Archives of the Frontier Universe: An Assassin's Assignment (6 page)

“I think I’m going to start by crossing over to the building I’m facing,” she said. “They’re connected, and I should be able to move without being spotted. That’ll get me out of the most dangerous area.” She stepped onto the top of the stone hall, and felt the wind pick up. It caught her hair, pulling her to the right in a predictable fashion. And then the well-known feeling of vertigo set in.

“Okay,” said Meyer. “Just be careful. It’d be a shame if after all that work you died by simply falling off.”

Rose snorted. “Yes, well, I’m not counting on that.”

She kept her harpoons ready just in case and squatted down for stability. Though she had plenty of space to simply run across, such an action could more easily draw eyes. In addition, she wanted to gather as much information of the Court’s activities as possible while outside. Rose began to hurry across, but kept her pace well under that of true urgency. Below, she could hear more of the Court military moving, positioning, and relaying intel. From so far up, the scene actually resembled the aftermath of a daring bank heist—flashing lights, echoing orders, high activity, and all. She reached about half span across the hall’s roof.

“You really caused quite a stir, Captain,” she commented with humor. “It appears they’re shaking down even workers in the adjacent buildings. I don’t think a mouse could cross the street without getting frisked.”

“Don’t thank me,” insisted the man. “Kyte’s installation should’ve surrendered. I still can’t believe they thought fighting was going to help. Now, most of them are dead. And the survivors will probably do no better. The Court’s going to want them sentenced to death.”

Rose agreed with Meyer completely, but a specific detail could not go unconsidered. Finally stepping onto the other building, she straightened up and pressed her back against a stone column. Instinctively, she peered inside the nearest window; however, it was dark, and the room contained no discernible life. “Yes, that would be my guess as well. However, as the Union is at war with the Court, any claiming fealty to the Pirate faction could not be sentenced to death . . . correct?” she tacked on.

Meyer paused for a moment in which time it seemed likely that he shrugged or gave some other considering gesture. “Well, that is the ‘official’ ruling, yes. But if the Court can find them guilty of killing civilians or determines that they are a rogue or independent unit, then executions can be sentenced.”

“And that’s what you think they’ll do?” she asked.

“We’re talking about two competing sides. There’re bound to be some lies crafted. This is why it would have been a much better plan to just surrender. Now that they’ve retaliated, it’ll be much more difficult for them to seem innocent of . . . whatever the Court cooks up.”

“Idiots!” huffed Rose. “No matter. We’ve got what we needed.” She walked over to a small balcony sitting above her and climbed up. Keeping quiet, she checked the area and then reached the door. Predictably, it was locked. However, she did not have the patience to pick it. A single swing of her harpoon and the door opened. “I’m inside the building.” She shut the door behind.

“Very good. You should have a little time before they search the place. It appears they’re much more interested in the military sections of Kyte’s installation. That’s what all the chatter has pertained to, anyways.”

“In that case, I’ll use this time to copy the intel from the spike we need.” She kicked in the nearest door, unintentionally revealing a storage room. Irritated, she trotted to the next room, which featured double doors.

“You can’t,” affirmed Meyer. “There’s nothing with a high enough capacity that you could carry. And you cannot send the intel via satellite or any other remote means.”

Already having considered this, Rose kicked in the double doors, happy to find what she was originally searching for. She saw herself into yet another server room and began pilfering for a high-capacity memory device.

“What’re you doing, anyways?” asked the man. “Vandalizing?”

“No, I’ve already thought about what we discussed. Command is going to want this spike even if it’s damaged. They’re not going to buy the story that it got lost . . . And this is because three of the representatives got away. They will surely be monitoring intelligence for mention of an Eiltheen data spike.” She threw a desk out of her way and made for another. Jerking a cabinet open, she started sifting through components. “It’s not going to take them long to find out what happened to it when both ‘it’ and ‘me’ don’t show up in the report, but the two dead Vicese do.” She shoved the cabinet drawer closed and yanked another out. “That information will get back to Command and they’ll know I was successful in obtaining it. I’ll have to give it to them damaged . . . or wiped.” She threw the drawer closed. “Damn it! Is there no store of ‘useful’ components in here—” Then she spotted a more conspicuous cabinet and hurried over to it.

“So, what’s your plan? Why the hunt for another memory device?”

Rose gave a sassy laugh. “You can’t say you’re not curious, Captain? Fontaine wants intel on Dailunavein. I for one am going to find out why, being so close to the answer as I am. Also, Boss R will surely appreciate being in the loop. We could use this information to impede on the Norvanull performance there.” She opened and closed two more drawers, growing ever more anxious. But the third finally bore what she sought. Inside, sat a gray, slender memory chip, similar to what was given to the Eiltheen representative earlier.

“Well, you better hurry. Even intel on just Dailunavein could take . . . maybe hours to transfer.”

“Got it already,” she insisted. “Connecting now.” Using her glass slate, Rose interfaced with both devices and then began scanning the Eiltheen spike for intel on Dailunavein. An entry was found, and then several more, and then hundreds. But suddenly, she was thwarted by a security layer. “What?!” she snapped. “What the hell is this?”

“What is it?!” rushed Meyer. “What did you find?”

Rose pressed her lips together in anger. “A security interface!” she growled, wanting to slam the device against a wall. “One that is insurmountable! They betrayed us!”

“Are you sure? Check its protocols.”

“I have!” she replied sharply. “It will only accept a very specific interface encrypted in a very specific code! They must’ve done this to ensure we’d give them what they wanted.”

Meyer grumbled. “Well, what do we do? Actually, perhaps they planned on giving us the code at the meeting . . . meaning it could’ve been on them.”

Trying her best to retrain her vast disappointment, Rose closed her eyes and leaned on the cabinet. She took a revitalizing breath. “I have to track down the others reps. anyways. They must have the code. I’ll get it from them then silence them.” She then opened her eyes, her mind running across a possible shortcut. “Captain. Speaking of the other three, they left in the company of some of our men, did they not? Track their ship. It’ll give me a good place to start.”

“I . . .” he hesitated. “I can give you their last known destination coordinates; however, it will probably not help your search. Our own men will have left them as soon as they touched down to return to another of our facilities. The representatives will most certainly return to their own duties. If they were smart, they probably didn’t share the exact location with our men.”

Rose thought for a moment, and then gaining inspiration, stowed her slate and both memory devices. She turned, making for the door. “Even better,” she announced. “If they’re returning to their hotels, which is likely, I should be able to obtain their exact locations. All I need is access to the Court’s own systems.” She pulled the doors shut behind her and began following the halls to the opposite end of the building, away from the ruckus outside.

“I see,” began Meyer, sounding inspired as well. “I didn’t think of that. So, off to the nearest high security installation then?”

“The very highest . . . in a way,” she replied. “I’m heading for the Court Grand Hall. Contrary to what
I’d
implement, the Court keeps most of its central structure open to the public . . . and on low security.” She turned another corner, hurrying through the silent hall. Only the rhythmic clatter of her heals echoed in the dark, besides her and Meyer’s conversation. “So long as no one managed to snap a photo of me, I should be able to move about quite freely.” She took another turn, now searching for a staircase. Instead, she found a series of elevators. Using her power, she sensed the location of the nearest, through the sealed doors. Finding it to her left (one actually on her floor), she hit the call button and stepped inside.

“You still might want to avoid being seen,” advised Meyer. “They may not suspect you because of arms, but the discovery of a Pirate installation will likely put everyone on edge.”

Not even waiting for the doors to shut, Rose put her hand to the service hatch on the ceiling and blew it open with a blast of telekinesis. She then jumped through the narrow hole, landing inside the stretching shaft.

“It’s just something to keep in mind,” the man continued.

“Hmm,” she hummed. “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll listen out for any sort of anxiety among those there. But the Grand Hall is several miles from here, and this is a massive city. Only news nearby should actually worry them. They know they’re at war. Plus, it’s not as if we attacked them; they attacked us.” As he did not respond, it seemed as if Meyer simply acquiesced to her assessment.

Rose fired her harpoon up, retracted it, and ascended to the top. Seeing a small staircase built near the ceiling of the shaft, she flipped towards it and landed. She promptly exited the building, stepping out on the roof. Like before on the elevated hall, the wind picked up with a strong grip, pulling the loose extensions of her skirt and top. However, it seemed the Court did not have their air support monitoring this building. Wasting no time, she ran for the edge of the skyscraper. “Alright, I’m going silent for a while. I’ll try to find a faster way there once I escape the area. Just keep Command happy until we can figure this out.”

“Very well,” replied the man. “I’ll speak with you soon.”

Captain Meyer ceased communications, just as Rose reached the edge. Without a moment’s thought, she leapt over, diving back into the night.

As soon as she went silent, Captain Meyer terminated the communication session with Posteritor Byruhme and switched to monitoring the Court’s communications traffic. Fortunately for him and his installation, a group of competent technicians was able to secure a frequency. Not long after that, they were able to branch out universally and establish reliable uplinks to several channels (including the Court’s own). It seemed like, for now, the Court was more interested in bringing their own systems back online—at least the systems affected by Rose’s virus—instead of chasing every little data lead.

Meyer continued tracking information pertaining to the seized installation. Apparently, a couple dozen Pirate officers and officials had been captured in the main building, along with a few hundred of the military in the surrounding areas. Astonishingly, and highly irritatingly to Meyer, almost another hundred were put down during the fight. The Court’s casualties were miniscule in comparison.

“Idiots!” he cursed aloud. So loud, in fact, that a few of his subordinates across the room looked to him. Because of their distance from him (and the fact they had been monitoring different channels) they had not been able to hear the details of his conversations with Byruhme. His outburst, however, was detected at once, and Meyer shook his head, following up. “If Kyte had better control of his people, they would’ve simply surrendered! They could’ve dealt with a few months as prisoners, while the rest of us figured this out. Now, the Court’s going hold those men for some outrageous ransom, slapping brands of terrorism and such upon them!”

No one spoke, but Meyer caught a few nodding out of the corner of his eye. Over by the doors, men and women were moving quickly back and forth, keeping their many operations afloat. News was being relayed to the other installations and even to other star systems. However, it was one contact in particular that the captain dreaded.

“Sir,” called a woman across the room. “Command demands that you provide an update on the situation.”

Right on time, eh?!
his mind growled.
What price would a moment of thought cost?!
He turned for the woman. “Absolutely,” he breathed. “Connect me with Command.” He grabbed an intel report next to him, which had grown from a single sheet of paper into an entire folder’s worth. Putting it under his arm, he then turned and started for the exit. “And I’ll be taking the call in my office.”

“At once, sir,” said the woman.

He saw her bow, but he ignored it and pushed out of the doors across from him. His office only demanded a short walk, but it would provide the silence he desired once Command was updated. Furthermore, a conversation with Boss R had grown ever likely over the past few hours. Surely the man had caught wind of the explosive event . . . if not a hurricane. Reaching his office, Meyer opened the door.

Already waiting inside, Colonel Lonng of Command stood already calibrated in the fiery conference display. He had his eyes on Meyer . . . seemingly even before the door cracked open. “Well, it’s about time, Captain,” the Colonel opened. “I was beginning to wonder if the Court had gained information on
all
our outposts there. And already sent a battalion to silence yours as well.”

“Sir,” Meyer bowed. “My apologies. My agent needed eyes and ears on the district. I was in the perfect position to help her, and didn’t want the mission to fail.” He walked all the way in and stood before his superior.

“Tell me then, why am I not speaking to her? She has not attempted to contact Command as far as I am aware . . . which was part of her orders.”

Meyer felt a chill run up his spine. “Sir, the area has been locked down tight. She was fortunate to even escape the building the meeting was held in. In addition, the representatives and some of our men panicked and betrayed her. She was forced to kill them to secure the intel.”

Lonng’s face twisted with a tinge of anger, but he hesitated before speaking. “So . . . So she was successful in retrieving the device?”

“Affirmative,” Meyer was glad to provide. “However, as I’ve said, the Court’s locked down air traffic in the area, as well as communications. She was forced to go dark to prevent exposure.” He shook his head. “I cannot even provide an estimation on when she’ll make contact again. Hopefully, she’ll arrive back here in a few hours.”

Lonng seemed to grow even more irritable. “I’m not interested in waiting, Captain. Get your men out there and secure that device! The invasion of Dailunavein is set to begin any day now. With that intel, we’ll be able to force the king’s hand! Or whatever Fontaine has planned!”

“I understand that time is of the essence, Colonel,” began Meyer uneasily, “but my agent is very skilled. I doubt she’ll return any faster with our help. We should be thankful for her abilities thus far. She’s navigated near-impossible odds to get this far. She will not fail me.”

Lonng put a hand to his head and shook it. Then, he let out a sigh sounding fatigued. “And you can’t even give me an estimation on when she’ll return?” he asked, a little more settled.

The captain paused and tilted his head. “It . . . is difficult to say. By ship, she is only a quarter hour out, as normal air traffic goes. However, at least in her current vicinity, she can’t risk taking any air transportation. Her plan was to move out of the area on foot until she reaches a district not under surveillance. This could take an hour or several.”

“What about ground-based transportation?”

“Even if she could take some sort of taxi, it’d take her hours to return. And judging by the mess Kyte’s installation started, ground-based transportation is going to be suspended.” Meyer watched Lonng toss his head and then put his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry, sir; that’s the best information I can provide right now.”

“Okay,” the man returned, almost cutting him off. “What about the traitors? Did your agent explain why they opted to betray us? Do you really think they were just
that
weak-willed?”

The captain turned away from his superior in consideration. Setting his paperwork down on his desk finally, he spoke. “She mentioned they panicked. What officially happened was the Court discovered the installation during their negotiations and attacked. I believe they were worried about being found guilty of defecting and thrown in prison, so they meant to take a transport away before the air space was locked down.”

Lonng turned his palms up, gesturing in confusion. “So, what the hell was the problem? Couldn’t they all fit in one ship? Or the Court’s people were too good to fly with ours?”

Meyer gave a faint smile to applaud the man’s (nonexistent) sense of humor. “No, I believe timing was the issue. My agent sent them ahead to the hangar while she neutralized, helped neutralize,” he amended, “a Court . . . gunship, I believe it was.” He took a small breath. Because Boss R probably did not share all of the details of Rose’s mission with Command, he did not want to unwittingly expose something. In particular, the possibility prevailed that they were still unaware that she was a posteritor . . . knowledge which would raise more than a few eyebrows.

“So, she kept them waiting too long, then?” the Colonel speculated.

“Too long for them, yes. She was only in combat a few minutes. She, in fact, walked in on their
discussions
of a change in command. To his credit, Captain Kyte ordered them to wait for her, but they all refused and turned on him. My agent arrived in time to prevent any further . . . unpleasantness, I’d say. Furthermore—”

“Okay, Captain,” Lonng interjected. “What I’d like to know is how is it possible that the Court found out about the installation in the first place? I’m assuming it was because of an unsecure transmission. Tell me the idiot responsible for that is either dead or now in prison.”

Meyer nodded. “Yes, sir, I was just getting to that,” he replied. “The Court must’ve flagged a communication feed . . . it’s not clear whether or not it was audio-based, text-based or . . .” He trailed off, seeing Lonng rotating his hand towards himself. Clearly, he was uninterested in the fine details, an actual plus for Meyer. “Yes, sir,” he gleefully accepted. “Anyways, the communication was tagged and the Court was out there in no time. According to my agent, though, this occurred just after the representatives requested a private meeting amongst themselves. We believe
they
sold us out.”

Colonel Lonng narrowed his eyes. “I find that unlikely . . . They have been rather cooperative since our first negotiations. Do you have any lead on what the motive could’ve been?”

“Only an unproven one,” replied Meyer.

The colonel sighed with effort. “All ‘leads’ are unproven, Captain,” he condescended. “This is why they are aptly named ‘leads’ and not hard evidence.”

“Indeed, sir.” He nodded agreeably, though he really would have enjoyed punching the man out. “But this one in particular cannot be proven ever. The reps. are dead . . .” And then he remembered the loose ends. “Actually, sir, scratch that. We may be able to find out their intentions. Only two of the five representatives were killed. They were split up, and three—the two Eiltheen and the Forcurrian—escaped minutes before Rose recovered the device from the other two.” Meyer looked to Lonng affirmatively. “They’re still out there. And I need direction in handling them. If they
did
betray us, they’re now liabilities.”

The colonel glanced away for a moment, as if to someone else with him. He then shook his head, obviously providing some insight, before repositioning his eyes to Meyer. “Captain, do you have intel regarding their location now? The representatives,” he specified.

“No, sir. None other than the fact they should be quartered in the Court’s hotels, since they’re here on duty.” Knowing that it could greatly assist Rose in her mission, Meyer tried to hint at her proximity to the Grand Hall. “If I may, sir,” he began cautiously. “My agent is in a unique position to deal with these traitors. As she attended the meeting before the Court attacked, she’ll know exactly who we’re looking for. And she’s one I’d send anyways for this kind of assignment.”

Lonng tilted his head in thought. “So you mean that once she returns we should send her back out for them? That could take hours, like you said.”

“Yes, it could. However, with your permission, I could order her to clean up this mess before she returns here—provided she sends any sort of forward contact. If not, I can get some of my own personnel on the mission at once; but it’ll still take them time to obtain intel on their whereabouts.”

Again, some invisible person drew the colonel’s attention, and he turned to them and whispered something. Captain Meyer went silent to give the man a moment, but suddenly saw a flash of light emit from behind his own desk. He turned as quickly as he could towards it without seeming startled. From behind the desk, the red bird of energy, belonging to Rose’s master, hopped into view and approached his side. The colonel was still occupied, so Meyer held a hand to the bird, gesturing it to wait.

“Very well, Captain,” said Lonng finally. Meyer looked back to him eagerly. “Deal with the representatives in any way you see fit. However, above all, the device needs to be secured. Contact me as soon as there’s a development in either assignment.” He then pointed a finger at the captain. “Do NOT let another incident like the one at Kyte’s installation happen again. I’ll be tied up in duties for the next few hours, so don’t contact me with any unnecessary information.”

“Yes, sir,” answered Meyer. He bowed.

“I’ll speak with you soon.” With that, the colonel was gone, and the flames of his display were snuffed out.

Captain Meyer stepped away from the conference display and looked to Boss R’s bird. Shaking his head, he let out a little growl. “I can’t stand when he does that. Byruhme is doing all she can with the situation, and he’s demanding results as if she’s just dropping the spike off like mail. And blaming ‘me’ for everything. It was Kyte’s installation that . . .” He pressed his lips together, trying to calm his rage. The bird simply tilted its head, apparently not comprehending a word. Meyer lifted a hand. “Never mind that. Go ahead and connect me to him.”

As if finally hearing a phrase it recognized, the red bird began flapping its wings. The familiar jet of red dust-like material flew into the air and consolidated rapidly. The hooded figure of Boss R appeared. “Captain Meyer,” said the man, in a partly indistinct voice.

Meyer bowed. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry for the delay. I was just speaking to Colonel Lonng. Apparently, word of Kyte’s installation has reached Command.”

“That’s correct, Captain,” confirmed the boss. “My own detachment has just received the news of their stupidity. I must admit, I was surprised that they decided to fight the Court. But what’re the fine details? Did Rose secure the device?”

The captain allowed an indicative smile to grace his lips. “Affirmative, sir!” he announced proudly. And then his joy began to fizzle out. “Even in spite of the betrayal she faced, I’d like to admit.”

Boss R seemed to intensify his attention, though Meyer could not see his eyes or much of anything past his dim nose. The hood he wore shrouded his face almost perfectly. “Betrayal? Please elaborate, Captain.”

“Yes, sir. Well, apparently, Byruhme needed to neutralize a ship before they could escape. She sent them to a hangar without her while she did that. When she finally caught up, two of the representatives and a group of our own men planned to betray her.”