“No,” Marshall replied. “We’re not going to ask for terms, and we’re not going to pull out of the system.”
“This isn’t that important, Danny. Not important enough to throw two more capital ships into the fire for it.”
“Maybe it became important when the first man died for it.” He looked up, and said, “Or maybe it’s important because of what is at stake here. Look at the bigger picture, John. The peace talks currently under way.”
“Do you really think a battle will help them?”
“I know that running away from a fight will hurt. If they don’t think we’re willing to take the big risks, then they’ll push for more than we can afford to give, and we’ll be in a formal state of war.”
Shaking his head, Cunningham said, “I don’t know what the hell this is we’re fighting now if it isn’t a war. People are dying fast enough. Probably right now while we’re talking about this.”
“The two biggest dogs in the yard are barking at each other, John, waiting to see who backs down first. Whatever happens, it can’t be us. This isn’t a question of pride, but one of politics and diplomacy.”
“Two dirty words.”
“I can’t argue with that. If it was up to me, this mission wouldn’t even be taking place. But it isn’t up to me. There are people back home counting on us, and I don’t intend to let them down. Our comrades up at Hydra Station. What happens if that force is free to go back there and slam into them?”
“I’d hope they’d do a damn sight better than we did.”
“You want to bet a few thousand lives on that?” Shaking his head, Marshall continued, “This is our job, John, and we’d better get it right. You can, of course, enter your objections officially into the log if you wish.”
“What would be the point of that?” With a sigh, he said, “I’ll stand with you on this one. You know that much. I just wanted to know that you were aware what the cost might be.”
“I’ve paid it too damn often to not know that, John. Maybe if we do this one last dance, we might not have to come to the party again.”
“I hope so,” he said, moving to the door. “I’d better get on that tactical report.”
“Right,” Marshall replied. “Thanks.”
“I’ll argue with you any time, Danny,” he said with a smile as he left the room. Marshall looked out at the stars, the wreckage of the Trident just visible in the distance. Usually the view comforted him, but today it chilled him. He might be able to inspire confidence in others, but inspiring confidence in himself was a whole different problem.
Chapter 18
As the door opened, Logan raised his pistol to cover the entrance, the figure at the threshold stopping dead as she saw the weapon pointed at her chest. He smiled as he saw the new arrival also carrying a weapon in her hand, also in perfect position to cover him. The only noise in the room was Duquesne’s steady snoring as she slept by her patient.
“Shall we end this mutual stalemate, Meirong, or do you not have anything better to do today?”
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Not impressed that I was able to find you in this flophouse?”
Looking around, she said, “I left enough clues for you.” Stepping into the room, she sat down on one of the chairs, still keeping her gun trained on him. “I figured you’d show up down here sooner or later.”
“To answer your question, I need your help.” His words were punctuated by snoring come from the other room, and he continued, “And to borrow your bed. Anyone else know you are here?”
“No,” she replied. “My superiors in the Republic ordered me to follow you, but they were somewhat vague on details. Of course, you knew that I would be the one assigned…”
“Which means there is someone else on my tail as well.”
“Don’t you have your own network to rely on, rather than borrowing mine?”
With a sigh, he said, “Apparently I’m untouchable at the moment for some reason. Increasingly I can guess what it is, but naturally, I can’t tell you.”
“Obviously. So I am just meant to help you without question, in the interests of interstellar amity and the relationship between our two nations?”
“That’s a lot better than what I’d come up with.”
Meirong stood up and walked across the room to look at the bed; Chambers was sleeping restlessly, tightly tucked in under the sheets to keep her relatively still, medical monitors strapped to her wrist.
“What happened?”
“So, you did leave before me. Interesting.” Gesturing at her, he said, “One of our people tried to kill her. Someone’s gone rogue, and I need to bring them down.” It was close enough to the truth in any case.
“And they think you are involved, and that’s why you are untouchable? The only way to redeem yourself is to catch the real traitor?”
“Something like that.”
“Sounds like the plot of a ten-credit holonovel.”
“If you don’t want to help, then say so, and...well, I’ll basically have to keep trying to convince you, because there isn’t much else I can do at the moment.” Turning to look at Chambers, he said, “She can’t be moved without difficulty; I had to get her off Alamo for her own safety, but she’s limiting my options a bit at the moment. Nor can I afford to leave her alone without a guard. The doctor doesn’t count for that, I’m afraid.”
Nodding, Meirong said, “There is going to be a price, Logan. And a big one.”
“If I told you that what I am doing is in the best interests of both our governments, would that make a difference?”
She sighed, and said, “I’d be willing to accept that this isn’t some sort of operation to expose our organization, because it is so damned obvious. Besides, I’m only a few steps away from untouchable myself these days. My resources are limited.”
“But you have got a relationship with the Embassy. You must do.”
“Obviously.”
“Then there are two things that I need. I need you to get her onto a Republic-flagged ship, preferably military if you’ve got something appropriate around, and transport her to Mars orbit – where she can be transferred quietly into the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ragnarok. The Doctor you can leave here; I’m going to need her on Alamo.”
With a laugh, she replied, “You want me to smuggle her to Mars for you? I suppose it’s not giving any secrets away to tell you that we have that capability, and a woman who can’t move under her own power isn’t going to learn very much. That I can do for you.”
Smiling, Logan continued, “I also need a secure communications link to the President of the Triplanetary Confederation.”
Her eyes widened, and she sat down, placing her pistol in her hidden holster, and said, “Logan, what the hell is going on here?”
“I need…”
“The price for help is going to have to be information now. I’m quite serious about this. You aren’t just an ordinary agent, you’re a personal friend in long-standing with the head of Triplanetary Intelligence.”
“We’ve had a few drinks together.”
“I’ve done a lot of digging since we first met. United Nations Intelligence has you working with him back during the war on some very interesting deep-cover operations. You’ve got the contacts – at least, you should have – to arrange all of this yourself. So, why aren’t you?”
He looked up, and said, “Because I can’t trust anyone working for Fleet Intelligence at the moment, even if I could get in touch with them. Nor can I risk using the regular channels, not with the current political situation.”
Light seemed to dawn on her face as she replied, “Someone’s trying to topple the President. Connected to the battleship program.” With a chuckle, she said, “This is not something I am inexperienced with, Logan. Such things happen back home all the time on the Ce
ntral Committee.”
“They aren’t supposed to happen here, damn it. You must have access to the political projections your government has made. What happens next if President Newton gets thrown out of office?”
“Depending on the circumstances, the election swings to one extreme or another.”
“With the Cabal on the doorstep, do you really think the Technocrats are going to win? If the Progressives grab the Senate and the Presidency, they’ll topple everything over.”
With a thin smile, she replied, “I thought your government was based on the will of the people. Surely if they vote for the Progressives, they are simply expressing their desire for war.”
He laughed, and said, “Perhaps you are right about that. Perhaps I am tilting at windmills again, but I don’t like it when someone rigs the game. That’s what’s happening here – if the Freedom Party is discredited, we’re in for a very bad time. And so are you. Do you think our nations will stay allies with someone like Norman running the Confederacy?”
“The internal affairs of the Triplanetary Confederation…”
“Are every bit as important to you as they are to us, right now.”
“Maybe,” she replied, shaking her head. “Why do you trust me?”
“I don’t have a lot of choice right now. Besides, I don’t trust you, I trust your sense of political self-interest. The more favors we owe you, the better.” He smiled, and said, “Right now I don’t think I’ve got a hell of a lot to lose. The odds are that I’ll be charged with espionage in the next few hours. I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.”
With a sigh, she said, “I’ll arrange for Chambers to be taken to Mars as you wish; she’ll be on her way by the time you get back. I presume you want her delivered to Lieutenant Orlova.”
“Good guess.”
Shrugging, she replied, “I follow the news. It doesn’t take much intelligence to work out that part. We’ve going to have to make a bit of a trip.”
He stood up, and looked across at Chambers, saying, “You’d damn well better make sure she gets there in one piece.”
“Threats are unnecessary. As you have said, this operation would appear to be in both of our government’s best interests. This isn’t the first time that we have attempted to influence your political system.” She smiled, and said, “There are about half a dozen politicians that we could discredit with a very swift press release, if we ever perceived the need.”
“If you’d been successful, I’d have known about it,” Logan said, frowning.
“That depends on your definition of success. We have managed to distract you from other, more important matters on occasion. Come on. I have a flyer waiting downstairs; we’ve got a long ride ahead.”
“I want to signal to Mars, not go there myself.”
Shaking her head, she replied, “And leave your weapon. It will be here when we return, but I will be the only one going who is armed.” He pulled his pistol out of his holster and placed it carefully on the table, and she gestured at his jacket. “Both of them, please.”
“Smart,” he said, pulling out the hidden weapon.
“Note that I will still be acting on the assumption that you have other concealed armament somewhere on your person.”
“You can trust me.”
“Would I be so foolish as to take your word on that, Logan?”
“No, probably not.” He walked over to Duquesne, pulled a hypodermic out of his pocket, and injected her with a sedative strong enough to keep her out for a few hours, long enough for him to get safely away. With one last look at Chambers lying on the bed, he walked out of the room ahead of Meirong, waiting as she engaged the hidden security seals, including three he hadn’t had to deactivate to get into the room the first time around.
“You really were expecting me,” he said.
“Let’s just say that I was open to the possibility of a surprise visit. Come on.”
She led the way into a nearby elevator, which rocked slightly as they stepped in. A strange smell filled the air, the odor of long-abused machinery, and there were several worrying sticky patches on the floor, the carpet’s original color a distant memory.
“Great hotel you picked, by the way.”
“It has its uses.”
They stepped out onto the ground floor, walking through the bar; tourists who didn’t know any better were being jostled by local drunks out for a good, or at least a tolerable evening, indecipherable music blazing from speakers across the room while lurid images popped up on the monitor. Logan thought he spotted a local notable with his arm wrapped around a girl young enough to be his daughter, a look on her face suggesting that she wasn’t being paid sufficiently for the night’s work. Filing away the information for later reference, he followed Meirong out into the foyer, where a battered old flyer waited by the vehicular airlock.
“Nothing but the best,” he said, stepping into the passenger seat.
She smiled, and replied, “You’d better strap yourself in. It could be a bumpy ride.”
He secured his straps, and as the airlock mechanism engaged, felt a pinprick on his arm. He looked across at her as his vision began to swim, and replied.
“All you had to do was ask, you know.”
The next thing he knew, he was being jostled in the ribs, and he struggled to consciousness, blinking in a vain attempt to focus. The display was dark, the vehicle being driven on instruments only.
“There’s some water by your right hand.”
“Our knock-out pills are pleasanter to wake up from,” he replied, taking a sip from the plastic bottle.
“I must ask you for the recipe. We’ll be landing in a few moments. Naturally, I couldn’t allow you to know where we are going.” She gestured down at a monitor, and said, “Sub-Lieutenant Chambers was collected half an hour ago, and her ship will be breaking orbit in a matter of minutes. In ten days from now, she’ll be at her destination.”
“Thanks,” he replied.
“One day I will collect on the debt you have accrued. That wasn’t something I did as a representative of my government; that was personal.”
He nodded, and said, “I always pay back my debts.”
“So your intelligence file indicates, in any case.” She flicked a switch, and the flyer descended to the ground, bumping a couple of times as it settled. “We wait here for a moment. A transfer vehicle will be along presently.”
Concern flashed across his face, and he said, “If you are about to tell me that you have a base down here…”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Some places are more amenable to our presence than others, however. I called ahead, and we are expected.” Looking across at him, she continued, “Nor was our absence noted. We have successfully evaded the famed Callistan Security Police.”
“The Caspers never could see their hand in front of their face.” The flyer rocked, and a loud clang came from the side airlock, the hatch hissing open. Meirong unbuckled her restraints and clambered back to the door with as much grace as she could muster, Logan following suit.
Two silent figures were waiting for them in the transfer truck, both holding the latest model of the Triplanetary service rifle. He smiled at the demonstration and settled down into one of the passenger seats, noting the eyes constantly locked on him. This was an opportunity that any agent would have killed for, but he was passing it as quietly as he could, simply collecting his thoughts.
The truck skidded and bounced across the landscape to a low, green dome, and reversed to dock with one of the side airlocks. Standing up again, Logan made his way to the door, the guards following him, Meirong standing by his side. As the hatch opened, a scented smell greeted him as he walked inside.
All was green, lush growth wherever he looked, people wearing facemasks and white clothes walking on carefully prepared paths tending the garden. Most of the ground wa
s planted with herbs and luxury crops, but a variety of flowers were sprinkled around to provide flashes of color in the bleak landscape outside; he looked across with a smile on his face.
“Our secret installations tend to be back-rooms and basements. You’ve got real style.”
She smiled, and said, “It’s all real. One of several dozen scattered around. With the blockade on luxury foods from Earth, you’d be astounded at the profit margin.”
Shaking his head, he said, “You’ve managed to find a way to make your intelligence network pay for itself. I presume that there are enough of these around that you aren’t worried about this specific one.”
“The company involved is Triplanetary-owned, and has paid its taxes promptly, complying with all regulations. You could spend years trying to work out which one that we’re using…”
“And all the equipment is moved around frequently enough that such an effort would be an exercise in futility, of course.”
“Naturally. I’m glad you understand the efficiency of our operation.”
“Our safe-houses work in a similar manner.” Looking around, he said, “I’d love to have a wander around the garden, but I suppose we have work to do.”
“If your plans go wrong, I suspect that we could arrange for you to spend some time in one of the domes we operate on Luna.”
“Are you offering me amnesty? You realize…”
“That you would never tell us anything about Triplanetary security? Of course not. On the other hand, you might be more willing to assist us in operations against the Cabal, and my government are as worried about them as you are.”
“Now I begin to see what you are going to be asking in exchange for this.”
“No need. We already have a copy. Consider this payment for services rendered.”
He turned to look at her, and said, “How in the name of…” Pausing, he said, “Paine.”
“I believe he considered that we had a pressing need for the information, and that if it was left to go through channels, we would never get a copy. I will be happy to pass along our assessments of the information; that was part of the deal.”
Battlecruiser Alamo: Take and Hold Page 16
