Black Sword (Decker's War, #5)

by Eric Thomson

  “You pass this information along how?”

  He made as if to shrug, but couldn’t because of the restraints.

  “Through a variety of channels. Members of other circles, friends outside the Fleet, that sort of thing.”

  “Anthea Kydd?”

  “Ah, yes.” The sly smile returned. “Sometimes, after we’ve had our fun. And there are Anthea’s friends. I give them relevant tidbits as well.”

  “Can you give the names of your Black Sword colleagues, Allister?”

  “Sure.” He rattled off almost two dozen, many of whom figured on Redmon’s list. One caught Talyn’s particular attention.

  “Portia Rezagan, would that be Colonel Rezagan, head of the counterintelligence threat analysis section?”

  “Yes. Enlisting her in the cause was quite a coup. She’s single-handedly responsible for keeping Black Sword off anyone’s sensor screens.”

  “Any more of your members work for the CNI?”

  Wynt giggled again.

  “Plenty. Not that I know them. Remember, we keep our circles small and separate. I’ve been given to understand one of ours even works in the darkest of dark places, the Special Operations Section. Soon, the Fleet will be deaf, dumb and blind, utterly incapable of carrying out covert operations.”

  Forty-Six

  Wynt’s insane laughter seemed to echo off the interrogation room’s bare walls, gaining strength with each outburst.

  Talyn and Decker struggled against the urge to glance at each other in dismay and forced themselves to watch their prisoner exult.

  “Doesn’t it bother you that your actions cost a lot of good people their lives?” Decker finally asked, keeping his voice even.

  “Why should it? What are a few useless drones when it comes to humanity’s destiny, a destiny thwarted by abject obedience to Admiral Kowalski’s insane reforms? If we can give the Secretary General control of the Fleet once more, we can put an end to that nonsense.”

  “What nonsense do you mean, Allister?”

  “The anarchy stemming from a weak central government. The Commonwealth needs strong leadership, or else humanity will become another failed species, unable to fulfill its destiny.” Wynt seemed to become increasingly more agitated. “Traitors like you will be swept away when we trigger the cleansing storm. You’ll crave Ariane Redmon’s fate after seeing what awaits your sort.”

  This time, Decker turned to his partner.

  “Is he reacting to the drug, perchance?”

  Talyn nodded.

  “I believe so. Part of his mind is fighting to stay silent while the other part is talking without filters. Even the sanest people can be overwhelmed by such violent cognitive dissonance.”

  “We’ve obtained most of what we need — confirmation he railroaded Redmon and that Black Sword is real, along with the names of co-conspirators and evidence that intelligence has been infiltrated. I doubt he can tell us anything more of use.”

  Talyn shrugged.

  “More details about what he’s already spilled, perhaps? But I agree. We have most of the meat.”

  “Enough to terminate him?”

  Wynt’s manic laughter abruptly stopped.

  “What do you mean terminate? You promised to let me go unmolested if I cooperate.”

  Talyn turned her cold stare back on him.

  “I lied.”

  “You never intended to let me go.” A sob escaped his throat. “See, this is why we must take over, so that evil people like you can be eliminated.”

  “Why do you call us evil people?”

  “Because I’m aware of who you are.” Wynt’s eyes narrowed to a slit. “I didn’t know at first, but then it came to me. You work for the Chief of Naval Intelligence. The moment you mentioned him, I knew. We’ve been working hard to rid the Fleet of his most egregious operatives. And I dare say you’re among the worst, aren’t you, Major Decker and Commander Talyn? Oh yes, I’ve heard of you two, and I know you’ve long been on the list of those who need killing.”

  Something in Wynt’s tone, a slight hesitation, perhaps, told Talyn and Decker that he had taken a stab in the dark. They schooled themselves to show no reaction, but Wynt’s outburst tallied with everything else. There was a traitor at the heart of the Special Operations Section.

  “Your time will come sooner than you think,” Wynt continued. “Every day we grow stronger, and every day you become weaker.”

  He suddenly paused and gave Zack a curious look.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be in exile on Desolation Island as well, living like a savage alongside Ari?”

  Decker ignored him and asked Talyn, “Can I add a third member to this interrogation team? If we intend to kill Wynt, then perhaps we owe someone the satisfaction of taking part in the last act.”

  She nodded, understanding precisely what he meant.

  “Please do so.”

  Zack climbed to his feet without saying another word and left the room. He returned a few moments later, Ariane Redmon in tow.

  Wynt stared at her with the incredulity reserved for impossible events.

  “H-how? It can’t be... No.”

  “Hello, Allister.” Redmon’s icy smile dropped the room’s temperature by several degrees. “You can’t imagine how much I’ve longed for this day.”

  “It wasn’t me, Ari. I wasn’t responsible for your conviction and sentencing.”

  Redmon’s bitter laugh hit him like a slap in the face.

  “A slippery, dishonest bastard to the last. Of course, you weren’t directly responsible for my conviction and sentencing. That was the judge, but you made it happen. I witnessed the entire interrogation over a live feed, Allister. You confessed, and I heard every word. And now I’ll watch the end of your career, of your treachery, and of your life.”

  “We’re done with him,” Decker said. “He’s slipping into a manic-depressive state in reaction to the drug. I don’t think he can give us much more.”

  “Agreed,” Talyn replied. She studied Wynt for a few seconds and frowned. “I think our friend is in distress.”

  After aiming the medikit’s scanner at Wynt, she nodded.

  “Distress indeed. This thing is telling me he needs emergency care. He’s on the verge of a massive coronary.”

  “Then I can watch him die in agony,” Redmon said in a tone that disturbed Zack.

  “You don’t want to do that, Ari,” he stepped between her and Wynt. “The bugger’s not worth seeing forever in your nightmares.”

  “Move aside, Zack. This is my moment of revenge. I want to be the last thing he sees as his heart explodes.”

  “No.”

  Decker heard a gasp behind him, then the characteristic crack of breaking vertebrae. Talyn had snapped Wynt’s neck, killing him cleanly.

  “We won’t be able to pass his death off as an accident,” she said, “but having him vanish could be a better way to flush out more of the treasonous coven.”

  Talyn caught Redmon’s angry stare.

  “Zack’s right, honey, watching a man die in pain with hatred in your heart leaves an indelible mark. He knows from firsthand experience.”

  The two women held each other’s gaze for a few more moments, then Redmon relented.

  “You’re probably right. I wasn’t thinking straight after seeing him again. What happens now?”

  “Good question,” Bayliss’ voice boomed from the open doorway. “How do we dispose of the body and the car?”

  Talyn and Decker exchanged glances.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” The latter asked.

  “If you’re thinking we leave both here, as a warning and an example, then yes. Black Sword seems to be keen on horrid acts pour encourager les autres. Why shouldn’t we do the same?”

  Zack speared Bayliss with a hard gaze.

  “Herewith are your marching orders, Josh — no arguments will be entertained or accepted.”

  Bayliss, hearing the steel in Decker’s tone, came to attenti
on and nodded.

  “None will be offered, sir.”

  “You will take QD, his troop, and Major Redmon back to Fort Arnhem at dusk. Stash her somewhere safe and away from her legion of admirers in the regiment until you hear from either Hera or me. This is now our operation and ours alone. You need to get out of the line of fire. And remember to ditch the cars where they won’t be found.”

  “May I ask what the commander and the major intend to do?”

  “You may. After we’ve sanitized this place, and you’ll help us do so, we will vanish. The only thing I can tell you right now is that we need to uncover the traitor within the Special Operations Section. Until we cut the Black Sword cancer from our own organization, we won’t be able to do much, if anything else. Once we’ve done that, Black Sword will discover what war — undercover war — really means. They owe us many lives, and we’ve only begun to collect our due.”

  Bayliss nodded.

  “Fair enough. Keep in mind we’re only a few hours away by road or train, less than that by aircar or dropship.”

  Decker smiled at his friend.

  “I will, but this is no longer something an honest Pathfinder can handle. Hera and I will see it through on our own.”

  The sergeant major gave him a crooked grin.

  “And to think you were once an honest Marine, secret agent man.”

  *

  An early evening mist chased the four cars carrying Bayliss, Redmon, and QD Vinn’s troop down the alley and into the growing gloom. Decker and Talyn, bags slung over their shoulders, stood by Marguerite’s closed doors, watching their taillights fade away in the distance.

  “Josh would hate me for saying this, but I’m glad they’re gone,” Decker said flipping up his jacket collar against the damp chill.

  Talyn imitated her partner.

  “I wouldn’t be sure of that.” They started walking. “Josh is nobody’s fool. He understands the difference between a Pathfinder’s fight and what we now face, and he’s not one to risk lives needlessly.”

  “Thanks for taking care of Wynt.”

  “He wasn’t about to live much longer, and I’ve never seen the point in making someone suffer.”

  “A sociopath with a conscience? Will wonders never cease.”

  Talyn jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.

  “You know what I mean. Besides, we had to snap Ari out of her red fog, so consider it my civic duty to one of your fellow Pathfinders.”

  “Now that would have made Josh sad.”

  “What and why?”

  “As we keep telling you, our tribe includes the NILOs who jump into combat with us.” He scowled at her. “You’re just goading me for shits and giggles, aren’t you?”

  “Of course.” She gave him a wink. “I always enjoy poking my big bad bear.”

  “Because the worst you’ll get is a bear hug.”

  “Yep, and after the hug, things tend to turn appropriately wild, or wildly inappropriate, depending on one’s point of view.”

  “Temptress.”

  “I wish.” Talyn wrinkled her nose in a show of disappointment. “Right now, we need to find another hotel and figure out how to make the traitor in our own little family tip his or her hand.”

  “His.”

  “Really?” She cocked a skeptical eyebrow at him.

  “Gut feel. It’s unlikely to be an operative. The teams are too compartmentalized, and every one of the section’s women is with a team. That leaves those working at HQ, whether they’re command, control, or support.”

  When she didn’t reply, he said, “Honey, you’ll have to face the fact that Captain Ulrich belongs on the list of suspects. I understand he’s the one who recruited and trained you twenty years ago, so you owe him your loyalty, but people change. Heck, even Allister Wynt was probably loyal in his younger days, before bitterness corrupted his soul and made him ripe for something like Black Sword.”

  “I know. God help me, do I ever know.”

  “Of course, Manny Yang’s also on that list.”

  “True, but don’t let your dislike for the man color your judgment either.”

  “I don’t dislike him, although sometimes he grates on my nerves when he goes chickenshit on us. Manny’s smart, dedicated, and hardworking, and he knows the business. He just doesn’t think I belong in intelligence, let alone the Special Operations Section.”

  “Which proves he’s not overly smart.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, darling.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

  “I trust you with my life, don’t I?”

  “And no one’s more surprised by that than I am.” Decker released her. “How long do you figure until they find Wynt?”

  “Do I look like an oracle? He’ll be missed come Monday, and his car won’t answer the traffic control system’s pings, but no one will trigger the alarm for a few more days. He could be mummified and us off on our next mission before someone opens the safe house and realizes it’s become a tomb. By then, the police will have moved his disappearance to the cold case section.”

  “Meaning you think we’ll come out of this as fully fledged agents, including yours truly with charges erased and wearing a major’s leaves and stars again?”

  “Either that, or we turn freelance. I know of several planetary governments and non-governmental organizations that would love to have people like us on retainer.”

  “A whole universe of opportunity, and I can provide us with a way into the Confederacy of the Howling Stars.”

  “If you’re talking about Ros of the funky hair, don’t get your hopes up.”

  “True. Once was enough, thank you.”

  They walked out of the rundown warehouse district and headed north along one of the major boulevards, towards the center of Sanctum. Behind them, a police siren cut through the early evening air, parting traffic as it hurtled towards an unseen emergency.

  No one cared to notice the large man and his dead-eyed companion, preferring to look away from the aura of coiled violence that hung over the pair.

  “How will we make sure neither Ulrich nor Yang has crossed over to the enemy?” Decker eventually asked. “Without home base support, we’re dead in the water. Wynt vanishing might not make the buggers panic just yet, but if we kidnap and terminate more of them, they’ll figure it out. And they’ll trigger a hunt for us, one which we can’t evade forever. Caledonia’s not a hick colony on the Rim.”

  “Both Ulrich and Yang used to be superb field agents at one time. Desk work might have blunted their reflexes, but I dare say their instincts will be just as good as ours.”

  “I find it difficult to picture Manny as a secret agent man, to use Josh’s expression. He strikes me as being too prissy for our sort of work.”

  “Don’t underestimate him, Zack. Although I’ve never teamed with Yang, he had a killer reputation before an unlucky shot ended his undercover days. It took years of rehabilitation before he could return to duty.”

  “So the chickenshit staff officer act is just that, an act?”

  “Partially,” she replied. “Manfred actually believes you’re a dangerous amateur who can cause the section irreparable harm. It’s one of the few things on which Yang and Ulrich disagree. If he can shove you out of intelligence and back into the Corps proper, he’ll call it a win.”

  “Even after the successes you and I racked up?”

  Talyn nodded.

  “Yang sees himself as the guardian of the Special Operations Section’s integrity. Besides, we haven’t racked up a lot of successes in the last while.”

  “Because someone’s been knifing us in the back, not due to my so-called amateurishness.”

  As they passed a transit station with its ubiquitous screens spilling a riot of light onto the grimy sidewalk, an image caught Decker’s eye. He stopped to take in the newscast.

  “Shit. Someone missed him on a weekend after all.”

  The image of Colonel Allister Wynt, Commonwealt
h Marine Corps, faded from the screen. In its stead, a grainy video played through the entire kidnapping sequence.

  “And it seems that your vaunted Pathfinder tracking skills didn't spot a surveillance sensor with view on a particular stretch of winding road.”

  “From the angle and resolution, it’s a few kilometers away. Maybe on top of an office block nearer to downtown. How long before Black Sword’s tame analysts do the math and come up with a total of Talyn and Decker?”

  “If there’s a Black Sword mole in the Special Operations Section, I would say it’s already done.”

  “In that case, let us use this to our advantage.” They resumed walking, eyes never resting on the same spot for more than a second. “Where’s the nearest safe house that isn’t playing host to a decomposing body?”

  Forty-Seven

  They examined the unimposing structure, a leprous two-story office block, from the shadows of an abandoned tenement building across the quiet side street.

  “This was my second choice if Marguerite turned out to be unsuitable in some way,” Talyn whispered. “Its code name is Peony.”

  Decker played the business end of his handheld sensor, a parting gift from QD Vinn, over the safe house’s walls in a methodical grid. After a few minutes, he grunted with satisfaction and tucked it away.

  “No life signs and no dark spots that could hide a sensor-blocking cage. If this was your second choice, I guess Peony’s another of those deniable places with no live connection to a monitoring station in HQ.”

  “Precisely.”

  “That won’t help us draw out the opposition.”

  Talyn smiled at her partner.

  “You forget something, darling. If they suspect you and I are involved in Wynt’s abduction, they’ll also figure one of the deniable, unmonitored safe houses will be our logical choice of refuge.”

  “Meaning someone will stumble over the bugger’s body sooner than we thought.”

  “Among other things.”

  “Shame. But I suppose the way we left him will send a more powerful message than an unsolved disappearance would have.” He nodded at the darkened structure. “Shall we?”