Read Outsystem (Aeon 14) Online
Authors: M. D. Cooper
STELLAR DATE: 3227213 / 09.17.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION:
GSS Intrepid
, Mars Outer Shipyards (MOS)
REGION:
Mars Protectorate, Sol Space Federation
“You’re going to need to take an escort with you from now on,” Admiral Sanderson said after Tanis reported the attack.
“As much as I hate the notion, I agree.” Tanis nodded. “In fact, all senior and key personnel should have an escort. It would be far worse if Abby or Earnest was killed than me.”
“They’d have to leave the ship first for that to happen.” Terrance laughed.
Sanderson grunted his
assent. “On the upside this will probably help out in getting that moronic resolution the Marsian legislature passed overturned.”
Tanis laughed. “Stevens sent me a formal apology for the security breach
, though there were undertones in his message suggesting he thinks I set it up. He’s probably cursing his heart out in that tacky office of his. As far as security, we’ll use Forsythe’s MCSF platoon for security details, a fireteam for each VIP, and keep Grenwald’s men for tactical responses.
“Are you certain that won’t stretch our resources too thin?” Terrance asked. He had come up from Mars to check on the status of several key milestones in the engine tests and invited himself to the meeting.
“I’ve got more TSF Regulars being called in for our normal security duties. Lieutenant Ouri now has six companies under her, which is causing some issues as they obviously are all run by commanders. GSS first lieutenants are close to the rank of TSF commanders, but it’s starting to cause some issues. I haven’t had to back up her orders yet—a testament to her tenacity—but she is spending more time making sure they aren’t doing things their way than I’d like. She’s due for a promotion shortly and I’d like to push it through.”
Sanderson nodded. “No reason not to. She’s colony, so it’s not like we’re messing up someone’s organization. Send me all the appropriate files and I’ll see that it happens with all due haste.”
“I don’t know that I’ll need one of your teams,” Terrance said. “I’ve got my own private forces that are second to none.”
“That you do, sir,” Tanis replied. “And when you’re on the MOS they’ll be augmented by one of the
Marine fireteams. Your guys may be good, but they don’t have the resources we do, or the ability to legally start shooting holes in whatever gets in their way.”
Terrance wore his dangerous smile again. “I see your point, Major.”
Captain Andrews brought the discussion back on track . “Though I have no issues with added security, I would prefer to see the threat removed, rather than abated. Have we made any progress in tracking down who is behind all of this?”
Tanis hadn’t seen much of the captain over the last few weeks, but the signs of his efficiency and enthusiasm for the project were everywhere. You could always tell the quality of a captain by his ship, and Andrews was top notch.
“We’ve got a 94.7 percent probability that it is a Jovian concern backing these actions. From the looks of it, two of the attacks that happened before I arrived were actually anti-terraforming groups. Once we excluded all data pertaining to those incidents we were able to hone in on a few key banks on Callisto and Titan. A large number of shell corporations and even extra-solar interests were in-between, but we navigated past them. Those banks only deal with the top tier of corporations in Jovian space. We’re definitely looking at an industrial opponent.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” Terrance said. “They would definitely need big money to pull off what they’ve done so far. And there are several companies in Jove’s sphere that would like to take me down a notch.”
“Three hundred and ninety-two from what I can determine.” Tanis smiled. “Though only two hundred and seven use those banks.”
“Ouch…I didn’t realize it was quite that high. I wonder what the solar total is.”
“Seven hundred and four.” Tanis supplied.
Terrance laughed ruefully. “Wasn’t wondering that much.”
“Sorry, sir. I’m told I tend to be a bit too literal sometimes.”
“So do you have any top suspects?” Captain Andrews asked, fingering his silver hair.
“A few, sir.” She fed a stream of data into the conference room’s net and a list of companies and their particulars rose up over the table.
“First off we have Barum Inc. They manufacture ES components and were in a very large bidding war to supply the
Intrepid
—mainly the components for the ramscoop. They lost the deal; the company, which was already in a downward spiral, went down further. One of the owners has made personal threats against you, Terrance. They recently managed to pull themselves out of the toilet and now have the capital to carry out what we’ve come up against. They’ve also had several other dealings with your companies that have left them…well…soured.”
“I can see how they wouldn’t be my biggest fans.” Terrance nodded as he looked over the data. “I didn’t think they were that far along on their recovery, though.”
“They recently had a very large sum come back from Tau Ceti, either after being laundered, or possibly as a return on an investment. Their corporate statements for that period aren’t yet public and we’re having to tread carefully in ‘accessing’ records in Jovian space what with the latest flare-up in the federal government.”
Captain Andrews nodded. “Your caution is wise. I can see how money from Tau Ceti would move them up your list.”
“Aye, sir. We’re looking into their activities quite carefully. We’ve also got a few other Jovian interests, but none that match up quite so well: the Arnell, Stellar Dynamics, Neutron Cartwright, and Mallar Isotopes.” As she listed off each one, corporate information rose above the table, coupled with the data points that potentially linked them to the attacks, or the funding thereof.
“There is also, of course, the STR consortium,” Tanis added. “They don’t have any particular reason to dislike you, sir, but they are building the
GSS Dakota
and we all know how much they are frothing at the mouth to get the New Eden colony. Especially after the latest data the FGT has sent back.”
“Can’t say I blame them.” Terrance nodded his agreement.
“Right now we’re following up on all of those leads and should know more for our next briefing.”
“Very good, Major.” Admiral Sanderson nodded. “You’re dismissed.”
Tanis rose and saluted the men before she left the conference room.
“Quite the laundry list of suspects.” Captain Andrews steepled his fingers
as Tanis walked to the exit. “Though considering all of the possibilities it is a fairly succinct tally.”
“Well, I hope we find out who is behind this sooner or later. With those critical engine tests coming up I have enough on my mind,” Terrance said.
STELLAR DATE: 3227213 / 09.17.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Stellar Comm Hub #129.A.236.B.945.C-294
STELLAR DATE: 3227216 / 09.20.4123 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION:
GSS Intrepid
, Mars Outer Shipyards (MOS)
REGION:
Mars Protectorate, Sol Space Federation
Tanis was wrapping up some administrative logs before the end of the second shift when Ouri poked her head into her office.
“Evening, Major.”
Tanis looked up at the commander. The last week or so had seen a change in Ouri. Her commander’s bars had given her an increased sense of authority and her job performance had gone from great to excellent. The added clarity to the chain of command was also improving the efficiency of the units under her; as a result, the entire security organization was vastly improved.
The best part of all
was the visible improvement in Ouri’s character. Tanis wasn’t certain if it was the smaller gap in rank between the two of them, or the lower stress level from having a smooth-running operation, but the end result was a much more personable subordinate.
“Commander, good to see you. How are things?”
Ouri smiled and Tanis returned it in kind. “Quite well; I’ve got all the reports filed and up to date.”
“I never worry that you won’t,” Tanis said.
“So, I was wondering if you’d want to come down to my cabin for dinner.”
“What? I’m being invited to one of the infamous Ouri cookouts I’ve heard so much about?”
“Well, sir, I would have invited you before, but a lot of enlisted and junior officers come down. I didn’t think you’d really want to mingle—separation of rank and all that.”
“Rules and regs, I wouldn’t want anyone thinking they’re all chummy with me and that I’ll let things slide,” Tanis replied with a grin.
Ouri chuckled. “I think you have absolutely nothing to worry about on that front.”
“So what warrants the invite now?” Tanis asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“Well, sir, now that I’ve also moved up the chain it doesn’t seem quite right to be spending too much time with the people under me, at least in the smaller gatherings. I’ve just invited officers, or civilian department heads from around the ship. I thought maybe you’d like to come. Mostly it’s people from here at the SOC.”
Tanis looked down at the plas on her desk
and considered all of the work she had to do, but decided that the irony of going to a log cabin on a lake that happened to be inside one of the most advanced starships ever built was something she couldn’t miss out on.
“Real cookout with fire and everything?”
“Big fire, sir.”
Tanis grinned. “Call me Tanis when we’re off duty.”
The cabin was just as Tanis had pictured it.
It sat at the edge of a lake, not a large one, just a half mile across or so. A young forest was growing up around the waters. The trees had been accelerated and were perhaps ten meters in height. A slip with a canoe tied to it jutted into the water. Up a small path was a clearing with a thick lawn and set back against the trees a homey cabin.
“This is really your quarters?” Tanis asked.
“Yup, I go to bed here and wake up here in the morning.” Ouri nodded.
“How on earth did you swing this? I mean, aren’t there millions of people lining up to be on the botany side of this mission?”
“I know a guy who knows a guy.” Ouri paused, a mischievous smile playing at her lips. “That and I spent over a hundred years on various terraforming ventures. I’ll be co-managing the north continent’s stage 3a terraforming when we get to New Eden.”
Tanis stopped, regarding Ouri with a calculating look. “I’ve read your file. There’s no mention of any of this in it.”
“Well, I have two separate registered identities. There’s no link between them.”
“That’s… unusual.” Tanis ran a hand through her hair, stopping when she realized she was doing it. If Ouri wasn’t being so casual about it she would have been very suspicious.
“The short version is that I was at the wrong end of the pointy stick a few times when I was managing terraforming projects. GSS pulled me into their protective custody and I found I really enjoyed that line of work as well. I enlisted and well…here I am.”
“So now you can kick ass and terraform planets.” Tanis laughed. “That’s quite the unusual combination.”
Ouri chuckled. “It certainly wasn’t what my career advisor mapped out for me.”
No one else had arrived yet, and Ouri led Tanis into the small cabin. Inside was a dichotomy of clutter that matched what she now knew about Ouri’s dual life.
“This is both everythin
g and nothing like what I expected,” Tanis said.
“I live to be an enigma,” Ouri grinned. “Would you mind taking those two baskets out to the fire pit? I’ve got to change out of this uniform.”
Tanis looked down at her own dress uniform and sighed. She should have stopped off at her quarters to change. After carrying out the baskets she came back in to see Ouri running a brush through her hair. She was wearing a red and yellow sundress that looked quite stunning on her. It was always amazing how much better people looked in civilian clothing.
“You’re going to get all the boys.” Tanis laughed.
Ouri looked down at herself and then over at Tanis. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t think you’d have anything else. You know how it is with us juniors; we figure the SOs must have been born in their uniforms.”