“Frankly, I wish they had tried to engage us back there,” said Pettigrew pointing to the holographic icons floating above the table. “This is a real problem. If that Massang cruiser gets to our miners before we get to them, we may never see home again.”
“But when the enemy ship gets too close, the miners will just jump to our next scheduled system,” said Paruzzi, sounding like a man trying to convince himself. “Won’t they?”
“They will, but can we?” asked Nyondo. “Have you checked our fuel reserves lately, XO? The jump from Summit to this system took more juice than we planned. As it stands right now, we can make it to the next system, but just barely. What happens if we have to fight there too?”
Pettigrew leaned against the table, staring at the icon of the enemy cruiser. “We need to kill that ship.”
* * * *
Thirty standard minutes later, Tempest was no closer to the Massang warship as it chased the vessel across the Sanctuary star system. The Sarissan gas miners were holding position near the seventh planet, waiting until the last moment to jump into hyperspace if the need arose. Nyondo, sitting in her command chair, cast a cautious glance Pettigrew’s way. “Sir, I’m… I’m so sorry about Kuypers. I know she was special to you. Are you OK?”
“No, I’m not. You?”
“Same,” she said leaning back in her chair. “I want to apologize for my actions, I mean for activating the shields without orders.”
“Captain, you took care of your ship—never apologize for that. I’m sorry you had to do such a horrible thing. I appreciate that you did it yourself instead of sticking someone else with the burden,” Pettigrew said, giving a quick glance Lieutenant Cahill’s way. “That showed real leadership. Actually, if anyone needs to beg forgiveness…” His voice trailed off. How did he apologize for almost getting everyone killed?
Noticing that Nyondo’s attention had drifted to the forward viewscreen, he followed her gaze. The Massang cruiser had just come hard to port, almost like an emergency maneuver, except there was no sign of trouble.
Cahill spoke up. “Captain…”
“I see it, Lieutenant,” Both Nyondo and Pettigrew slowly stood. “Mr. Hayes, come left zero-three-zero and slow to standard.”
“Helm answering, ma’am. Slowing to standard, aye.”
“Are they turning to fight, sir?” asked Nyondo.
“I don’t think so. But they sure seem to know something we don’t.”
“Captain, we have multiple hyperpoints forming,” Cahill announced.
“Where, Lieutenant? Be precise.”
“Everywhere, ma’am.”
Yellow dots were starting to show up on the tactical board—a great many yellow dots. Several materialized near the enemy cruiser, a few near the Sarissan gas miners, and three not far from Tempest herself.
“Twelve—repeat, twelve hard contacts at various bearings,” announced Cahill. “CIC is tagging them all as Lytori, ma’am.”
“Show me.”
On the viewscreen appeared an image of the closest ship to Tempest. It was the same asymmetrical design they had seen at Summit, the curved horizontal starboard hull bending up into a port side vertical tower.
“That’s much bigger than any of the ships we saw at Summit,” said Nyondo.
“You’re right, Captain. We both know a battleship when we see one.”
“And this one is setting directly astern. How did they translate in so precisely?”
“Let’s hope we get a chance to ask.”
From his station, Paruzzi spoke up. “Captain, switching camera view to one of our recon drones. You should see this.”
He was right—it was worth watching. The Massang cruiser was making a run for it, trying to jump out of the system. Unfortunately for them, three Lytori warships had jumped in nearby and were pouring energy beams onto the ship. A hyperspace bubble was trying to form around the cruiser, but kept dissolving under the relentless assault.
In less than thirty seconds, the Lytori beams had broken through the Massang cruiser’s shields and were slicing the ship into pieces. After a rapid succession of explosions, the ship that had killed Olivia Kuypers and the others was dead. Pettigrew shook a clenched fist in the air while many crewmembers on the bridge cheered.
“Commodore,” said Comm Officer Segui. “Incoming signal from the big Lytori ship. They are asking for you by name, sir.”
Pettigrew arched an eyebrow at Nyondo, then turned back to Segui. “Show me—main screen.”
In the front of the bridge materialized a holo-image of one of the barn owl-faced aliens. Unlike the first encounter back at Summit, this alien didn’t speak in clicks and trills, but rather in Idolingua.
“Commodore Pettigrew,” said the Lytori in a masculine voice. “In the name of the Lytori Concordium, I order your ships to stand down and prepare to be boarded. Failure to do so will invite destruction.”
The gas miners couldn’t fight. He was outnumbered in warships twelve to one. To attempt a battle here and now would be futile and fatal. Besides, there had been enough death for one day.
“Mr. Hayes,” said Pettigrew. “Begin braking procedures and bring us to all stop.”
25: Exposed
Ministry of Agriculture
Esterkeep
Planet Sarissa
Carr looked around the office and couldn’t help but laugh to himself. He had endured almost half a year of personal peril and intrigue. He had chased the bad guys across three planets—been shot at, beaten up, framed, arrested, and generally inconvenienced. However, not once during the entire mess did it ever occur to him that the affair would come to a climax at, of all places, the Sarissan Ministry of Agriculture.
The short-haired blonde sitting opposite him kept a keen eye on her datapad. Abruptly, she waved a hand across the screen and placed the pad on a small table next to her. “She’s coming,” announced Colonel Flood, who had been monitoring events inside the building via the Ministry’s security net and the body cams worn by her Kaskian Guards.
When Carr had approached Empress Renata’s security chief about what he, Sanchez, and Inspector Dorham had collectively uncovered, Flood wisely insisted on a low profile meeting with the Empress herself. Since Her Majesty had been scheduled to tour the Agriculture Ministry today anyway, it offered the perfect opportunity for secrecy. They were in the endgame now, and secrecy here in the capital was vital.
Carr felt self-conscious as the four of them stood there awaiting Renata’s arrival in the spacious office of the Agriculture Minister. He had picked out one of his best suits to wear today but was still ill-at-ease. Colonel Flood was looking sharp in her burgundy Kaskian Guard uniform. The other man in the room, SSB Superintendent Haywood Preiss, wore a formal Essadonian-style business outfit. It was a nice suit, but his formal white gloves were a bit much for Carr’s taste.
For her part, Sanchez was looking fantastic. She had picked out a gray blazer with matching vest, black pants and midnight leather boots. As she stood at his side, Carr wished they were alone at home or in some resort hotel—anywhere but the Agriculture Ministry. He and his wife still had a lot of catching up to do.
The door opened and Captain Vickery, a stout fellow that Carr had met earlier this morning, entered. Looking around to see that all was in order, he turned and gave a nod. Another Kaskian came in to take up an unobtrusive position at the edge of the large office. He was followed by Empress Renata. That is one beautiful woman, Carr thought as his wife gave him a sideways glance and knowing grin. I swear she can read my mind.
Another familiar face followed closely behind the Sovereign. It was OMI Director Tolbert, who promptly rushed to embrace both Carr and Sanchez, welcoming them home.
After Tolbert’s greeting, Flood did the honors. “Majesty, may I present Major Frank Carr and Commander Etta Sanchez.” Both of them bowed from the waist, careful to avoid Renata’s eyes as a sign of respect. “Major Carr and I served briefly together at Camp Bonham many years ago,” Flood continu
ed. “He has brought some issues to my attention that I believe you need to be made aware of.”
“Please, both of you be at ease,” said Renata. “According to Director Tolbert and Colonel Flood, it is I who should bow to you. On behalf of our people, I want to express my gratitude for your outstanding service to the starhold.”
The Empress shook their hands, and Sanchez got the bonus of a quick hug. “My husband is also in the building, but he has taken on the task of keeping the Ag Minister occupied while we make use of his office. I’m sure they’re off talking about some very important, very boring topic like grain quotas or some such thing. I hope Karl gets a chance to join us—he’d enjoy meeting both of you. Shall we all sit down and hear this important information of yours?”
Renata wasn’t what Carr had expected. Oh, she was graceful and lovely, but there was a special kind of weariness etched in her face. A result of the burdens of her office, he supposed, but he couldn’t shake the feeling it was more.
After the relief of seeing Carr and Sanchez safe and sound, Director Tolbert’s demeanor took a quick turn. He lodged a protest before his operatives had a chance to speak. “Majesty, happy as I am to see Major Carr and Commander Sanchez both back in Esterkeep, may I point out that this is all contrary to standard procedure. Neither of them have been properly debriefed yet.”
Preiss pounced on that point. “Is there something you wish to keep from Her Majesty, Director?”
“That was not what I was—”
“Your Majesty, it’s all very simple,” said Carr, cutting off the squabbling bureau chiefs. “I was assigned by the Director to investigate a lead on Arethusa regarding the Committee of Nine.”
“Ah, yes,” said an amused Preiss. “The sinister group that is supposedly behind everything from terrorist attacks to broken fingernails.”
Tolbert began to respond, but Renata pressed the conversation forward. “What did you find on Arethusa, Major Carr?”
“A bunch of misfits—old Arethusan separatists and a few naive young idealists, broken people and halfwits who couldn’t overthrow a town council let alone an entire starhold. What they didn’t realize was that they were being backed by elements of the very government they thought they were working against.”
“If you started on Arethusa, how did you end up on Tezrina?” asked Flood.
“The same way my wife and Inspector Dorham ended up on Tezrina—I followed the money. I dug into how these people were financed, and it all led to Tezrina, the land of orange and red banners.”
“Maxon,” cursed Flood under her breath.
Tolbert cleared his throat. “Majesty, I’m afraid I have even more distressing news. Some of my other operatives have uncovered proof that Prince Karl is involved in all of this. We have traced funds used by the Committee of Nine back to bank accounts associated with Gideon Universal.”
“Director, didn’t you just hear your own man?” Preiss countered. “Your Committee of Nine is a sham, a cover.”
“With all due respect to Frank, and he is one of the best,” said Tolbert nodding Carr’s way, “I think what Major Carr found on Arethusa is a front organization—a diversion.”
Renata shifted anxiously in her chair. “Director Tolbert, this so-called proof you have against my husband. What exactly is it?”
“Banking records found on the polydrive of Leonardo Sanchez’s home computer,” said Tolbert. “Admiral Sanchez had discovered the truth and was apparently prepared to go public with it to gain support for his Reform Party. I suspect that’s why he was murdered. The polydrive in question was retrieved by SSB Inspector Dorham and confirmed by their own labs. If I’m not mistaken, I believe Commander Sanchez was with the investigative team when they searched her uncle’s ranch.”
Before Sanchez could respond, Preiss interrupted. “Just how is it that you come by SSB records so easily, Director?”
“The OMI has had sources inside State Security since way before you came on board, Superintendent. You know this is how the game is played, Preiss. Don’t take it personally.”
“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” Sanchez spoke up. “But I think you should know that Director Tolbert is a liar.”
Tolbert glanced quickly at Renata, then back to Sanchez. “Etta, I understand we’ve had our differences, but… Majesty, I might point out that Commander Sanchez has not been an OMI operative for over a year now, and—”
Renata raised a hand to cut him off. “I want to hear this. Explain yourself, Commander.”
Sanchez nodded, looking squarely at Tolbert. “Inspector Dorham suspected that something wasn’t quite right at the SSB office in Villanueva. The polydrive he turned over to them was a copy, a polydrive with most of the pertinent files removed. Dorham will confirm that.”
“Where is the real polydrive?” asked Preiss.
“In a safe place,” answered Sanchez. She had given Carr the story on the way back from Tezrina. Sanchez had used a commercial courier to ship the real Leo Sanchez polydrive to their friend Voss Mumphrey back on Earth for safe keeping.
Renata leaned forward, clasping her hands together. “Commander Sanchez, did the original polydrive contain the type of files that Director Tolbert describes? Files about my husband, that is.”
“Yes, ma’am, but Inspector Dorham is certain they are fake. We have reason to believe those files were planted in my uncle’s computer by Auric Banks shortly before Uncle Leo was killed.”
“Which begs a question,” said Preiss in a pointed tone. “If the polydrive in the hands of my people on Quijano is a fake, how did Director Tolbert know what was on the real one—the one Inspector Dorham examined?”
Tolbert sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. “I hardly think the word of a marginally competent SSB inspector should count for much here. As for Ms. Sanchez, she is anxious to hold someone—anyone—accountable for her uncle’s death. The fact remains that the best leads all point to the Committee of Nine.”
“I absolutely agree,” said Carr, a statement that seemed to surprise everyone. “There is no question in my mind that the Committee of Nine killed Leonardo Sanchez.”
Renata gave out a confused half-laugh. “I don’t understand, Major Carr. I thought you just told us that the people on Arethusa were harmless dupes.”
Carr nodded. “They are, ma’am. I agree with Director Tolbert that the Arethusans have been set up as a decoy for the actual culprits, but there is a real Committee of Nine. They are responsible for at least four assassinations over the past two years. They work in the shadows of Your Majesty’s government to sow confusion and suspicion, all the while undercutting Imperial authority. The real Committee of Nine are people right here on Sarissa.” Carr shifted his gaze from Renata to his boss. “Your people, Director Tolbert.”
Jason Tolbert had been sitting back smugly as Carr supported his claims. Even with Carr’s charge against him, his expression didn’t change much.
Renata’s did, however, as a look of dismay settled on her face. “Careful where you tread, Major Carr. Director Tolbert is one of my most trusted advisers. If you are going to accuse him of being a part of this group, I hope you have proof.”
“He’s not just a part of the group, ma’am—he is the leader.” It gave Carr no pleasure to reveal what he had learned over the past months. Renata wasn’t the only one being deceived, for he had also been betrayed, as had his wife—stabbed in the back by a man they had once considered a mentor and friend.
“The Committee of Nine is what we call a false flag op,” Carr continued, “a shadow group within the OMI, managed by Director Tolbert. He, his assistant Simon James, Operatives Simmons and Swain, and five other active agents and administrators. I can give you two other names for sure—the three others I can make a good guess at. They are a nice, tight-knit group of chaos makers.”
Renata looked at her old friend. “I don’t hear you denying any of this, Jason.”
Tolbert shrugged. “No need to at this point.” He looked away from her, turnin
g back to Carr. “As I said, you are one of the best, Frank. Tell me, when exactly did you begin to suspect?”
“The day you sent me out to get killed,” said Carr bitterly, turning to the Empress. “The Director knew I suspected something, so he sent me to Arethusa on a wild goose chase. It was supposed to get me out of the way—permanently.”
Renata shook her head in disbelief. “But to what end? The chaos, the assassinations—what is the goal? To take control of the starhold?”
“I don’t think the Director is ambitious in that way,” said Carr. “I’m fairly certain he’s been Fleet Admiral Maxon’s man from the start.”
“I would never betray my starhold,” said Tolbert self-righteously.
Sanchez snickered in contempt. “But, Director, you told me once yourself that even the best agents sometimes cross the line.”
“Like all fanatics, he’s convinced himself that HE is the real patriot,” observed Preiss.
Carr broke into a derisive smile. “The Director is no patriot, but he is a survivor, so he rides the political winds. When things got bad in the last days of the Union, he threw in with Victor Polanco and lent a hand in the People’s Rebellion. But Polanco was all show and no go. Am I warm, Director?”
“Very. Victor was a massive disappointment. The man was more interested in partying with the elites than doing what needed to be done. Then you came along, Rennie, and that just made him more cautious, more concerned about politics than results. Polonco fell in love with you—and once he did, he was more than worthless.”
Renata’s pale skin flushed in anger. “Did you help to assassinate Victor Polanco?”
The Director looked almost offended. “No, no, that was all Brin Choi’s doing. She just couldn’t wait long enough to work out a good takeover plan with Channa. The little fool wanted it all for herself. Choi made a real mess of things, but Victor’s death did ultimately provide an opening for Channa. You saw to that, Rennie, when you appointed her as head of the Space Force.
Keeper of the Sun (Starhold Series Book 3) Page 25
