by Jim Proctor
* * * *
Niles was still tired when he walked into his office, having spent half the night interviewing commanders and briefing General Nelson. He yawned as he sat at his desk and began searching the registry of ships, looking for Caroline’s Dream.
He expected to enter the ship’s name and press enter. Instead, the search engine presented him with layer upon layer of questions.
Type of vessel?
He selected freighter from the list.
Weight class of freighter?
“Weight class? How the hell should I know? Tarlek didn’t even know!” he shouted. He selected light.
Hyperspace vessel?
“What? I don’t know! Yes, damn you!” He selected yes.
The system responded with There are no hyperspace freighters in the lightweight class. New search?
“Then why was it an option?” he yelled as he selected yes.
Type of vessel?
“Are you kidding me? I have to start from the beginning!” He selected freighter.
Weight class of freighter?
He selected medium.
Hyperspace vessel?
“Wait a minute. Think, Niles,” he said to himself out loud. “If they picked up the weapons from Space Station Twelve and delivered them to the Xetians, it had to be a hyperspace ship.” He selected yes.
Name of vessel?
He typed Caroline’s Dream.
No vessels match search parameters. New search?
“Yes, damn you!” he shouted as he clicked yes.
He jumped when someone knocked on his door. Turning his data unit face down on the desk, he yelled, “Come in!”
“The door is locked, sir,” Lieutenant Linda Groves said.
Niles crossed the room and opened the door. “What?” he snapped.
“Are you okay, sir? I heard yelling,” she said.
Niles took a deep breath and calmed himself. “Yes, Lieutenant, I’m fine. I’m trying to… find something, and the database search function was coded by an idiot.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.
He considered her offer, wondering if telling her the name of the ship was a risk of any sort. On the other hand, this was an urgent matter and he was getting nowhere. “Do you know how to run a search for a vessel by name?” he asked.
“Is that all? That’s not hard. Let me help you.” She walked to his desk and waited for him to join her. Niles moved to the desk, flipped his data unit over, and showed her the screen.
Lieutenant Groves broke out laughing. “You’re using the text interface? No wonder you’re yelling. There’s an AI interface to all of SACOM’s databases, sir.”
“There is?”
She smiled and nodded as she picked up his data unit and exited the search window. Flicking pages and pressing icons, she said, “Here it is. Since you’ve never used it, it was buried near the back of your applications list.”
A synthesized voice said, “Good morning, Captain Jiorgenson. My name is Judith. How can I be of assistance?”
Niles looked at Linda. She smiled and nodded. “I’ll leave you to your work, sir.” She turned and left the office, closing the door.
“Hello, Judith. I need the registry data for a freighter called Caroline’s Dream,” Niles said.
“There is no vessel by that name in Caldon’s registry. I will check the other systems. This will take a moment while I connect through the hyperspace relay network to each of the colonized worlds.”
“That’s fine. Take your time,” he said as he stood and began walking to the door.
“The freighter Caroline’s Dream is registered to a company on Cordanth called Marlow Freight,” Judith reported.
Niles stopped, having taken only two steps. “Who owns Marlow Freight?”
The company is owned by Caroline Anne Marlow,” Judith said.
“Would you please create a text copy of that information and leave it on my home screen? I need to send it to someone.”
“I have left the information, as requested. I can forward it to another party, if you would like,” Judith said.
“No, thank you. I need further data before I send it,” he said. “What can you tell me about this Caroline Marlow?”
Judith began quoting a steady stream of facts. “Caroline Anne Marlow, thirty-four years old, resident of Cordanth, daughter of Martin Ezekiel Kase and his first wife, Marriam Elizabeth Kase, married to Kevin Sebastiani Marlow—”
“Stop!” Niles yelled. “She’s Senator Kase’s daughter?”
“She is the daughter of Senator Martin Ezekiel Kase,” Judith replied.
“Damn it!” Niles said as he ran for the door.
* * * *
“Yes, Senator Kase, I understand the urgency,” General Nelson said. “We will execute our plan in five days.”
“Why is this taking so long? Can’t you just go up there and arrest her?” the senator asked.
“This is a delicate matter. It requires planning and careful execution, or people could die,” Nelson said.
Senator Kase nodded. “Very well. Five days. You’re going to stick to our plan, right? She’s got powerful friends.”
“Yes, Senator. The first admiral will put up a fight, and she will die in the struggle.”
Kase smiled. “Good man. I knew I could count on you.” The comm link closed.
Major Anderson smiled. “So, when do we start?”
“Right now,” the general said as he pushed back his chair and stood. “The team is waiting.”
“You really don’t trust Senator Kase,” Eric said.
“Not in the slightest,” Lance replied.
Eric nodded. “Let’s take her down!”
* * * *
Lieutenant Stevens pulled out his data unit when it chimed and read a message.
He will begin his unlawful coup in five days. He and his loyalists must be neutralized, permanently. All necessary force is authorized.
“What is it?” Second Lieutenant Walter Pierce asked.
“Nelson is going to try to seize control of SACOM in five days. We’ll spend three more days looking for Vice Admiral Tompkins, and then we have to get back to Central Command to rally the rest of our squad and stop him. The general and his misguided followers are going to die.”
“How does she know he’ll start in five days?” Pierce asked.
“I don’t know!” Stevens snapped. “That’s why she’s the first admiral!”
Pierce looked at the data unit and saw the message header. “Who is Justin Case?”
“Don’t be stupid. It’s a code name,” Stevens said.
“Ah, so that’s from Bennett herself.” Pierce said.
“Damn, you are stupid! The first admiral of SACOM doesn’t waste her time sending messages to security team leaders. This is from one of her underlings, I expect,” Stevens said.
“You don’t know who the message is from, but we’re going to kill people, and I’m the stupid one?” Pierce asked.
Stevens turned on him and glared. “It’s from one of her underlings. I regularly get messages from this address with orders from Bennett.”
“Sorry I asked,” Pierce said. He looked around at the other members of their group and saw a lot of doubtful faces.
“Let’s go, you slugs! We have three days to search for Tompkins. Then we’re going back to deal with a bit of unpleasantness at home.”
“Maybe you should send a message to one of our squad back at command,” Pierce said.
“Why would I do that?” Stevens asked. “The coup won’t happen for five days.”
“Okay, but wouldn’t it look good if some of our squad went to First Admiral Bennett’s office to stand guard in the meantime?” Pierce asked.
Stevens looked at him for a moment, and then said, “You’re not completely stupid, after all.”
* * * *
General Nelson and a dozen of his soldiers stepped off the elevator at the penthouse level. He looked at the indicat
or for the second elevator and said, “The major and the rest of the team will be here in a moment. They’ll have our backs. Let’s go.”
The group walked into the first admiral’s outer office. Bennett’s secretary dropped her data unit and stared at the general with wide eyes. She quickly regained her composure and opened a desk drawer as two soldiers came around the desk and grabbed her by her arms. One of the soldiers pulled her arm from the drawer. Wrenching the neurodart pistol from her grip, he slipped it into a pocket of his vest. She began screaming as the other soldier clamped a hand over her mouth. She jerked and twisted as the pair lifted her off her feet. Kicking wildly, she sent papers and objects from the top of her desk flying.
“The first admiral’s office is soundproof. Screaming is pointless,” Nelson said. The secretary glared at him as she was dragged past him and into the lobby. Nelson heard Major Anderson’s voice as he ordered Corporal Nellis and Private Simms into the office to replace the pair that was wrestling the secretary into a nearby conference room.
“Major Anderson has secured the lobby, General,” Nellis reported as he entered the outer office.
“Thank you, Corporal,” Nelson said as he moved to Bennett’s door, his team gathering behind him. “Let’s go.” He threw open the door and stepped inside, his twelve soldiers entering behind him and quickly fanning out into the office.
Georgia Bennett sat at her desk, smirking, flanked by six of the goons, all aiming neurodart pistols at Nelson and his team. However, the goons’ faces, initially defiant, now looked worried. Nelson and his team were aiming ballistic combat rifles at them. A man standing beside Bennett sneered at Nelson and fired his pistol. An ear-splitting bang ripped through the silence. The goon looked down at his chest where a red stain was quickly growing. He dropped to his knees, and then fell forward. A thin wisp of smoke rose from Corporal Nellis’ barrel.
Nelson looked down at the dart sticking part way into his protective vest, pulled it out, and tossed it to the floor. “That is why you don’t bring a neurodart pistol to a ballistic rifle battle.”
Another goon aimed his pistol at the general’s face. This time, Nelson fired, hitting the man between the eyes, knocking him back before he collapsed to the floor. The wall behind him was a sickening mess.
“Anyone else feel like trying their luck?” Nelson asked. The remaining goons tossed their pistols to the floor.
“Georgia Bennett, you are under arrest for conspiracy to overthrow the galactic government,” the general said.
“What?” she shrieked. “Under whose authority?”
“I am acting under the authority of the Galactic Senate, according to section ninety-three of the Galactic Code of Regulations, sub-paragraph B.”
“And who gave you your orders, General?” she asked.
“My orders come from Senator Kase,” Nelson said.
“Him?” Georgia roared, her face now red. “That double-crossing—”
“He said you were too dangerous to keep around, and he regrets that you put up a struggle and were killed,” the general said.
“You wouldn’t dare!” Georgia said, staring defiantly at the general.
“Close the door, Corporal Nellis,” Nelson said.
* * * *
Niles Jiorgenson tapped his foot nervously as the elevator descended. “Come on!” he urged. When the door finally opened, he ran down the hall and through the door into Security Forces Command.
General Nelson’s secretary looked up in surprise. “Can I help you?”
“I need to see General Nelson,” Niles said.
“I’m sorry. The general is busy at the moment.
Niles rushed to Nelson’s office door and threw it open. “General…” The room was empty. He turned back to the secretary. “Where is he?”
“The general is busy.”
“What about the major… um… Major Anderson?” Niles asked.
“The major is busy,” the secretary said.
“Look, this is urgent! The general may be walking into a trap,” Niles said.
“Captain, I’m sure General Nelson can handle whatever situation arises.”
“He’s started his operation, hasn’t he?” Niles asked.
“The general is busy.”
Niles ran out of the office and back to the elevator. “Come on!” he yelled as he waited, pounding on the Up button. First one elevator, and then the other, passed by his floor on their way down. When an elevator finally arrived, he stepped in and jabbed the penthouse button several times. “Come on! Move!” The door slowly closed. Niles had always thought these elevators were fast until now.
The elevator stopped on the seventh floor, and Niles groaned when the man who entered pushed the button for the ninth floor. It seemed they had hardly moved when they stopped and the man got off. A man and a woman stepped in and pushed the button for the fourteenth floor.
When he finally reached the penthouse, Niles ran across the lobby and found the first admiral’s outer office empty. It looked as though there had been a struggle. The door to the first admiral’s private office was ajar. He crossed to the door and listened for a moment before slowly pushing it open. He stared at the far wall, taking a moment to realize what he was looking at. Looking down, he saw the blood-soaked carpet next to the admiral’s desk. He felt sick, and his knees began to shake. He spun around and ran back to the elevators.
Pressing the call button, he leaned against the cool, marble wall, eyes closed. Sometime later, a chime rang as the elevator door opened. He stumbled in and pressed a button. The door closed, and the elevator began to descend. It stopped two floors down, and Jiorgenson’s shaking legs gave out. He collapsed, leaning against the door just as it opened. He fell to the floor of the corridor and looked up into the shocked face of a young corporal. The door closed and the elevator began descending.
Jiorgenson was panting heavily. The corporal asked, “Are you okay?”
“He’s done it!” Niles said. “He killed her!”
“What are you talking about?” the corporal asked.
“First Admiral Bennett is dead! He’s killed her!” Niles said.
The corporal helped the captain to his feet. “Come into my office and sit down. I’ll call security and have them send someone up.”
“Security! I need to get to Security!” Jiorgenson said. He looked at the indicators for the elevators, and then turned and ran down the corridor to the stairwell, hitting the door at a run, slamming it against the wall. He turned and ran down the steps as fast as his shaking legs would carry him. Floor after floor went by, and on he ran.
By the time he reached Security Command, he was gasping for air. He leaned on the secretary’s desk and pointed to Nelson’s door.
“The general is busy,” the secretary said.
Niles glared at her. He took a deep breath and said, “Busy killing the first admiral?”
“Captain Jiorgenson, step into my office now!” General Nelson said as he strode in from the corridor.
Niles turned to him and pointed an accusing finger. “You killed Admiral Bennett! I just ran down here from her office. There is—”
“My office, now!” Nelson yelled. He grabbed Niles by the arm, dragged him into his office, and slammed the door. “I think I gave you too much credit for intelligence! Who else did you blab too?”
“What? No one. Oh, except a corporal on… I don’t remember which floor it was.”
The general shook his head. “Wonderful.”
“Don’t blame me!” shouted Niles. “You’re the one who went into Bennett’s office and shot her!”
“Captain, you don’t know what you are talking about, so I would advise you not to talk at all. You are spreading lies, and that can only make matters worse than they already are.”
“I saw her office! There’s blood everywhere, even on the walls!”
Nelson stepped behind his desk and sat. He pointed to a chair and said, “Sit down, Captain. There was some collateral damage when we wen
t into Bennett’s office. Some of the goons where there. Someone tipped her off.”
Niles looked shocked. “I didn’t say a word to anyone!”
“Not you, Niles. Someone else,” the general said.
“Oh no… it was Senator Kase,” Niles said.
Nelson leaned back and stared at him for a moment. “What makes you say that?”
“He’s part of the conspiracy. Caroline’s Dream—the freighter—is owned by Marlow Freight, which is owned by Caroline Marlow, who is Senator Kase’s daughter. I came down here to warn you, but you had already gone,” Niles said.
“I see. Aside from me and Major Anderson, Kase was the only other person who knew the details of our operation.”
“Then it had to be him,” Niles said.
“Except for one thing—I told the senator we would start in five days.”
“Then it had to be Major Anderson,” Niles said.
“Impossible,” Nelson said. “He didn’t know when we would start until the moment before we left. We were together until we split our team to take two elevators to Bennett’s office. He couldn’t have warned her even if he wanted to.”
“He could have contacted her from the elevator,” Niles said.
“Not with twelve of our people in there with him. It wasn’t him,” Nelson said.
“Maybe someone told her days ago that you were planning something. She could have had extra security in her office for the past few days, waiting.”
“She isn’t the sort to sit back and wait for an attack. If she had known days ago, she would have sent someone after me right away. Besides, those soldiers in her office were my people before they became loyal to her. I know every one of them. I had seen the group in the lounge less than an hour before we went up there. They arrived shortly before we did,” the general said.
“Then we’re back to Senator Kase,” Niles said.
“That’s enough speculation for now. Look, Captain, I can’t have you running around this place telling people I killed the first admiral. I need you to go back to your office and carry on as though nothing has happened. You shouldn’t have gone up there, and you shouldn’t have talked to that corporal. Are you sure you can’t recall which floor he was on?”
