“A weakened USS, without the resources of the Border Worlds alliance, could not hope to protect our expansive territory. Years of expansion gone in a flash as world after world would consider allying with the Empire. The Empire doesn’t enforce their ideals, but merely allows them. Any worlds wishing to join them are still governed somewhat autonomously. They might feel the Empire offers stability and assured protection.”
“Anyone believing the nonsense you just spouted would have to be assuredly insane,” Aaron said.
Ben James ignored him. “We have to get you two off this building. It took the impact and isn’t structurally sound. We’re still exposed and the situation is fluid,” Ben said.
Two more men emerged from the emergency stairwell and again, both were dressed in a form fitting dark jump-suit. They activated a battlefield stretcher, which one of them carried on his back, and lay it next to Aaron. He was about to wave them off and stand, but a sharp pain in his back told him to reconsider. He scooted onto the stretcher and lay back. The man did say his mission was over. Maybe it really was. The men hoisted the stretcher and Rachael fell into step silently beside them. Ben continued his rant as they descended the emergency stairwell.
“Remember, Commander,” Ben continued, “we face ever increasing threats, far outside the scope of our current military projection. The further we expand, the more thinly spread the USSF is—forced to divide fleet and squadron strength among fringe worlds. The Mercenary Coalition is strengthening each passing week, more ships, and more troops. The Frontier Freelancers are enjoying their usual banditry operating between USS and Empire space, causing havoc for both our fleets. Further, out along the outer-arm, the Independent Worlds Alliance has amassed quite a large fleet of their own. Then you have the Coalition of Outlawed Pilots, whose numbers grow every day. They have no recruitment standards, no allegiances—they’ll recruit anyone from any world, Empire or USS. It makes them a dangerous and unpredictable foe.”
The man kept talking as the six of them made their way down the never-ending emergency stairwell. Two agents carried Aaron. Ben James walked on the right and Rachael on the left, the fourth one held the rear.
“Where are we going?” Aaron asked.
“We’ll take you to a USSI safe-house and debrief you. Once you recover you will return to USSF headquarters and take your instructions from Supreme Commander Shepherd.”
“I need to contact the rest of my team on the planet,” Aaron said.
“There’s no need, Commander, we’ve sent agents to collect them. We’ve monitored you since you arrived. I’ve been informed they will meet us at the safe-house.”
“I’d like to speak with them.”
“I’m sorry, for op-sec reasons we cannot broadcast on open comms right now. A planetary alert is in effect due to the attack. The Empire fleet is less than a day away and all manner of chaos is about to erupt on this frontier. While we make our way, there are some questions I have if you feel up to it.”
He didn’t, but the more the man talked, the quicker Aaron could confirm his suspicion.
“Sure, ask me anything,” he said.
“Right. Why did you come to this establishment? It wasn’t part of your briefing or instruction.”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Ben James laughed. “Really, Commander, still not convinced are you? I guess I would do the same. What can you tell us about the people who attacked you on Rigel? Did you retrieve anything from them?”
“No. They attacked other members of my team. I rescued them in a firefight, and I didn’t have the luxury of face time. We retrieved nothing, the firefight was too intense.”
“I see. Usually, Imperial agents carry a data chip, embedded inside the left forearm. When it can no longer detect the agent’s heartbeat, it scrambles itself and is rendered useless. But it’s not entirely impossible to retrieve some aspects of its storage.”
Aaron snickered. “I see. Then I’m definitely sorry I didn’t gouge out their flesh before I left.” Somewhere behind him he felt Rachael was smiling—if only slightly—at his last quip.
“Amusing to you I’m sure,” Ben said.
This character was probably the most serious agent in all the universe.
Obviously, his captor knew Aaron was spewing gibberish of his own. It didn’t take spy training to know that. Ben decided to shift the conversation away from the pre-debriefing he seemed to have started and perhaps relax him with small talk.
“Your officer here, how long have you served together?”
It’s one thing to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, but it’s another to open it and remove all doubt. In this instance, the agent had done the latter too many times, and even though he was on shaky ground before, this “agent” just tumbled off the edge. Surely, if he was a USSI agent he had access to dossiers and should be able to run Rachael through facial recognition.
“Six years, she’s my science officer.”
If the man noticed the lie, he gave no indication of it.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the emergency stairwell, but outside was chaos. Dusty, disoriented, and bloodied people scurried in all directions. Running around in circles unsure of where to go. Emergency crews mingled in-between—they themselves seemed overwhelmed. When was the last time a planet experienced an attack of this magnitude? Rubble and debris tossed everywhere. His transporters had to be careful where they stepped, or a piece of exposed steel or ceramic would further ruin an already terrible day.
They must be carrying him to some hole. Though for what purpose he wasn’t sure. He was sure, however, after that purpose had been met, both he and Rachael would cease to exist. One thing he was sure of was Ben James was no USSI agent. Aaron was also somewhat certain he wasn’t an Imperial agent either. No this vagabond was an entirely different kind of shady operative.
Although the planetary alert restricted the use of air-cars other than by rescue personnel, ground cars didn’t have such restrictions. They hustled him off the stretcher and into one, a little rougher this time. Rachael sat next to him and supported him. He still winced every time he moved. The pain in his back was increasing. Two other agents entered the ground car with them and Ben. Another agent took control of a ground car ahead, probably as some type of escort and sped off. Soon they were moving away from ground zero at an alarming speed.
Aaron looked over at Rachael.
For the first time since he’d met her, he saw a distinct worry in her eyes as she peered back at him. Still, she remained silent.
Whatever was happening, she’d come to the same conclusion as him. They had to get far away from this Ben character, but he couldn’t even stand without assistance.
Lee, wherever you are . . . your Commander needs you.
Chapter 21 – Opposing Force
Lower City
Atlas Prime
“Lee! Stop!”
Miroslav bent over and gasped for breath.
“I can’t go another step . . .”
About twenty meters ahead, Lee stopped and returned to the gasping pilot.
“You should be proud you made it this far, I’m impressed,” Lee said.