Belinea

by Andrew Mack

  Vihaan came in and hugged Willits. Then turning to Jones to hug him also, said, “If one of my staffers left me that way, I would’ve cut their fucking eyes out.”

  Willits, smiling, said, “We honestly thought you knew.”

  Vihaan continued laughing, “I was so drunk I could’ve fucked a goat.”

  Jones broke the tension further by saying, “I thought Parkohov was the richest man on Earth.”

  Vihaan turned his head and said, “That Russian motherfucker don’t have the same money I got, fuck him. “

  The three began walking back to the pool area. All the security guards had their rifles down now, escorting them on each side. “What are you two doing here?”

  Willits replied, “You keep telling us to come back to Torsalli, drink the best wine in the universe, so here we are.”

  Vihaan Kapoor snapped his fingers at one of the assistants, pointed two fingers up. The assistant hurried off to find two more glasses. Vihaan held his glass up in the sun and said, “Torsalli wine gentlemen, is no joke. My vinter has been making wine in his family for over fifty years. This is a Lovarri grape, blended with Simsi and a touch of Dartolla grapes. Very similar to a French Bordeaux, but Simsi has more Italian Barolo characteristics, and the Dartolla softens the wine like a Petit Verdot. Still a little leather and boots, some cigar, a hint of vanilla and spice, but a very soft tannin oak finish.”

  The assistant came back with two glasses for Willits and Jones. They held the glasses up, and Vihaan said “Cheers gentlemen, to old friends.”

  Willits and Jones, before taking a sip, simultaneously said, “To old friends.”

  Jones replied, “That’s excellent, Vi.”

  Willits said, “You might just make it as a wine producer after all.”

  Vihaan said, “Belineans are buying it like crazy. Sell a little bit of it back home, but those cheap bastards can’t afford it.”

  Jones smiled and said, “Been back home recently?”

  Vihaan’s smile quickly went away as they continued walking towards the pool. “Only when I have to. Why would I leave this place?”

  Willits and Jones began noticing the beautiful pool with lots of girls everywhere, music playing, a 3-D hologram image of what looked like a soccer match back on Earth. Jones half smiled and said, “I probably wouldn’t leave either.”

  The three stopped next to his outdoor bar area. It was shaded with bar stools and a bartender. Willits turned to Vihaan and said, “Vi, can we talk?”

  Vihaan looked at his bartender and said, “Leave us.”

  After he walked away, Willits continued. “When you talk directly to Director Kimakawa, how do you do it?”

  Vihaan was taken slightly aback. “Listen, Nolan. If this is about construction on the base, I told him we are working as fast as possible. I am producing ships faster than the Belineans.”

  Jones looked curious. “What base?”

  But Willits cut him off. “I am not here about the base. Do you have a direct line of communication with him?”

  Vihaan still looked confused. “We have a C-bar communication line. Only takes about twenty minutes for a message to go through.”

  Willits continued, “Directly to him?”

  Vihaan was still puzzled. “His office. So either him or Meyers. I doubt his assistant reads the message. Why?”

  Willits then said, “Do you still have those DAG patrol drones and the DAG guest house we set up for you a few years back?”

  Vihaan “Of course. The Belineans hate it, but it keeps them out of my business.”

  Willits said, “Good. Finally, what’s the fastest ship you got to take us to Belinea?”

  Vihaan smiled big. “I got a Belinean D-21 Sirralo, completely pimped out guys. Four staterooms, gold plated common area, wet bar. It can get from here to Belinea in four days.”

  Jones looked shocked, “Four days? That should be at least six from here.”

  Vihaan smiled again “It’s fast.”

  Willits then got a little closer. “Vi, I hate to ask, but we are really in a pinch, and I need your help.”

  Vihaan looked serious as well. “I will never forget that trouble you two got me out of in Locavores, what do you need?”

  Willits practically pleaded. “First, We need one of the shitiest transports you got. One that you don’t mind parting with.”

  Vihaan said, “Take your pick. What else?”

  Willits then asked, “Can we borrow the Sirralo to take to Belinea?”

  Jones countered, “We will bring it back, of course.”

  Vihaan just smiled again. “Shit, just take one, I got three of them. The other two are for my boys, but one is here with his bitch Torsallian girlfriend, and the other is rock climbing in Willasar.”

  Willits smiled back “Thanks, Vi, where is this C-Bar Communication?”

  Vi raised his glass of wine. “In my office, of course.”

  Belinea 5.4

  Earth, Northeastern Japan

  After getting off the elevator, the woman scanned her hand and entered the facility’s restricted area. She was in full military uniform, with several citations and medals hanging from her coat. She got to the office of Director Kimakawa, and a robot asked. “May I help you?”

  “Master Sergeant Sabrina Evans for the Director.”

  The Robot quickly processed, sending a message to Kimakawa. A few seconds went by, and the doors opened, just as the robot responded, “The Director will see you.”

  Master Sergeant Evans walked directly into the room, stood five feet in front of Kimakawa’s desk at attention, and saluted.

  Kimakawa put the stuff he was looking at down. “Master Sergeant Evans, how is Odgins?”

  Evans gave up on the salute, Kimakawa did not acknowledge it. She eased back into standing at ease, arms crossed behind her, and said, “Good sir. There will be many qualified cadets at your disposal upon graduation.”

  Kimakawa kept his head down, glancing at the material in front of him. “Excellent. Something I can help you with?”

  Evans took two steps forward and placed the computer stick on his desk. She then took two steps back, going right back to soft attention, and said, “This is from Commander Willits, sir.”

  Kimakawa raised an eyebrow. “Delivering it in person?”

  Evans never looked back down, keeping her eyes focused on the wall. “He did not trust any electronic channels, sir.”

  Kimakawa gave a look of annoyance. “Why didn’t you give it to me when we interrogated you on SPE about the cadets?”

  Master Sergeant Evans took a small breath before responding “Before he left, Commander Willits gave me specific instructions to give this to you in the event anything unusual happened regarding his assignment. He also said to give it to you in private, with no one else present.”

  Kimakawa put the stick into his tablet. He asked, “And you don’t know what it says?”

  Master Sergeant Evans hesitated for a second before she said, “No, sir.”

  Kimakawa quickly read the note. He then put his tablet down and said, “They have been gone for almost five days. I am getting this now?”

  Master Sergeant Evans thought for a second, then said, “I was unsure if the attack on SPE was related, sir. After I heard about the incident on Braccus, I was certain something unusual was going on.”

  Kimakawa sat back in his chair. He took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. “Master Sergeant, did you teach Commanders Willits and Jones at Odgins?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Kimakawa drew a smirk. “How were they as students?”

  Evans replied without hesitation. “Two of the worst students I have ever had. Insubordinate. Lack of focus. Below average aviation skills, and as arrogant as I have ever encountered.”

  Kimakawa looked directly at her. “And yet, the medal on y
our chest, The Cross of Valor, would suggest something different, no?”

  Evans finally looked down, but did not say anything. With a look of immense seriousness, she just continued to stare at Kimakawa. After what seemed like ten seconds, Evans finally said, “You trust the soldiers you fight with, and you don’t leave anyone behind.”

  Kimakawa looked back and only very softly said, “You know what the note says.”

  Evans said nothing. Before either could speak, they were both interrupted by Vice Director Meyers, who came bursting into the room. “Director, there was another attack. This one was on Torsalli.”

  Meyers practically sprinted to the desk, before finally stopping. Kimakawa and Evans looked directly at him before he said, “There was an explosion on The Ambassador’s ship. He is dead, along with another fatality they believe is Miss Devanoe.”

  Kimakawa stood up. He was stunned. “Are you sure? They were supposed to be on a Battle Cruiser?”

  Meyers responded, “They got off the Battle Cruiser, and were awaiting further transport. The ship blew up on the military side of the Torsalli Space Port.”

  Evans then said, “And Commanders Willits and Jones?”

  Meyers, almost out of breath, said, “Nobody knows. They apparently exited the ship, but nobody can find them. The BRG is looking for them now.”

  Evans and Kimakawa looked at each other before Kimakawa glanced at the note on his desk from Willits. Kimakawa said, “Well, that makes two of us. Dammit!”

  A few seconds of awkward silence went by before a voice came from Kimakawa’s desk. The robot from the other room said, “Director, an urgent message from Vihaan Kapoor just came through.”

  All three looked at each other. Kimakawa whispered to himself, “Vi is on Torsalli.”

  Kimakawa sat back down and looked at the message. He thought for a few seconds, then decided to read it in front of everyone else. “It’s from Willits. Jones and I are safely on Torsalli. We are staying at the DAG guest house on the Kapoor Estate, with the Ambassador, alive and well. We believe Miss Devanoe is not who she seems and is working for someone else (BRG? SS?) as the explosion that killed the two cadets was her doing. We are arranging private transportation to Belinea in the next twenty-four hours. Willits.”

  All three looked at each other. Evans finally asked, “Who is Miss Devanoe?”

  Meyers responded, “She is the Ambassador’s personal assistant. She is traveling with him everywhere. She is also Belinean educated, so very familiar with proper Council procedure.”

  Kimakawa then said, “And the daughter of an old friend…..”

  Meyers and Evans just looked at Kimakawa as he continued. “Alright, that message goes no further. Meyers, keep inquiring about the explosion. We must appear to be concerned at all levels and genuinely surprised when we find out the Ambassador was on board. Sargent, go back to Odgins, pull up the records for the two cadets that died so we can notify the families.”

  Sargent Evans looked at Kimakawa and said, “Anything else I can do, Director?”

  Kimikawa paused, knowing Evans was asking a different question. He put on his coat and said, “No, I must do this myself.”

  Belinea 5.5

  Battle Cruiser 54

  Second moon of Pyliss

  AuFa Supply Station

  Commander Devanoe kept looking at his watch-like tracker that he had for Alexis. It had not blinked or beeped in over five minutes. He was over at the Communications area, where an officer was trying to get information. Devanoe aggressively asked, “Can you get me any information or confirmation?”

  The Communications Officer, Lieutenant Wilcox, kept trying his best. “I have a contact, sir, but it seems pretty chaotic right now. But I believe there was an attack.”

  Captain Kimmel had proceeded to walk back over. He asked, “The ammunition cargo is on-board, we are ready to go. Any word yet, Commander?”

  Devanoe looked at his Captain and said, “No, sir. With your permission, I would like to request transportation to Torsalli to look into the matter personally, sir. “

  Captain Kimmel softly said, “Nick, I know….”

  Devanoe cut him off “It’s my sister, sir.”

  Captain Kimmel did not try another word. This was personal. He waited a few seconds before asking, “Let me see the Tracker.”

  Nick Devanoe handed it to Kimmel. The Captain inspected it for a few seconds. “Who gave this to you?”

  Devanoe answered, “Vincella, the BRG Captain on Braccus.”

  Kimmel walked a few meters to the other side of the communications area where Lieutenant Hauser was. With the device in his hand, he held it up and asked, “Lieutenant Hauser, Can you explain to me how this works?”

  Lieutenant Hauser grabbed it and looked at it for a few seconds. “Yes, Captain. The partner device for this tracker must get activated by pushing the button on it. It will begin blinking and beeping immediately.”

  Kimmel then asked, “And if it stops blinking and beeping suddenly?”

  Hauser said, “It’s most likely been destroyed.”

  Kimmel then asked, “No way it just stops on its own?”

  Hauser shook her head “It is possible it had a malfunction, but that is extremely rare. Destroying it or out of range are the only ways it stops, sir.”

  Kimmel then looked puzzled. “Out of range?”

  Hauser replied, “Yes, sir. It has a range of any medium-sized solar system.”

  Kimmel then asked, “So Torsalli?”

  Hauser answered, “Is definitely in range for the device, sir. But let me run it through the system and see if I can find out what happened.”

  Devanoe came walking up to Kimmel and Hauser and said, “Anything?”

  Kimmel said, “She’s checking. You?”

  Devanoe shook his head. “No. Lieutenant Wilcox is trying to get some information about this attack. Captain, I’m telling you, something was strange about the way Commander Willits was acting. And then not saying goodbye to Alexis? The whole thing was very bizarre.”

  Kimmel raised an eyebrow. Nothing was said for a few minutes. Suddenly, Lieutenant Wilcox leaped out of his seat and came running over to Kimmel and Devanoe. He said, “Captain, there was an explosion on the military side of the Torsalli Space Port. At least two are dead, several critically wounded. The Earth Ambassador Bird is among the fatalities, but they are not listing the other victim. They are looking for two DAG officers for questioning.”

  Devanoe was crushed. Kimmel patted him on the back and looked at him, but no words came out. Lieutenant Hauser shouted out behind them, “Captain, I found out what happened.”

  In a furious tone, the Captain looked down at Hauser and said, “Not now Lieutenant, there was an explosion on Torsalli, and it may have killed the Commander’s sister.”

  Devanoe put his hand over his eyes. But Hauser continued. “But Captain, that tracker watch wasn’t anywhere near Torsalli.”

  Both Kimmel and Devanoe perked up. They practically sprinted to the Communication Area, where Kimmel asked, “What did you say?”

  Hauser said, “Here, sir. Look at this map.”

  All three looked at the image. The blinking dot appeared to be right next to Torsalli. Devanoe said, “That’s the image that popped up on my side of the tracker watch. It’s right next to Torsalli!”

  Hauser then apologized. “Sorry, sir. Let me show you the inverted 3-D hologram version of the map.”

  Hauser hit a couple spots, and the hologram map appeared on the table in front of them. She then pointed at all the landmarks. “We are here, near Pyliss. Here is Torsalli. But the tracker is all the way down here.”

  Lieutenant Hauser was pointing on the bottom of the hologram map. Looking at it from a 3-Dimensional aspect, the tracker was so far away, it was possible it was the same distance as flying out of the solar system but in a v
ertical fashion. “As you can see, whatever ship that tracker was on, was heading this direction. With a sudden turn here at the end to go this direction.”

  Commander Devanoe was confused. “Where the hell does that go.”

  Captain Kimmel looked at for a second, then realized the route. He hit a couple of spots on the screen to expand the map size. Pointing at the spot, he said, “Molar. That used to be the back way into Belinea.”

  Devanoe was still confused. “Why go that way, when you can just go through the Torsalli route, which is so much faster.”

  Kimmel half smirked “The Torsalli route is the safest because it is the most guarded by AuFa ships. But if you were trying to sneak into Belinea, you go through Molar, where there is little AuFa presence. The smugglers use this route frequently but contend with heavy asteroid belts and solar rays.”

  Devanoe thought for a second. Then said, “Lieutenant Wilcox, did they give any other information on the other fatality? “

  Wilcox shook his head briefly. “No, sir. That is why they are looking for the DAG officers to question. They got off the ship, but no one has seen them since.”

  Devanoe shook his head. “The other fatality was Alexis. But since they needed a pilot, perhaps it was one of those cadets.”

  Kimmel asked, “Cadets?”

  Devanoe replied, “They needed a qualified pilot for the C-62T, so Willits got two cadets, Tunsall and Trujillo.”

  Kimmel turned white. He grabbed Devanoe by the back of the shoulder. “What did you just say?”

  Devanoe turned to Captain Kimmel. He said clearly, “Willits and Jones were not using a regular detail. They picked up these two cadets, I assume from Odgin’s, to help with security……..”

  Devanoe stopped in mid-sentence. He could see the expression on Captain Kimmel’s face changing. “About this tall (holding up his hand to six-foot-one inch), sandy brown hair, green eyes. The other one about two inches shorter, dark hair, brown skin?”