The Black Guard: Book II: Evolution (Black Guard Series 2)

by C. R. Daems

  The car was passed through a security gate into a twenty acre fenced property with a single building in the center. The building looked old and reminiscent of an old-English three-story mansion. Ten twenty-meter wide stone steps led to wooden doors guarded by two soldiers in combat gear. They saluted Doyle as he approached and opened the door for us to enter. Inside, Doyle led me to the left and down a long corridor filled with portraits of men and women. We stopped at a small foyer in front of an elderly woman behind a large wooden desk. Two guards in civilian attire sat off to the side in wing-backed chairs. She looked me over before speaking into a headset she was wearing. After a moment, she smiled at Doyle.

  "Mr. Doyle, you can go in; the president is free."

  "Thank you," he said nodding, and waved for me to follow. I noticed the two guards watching me like a lose rattlesnake. Doyle knocked on the door, waited for acknowledgement, and then opened the door, waving me in before him. As he did, a tall man with graying hair stood and came walking around the desk to meet us.

  "Mr. President, this is Captain Sapir of the Black Guard. Captain Sapir, Mr. Marshall is the President of the United Freelands," Doyle said. I gave a small bow toward Marshall's outstretched hand.

  "I forgot. The Black Guard do not shake hands. Keeps you at arms length from your client?" he asked.

  "No, keeps the hand too far from our weapons."

  He laughed. "Want something to drink?" he asked and then continued when I shook my head. "Have a seat, Captain." He waved to the three chairs in front of his large ebony desk. "I seem to have pissed off someone enough to hire professionals to shorten my term of office by two years."

  "Do you know why?"

  "No. We are living in an age where too many people believe in killing people when they get upset, as if that solved anything. But the attempts are beyond the normal sophistication of the average citizen. They are more professional like state sponsored assassinations."

  "Does the UF sponsor assassins?" I asked, wondering if they were trying to imply Suryah, which the Black Guard had had a contract with to protect them from the UF.

  He gave me a hard look. "Ever government does when it affects national security."

  "If every government does it, then it sounds fair to me," I said to open mouths but continued before they could respond. "The Black Guard doesn't care why someone is trying to kill you, but we do need to understand the threat to construct a contract. For example, is it personal and therefore could impact your family? Is it poorly funded locals attempting retribution for some perceived injustice? Or is it a cause that would attract money support and therefore experienced help and state of the art weapons? And will you be traveling?"

  "Can't we just pay for guards?" Doyle asked sounding frustrated.

  "No, you cannot. The Jax will determine the number and type of Jax military it feels necessary to support your needs. But to determine your needs the requirements must be specific enough to determine the risk. The numbers are negotiable but in the end the contract must be one that you and the Jax can agree."

  "What if we don't know the specifics? Someone is trying to kill the President of the UF!" Doyle's voice rose in anger.

  "Director Doyle," Marshall said in a sharp tone. "Doyle does have a point. It seems one can't hire the Black Guard unless they know the specifics of the threat."

  "Sir, I don't normally negotiate contracts. The Jax Contract Committee sent me to talk to you and generate a preliminary draft because I was near and because you specifically requested me. I believe you would be better negotiating with the JCC." I still hadn't determined if this was an attempt at revenge against me or a legitimate threat against Marshall or an attempt to kill two enemies with one shot. But I was enjoying the game.

  "Director Doyle, give us a minute alone." Marshall nodded to the door. Doyle rose and reluctantly left.

  "I have upset the extremists in the party. Those idiots wanted me to call your bluff on Suryah. So they have decided to ignore the democratic process and replace me several years early. They feel our vice president would be more understanding. And I suspect those same people would like to make you pay for embarrassing them. Does that help clarify the situation?" Marshall walked over and poured himself a cup of kaffa. "Would you like one?"

  "Yes, thank you," I said stalling for time to think. Although the Jax didn't support rebel groups trying to overthrow legitimate governments, they made no attempt to stop them unless requested through a contract. But we did take contracts to protect important people; however, in this case my detail would have to protect me too, which wasn't fair to them.

  "You must also realize our version of history makes you out to be a sadistic killer of unarmed soldiers."

  "That's rather an oxymoron—unarmed and soldiers?"

  "Killing armed soldiers doesn't go well with 'sadistic killer', does it?"

  "Although it does fit the events," I said—and here Marshall's eyes grew wide in shock. "Your attack ships leveled a barracks without warning—where they thought soldiers lay sleeping."

  "I didn't know that," he said quietly.

  "I'll propose a contract, but it will be expensive given all the unknowns. Maybe we can use the sadistic killer image to our advantage."

  * * *

  I used my Mfi to locate one of my old contracts then rewrote it for the UF. Three hours later, I sent a copy to the War Horse for Captain Hwang to review. He called an hour later.

  "I'm surprised you are considering a contract with the UF," Hwang said. "Although I like the terms and I think the JCC will also. But will the UF agree? It's very expensive."

  "I think they should pay a bonus for contemplating revenge against a Jax officer, don't you?"

  "Definitely." He laughed. "I'll assemble the team on the assumption you'll get them to agree."

  "They have no choice. They will pay any price to kill Marshall and me."

  "I almost feel sorry for them. You're the last Jax officer I'd like to play cat and mouse games with. You're a black mamba in a mouse's skin. Good luck, Sapir."

  * * *

  "You're were right, this contract is expensive, and they have no choice but to approve it. But why my wife?"

  "Because I don't trust them. They are ruthless fanatics with no honor or morals. Their conduct on Suryah proved that."

  "I'll submit this to the committee for approval since I would be signing for the UF not me personally."

  I returned to the War Horse, to await their decision.

  * * *

  "If you get away with this, the JCC may put you on the committee. What's the strategy?" Hwang asked that night a dinner with his XO, Wolfson and his senior lieutenant, and me and my two lieutenants.

  "The War Horse minimizes the chance they will try to assassinate me without an attempt on Marshall. They have to fear retaliation. The cost is excessively high so they can't afford to waste time on several exploratory attempts to test the Guard and marine defenses. I'm hoping they are going to try a major assault, which given we win, should be easy to trace back to the instigators."

  The room turned silent as each person thought through my logic.

  Hwang nodded. "As I said, a black mamba in a mouse's skin."

  "The fees will cause them to rush. The country could go bankrupt in a couple of months." Hwang's XO grinned.

  "That's why you wanted the heavy weapons and combat shuttles." Wolfson nodded. "And why you worded it as in reserve, when in fact you want it immediately available on demand."

  "And the extra Guard available if Marshall travels, that will in fact be available twenty-four seven," Elijah said.

  "Sir, I believe Captain Hwang has just given you your Jax's nickname—the Black Mamba," Ceder said to unanimous nods. It was better than heartless bitch.

  "Duty first and foremost. A duty to protect our client and a duty to be smart, so as to minimize our casualties."

  "I used to think that kind of philosophy bordered on cowardice, but following your exploits has made a believer out of me. Wha
t you really advocate is fighting smart versus fighting stupid, which a lot of our officers have justified as tradition," Wolfson said, then looked to his lieutenant. "Lieutenant Walsh, so there is no confusion, Captain Sapir is in charge."

  * * *

  Late the next morning, Captain Hwang notified me the JCC had approved the contract and it had been signed by the UF. The ship came alive a forty marines and forty-one Black Guards prepared to board the waiting four marine combat shuttles. An hour later the equipment and troops were in the process of boarding when I arrived. To my surprise, Captain Hwang and Colonel Wolfson were in the bay talking.

  "Good morning, Captain, Colonel." I bowed in respect.

  "This is a great contract, but it's too great. I know you think you understand the situation and have taken reasonable precautions, but call if you need support. You have Jax family up here with enough power to propel the UF back to the Stone Age," Hwang said.

  Wolfson grinned. "The cat awaits you, Black Mamba."

  I left Hwang and Wolfson discussing the contract and boarded. We landed inside the capital building grounds and Doyle met me and escorted me to see Marshall.

  "You were right, Captain Sapir. They didn't even blink at the price. I think they hate you more than me."

  "Be thankful that fanatics believe they are pre-destined to succeed, so they see what they want to see. In this case, an arrogant and greedy Black Guard falling into their cleverly laid trap."

  "They aren't stupid," Doyle said, looking at Marshall with obvious concern.

  "I didn't mean to imply they weren't dangerous, only that they have closed minds, which makes them vulnerable."

  "What now?" Doyle asked.

  "You have your normal responsibility for security except for inside this building and traveling arrangements," I said.

  Doyle nodded understanding.

  Over the next hour, rooms were assigned for the troops, staff and regular visitors identified and registered in our database, and assignments made for guarding entrances. Also, the shuttles appeared to leave.

  "Elaine, I'd like you to meet Captain Sapir. Captain Sapir, my wife and First Lady of the UF, Elaine Marshall." Marshall had arranged for us to meet in the living room in their family wing.

  "It's nice to finally meet you, Captain Sapir. I've heard many things about you over the past year. I hope they're all true and you can keep my husband alive," she said with steel in her voice, although her eyes were a bit misty. "Why guard me? Why not use those troops to supplement my husband's guard?"

  "First Lady." I gave a small bow. "The people threatening your husband not only don't believe in a democratic government but have no honor. If the opportunity arose, they would readily use you as a leverage to get to your husband. I imagine he would risk his life to save yours." I didn't really know that, but it was probably true in most marriages. If nothing else, her capture would cause irrational behavior. "Besides, it permits me to have more Guard in the building." I gave her a conspiratorial grin.

  She produced a small smile.@

  "This is Senior Sergeant Judt," I said. "He will be in charge of your detail."

  Judt went on to introduce Sergeant Peller and the rest of her nine-person team and to explain they would be on duty twenty-four seven and that two would accompany her everywhere.

  I then introduced Senior Sergeant Cerff to Marshall, who introduced his team. Afterward, I introduced Ceder, Elijah, and Walsh and explained the marines would be controlling entrances while the Guard would be maintaining building security.

  I had too many Guard and marines for building security, but was it enough for a full-fledged coup by the military?

  Marshall interrupted my musing.

  "It's time for my daily staff meeting," he said, unsure of the procedure now that the Guard was providing his security.

  "Your Guard would like to know where you are going, but unless they or I feel it exposes you to too much danger, you are free to go wherever you need or want."

  He nodded and took off down the hall about fifty meters to the next corridor and proceeded to the second room on the right. Sergeant Glick opened the door and entered first, then Corporal Paler. Afterward I gestured to Marshall and he entered with me following. The oblong wooden table had ten people sitting around it and a vacant seat at the head, which Marshall took.

  "Well, Marshall, the palace looks like an armed fortress … or an invasion," said a well-dressed woman in her mid-thirties, who I recognized as Miss Haeckel with the negotiating team on Suryah. She sneered in my direction. "Are you back to carry out your threat, Captain Sapir?"

  "The Black Guard don't threaten, Miss Haeckel. I do remember pointing out to you that sending a thousand troops to murder twenty Black Guard could be perceived as an act of war against the Jax. Fortunately, wisdom prevailed and the matter was settled through civilized negotiations."

  "As you are well aware, Marie, there have been two attempts on my life, and the Action Committee, which you chair, recommended calling the Black Guard and specifically Captain Sapir."

  "My mistake. I didn't realize Captain Sapir was the … officer in charge at Suryah. I guess I was too upset over the murder of our soldiers." She glared in my direction.

  I chose to ignore her remark. She was laying the groundwork for a coup, and nothing I could say would change the opinions of those at the table or their plans. Actually, I should thank her for advertising their strategy, I mused with a smile.

  She smiled back. We were obviously both pleased if for different reasons—her looking forward to killing me, and I for an insight into her plans.

  Marshall took charge by prompting a report from each director.

  When it came to Haeckel's turn, she stressed her concern about trusting me. She was a good actress who I'm sure introduced enough doubt into everyone's minds to later justify her actions. Of course, I doubted anyone noticed the flaw in her concern—she never suggested they cancel the contract.

  "What do you think, Captain?" Marshall asked after the meeting, when we were alone.

  "We will have to see if she's as good as she thinks," I said, unable to do more than anticipate her actions and hope she didn't surprise me.

  "You two seem to be playing a game of sorts." Marshall poured himself a glass of wine while watching me.

  "War games, but unlike those at Draco, real people will die." Black Guard and marines will die. How many would depend upon my decisions—the thought made me sick.

  All day and night, I obsessed over when the attack would come. If I could anticipate when, I could reduce the effectiveness of the attack and reduce the carnage that would surely follow. Would she want an audience for the coup, or would it be enough to rewrite the history of the events afterward with no one alive to contest her version?

  I decided she wouldn't like an audience, since they might not see what she wanted. Better to tell everyone afterward what happened. Therefore, the attack would happen after the staff vacated the building—overwhelming force in the early hours of the morning. She knew better than to expect to catch the Guard sleeping and would want a good body count on her side to justify stopping a coup by the Black Guard. And if she staged it in the early hours of the morning, she could count on a small audience of people getting ready to go to work.

  Having made my decision, I called the War Horse.

  "It's very early, Sapir, what's up?" Hwang's face appeared, then Wolfson's. Both men had obviously been sleeping.

  "I've concluded the opposition group is headed by the Chairperson of the Action Committee, a Miss Haeckel. An attempted coup will occur sometime in the early hours of the morning—beginning around three or four hundred hours. Can you have all four combat shuttles with ten marines in each from around two hundred hours until eight each day and two the rest of the day—in case I'm wrong?"

  "Beginning today?" Hwang asked.

  "No, I don't think she's ready yet, based on her previous actions on Suryah. But tomorrow, to be safe."

  "We will start tomorrow.
Good night, Sapir." Hwang yawned just before my screen went blank.

  I wasn't ready for sleep. I had solved one problem, marine support, but not the other, where to position the Black Guard. There were four entrances into the building. Overwhelming force would indicate an attack on all four entrances, and I doubted they thought a surprise attack would work, so the Guard would have some notice via the outside cameras.

  Doyle should notify his troops not to resist. It would be senseless suicide.

  They would come pouring into each entrance, checking the rooms as they advanced on the President's office and residential areas. I had to assume they knew the specific rooms the Black Guard and the marines occupied and their numbers.

  I spent the next several hours meditating and then rose, washed, and dressed as the general staff were reporting for work. I called a meeting of the three lieutenants and four senior sergeants.

  They braced to attention when I entered the room and bowed, even the marine.

  "At ease. I've called you here to discuss the coup, which will be taking place any morning now, and our preparation. Here is the problem as I see it …" I went on to explain what I thought would happen and why. Then I asked for their ideas.

  "It's simple, sir. We kick ass and go home," Sergeant Catz said to smiles and clapping.

  "Would you care to elaborate for those of us who weren't paying attention?" I said, enjoying the closeness I felt which these people and the amusement they could elicit during the worst of times.

  The next two hours generated many suggestions, some good, some unworkable, and some clever. The session didn't produce a specific solution, but it did help me to see a possible strategy.

  I phoned the War Horse for supplies.

  * * *

  Marshall's fourth staff meeting proved exciting. Haeckel had continued picking on me and questioning me about things she had heard, which pointed to the Black Guard's evil intentions. It was the opening I had been looking for.

  "Miss Haeckel, do you really believe all those tales you are spinning?"