"Ah...perfect!" He looked directly at the young woman over the top of his mug, with the index and middle fingers of his right hand looped through the handle and his left hand cupping the other side of the mug. "Thank you for agreeing to see me, Ensign," said Talbot. "I thought I'd better talk to you before things get really hectic again."
"That’s not a problem, Sir. I'm surprised that you have any interest in me."
Talbot took another sip and set his mug down on the small table between them.
"That's part of why I wanted to talk to you."
"I'm not sure I understand, Sir."
Talbot thought carefully for a moment, deciding just how to lead the conversation. Finally he said, "You underestimate your abilities by several orders of magnitude, young lady."
Her head drew back.
"You flatter me, Dr. Talbot, but I'm not sure that I can agree with you."
"You don't have to agree, your academic record and your accomplishments during the entire duration of this mission pretty much speak for themselves. This last bit with the battleship projectors and the idea of taking the fight to the Sheik are just the most recent of those accomplishments."
Carlisle reddened slightly and looked like she was about to disagree but instead she simply said, "I'm not sure what to say...thank you, Frank."
Talbot continued, "One of my professors used to have a saying: 'Of those who are gifted, more is expected.' It used to infuriate me until I finally realized he was correct. Here's another of his sayings, though I must warn you that it's far from being politically correct: 'If you are of average intelligence, then half the people you meet are dumber than you are.'"
Carlisle gave him a look. Talbot continued, "And if you're in the upper one percent of the entire human race, as you are young lady, then you're smarter than almost everyone you come in contact with!"
The ensign shook her head and said, "I've done okay, but I think you overestimate my abilities. I had a lot of trouble getting through the academy. This mission is my last chance to prove myself."
"Did you know that you're one of the highest-ranked students to graduate from the Academy in the last five years?"
"Um...No, Sir, I didn't know that."
"You're also an instinctive tactical genius, were you aware of that?"
"Where are you going with this, Dr. Talbot?"
He wore a very serious look as he continued.
"What I'm saying is that you have that rare combination of extremely high intelligence and superb tactical instincts that enable you to almost instantly analyze difficult tactical situations and come up with solutions, 'Instinct and intellect,' my old professor would have said. If you'd only done it once, that would be one thing. You, on the other hand, seem to be able to do it almost at will!"
"Thank you, Sir, but..."
Talbot interrupted her. "Haven't you figured this out yet, girl?" he said, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?"
"The Brass has got you jumping through hoops and causing all sorts of negative issues with your self-image and your self-confidence. Well, just don't you believe one bit of it! The Federation Navy needs you and other officers just like you badly. Very badly!"
"I'm not sure I understand," said Carlisle, her look perplexed.
"I'll spell it out for you. The Navy always needs some officers who can operate 'outside the box.' Don't get me wrong, they also need people who do play by the book and follow the rules. The problem is, in war and especially in the heat of battle, the book is way too often inadequate for the situation. Especially when it comes to dealing with these terrorists, traditional methods can only take you so far."
"I guess I hadn't thought of it that way before. I...don't know what to say."
"You mustn't get cocky but if you just continue to do your best, and stop second guessing yourself, you'll be more than fine. Trust your instincts, girl, from what I've seen they've been dead on most of the time!"
Talbot thought he detected the light of understanding in her eyes.
"You also need to do a few things just for yourself, Ensign. I know that the current pace of events hasn't left time for any of us to do much recreating but you know the old saying "all work and no play?" Well it's true. Think of some things that you really want to do, just for you, and find a way to do them!"
"Maybe when things slow down a little, I could find some time," said Carlilse.
"I apologize if this little pep talk caught you off guard, Ensign. Admiral Loftgren at the academy is a personal friend of mine. He asked me to enlighten you about a few things if I had the opportunity. Strictly off the record, you understand."
"Thanks...I guess?"
Talbot smiled at her. "Would you like a warm up?"
"Yes, that would be nice."
The lecture over, the two of them chatted about Carlisle's current research project with the logs from the Veritian derelict while they each finished another mug of coffee. She thanked the old engineer before she left.
"Thanks, Frank, I'll think about what you said," as she departed.
"Good luck with those logs from the derelict," said Talbot.
Chapter 24.
UTFN Reclamation Center, on board Meridian Imperial Diplomatic Ship Istanbul, January 3, 2599.
As soon as he got back from the planning session on the Greyhound, Ambassador Saladin held an emergency meeting with Captain Nassar of the Istanbul and Commander Hussein, the head of his personal security detail. The meeting took place in Nassar's briefing room right near the bridge of the Istanbul.
"We need to determine who else on board our ship belongs to the group responsible for this assassination attempt," said the Ambassador.
"I would take a hard look at the 'Sheik of New Cairo,'" said Hussein.
"The man we put in the brig after the attack on the Ambassador at the Santana Nexus?" asked Nassar.
"The same."
"I agree," responded the Ambassador, "he would seem to be the most logical person to begin with." "Hussein? Can you bring up the security video for the time frame when the diplomats were coming on board for our summit meeting back at the Santana Nexus?"
"Certainly, Excellency," replied Hussein. The security chief spent a few moments retrieving the requested files. "Ah, here they are." Nassar's viewscreen switched to a video display that showed a string of diplomats coming on board the Istanbul through the ship's main airlock before being processed through a security checkpoint. Hussein ran the video on fast forward for a few seconds before slowing the feed to normal speed.
"There," said the Ambassador, "that man, right there. That is the Sheik of New Cairo."
Hussein froze the video.
"How many men does he have attending him?" asked Nassar.
"It appears as though he has three attendants," said the Ambassador.
"That man...there! That man is the one who attacked Sondia and wounded Shawndra," said Hussein. "The others are...they are deliberately hiding their faces, Excellency!"
"If we know that the man who just attacked Sondia is one of those three, then there could easily be at least two more of this false Sheik's agents onboard the Istanbul," said the Ambassador. "The attack on me and the attack on the Santana Nexus were perfectly timed to sow chaos. Because of the special circumstances, some of our normal security protocols had been bypassed. After the enemy ships opened fire, and in the confusion following our escape, it was impossible to keep order. When we got here to the Scrapyard, staff members for the various diplomats were assigned quarters. Do you suppose these two men claimed affiliation with someone legitimate and are currently hiding in plain sight?"
"Audacious and appalling but it would certainly seem possible, Excellency," said Hussein, shaking his head. "How do you wish to go about apprehending them?"
"With the Sheik of New Cairo in our brig, they would not be burdened by having to attend to anyone and, if they exercised a bit of caution, they will have been able to move about on their own, with no one checking up on them"
>
"It is a pity that we do not know what they look like," said Hussein.
"That is an unfortunate handicap," said the Ambassador, "but it is the hand we have been dealt. Since they do not seem to be associated with any of the other diplomats, they must have infiltrated the civilian crew, just as this dead man had done."
"It seems we need to talk to the Head Chef and the Chief Steward," said Hussein.
"I agree," replied the Ambassador, "but be discreet, Hussein. Make it sound like we need to discuss menus and seating arrangements. We must strive to avoid any type of action that might alarm these agents or any others we don't yet know about. Remember the attack on me back at the Nexus was attempted by members of the Aswan Haboob!"
"Ah...Yes," said Hussein, "Aswan Haboob, 'The Black Storm!' We mustn't forget that, even for a second. They are a most formidable foe, Excellency, all of them masters of disguise! Their agents could be anywhere or anyone." He frowned as another, more sinister thought occurred to him. "There could be other agents among the military contingent," he continued, "If we are indeed dealing with Aswan Haboob, then these enemies also represent some of the best infiltrators in the known space!"
"Do you suppose there could have been enemy agents among the crewmembers who were transferred to the Istanbul just before we left Meridian at the start of this mission?" asked Nassar.
"I hadn't thought of that," said the Ambassador. "I was under the impression that everyone had been thoroughly vetted. Nassar? Bring up the names of the newest crew members."
"You really think some of them might be infiltrators?" asked the Captain.
"I surely hope not but we simply must look into it," replied the Security Chief, "Of course there is always the chance that someone under deep cover has been in the crew a long time. Such a person would be very difficult to smoke out but we must consider all possibilities."
"We have two recent transfers, Excellency," said Nassar. "One of them is a part of the kitchen staff and the other is...this is bad, Excellency."
"What is it?"
"One of our newest crewmembers is a communications tech," said Nassar, "stationed near the bridge and assigned to Stage II communications."
"That's a perfect position for an enemy agent," said the Ambassador, "He would have easy access to communications and therefore the ability to share with the enemy what our plans are. There can be no more Stage II communications until we move that man and examine the records. I am relieved that we insisted that our meeting take place on the Greyhound this morning!"
"What do you suggest we do, Excellency?"
"We must do nothing to alarm either of these agents for now but both of those men must be carefully watched. We must ensure that no sensitive communications go through that technician from this moment on!"
"The Chief Steward and the Head Chef are waiting in your briefing room, Excellency."
"Very good, Nassar. Both of you, accompany me, if you please."
The Ambassador, Hussein and Nassar went into the briefing room and closed the door behind them. The Chief Steward and the Head Chef were chatting amiably about staffing arrangements for the next few days. They seemed unaware that anything was amiss. Both men stood up as the Ambassador entered the room.
"Samman, Jawad, as always, it is good to see you," began the Ambassador. "Please, do be seated."
The Head Chef made to hand over his electronic tablet with the menus for the next several days on it but the Ambassador waved it away.
"We can talk about the menus later. Right now we have to discuss matters of shipboard security."
The two men immediately became more serious.
"The man that attacked Sondia and Shawndra had been hiding among the kitchen staff," said Hussein. On the room's viewscreen, he ran the same clip from the security video that the officers had viewed just a short time earlier that showed Sondia's assailant boarding the ship.
"Excellency!" exclaimed the Head Chef, his distress obvious, "I had no idea!"
"Easy, Samman, I am not accusing you of any wrongdoing. With all of the confusion during the attack on the Santana Nexus and our narrow escape, we have an uncomfortably high number of personnel on board that we know very little about. You will also recall that two members of the wait staff made an attempt on my life just before the terrorist attack on the Nexus Station."
"I am deeply sorry about that, Excellency..." began the Chief Steward.
"I am not accusing you either, Jawad, it just that we need to talk to both of you about your workers. Particularly anyone who has joined us recently, like right after the attack on the Nexus."
Both men took a few moments to consider the Ambassador's questions before answering.
"There is new man on my cooking staff," said Samman. "Now that I think on it, he and the man who attacked Sondia joined us right after the escape from the Nexus. They said they needed to prepare and deliver special food for one of the diplomats."
"He was associating with the man who made the attempt on Sondia?" said the Ambassador. "We will need to watch him. Try not to alarm him, Samman, but be careful not to share any important information where he might overhear."
"Absolutely, Excellency."
"Jawad?"
"I too have a new staff member who joined right after the attack. The two men who attacked you in the ballroom back while we were at the Nexus were not a part of our staff, they were with the catering company that had temporarily come over from the Nexus Station. The security situation there was...impossible, totally nerve wracking! We must be careful not to put ourselves in such a bind again!"
"Yes, I must admit that we were behaving somewhat naively during that time," said the Ambassador. "No more!"
"What are we going to do, Excellency?"
"We need proof, at the moment all we have on any of them is some reason to suspect them."
"You have something in mind, Excellency?"
"For now we are going to watch them carefully, in case any of them should show their hand. Beyond that..." He stopped for a moment and asked, "...I wonder if there is some way that we can use these men to our advantage?"
"I'm not sure I understand, Excellency."
"Could we figure out some way to get them to communicate false information about our future plans? That could prove to be very useful!"
Chapter 25.
UTFN Reclamation Center, on board Meridian Imperial Diplomatic Ship Istanbul, January 4, 2599.
The Ambassador talked things over with Helen Murdock and between the two of them they had agreed on alternative living arrangements for Faiza and Amanda. After the attempt on Sondia's life, the two young women had been told to be very careful and to be certain that they had a guard with them when they left their quarters for any reason at all. The girls had adjusted well enough to the arrangement but the enforced confinement and the need for a guard was almost certain to get old in hurry.
Ambassador Saladin went to the quarters shared by the two young women and rapped on the door.
"Faiza?" he said into the intercom, "It is your father. It is safe to let me in."
Faiza opened the door for him. He came in and she closed the door behind him.
"As I told you yesterday, Sondia and I think that it has become too dangerous for the two of you onboard this ship. I have spoken to Captain Murdock and Commander Kresge and, in light of this most recent attack, they agree. We are transferring the two of you to the Greyhound immediately. We think you will be much safer there. Captain Murdock has arranged quarters where the two of you can continue to be together."
"Will Tamara be coming too?" asked Faiza.
"Never fear, Dr. Carlisle will be accompanying you. I am deeply sorry that all this is necessary but you must transfer without delay."
The two young women, along with several of the Ambassador's most trusted guards, immediately began to pack for the move. Faiza had to decide what she would leave behind as there was not nearly enough room for all of her things in the new accommodations. Amanda just threw a
ll of her stuff back into the big duffel bag she had come with. After taking about half an hour for Amanda to get squared away and another twenty minutes for Faiza to pack some necessary essentials, the two young women suited up and made the transfer over to the Greyhound on the Rover II.
Within an hour after boarding they were more or less settled in.
With many of her personnel having been pressed into service to crew the various ships that were heading out on the resupply and recruiting missions, the Greyhound currently had a fair amount of extra living space. The particular suite onboard the Greyhound that the young women had been assigned to was actually one of the best equipped on the entire ship. It had previously been used to transport paying passengers and was equipped with its own ultrasonic shower and private sanitary facilities. Their new quarters were somewhat smaller and considerably less luxurious than the opulent stateroom they had enjoyed on the Istanbul but the two young women found them to be more than adequate. It was a relief to both of them to leave the security threats of the Istanbul behind. With the incredible resilience of the young, the two girls settled in to their new digs quickly and resumed their studies. To them it was just one more part of the sometimes terrifying but mostly exhilarating adventure that their lives had become.
***
UTFN Reclamation Center, onboard Federation Auxiliary ship Greyhound, January 4, 2599.
Carlisle, who had out of necessity been maintaining some kind of temporary accommodation on both ships, had returned to what would now be her permanent quarters on the Greyhound, the conversation with Talbot still running through her head. The last few days had been nothing but a furious, mad rush but she could tell that she was getting better. Not all that long ago she would have been ready for a nap after walking to the mess area of the Istanbul and back. Today she was tired but she felt as though she still had a little bit left in the tank. She knew she should be getting some rest but she was going see if she could access more of the information on the download from the Veritian derelict's computer drive first.
The Santana Nexus (Junkyard Dogs Book 3) Page 14
