Red Angel (23 page)

Inside the courtroom, the five-member board took their
seats, and after court the clerk called for order, the senior member, a Vice
Admiral, rose.

"An interesting case, which could and probably
will have many ramifications. We find that Captain Sharat was aggressive to the
point of recklessness given she had reason to believe it was a trap; however,
it was a judgment call that was hers to make. We can't judge her by the results,
for that is hindsight. So, no charges will be pursued. As for the conduct of
Lieutenant Paulus, we find she acted responsibly in pursuing the matter and
confronting Captain Sharat with the information the NIA had obtained. Her
passion is understandable, given the information she had and the probability
that many lives could be lost. But the military is not a democracy, and order
must be maintained, so we recommend a letter of reprimand be placed in her
file. As to her unprecedented urgent request for help, we find that an NIA
issue and leave that for Admiral Rawls to handle. This inquiry is closed."

"Navy justice. Sharat acts recklessly and is not held
accountable. Anna saves the day, and she is given a letter of reprimand,"
Kris spat out the words in disgust.

"Yes, it looks that way on the surface, and that
had to be the official position," Maclin said in response to Kris.
"They clearly sent the message that Captain Sharat was reckless. That will
not help her for promotion or future assignments. If they officially censured
her, they would send the message that captains have to check with headquarters
before they make decisions. The Admiralty has to assume that they promoted the
best people to captains and therefore have to give them wide discretionary
powers. Likewise, if they hadn't slapped Paulus's hand, it would send the
message that you have a right to question your superiors. Notice they said they
understood her passion and passed any real action onto Rawls. That was a
backhanded compliment. I think the messages were clear and everyone is happy
justice was served without changing the long-standing rules of the game."

"What about you Anna?" Kris pressed.

"I'd do it again," I said, content with a
reprimand. Kris and Maclin laughed. Just then, Stauffer approached us.

"Lieutenants, Admiral Rawls would like to speak
with you. She has a room reserved. I'll take you there in a moment." He
turned to Maclin. "Captain, Admiral Rawls has cleared it with Admiral Webb
for my aggressive duet to be assigned to the Vulcan, unless you have any
objections."

Maclin shook his head. "No. As I explained to
your duet, the inquiry was very clear. They did all the right things, and
Captain Sharat should have listened."

"The guards I assume are for their protection?"
Stauffer asked. When Maclin nodded, he continued. "Good. I'll send them
back to the Vulcan when the Admiral is through."

We followed Stauffer into the elevator, which took us
to the forty-six floor. There, he led us to a small conference room halfway
down the hallway. We braced to attention when we entered and saw Admirals
Lulltrel and Rawls in the room.

"At ease. Grab yourself something to eat and
drink, and sit," Lulltrel said, pointing to the chairs opposite them on
the oblong table.

The conference room was clearly reserved for admirals,
with its cushioned executive-type chairs, wooden conference table, plush
carpeting, and floor-to-ceiling windows with a birds-eye view of the city. I
put two small sandwich wedges on a plate and mixed my coffee drink before going
to the chairs Lulltrel had designated. Kris joined me a minute later.

"This has by far been the most productive and
dangerous assignment in my twenty-five years with the NIA. The project team has
accomplished the impossible in record time. I and everyone else thought it
would take years to penetrate the smuggler organization and that at best, the
team might cut the contraband in half. Taking out the merchants alone would have
cut the traffic close to zero, and we've destroyed four of the FPU ships the
smugglers were using for pickups and drop-offs. You've even weeded out several
drug-dealing sailors."

She stopped for a drink of coffee. "I know the cost
has been high, very high. Only by luck and good fortune that you aren't all
dead." She shook her head as if to clear it. "I called you here to
congratulate you and to give you several well-earned awards: two Purple Hearts
and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. That is for your bold action that
resulted in saving hundreds of lives and the destruction of three smuggler ships,
because without your action, those ships would have destroyed the Tityus and
gotten away. The Inquiry Board also sends its unofficial thanks. I'll leave you
with Admiral Rawls to discuss your future assignments."

She left me with my mouth open, looking at the three
velvet boxes lying open in front of me.

"I think the admiral is pleased," Rawls
quipped. "As I am. You're also entitled to Combat and Service-on-a-cruiser
ribbons. The question is: what do I do with the three of you now? Kris, you
will be promoted to Lieutenant Commander on the next round of promotions and
your career is on a fast track. Anna, do you want to remain in the navy or
return to being a civilian contractor? Regardless, you too are on a fast track.
Needless to say, we would like you three to stay as a team within the
NIA."

Red took that as a signal to appear, winding himself
partially around my neck with his head on my shoulder. He didn't seem
interested in the awards and gave my cheek a lick, which jarred me out of my
shock.

"It's not over. The smugglers have an extensive
information network
—
like
the NIA, navy personnel, and logistics rolled together. They will be back in
business before long," I said, expressing thoughts that had been bouncing
around in my head for several weeks.

Kris looked at me for a minute then nodded. "Anna's
right."

"How do you know?" Rawls asked, her eyes
going from me to Kris and back like watching a tennis match.

"It all fits together. How did the people on
individual planets know the times and locations of the pickups and drop-offs?
The messages to the merchants were from planet-side senders. How did they know
when the smugglers would be available for pickups? They got their information
from another source," I said.

"And they had, maybe still have, UAS officers
sending them updates on ships' schedules, deployments, and activities. So they
knew where our ships would be and when the smugglers would be available. They
have connections on each planet. That speaks to a sophisticated network,"
Kris said, summarizing what we had discovered to date.

"What are you suggesting?" Rawls asked.

"I think the answers are on Oasis. If nothing
else, we might be able to cut the crucial link between the smugglers and the
Alliance." I reached up to my shoulder to touch Red, whose head was
pointed toward Rawls. Stauffer and Rawls leaned close together and talked in
low voices for several minutes.

"All right, join the Vulcan and have Captain
Maclin take you back to Oxax. Paulus, go see your mother; she must be totally
grey by now, worrying about you. Sinclair, you are free to do what you want
until I decide. I want Maclin to stay in Oxax and for you to have twenty-four-seven
security. I doubt the smuggler organization will be satisfied until you are
dead. And I can't blame them. Your team has single-handedly brought their
organization to its knees."

"A week or so on Oxax may convince them we think
we've broken their organization, and they might leave you alone," Stauffer
said as the two rose to leave. "See you back on Oxax."

"Now we know what it takes to get on the fast
track," Kris grinned. "I just hope we don't need to duplicate the
past several weeks to stay there."

"Or earn any more Purple Hearts. We were
lucky."
Very lucky
, I mused. Red
saved us once, and the second time Lieutenant Toney was a lousy marksman, as
were most navy crew. They knew how to use small arms, but didn't practice once
they qualified at the beginning of their career.

"Before we go back to the ship, I think we should
stop at the military shop somewhere in this building and buy some new uniforms
and ribbons." She chuckled. "This is my only good one, and the ship
doesn't have much except for work uniforms. And I doubt they have a
Distinguished Service Ribbon." A grin split her face and she pulled me to
my feet, and we made our way to the store after getting directions several
times along the way. Navy Headquarters on Eastar was a massive complex. We
purchased two sets of uniforms, planning to get them altered on Oxax, and
accessories: ribbons, rank, insignia, shirts, socks, and underwear. Back on the
Vulcan, we gave Maclin a summary of our discussions with Rawls.

"So, you think I'll be transporting you to Oasis?
Does that mean I should get stocked up on missiles?" He grinned. "You
two are exciting people to be around."

"I hope not. I don't think my heart can stand
much more excitement. I've had my lifetime limit of space submarines, shooting
wars, and men trying to kill me. I'm supposed to be at a desk solving puzzles
and in my spare time finding a husband." Kris said, looking serious.

"There are lots of eligible men on the
Vulcan," Maclin said with a smile.

"No and No. I want a husband who is home at night,
not off in space ninety percent of the time. Get me pregnant then run off and
let me raise them? No, thank you."

"You have a point." Maclin nodded.
"Well, I've got a ship to get prepared to leave. Travel time will be about
eight days unless you want to stop somewhere."

I looked to Kris, who shook her head.

* * *

There isn't much to do on a cruiser if you aren't crew,
and there is no way to communicate outside the ship when you are in the Wave.
Captain Maclin invited us to dinner several times, which helped break the
monotony. He was an interesting down-to-earth individual with a somewhat
unusual naval career. His heritage was old-Earth Scottish, and his parents kept
many of the old customs, although undoubtedly modified over the years. He was
born and raised on Black Water and had enlisted as an able seaman when he was
eighteen and worked his way to petty officer with an engineering rating. He had
liked the work but wanted something more exciting, so he took off three years
to get a college degree and a commission. Fifteen years later, he earned a promotion
to captain. He enjoyed life and was at home with officers and enlisted alike. I
thought Alexa would like him.

Kris and I also spent a lot of time talking about our
early lives. Unlike Maclin, she had attended college because her parents held
advanced degrees and it seemed natural. An only child, Kris was used to being
on her own and loved mysteries and puzzles. Her high grades in math and logic
had attracted recruiters from the intelligence agencies. Lured by the aspect of
travel and ferreting out criminals, she joined Naval Intelligence, where she
had been successful, which was the reason she had been selected for the
Smugglers Project. Since none of the officers on the ship were in her chain of
command, she had several ship-dates, more to break the monotony of the voyage
than looking for mister right.

Kris, Maclin, and I were equally delighted when we
exited the Wave into Oxax. Kris was considering visiting her parents on Safe
Harbor if Stauffer thought we'd be on Oxax for longer than a week. Maclin
thought it a good opportunity to give his crew some extended planet-side leave,
and I looked forward to being home. When Kris and I arrived at the terminal on
Oxax, Alexa was waiting. She grabbed me in a tight hug.

"I hope Red remembers I'm your mother!" She
gave a short laugh. "Actually, I don't care. It would be worth it. I've
been so worried: attempted murders, hospitals, and an Inquiry. Hi, Red,"
she whispered. He had worked his way between us and was lying wrapped around my
neck, his head between our necks.

"I think he's also glad to be home," I said
as we parted.

"Sorry, Kris," Alexa said. "Mothers
can't wait to touch their children as proof they are alive, especially this
one. Each day is a potentially exciting one." She snorted a laugh.

"I understand, especially the exciting part. A
few weeks with Anna, and I've already received three awards. And I suspect
you've earned several, if truth be told."

"Think how boring life would be without me,"
I quipped. "Would you like a ride somewhere?"

"You can drop me at the office. I'd like to talk
to Stauffer about a leave."

I dropped Kris at our office and then flew home with
Alexa. Joetta had prepared a special dinner at Alexa's request: a stuffed leg
of Zespa lamb with pork and apple stuffing, roasted potatoes, a vegetable
mega-mix, and a peach cobbler for dessert.

"I'm ... happy to be home. I loved the experience
of being crew on a warship, solving puzzles, and helping to rout out the bad
guys and gals, but there is no place like home. You may have to get a court
order to get me to leave."

"Then you're safe. Magistrate Bellona would deny
it on the grounds that you are the perfect daughter," Alexa said and
hugged me. "I too am happy you have a purpose in life, one you enjoy, but
I'm happy you're home. I love having you here."

* * *

By the end of two weeks, it felt like I had never
left. When I had reported for work the next day, Commander Stauffer had told me
I had the next two weeks off. Kris had been granted leave, Adrian was still
recovering on Stone Ring, and the rest would do me good as well. And it had. I
had spent the first few days discussing my future, something I had never done
before. I had never dwelt on death, just accepted my very early death as a
given.

"Mother, what do you think about the offer to
remain a naval officer versus being placed on navy reserve and becoming a
civilian again?" I asked one evening. I owed Stauffer an answer
eventually.