Alex knew this was a goat rope. All he could do was keep roping.
He entered their quarters, which were covered by two of Cady’s people.
Marlin said, “You’re secure inside, sir.”
“Thanks. Outside?”
Roger Edge said, “Nothing that we can discern.”
Jason said, “I’ll check,” as he unshouldered his coat, slipped arms through his harness, cleared his pistol before reaching the door to his quarters, and tossed the whole ensemble on the bed.
Alex likewise took his coat off, unsnapped the armor, and said, “Elke, I’ll want whatever feeds you have. In an hour.”
It could be done faster, but they all needed to hydrate after a sweaty ride, standing for hours in a hall and a flight back. Then they needed bathroom breaks, to reconstitute gear, and save files, make notes, debrief themselves. There were several reasons they got paid as well as they did, and the long hours were part of it.
Jason reported secure. Everyone summarized their notes.
“Elke, what do you have for us?”
“She’s angry,” Elke said. “Just as she told us, she thinks it will be seen as weak. Here.”
She started a playback from a video feed in Highland’s quarters. It wasn’t good video, but even the BuState intel people hadn’t found the devices. Nor was he sure what Elke used. If found, he’d deny it, she’d get “counseled,” the lawyers would apologize, and they’d go right back to doing what they’d been doing.
Highland said, “Cruk is going to be the cause of my breakdown. Or rather, his handlers are. That retarded African buffoon is beyond a puppet.” She strode around, distorted slightly from the correction algorithm on the near spherical lens. She had a glass of something, half-drained already, and her biometrics seemed to indicate some sort of tranquilizer.
JessieM sat on the couch, looking a bit tense but unafraid. She said, “It hasn’t affected you negatively yet. They’re reporting that the unrest caused the entire conference to divert to air.”
“Yes, so I personally am okay, but BuState look like bumbling idiots. That’s why we got rid of leMieure. I can’t be seen in any comparison to him.”
“Of course not. But you present better. Your intro went over well, and your followup release says you regret that further progress couldn’t be made through intransigence and the stress of the civil unrest. I noted the unrest was due to economic and societal inequality, and that you wanted peace for all groups to pursue their joint destiny.”
Interesting. JessieM wasn’t just a lackey. That was a pretty well-phrased release, done on the fly. He looked at the others, they looked back and nodded. It was understood.
“Good. I need to distance myself from Ripple Creek before they take a fall.”
“I’ve been churping that you would rather have BuState security. This change is due to the administration.”
“We can’t blame them! They’ll come back on us.”
“I haven’t. It’s stated as due to necessity, and I blamed the Liberty Party for refusing to accede to a reasonable budget, thus forcing this on us.”
“Good. We’re all friends here, and I greatly respect our faithless and fearful leader. Once we’ve cleared decks and are ready for the caucus, then we’ll pile on.”
“He’s going to expect that.”
“Of course. The trick is not to come across as too competent. If he has to throw resources at it, he looks like a bully. Passive aggressive strategy.”
“Ma’am, should we be discussing this out loud?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s fine. Mr. Gillette swept this place right before we came in. Didn’t you get the churp?”
“I did not.” JessieM looked somewhat nonplussed at being left out of that discussion.
“Yes, he’s got us covered.”
That was interesting, Alex thought. Had he done a half-assed job? A good job, but not good enough? Or was he a mole for someone?
“Elke, are you sure no one else has a feed from there?”
“I am.”
Jason said, “So am I. Aerospace Force was able to check on Bishwanath as a colonial power. BuState has made it very clear they won’t allow outside agencies, and I’ve checked. If the military got anything, it would mean someone’s neck. So if someone is even trying, it’s without permission and a hostile act. Then they’d have to go through Cady to do so. Nor did we find anything. Probability, then, is very low.”
“Understood, but low is not zero.”
“Of course. All a matter of odds.”
They stopped as Highland said, “… will need to get moving on Ripple Creek. They are going to save me, just not the way those bloodthirsty retards imagine.”
Very interesting, and unnerving. If she’d toss out the R word, and planned to take them down, then this was very interesting.
“I’m glad she underestimates us.”
Aramis said, “I know the military does. We’re deemed second raters. Hell, I used to think so, until that first mission. I suppose civilians have even less grasp of what we do.”
“She’s been around the track, though. She should know better.”
Shaman said, “BuState security are very much expected to take fire, and to not hurt bystanders. It’s not hard to do that among a largely disarmed population that isn’t minded to cause major violence. We come in when there is major violence in the paradigm. Then, she’s been shuffled out here for a reason.”
“So, is this possibly a deliberate assassination attempt?”
“Setup, perhaps. It could be a combination of things. Comply with letter of the law regarding security. Arrange to embarrass each of us-Ripple Creek and Highland, and take out either one if opportunity presents.”
Alex felt a chill.
“Yes, that does fit. Not only does everyone in the equation hate her, they also hate us.”
Bart said, “And now we know.”
“Indeed. Well, our tasking is to keep her alive. I am not bothered at the concept of pissing her off to do so. Whether she gets elected or not is not our concern. I would enjoy aggravating whoever comes after her. And if we confirm who’s after us, we do as we need to.”
Elke smiled that warm, creepy smile and said, “I love you at times like this.”
“Yes, well, let’s see what message she sends, if we can.”
The next morning, it was necessary to sit in conference with Ms. Highland, Mr. Gillette and Captain Das to discuss threats. Das came up to see Alex first.
“Are you ready, Agent Marlow?”
“I am,” he agreed. “I’m eager to swap intel.”
“Same here, though it often seems we provide them more than they do us.”
Alex took that as a suggestion that Das wanted more from him, too.
“It can seem that way, though circumstances do change.”
“Certainly. Some agencies like to receive more than they give, especially at budget time.”
Yes, that was a hint that Das didn’t trust Gillette either.
Das continued, “Though of course, the military’s relationship with BuState is quite solid.”
But not Ripple Creek’s. Yes, they were always an outsider, to everyone. Alex knew that.
“We’ll make it work,” he said.
When they entered Highland’s office, she fairly cooed.
“Captain Das, so good to see you.”
Was she trying to score with him? Enjoying the view? Genuinely pleased? Or trying to frazzle Alex? Who knew? It might be relevant later, so he filed it.
Gillette said, “Captain Das, Agent Marlow, how are you this morning?”
Ah, pleasantries. They didn’t really want to know, so Alex said, “Good enough,” and left it at that.
JessieM was an accomplished press flak, but her duties apparently included coffee. He accepted a cup,
