by M. D. Cooper
“And that”— Joseph leaned back in his seat and smiled at the main holo—“is that.”
CHAPTER 16
STELLAR DATE: 3227224 / 09.28.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: GSS Intrepid, Mars Outer Shipyards (MOS)
REGION: Mars Protectorate, Sol Space Federation
The post-op took over twenty hours, a good portion of which was spent re-taking the dock from the last few mercs, who had entrenched themselves quite thoroughly. Then came the round-up; squabbles over jurisdiction, and the interrogations. It was well into the following day before Ouri and Tanis got to sit down together and go over what they had learned.
“This is most interesting.” Tanis looked over the interrogation logs. “Trent was not involved with these men at all, at least not to their knowledge. The captains all had their dealings with a man by the name of Drenn. He has links to the STR Consortium, been known to be involved in some of their less public projects.”
Ouri scowled at the data as she reviewed. “So, does this mean we have two threats, or just one that is a little clearer and a little scarier?”
“I’m betting that it’s the same threat, though we do have to keep an open mind.” She took a drink from the restorative in front of her. “Still, I’m guessing that Trent wasn’t getting the desired results, so his bosses declared open season on us.”
“More likely on you,” Ouri replied. “I’m guessing that they’ve singled you out. That was a very deadly scenario that was specifically designed to draw you in.”
“And in I was drawn…rather foolishly too.”
“I’ll say so.” Admiral Sanderson stood in the doorway.
“Sir.” Both women stood and saluted.
“Sit.” Sanderson gestured as he did.
“Quite the little escapade you had, Major.” He allowed his glare to linger on her for a moment before continuing. “Imagine my reaction when I hear, while on my visit to the Marsian Parliament, that the officer in charge of our security has ripped a ship from the station, exposed an entire dock to vacuum, and proceeded to tear across the construction yards, spilling cargo in her wake like it was confetti.”
“I can only guess that it must have been extreme, sir”
“You’re damn right it was extreme. You should never have allowed yourself to be drawn in so completely. I thought you were an intelligence officer. You could stand to display some.”
Tanis sat and took the rebuke in silence. Ouri looked like she wished she were anywhere else, up to and including cleaning sewage scrubbers, than at the table listening to Sanderson dress down her CO.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Tanis took a breath. She could think of a hundred reasons why no other person would have expected to run into four ships full of armed mercenaries on what was supposed to be a secure dock, but she knew that wouldn’t fly with the admiral.
“I take full responsibility, sir. I acted rashly and without proper care and attention. It won’t happen again.”
“You must know that I am under considerable pressure to have you removed. Terrance and the captain have been inundated with calls and protestations from all levels of Marsian bureaucracy. Considerable pressure.”
“I’ll tender my resignation at once, sir,” Tanis replied stoically. “I do not wish to cause them any more trouble than I already have.” While she seemed calm on the outside, inside she was fraught with emotion. If she had to abdicate her place on the Intrepid she would find whoever was responsible and kill them, even if it took a thousand years.
“Don’t be an idiot. You’ll do no such thing.” Anderson gave her a look that teachers usually reserve for their worst students. “Despite your rather shoddy handling of yesterday’s events, your record otherwise has been impeccable. I simply wish to inform you that should your next encounter with the enemy show such large amounts of bravado coupled with such small amounts of careful consideration, I may have to rethink my decision regarding your placement here.”
“Yes, sir.” Tanis could feel her limbs again, her heart slowed back down and she took a deep breath.
“Now, let’s talk about the prisoners. That much at least was a job well done. We can finally get some information on who is behind this.”
“Yes, sir. From what we have learned so far, it appears that the mercenaries were contacted by a man by the name of Drenn. He is connected to the STR Consortium, dealing particularly in the types of projects that they like to keep hidden from the public eye. It is our opinion that they were hired to take me out of the picture.”
Sanderson leaned back and stroked his chin. “And why, pray tell, Major, would they go to such considerable expense to remove you, pain in my ass though you are? I imagine that this operation cost them billions of credits; enough to buy a small corporation on a major planet.”
“Indeed, sir.” Tanis nodded. “I think they want to get rid of me because their sabotage success rate dropped when I came onboard. It’s not a lot, but their last several attacks have all targeted me, so I think there is some credence there.”
Sanderson grunted a tentative assent. “And what about your belief that it is solely the STR?” he asked.
We’ve obviously been under concerted corporate, network, and physical attack for some time. We’ve ruled out radical groups, though it is logical to assume, and borne out by the data, that roughly ten percent of our troubles are from those fringe elements.
“That being said, the rest is either governmental or corporate in origin. There is a relatively small list of either that could sustain an attack of this duration through so many avenues. If these men truly did get their orders from Drenn, then it has to have been the STR Consortium all along.”
“They have been on our suspect list since we determined that it was a bigger player pulling the strings,” Sanderson said. “What does this change?”
“We can now begin pursuing legal action against them,” Tanis replied. “We have affidavits and statements from many of the mercs regarding the nature of this attempt and who hired them. Once we make a solid connection between Drenn and the STR we can begin subpoenaing communications that we can link between him and the STR. That’ll be a feeding frenzy for the news hounds and will cause them to think twice before making such a bold move again.”
“We won’t be able to make this stick to them.” Sanderson shook his head. “We don’t have a solid enough tie.”
“And we’re not likely to get one, but they’ll still have to fight us off. The money it will cost them in share value alone will make them rethink their plans. At the very least they will probably refrain from more events like this and go back to that Trent guy.”
“That would be something at least.” The admiral nodded. One mysterious foe is enough.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Tanis said.
“I still don’t see how this all fully explains their considerable expense they are going to in trying to remove you alone.”
“I can only surmise”—Tanis leaned back in her chair—“that they have something big planned and hope to remove me and carry it out before you can find a replacement.”
CHAPTER 17
STELLAR DATE: 3227238 / 10.12.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: GSS Intrepid, Mars Outer Shipyards (MOS)
REGION: Mars Protectorate, Sol Space Federation
Tanis was relaxing on a bench in the prairie park located a few decks down from the SOC. It was the third shift and the park was dark, which meant it was teeming with life. She could hear the calls of the various ground animals and even the cough of a cougar somewhere in the distance. She wondered what it was hunting, and saw that the park listing showed a herd of deer nearby.
The herd was quite close and Tanis cycled her vision into the IR range to see if she could witness the attack. Wild pre
dators were not uncommon in the parks on the Intrepid. It was easiest to create a true ecosystem with them in place. The animals would not bother humans; they would not even come within several meters, depending on the species.
“What are you peering at?”
The voice startled Tanis; she had been so focused on the impending battle that she hadn’t heard anyone approach. Looking up she saw that it was Joseph and smiled warmly.
“Cougar about to pounce somewhere out there. I can’t see it, but I heard it nearby.”
Joseph sat beside her. “Forgot you were planetborn. I never liked the predators, it doesn’t make sense why they would add them in.”
“Keeps the vermin under control.”
“That’s what the ship’s cats are for.”
Those were different cats entirely. Every ship had cats for hunting vermin. Try as mankind might, even in the forty-second century rats and mice still followed civilization around, making their home where humans did. Ship’s cats had been modified slightly to prefer the taste of rat and mouse, and also to be very fastidious as to where they left their own scat. Their intelligence was enhanced as well, allowing them to understand the concept of pointing, as well as the fact that the cat in the mirror was them and not some interloper out to steal their food.
“I don’t think ship’s cats would do too well out there. It’s not really their type of place. Besides, that cougar stalking those deer…that’s real nature, that’s what happens.”
“You have a very fixed mindset, do you know that?” Joseph smiled at Tanis. “Not saying I don’t like it, just an observation.”
She turned her attention to him, allowing herself to see what she normally kept from her mind. He was a man; a warm, intelligent, attractive man. One who didn’t mind how domineering she was—something that had caused problems more than once. His head was angled forward, his strong brow half hiding his eyes. Tanis thought back and realized it was a look he almost exclusively reserved for her. It was also not a look a commander directs at a major under any circumstances.
The intensity of his gaze caused her to glance down at her service uniform, suddenly noticing that the cut of the blouse and pants seemed to be somewhat more fitted than usual.
Angela’s snort was very convincing.
Tanis took a moment to remember Joseph’s last statement.
“Yeah, I do sort of have a one-track mind. Comes with the territory I suppose.”
Joseph nodded. “I know how you feel. But it’s been quiet lately; I can’t help thinking of what it’s going to be like when we get there.”
Tanis was silent a moment, staring off into the waving grass. “I haven’t really allowed myself to think of that much.”
Joseph gave a low chuckle. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
Tanis looked up into his eyes and saw something there; a longing, an intensity that she didn’t know how to deal with. Why would he want her so badly? He hadn’t said so, but she knew it was there…it was her job to know things like that.
She looked away. “Joe…I—I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do with what you want from me.”
She felt his hand rest on her arm; felt the heat radiating through her shirt. “I just want you. Can’t you tell? It’s not something from you I want, it’s just you.”
A battle was raging between Tanis’s heart and mind. In the end her mind won. She broke regulations only when she had to—never when she wanted to, no matter how much she wanted to. “We can’t, you know that. You serve under me, there’s a reason why these things can’t happen.”
“But I serve under you now and have feelings for you. They have happened, don’t you see that?”
Tanis sighed and shifted on the bench to face him. “What do I have to offer you? There’s nothing here, I’m just my job.”
Joe laughed, it wasn’t a short bark, or a mocking chuckle, just a good long laugh—one that left him wheezing by the time he finished. “Major Richards, that’s just the sort of thing you would say.”
Tanis could feel her cheeks getting red; she couldn’t fathom what was so funny. It couldn’t be that he was mocking her. That was completely out of character for Joe. “I don’t get it. What could you see in me? Men don’t want women like me…we just make things hard for them—or they want a mother.”
Joe raised his hand and turned her face toward his; forcing her to lock eyes with him. She felt a moment of uncertainty. Was he going to kiss her?
“I don’t want a mother. I’ve given this a lot of thought. It’s your strength that draws me to you. No matter what, you don’t let things get you down. Nothing is insurmountable. I don’t want to control you, I don’t want to own you, I want to share that with you, and I want to give you the support that I know you really need inside. You’re just like the rest of us—you feel pain, you worry, but you don’t let anyone see. But I see, and it makes me love you.”
A part of Tanis saw that Joe was just as shocked that he’d said ‘love’ as she was to hear it. She had heard it before and it always ended badly—always ended with pain. She pulled away.
“I don’t think this is right, Joe. We have to work together. Maybe later, maybe after we get there.” Her voice was quiet; she couldn’t keep the doubt in her own words hidden.
Joe didn’t say a word; his face had lost all expression. He nodded and rose from the bench, but after taking a step he turned. “Tanis. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to wait. I’m not going to let you stay alone forever.”
She didn’t respond and he remained still; Tanis wondered if he would attempt to convince her again. But then, with a slight droop to his shoulders, he left.
Tanis sat, staring into the darkness, her reverie eventually broken by a deer’s scream.
CHAPTER 18
STELLAR DATE: 3227241 / 10.15.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: District 4A1, Ring 4, Callisto Orbital Habitat (Cho)
REGION: Jovian Combine, Sol Space Federation
Trist cautiously slipped down the service corridor, her silsuit a matte grey that matched the bulkheads around her. She was looking for a good place to hide so that she could look over her find in private. A vertical stack of environmental tubes filled part of the passage ahead, and she crouched down in the gloom they created.
The find was a bundle of plas sheets. Rare to see such a manifest printed out, but some people did like the tactile sensation. She flipped through the multilayer holoplas with care, making certain to focus on each layer of each page in its entirety. It took several minutes to scan the sheets into memory and transcribe them. Once it was in her memory she assimilated it as data and the information was in the forefront of her mind, filtered into a relational structure.
Slipping a small EM charge from a hidden pocket she fried the sheets and dropped them down a crack between the conduit and the deck. Someone would find them eventually, but it would be too late to do anything—even if the information on them could be recovered.
Sue, Trist’s AI, was running through the lists of equipment and storage locations in the data and pulled out several choice items, flashing them over Trist’s vision.
Trist rose and left the narrow service passage, taking a few convoluted turns before ending up on a larger concourse. As she walked, the corridors transitioned from deserted to being packed with people and maglev carriers. The utilitarian halls had also given way to the wider boulevards, their walls covered in tarnished filigree—though it was nearly impossible to spot behind all of the holo advertisements that wrapped them.
She looked down at the form-fitting grey outfit and decided it just wouldn’t do. A thought changed its color to a mixture of black and pink, raised the heel on the boots and added a short skirt. The neckline plunged and the fabric ruffled, creating a second layer that formed a jacket.
“Mod freak.”
She almost didn’t catch the muttered words from a man who walked by. He was already past, but she made a rude gesture anyway. It wasn’t her fault she couldn’t get the pretty mods and that her left eye was a mass of lenses and actuators. Not to mention what her right hand looked like—it got the job done.
Putting his comment from her mind she adopted a carefree expression and walked down the corridor toward the main sweep of Ring 4. Her eyes slid past the ancient décor in this part of the ring to light upon the inhabitants. It was important to always know who was around you and what they were up to. In Trist’s experience life didn’t offer a lot of forgiveness to the unwary.
After a few bends the boulevard opened up to a balcony overlooking the main sweep. Lanes of flying transports choked the air before her and below she could catch glimpses of parks and lakes.
Once, when the Callisto Orbital Habitat—known to its inhabitants as the Cho—was new, this was the upper level of an exclusive world, the most beautiful and advanced orbital habitat ever created. The Cho still was the most advanced and beautiful orbital habitat mankind had ever constructed, but with the number of rings now totaling over one hundred, R4 was little more than a relic—much of it demoted to life support and waste-management.