Outsystem (Aeon 14) (18 page)

Several of the nets had been under load; their cargo bundled against them and held in place by the station’s centripetal rotation. With their moorings weakened, the nets swung out wildly; the closest of their pursuers narrowly avo
ided collision. Though the merc ship escaped that disaster, it clipped a piece of cargo from another net and had to retro-brake to avoid colliding with a shuttle frame that swung out from the impact.

“One mostly down.” Peters targeted more moorings and sent cargo spinning wildly in their wake.

“You wouldn’t believe the stink we’re getting from MOS on this. They should really know by now that the more they aggravate me, the more paperwork I generate.” Even as she spoke, Tanis was filing dozens of complaints against the station for each of the code violations and oversight failures that had allowed this scenario to occur in the first place. The bureaucrats complaining to her would soon be buried in a mountain of paperwork.

Angela said.

Angela replied dryly.

At that moment, a clang echoed through the compartment and the bridge door slid open; two mercs hung in the frame, guns drawn.

“Cease acceleration and prepare to be boarded.”

“What the fuck?” Lauder swore. “Where did you two idiots come from?”

“The places you didn’t search,” the first man said. “Now drop your weapons and comply.”

“Are these guys serious?” Jansen asked Tanis.

“They seem like it…but I’m not really sure. Are you two serious? You are going to try to take on six
Marines and two TSF officers by yourselves? You’re going to die, and it’ll probably be messy.”

The men looked at each other and then at Tanis. Before they could respond, an impact rattled the ship and in the midst of the collision multiple shots peppered the
mercs. Their hands slipped free of the handholds and their lifeless bodies fell back through the opening.

“Oops, did I clip that cargo net?” Joseph asked. “Sorry about that.”

Another shock ran through the ship, coupled with the screams of metal shearing. Joseph grunted. “That one wasn’t me.”

The second merc ship had gained ground while the commander’s focus was split and had gotten a projectile round off at close range.

“Losing our starboard engine.” Tom’s concerned voice sounded over the bridge speakers. “Shutting it down to avoid a runaway reaction.”

“ETA on TSF fighter craft is two minutes.” Tannon sounded anxious. The
Marines were used to conflicts that they could take direct action to decide the outcome. This frantic flight was wearing on their nerves.

“Think they’ll try to board us, or just blow us out of the sky?” Lang asked.

Another explosion rocked the ship and Lauder swore. “I guess that’s our answer.”

“Belay that impending doom!” Tannon grinned at the scan
console. “Looks like they got the tubes cleared. Blue squadron is inbound. Say goodbye to the bad mercenaries.”

Tanis brought the scan data up on the main holo and sure
enough, six fighter craft were racing over the bulk of the station. Tactical missiles fired from each ship and tore into the lead mercenary vessel. Their yield was low, but the strikes were precise. The engines went dead and the weapons signatures winked out. Scan showed a tug leave a nearby dock to catch the ship before it did more damage. Moments later a similar scene played out with the other merc ship.

“And that”— Joseph leaned back in his seat and smiled at the main holo—“is that.”

STELLAR DATE: 3227224 / 09.28.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)

LOCATION:
GSS Intrepid
, Mars Outer Shipyards (MOS)
REGION:
Mars Protectorate, Sol Space Federation

The post-op took over twenty hours, a good portion of which was spent retaking the dock from the last few mercs, who had entrenched themselves quite thoroughly. Then came the round-up; squabbles over jurisdiction, and the interrogations. It was well into the following day before Ouri and Tanis got to sit down together and go over what they had learned.

“This is most interesting.” Tanis looked over the interrogation logs. “Trent was not involved with these men at all, at least not to their knowledge. The captains all had their dealings with a man by the name of Drenn. He has links to the STR Consortium, been known to be involved in some of their less public projects.”

Ouri scowled at the data as she reviewed. “So, does this mean we have two threats, or just one that is a little clearer and a little scarier?”

“I’m betting that it’s the same threat, though we do have to keep an open mind.” She took a drink from the restorative in front of her. “Still, I’m guessing that Trent wasn’t getting the desired results, so his bosses declared open season on us.”

“More likely on you,” Ouri replied. “I’m guessing that they’ve singled you out. That was a very deadly scenario that was specifically designed to draw you in.”

“And in I was drawn…rather foolishly too.”

“I’ll say so.” Admiral Sanderson stood in the doorway.

Tanis scolded Angela.

“Sir.” Both women stood and saluted.

“Sit.” Sanderson gestured as he did.

“Quite the little escapade you had, Major.” He allowed his glare to linger on her for a moment before continuing. “Imagine my reaction when I hear, while on my visit to the Marsian Parliament, that the officer in charge of our security has ripped a ship from the station, exposed an entire dock to vacuum, and proceeded to tear across the construction yards, spilling cargo in her wake like it was confetti.”

“I can only guess that it must have been extreme, sir”

“You’re damn right it was extreme. You should never have allowed yourself to be drawn in so completely. I thought you were an intelligence officer. You could stand to display some.”

Tanis sat and took the rebuke in silence. Ouri looked like she wished she were anywhere else, up to and including cleaning sewage scrubbers, than at the table listening to Sanderson dress down her CO.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Tanis took a breath. She could think of a hundred reasons why no other person would have expected to run into four ships full of armed mercenaries on what was supposed to be a secure dock, but she knew that wouldn’t fly with the admiral.

“I take full responsibility, sir. I acted rashly and without proper care and attention. It won’t happen again.”

“You must know that I am under considerable pressure to have you removed. Terrance and the captain have been inundated with calls and protestations from all levels of Marsian bureaucracy. Considerable pressure.”

“I’ll tender my resignation at once, sir,” Tanis replied stoically. “I do not wish to cause them any more trouble than I already have.” While she seemed calm on the outside, inside she was fraught with emotion. If she had to abdicate her place on the
Intrepid
she would find whoever was responsible and kill them, even if it took a thousand years.

“Don’t be an idiot. You’ll do no such thing.” Anderson gave her a look that teachers usually reserve for their worst students. “Despite your rather shoddy handling of yesterday’s events, your record otherwise has been impeccable. I simply wish to inform you that should your next encounter with the enemy show such large amounts of bravado coupled with such small amounts of careful consideration, I may have to rethink my decision regarding your placement here.”

“Yes, sir.” Tanis could feel her limbs again, her heart slowed back down and she took a deep breath.

“Now, let’s talk about the prisoners. That much at least was a job well done. We can finally get some information on who is behind this.”

“Yes, sir. From what we have learned so far, it appears that the mercenaries were contacted by a man by the name of Drenn. He is connected to the STR Consortium, dealing particularly in the types of projects that they like to keep hidden from the public eye. It is our opinion that they were hired to take me out of the picture.”

Sanderson leaned back and stroked his chin. “And why, pray tell, Major, would they go to such considerable expense to remove you
, pain in my ass though you are? I imagine that this operation cost them billions of credits; enough to buy a small corporation on a major planet.”

“Indeed, sir.” Tanis nodded. “
I think they want to get rid of me because their sabotage success rate dropped when I came onboard. It’s not a lot, but their last several attacks have all targeted me, so I think there is some credence there.”

Sanderson grunted a tentative assent. “And what about your belief that it is solely the STR?” he asked.

We’ve obviously been under concerted corporate, network, and physical attack for some time. We’ve ruled out radical groups, though it is logical to assume, and borne out by the data, that roughly ten percent of our troubles are from those fringe elements.

“That being said, the rest is either governmental or corporate in origin. There is a relatively small list of either that c
ould sustain an attack of this duration through so many avenues. If these men truly did get their orders from Drenn, then it has to have been the STR Consortium all along.”

“They have been on our suspect list since we determined that it was a bigger player pulling the strings,” Sanderson said. “What does this change?”

“We can now begin pursuing legal action against them,” Tanis replied. “We have affidavits and statements from many of the mercs regarding the nature of this attempt and who hired them. Once we make a solid connection between Drenn and the STR we can begin subpoenaing communications that we can link between him and the STR. That’ll be a feeding frenzy for the news hounds and will cause them to think twice before making such a bold move again.”

“We won’t be able to make this stick to them.” Sanderson shook his head. “We don’t have a solid enough tie.”

“And we’re not likely to get one, but they’ll still have to fight us off. The money it will cost them in share value alone will make them rethink their plans. At the very least they will probably refrain from more events like this and go back to that Trent guy.”

“That would be something at least.” The admiral nodded. One mysterious foe is enough.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Tanis said.

“I still don’t see how this
all fully explains their considerable expense they are going to in trying to remove you alone.”

“I can only surmise”—Tanis leaned back in her chair—“that they have something big planned and hope to remove me and carry it out before you
can find a replacement.”