He also didn’t like, within minutes of receiving the report that it was believed Tyrus Rechs was operating inside Detron, that here was a Nether Ops officer suddenly appearing out of a cloud of black smoke and brimstone, asking for everything he had.
“Right now, Captain Hess,” began Sheehan’s chief of staff, “we have only a single uncorroborated report from a local criminal that he took Tyrus Rechs through to the city via a secret underground route below the Docks.”
“Where did Rechs come out?”
“Assuming it is Rechs, no one knows. Including our sole source. He claims the bounty hunter attempted to murder him rather than pay the agreed-upon rate prior to them reaching the surface.”
“He’s lying.”
“About Rechs being here? To what purpose?”
“Not that. He’s lying about what happened down there.”
The chief of staff shrugged. “Captain, that’s all we have to go on, and that is, I presume, what brought you here. You may as well turn around. We have no scans, drone footage, or anything else to corroborate the smuggler’s claim that Tyrus Rechs is operating on Detron.”
“He’s here,” said Hess through gritted teeth.
“And how can you be so sure of that, Captain?” asked the colonel. “And furthermore… why should we care? Tyrus Rechs isn’t our mission here.”
“Come on!” snarled Hess indignantly, his demeanor changing like a wild animal who’d been caged. “City out of control. Rampant death in the streets. Scores being settled. Credits being earned. This has got Rechs written all over it. The only thing missing is a giant holographic landing zone display crying, Welcome, Tyrus Rechs. Start killing this way! Man’s a homicidal maniac. A war criminal. And as to why you should care… because it’s your job to protect the galaxy from him. The directives you have state ‘apprehend on sight.’ I shouldn’t have to remind you of that!”
“Remind you of that, sir,” prompted the colonel, not liking the Nether Ops captain’s insolence. Making sure to point out the difference in rank.
Hess made a pained face that caused his scar-twisted features to look like he’d tasted something incredibly bitter.
“Sir,” he muttered grudgingly, “you shouldn’t need me to remind you of your orders. Sir.”
The colonel nodded.
“That’s better, Captain. I know there’s a pucker factor whenever those with the higher clearances hear Nether Ops is involved, and you might be able to throw your weight around with the lower enlisted and officer corps by playing pretend legionnaire with that uniform you ghouls requisitioned. But the Republic marines are in charge on Detron, not you. And while we can certainly incorporate you into our operations, if you want to look for Tyrus Rechs, he is not a priority for the marines at this time. Restoring order to the city, and a few other objectives I am not at liberty to discuss with you, are. Is that clear?”
Hess considered this for a moment. Then boldly stepped away from the chief of staff to the holographic table displaying the city and the units moving through it, updated in real time. Usually it would be surrounded by staff officers, but Hess’s Nether Ops ties had gotten him the room cleared out of anyone who didn’t need to know what he was doing. Which meant everyone other than the general and his chief of staff.
“Well, sir,” began Hess, venom in his voice as he spat out each word. “I advise you to make it a priority. Because if Tyrus Rechs gets it into his head that the only way to do whatever criminal job he’s here to do requires attacking your troops… he most definitely will. And I can personally assure you, you will lose a lot of men and women in the process. He may be a homicidal maniac war criminal. But he’s highly capable.”
The chief’s mouth was hanging open. He closed it.
“He’s here, Colonel,” Hess continued. “And so are a lot of high-profile House of Reason delegates. The man is already wanted, already a criminal. And if he does what we believe he’s here to do… Oba help you and General Sheehan for letting it happen.”
“You’re suggesting he’s here to… assassinate one of the delegates?”
For the first time, the face of the marine seemed concerned. Hess resisted the urge to smile. “That’s not a suggestion. It’s a statement of fact. I have actionable intelligence that Rechs is behind everything happening on Detron. And you can be damned sure he plans on killing the last legionnaire and your marine, too. Along with a few platoons of your men just because he can. Then he blows Delegate Hamachi-Roi’s brains out during her next speech in a wildly uncontrolled environment with lax security at best because the whole city is a war zone.”
The man looked ready to concede. He just needed a reason. Something he could take to General Sheehan. “Help me to understand why, Captain.”
“Tyrus Rechs has been saddled with a substantial bounty on his head for high crimes against the Republic. That bounty has followed the scumbag everywhere he goes—and it’s seriously hampered his criminal operations. I’ve followed him too, and I’ve seen the number of times the maniac has had to scrap whatever criminal plan he’s tried—like the hits and robberies at Cassio Royale—because of all the bounty hunters looking to cash in on him.
“His actions here on Detron—spurring riots, killing legionnaires, and his planned public assassination of a House of Reason delegate… it’s a worst-case scenario, and it’s happening. Analysts have this scenario pegged as a catalyst for civil war. And if that happens… well then, Tyrus Rechs will be free to get lost in the shuffle. We’ll all be too busy trying to hold the galaxy together to finally make him accountable for his crimes.
“And if you don’t think he’s exactly the kind of man who would see millions killed if it was in his interest… then you, quite frankly, Colonel, don’t know Tyrus Rechs.”
The chief clenched his jaw.
This
