*You may go up. The Commander will see you in Conference Room A on the eighty-fourth floor. Follow the -"
*I know the way." Anneke took the biometric pill the man held out and swallowed it. It would perform a thorough read of any internal bioware she might be concealing and would track her through the building. If she became lost, the AI that ran the building"s basic homeostatic functions would guide her back to the correct path. If she refused, security would be alerted.
Anneke did not meet the attache. Instead, she was ushered into Conference Room A by Rench"s personal a.s.sistant - a young woman with a crew cut and a stark military manner.
*The Commander will be in shortly. Can I get you a coffee, ma"am?"
*Ruvian, if you have it."
*Right away." The PA hurried to a refreshment bar in the corner and poured the coffee herself, instead of having the auto-waiter do it. Nice touch, thought Anneke. The human face to the iron fist. But RIM had always operated thus: its long vigil to protect humanity from itself, and from the harsh realities of the galaxy, always contained this seed of humility. It was what, in Anneke"s opinion, made RIM special.
And why she did not want to see RIM destroyed. Rench kept her waiting, as she had expected.
When he finally marched in and sat down he gave her a look of pure hatred. Anneke was taken aback. Aside from the one encounter last year on the Ethics and Standards Committee, she barely knew the man. How could he harbour such intense emotion towards her?
*Special Agent Longshadow."
*Commander Rench."
*Different circ.u.mstances."
*Quite."
*So let"s cut to the chase. What do you want?" Anneke finished her coffee and set the cup down. *I think you"re making a grave mistake. By dismantling the task force and changing RIM"s traditional priorities, you"re playing right into the hands of the mole who just happens to be in control of Quesada and, through Quesada, the Majoris Corporata."
Rench"s complexion darkened slightly. His only other sign of reaction was a snarling grin. *I"m glad we"re not mincing words today. So let me answer in kind."
*By all means."
*You are no longer privy to the internal decisions of this organisation and the fact that you are aware of recent policy decisions is both alarming and interesting. And I promise you I will pursue that. For now, let me say this: there is no mole inside RIM and there certainly is no Majoris Corporata. Personally - and I"m being frank here - I think you concocted this story. It"s patently a glory-seeking exercise; dare I say you have excelled in its execution."
Anneke bit back the reply that came immediately to her lips and steadied her breathing. The man was trying to bait her. Why? Was this conversation being a.n.a.lysed, looking for deceit in her voice? She had to a.s.sume so. But the other factor was still there: his peculiar hatred for her.
Then she remembered something Jake had said.
*You know, Rench and I - and your uncle Viktus - all started in RIM together. We were friends .for a while. Then things changed. Rench developed a hatred towards Viktus and me."
She took a gamble, inserting subtle sneer-tones into her voice. *What happened between you, Viktus and Ferren has blinded you."
Rench stood up so quickly his chair flew backwards. His face was flushed, his eyes glinting dangerously. He spoke with a raspy voice, as if with some old hurt.
*Get out of my sight."
He turned and strode to the door then abruptly stopped, tilting his head slightly as if listening. He turned back. *Change of plan. Consider yourself under arrest."
He exited. A moment later a guard detail burst in, pointing disruptors at her. She raised her hands, submitting peacefully. The turnaround caught her by surprise. More, she was shocked. As if her own family had turned on her.
Jake came to see her in her cell.
*I had to declare myself your counsel before they"d let me see you," he explained as he sat down on the bunk beside her.
*How"s Deema?"
*She"s going great. Well, as great as a kid can be who"s locked away out of harm"s way. She sends her love."
Anneke smiled. *Tell her I"ll see her soon."
Jake looked about the cell. They both knew that was a white lie. *How are you doing?"
Anneke shrugged. The arrest still stung, but she didn"t want to talk about that. *I"m okay. At least I"m safe from Brown"s fatwa in here."
*Glad you"re looking on the bright side of things."
*Why? Because everything else is so dark?" WhenJake said nothing, Anneke sighed. *Okay, let me have it. What are they planning?"
*They intend charging you with sedition, consorting with known criminals, withholding vital information, and sundry other charges."
*Great. Is there an upside to this?"
*They dropped the treason charges."
She stared at him. Treason? Were they crazy?
*Guess I don"t have many friends left at RIM."
Jake shook his head. *You have friends, Anneke. Powerful ones, too. But right now everybody is keeping their head down. People have been pensioned off left, right and centre - including me." Anneke started, butJake shushed her. *We knew that was coming. That"s why I needed to be your counsel to get in here. I"m on borrowed time. Two more weeks and I start clearing out my desk." Bitterness had crept into Jake"s voice. Anneke put a hand on his arm.
*I"m sorry, Jake. You gave them a century of your life and they"ve turned on you."
*Right now, I"m more worried about you than me. I"ll get by. But Rench intends throwing the book at you. Indeed, you"ve become something of a cause celebre - but not for good. You represent the old way of doing things, RIM as it once was. By lambasting you, Rench is making the boldest statement possible that things are changing."
Anneke blinked back tears. *He"s using me to destroy RIM."
*A court martial has been convened for tomorrow morning."
*He"s not wasting any time."
*He doesn"t want sympathy for you to grow. But you"re not alone, Anneke. Your supporters will be there. You"ll have proper counsel, too. I"ll be co-counsel."
Anneke shook her head. *No."
*Pardon?"
*I don"t want you there, Jake." Jake stared at her, dumbfounded.
*I need you to remain a free agent," said Anneke.
*Rench will take note of any who champion my case and hit back at them. If I read him correctly, he"s a vindictive little tyrant who now has a chance to strike back at everybody he imagines has slighted him over the years."
Jake sighed. *That"s pretty accurate, I"d say."
The court martial began on a positive note. Anneke"s holo record was displayed before the closed court, although certain sections were suppressed for galactic security. Anneke could see that the jury of RIM agents and officers was suitably impressed. But as the day wore on, the prosecutor systematically twisted every praiseworthy action on her record, highlighting Anneke"s tendency to ignore standing orders, to work outside the RIM command structure, and to take matters into her own hands.
Her defence counsel, a clumsy second-rate lawyer named Henkle, tried to point out that RIM was built on the initiative of field agents, but his soft voice and barely perceptible stammer came across as indecisive and unconvincing.
But he had a trump card and he played it towards the end, more in desperation than triumph, Anneke thought. *Does anyone here dispute that Anneke Longshadow, by her own courageous actions, prevented the destruction of the cloud city known as Arcadia, which at that time contained over one million souls? In doing so, she nearly brought about her own death."
The prosecutor, an oily, sneering woman in her forties, stood up. *Well spoken, counsellor, well spoken indeed. But you seem to have left out a few details. With the court"s indulgence, I would like to illuminate these."
The judge nodded. The prosecutor turned and faced the jury.
*While it is true that Anneke Longshadow saved Arcadia from certain destruction, it is equally true, and the facts will bear me out, that the city was endangered due to Ms Longshadow"s own actions in the first place."
A soft gasp sounded from the officers in the jury and Anneke noted that several who had been sitting back now leaned forward, frowning.
*It seems the individual that Agent Longshadow was seeking sabotaged the city in his effort to escape her."
Henkle jumped to his feet. *That is the most preposterous interpretation I have ever heard in my life! Agent Longshadow is not responsible for the actions of a criminal she was rightfully authorised to pursue and attempt to apprehend."
*Perhaps not," continued the prosecutor, *but standard operating procedure for such situations requires, my dear counsellor, requires that suitable backup be called and put in place before any apprehension is attempted, unless there is an immediate threat to the public. And may I remind you that when Agent Longshadow arrived on Arcadia there was no threat until she cornered the suspect. By wilfully ignoring protocol, as she has many times in the past, Agent Longshadow placed Arcadia in jeopardy." The prosecutor"s voice rose.
*Then, and only then, wracked by guilt at what she had brought about, did she attempt to undo her maverick behaviour by saving the city."
The court erupted. When it eventually subsided the jury deliberated for only one hour before Anneke learned of her fate.
*Special Agent Anneke Longshadow, please rise. You have been found guilty of grave charges. You are herewith dishonourably discharged from the Regis Mentatis Imperium, effective immediately. Furthermore, it is the judgement of this court that you be sentenced to ten years on the prison planet of Urkor. May whatever G.o.d you believe in have mercy on your soul."
FATE was at work again. It seemed not that long ago that Maximus Black had been on duty when the priority call came in from Anneke Longshadow, warning RIM it had been penetrated by a high level mole. And now the call came up from the lobby. Anneke Longshadow was here. In the building. And she wanted to see Black"s boss, Rench.
Black"s brain worked furiously. He was in charge of the Commander"s appointments and he could either let this happen or he could block it. He decided on the former.
*Tell her to come up," he said, and gave instructions.
Black was aware Rench had a feud with Ferren and Viktus, and suspected it might extend to Viktus"s mece.
He quickly briefed Rench, who stared for a moment then smacked his lips with glee. *Well, well. What goes around comes round, after all." Black wasn"t sure what he meant, but ordered full spectrum monitoring of Conference Room A. He also suggested Rench wear an earphone by which Black could pa.s.s on further suggestions or updates.
*Good idea, Captain."
Black made sure he remained behind the scenes. It was possible, despite the renovations he had *worn" whenever he met Anneke, that she might recognise him. RIM agents were trained to perceive fundamental biometric characteristics rather than just superficial ones.
In any case, it suited Black"s purposes to listen in on the conversation between his boss and Anneke. But when Rench rose to leave, Black whispered urgently into his mike. *Sir! There is definitely a case to be made against Agent Longshadow. I strongly suggest taking her into custody."
There was a pause, and then Rench, visible through a one-way mirror, gave a sign of agreement. Immediately, Black ordered a security detail. On the double.
Ten years. Ten years. It wasn"t enough. High up in one of the towers of RIM headquarters, Black paced the length of his quarters - his captain"s quarters.
Anneke Longshadow was so close he could taste her.
The girl had frustrated his plans, gotten in the way more times than he could count, come close to exposing him, and had even wounded him. He could not let this opportunity elude him.
He would not.
But he couldn"t just waltz into the detention level in the bowels of RIM and eliminate her. Apart from the fact the entire floor was heavily and constantly monitored - which could be circ.u.mvented - the repercussions would be worse than the initial days of the great Mole Hunt.
Then again, perhaps that wasn"t a bad thing. It would certainly undermine RIM"s perceived omnipotence. What kind of organisation could not protect a prisoner in its own jail?
Black would have to give it some thought. But he would have to do it quickly. Anneke was due to be transferred to Urkor in just three days.
And Urkor was too far away for Black to get to her there. He had bigger fish to fry.
So. Three days. Three days in which to kill two birds with one stone?
Well, why not? What was the point of being a deviant criminal genius unless you were devious?
*Solid idea," Black whispered. *Solid."
They moved in tight two-by-two formation, probing forward into the darkness, silent as gliders. They could not be seen, except by electronic means, but they could see: infrared, quantum-enhanced night vision, radar-visual feedback, motion sensors, the works.
In all, twelve masked and armoured men and women padded along the tunnel: three units, four to each. Nor were these meres - soldiers of fortune available to anyone who paid their fee. No, these were highly trained professionals, like semi-mythical groups from the past, the Old Empire Guard or the commandos.
They were the top guns of Quesada"s highly secret Alpha Force, an elite squad used for special occasions. Only today they happened to be dressed in the livery of the Myoto Company.
Alpha One - the leader - signalled a halt. He did not speak or issue electronic signs. Instead, he flashed curt hand signals, pa.s.sed down the line.
As one, the twelve came to a crouching stop.
Alpha One beckoned Hawkeye to his side, motioning him to take readings. Hawkeye hunkered down in the darkness, running a battery of tests, probing the tunnel ahead as well as the walls, floor and ceiling.
When he communicated, he used a technically evolved form of sign language, one of Quesada"s more brilliant notions, excavating from the distant past a *language" no longer used.
*We"re in the bubble," gestured Hawkeye. *In the bubble" meant they were moving within an artificially created electronic blind spot, undetected by the vast array of RIM *eyes" and *ears".
Of course, having someone on the inside helped.
*Run point with Ice Queen," Alpha One said. *I want constant monitoring from here on in. Let me know the moment somebody picks up our footprint."
*You got it."
Alpha One signed for the squad to move on. Ice Queen and Hawkeye took the lead, the former guiding Hawkeye while he closely monitored the available spectrum of surveillance frequencies and fields. Ice Queen"s job was to watch where Hawkeye put his big feet.
Just as well she did.
Hawkeye, intent on a ghost signal he had picked up, was about to take a step when Ice Queen"s hand clamped hard on his shoulder. He froze.
*Something on the ground," she signed.
Hawkeye frowned, shuffiing carefully backwards. He trained his instruments on the ground ahead. Sure enough he started picking up a weak signal. A hair-thin trip wire connected to a pinhead battery. d.a.m.n.