Keep the Faith Page 23

  For a few moments, David had nothing to say. His mind was focused inward. Why does this affect me so? This isn’t my fight. Gilead needs to find its own way, and I’ve got a mission. Somewhere deep within him, it was if his soul spoke back. Because evil requires resistance, and those of us called to fight the good fight must oppose it, regardless of where, who, what or when. “The galaxy needs someone to right the wrongs and oppose the darkness. It may as well be the Canaan Alliance.”

  “I’d settle for being left alone,” Sinclair said in his clipped British accent. “Let everyone else sort it out.”

  “Sauria did that for almost thirty human years,” Aibek said, his comment catching David off-guard. “We stood by and did nothing. I believe I see the merit in what Colonel Cohen says.”

  “Oh well, enough debates for today,” David replied with a forced grin. “Any other thoughts on our leak on Gilead?”

  “I’ve got bollocks. Sorry, old chap.”

  Aibek flicked his tongue again. “My time alongside the Gileadeans was less than fruitful. They told me little of substance.”

  After all this, we ride off into the stars? “It doesn’t sit well with me to move on, the job undone.”

  “Perhaps it is the best we can hope for, sir.”

  David glanced over at his Saurian XO. “I don’t like that answer. Especially not after what happened to Taylor. Well, if we have nothing else… I suppose that’ll do it.”

  “One thing,” Sinclair said, interrupting them. “You might like to know we’ll be delivering a huge file to our friends over in the CBI. Qadir or whatever her name is ought to have some fun rounding up the suspects we’ve identified.”

  “I’ll take it,” David replied, breaking into a grin once more. “As long as we get something positive out of this mess.”

  “That’s the spirit, Colonel. Sinclair out.”

  The connection dropped, leaving Aibek and David alone. “What would you like to do now, sir?”

  “Let’s give the Gileadeans a day or two to clean up the mess and have a final meeting with them.”

  “I would like to get back to fighting the League. Invading their planets is most satisfying. The taste of fear in their fleet and soldiers brings me joy.”

  David narrowed his eyes. “Thank God you’re on our side.”

  Aibek laughed in the toothy, Saurian way. The way that made one shiver down to their bones.

  Two standard Gileadean days later, David walked into the largest conference room in the Terran Coalition embassy, flanked by Aibek and Eldred. Abdul al-Lahim, the CIS chief of station, was also present. He stood from his seat as they walked in.

  “Welcome back, Colonel Cohen.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Al-Lahim sat back down and pointed to the row of empty chairs around the ornate mahogany wood conference table. “Please, be seated. We have a few minutes until our friends from Gilead arrive.”

  As he pulled out a chair to sit in, next to the already arrived Director Qadir, David’s eyes roamed around the room. So much less spartan than a military installation. Then again, they’re here to impress the locals. We’re not. “Thank you. Good to see you again, Director.”

  “Likewise, Colonel. Allah walked with you.”

  “He did.” After everyone else was seated, David continued, “Our trip to the so-called pleasure planet had a bit more action to it than I’d expected.”

  “Gilead is pretty on the outside, but rotten to the core,” Eldred stated, drawing looks from Aibek and al-Lahim. “It’s not even that pretty once you get outside of the capital, which is the sole megapolis on the planet.”

  “What of the intelligence recovered from Feldt’s ship?” David asked.

  “Still analyzing it, Colonel,” al-Lahim interjected smoothly before Eldred could open her mouth. “Suffice it to say, we’ve got the next leg up in the operation, and the distribution of Orbita into the Terran Coalition will be disrupted for at least a couple of months.”

  “I have been instructed to tell you,” Aibek began, staring intently at al-Lahim, “that the Saurian Empire requires more information about the manufacture and makeup of this drug. We intend to put our best scientific minds on finding a way to neutralize it inside of the human and Saurian body.”

  “Of course.”

  Brandon Nelson strode in, interrupting their conversation, accompanied by General Wright. Nelson’s suit was as finely tailored and pressed as ever. I wonder how many of those things he has? I’ve got two suits, and neither cost me more than two hundred credits. I recognize the brand as being five thousand plus credits per jacket. David stood and nodded toward the men respectfully. “Gentlemen, welcome. General.”

  “Colonel,” was Wright’s clipped reply.

  While Nelson made a show out of shaking hands with everyone in the room, including Aibek, Wright pointedly ignored any attempt at hospitality.

  “We find ourselves in the Terran Coalition’s debt,” Nelson said as he slid into his seat, his face oozing a one-hundred-watt smile. “A place I never expected to be. Tell me, Colonel, what will that debt cost? I assume you want our help against the League of Sol.”

  David broke into a grin. “I wasn’t aware Gilead maintained a fleet.”

  “There are other ways we could contribute.”

  “Damnit, Brandon,” Wright interjected. “We need to talk about the Coalition Defense Force, and more specifically, the Lion of Judah violating our sovereignty.”

  Uncomfortable silence broke out at the table, coupled with worried glances exchanged between both sides.

  “You gave us clearance to go after Feldt’s organization,” David said firmly.

  “Within reason! You started a space battle in our skies. Did anyone give thought to what would happen if a magnetic cannon round went off target and hit a civilian ship?”

  David crossed his arms in front of him. “I’m certain Major Hanson took those considerations into mind during his engagement.”

  “Oh, I’m sure,” Wright replied, his voice dripping sarcasm.

  “Funny, you gave me reason to believe you’d be happy with us taking Feldt down.”

  “Of course I’m happy with it. I am, however, a patriot.”

  Nelson cleared his throat and leaned forward, raising a hand as he spoke. “Gentlemen, gentlemen. Please. The Gilead government’s official position is that while we regret the violation of our neutrality by hostile parties, the ends were justified by the means in this instance. We welcome the assistance of our friends in the Terran Coalition.”

  “We’re glad to hear this, Brandon,” al-Lahim said. “How can we help to strengthen the bonds between our governments and work more closely together to stamp out the last embers of the Orbita plague?”

  “Agents from our Ministry of Justice and criminal investigative division have been rounding up members of the gang behind all of our respective miseries. We’d even be happy to extradite some of them to the Terran Coalition if you’d like.”

  David watched the facial expressions of everyone in the room. Wright’s distaste was so telegraphed, it was almost as if the man had a brightly lit sign above his head. Thinking back to his last conversation with Sinclair, he pondered, I wonder if Wright is so adamant because he has something to hide. It’d be so easy to get on the take here. Still, the intercepts suggested a civilian link.

  “The CBI would love to put those responsible for pain and suffering on trial,” Qadir said from her seat next to him. “I’m confident the top-tier pushers would end up at Lambert’s Lament.”

  “What exactly is Lambert’s Lament?”

  “It’s a military prison complex on a mineral-rich asteroid in the Tyrrhennia system’s Oort cloud,” David explained. “Well, that’s how it started anyway. It’s grown to have a civilian complex, and a POW wing for hardened Leaguers who defy incarceration elsewhere by attempting escape. We send the worst of the worst there to live out their sentences, which are typically for life. You can sit in a cell for twenty-nine hours a
day, only leaving for a brief exercise period and shower, or volunteer to mine precious ores.”

  Nelson openly stared, his mouth slightly agape. “Volunteer?”

  “Most inmates would rather perform hard labor than lose their minds.”

  “With respect, Colonel, that seems… barbaric.”

  David shrugged. “One doesn’t end up on Lambert’s Lament by stealing a candy bar, Mister Nelson. And there’s an appeals process before they ship you out. I’m satisfied that nearly one hundred percent of the people imprisoned there deserve it.”

  “I’d rather be executed,” Wright said darkly, interjecting himself into the conversation.

  “We reserve execution for murder with ‘special circumstances’ and child molestation.”

  There was silence in the room as David’s pronouncement caused a ripple of murmurs.

  The silence was broken by Nelson. “Well, once they’re off Gilead, it’s not our problem anymore. I meant to ask, how is your man?”

  “Lieutenant Taylor is fine. It took him a few days, but he recovered with no ill effects. Did you figure out who the mole was that poisoned the meeting?” David asked, his gaze flicking between Nelson and Wright.

  Nelson’s mouth curled into a smile. “Glad to hear it, Colonel. We were concerned.”

  Then, it suddenly clicked together in David’s mind. “Mister Nelson, I’m curious. How did you ensure that Feldt’s people weren’t spooked by your investigation?”

  “Oh, I have my own set of trusted agents and prosecutors, Colonel. Not everyone on Gilead is on the take.”

  “Funny you should mention that,” David replied, waiting until the eyes of both Nelson and Wright were on him. “Taylor found some very interesting things in his analysis of intelligence intercepts made over the last few days.” Nothing to lose on a bluff, except some pissed-off civilians.

  “Intelligence intercepts?” Wright asked.

  “Are you familiar with the motto of CDF Intelligence? The military branch of CIS?” When no one answered, David continued. “In God we trust… all others we monitor. They have the capability to listen in to any conversation on our side of the galactic arm.” If I’m going to bluff this guy, fake intel is the only way to go.

  Nelson’s face shifted to a snarl. “The Terran Coalition monitored Gileadean government communications, Colonel? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Anyone not a citizen of the Terran Coalition is fair game to CIS, so yes. Fascinating information to be gleaned, for sure. Like the identity of a certain politician who’s been on the take for years, while proclaiming his chops at cleaning up crime.”

  Wright looked on with renewed interest. “What are you suggesting, Colonel?”

  David crossed his arms and stared at Nelson with contempt. “Minister Nelson has been playing us all for dopes since this charade began. He was Feldt’s top man in the government. The investigation his people have been running the last forty-eight hours? They either sacrificed low-level operatives or fingered innocents. I’d wager those who did most of the work are the ones we should be arresting.” For a brief second, he thought he might have been wrong.

  Then Nelson’s face turned blood red. “I don’t know what you think your intercepts prove, Colonel. I was part of an undercover operation to reduce criminal influence over our legislature. Besides, illegally obtained wiretaps from a foreign surveillance operation aren’t admissible in Gilead courts.”

  Gotcha.

  Wright threw his chair back, standing angrily. “I was briefed on every operation on this planet against Feldt,” he thundered. “You’ve never been a part of any of them. You sorry sack of shit, you were selling out my men and women from the beginning!”

  “I don’t have to sit here and listen to this nonsense,” Nelson said as he too stood. “Feel free to turn your reports over to the Gilead prosecution service, for the circular file.”

  Meanwhile, Wright was downright apocalyptic. His fists were balled up, and he appeared to be moments away from assaulting the politician. “Do you have any idea how many good people were killed by that monster?”

  “Oh, come off it, General. You can’t possibly believe that one government official not looking the other way from time to time would have made a difference, can you? We love easy money. Our planet is a cesspool. You know it, so do I. If you’re going to live in hell, might as well be the king.”

  David broke into a grin. “General Wright, I may be able to offer you a solution to this problem.”

  “Hand me a sidearm and leave. Problem solved.”

  “Not quite what I had in mind.” Better not let him and Demood get in the same room. They might bond in the wrong way.

  “Spit it out then, Colonel.”

  Al-Lahim and Eldred stared in fascination, their jaws dropped open at the spectacle.

  “We’re in the Terran Coalition embassy,” David began. “Which is the sovereign territory of our country. Where our laws apply.”

  Looks of understanding swept across the room. “You’re far shrewder than I originally gave you credit for,” Wright said.

  David shrugged. “Allow us to arrest Minster Nelson and put him on trial in the Terran Coalition. With any luck, he’ll spend the rest of his life on Lambert’s Lament.”

  Nelson shrank back from them, beads of sweat rolling off his forehead. “You can’t do this. You have no right to arrest me for anything. Damn you, Wright, I was at your daughter’s wedding! I helped you get promoted. You owe me!”

  “I swore an oath to defend the people of Gilead against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” Wright said, his voice quiet and reflective. “Entitled politicians who trade votes for money fit my definition of an enemy. I can’t stop you, but I can let them handle it for me.” He turned to Nelson and smiled coldly. “I hope as you mine ore or go insane in a dark room that you remember the faces of the men and women you’ve helped murder. If we’re fortunate, one of Feldt’s people will kill you for ratting him out.”

  Fear looked different on every person. With Nelson, it presented itself as his knees shaking so hard, they made a knocking noise, coupled with the color draining from his face, leaving it ashen. “You can’t do this.”

  “Ah, but there you’re wrong. I most certainly can,” Wright replied. “I’ll take my leave now. Get him out of here, because I can only delay informing my superiors of a government official’s arrest so long.”

  David made his way around the table and extended his arm. “Thank you, General. I hope this brave act ushers in some soul searching on Gilead, and perhaps causes a wave of investigations.”

  “I hope,” Wright replied as he gripped David’s hand firmly. “How is it you CDF types put it when you say goodbye? Godspeed?”

  “Godspeed is an old exhortation for a traveler to have a good journey.”

  “In that case, I wish you Godspeed, Colonel. Good luck out there.”

  “Thank you, sir.” David watched as he made his way out of the room, leaving them with Nelson, who had meanwhile curled up in the ball against the wall. “Eldred, get this sorry sack of crap out of my sight.”

  Eldred stood and flashed a wicked grin. “Gladly, Colonel.”

  “How did you know, sir?” Aibek asked as Nelson was led out of the room, leaving Qadir, al-Lahim, and the Lion’s officers alone.

  “I bluffed. Taylor is just now back on his feet. He hasn’t been near a computer console in days.”

  Qadir’s eyes went wide. “You bluffed?”

  David broke into grin. “It all made sense. Feldt seemed to be one step ahead, and Nelson made a big display over the last couple of days of being tough on crime. I looked into his record before this. He wanted to decriminalize all but the most serious drug offenses. Our ability to listen in to communications is legendary, so I went with it.”

  “Remind me not to play poker with you, Colonel,” al-Lahim said quietly. “I fear this incident will be the cause for serious diplomatic issues with Gilead. I am a simple spy, but soft power is frequently
preferable to hard power. It will be more difficult here.”

  David sighed and closed his eyes. The man isn’t wrong. However, sometimes right and wrong means more than policy. At least to me. The thought of another tongue-lashing from MacIntosh was distinctly unpleasant. “Perhaps. Right and wrong matter more to me.”

  “I wish at times I had the luxury of thinking as you do, Colonel.”

  And there’s the rub. The military can afford to be black and white. Those who have to exist in the grey, they lose track of morality. Which is why Eldred has a thousand-meter stare. “You could always transfer to CDF Intelligence,” David said with a grin. “I have some friends over there.”

  “I am certain you do. If nothing else, watching this week as your officers performed their duties, I’ve been impressed by how the Lion of Judah gets things done. But my place is here. I was born a spy, and a spy is what I’ll always be.”

  David reached out his arm toward al-Lahim. “Then be the best spy you can. Godspeed.”

  “Insha’Allah, Colonel.”

  30

  From the moment Korra had messaged him on fleetlink asking that he ensure Casey was present in a QA debriefing the next day, Kenneth had hummed a happy tune. Sure she’d found what she needed to nail the man to the wall, he’d eagerly counted down the minutes. At some point, my desire to thwart Casey is going to turn into an obsession. I’d do well to avoid it. He arrived at the conference room thirty minutes ahead of the meeting’s start, sitting at the table toward the back, while Billings and Carter took seats along the wall.

  Korra strode through the open door like a force of nature. Her brown hair was pulled back, and she was wearing a sharp business suit.

  For a moment, Kenneth had to suppress his jaw from dropping open. Why did I break up with her again? Oh yeah… we didn’t get along.

  She flashed a smile at him as she sat down at the table. “Good afternoon, Mr. Lowe.”

  “Miss Wallace,” was all Kenneth could manage.