The Lost Secret

by Vaughn Heppner

  “A kidnapping drug,” Maddox had said.

  A medic had injected a counteracting agent at Maddox’s request. He wanted to learn more about what had happened so he could begin tracking the unknown enemy.

  His examination of the three corpses had revealed tattoos on each. Two of the tattoos had been cursive HMs. To Maddox that had meant Humanity Manifesto. Some of the Political Intelligence Division people during Lord High Admiral’s Fletcher’s reign had gotten such tattoos. Last mission against Lisa Meyers and her mobile null region, Maddox had dealt with former Star Watch people who’d belonged to HMD, the last letter standing for Doctrine.

  Mary weakly squeezed the captain’s hand.

  Maddox gave her his full attention.

  “Can I go to sleep?” she asked. “I’m so tired.”

  Maddox glanced at the medic he’d spoken to earlier. She nodded. “That will fine, Mary,” Maddox said.

  “Call me grandmother,” she said sleepily, closing her eyes.

  “Sleep, Grandmother. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He looked up at the medic.

  “We’re almost to the hospital,” she said.

  Maddox nodded and extracted a communicator he’d picked up from the last dead man. He studied it, touching the pad, soon discovering it had been recently purchased, likely for the mission. It didn’t show any previous calls. He opened the phone, looking for tiny tabs or bugs. He debated calling the Lord High Admiral and decided against it. Instead, he called Meta, giving her directions to the hospital.

  Someone had targeted his grandmother. They’d drugged her and used at least one controlled orca—why else had the killer whale had a receiving unit? They’d done it out in the open, too, with Meta and him watching.

  And while Victory was on the other side of the planet.

  Maddox put the communicator in the pocket of a loaned jacket and concentrated on his grandmother. Someone had targeted her, and someone was going to pay—with blood—for having done so.

  ***

  Meta arrived in their rental car, bringing his clothes, ID, communicator and personal weapons.

  He felt better with them. “Can you keep watch on Mary?” he asked in a hospital hall.

  “Gladly,” Meta said, heading for an elevator. She was armed now, and she was more lethal than most space marines, having grown up on a 2-G planet and trained with Maddox in hand-to-hand combat.

  Maddox watched until his wife entered the elevator and the door shut. Even after all these years of marriage, he delighted in the sway of her hips.

  He grunted to himself and headed outside, soon walking under palm trees beside the luxurious grass. There was something special about Hawaiian grass, maybe because it received so much tropical rainfall.

  He used his regular communicator, soon speaking to the Lord High Admiral halfway around the Earth in Geneva, Switzerland Sector, Headquarters for Star Watch.

  “I heard,” Cook said in his deep voice. “Is she all right?”

  Maddox gave Cook a rundown of the events.

  “You just shot them?” Cook asked. “Blew out their brains?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “No, no, don’t give me the ‘sir’ routine now,” Cook said. “Why did you react so savagely?”

  Maddox scoffed.

  “Captain, I feel for your grandmother—”

  “The Iron Lady,” Maddox said, interrupting.

  “Listen to me, Captain,” Cook said. “If you plan to continue having access to me, you will start by speaking respectfully. Do you understand?”

  “I do.”

  “Sir.”

  “Sir,” Maddox said, almost exhaling the word.

  “I’ll have no more of your cheek. I’m in charge of Star Watch. Or do you dispute that?”

  “No, sir,” Maddox said.

  “Tell me more about the assailants.”

  “Begging your pardon, sir,” Maddox said, “but I suspect you already know more about them than I do. I’m sure you or Stokes has sent operatives poring over the boat and their records.”

  “That’s Brigadier Stokes to you,” Cook said.

  “During my initial flight to the boat, my communications were jammed, and then a man came on the comm ordering me away.”

  “They were jamming you?” Cook asked.

  “Yes,” Maddox said. “The man on the comm had your voice and claimed to be you, ordering me to cease what I was doing.”

  “You think I had a hand in this?” Cook asked.

  “Perhaps an android double of you, sir,” Maddox said.

  “Androids,” Cook said sharply. “Do you really think so?”

  “I’m trying to keep an open mind, sir. I don’t want to prejudge but see what’s really there.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Tracking down the source of my grandmother’s assailants,” Maddox said.

  “That’s out of the question. You’re going to let others handle this.”

  Maddox said nothing.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “I did.”

  Cook said nothing for a moment. “Are you quibbling with me?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Are you parsing words?”

  “Not at all,” Maddox said. “I heard you.”

  “I’m ordering you off the case.”

  “Yes. I heard you, sir.”

  “I shouldn’t have to ask this,” Cook said. “Are you planning to obey the order you heard?”

  Maddox did not reply.

  Cook sighed. “Captain, you are perhaps Star Watch’s most resourceful agent. I understand your concern and even love for you grandmother. But you’ve already shown too much emotion in the case in the way you eliminated the three enemy agents.”

  “Sir—” Maddox said.

  “Don’t bother quibbling with me. I’m not going to change my mind. Either I run Star Watch or I don’t. Am I making myself clear?”

  “Perfectly,” Maddox said.

  “I’ve yet to hear that you’re going to obey my orders.”

  Maddox stared off into the distance. “I request permission to hunt for the orca with the electronic device embedded in its blubber.”

  “…I’ll grant you that if you give me your word as an officer that you will not attempt to follow the trail of the three you eliminated.”

  “I give you my word that I won’t begin until I’m granted official permission.”

  “I suppose that will do. I’m very sorry about your grandmother. We’re going to find the people behind this.”

  Maddox nodded, unable to say thank you. He dearly wanted to track down those who’d initiated the mission. But he could sense he’d pushed Cook to the edge. It was time to back off, maneuver if he had to and strike at a more opportune moment.

  -4-

  At nearly the same moment, halfway around the Earth in Geneva, Switzerland, Lieutenant Valerie Noonan squirmed as she sat on a chair in the outer office of the Lord High Admiral.

  Valerie had a good reason to be nervous. Cook had summoned her for the meeting, having scheduled it five days ago. The Lord High Admiral hadn’t given any indication what the meeting concerned. Naturally, she suspected the worst.

  Valerie was a tall, strikingly beautiful woman with long brunette hair and an athletic frame. She’d been Maddox’s second-in-command on Victory since the beginning. In fact, she’d come planet-side from Victory yesterday afternoon. Before she’d left, she and Lieutenant Keith Maker had been arguing…again.

  Maybe we’re not destined to be together.

  Not that Valerie was a strong believer in destiny—certainly not like Captain Maddox with the belief that he was the mythical di-far of Spacer legend.

  Valerie shook her head.

  She was wearing her dress uniform and perfume and tried to force herself to smile. She couldn’t as she switched from worrying about her relationship with Keith to asking herself why in the hell Cook wanted to interview her in his office.

  The aide at t
he desk looked up. He was an older man with thinning hair, although his thick wrists showed he might be tougher than one would think at first glance. “The Lord High Admiral is ready to see you, Lieutenant.”

  Valerie swallowed, the fear sticking in her throat. “Thank you,” she managed to say, standing, rubbing her dry eyes and heading for the door.

  “It won’t be as bad as all that,” the secretary said.

  Valerie nodded, wanting to give him a smile but simply unable to achieve it. She was sure her inability had everything to do with her slum upbringing in Greater Detroit. She’d fought like a tigress to reach officer rank in Star Watch. But she still asked herself sometimes if she really belonged with the others.

  The door opened as she reached for the handle, and the meaning of it failed to reach her mind in time. She looked up suddenly at Lord High Admiral Cook, and tripped because of it, lurching forward.

  Cook was old, but he was like an ancient fortress that always towered over events. He had thick white hair, a leathery face like the perfect grandfather and big hands.

  Valerie crashed into him.

  Cook didn’t stumble back, but grabbed her arms, straightening her as he smiled down at her. “Hello, Lieutenant.”

  “L-L-Lord H-High Admiral,” Valerie stammered. “I’m sorry.”

  He laughed, released her and stepped aside with a courtly gesture. “Don’t worry about it. Please, enter.”

  She brushed past him as he stood at the entrance, and she happened to look up at him a second time—and she saw something in his eyes, something she’d seen in other men’s eyes.

  Valerie swallowed audibly, heading for a chair with armrests, one of several before the mammoth desk.

  Cook shut the door and headed for his desk chair.

  As Valerie sat, she silently rehearsed a pep talk, remembering how the Lord High Admiral had just looked at her. Could the “Old Man” have a thing for her?

  The idea brought the faintest of smiles to her face.

  “Lieutenant Valerie Noonan,” Cook said, as he settled into his squeaky chair. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

  “Thank you, Admiral,” she said, smoothing her hair.

  Cook picked up a reader, frowned at something on the screen, and clicked the pager. “I just finished speaking with Captain Maddox. I won’t hold that against you, though.”

  “Oh?” Valerie said, before she could stop herself.

  Cook waved that aside with one of his beefy hands. “We’re not here to talk about him…although I do have a question concerning Victory.”

  Valerie waited.

  Cook hesitated, touched the reader with a fingertip and regarded her more closely. “Does Captain Maddox seem…changed to you?”

  Valerie sat straighter as she blushed. She knew because she could feel the heat in her cheeks. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

  “No,” Cook said, who watched her. “I shouldn’t have asked that. Some could construe it as gossip about a fellow officer. Please—”

  “Oh, no, sir,” Valerie said. Watch what you say. Don’t do anything you’ll regret or against regulations. “Uh…”

  Cook’s interest had risen visibly as she’d spoken. Now, perhaps seeing she was going to stick to her original position, he waved his hand again. “This isn’t about Maddox—not directly, in any case.”

  Valerie waited quietly, wondering what the meeting could be about.

  “Let me start again.” Cook picked up a small box, like one that might have held a wristwatch. He leaned and reached across the desk, handing it to her.

  Valerie accepted. Was the Lord High Admiral giving her a gift?

  “Open it,” he said, as he sat back.

  Valerie did so, staring at two pins, one for each shoulder. “Uh…”

  “Congratulations,” Cook said in a ringing voice. “You are hereby promoted to Lieutenant Commander in Star Watch.” He smiled uncharacteristically, and she again wondered if he was attracted to her as many men were. “We’ll have a ceremony later…and don’t forget your promotion party at the Officers’ Club. You’re buying.”

  She stared at him in shock.

  Cook smiled wider. “I was reading over your service record the other day and found it unconscionable that you hadn’t been promoted yet. Now, I’ve rectified that.”

  An answering smile finally stretched across her face as understanding struck. “Thank you, sir.” Valerie stared at the shoulder pins in wonder. This was marvelous. She looked up, smiling more than ever.

  There was a mischievous gleam in Cook’s eyes. He opened his mouth…but must have thought better of it. He closed his mouth without saying anything.

  Valerie shut the box, slipping it into a jacket pocket. She was a lieutenant commander. She was no longer just a Lieutenant. That meant she outranked Keith. She wanted to clap her hands and laugh. Her father would have been so proud of her. Thinking about her dear long-departed father caused the smile to drain away. She missed him terribly.

  “Is everything all right, Lieutenant…Commander?”

  Some of her smile returned. “I was just thinking about my father.”

  “Ah.”

  “He’s gone now.”

  “He would be very proud of you, I know.”

  “Thank you, sir. You’re most kind.”

  Cook leaned his considerable bulk against his chair, which creaked and groaned in complaint. “Valerie—may I call you Valerie?”

  “Of course, sir.”

  Cook nodded absently. “I was studying your record the other day, as I said. Do you know why?”

  Here it comes. He’s going to ask me out on a date. Can I accept? Should I accept? Keith and I aren’t officially dating. He told me so before I left. Besides, wouldn’t it be improper? I’m under his command.

  “Valerie?” He stage-coughed to get her attention. “Lieutenant Commander?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, sir,” Valerie said, realizing she’d zoned out. She blushed again.

  Cook grinned. “I checked your record because I was remembering when Star Watch first faced the New Men.”

  “Oh…?”

  “Is something wrong?” he asked.

  “No, no, nothing,” she said, feeling stupid because she’d thought the Lord High Admiral of Star Watch had wanted to date her. He was old enough to be her great-grandfather. But a vigorous older man...

  Quit acting like a schoolgirl. It’s only because Keith and I are having problems that I’m even thinking this way.

  Cook glanced at her oddly before he said, “One of the things I remembered about that time was that you were the first to meet and survive a military encounter with the New Men. That gained you a berth on Maddox’s exploratory team as it went out in search of a legend.”

  “I remember it well, sir.”

  Cook nodded. “Since then, you’ve been the second-in-command aboard Victory. You’ve given exemplary service, helping Star Watch through many harrowing times.”

  “You’re making me blush, sir.”

  “I’m stating facts, Lieutenant Commander. One of the facts I noticed was that you were in command of a vessel, and that was the reason it survived the New Men.”

  “I’ve commanded at times on Victory.”

  “Yes. That was another thing I noticed, including your captain’s glowing reports about you.”

  “Captain Maddox, sir?”

  “Surprised, aren’t you? He can be a royal pain in the ass, but I’m sure you already know that.”

  Valerie kept her mouth shut, although she silently agreed in spades.

  “It speaks well of you that you can keep your own counsel,” Cook said. “What someone does for you, they will often do against you.”

  “I’ve heard the saying before.”

  Cook sat straighter. “Clearly, I’m considering giving you an independent command, your own ship. First, however, I want to know if that interests you?”

  Valerie only had to think a half-beat before she said, “It does, sir.”


  Cook steepled his thick fingers and tapped his mouth as he studied her. “I notice hesitation before you answered.”

  “Yes, sir,”

  “You admit to hesitation?”

  “I do.”

  “Hmm… I’d like to know why.”

  Valerie cleared her throat as she composed her thoughts. “I’m integrated aboard Victory. The voyages we’ve taken were among the most important in human history. Being Captain Maddox’s second-in-command has been uniquely rewarding.”

  “That’s certainly true,” Cook said. “It’s also true that Star Watch constantly needs talented and proven ship’s captains, no matter the size of the vessel—more now than ever. You’re certainly aware that HMD has taken a swath from Star Watch. That’s so among the enlisted but even more among the officers. For whatever reason, HMD appeals to the more intelligent, to the thinking enlisted and officer.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “We don’t try to parade the fact,” Cook said. “The truth is that we’re getting thin among field grade officers. That doesn’t mean we’re scraping you as the bottom of the barrel. But you’re clearly talented, tempered through many amazing adventures and over-qualified for the post I’m offering.”

  “Which is…?”

  “A Patrol frigate,” Cook said. “We’re in desperate need of more Patrol officers who can think on their feet.”

  “Kris Guderian—”

  “Lieutenant Commander, are you trying to teach me my business?”

  “No, sir,” Valerie said, aghast.

  Cook laughed heartily.

  It took Valerie a moment to realize that he’d been teasing her. Is that flirting?

  Cook sobered, and he nodded; more to himself, it seemed. “Let me offer you an alternative: a posting on Victory, but as an independent Patrol officer with your own scout vessel.”

  “Sir?”

  “It would be a darter, much like the Reynard you captained while hunting for Lord Drakos, when Professor Ludendorff joined you.”

  “I remember that.”

  “This would be official,” Cook said. “You would be the scout’s commanding officer, your captaincy an independent command from Victory’s official structure.”