“Attention on deck,” Captain Benigna ordered.
A two-star Marine Corps General walked through the doorway. Close behind him strolled Special Agent Eiko.
“I was informed the debrief was set for later today,” the Special Agent said. “Was I miss informed. Because this really inconveniences the General.”
“Master Sergeant Alberich?” the General inquired.
“Yes, sir, retired,” replied Diosa.
“Admiral Folkert sends his regards,” the General said. Then he noticed the blood seeping through the bandage on her arm. He spun on the Marine Corps Captain. “Why wasn’t this Marine taken to the medical deck for treatment when she arrived on station?”
“Sir, the Admiral insisted she be brought here,” stammered the Captain. “And she wasn’t bleeding when she arrived, sir.”
The General leaned around Warlock and studied the bandage. Then he pointed at it as his eyes flashed daggers at the Captain.
“This is a battle dressing. It is used during combat operations for immediate treatment of bleeding wounds,” explained the General. “The last time I had one applied, it was by a Corpsman while we were engaged with the enemy. Once on the Navy ship, doctors changed the battle dressing for a nice, clean white bandage. After the wound was properly treated. When I see a battle dressing, I know two things. My Marine has been injured in combat and requires additional treatment. See me in my office after this…What is this Special Agent Eiko?”
“What is this Master Sergeant Alberich?” inquired Eiko. “A cover-our-behind session or a debrief?”
“It’s not a trial?” asked Walden.
“No, Poet it’s not,” Warlock assured the pilot. “Sir, I can report mission accomplished.”
With those words, Diosa pulled the faraday bag from her pouch.
“Everyone without a top-secret clearance, please leave the room,” JAG officer Benigna instructed.
“Before you clear the room, sir,” added Warlock, “I’m not sure if it’s monetary, political or treason, but you should question the Admiral and that man.”
“What about him?” asked Benigna while pointing to the first suit. “Should we hold him?”
“No, sir,” Warlock said. “But confiscate his computer. And he may need an official warning about repeating anything he heard or noted about what was said in this room.”
“Captain. Please escort the Admiral and this gentleman to holding cells,” ordered the General.
“Yes, General,” the Captain replied.
***
Diosa and Eiko sat in the waiting room. In the distance, Corpsmen, Doctors and lab technicians strolled the corridor. Eiko had selected chairs in the back after signing Warlock in at the medical deck.
“Are you going to arrest him?” Warlock asked.
“No. But he’ll be working for us from now on. And his network is being watched or dismantled,” Special Agent Eiko answered. “Jordy Katrijn has an opening for a new head of security. Interested?”
“Not me. I kind of like this Unrestricted Agent thing,” admitted Warlock.
“Good because my Op File cabinet is full of cases that normal investigations haven’t been able to solve,” Eiko explained. “What surprises me is how much Walden enjoys working with you. Although it could be that you’re both crazy.”
Warlock started to defend herself until she saw the smile on the Special Agent’s face.
“Master Sergeant Diosa Alberich?” a Corpsman asked as he approached. He glanced at the battle dressing and made a note on a data pad. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Gun shot, through and through,” Warlock responded. Then looking at Eiko, she added. “And for the record, the patient is irritated.”
The End
Author notes
I hope you enjoyed reading the adventures of Warlock and Poet as much as I enjoyed writing Op File Treason. For those of you keeping track, Master Sergeant Alberich has one more sensor in her Bionic eye to activate: Infrared vision. Diosa’s struggle to handle the massive amount of input from IR over her mutated optic nerve is in her future, I promise.
In this book, I touch on PTSD. As a Marine Corps combat veteran, I know many men and woman who are struggling to get their lives together after returning home. If you are having issues adjusting, please get help. Don’t go it alone. Too many of our veterans and first responders believe getting help shows weakness. It does not. I salute you!
My book series range from the ancient Roman Legion, just prior to the First Punic War, to a futurist Space Military fighting across a Galaxy. I do deep research for all my books and try for accuracy or, at least, realism. If you have a comment about any of my books, I would love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
J. Clifton Slater
[email protected]
Other book and series by J. Clifton Slater:
Call Sign Warlock
Op File RevengeOp File Treason
Galactic Council Realm
On StationOn Duty
On GuardOn Point
Clay Warrior Stories
Clay LegionarySpilled Blood
Bloody WaterReluctant Siege
Brutal Diplomacy
Op File Treason Page 25