Red Angel (14 page)

Swartz leaned forward. "Do we get to
choose?"

"No," Admiral Rawls said, firmly.

"I would be uncomfortable with anyone on the Bridge
who isn't qualified to be there," Swartz persisted.

"I would imagine your concern is Lieutenant
Paulus, who ironically is the one person qualified to be on the Bridge. She is
an Academy graduate." She paused to enjoy the moment.

Swartz shook his head in obvious disbelief, Sharat
stared wide-eyed, and Choi nodded and smiled.

Rawls rose. "Each captain here was either
selected or approved by Admiral Webb. Each person on the NIA team was either
selected or approved by Admiral Lulltrel and subsequently approved by Admiral
Webb. I must therefore conclude you are not only equally qualified in the
capacity you were selected, but you are the best we have and can be assigned
anywhere with equal success. For now, you are free for the next four days. The
information you've learned today is restricted until you are on your way to
your assigned area." Rawls turned on her heel and strode briskly from the
room.

Sharat immediately walked over to me.

"Lieutenant Paulus, you are as young as you look,
aren't you?"

"I might look even younger than I am. I'm
eighteen."

"You're right." She snorted. "I'd be
interested in hearing your story. You're too young to be a lieutenant, an NIA
agent, or picked to be on a high priority NIA project. Yet, you are all three.
Well, another time perhaps." She nodded and walked off.

Kris nodded in approval. "That was a good
response. I find it's best to address the issue straight on. If she has an
issue, it's hers not yours."

"But she's a captain, and I'm a lieutenant."

"But you aren't in her chain of command, so her
authority is very limited. Not that it's good to antagonize anyone, especially
a captain." Kris gave me a wry grin. "Come, you have a class to
conduct."

I flew the team to the academy and spent a fun
afternoon going over the communications panel installed on the latest cruisers
and the standard functions of a communications officer on the Bridge.

"Thank you, Anna. That was a good session, but I
for one would like another session or two," Adrian said to nodding heads.
"We have Commander Tanaka tomorrow. What about the following day back here?"

Everyone agreed, and I dropped them back at the office
before heading home with Kris.

"I wonder how the selections will be made and who
we will get," Kris said, frowning. "Don't think I'd like Swartz.
Appears to have some very definite opinions about who should be on the Bridge,
and I don't think any of us qualify. Rawls had his number right. I had to bite
my lip to stop from laughing."

"Choi has my number. He wasn't surprised when
Rawls said it was me."

"I think he'd be all right. Not sure about Sharat.
She's direct, which I like, but I’m not sure what she thinks about prodigies,"
Kris said looking at me. I had received mixed emotions from Sharat.

"I think she's a very competitive person and may be
combative."

"Agreed. What's for dinner tonight?"

"I've no idea. Joetta just makes whatever she
wants, although she undoubtedly knows what Alexa likes and doesn't like."

"What about you?"

"I just eat whatever she makes. I like some
things better than others, but they're all okay."

"When I have kids, I hope my daughter will be as
easy to please as you are."

* * *

I spent most of the next couple of days at the
academy. Commander Tanaka spent a half-day demonstrating how the equipment
worked and another day and a half giving us problems to solve in a special
simulator. I used the rest of the time discussing the communications officer's
duties with the team. The last day, I stayed home and Alexa took the day off. We
did some last-minute shopping, ate out, and spent a quiet evening reminiscing.

I was excited and worried on the way to the office.
The thought of being on a cruiser hunting smugglers was exciting, but I worried
about how the assignments would be made. I was as sure I wouldn't like to be on
the Romulus as I was sure Captain Swartz didn't want me there. That left the
Scylla and the Tityus. I didn't know what to think about Captain Choi. He was
quick-witted but kept his feelings to himself. On the other hand, Captain
Sharat seemed competitive and possibly combative. In the end, I would have no
control over the assignments and resolved to keep my head down and let Kris be
the visible partner. Keeping a low profile usually worked pretty well for me.
Surprisingly, when I arrived everyone was already there. I guessed I wasn't the
only one nervous about the assignments.

Adrian was first to speak. "I've collected the
messages for the past twelve months from the five merchants we will be
monitoring. If we're lucky, they are using the same or similar coded messages to
pass information. If not, we will have to find new keys. Consider it homework
while the captain gets us to his or her assigned area. I'd like a weekly
update. Send it to me, but copy everyone else."

"Good idea. That will help keep the captains
informed of any overlap in drop-off or pick up areas and provide better
coverage," Wilber said. "It wouldn't hurt to have two cruisers if we
find the smugglers and they won't come peacefully."

"I don’t think we will have a choice, but does
anyone have a preference?" Kris asked.

"I don't think
choice
is in the military dictionary," Wilber snorted.
"Just like I doubt Captain Swartz is going to be happy having any of us on
his Bridge—just
not cricket
."

Smiles of agreement greeted Wilber's remark. Adrian
might be the best match for Swartz, I thought, but wasn't sure about Wilber,
maybe Sharat.

Just then Stauffer opened the door. "Admiral
Rawls's conference room, in fifteen minutes. This show is about to go on the
road. I've worked with Admiral Rawls to make the best pairings we could, based
on what I know about you and what she knows about the captains. That's the best
we can do. I'll let her announce them, since they are not open to
discussion."

We followed him upstairs to the conference room, where
the captains waited. Rawls entered only minutes after we arrived.

"Attention," her aid barked, and everyone
braced to attention, since no one was seated.

"At ease. I'm informed that the new equipment is
installed, the NIA Agents have been briefed on their operation, and the
cruisers are operational and ready to depart." She scanned the room before
continuing. "Captain Swartz, the Romulus will proceed to Zespa and from
there to Amend, New Zheng, and Stone Ring. Lieutenant Shrader will be your NIA
Agent." She paused to review her CPC, and I could feel Wilber’s and Kris's
relief. Long ago I had learned not to wish for things. It resulted in less
disappointment when you didn't get them. I got the feeling Captain Sharat would
have preferred Adrian.

"Captain Choi, the Scylla will proceed to Eastar
and from there to Black Water, Holy Star and Oxax. Lieutenant Weiss will be
your NIA Agent." She stopped again, and I felt Wilber's relief. Sharat's
eyes locked onto me, although her face remained neutral.

"And Captain Sharat, the Tityus will proceed to
Westar and from there to Shadows Rest, Safe Harbor, and Truth Star. Lieutenants
Sinclair and Paulus will be your NIA Agents."

"Why two, ma'am?" Sharat asked.

"Because Admiral Webb, the Secretary of the Navy,
approved it and I thought it a good idea. Don't you agree, Captain?"

"Yes, ma'am, an excellent idea." She smiled,
but it didn't reach her eyes.

"All right. You are free to change the order of
your systems and even the area based on new information your NIA Agents might discover.
And I may send you new orders if necessary. Good hunting. Captain Sharat and
agents Sinclair and Paulus, stay." Rawls remained seated while the others
left.

Here comes the
really interesting part,
I mused.

"Sharat," she waved for her to move closer.
"Agent Paulus has a rare disorder which requires regular ... injections.
Without them, her dormant Coaca Virus becomes active." She held up a hand
to stop Sharat for interrupting. "Anna."

My cue. I reached into my blouse and grabbed Red,
pulled him out, and held up my arm, which he twisted around. Sharat froze,
mouth open, eyes narrowed.

"It stays in her room, locked up in
something." Her voice sharp and demanding.

"No, Sharat. The doctors aren't sure why, but the
krait and Anna have a symbiotic relationship. That krait has never left Anna's
body since it attached itself to her some fourteen years ago when she was dying
of the fever. It’s worth more than a hundred thousand credits on the black
market. If it were lost, killed, or stolen, then she would be contagious in a
day or two, and dead in less than a week. And before you ask, Admirals Webb and
Lulltrel are aware of her condition," Rawls said, watching Sharat.
"The krait is poisonous but has only bitten four people. Each time, the
person was attempting to forcibly remove it from Anna. She has the antivenin
should it happen again. Good hunting." Rawls stood, waved a half salute,
and left the room.

Sharat stood glaring at me, her jaw muscles hard.
"So you're her chaperone?" she asked, looking to Sinclair. I remained
quiet, since she wasn't talking to me.

"Perhaps you weren't listening, Captain.
Lieutenant Paulus is the only one on the Smuggler Project who graduated the
academy and qualified to be assigned to the Bridge. And as NIA Agents, we are
equal ... except in age." She looked Sharat in the eye. "Don't short
change her. Anna discovered the missiles we're chasing, and like you, we want
to be the ones to discover the smugglers first."

Sharat surprised me by laughing. "Yes, you
understand me. I like it: the women against the men. All right, we've given
them enough of a head start." She turned and headed for the door with us
following.

"Unless you have a shuttle or taxi, Agent Paulus
has a skimmer," Kris said, and I could feel her amusement.

"Why not?" Sharat shook her head in
disbelief.

* * *

When we reached the Tityus, Sharat went straight for
the Bridge.

"Captain on the Bridge," someone shouted.

"I have the watch." She waved to the two new
seats. "XO, are we ready to leave?"

"Yes, Captain," a commander said after a
quick check of each station.

"Let's be off then. I'll do the introductions and
mission briefing later. Nav, a course to Westar." Ten minutes later we
were moving away from the station. Sharat smiled, I suspect because the Romulus
and Scylla were still docked. "XO, call the second shift to replace the
first. We'll meet in my conference room in an hour. Lieutenants Sinclair and
Paulus, you're with me." She exited the Bridge and entered her conference
room. "Help yourself to something to drink, and sit." When Kris and I
sat, Sharat smiled. "All right, let's hear your story, Lieutenant
Paulus."

I sat quietly for a few moments debating where to
start, knowing this might well determine our relationship for the entire
voyage.

"My family and I came down with the Coaca Virus
when I was four ..." I took my time, making sure I covered the main
points—the homes I was in, schools I attended, the attempts to steal
Red—while leaving out the day-to-day details. When I finished, Sharat sat
staring off into the distance saying nothing for a long time.

"You've had a tough life, and it isn't going to
get any easier as you get older. You got lucky being adopted by Captain
Bellona. I never served under her, but I've heard lots of stories. If she
adopted you with all your baggage, I owe you a shot. Sinclair, tell me about
the Smuggler Project." She turned her attention on Kris. It was now her
turn to get in Sharat's acceptable graces. Kris went on to explain our efforts
from day one, giving me credit for finding the missile cache and breaking the
Wheeler's code and then explaining in detail what we knew about the Wheeler's
activities.

"Sounds like I got the best NIA agents.
Good." Her smile was devilish. "May the best women win." She
looked up at a knock at the door. "Come."

"Captain," a security guard said from a
partially opened door. "Your Bridge crew is here."

"Let them in, Petty Officer." She waved them
to seats and waited. "Our mission, with the help of the NIA agents who
have identified the merchants working with them and have decoded their method
of communicating, is to find the cruisers who have been smuggling contraband
into the Alliance. The agents are going to be monitoring their communications
in the hope of determining their drop-off and pick up locations. When they do,
it will be our job to bring them in—dead or alive. Let me introduce NIA
Agents Sinclair and Paulus. Don't let Agent Paulus's age fool you. She's as
young as she looks, but she's an Academy graduate and a fully qualified member
of the NIA. Paulus."

Understanding what she wanted, I stood and pulled out
Red. "The poison from Red-headed kraits has been found to keep the Coaca
Virus in remission. The krait and I have a symbiotic relationship—it
feeds off me and in the process injects me with a poison that keeps the virus
in check. It never leaves me, so you will always know where it is." I said,
and felt a sense of relief.

"So it is not a pet and shouldn't be petted.
Lieutenant Paulus has the antivenin just in case, but I understand the bill is
several days of pain. This is not to be discussed outside of the Bridge. It
turns out the krait is worth more than a hundred thousand credits to the right
individuals. Let's not tempt anyone."

"Captain, we are short one communications
officer."

"Lieutenant Paulus is qualified and will fill one
of those slots. Do you have a preference, Agent Paulus?"

"No, ma'am. Whenever you would prefer."