###
After Heath docked, Roanna went straight to her cabin and locked herself in, no doubt to cry. March let her go, and then helped Heath get Lorre’s machine and Thomas’s laptop into the strong room. With March’s hand still molten, Heath had to do most of the work, but the young man was eager as ever.
“Then Lorre killed Lord Thomas?” said Heath once March had finished giving him the altered version of events.
“I’m afraid so,” said March. “Shot him in the back of the head. The entire thing was a trap, and Thomas was the bait. Once Lorre realized it had gone to hell, he shot Thomas to cover his escape.”
“Damn it,” said Heath. “Then this was all for nothing.”
“Not necessarily,” said March. “That machine of Lorre’s…whatever it is, it’s important. It might be more important than any of our lives. The Silent Order and the Admiralty have to know about it.”
“Maybe,” said Heath.
“And we did save Roanna’s life,” said March. “Or saved her from Lorre feeding her into that machine.”
“Yes,” said Heath, brightening a bit. “That is something. That is more than something.”
“Go back to the flight cabin and get Vigil started on preflight checks,” said March. “We’ll have to leave in a hurry.”
Heath nodded and left the cargo bay, climbing up the ladder to the dorsal corridor. March waited until he was out of earshot, then pulled out his phone and called Bishop.
“Well,” said Bishop, “how did it go?”
“Thomas Vindex is dead,” said March. He gave Bishop the real version of what had happened in Dome 12, along with the proposed cover story. “What do Heitz and Karlman think?”
“They’re both furious,” said Bishop. “Karlman is out for blood, and Heitz is annoyed that he’ll have to repair Dome 12. Our Lieutenant Heath is a good shot. It will work out, though. Heitz and Ronstadt Private Security Corporation have gotten a bit lax. Next time I ask them to help clear off some Machinist agents, they’ll be more willing to cooperate. This device of Lorre’s. What do you think it is?”
March looked at the device. “At a guess, I think it’s some sort of brainwashing machine. Thomas implied it would turn someone into a Machinist against their will, but that usually involves nanotech. I think it must implant hidden commands in the victim, commands that can be activated later.”
“Turning someone into a sleeper agent without their knowledge,” said Bishop, voice grim. “And you think the Machinists have done this before?”
“Probably,” said March. “Or they’re field-testing the prototypes, and this is one of them.”
“Either way,” said Bishop, “you had better get that thing to Censor as soon as possible. I would suggest leaving at once. Heitz is pissed at you, and if you land in a proper bay, he’ll probably have Ronstadt arrest you for questioning.”
“What about you?” said March.
“Me?” Bishop laughed. “I’m just a simple restauranteur, Jack. A dashing yet stunningly handsome entrepreneur. A businessman trying to turn an honest profit out here on the edge of civilization. Plus, I know where all the bodies are buried. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have the chance to work together again.”
“I hope so,” said March.
He ended the call, and March headed for the flight cabin.
A short time later the Tiger’s dark matter reactor, hyperdrive, and resonator came online, and they left Rustbelt Station behind.
###
Fifteen hyperspace jumps and three and a half days later, the Tiger returned to Antioch Station. The five concentric metal rings still gleamed in space, and the twin Royal Calaskaran Navy destroyers guarded the station. March guided the Tiger to its assigned docking port and then walked with Roanna and Heath onto the station.
Roanna had changed clothing, wearing a rich formal blue dress favored by the noblewomen of Calaskar. March had to admit that it made her look beautiful, though her eyes remained haunted. March rented a drone cart to carry her luggage behind them.
“In the files I received when I left Antioch Station,” said March as they walked through the crowded concourse on Ring One, “one of them was a letter of transit from your father. I’ve sent it to your phone. Show that to the officer of the watch at the Royal Naval office here, and they’ll arrange for transportation home.”
“I know,” said Roanna. “Father always did think of everything.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Except, perhaps, for what to do with Thomas.” She offered him a brittle smile. “At least Thomas died well.”
“Yes,” said March. He supposed that was the truth. Thomas Vindex had gotten what he deserved.
At last, they reached the office suite the Calaskaran Royal Navy used on Antioch Station, a sprawling complex that occupied much of Ring One. Large screens showed videos relating the glorious history of the Calaskaran Royal Navy or explained how Calaskar’s system of government avoided the historical excesses of dictatorships, parliamentary democracies, socialism, and republics. Quite a few of the screens were devoted to recruitment videos for the Navy.
“You know,” said Roanna. “I never thought I would miss those videos.”
“Some things make you appreciate home all the more,” said Heath.
“Yes,” said Roanna. She took a deep breath. “Lieutenant Heath…Sam…thank you. Thank you for everything. I would have died if not for your help.”
Heath offered a formal bow. “It was my honor, my lady.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Roanna. “I know this ruined your career.”
Heath shrugged. “Of all the things a man can sacrifice upon the altar of duty, a career is one of the lesser things.”
“I will speak to my father for you,” said Roanna. “I hope he can intervene on your behalf.”
“That may not be necessary,” said March. He still had to call Censor…and he suspected he knew how that conversation would play out.
“And you, Captain March,” said Roanna, looking up at him. “Thank you. Both Sam and I would be dead if not for you.”
March met her gaze. “I regret that I was not able to save your brother.”
He did not regret Thomas’s death. The man had allied himself to the Final Consciousness. But he did regret that Roanna had been forced to shoot him. That Thomas had not been the man that Roanna had believed him to be.
And a small part of him regretted not taking Roanna’s offer in the Tiger’s gym.
“Do not,” said Roanna. “You did all any man could do. Goodbye, my friends.” She hesitated. “If…you are ever in need of help, come to me, and I will provide it if I can.”
“Goodbye, Lady Roanna,” said March.
To his surprise, she leaned forward and kissed Heath on the cheek, and then March. With one last smile, she turned and walked into the Naval office, the small drone cart carrying her luggage behind her.
“That,” said March a moment later, “is a very dangerous young woman.”
“Yes,” said Heath.
“Just watch,” said March. “In a few decades, she’ll be one of those noblewomen arranging half the government of Calaskar from behind the scenes. Whoever she marries will wind up as Minister of Security or Prime Minister or one of the Lords of the Admiralty.”
Heath snorted. “I wonder if they’ll need a janitor.”
“A janitor?” said March.
“Well, I am going to need a new career,” said Heath. “If I’m lucky, I won’t get imprisoned for going AWOL. But either way, I think my days in the Navy are done.”
“We’ll see about that,” said March. “Come with me.”
They went to March’s favorite restaurant, and he bought Heath breakfast and then bribed the bartender for the use of the supply room. As Heath ate in one of the booths, March locked the door to the supply room pulled out his phone.
A moment later Censor answered his call.
“Captain March,” said Censor in his dry, sardonic voice. “I have just received word that Lady Roanna Vin
dex walked into the naval office of Antioch Station with a letter of transit.”
“She did, sir,” said March.
“Care to enlighten me as to the particulars?”
March gave his report. Censor listened in silence for the most part, though he interrupted a few times to request greater details.
“I see,” said Censor. “You have done well. We’ve had reports of machines like this on several outlying and neutral worlds, but we haven’t been able to capture one for examination. It would have been good to bring in Thomas Vindex for questioning, but his computer will tell us almost as much about his activities.”
“Then we shall say he died protecting his sister?” said March.
“Yes, that will be the official story,” said Censor. “It would gall Lord Thomas to no end to know that his death will be used as a propaganda weapon against the Machinists.”
“The machine, sir,” said March. “What is it?”
“We don’t yet know,” said Censor. “We suspect it is an instrument designed to suborn people against their will, some sort of brainwashing device. Which is why your next assignment will be to fly the device to a rendezvous with a Royal Calaskaran Navy cruiser, which will then take the machine for examination.”
“Thomas mentioned something else, sir,” said March. “Something he called the ‘Pulse.’ Do you know what that is?”
Censor was silent for a moment.
“We do not,” he said, “much to my very great annoyance. We’ve heard talk of it among the Machinist agents, but we do not yet know what it is. The Machinists are up to something, Captain March, and there is a great deal of work for the Silent Order to do. Which is why after you drop off the device, you will proceed immediately to your next assignment.”
“Yes, sir,” said March. “Before I do, I have a request.”
“Concerning young Lieutenant Heath, I assume?” said Censor.
March told him what he had in mind.
“Very well,” said Censor. “If the lieutenant is amenable, we shall proceed.”
March left the room and found Heath halfway through his breakfast.
“Come with me,” said March, and he took Heath to the supply room.
“Lieutenant Samuel Heath,” said Censor once March had locked the door and switched his phone to speaker mode. “I am known as Censor, the head of the Silent Order.”
“Sir,” said Heath, his eyes going wide.
“The Calaskaran Royal Navy is the Kingdom of Calaskar’s first line of defense,” said Censor. “But as you have seen, there are threats that the Navy cannot defeat. If Lorre had succeeded in using his machine on Lady Roanna, he might have caused untold damage to Calaskar, and no ship of the Navy would have stopped him.”
“I saw that firsthand, sir,” said Heath.
“A choice lies before you,” said Censor. “You may choose to leave the Navy and continue your life elsewhere. If you do, in gratitude for your efforts, we will arrange for the Navy to forego prosecution. However, if you choose to swear to the Silent Order, we will ensure that your naval career continues, though you will have to be demoted to Ensign. An AWOL cannot be entirely excused.”
“If I swear to the Silent Order?” said Heath, wary. “I will not betray the Navy or the Kingdom.”
“Nor would we ask it of you,” said Censor. “The Silent Order is dedicated to the defense of Calaskar, just as the Navy is. But the Navy fights battles in space. We fight battles in the shadows…and you, Samuel Heath, have been called to do both. Many in the Navy do not understand the necessity of the work we do. You do. You have seen the dangers that threaten the Kingdom. A Naval officer who understands the nature of our shadow war and who can protect the Navy from traitors within the fleet would be invaluable. Will you join us?”
“I will, sir,” said Heath, and Censor led him through the oath to become a member of the Silent Order.
“Welcome, then,” said Censor. “Your first assignment is to report to the naval office and present yourself for duty. Once the matter of the AWOL charge is cleared, you will receive your new assignment…and your first orders from the Order. Captain March, you, too have your tasks.”
The call ended.
“Well,” said Heath at last. “I guess I’m a spy now.”
“You are,” said March. “Perhaps we will work together again.”
“I would enjoy that,” said Heath.
They finished eating breakfast, and then went their separate ways, Heath to the naval office, and March to the Tiger.
He had work to do. Oh, yes, he had work to do.
March had seen firsthand the horrors the Final Consciousness wreaked upon its victims…and he intended to stop them.
THE END
JACK MARCH WILL RETURN
Thank you for reading SILENT ORDER: IRON HAND!
Follow this link to read Jack March's next adventure: SILENT ORDER: WRAITH HAND, available mid-October 2017.
If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.
Other Books in the Silent Order Series
The galaxy is at war, but wars are won and lost in the shadows.
To the galaxy at large, Jack March is a privateer of the interstellar Kingdom of Calaskar and a former Iron Hand commando of the malevolent Final Consciousness. In truth, he is an alpha operative of the Silent Order, the most efficient and feared intelligence organization in human space. When there is a crisis, Jack March is the man to call.
But there are many forces that wish to enslave or destroy humanity...and Jack March stands in their way.
Reader Silent Order: Iron Hand, Silent Order: Wraith Hand, Silent Order: Axiom Hand, Silent Order: Eclipse Hand, and Silent Order: Fire Hand.
About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, USA Today bestselling author Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works. His books have sold over three quarters of a million copies worldwide.
Visit his website at:
http://www.jonathanmoeller.com
Visit his technology blog at:
http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com
Contact him at:
[email protected]
You can sign up for his email newsletter here, or watch for news on his Facebook page or Twitter feed.
Silent Order: Iron Hand Page 18
