Red Angel

by C. R. Daems

  "Come, Paulus," she said, and went to the head of the line, where Lieutenant Jimenez was verifying identities. Dowell showed her ID, which he scanned and then my NIA ID.

  "Permission to board, Commander, Lieutenant," he said, and we proceeded onto the Vulcan. On my way to my cabin, my CPC buzzed and Captain's office appeared on the screen. When I arrived, I found Adrian and Kris already there with drinks in their hands. Maclin waved me to a seat.

  "Now that you are all here, why are we going to Oasis, and why does it require P1A authority? I was assuming we were going to continue pursuing smugglers from the FPU. Is the P1A authority a response to the situation on the Tityus?" He frowned, and I could feel his concern.

  "Captain Maclin." I spoke before anyone could reply, since the confrontation had been between Sharat and me. "Even if I had P1A authority at the time, I wouldn't have overruled Captain Sharat. I don't have the experience necessary to make those kinds of decisions and wouldn't want the responsibility. But the request for support wouldn't have been optional."

  Maclin relaxed visually. "Yes, that was my concern. So, why the P1A?"

  "We believe that the smugglers' link to the Alliance is in Oasis. If we can cut that link, we will essentially cripple the smugglers' organization. The Alliance has given us the authority to look where we want and do what it takes to break that link. Without it, they could refuse us access to files, logs, and people."

  "That makes sense. Unless you object, I think I should provide you each with a security detail. It appears the smugglers have a Wanted Dead reward on each of you."

  "That would be appreciated. Although Sinclair and Paulus appear to be able to take care of themselves, I worry about them." Adrian produced an amused grin, but I could feel his concern was real.

  "Good. They have already been assigned. I've appointed Major Pannell to ensure each of you has adequate security, on and off the Vulcan. And you are welcome on the Bridge if you need the WavCom equipment or to review our message logs—and to use my conference room if you need someplace quiet to meet." He clicked on his CPC, and a minute later a tall muscular marine major entered. Although he smiled pleasantly, I felt his silent appraisal of each of us as we were introduced. I was surprised when I only felt a mild curiosity when my turn came. At Adrian's suggestion, we decided to meet in the captain's conference room.

  "Any suggestions?" Adrian asked, assuming his normal role as team leader.

  "I think we should check the WavCom and review the Vulcan's message log after we are in the Wave," I said. Kris nodded.

  "Can't say I blame you. Both your attackers were crew. And it would certainly be important news that NIA agents were headed to Oasis. Any ideas on how to proceed on Oasis?"

  "We need to examine the WavCom. It might have a clue and, of course, every facility and person with access to it." Kris paused, looking toward Adrian then me. "We could stick together or split up, although I'd like to stay with Anna. She's a good shot." She quipped, but I could feel her concern for me.

  "Thank you, Kris. Yes, I'm still nervous, but I'll have security. I hate to say it, but better we are all together in case ... We may be the Alliance’s best chance to break the smugglers' organization."

  * * *

  The three of us entered the Bridge two hours before we were scheduled to enter the Wave. I pulled the recent messages to and from the crew since we arrived and Kris searched the WavCom for messages to and from Oasis. After we entered the Wave, we retired to the conference room to review what we had retrieved.

  "What if we split the crew’s messages between us and work on them after we review the WavCom messages? It will give us something to do, and we might get lucky," Kris said.

  "Why don't I take the crew’s messages and you and Adrian work on the WavCom messages?" I asked. Kris looked to Adrian, who nodded. Kris sent me the crew’s messages and split the WavCom messages between her and Adrian.

  After eight hours of reviewing them, I had reduced the pile to five, based on intuition or something ... Red appeared to have taken an interest and had lain on my forehead during the entire time. I shook my head in wonder. Red had become much more than a poisonous snake that fed off me. Somehow over the years it had become a he, and he had become something more—intelligent. It sounded crazy, and I couldn't prove it, but I knew it was true. Kris was already in bed asleep when I crawled into bed.

  After breakfast the next morning with Adrian and Kris, I went back to the room and began reviewing the five messages. Adrian and Kris had stayed to discuss the WavCom messages. Sometime that afternoon, I found what I was looking for and raced down the hallway, with my guards following, to Adrian's room, where he and Kris had been working.

  "Do you have a message from a Miss Arroyo?" I asked, still out of breath. After a minute, Adrian looked up.

  "Yes, but it's to Westar, so we ignored it."

  "Very clever. From crew to Oxax to Westar to Oasis," I said, and without another word, we all began working on the message. An hour later, Adrian smiled.

  "Message reads: Wanted team on way to Oasis in two days."

  "So much for a surprise visit," Kris said, frowning.

  "I think the captain needs to know. Wanted team not NIA team could suggest an opportunity to ambush us and slow or prevent further investigation," I said. Adrian and Kris turned a bit pale. "They know what ship we're on, where we're going, and when we'll arrive." I typed an urgent message to Maclin. He responded immediately for us to meet him in his office.

  "What is so urgent, agents?" he asked, but his eyes were on me. Adrian looked to me, but I shook my head.

  "We have decoded a message sent to a Miss Arroyo from a Leading Rate Yanez: Wanted team on way to Oasis. She in turn sent a WavCom message to Westar: Wanted team on way to Oasis in two days. We believe that message will be rerouted to Oasis and that it presents an opportunity to ambush the Vulcan, get revenge, and stop the investigation, at least until a new team can be assembled and brought up to speed, which could be months or longer." Adrian said, and sat back.

  "And you want me to?"

  "Be aware," I said, since he kept glancing in my direction. He smiled.

  "Thank you. I'll be prepared."

  * * *

  We had gathered in Kris and my room, because it was bigger than Adrian's. We had been there for more than an hour when our CPCs buzzed.

  You are welcome to join me on the Bridge, if you are interested. Maclin.

  "Better than sitting here like blind mice. Remember the medical ward?" I said, remembering how it felt hearing and feeling the explosions and not knowing what was happening.

  "Anna's right. At least on the Bridge we'll know whether we are winning or losing," Kris said, already on her feet. Adrian and I followed Kris as she made her way to the Bridge. Our collective security remained outside as we entered.

  "Strap in, just in case," Maclin said as we entered.

  "Sixty minutes to Wave exit," Dowell said, and Jimenez announced it over the loud speakers. The Bridge was quiet as the minutes ticked away.

  "Battle Stations," Maclin said with thirty minutes remaining. Jimenez announced the change in status, and I knew lights would be flashing throughout the ship. "Bridge, I want all systems passive. If there is a surprise party out there, we don't want to spoil it for them. Load all tubes and stand ready."

  We exited the Wave, and nothing happened as the minutes ticked by. Kris went to work on the WavCom and gave a thumbs up after fifteen minutes.

  "Looks like the message from Westar. So they knew yesterday we were coming," Kris said for the captain's benefit. Silence descended, and each minute seemed like an eternity. Ironically, the emotions on the Bridge were subdued—professionals at work.

  "Four missiles, no, eight missiles incoming. Impact in sixty eight seconds. Two unknown cruisers," ECM Officer Higgs said as he watched his monitor.

  "Helm, vector nine, zero, zero, by zero, zero, zero, for two seconds. Execute." Maclin said in a conversational voice, but I could feel his euphoria
—the game was on. The Bridge and its occupants faded to ghosts—and two seconds later materialized again.

  "Helm: cut power to minimum. Tac: prepare to fire at whichever one appears. Helm: prepare to go to vector: two, seven, zero, by zero, zero, zero for two seconds."

  "Unknown cruiser on vector: two, one, two, by zero, one, one," the radar operator shouted.

  "Fired. Four missiles away, time to impact forty-three seconds," said Tac officer O’Toole in a normal voice.

  Thirty seconds later.

  "Four incoming, time to impact sixty-five seconds," Higgs shouted. Maclin smiled.

  "Three hits on bogey one," Childs said.

  Seconds later.

  "Four missiles away," O’Toole said.

  "Helm, execute vector," Maclin said, and we faded in and out again. "Comm, message to all Alliance ships in Oasis: ‘Vulcan under attack by two unknown cruisers.’"

  "Sent," Jimenz said.

  "Five hits on bogey one," Childs said.

  "We can only do this two more times. Then we will have to slug it out with them. But if we're lucky, they won't be in prime condition," Maclin said.

  I suspected he spoke more for our benefit than for the Bridge personnel.

  Several minutes later, both bogeys appeared and Maclin chose bogey two. We scored two. After our last available skip, the Vulcan had scored four hits on bogey two and five on bogey one.

  "Tac, alternate, four and four. Wouldn't want one to feel cheated," Maclin said, the light-hearted banter probably intended to keep everyone relaxed like this was a training exercise. From what I could feel, it seemed to be working. The exchange went on for the next hour, with the Vulcan slowly pulling ahead and an estimate of fifteen minutes until we would be out of their missile range.

  "Bogey one lost power," Childs said with excitement in his voice. "Bogey two slowing, changing course."

  "Good job, everyone. Maintain this vector. Nav?"

  "Seven hours, twenty-two minutes to Oasis," Dowell said, and everyone visually relaxed. I had been watching the damage monitor, because the captain didn't want Jimenez to announce the damage as it occurred. He had asked for specific information a couple of times. The Vulcan had taken a beating but was surprisingly functional, which didn't mean many hadn't died or suffered injuries.

  There had been one Alliance ship in port, but by the time they recalled sufficient crew to help, the fight was over. After hearing what happened, they did proceed out to investigate bogey one, which had lost power.

  * * *

  "Where do you want to start?" Adrian asked when we arrived planet-side. Major Pannell had brought four guards for Adrian and six rather than eight for Kris and me, as we had indicated we would be together. Pannell had insisted we wear protective gear under our uniforms. None of us objected after our previous encounters.

  "Port Communications Headquarters, I would assume. That's were all the records, files, and logs should be," Kris said.

  "I'd like to go visit the banks," I said.

  "Why?" Adrian asked.

  "If you can find where each individual banks, their accounts may help us trim the list."

  "That's a good alternative approach which might help us to focus our inquiries or discover something we might miss otherwise. Kris?"

  "I'm for it. I understand money." Kris grinned. We spent time looking at the banks where the people assigned to the communications unit deposited their checks. There were three banks. After setting up our tablets with the Oasis Communications Center, Adrian left for the Port Communications Headquarters, and Kris and I went to the Bank of Oasis, the largest of the three banks. Major Pannell chose to accompany us.

  "I see you switched weapons, Agent Paulus. Have you shot one lately?" he asked conversationally, but I could feel his nervousness. Probably concerned I'd be more dangerous to his guards than helpful.

  "My mother is very smart. She had me taught in all the basic non-assault weapons, and she had me qualify all four years at the academy. I can hit the target in the bull’s-eye when it's standing still, but when it's moving I thought a shard gun with a bit of a spread would be better," I said. He nodded, appearing to reappraise me before commenting.

  "I imagine people underestimate you a lot, because of your youth."

  When we reached the bank, Kris led us to the manager's office, with all eyes following our procession and us. At the manager's office, his secretary, a well-dressed elderly woman looking the typical guard dog, attempted to assert her authority.

  "Can I help you, Lieutenant?" she said as Kris approached.

  "Yes. Please tell Mr. Saxton that Lieutenants Sinclair and Paulus are here and require his assistance."

  "He's a very busy man, Lieutenant. I can make you an appointment for later—"

  "Now!" Kris took out her P1A badge. "This takes precedence over anything he's doing or planning on doing. Unless Oasis is no longer in the Alliance."

  After she got control of her rollercoaster emotions, she announced our presence and the fact we had P1A badges, and we proceeded into his office. Saxton was a short pudgy man with glasses and thinning hair. He stayed sitting, his eyes wide as he surveyed our group. Kris marched up to the desk and showed the P1A badge.

  "Mr. Saxton, we need to look at some of your customer accounts."

  "They’re private," he protested.

  "Major Pannell, arrest Mr. Saxton while I find his assistant. I'm sure he'll prefer cooperation to prison."

  "No, no, wait, I'll do it," he said as perspiration formed on his forehead. Kris had him check every name that had their paycheck deposited directly to the bank. Then I had him check the other names. He found accounts for three of the other individuals on the list. I also had him follow some money transfers and discovered two other accounts under a different name.

  We only managed to visit one other bank that day, but it produced similar results. Afterward, we obtained rooms at the Army facility about twenty klicks out of the city.

  "An interesting day," Adrian said as we settled down in a conference room the colonel in charge let us use. "There has been a concerted effort to clean up. It would have passed a casual review, but I went to the system logs and found the deletions—more than a hundred. It's going to take a few days, but this is looking bigger that I expected. I had thought one or two individuals, but it appears many more are involved."

  "The bank was a good idea and fun. P1A authority is intoxicating," Kris said. "Anna had the manager check all the names on the WavCom employee list, and we found several additional accounts—big ones. And when we traced the bank transfers into and out of these accounts, we found more accounts at other banks which look like they may be aliases, again big amounts. We are talking millions of credits, and we've only checked one bank.

  * * *

  For the next week, Kris and I hit all the banks, even the small ones, and found every employee had two or more accounts and the amounts far exceeded what these individuals could have saved on their current salaries. Each day, Adrian identified the sender and receiver of each deleted message. By the end of two weeks, we had a clear picture. The messages coming in were predominately from people around the Alliance detailing the movements of the UAS ships. The senders would have to be traced at some later date. The outgoing messages were pickup and drop-off times with the names of real people on Oasis but who were purported to be relatives of crew on merchant ships. When checked, they had no relatives on merchant ships and had never sent any of those messages.

  "We have a problem," Adrian snorted. "If we arrest all these people, the WavCom will be inoperative. The entire unit is in on it."

  "Ironically, we assumed the smugglers' operation was run out of the FPU, when in fact it looks like it's an Alliance operation. The FPU may provide contraband, but it’s the WavCom people on Oasis running the operation," Kris said. "Anna was right thinking Oasis was a crucial link."

  "What if I contact the Army Colonel and have him arrange to arrest the individuals we've identified? Meanwhile, you and
Anna go see Admiral Comstock, who is the head of Oasis's Port Authority, and let him know what we've found and see if he has a temporary solution until he can get permanent replacements. We can't wait too long. These people have to know we are closing in on them and will disappear if we aren't careful."

  I didn't say anything. Something was missing, but I couldn't place my finger on it. Everything Adrian and Kris said was true, but a piece of the puzzle was missing.

  * * *

  Kris and I left for the Port Authority Headquarters building after a quick breakfast.

  "You've been very quiet, Anna. Anything wrong?"

  "Red and I think that we are missing something."

  "What did he say or do?" Kris said, a bit amused.

  "Maybe I'm crazy, but I know when he's agitated. Right or wrong, I trust the feeling." We arrived at the headquarters building five minutes before our scheduled meeting with Admiral Comstock. His secretary checked and told us to go in. Inside, the Admiral sat behind an oversized wooden desk. He was well past middle age but looked fit, with wavy dark brown hair and an equally thick brown mustache. His eyes assessed us like a wildcat deciding whether we were prey, while his facial expression remained relaxed. Kris and I saluted. He returned our salutes as he rose and came around his desk. I almost didn't notice the armed naval lieutenant standing off to the side against the wall.

  "I understand you have important information for me." His smile looked more like a grin. "Hopefully, it's nothing—" he began, and then froze as Red made an impromptu appearance with his head on my shoulder. "Get that damn snake out of here, Lieutenant," he shouted. I could feel the anger and ... amusement. The missing piece fell into place.

  "Admiral, I'd like to examine your tablet and office computer," I said as I approached him and heard Kris's gasp.

  "How dare you? I'll have you court-martialed for conduct—" He stopped when I held my P1A badge inches from his face.

  "It's not a request, Admiral. It's an order." I felt Red's head change position, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see the lieutenant reaching for his gun and the Admiral beginning to move away from me. I drew my gun and moved to put Comstock between the lieutenant and me a second too late, and pain seared my side. Before he could shoot again, I stepped behind Comstock and pointed my gun at his head. Given he was twice my size, there was no way the lieutenant would chance a shot at me no matter how good he was. But before I could say drop that gun, he was beside Kris with his gun to her head.