by C. R. Daems
"Why…ma'am?" Newman asked.
"Because I'm interested." I smiled. "And I want the people who worked the case present in case I have specific questions." Before he could reply, I continued. "Who in your sections is best qualified to write a software program for me?"
"Lieutenant Cintron has a computer science degree and is free," Cooper said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at Newman, who shrugged, and Atkins, who nodded agreement.
"Good," I said, sliding the chip to Stamm, who slid it to Cooper."
"On that chip is every merchant working in the UAS over the last twelve months and every system they visited. I'd like Cintron to identify the name of every merchant's ship on the chip and the date of the first and last recorded system visit."
"Why? Sorry ma'am. Because you're interested." A huge smile split her heart-shaped face. "And when he has that information?"
Just then Red appeared and a devilish idea hit me. "Pass the results to Newman and Atkins. I'd like to hear each of your evaluations of the results."
"Everything on the chip?" Cooper asked.
"No. Just Lieutenant Cintron's final result," I said, rising and signaling an end to the meeting.
"That was an interesting meeting, ma'am," Stamm said when we entered my office. "I particularly liked, Because I'm interested. And I'll bet they are all worried about what you are expecting from your obvious…competition."
"I don’t know if there is anything significant to find, but I think it will tell me a lot about them and what I can expect in the future."
* * *
When I arrived for Lulltrel's staff meeting, all of her direct reports were already there, with drinks, and standing in a group talking. I fetched myself a coffee and hesitated, not sure if I should join them or whether I needed to be invited.
"Anna, over here," Teresa said as she waved for me to join the group. "Unlike some groups, there is little if any competition among us, and what little there may be is good natured and just part of our competitive natures. None of us expects to get Lulltrel's position."
"I'd rather the team got the credit," I said, remembering all the times I had been singled out and how it caused me to be ostracized. I reached up and stroked Red, who lay with his head on my shoulder.
"Anna…and Red have had a tough time growing up—" Teresa was interrupted by Spalding's call to attention.
"At ease." Lulltrel entered and waved for everyone to get settled. "All right, before we begin, does anyone have anything they would like to add to their executive summary?" She laughed. "Paulus, I heard you've commented several times that you haven't learned adult speak."
"Yes, ma'am. I seem to blurt out what I'm thinking, which frequently isn't conduct becoming an officer," I said, and felt my cheeks heat. That received smiles from everyone.
Lulltrel tapped on her tablet and the three monitors in the room lit with my executive summary. "Hasn't anyone told you the executive summary is your chance to lobby for what you would like in your annual review?" She looked serious but I could tell she was amused. Although I was looking at Lulltrel, I could hear amused comments from the others at the table. "Master Chief Stamm was supposed to guide you. Did he see this?"
"Yes, ma'am. He said he liked it." Now my face was burning.
"I do. But aren't you concerned about your annual reviews and future promotions?"
"No, ma'am. I'm already several levels above where I'm confortable."
That produced laughed from everyone, including Lulltrel. "I like you, Paulus. I'm glad I didn't have you retired for having me investigated." She gave a short laugh. "Anyone object if we drop Adult Talk here?" Everyone was smiling and shaking their heads in the negative. "I'll start. If the opportunity arises, I would recommend Commanders Byrnes, Leyva, and Hadley for admiral and Lt. Commander Spalding for commander. You are each outstanding individuals. Now, Paulus, I haven't told you what I expect from you because I think it's best you define your responsibilities. You’re a team player. I think it's your nature. You're already working with Hadley and agreeing to work with Byrnes. And, like I had hoped, you are already looking at the NIA offices as a giant spider's web whose strands represent a warning system. I realize now I wanted you here, not to run the Eastar NIA Station Office—any lieutenant commander could handle the day-to-day activities—but to form a team to watch the spider's web for warning about potential trouble."
* * *
"You're very quiet, Daughter. Problems?" Alexa asked midway through dinner that night.
"Yes, Mother, Lulltrel. She said she didn't ask me to Eastar to run the NIA office, any lieutenant commander could do that. She wants me to monitor the UAS for potential problems. She said I could define my own responsibilities."
"She's very perceptive. And it's perfect for you," Alexa said, grabbing hold of my hand and squeezing. "Think about it. You are already doing exactly what she wants, making inquires into potential anomalies. And you already have Hadley's help and interest."
"But…"
"One day at a time and I think you'll find Eastar and Lulltrel are perfect for you. Your problem is you are worrying about tomorrow."
"True. I'm most comfortable getting the most out of today. Thank you, Mother, for saving me, for bringing my home to Eastar, and for being my anchor." I laughed. "I had a pleasant chat with Dr. Renata today. She said it constituted my Psych Evaluation and cleared me for duty. She never even mentioned me killing that kidnapper."
* * *
"Good morning," I said, looking forward to the results of the exercise I’d given Cooper. Commander Cooper, I saw your computer wiz finished the program I requested."
"Yes, ma'am. Lieutenant Cintron must have stayed up all night working on it because he had it finished the next morning. There were four hundred thirty-one merchants identified. I sent the results to Newman and Atkins," Cooper said, and would have continued except I raised my hand.
"Relay my thanks to Lieutenant Cintron. That was excellent work. Commander Newman, what did you get out of the result?" I asked, suspecting I should start with him first as he appeared the least interested.
"I think it showed merchants come and go in any given year. To be honest, my section's work kept me busy, so I didn't have time for kids' games," he said, and I could feel his anger at both me and the slip of the tongue, adding for kids' games. Atkins and Cooper looked stunned. I guess I should have been but I think I knew Newman resented either me, my age, or my fast-track promotions, or female bosses, or all those reasons.
"You're correct. Your section's cases have priority. Which cases were you working this week?" I asked, interested in his current caseload. He spent the next ten minutes trying to make it sound like the workload had increased, when he had only one active case and it didn't require his assistance. When he had finished I turned my focus on Atkins, who looked amused.
"Commander Atkins. Did you have time for the exercise?" I asked, avoiding mentioning kids or games. I didn't want to make an issue of Newman's remark. He knew he’d screwed up and it was his problem, not mine.
"Yes, ma'am. I didn't realize how many merchants we had in the UAS. It appears we added three and lost eight—"
"Merchants come and go each year. Merchants retire, die, go bankrupt, and new merchants replace them," Newman interjected, trying to indicate the exercise was a waste of time and the losses nothing unusual.
"That was my initial impression, Frank, but eight leaving seemed excessive, so I picked two merchants and queried the Merchant's Union where they were registered. Sure enough, one, the Seabird, was decommissioned. The owner died and the heirs sold the ship. However, the other one is listed as missing—"
"It's like I said. Some retire or die or just go bankrupt. And missing merchants are inevitable. Merchants make bad jumps from time to time." Newman again, a slight smile on his lips.
"Commander Cooper?" I asked, looking toward her. She had wanted to talk so bad she was almost bouncing in her chair.
"I took three of the merc
hants who went missing, after checking with Chuck to make sure we weren't picking the same ones. The Merchant Guilds confirmed each was listed as missing. I talked to the Merchant's Guild on Eastar and they thought maybe one ship going missing every other year would be considered normal. So this is excessive. And you knew what we would find, didn't you, ma'am?" she said, alive with excitement. Atkins sat smiling at me, whereas Newman was scowling.
"I suspected there might be a problem, based on other information I had seen. If your sections duties permit, I would like you and Commander Atkins to research each of the seven missing merchants. The first order of business is to determine that they are in fact missing. Maybe start with the senior crew on each ship to see if they are alive. When you are confident you know each ship's status, let me know and we can decide on a next step." I laughed mentally. Cooper would spend every waking minute chasing those merchants, knowing the game had a prize at the end. Atkins would participate out of curiosity as to how my kid's game would end.
* * *
I spent two afternoons with Commander Byrnes and walked him through the Smugglers’ case. We examined each clue and how it was found and how it could be used as a class exercise. The second session I included Commander Leyva since he had said his group was used to break codes. He took back several examples for his people to work on. I think he was excited to see how long it would take and who would decode it first.
* * *
Atkins and Cooper made an appointment with me the middle of the second week. They were smiling when they entered my office.
"We have finished an analysis of the seven missing merchant ships," Cooper began. "As Chuck said, the Seabird was taken out of commission by its owner. But we have concluded the remaining seven are missing. We have verified that the senior-level crew members on each ship are also considered missing and presumed dead. The ships are: Hercule, Easy Lady, Aladan, Deal Maker, Pegasus, Perseus, and the Free Spirit."
"Excellent. Now I'd like you to determine these seven merchant ships' home ports, general circuits, their primary trade goods or services, last stations, and where they were headed," I said, “and anything you find interesting or unusual.”
"What are you hoping we'll find, ma'am?" Atkins asked. "Since, like Cooper, I think you know what you are looking for."
"Clues to why these specific ships went missing."
"You think they were...hijacked?" she almost shouted with excitement. "But then there would have been a report...unless..."
"Yes, unless they are very nasty people. If we expect to win this game we must understand their rules."
Atkins laughed. "Lulltrel had the right of you, Commander, bloodhound and pit-bull mix."
When the two left with their heads together, whispering, I created a quick message to Lulltrel.
TO VICE ADMIRAL LULLTREL
WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT SEVEN MERCHANT SHIP HAVE GONE MISSING—WITHOUT A TRACE—OVER THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS. I AM CONTINUING TO PURSUE THE ISSUE ON THE ASSUMPTION THEY WERE HIJACKED.
FROM: COMMANDER PAULUS
Ten minutes later there was a quick knock on the door and Stamm peeked in.
"Admiral Lulltrel wants you in her conference room ten minutes ago," he said. "I think she's having an impromptu staff meeting."
I rose and headed for the stairs. When I arrived, Hadley and Leyva were coming down the hallway.
"Byrnes will be a little late. He's at the Academy. Do you know what's—" Leyva stopped speaking when he saw Lulltrel already sitting at the table.
"Get something to drink if you want," Lulltrel said, and waved toward a table containing an assortment of drinks. I mixed my coffee concoction as Red wound around my neck, with his head resting on my shoulder. I reached up and stroked his head, which helped to calm me.
"Well, Paulus, you certainly know how to get my attention," she said as I approached the table. "Paulus believes we have Hijackers working the UAS."
"That query you had me run?" Hadley asked. I nodded and looked to Lulltrel, who indicated I should continue.
"Yes, it indicated that eight merchant ships went missing over the past twelve months. I've had my staff checking out the eight, and seven are definitely missing—the ships and their personnel. They have verified that all the senior-level crew have not been seen or accounted for since the ship went missing. Because seven ships appear excessive for normal jump accidents or other catastrophe mishaps, I'm having my staff make profiles of each ship, hoping to find clues as to how the ships were selected."
"You believe they were selected?" Leyva asked, frowning in thought. "Couldn't they have been targets of opportunity?"
"I hope not. If the Hijackers are taking random targets, it will make them extremely difficult to catch. But based on the timing of the missing ships, I think we will find they have an organization and a well-thought-out system."
"Otherwise someone would have noticed before now," Byrnes said between gasps for breath. He must have run all the way from the Academy building.
"The disappearances are too clean, suggesting well planned and executed," I said.
"Anyone disagree or have an alternative scenario?" Lulltrel asked while looking at each of the others in turn and finally settling on me. "Recommendation?"
"Ma'am, for now I'd like to continue collecting information on the seven ships. I hope that will give us an insight into their operation."
"If we can deduce their methodology, we’d have a better chance of catching them," Leyva said, nodding. "Otherwise we are playing darts in a dark room against opponents who are wearing night vision goggles."
"I concur," Lulltrel said. "This is obviously the top priority for us, and access on a need-to-know basis. If Paulus is right and it's an organization, we don't want to alert them or give them a hint as to what we are doing."
* * *
"How was your day, Daughter. You look far away in thought," Alexa said as we sat for dinner.
"I think Cooper and Atkins have pretty much confirmed we have a group of well-organized Hijackers in UAS space. Lulltrel has designated it her staff's top priority. She told Webb, who wasn't happy. Apparently, when she managed to get him to stop screaming and threatening mayhem, he called Pannell and gave him responsibility for Eastar NIA security." I gave Alexa a crooked smile.
"Which means your security is going to double or triple," Alexa said, peering off into space. "They sound like a nasty bunch if they aren't leaving a trace."
"That was Webb's conclusion when Lulltrel got him calmed down." I put my hand on Alexa's hand, feeling guilty for the stress this was going to cause her. "I'm sorry, Mother." As I did, Red wound his way down my arm and around both our wrists. Alexa laughed.
"Together we are strong," she said and laughed again. "You have to admit, Red does some things that are beyond strange. Deliberate, like that. But if that is the message, I agree with Red."
* * *
I called a staff meeting the next morning. "I gave Lulltrel my conclusions based on what Atkins and Cooper discovered about the seven missing merchant ships. Everyone agrees the probability is high that an organized group is hijacking merchant ships. Lulltrel has declared the project classified on a need-to-know basis and the NIA staff highest priority. So request for information or help will get immediate attention. When Admiral Webb found out he was unhappy and wisely has appointed Colonel Pannell responsible for Eastar NIA security. Consequently, you are going to see Marine security and may even have one or more assigned to you. Based on what we have deduced already, this group is a nasty bunch who leave no loose ends. If so, when they find we are chasing them, you can expect them to target us—"
"That's ridiculous," Newman blurted. "We are in the heart of Eastar in a building swarming with security. Besides, this is still guesswork. We have no proof."
"You may think this is just a silly game, Commander Newman, and you may be proved correct. But in the meantime, you will treat our discussions and the work we are doing on a need-to-know basis and comply with any restrict
ions Colonel Pannell imposes on us. That is an order that applies to everyone here and your staff. Is that clear?"
"Yes, ma'am," everyone said and each nodded when I looked at them. "I want to see you all alive and running your own offices when this is over. Please don't disappoint me."
"No, ma'am," echoed off the walls.
* * *
I had been in my office only a few minutes when Stamm knocked and entered.
"Ma'am, you have two messages in your Eastar NIA Station Chief inbox. They are in response to your killings query."
"Thank you, Carl." I opened my tablet, connected to the account, and smiled. They were from Adrian and Kris.
TO: COMMANDER PAULUS, EASTAR NIA STATION CHIEF
I SEE ANNA WANTS WORKS WITH ADMIRAL LULLTREL AS WELL AS OUR OLD TEAM. I'M ENJOYING HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A NIA STATION AND HOPE WE CAN GET TOGETHER FROM TIME TO TIME. I MISS YOU AND RED.
I'VE REVIEWED THE CASE FILE FOR THE KILLING ON 1/23. THE NIA OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED BECAUSE THE VICTIM, A JONNIE LYONS, WAS KILLED WITH A KNIFE UNIQUE TO THE AIRBORNE COMMANDOS. BUT SINCE THERE WERE NO MILITARY PERSONNEL SEEN IN THE AREA AND THE KNIFE ISN'T ILLEGAL TO OWN, NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED. I'M SURPRISED IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MONTHLY REPORT. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ANY FOLLOW-UP. ANNA WANTS STILL WORKS WITH ME.
IN RESPONSE TO THE MERCHANT SHIP, EASY LADY. THE LOCAL MERCHANT GUILD SAID THE SHIP WAS MISSING AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THE NAVY HAD REASON TO CONFISCATE OR DESTROY IT. THE OFFICE DID SEND OUT SOME QUERIES. THE NAVY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO ENCOUNTERS WITH THE EASY LADY.
FROM: COMMANDER SHRADER, WESTAR NIA STATION CHIEF.
And from Kris:
TO: COMMANDER PAULUS, EASTAR NIA STATION CHIEF
I HOPE YOU HAVEN'T FOUND ANOTHER RAIDER-LIKE GROUP. WE HAVE SOME INTERESTING STORIES BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO REPEAT THE EXPERIENCE.
