Star Runners: Mission Wraith (#3) (32 page)

“You may speak freely here,” Val said, placing a coin in each of the black mugs on the countertop. The mugs bubbled and glowed, creating a small cloud of steam. “This apartment is swept twice a day and a noise jammer prevents any long range observation. You are safe.”

“Let’s go back to the part where I’m your husband,” Austin said, falling into a black chair at Val’s kitchen table.

Val returned to the table carrying the two steaming mugs. She pulled back on her black hair. The wig slipped off to reveal silver, wavy curls beneath. Austin stared in awe.
 

“Yes, I’m old,” she said, her eyes suddenly appearing more mature. “Older women on this planet enjoy the wonders of DNA reconstruction without regulation. It has come in handy for a woman in my line of work. Anyway, we were not able to provide you information before your arrival for fear it would be intercepted. It was the reason for several teams. I only knew you would arrive this week, so I had to spend the past three nights at that disgusting club.”

Austin took the mug and nodded. “So I’m your husband?”

“You’re a Star Runner.” She sipped on the drink and raised her eyebrows. “I hope a good one, too. The government project I’m working on knew my cover included I had a husband who had been away on business. Your appearance matches the fabricated image in my files.” She sighed and stared into her tea. “My real husband is probably dead.”

Austin held his breath for a moment. “What happened?”

“He went missing years ago. Your Legion took care of the rest of my cover story.” She pointed at him. “Our ‘marriage.’”

“My Legion?” Austin blinked. “You're not a Legion citizen?”

Val shook her head as she sipped gently from the hot mug. “I was born on Claria. I am a citizen of the Zahl Empire.”

He frowned, staring at the wall. “Why are you doing this? Why fight your own people?”

“I am not fighting the Zahl Empire, but Regent Tulin. When he came to power in this sector, he crushed all opposition and enacted his Sedition Acts, which prohibited all questioning of the government.” A wave of sadness fell over her face. “That is why they took my husband away. He was always vocal, trying to be an active part of the government and our community. He spoke against Regent Tulin, and Tulin’s goons swept him up on his way home from work. I was told he had been sent to re-education camps, but he never came back.”

She hesitated, sliding her finger around the rim of her mug. “Claria was once a beautiful place, full of life and possibility. Now, well, now it’s no more than a shipyard for Tulin’s toys. There are many in the Zahl Empire who are starting to listen to him, beginning to believe that expansion and war are the only ways the Empire will survive.” She shrugged. “I care little about such nonsense. I care about Claria. I care … I cared about my husband.”

Austin allowed the story to sink into his mind. He had never considered the Zahl people to be honorable, or even good-natured. Throughout his training, he had been taught the Zahlian Empire was full of evil, war mongering individuals bent on conquering all who stood in their path. But this woman had risked everything to avenge her husband, to take the fight to Regent Tulin, to risk everything to battle against her oppressors. She had placed all of her faith in the mission—his mission—and expected him to succeed.

“What’s your real name?” Austin asked.
 

“Does it matter?”

“I see,” he said, allowing the bitter tea to wash his mouth. “So I guess you’ll be able to fill me in on the rest of the operation.”

“That’s the plan.” She took a deep breath. “We have a lot to cover and not too much time to do it. Quite honestly, it’s going to be a long night. My name is Val Stanaad.”

“Austin Stone.”
 

She nodded. “I have been under deep cover for your government for eight years. Two years ago, I was activated for this project and have been working on it ever since.”
 

“And that project?”

“Is the
Wraith
.”

Austin shook his head. “So you probably know more about this fighter than anyone else I’ve run into. What exactly can it do?”

“Start a war,” she said without hesitation. “Or, rather, end one. There is nothing in the known galaxy that can compete with this ship—it is faster than most missiles. It is invisible to all sensors, uses a shroud like your Tridents but the power capabilities allow it to recharge quickly, and it is impervious to stunners or disruptors of any kind. The
Wraith's
only weakness is heat seeking missiles. We are currently working on masking the exhaust.”

Austin stared at the table, the reality of Val’s news shocking him. “How is that possible? Our Tridents can’t maintain a power supply of that magnitude. Using normal flight operations, charging lasers, engines, maintaining shields and simultaneously keeping the shroud ready would make for a short mission.”

Val blew steam from her mug. “We have developed a miniature Lutimite Reactor, which allows the
Wraith
to deactivate the shroud and fire within moments. It doesn’t drain energy from the main system like your Tridents, so it can fire lasers almost immediately after it appears. Besides, no sensors can pick it up when it deactivates the shroud, so it really doesn’t matter.”

Austin exhaled. “Who developed this?”

“The funding comes from Regent Tulin. He has secretly funded a number of projects with the hopes of starting a war of expansion into Legion space. The
Wraith
is his most successful.”

“Why is he doing this?”

“Most Zahlian citizens disagree with expanding into Legion territory, but Tulin believes it is crucial to the survival of the Empire, so he has quietly begun preparing for war.” She shrugged. “If he can’t manufacture one, he’s going to use the
Wraith
to start one himself. And the
Wraith
will make sure he can finish it quickly—especially if the fighter is mass produced.”

He stared into the murky tea, allowing time to comprehend Val’s words. Everything he had been through had been a result of Regent Tulin’s attempts to start a Zahlian-Legion war, from the Tyral Pirates to the threat of the
Wraith
.

“How many are there?” Austin asked.
 

“Stealth fighters?” Val’s eyes widened. “Two, but only one is flight ready. The other has been utilized to test onboard computers. It hasn’t left the complex.”

Austin nodded. “Tell me the plan.”

“Right.” She set her tea down and walked over to the kitchen. When she came back, she carried a tablet with a lens on the end. “Here we go.”

The tablet warmed up and the lens illuminated. A hologram schematic appeared over the table.
 

“This is the building where the
Wraith
had been housed.”

“Wait—the
Wraith
is here in the city?” Austin asked.
 

“Yes.”

“Then how has it been running up and down the border?”

“The
Wraith
has gone out on several series of tests to gauge its readiness. It just returned this week for final analysis. Tulin hasn’t wanted anyone to know about this operation, so the
Wraith
itself has been hidden in this complex for the majority of its existence. But we have to move quickly.”

“How quickly?”

“Tomorrow.”

Austin shook his head. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“The prototypes will be moved the day after tomorrow. The tests are completed, and the final corrections will be made before the fighter is sent back for mass production.” She nodded. “Since the project is being moved for mass production, part of the security team is setting up shop at the new location. It is my hope they will not be ready for any excitement.”

He exhaled. “All right. Go ahead.”

“Okay. We will arrive in the morning for my shift, and you will be hidden in my vehicle. The trunk is reinforced, and no sensors can penetrate or detect you. The building itself blocks all gamma waves or transmissions of any kind from entering or leaving the complex. The pilots are located within the complex, and their breakfast will be poisoned. While they are in distress in their quarters, you will enter through the waste chute at this location near my vehicle.” She pointed at the hologram to a room just off of the garage. “See?”

“Yes,” he said, nodding. “How do I know which chute leads to the pilots?”
 

“It’s thirty-four-B. Remember that.”

“Got it.” Austin frowned. “How do I climb the chute? I doubt there’s a ladder.”

“I will supply you magnetic gloves, knee pads, and toe straps.” She eyed him. “I can’t promise you won’t be hit with anything on your way up. It’s tight, and the chute will still be in operation.”

He sighed. “Lovely.”

“Once you enter, you will take one of the pilots out with this.” She passed Austin a pen. “Click the end and a fifty-thousand volt bolt will discharge from the end, rendering your victim unconscious and incapacitated. Use these ties to secure the pilot inside the trash chute.”

“Wait a minute,” Austin said, staring at the pen, “I have to enter the waste chute on my own? Won’t someone notice me?”

“A distraction is planned.”

“What kind of distraction?”

“Not important.” Her face grew rigid. “Many people have died to give you this chance, Lieutenant. They were good people, two other agents embedded for this mission.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “What were their names?”

“Gree and Ula.” She wiped at her face. “You must succeed.”

Austin swallowed. “I understand.”

“Good.” She pressed the tablet, and the image shifted to an overhead view of the pilot’s quarters. “Once your pilot is unconscious, you will dress in his flight suit, put on his helmet, and await my signal.”

“What is your signal?”

“You will hear me say the words, ‘Breakfast is being served cold.’”

Austin frowned. “I’ll just, hear those words? How?”

Val pointed at his ears. “Implants.”

He touched his ears and smiled. “Clever.”

“Yes.”
 

“I thought the building blocked gamma waves?”

“Only leaving or incoming.” She smiled. “Internal transmission functions for security purposes. This project is so secret, so off the books thanks to Regent Tulin and his grand plans, that we think most of the plans are localized in this building—very little has been transferred to other locations out of a fear the plans would be intercepted.”

“So I hear the words and then what?”

The schematic traced a path from the pilot’s quarters to a larger room containing the
Wraith
prototype. “You will have ten to twelve minutes. Walk along this corridor, enter the room and steal the fighter.”

“Won’t they see me?”

Val looked at him, her eyes pleading. “They will be distracted, and you’ll be wearing a helmet. If you are worried, pull your star visor down to shield your face. Do not worry because most of the Marine guards have left. Security is being toned down as the project is getting ready to move. It has to happen tomorrow.”

“What is this second distraction?”

Val shook her head as if shooing away a fly. “Following this second distraction, the hangar doors exiting the building will be opened—that’s all you need to know. Then you fly the fighter out of here.”

“Antiaircraft weaponry of any kind?” Austin asked.

“Nothing that can track you or catch you,” Val said. “Once you’re in the air, activate the shroud and head for these coordinates. You won’t have enough fuel to complete your journey. A tug will be at this remote moon to refuel you for your rendezvous with a Legion ship at these coordinates. If something should go wrong and you’re marooned or there is no way out, take this.”

She handed him a black cylindrical tube the size of a pen cap.

“What’s this?” he asked, taking the tube that reminded him of something he would get at the pharmacy.

“It’s quick and painless.”

He stared at the tube that suddenly felt heavier. “I didn’t come this far to kill myself.”

“It’s only for if you have no other option. Believe me,” she said, swallowing, “you don’t want to be interrogated by these people. Understand?”

Austin nodded, his eyes fixed on the tube. “What about the other prototype?”

“It will be incapacitated.”

“And all the files for this fighter?”

“Everything in that room will be destroyed.” She lowered her gaze. “I assure you.”

He stared at her, the meaning of her words coming together. “What about you?”

“I am of no concern.”

He shook his head. “No. You can come with me. You could get onboard and—”

She touched his hand, gently draping her fingers over his skin. “You are the mission now. You are all that matters. Getting you to the
Wraith
is most important. This is how it has to be.” She raised her eyebrows. “Yes?”

Austin nodded, his pulse quickening. “I understand.”
 

“Make sure all forms of identification are destroyed. You must be no one—a shadow of a person—to complete this mission.”

“I haven’t had anything on me that was mine in a while.”

“Good.” Val shut down the tablet and tossed it into a trashcan in the corner. The can flashed, and he smelled burning electronics.
 

“What did you do?” he asked.
 

“Destroyed the evidence.” She looked around the apartment. “This is the final night I will spend in this place.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, unsure how to react to her statement.

“I’m not. I am glad for this to be over. Very glad you arrived tonight.” She eyed him. “Where are you from, Lieutenant?”

He sighed. “Austin, please. Call me Austin.”

“Very well, Austin.”

“I am from a place outside of Atlanta.” He laughed when she looked confused. “Earth. Quadrant Eight.”

“Ah, Earth.” She tilted her head back and stared at the wall. “A recent pirate attack occurred there, yes?”

Austin nodded slowly. “Yes.”

She paused, studying him.“You are younger than I expected.”

“Oh?” he asked, sipping on the tea.

Her gaze narrowed. “I was told they were sending the best Star Runner, who was close enough to make a difference.” She bit down on her lip. “Can you do this?”