by Black, Alan
Again, Tammie questioned her decision to leave the Heaven Three Police Department. She remembered fondly her quiet position in the communications systems department. She might not have left if it hadn't been for that a-hole of a supervisor. She shook her head at the memory of her boss’s insistence on carrying on a sexual relationship with her. No matter how many times she went to bed with him and how many times she tried to break it off with him, he wanted more.
She remembered thinking communications with a police department couldn't be much different than communications in an APES outfit. How wrong she was! Not only was she responsible for managing the communications data stream, she was also required to know how to repair and set up the equipment. All of that while she was wearing a combat suit, shooting deadly weapons and killing living creatures. She almost had a panic attack the first time she was inside a tri-wave simulation combat scenario. She only survived by knowing in the back of her mind that it wasn't real. She didn't know what she would do when she had to shoot at something live, even Binders. It was true she had learned Jujitsu with the HTPD, but it was nothing like APES training. This was harsh, brutal and more physically demanding than her old boss had ever been.
Then there was this commander. McPherson scared the bejeezus out of her. Tammie knew she was more scared of Third McPherson than she was of whether or not she could kill Binders. The Third was like a rock: cold, hard, and unmovable. Tammie would have sworn her combat equipment was up to APES standard operational procedures, but she almost fainted when McPherson popped open panels and dug into the guts of the suit. It was brand new armor. She hadn't even put any personal markings, decals or paintings on it like most of the veteran’s suits in the bay. It was bright and shiny without the slightest dent. It should have been out-of-the-box perfect.
Tammie smiled weakly back at DeLaPax. Saved by the bell was right.
DeLaPax stepped over to her. The tall, beautiful woman patted Tammie on the head. "Let's take a look at this suit, rookie. Let's see if we can figure out what the boss was looking to find, shall we?"
Chapter Thirty-Four
Colonel Britaine smiled at the assembled officers. All of his flight crews were in attendance, plus that APES bitch. He extended a charming smile in her direction and nodded. He thought if he could keep her in her place until they dumped them out on Altec, then he could wangle a way to get her unit deployed to another spacecraft for any return trip. Assuming she survived combat. His smile grew at the thought of McPherson’s impending death. That would solve all of his problems with the insolent bitch.
The only person he had been unable to contact was that foolish old bureaucrat from the Marshal Service. The senile data pusher had shut off his comm unit. Even those idiot second lieutenants he had set to watch him hadn't seen Forrester. Well, he would show up in due time, after all, you can't get lost on a spacecraft for long.
Britaine stood until the room grew quiet, then nodded in satisfaction. Things were going very well indeed. This latest bit of intelligence was quite a coup for him. He had shown General Gurand that his intelligence staff could out do the General's staff. He thought a few kudos, attaboys and pats on the back would be appropriate.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as most of you are aware, we gathered some significant data during the last series of jumps about a possible Binder presence in our space. The first order of business is to give our collective congratulations to Major Junior Grade Hiero Krandiewsky of the intelligence office." Britaine clapped his hands and smiled broadly when the applause spread among the flight crew.
Krandiewsky smiled back, his face blank as if he had decided it was still not a prudent time to tell Colonel Britaine about mispronouncing his first name or to mention that it was Brown and McPherson who were responsible for the actual discovery and analysis of the anomaly.
When the moderate applause died out Britaine continued. "No further signal or analysis has been forthcoming, but we can rest assured that Hiero will stay on top of it, and he will be a credit to all of us. Command doesn't expect any repeat of this Binder signal in Gagarin space, but we will be looking anyway. Right, Hiero?"
"Yes, Colonel, we will find it if there is a repeat of the anomaly," Krandiewsky said.
Britaine nodded as if he expected nothing less. "This signal does have merit; however, it demands further investigation. We need the answers here. That may be made more difficult by the fact the signal hasn't been heard a third time, correct? I want it to be us, if anybody finds the answers to this puzzle, understand?"
Krandiewsky replied, "Yes, sir. We will do the Kiirkegaard proud."
Britaine continued with his briefing. "Secondly, General Gurand agreed it was best to send this information to the rear to AMSF command by the most expeditious method. The Kiirkegaard is the spacecraft of discovery for this information, so it fell to us to provide two FAC to translate back to Heaven's Gate. Those pilots have returned in record time. That in itself is such a notable achievement it is being recorded in the pilots’ files. I am sure awards and decorations are in the works."
The four pilots stood and waved as the crowd shouted both congratulations and blew razzberries. General laughter and back patting was rampant. Britaine was pleased. It was pleasurable to see excellent actions rewarded. They were young pilots, it didn't take much to encourage them and make them happy. Britaine could see their bloodshot eyes, drooping muscles and the spider web of broken blood vessels across their faces. A quick series of jumps would take a serious physical toll on the healthiest of pilots. The junior most pilot could barely stand, but her brethren valiantly held her upright. She was obviously suffering from cramps and nausea. Britain wasn't worried. They were young. Puke and his medical team could fix such minor ailments in short order. Their feat made it easier for him to stay up with to the rest of the squadron. He might be able to jump into Altec only a few hours behind that old fool Gurand if he could dump off the Marshal Service sergeant quickly enough. That would show the powers that be that he was fit and ready for promotion to a squadron command or even a wing of his own. He smiled broadly at the thought that things were going exceedingly well, despite having to baby-sit that APES bitch, McPherson.
Britaine said, "That is all. And a job well done, people." He saw McPherson stand up to leave. He could see the puzzlement on her face, knowing she was baffled as to why he had called her to this meeting when it was apparent to everyone she didn't have anything to do with the information at hand.
He called to her, "Third McPherson, I have one small thing for you if I could see you for a moment." He turned to the crowd drawing around him. He smiled; giving the crew one of his knowing smirks and said, "I am sure you could give Misha and me a moment alone." When she stepped up to him, Britaine put a hand gently on her shoulder. He barely controlled the shudder at touching her, but he managed a smile. A warm smile in return was his reward. He thought, "Poor ugly thing; desperate for the touch of a real man. If I can't put her in her place one way, then I’ll do it another." He applied a small amount of pressure to her shoulder and turned with her so their backs were to the still crowded room.
Britaine took a small leather packet from his breast pocket. The packet had the APES symbol embossed on the cover. Inside was a glass-pack. He slipped it into her hand with the same sly maneuver he used in grade school when passing notes to the girls. As his fingers released the packet, they slid up her hand to dangle suggestively against her bare wrist. He could feel her noticeably quivering with excitement at his touch.
She smiled sweetly at him and slid the glass-pack into a side pocket. He smiled back knowing he had her in the palm of his hand. The bitch was putty in his hands. All he had to do was string her along until she left his spacecraft. She would prove she was as unfit for command as he had already reported, if he could keep her off balance until she self-destructed. He smiled into her eyes. "Thanks for coming up, Misha. I was sure you’d find it instructive to sit in with us. Just between us, I know you were a big help in the intelligence office.
I’m sure you know I didn't mention it because this crew needs a morale boost. I know you understand?" He squeezed her elbow softly.
"Thank you, William. I’m glad I could be here. I did learn a lot," Misha smiled back.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Misha checked her six in the corridor on the way back to her day office. She was completely alone. She stood still and shuddered deeply. She asked herself how any person could be so self-absorbed not to notice how he gave her the cold nauseating shivers. "Still," she had to admit, "he is pretty. Wonder how good he would be in bed? Maybe if he had a personality transplant, with something nicer like a male DropSix lowland warthog in heat. No, I am not that bad off yet. I’ll have to penalize myself with extra time in the training bay for such thoughts."
Misha shivered again and rounded the corner into APES territory. Her day office was the first hatch down the side corridor. She needed the data reader embedded into her desk to decipher the codes on the glass-pack she had been given. Since it was the middle of the day, she didn't bother knocking. Surely, Forrester would have the bedroom hatch closed if he was sleeping.
Forrester wasn't alone. He was sitting next to Kiirkegaard's Med-Tech Jèsusa Rezzi. They were side-by-side as close as two people can be without embracing. Upon her entrance, the woman flinched and started to slide away. Forrester put a hand on Rezzi's knee to stop her movement.
"Well, Misha," Forrester said. "I’m sure you know this is exactly what it looks like." Rezzi began blushing through her dark, olive skin. It flushed a deep red in contrast with her black shiny hair.
Misha replied, "I’m sorry to intrude. It doesn't matter to me what it looks like." Despite her words, she knew her face belied her emotions. "Besides, isn't the line ‘nothing was going on and it's not what it looks like’?"
Forrester said quickly, "You need to let me explain."
Misha interrupted him. "No. I’m not the one who deserves an explanation even if this is my office. It is not my business."
Rezzi said, "Please, Third let me explain. No don't interrupt. Gan is just trying to protect me. He knows what it would not do my career any good to be seen with him; at least, not on this spacecraft. I know it’s a double standard, but officers can sleep around with whomever they choose. Enlisted, specifically female enlisted, are supposed to restrict themselves to other spacers. It's like we are some kind of property or something."
"Like I said," Misha answered. "It’s not my place to judge or to hear your confession. Who you associate with is your business."
Rezzi pleaded, "But, if Colonel Britaine finds out that I’ve been meeting with Gan, I could catch hell."
Misha grit her teeth. The room was silent as she counted to ten.
"Why does everyone assume I would run to Britaine with every little piece of gossip that falls my way? Even if I was sleeping with him, and I am not," she said pointedly. "I still wouldn't run to him about every trifling." She looked at Forrester. "It isn't me or Britaine who needs an explanation. I’m not a prude. What you two do is your business. It is none of my concern, but tell me Gan, are you sure that is everyone who would care about you sleeping around?"
Forrester started to speak, "Jèsusa has been a close family friend for a long-”
Rezzi stopped him with a hand over his. "Third McPherson, I think I know where you’re going. I will say this: I know Gan is married. I’ve known his wife longer than I have known Gan. I can guarantee she wouldn't have a problem with us being together, certainly not when we are both so far from home."
Misha said again, "It is not my concern." But she thought to herself, "Why do I care? Maybe I am just a bit jealous? Me? Yes, I am and I should be ashamed of myself." She shook her head and said, "I’m sorry. I may have been acting a bit judgmental. I guess I’ve come to like Gan and I didn't want to see him make a mistake."
Forrester sputtered a laugh.
Rezzi flared, "So, you think that being with me is a mistake? Who the hell do you think you are, lady?"
Misha held her hands up in surrender, "I give. That’s not what I meant. I mean…well, maybe it was. Please accept my apology." She couldn't help thinking this conversation hadn't gone as well as she would like. Forrester was sitting there laughing, being no help at all and this little spacer looked like she was ready to come at her tooth and nail.
Rezzi flashed, "I won't be back here if you don't approve of me. Sergeant Forrester, give my regards to your wife."
Forrester's laughter strangled out. "Hold on, Rezzi."
Misha held out her hands, "Hey! I've said I'm sorry. I know I didn't say it well. I am sorry I interrupted you two. I am also sorry I acted like a prude and was overly judgmental. I stand by my offer to Sergeant Forrester for the use my day office and the private bedroom. I won't retract it. Who he invites here is his business and it’ll not go beyond these bulkheads."
"Well…" Rezzi relented and sat back down. "I guess none of us handled this as well as we should."
Misha thought, "Not me. Here I am trying to get information from this Marshal Sergeant, and I insult him and his mistress. That is good work, Misha; you might as well have stayed on DropSix and had babies." She said to the two, "I really need to use the data reader on the desk for official business. I hate to jump on your case and then have to chase you out for a bit, but the message is encoded and probably classified. Please use the bedroom. The hatch doesn't have a lock, but I promise not to disturb you in there."
Rezzi said, "I am sorry, too. I seem to be a bit hot tempered these days."
Forrester laughed, "These days? You don't give yourself credit enough. Misha, this woman is a fire-breathing temper machine. You should see what she did to the best man at my wedding when he got drunk and grabbed her ass."
Rezzi laughed, "Drunken fool. He should’ve known better. I did light into him, didn't I? Third McPherson, I thank you for the offer of the bedroom, but I do have duty shortly so I should go."
Misha said, "Gan, this glass-pack data was delivered by the FACs sent back to Heaven's Gate. I think Britaine was looking for you. He may have a packet from the Marshal's Service for you. He was angry he couldn't comm you and he complained pretty loudly about you having your comm off. Guess we know now why it was off, don't we? No. Don't say anything. That was a bit catty, wasn't it? Sorry you two, I will try to get this out of my system soonest. Now get out of my office. I got work to do."
Once Forrester and Rezzi left, she hit the seal bolts on the hatch slamming them in place. She slid the desk chair along the deck track and sat at the desk. She pulled the glass-pack out of the case and dropped it into the reader. It was set for voice recognition. She spoke her name and rank.
"Fourth-Level Commander Kema Ottiamig here." The man's regal image floated into place above the reader. He smiled and winked at her. Misha smiled back even though she knew it was just a recording.
"Quad Kema, good to see you again," she said quite unnecessarily.
Fourth Ottiamig continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, "I send the regards of Fifth Vaslov. The Fist said specifically she wants a rematch with you on the martial arts mats when you get back to Heaven Three. And next time don’t whip up so badly on the woman who is your boss's boss. That is not good office politics." He smiled brightly at her out of his holo-image.
Misha smiled back. She remembered the match well with Fifth-Level Commander IvanYetta Vaslov. The Fist and Misha did quite a bit of damage to each other. Vaslov, Ottiamig and she knew bad politics or not, it was even worse in combat training to pull your punches. It would lead to muscle memory betrayal during actual combat. Misha never pulled her punches and both commanders knew it.
Ottiamig's continued, "I have been ordered to take second-tier units 1390th, 1395th, and the 1397th of the 139th third-tier on deployment by another route to the Altec System. My quad squad is deployed with the 1390th per our usual configuration. FYI, the remainder of the Third Tier command has been redeployed as follows; the 1393rd and the 1398th are being sent forward to the Gagarin
System as backup for the Altec Expedition, plus the 1391st and the1396th are being deployed to Heaven’s Gate as deep reserve. I am not at liberty to discuss the placement of the 1394th or the 1399th. Their location holds no bearing on the Altec Expedition. We are scheduled to reach Altec in concert with Gurand's squadron. This is possible because the AMSF command originally thought a roundabout route to the system would increase the chances of taking any Binders by surprise.”
Ottiamig frowned, furrowing his brow. "With your discovery of the Binder signal in two Allied Space systems, we cannot be sure Gurand will take the Binders by surprise. The AMSF decided to strengthen the commitment into Altec by sending in a second flight wing by a more direct route. The Sixth agreed and is sending the additional second-tier units under my command. Your 1392nd will link with me ASAP.
"Sorry, Third McPherson, I know you were expecting your first official independent command, but that will have to wait. The way you handled Guinjundst proved to all of your command that you have what it takes to lead. This is no reflection on you."
Misha wondered if it should be a reflection. She was pleased to know that a more experienced commander would be responsible. She was also glad she was alone in her office. She was sure the relief on her face was evident.
"One last thing, and this comes directly from the Sixth himself, good job on isolating the Binder signal. Stay on top of it. We need to know what they are up to and how far they have gotten into Allied Space. Report any findings on this by any means necessary. Let your people know about the Binder signal and any significance you attach to it. The AMSF wants this signal to stay classified, but the Sixth says, and I quote: ‘we don't care’. This is a good indication that we will find Binder activity in Altec. We want our people prepared, not guessing in the dark. Keep the Guinjundst events under your hat for now. At least until we get secondary confirmation. The Sixth also wants your input in your next report on how or if this signal ties into what happened on Guinjundst.