by Terry Mixon
“How would you feel if you hadn’t gone through the revelations you had?” Zia asked. “If you just ran across him in the course of your normal life?”
“I’d be happy,” Veronica said, her voice sounding tired. “A lot of Fleet officers in the Rebel Empire are power-obsessed scumbags. He was one of the good ones. He is one of the good ones. It breaks my heart to stick a knife into his back.”
“You’re in a hard place,” Zia agreed, putting her hand on the other woman’s leg sympathetically. “It’s one thing to fight back against a system that you completely dislike. It’s another thing entirely when the face of that system is a friend.
“I can’t pretend to understand what you’re going through, but you’re not alone. You don’t know any of us. It’s hard to pick strangers over friends even if you believe in the cause they’re fighting for.”
Veronica sagged slightly in her chair, setting her untouched coffee on the edge of the desk. “I can’t see any way this ends well for Don. I’m using our friendship to start a chain of events that will probably end with his death.
“I have no idea whether he believes in the system or hates it like I do. That’s not the kind of thing officers discuss with one another. It’s not safe. People disappear when they do things like that and one learns to keep one’s opinions to one’s self.”
Zia’s heart went out to the other woman. Having to choose between friendship and duty was one of the most difficult things a person can do. Veronica was obviously caught on the horns of a dilemma. No matter how things turned out, she’d be scarred.
“I’ve only been a senior officer for six months,” Zia confessed. “After our people found and repaired the ships that we have now, we needed trained, experienced people to man them. And command personnel experienced in the new tech to run them.
“Before that, I was tactical officer on a destroyer. One very similar to the one you commanded, if far less capable. I don’t have the depth of experience to even begin advising someone how to navigate the minefield you’re walking through.
“What I can say is that if he’s a decent man like you say, he would feel just as badly as you do but he’d end up doing what was right. Even if it hurt you. Even if it killed you.”
The other woman sat silent for a few minutes, obviously lost in thought. When she finally stirred, she picked up her coffee and took a sip, grimacing at the no doubt cool temperature.
“I’ll do what I have to,” Veronica said as she set the cup back down. “Maybe I can come up with some way to mitigate what happens to him. You know, stick him in a closet somewhere when push comes to shove. Maybe that will save his life.
“After all, the Lords can’t expect him to be omniscient. There is no way he could expect me to betray him like I’m going to do. He’s not psychic. It may ruin his career, but if I can save his life, I’m going to try my very best to do so.”
She looked up at Zia. “I hope that’s not going to be a problem because I’m not willing to negotiate the point. I believe the Rebel Empire has to be brought down but I’m not going to murder a friend to make it happen.”
Zia shrugged. “No one expects you to be a monster, Veronica. I think you can find a way to see your friend spared the worst consequences of our mission, but you’re not going to be able to save him completely.
“Don’t get so hung up trying to spare him that you put the mission in danger. There are billions of people counting on us. Trillions, if you count all the people in the Rebel Empire. One life is important but you have to be able to keep your perspective.”
Veronica rubbed her face with both hands. “I said I’ll do what I have to and I meant it. The Lords have demanded that I do distasteful things in the past and I’ve complied. How can I do any less for the right reasons? That doesn’t mean I can’t mourn for a betrayed friend.”
The two of them sat in silence, sipping at their cooling coffee until it was finally all gone.
She’d put off taking her shower for as long as she could—longer than she should have—so Zia finally rose to her feet. “Everyone else is probably already getting breakfast, but I need to get a shower. It’s going to be okay.”
Veronica looked up at her. “I’m not looking forward to today, but I think you’ve made it a little easier for me to do what I need to do. Thanks.”
Zia smiled briefly and put her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “The only way any of us get through this is together. It may not feel like it right now, but this isn’t necessarily a no-win scenario. If circumstances permit, you’ll find a way to save your friend. I know that because it’s what friends do.”
Kelsey used her foot to tap on the door where they were holding their morning meeting. Her arms were filled with bags of food and drink from a small place just up the corridor. She’d chosen it because it was so busy that it was unlikely anyone there would remember her presence after the fact.
She also hoped the crowd meant that the food was awesome.
Talbot opened the door and everyone cleared the way for her to take the food over to the bed. The desk wasn’t large enough for everything, so they’d have to spread the containers out on the covers and eat as they stood around talking.
Under any other circumstances, she’d try to find a conference room, but that would draw attention they couldn’t afford. They had to stay off of everyone’s scanners.
As soon as everyone had piled their plates high with whatever they wanted for breakfast and gotten cups of coffee from the large container she’d brought, she served herself. She ate quickly because she knew she’d be still putting it away once the rest were done.
That used to cause her so much embarrassment. She’d felt like a pig, continually stuffing her face. Now after years of stoking the furnace in her belly, it no longer bothered her. People would think what they thought and that was no business of hers.
Besides, now that there were new Marine Raiders coming into existence, her appetite would hardly be unusual. If people thought she could eat, they’d be stunned over how much food Angela Ellis could put away in one sitting.
About halfway through the meal, the door opened to admit Zia and Veronica. The two women waved and began piling plates high. Their late arrival gave her a little bit more time to finish eating. By the time they finished, everyone else was sipping coffee and Kelsey was wrapping up her own meal.
Everyone put their trash back into the bags. Someone would dispose of it after the meeting.
Kelsey walked over to the desk and rapped her knuckles on the fake wood. “Everyone, if you’ll let me have your attention, we’ll get this rolling.”
Once the various conversations ceased, Kelsey continued. “Veronica, today’s work is going to be mainly on your shoulders. I want you to contact your friend and see if he can arrange for us to go out to the shipyard either this morning or afternoon.
“Then have dinner with him tonight, if you can. Any information you can get from him about normal operations at the yard and the situation in this system will be helpful. It’s even possible that he might be able to tell us why there are Rebel Empire warships in Archibald’s outer system, though we already have our suspicions.”
Talbot cleared his throat. “I can shed some light on that. While you were out getting food this morning, I went downstairs and sat in the breakfast room while the other guests were eating. I went so that the management could see that some of us were taking advantage of the free buffet and to listen in on what was being said.
“No one seemed to be aware that there are ships in the outer system, but I did overhear a pair of travelers talking about how they’d been rushed out of a nearby system after some kind of ruckus at one of the system’s flip points.
“Apparently there was some kind of fighting in the system next door. Nobody could say exactly who was doing the shooting, but it was serious enough that Fleet was locking everything down. They thought that was peculiar as the system in question only had the one flip point. They were wondering how Fleet had miss
ed the intruders coming in.”
Kelsey felt her heart sink a little. “It could be the Clans. Probably has to be.”
Zia grimaced. “If that’s the case, that one attack is only the beginning. They wouldn’t have revealed themselves if they didn’t intend to carry out a full-scale invasion of the Rebel Empire. They’ve had hundreds of years to prepare, with the Singularity building their forces, so they think they can win this fight.
“If the Clans are attacking other nearby systems—and we have to believe that there is more than one incursion—then the possibility of fighting here at Archibald in the very near future can’t be ruled out.”
Kelsey rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Perfect. That means we have to speed up our timetable as much as humanly possible. It also means that the Rebel Empire Fleet is going to be even more suspicious of anything unusual taking place. We’ll have to act faster and be more careful at the same time.”
She turned to Carl. “I don’t suppose you brought enough equipment to clone yourself?”
“Sadly, no,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Then we need you to get into the computer systems on this station as quickly as possible, as well as penetrate the medical research facility, and still be ready to go with us to the shipyard as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Is there anything we can do to help make all that happen?”
“I’m already one step ahead of you,” Carl said. “I accessed the station network last night before I went to bed. It wasn’t too difficult to get in. The secure areas are still locked away, but I believe that I’ve worked out which one is the research facility.
“I’m going to have to do a little more work to find a vulnerability that I can exploit to get complete access. Doctor Parker’s computer specialist has been a big help. Together, the two of us might manage to do everything we need to do here before I have to go to the shipyard.”
“Excellent. Keep it up.”
She turned her attention to Talbot. “I want you to conduct an in-person reconnaissance of the area around the research facility. We need to know how we’re going to get in. Take anyone you need to help and get the lay of the land.”
“I can do that,” he agreed. “If you don’t need her right now, I’ll take Zia.”
The flag officer raised an eyebrow. “My schedule is open, but I’m not sure what I can add. I’m not exactly a superspy.”
Talbot grinned. “No, but you’ll keep me from standing out by being just one dude walking around looking at everything. A couple draws far less attention than a single male. Cain Hopwood and Bill Smith, his security guy, can look at what we record later and help devise an entry plan.”
Zia considered his statement with pursed lips and nodded. “I’m in.”
“Then let’s be about it,” Kelsey said. “If we can’t get what we need before the Clans come calling, we’re all screwed.”
24
Talbot and Zia headed for the research facility at a slow stroll. They stopped at a couple of shops and browsed, making certain their progress toward their target didn’t show any sign of urgency. Or, frankly, that they had a target at all.
“How’s Veronica?” Talbot asked as they were looking at what appeared to be designer women’s clothing. What precisely it was designed for, he had no idea. There were a lot of straps and snaps, but he couldn’t discern any purpose for them.
“That thing last night really shook her up,” Zia said. “But she’s solid and she’ll pull through. What’s the general plan? I’ve seen our destination on a map, but we’ve got no indication of how it’s really laid out inside: how many levels, what type of security, that kind of thing. How are we going to get that information without going inside?”
“We are going inside. Not to cause any kind of scene but to make an inquiry. We have an injured family member and we want to know if they have any hope. A child would be best, I think. Everyone has a soft spot for kids.”
Zia nodded. “You’re hoping we can pull somebody’s heartstrings and get them to admit that kind of technology exists or to be very sad in saying that it doesn’t. The only problem I see is that we’re going to be talking to a receptionist. The odds this person is going to know what research projects are happening is fairly low, isn’t it?”
Talbot laughed. “It isn’t as if this is a secret military research facility. The different scientists and technicians working here are going to talk about their projects even outside the labs. While they probably won’t chat over any classified details, the general thrust of their research is probably going to be mentioned outside the secure areas. Who do they walk past every day when they’re leaving work and arriving? The receptionists.
“So, imagine this. A couple of scientists are arriving at work, getting ready to scan their badges, and go in. They’re already going to be talking about some of the experiments they plan on conducting that day. The receptionist is going to hear all about them.
“Or they’ve just finished a long day and had some successful or disastrous tests. They’re leaving the building but they’re not quite done talking work yet. While they’re in the lobby, they’re getting in that last little bit of discussion about what they’re going to need to do the next day. And once again, there’s the receptionist to drink it all in.”
She gave him a look through narrowed eyes. “Exactly how do you know this?”
He grinned at her. “While I might not be on the market anymore, I’ve dated a number of receptionists in my time. They’ve told me quite a bit about things they’re not supposed to know about. The people talking just consider them part of the furnishings.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that the receptionists in this building know virtually every single research project being conducted now and over the last few years. They probably have a decent idea of how far along each project is and whether or not they’re feasible, just based on what the researchers are saying.”
“That seems kind of risky,” Zia said cautiously. “They’re not involved in the work itself and we take their word at face value, we might be completely wrong.”
Talbot gestured for them to change direction and they headed down another corridor. “It’s a risk, but we’re not going to get the kind of information we need by standing outside the building and staring at it. Carl might get something when he finishes hacking his way in. We’re just testing the water.
“If we can get verbal confirmation that something like this exists, we’ll know that this mission is a go. If the receptionist doesn’t know anything, then the odds of getting something once we get in are low and we might abort. That’s going to be up to Kelsey.”
They walked in relative silence for another twenty minutes, crossing through a number of larger segments inside the station. People around them hardly glanced at them. Or if they did, they just saw a couple out for a stroll and would barely remember them even one minute after they’d passed.
When they arrived near the research facility, their job became a little bit more difficult. The number of shops had gone down and the area seemed a tad more industrial in nature.
On the plus side, the facility had a large double door made of clear material with “The Michael Anderle Memorial Research Center” printed clearly for everyone to see. They weren’t exactly hiding who they were or what they were doing.
Talbot had no idea who the man was or what he’d done to warrant having a research facility named after him, but that hardly mattered.
He raised an eyebrow toward Zia. “Shall we go in?”
“Let’s.”
Part of him expected the double doors to be locked so that only the receptionist could open it or an individual with a card could unlock it from the outside. Here in the Rebel Empire, the number of people with implants was restricted. Members of the higher orders had them and so did Fleet officers, but most members of society had to get by without them.
To his relief, the doors were unlocked and they walked in without any issue. The receptionist, a young man wi
th an earnest expression and a shock of dark, curly hair smiled at them. His name tag indicated that he was Ralph.
“Good morning and welcome to the Michael Anderle Memorial Research Center,” he said pleasantly. “How may I assist you today?”
Talbot held back just a little and nudged Zia forward. Since they were dealing with a man, she was more likely to get useful information. Hell, even if they were dealing with a woman, another woman was more likely to get the information they were looking for, now that he thought about it.
Before Zia had a chance to speak, however, the door behind the receptionist’s desk opened and an older woman with a hatchet face set in a scowl stalked out. She wasn’t wearing a name tag, but if she had, he wouldn’t have been surprised to see her name was Helga.
“Take your break, Ralph. I’ll handle the desk until you get back.” Her voice was gravelly and held a sour note.
The young man rose to his feet with a smile for Zia and walked back the way the woman had come from. His expression held a note of regret or sorrow. Talbot couldn’t tell which, but neither bode well for their mission.
Taking a seat, the older woman scowled at Talbot and Zia. “What do you need and how may we assist you?”
From her tone of voice, Talbot guessed what she’d actually meant to imply was “I don’t care what you need but tell me now so that I can send you packing as quickly as possible.”
Talbot hoped Zia was a much better conversationalist than he was, because he suspected that they were about to be unceremoniously tossed out the door.
Veronica didn’t expect Don Sommerville to be available during what would normally be a work day. She was wrong, it seemed, because he said that he was available to meet with her right away.
That made her stomach do a slow roll. She hadn’t been expecting to need to start the deception immediately.
“I’m not sure everybody will be ready to take the tour right now,” she said. Since Zia was off assisting Talbot, she wouldn’t be available to take the tour for a while yet.