but that was just it-the principal was a job. Aramis was a friend and valued subordinate.
So, whether Aramis was mentally fit for duty or not, he was alive, safe, healed. That was first.
Das was with them in their own conference room in the BuState compound. Aramis had been debriefed several times in various levels of consciousness. This was to confirm the intel and have him sign off on it, and decide if he would remain on mission.
“Before we call him in, I need to know if he’ll be fit for the trip next week.” It was a long trip, too, visiting two other cities and several smaller towns. The argument for her visit as minister was incredibly tenuous. It was obviously an election junket.
Shaman said, “Yes. He will be fit, if a bit weak, and he’s eager to resume operating.”
“Good, then. I’ll still keep Lionel on call as backup for anyone who might go down.”
Jason said, “That’s a reasonable precaution. We can also cycle Aramis back with Cady’s group as he spools back up, as an interim.”
“Yes, we discussed that. It’s possible.” He turned and asked, “Captain Das, are you ready?”
Das said, “Quite, and relaxed. Please don’t let me hinder you, and I appreciate your hospitality and cooperation.” He still had that faint smile. It was nice to deal with a professional.
“Well, we appreciate thirty kilos of Composition G. But you can bet Elke will want more.”
He grinned for just a moment. “I’ll allow it, if we can find it.”
Jason said, “Here he is.”
Shaman escorted Aramis in. His limp was mostly gone, and he seemed to be fatigued and battered at this point. That was a significant improvement over the sack of meat he’d resembled a few days before.
Alex offered, “Morning.”
“Yes it is,” he said, in mock disgust over the cheerfulness he couldn’t hide. “I should have been drinking to feel like this.”
“Well, you can do that in a few days, too. I’ll allow one evening of relaxation, if Shaman agrees, regardless of Army rules.”
“Thanks.”
He indicated the tablet and hard copy notes on the table. “Here’s the audio debriefs you had, though you’re not coherent in some. You’ll need to go through them again and see if you can decipher your mumbles. We don’t expect additional data, but have to check.”
“I’ll check. I don’t remember those at all, so it’s going to be a formality.”
“That’s what we expect. Then you’ll need to review the written notes and sign off. This here is just a release form,” he passed it over, “so Captain Das can officially use your intel. I took the liberty of extending him courtesy on that.”
“By all means,” Aramis said. He glanced over the page easily enough, printed the thumb block and signed over it in pen.
Das said, “Thanks. Before anything else, I’m very glad you’re alive and recovering. And I do appreciate the intel. Everything we can get is not enough. You know this and I’ll spare you the breakdown, but do know I’m grateful.”
“No problem, sir. Thanks for cutting the resources loose to recover me.”
Das nodded and moved on. “So, we’re still trying to narrow down who might have targeted you as a means of targeting her. They asked about one specific schedule. Anything else you remember at all?”
“No,” Aramis said and shook his head firmly. “They asked lots of questions, but I only remember that they wanted Highland’s itinerary, accused me of lying for not knowing, disputed that it would be changed if there was a problem. Then they made personal comments about my resistance.”
Alex pondered, “So the question remains, were they stupid enough to think the schedule couldn’t change, or connected enough to believe she wouldn’t let that affect her?”
Jason said, “The question may remain a while longer. However, I’m tending toward the latter. They had good intel and surveillance practice to get Aramis, their interrogation was brutal but effective at its purpose of causing extreme pain with minimal critical damage-not even fractures. They understood the potential for embolism, aneurysm, internal hemorrhage and other complications, and avoided them.”
Alex said, “Except they died quickly. They might know intel, but they don’t know combat.”
Jason said, “The ones interrogating didn’t know combat. They may not have been the only ones.”
“We also know they’re local, from genotype and environmental cues.”
Aramis started and flared his eyebrows.
“Shit.”
“What?”
“The ones who interrogated me were speaking English. North American. Neutral accent.”
Captain Das said, “You know, I could have used that information the day you were brought in here.”
Jason looked at the man and said, “Yeah, well he was a bit distracted at the time. One tends to notice the unusual. I suspect being beaten with boat oars was more unusual than hearing someone talk.”
“Sorry.” Das had the grace to look sheepish.
Alex said, “Significant. So the brains had vacated the scene when we arrived and left flunkies to die in their place.”
Das said, “This would tend to indicate we are dealing with seasoned professionals. The MO does not fit the Amala or Shia. It might fit the Coalition or the Sufis, though I can’t find any motives for them. It also suggests it might be an Earth-based faction.”
“Not necessarily,” Jason said. “Grainneans have several accents, and lots of us sound North American because we were. They could also be hirelings, including possibly suborned military. No offense, sir.”
Das shook his head. “None taken. I have to consider that, too.”
“Could the Isolationist groups have hired outside contractors?”
Das said, “Shia most definitely would not, ever, do that. It would be beneath them. Amala might, but probably can’t afford to.”
“Are we missing any potentially hostile groups?”
Aramis said, “Random pissed off rich dude? I know you said we were told it was unlikely, but it is possible. Caron… Miss Prescot, might have ideas on who’d be willing to throw money away for that.”
“I would expect not random, and well-concealed, but it’s worth asking the question.”
Jason said, “I’ll send that inquiry ASAP.”
Das said, “I appreciate your cooperation. This would be so much easier if we had control of the mission.”
“Yeah, and the reverse is true, of course. Any interaction leads to delays and inconsistencies. I’m also still wondering why BuState wanted us when they have a good security force, and easy access to the military.”
“They didn’t tell you?” Das asked.
“Uh, no?” Alex replied. Was this something known?
“She’s campaigning. BuState can’t use their resources for private escort, just as we can’t.”
“I knew a bit of that, but they still have some personnel, and they’re paying for it.”
“They are? Because officially it should be her campaign’s money.”
“I doubt they can afford us. I will confirm, but I understood they were paying.”
“Well, that’s a potential discrepancy you may wish to investigate.”
“Yes. Very. Thanks.” That would fit a lot of things in, but it also compounded the potential number of threats. Did anyone like this woman?
“Useful. We need to talk more, Captain,” he said.
“Obviously, I welcome that.”
Alex said, “Good. So, with that covered, we have a unit issue to discuss.” That was a hint for Das.
Das said, “I’ll step out for a moment. I’ll come back for the documents shortly. I must secure them before you leave the premises. Official copies will be forthcoming.” He rose and walked out the door.
Aramis looked at Alex, and then the others.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Alex said, “First, how do you feel about returning to duty? Are you ready now, or do you need more time?” That left it open for “more time” to be “past the mission” and then indefinite.
