took you out of suspicion for a brief time. But then the evidence piled up.” He shook his head as he came over and leaned against the wall.
She stared at him, aghast at what he was saying. All her plans were crumbling around her, turning into ash.
"When the Guild went after Jethro, ONI looked into it. He told you about his family's involvement in the Guild, but you never reported it."
She began to slowly shake her head, eyes still staring. "No, you are mistaken. This is a sick joke," she murmured.
“I had to be sure, so I checked. I read your mind, April,” he said softly as she frantically shook her head in denial.
That admission made her stop and stare at her. He nodded once. “I knew then, but I also know why you were ordered off and why the Guild wanted me alive. So, I left you alone.”
“But … why … all this time …?”
“I tried to let you know in my own stupid way,” Admiral Irons said shaking his head. “Several times I thought I'd passed on a message to you to get to the Guild to lay off Warrant McClintock and the military personnel. They wanted me alive to rebuild the Federation so we can fight the pirates. I get that. But they couldn't let him go.”
“You …”
“I was just going to roll up small networks to make my message clear. But then we found out the Guilds have their own ansible network. It took a bit of deductive reasoning, but my people figured it out. We've routed out all the moles we can find in the military. We know there are more; eventually, they'll overplay their hands and get exposed or killed.”
“How … I mean, Cookie? Mrs. Garrett?” she asked, indicating the image.
He shook his head. “When you work so close to the president, you are under surveillance constantly. She was good; I'll admit that. She kept me in the dark. But Yorgi's people traced the Guild network and found her. Based on your vital signs, you didn't know. Up until now they thought your antagonism with her was an act.”
April shook her head. She licked her dry lips. She felt lost, broken. Everything was crumbling around her. She wanted to cry, to deny it, to scream, but she knew it would be a waste of time. Her own vital signs were betraying her.
She licked her lips and then asked the obvious question. “Why? Why now?”
“Because they aren't listening. And they tried to kill you. So, we're going to take them down.”
“I don't know if that is even possible. Helping you ….” She stared at him, aghast at what he was saying.
“Oh, I'm just going to roll up the networks around me and the military. I think that will send a clear enough message that it isn't wise to screw with me. You are going to be indicted. Secretly. You'll be given a lawyer, and they'll walk you through the process. If you turn state's evidence and cooperate fully, you'll be given immunity.”
“I …”
“I know it's a lot to take in. I know it comes with risks. But the Guild has determined you are a liability and therefore have to be terminated. This is the only way I can see you staying alive, Red. Think about it,” he said as he left the room.
~~~^~~~
Admiral Irons reflected on the twists life handed you as he idly watched the Toni Chambers broadcast. The woman was practically grinning as she mentioned April's involvement and downfall. DOJ had kept it low key, April was officially listed as a cooperating witness. She had been indicted and had pled guilty, but those charges were not released to the public. The official story was that she had done some digging into the Guilds and gotten in over her head.
“As we cover this story, more arrests and indictments are coming forward from the planet and across the star system. As of this moment, we are aware of over two hundred arrests. There have been four shootings, one stabbing, and according to the Federal Bureau, seven suicides including one by bomb which took out an entire tactical team.”
He grimaced at the news of the losses. Not that he hadn't been aware, he had. And they were far higher than the numbers currently made public. It was mainly because the other operations hadn't been made public yet.
Word had gone out through the ansible. Teams had taken down Guild members across the Federation. He was well aware they hadn't gotten everyone, but they had gotten quite a few. And they'd landed another blow in another way as well.
In searching the space around ET, his people had identified the location of one of the secret ansible platforms the Information Guild used. It had been hidden in deep space well outside of Epsilon Triangula. Enki and the A.I. there had infiltrated the enemy network, identified the locations of all the other sites and the central hub, pulled what data they could, and then had inserted a series of viruses to tear the enemy's ansible connection apart. The equipment would be scrap. Should be scrap by now, he corrected himself.
Which meant that the Guilds wouldn't have much warning of what had happened in the Federation. It also meant they couldn't coordinate with each other. He highly doubted they'd ever get them all, but it was a start. He was well aware that it had marked him. They wouldn't forgive his transgression. So be it.
“What is startling are the number of officers, enlisted, noncoms, federal, and planetary agents who have been arrested,” Toni said, showing a video clip of a procession of cuffed individuals filing into the courthouse. Some tried to hide their faces from the cameras. “There hav
e been no reports on what this is about, but some are calling it Operation Clean Sweep.”
Clean Sweep he thought with a pang. Mrs. Garrett had committed suicide. Clean was not how he would have put it. Clean in how things had to be handled from this point on, yes.
They were still working out if April would be in the witness protection program or spend time in prison. He had to leave it up to the DOJ.
Officially, he had to cut ties with April. He was going to be interviewed by the special prosecutor. He knew he was going to get in trouble for reading April's mind. She could even press charges, though he doubted that would happen. He knew it would be brooded about publicly. Nothing could be said about some of the classified events of course. But it was a scandal, something his political enemies wouldn't hesitate to use against him.
“Penny for your thoughts, John?” Sprite asked softly, surprising him.
“You know what I'm thinking?” he asked, turning to her image.
“I don't need Protector's back channel on your vital signs. I know you are distressed. You knew it had to happen eventually, and it wouldn't be easy or good. This was the best we could arrange short of letting them kill her.”
“And I wouldn't allow that.”
“And no, you wouldn't allow that. We know,” Sprite stated.
“Damn,” he muttered.
“You knew that it wasn't going to end well. I know you had your hopes …”
“The moment I knew and the DOJ had confirmation, I knew it was going to go bad. But yeah, I was tied to her. Damn it, why do I have so much trouble with women?”
Sprite snorted. “Some of us left more amicably then others. Even though yes, I knew it caused you pain. It isn't your fault, John, remember that,” she said quietly.
He grunted. He couldn't quite believe that. He was still human enough to have that flaw.
“Okay, fallout is going to be spectacular of course. Joy. You and Liobat are prepped for this?”
“I am. Liobat was in the dark. I'm briefing her now.”
“Fun. Lucky you,” he said, clenching his left hand into a fist and then relaxing it over and over. “Sometimes I really hate this job,” he said looking away and to the virtual window.
She knew what he was leaving unsaid. April's involvement with him personally had made the job manageable. Even somewhat enjoyable to some degree. Now that was over. He was going to remember this, remember her betrayal and his betrayal of her.
“Well, you can stew in your funk or climb out of it.” He scowled as he turned back to glare at her image. “But, as it happens we've got work to do. Life as they say goes on. We just got an ansible report you might want to hear. A bit of good news in Dead Drop …”
Author's Afterward
Wow! This one was a tough one. I screwed up repeatedly, I freely admit that. I tripped myself up, then Wayne tripped me up, and then I did it again. Fortunately, he called me out on them and we got it sorted out. But, it threw my writing rhythm off.
Other factors were at play as well of course. But that's enough excuses. It's time to focus on the future. And yes, that epilogue is legit. No, I'm not saying what's going on. It will be a while before we get into that. Consider it a tease. :)
Yes, the Guild take down was out of the blue to some of you. And April's take down hit hard. I hesitated on pulling the trigger. There are stories to go with all that. I'll get to them eventually and hopefully answer your questions (like how they have an ansible network!).
Also, several of the Betas pointed out I didn't answer what happened to Kittyhawk among other threads. You should know by now I leave some threads hanging deliberately. Enough said on that subject.
Baby's death hit me harder than expected. I'm still wrestling with that. Yes, I know he was just a cat, but he was with us for eighteen years. I'm dealing with it one day at a time.
I currently have six books planned each year. Depending on how well this sells, I'll decide on what's next. Currently, In Search of Pi, the first of the Pi series, is up on deck. We shall see where I go from there.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this read.
As usual you can read more on my blog.
Cast
Fleet Admiral and Federation President John Henry Irons
Captain SG Sprite
Protector
Proteus
Mrs. "Cookie" Garrett
April O'Neill:
Command staff:
Fleet Admiral Irons
Vice Admiral Georgi Pashenkov: Operations
Admiral Yorgi Sienkov: ONI
Commodore Montgomery: Deputy ONI
Vice Admiral Creator of Things-BuShips
Captain SG Vestri Sindri: Deputy BuShips
Vice Admiral Soar and Strike: TJAG
Off site: Commodore Helen Richards: Surgeon General until she was replaced by Rear Admiral Heals Quickly.
Recent transplants from Bek who came back with Irons: Most of them Command staff (ships etc)
Vice Admiral Creator of Things -T'clock admiral in charge of Buships. A silent supporter of Logan and Zek -A.I. Builds Carefully
Vice Admiral Georgi Pashenkov: Neowolf/mutt. -senior most officer in the fleet. -Forced out by Childress and Draken. -goes on extended leave. -goes with admiral Irons back to Pyrax. A.I. Shilo.
Vice Admiral Soar and Strike: Delquir admiral. Rarity in Navy. JAG -Female, old. Forced to medically retire. Reactivated, A.I. Far Seeing.
Vice Admiral Odette Champion: Chimera female head of fourth fleet. Gloss black skin, white hair and eyebrows. Long pointed ears. Red eye whites. Tactical track, apolitical. A hard person to work since she expected the best for but well respected. Goes with Admiral Irons to Pyrax. A.I. Queenie.
Captain Toby: Admiral Champion's chief of staff.
6 other Rear Admirals, 4 formerly retired Generals or Colonels.
Lunzie Mespoil -human medic. Chimera. Martial arts. Not her first stint in stasis.
4 Army officers, 4 noncoms, plus 5 family members.
4 aides and other personnel from Nuevo.
10 medical officers. 2 on Antigua, 1 a Surgeon Commander, the other a medical Captain JG.
Captain JG Twitch: Satyre male.
Commander Yukia "Stitches" Okamato: Neobonobo. She has black human style wavy hair and blue eyes. Surgeon.
Captain SG Nata'roka: Old female Ssilli. Works virtually with the Hyper navigational school as an instructor while also working on resurrecting her species.
Commander Tra'l: young male Ssilli. Like his mate he works as a virtual instructor at the hyper navigational school as well as working on resurrecting his species.
First crop of larval Ssilli: all very young clones of the 2 adults. Raised in a lab and then released into the cove after hatching.
Trace Zarif: Middle road IG inspector. Human male instructor to Dre.
Dre Mnuchin: Male chimera. Jet black skin, 4 fingered hands. Gold eyes. Junior IG inspector.
Ensign Enki: Male smart AI. Created by Sprite. The latest generation of military smart AI designed to monitor the network for the wraith and other issues. Mischievous but busy.
ONI:
Commodore John Montgomery
Captain JG Jenna Lake.
Lieutenant Commander Tao Ling -recruited into ONI by Lake.
Lieutenant Fletcher: A.I.
PO Leia. ONI technician Latimer facility.
Po Wytse McKinley
Antiguans:
Captain Bret "Lucky Charms" Charmlicx: Human male Antigua Planetary Search and Rescue pilot. Copilot Mary, Ticker hoist operator, Shiftless diver.
Professor Heather Callahan: Professor of Earth science at Antigua University capital.
Professor Gwildor: Sleeper. Troll like dwarf professor. Attended Grimhammer University. Professor of physics at Eternia University.
Professor Eldor: Cyber. Gray, old. Electronics theory.
Wwee Gidong: Gidong Enterprises, Media and paper mogul.
Marsha and Nazin: assistants to Gidong.
Jack Gideon: Editor of Gideon Press, a Gidong owned newspaper.
Second Fleet:
Vice Admiral Amadeus White: Neochimp sleeper from Lemnos.
Commander Ch'v'tt: Veraxin male chief of staff, replacement for Jojo who was transferred back to Antigua for reassignment.
1st LT Jojo -Admiral's chief of staff. Neochimp -promoted to LTCMDR and transferred.
CMDR Kyle Offenger -Ops officer
Lieutenant commander Garfield the 3346 -Neocat, orange. Tactical officer
1st Lieutenant Kelly Gaudino -neogorilla -intelligence officer
2nd Lieutenant Aleck Rowland -navigational officer -promoted to 1st lt.
C'v'll -Veraxin steward to the admiral
Yeoman Berkowitz -yeoman for the admiral
Captain SG then 'Commodore' Renee Mayweather
Captain SG then 'Commodore' ---
Captain SG then 'Commodore' Dawning Hunger. Bekian T'clock. Captain of Vishal CFV
SCPO Pricilla Sinclair: Bosun of Skale
Nate Haskins: Tech E3 Spacer Human male, gangly teenager. 19. Acne. Red hair.
Third Fleet TF 3.2: