Red Angel: Book II: Raiders (Red Angel Series 2) (23 page)

To: Lieutenant Commander Shrader

Adrian, I need the Holy Star's merchant arrivals and departures for the day of the raid and the subsequent ten days. Urgent.

From: Lieutenant Commander Paulus

When I looked at the clock, it was nearly four in the morning, so I changed the delivery time from immediate to eight hundred hours.

"That was very considerate, Anna, although I do miss your early morning urgent messages," Adrian said as I waved good morning. "I noticed you delayed delivery."

"When I get involved in a problem, I lose track of time."

"I've sent off your request. We should have an answer this afternoon. What are you looking for?"

"I think the Controller on New Zheng left after the botched raid on Zeno Pharmaceutical and came here to Oxax. If I'm right, I'm hoping to find a UAS Merchant that left New Zheng with a passenger and came to Oxax in the right time frame. If so, we might have the identity the Controller is using and his picture and maybe a lead on how to find the others—but our theory they're passengers on one of the three UAS merchants supporting the raiders may be wrong."

"That would explain the raid on the NIA office, but how did he get everything organized so quickly ... unless the other Controller was on Oxax!" Kris's voice rose with excitement.

"That's what I think."

The time dragged by while we waited. When we got the results, it confirmed none of the three UAS Merchants, we had identified as supporting the raiders, had been on New Zheng during the critical time frame. An hour later we identified the Gypsy as the only possibility.

"Good work, Anna. I'll put in a request for the Gypsy's itinerary for the last three years. Until we get the data, I suggest we work on trying to identify the Controller from New Zheng who was working the Suton publication area." Adrian strode off to see Stauffer.

Over the next week we collected all the information the space station had, including a video where our mystery man was caught walking from the Gypsy to get a shuttle planet-side. Then we established the hotel he booked in at and reviewed the hotel's video, which showed him meeting a man in the lobby. We were in the process of trying to identify him when we received the records on the Gypsy.

"We have new Puzzles, three of them," Adrian said as he entered our office area. "Stauffer just received them. Rich, I've sent them to your tablet. Run them against the X25 program and let's see if we’re still in business."

I wondered if the raiders still believed their communications protocol was viable, or whether they had changed or were in the process of changing—and if their failed attempt to kill us had impacted their decision. They certainly had time on their side. Of course, they were also greedy and arrogant and wouldn't like us delaying a very profitable business.

Rich interrupted my musing. "Looks like we've got a winner! Anna, I've transferred the puzzle to your tablet," he shouted as he came running back into the room. He was like a new puppy: eager, excited, and happy all at the same time.

I looked at the new puzzle and found the double asterisks in the right location: 8*115%1&52#30%6*8w. Then I removed the non-Latin letters and performed a translation of the relevant string and sent it to everyone's tablet:

Have winner. Ten carrying precious metals in four days from post at one at 14.7812 -54.1242. Prize five hundred. If problem courier post 83.223.45.13.

"That must be the Stella Mining Corporation," Adrian said after a few minutes on his tablet. "They mine heavy metals unique to Westar. Periodically they transfer their processed ore to the Westar Space station for sale around the UAS."

"So the raid is set for four days from today, which is the date it was posted, at one hundred hours. The GPS coordinates are 14.7812 -54.1242.
However, if something changes, the Controller will post the change on the Master Puzzle's chat room under miscellaneous posts," Kris said as she deciphered the cryptic message. "Which means the fine print has bitten me again."

"Fine print?" Adrian asked, frowning.

"Yes, on my enlistment contract,
join the navy and enjoy free rides on cruisers, front row seats to missile fights with foreign cruisers, target practice with assassins, and learning to care for a venomous red-headed krait."

Adrian laughed. "I think Rich and I had better read our contracts. I'm hoping it doesn't have that
care for venomous red-headed krait
clause." He rose. "I'll inform Stauffer. He and Rawls don't have a lot of time to decide."

"Kris, I could go—"

"No. We're the girl team, and where you go, I go ... and Pannell and a horde of marines." She gave a good-hearted laugh. "I'm glad Dr. Renata is our psychologist, because nobody else would understand."

"Thank you, Kris. I would gladly go alone, but I do love having you with me. I still don't feel like an adult." The only bad part was that it put her at risk. I might lose a few years if we were killed, but Kris would lose sixty or seventy. The thought made bile rise in my throat.

"Attention," Adrian said as he entered our area with Admiral Rawls and Commodore Stauffer.

"At ease. Conference room. We don't have much time." She waited until we were all settled. "The first question is how do you recommend we handle this current raid?"

"Ma'am, we discussed the issue and believe we're out of options." Adrian looked at each of us in turn. When we each nodded, he continued. "They aren't going to believe we stumbled on their cruiser again, and besides, we don't currently have a patrol on Westar. Our current thinking is to destroy the cruiser then arrest the six merchants and the Controllers. We know two and might have identified the third, who we believe is currently on Safe Harbor. That would leave only one cruiser remaining, with no contacts."

"I concur. That does appear to be our best option. I understand it might be an advantage to have Anna on Westar, since the time and place might change. Are you sure you want to go, Anna? No one would blame you if you didn't. We could have the NIA office on Westar check the website."

"Yes, ma'am, I'm sure. None of us is safe until we destroy the raiders, so in a sense, I'm in no more danger going than staying. I hope going helps us get one step closer to destroying them."

After a short silence, Rawls nodded. "What about you, Kris?"

"Anna and I are a team, so if she goes, I want to go, and I agree with her logic. I'm at no more risk there than here. Besides, the faster we destroy the raiders, the faster I can find the father of my future children."

Rawls smiled. "There are lots of eligible men on cruisers."

"Not Sinclair-eligible ones, ma'am. I want a husband who’s home at night, not away on a cruiser somewhere in space."

Just then Captain MacLin entered the room, followed by Pannell. "Admiral, I've Captains Thayer and Hargrove getting their ships ready to depart for Westar, since you’ve indicated we needed to get to Westar yesterday."

"Have a seat, gentlemen," said Rawls. "We've received a communication from the raiders that indicates they're preparing a raid on Westar in four days’ time. Since I'm informed it will take three days to reach Westar and the raider will be in place at one hundred hours on the fourth day, we don't have any time to lose, and we want Commanders Sinclair and Paulus there, as the time and place could change. Unfortunately, there are no cruisers available in the area, nor any capable of getting there in time to transfer them."

"And you want the raider's cruiser destroyed this time?" MacLin remained silent for a long while after Rawls nodded. "I could take them on the Vulcan and let the Lapis and Cabiri be the primary find-and-destroy cruisers. I'll be backup in the event they needed help."

Rawls looked to Kris and me. "Alright. Afterward, they'll coordinate with Adrian and direct you and your squadron to find and detain or destroy specific merchants. We're planning to close down the raiders’ current operation."

The next four hours were a mad rush. I called Alexa to let her know I was on my way to Westar. She offered to help me pack, so I had the marine shuttle picked her up at work, which meant we could have a few hours to say goodbye. Later, on the way to the spaceport shuttle depot, they picked up Kris and her detail. She was quiet on the ride to the shuttles and to the space station.

"Seven!" she said as we marched down the space station hallway on our way to the Vulcan. "This is the seventh space submarine I've been on. I was never supposed to serve on one. I'm never going to sign a contract again until I have a team of lawyers read it first." She scowled then gave a small choked laugh. "The work is far more exciting and satisfying than I could have imagined—that is, when I'm not terrified of dying or frustrated about being on a cruiser with gorgeous men I won't consider marrying." She linked her arm through mine as we marched along. "And I found a crazy friend I love like a sister."

"Yes, life can be cruel and wonderful. Right now I feel like I'm in the wonderful stage. I have a loving mother, the work is exciting, and I've discovered an amazing person who feels like an older sister I can trust. So, today is wonderful. Nothing else matters."

"A good philosophy, Anna, as the future's difficult to predict. We're both great examples of how unpredictable it can be." She lapsed into silence.

Onboard the Vulcan, we were assigned commander quarters and told the captain was in his office and would like to see us. When we arrived, the marine on duty opened the captain's office door when he saw us coming. Inside, we braced to attention and saluted.

"At ease, get something to drink and have a seat, Commanders." MacLin waited as we got settled. "Unless you object, I would like you on the Bridge anytime there may be trouble. I'm going to let the Cabiri and Lapis engage the raiders, but if they get in trouble, I'll have to intervene." He sat watching us for our reaction.

"Captain, we appreciate you holding back for our sake and understand that can't be easy. If and when to help is your decision," Kris said, mirroring my thoughts. Captains lived to engage the enemy.

He smiled. "Yes, the thought of engaging the enemy of the UAS is exciting. On the Bridge it becomes a game where we too often forget human lives are at stake. Let's hope this time, we catch them unaware."

"Well, how was the date?" I asked the next morning at breakfast. We had both gone to the Officers’ Club that night. I had been asked to join another female lieutenant commander, and we were soon joined by several others. They had been interested in Red, and it had turned out to be a fun evening. I had managed to get them to talk about their lives aboard a war cruiser. Kris, on the other hand, had a date with a young male lieutenant commander.

"That's what’s so frustrating. He seemed like the kind of man I could get interested in, but he loves cruiser duty, and I refuse to marry someone who’s going to be away over half his career. At home, I would have to do my job as well as his." She laughed. "Maybe it's best we aren't always on the same ship so I don't see the same men. Wouldn't want to get interested by accident. What about you?"

"I'm living the life of a cruiser officer by proxy—listening to others’ lives aboard the various ships we’re on," I said, and we lapsed into silence, each in our own thoughts.

"Commanders, I thought you might want to query the WavCom when we exited the Wave," MacLin said in his normal cheerful tone as we entered the Bridge.

"Thank you, Captain. It'll give us something to do, and who knows what we might find," Kris said.

And keep her from worrying
, I mused, because we weren't looking for anything relative to the raiders.

Wave exit went smoothly and Kris queried the WavCom as soon as MacLin declared the area safe. Then we returned to our quarters.

"What are we looking for?" Kris asked with a smile.

"Our next assignment," I quipped.

"As much as I would hate to see the team disbanded, I could use a little less excitement. What about you, Anna?"

"I'm a today person, because I feel I'm living on borrowed time," I said. "I could do with fewer hospital stays, but that doesn't bother me as much as putting people I love in danger. Except for that, I love what we’re doing and don't mind the risk."

"They could find a cure for the virus any day," Kris said. I could feel her concern.

"Don't feel sorry for me, Kris. Today, life is wonderful, and that's all that matters."

"Have a seat, Commanders. We're starting the show early." MacLin said as we entered the Bridge. "The Cabiri and Lapis are moving into position early and will lie in wait at minimum power for the raiders. That will give us the advantage this time. We'll remain well back also at minimum power so they won't detect us as they approach. With luck, we can give the Cabiri and Lapis advance notice of their arrival. I'm hoping this is going to be quick and—"

"Captain, missiles fired ... four missiles ... unidentified cruiser ... the Cabiri is trailing debris," shouted Commander Childs, the radar officer. Then several seconds later, "Another unidentified cruiser just fired on the Lapis. Four hits."