Starlight Gleaming Ch. 20

Nariya had had a restless night. One look at Sowitwee's tired eyes, and I told him to stay home with his wife.

"What about you, Commander?" He gave me a worried look. "I feel like I'm letting you down."

"I'm on light duty, so I'll be at my desk most of the day. Having a baby is a big deal, and she needs you right now. Take care of yourself and your wife today."

"Thank you, sir." After fixing them both a light snack, they retired back to bed.

I went to work and hunted up Jay, finding him in his office. We both mourned the loss of another day to exercise together, and planned to visit the shooting range the next day, and work on exercises the day after. Then we chatted about all the events of the day before. We were glad that Pen was going to make it, but then we laughingly agreed that he was going to be so pampered by both women.

Jay shrugged. "I didn't even think he was looking for a regular girlfriend. Now he has two! I don't know. Maybe give him time for the newness of having two women at the same time a chance to wear down a little. If it lasts more than a month, it's serious." Then giving me a wry grin, he added, "However, since my CO lives with five women and shows no signs of changing things anytime soon, there may be something to that arrangement. What do you think?"

"Good luck with that! I wouldn't make it a dating requirement anytime soon. In my case, it was the women who decided to share. I wasn't asked. I was told it needed to happen. I suspect Pen's story is the same as mine."

To both our surprise, Itznacoco showed up, knocking on the open door. With him was an Air Service corporal carrying a large suitcase as well as a private carrying two duplicate pieces of luggage.

After setting up the jammer, he ordered the men to put the cases down by the desk, then shooed them out and closed the door. He plunked down into a spare chair and sighed.

We both waited for him to speak. He didn't disappoint us.

"Two more agents were stopped trying to enter the war base late yesterday afternoon. Your instructions about scanning for devices was a good one. Ground Security has modified it, so that after being stunned, they clear the immediate area. The heavy stunner works better, though it takes two shots to bring them down. Apparently, stunning them can trigger immediate explosions."

I was sure there was more, but I had yet to check my email that morning.

"These cases are for you both. The third is for Fortri when you see him next. You are Imperial Security, so you should have your own uniforms should circumstances require it. And, your Imperial Security grade matches that of the Air Service. Your identification cards are within as well."

"Thank you?" ventured Jay.

Itznacoco looked at me. "Commander, the sniper that got you and Fortri has been tracked down and neutralized, so he's no longer an issue. There's no record of his entry onto this war base. That means he didn't come in by ship, air, or through the front gates."

"Is it possible he was brought in by sea by covert means?" I asked. "I wouldn't put it past the Minister to have a sub or two of his own."

"The Navy patrols this area heavily, and their sonar net is extensive, going out for several hundred rads. The whole monitoring team would have to be compromised for that to work, and after interviewing them, I don't think so. Now there is the possibility of some backdoor code in the underwater tracking software, but it's a discrete system and kept under tight security.

"Ground Security is starting a new perimeter check of the war base using ground penetrating radar. Apparently the last annual check was three years ago, and had been delegated to your predecessor. While the reports were signed off, it appears they were word-for-word copies of previous reports. Some of the ground here is quite permeable, but there are other sections that are denser, reducing the effectiveness of the radar."

I sat back in my seat. "You think there's a secret entrance onto the war base."

He nodded grimly. "It would explain a few things. The Atlanteans that broke into your home last year, for example. Voyacherno was involved in all the dirty operations here so anything Air Security said during his command here is pure shit. All civilians coming onto to the base are photographed by the checkpoint teams so that repeat visitations are tracked. Ground Security tried to verify how they entered the war base, but none of their faces had matches in the foreign nationals database. Voyacherno could have tampered with it, but the electronic forensic team doesn't think so."

"Which means someone has outside access onto the war base. All right. I'll notify my watch commanders for the field troopers to keep their eyes open for any suspicious activity." I glanced at Jay and he nodded back in confirmation, making a note on his tablet. "We're planning on expanding the number of Close Circuit cameras across the base to cover more areas of concern and to monitor main traffic zones. We're also adding a dedicated unit to watch the camera feeds in addition to the computers."

"That's good. The more the better," Itznacoco said with approval. "You have a good team here. Lieutenants Garnet Voloon and Jono Sinocaya are competent if uninspired. They're young, though, so they may yet surprise me. If nothing else, competent is certainly a step up from last year. I haven't decided whether I'm going to induct Lovyanchiti or not. I'll let you know if I do."

"I'm sure whatever you decide will be fine," I answered. "She's dependable and she thinks on her feet. However, if you do induct her, I will insist that you don't take her away from me. With all due respect, I found her, and she's my Second. I'd rather not lose her."

"If she's that good, Kandikan, she should be given the opportunity of her own command," he countered.

I sat a little straighter. "She's getting that experience right now. Both of us are fine right here for the next few years, gaining command time regardless of whatever Atlantis or the Minister plan to do. Over the next six months, all four of us are scheduled to take local classes through Ground Service Command Training."

He waved his hand, chuckling. "Relax, Kandikan. I have no intention of messing with something that not only works, but is obviously working so well. To be honest, you and your crew have impressed the hell out of the Air Marshal. In a short time, you've totally rebuilt this regiment, the morale is actually better than good, and the animosity with the Ground Service is not only ended, but relations are cordial bordering on friendly. Both the Ground Marshal and the War Minister are getting ears full of all your praises."

Jay looked pleased, and I'm sure I did, too.

"Before I go, I know you're planning some sort of retaliation about the loss of your people. It's understandable, but considering the extremely delicate nature of the problem, I want to know what you're planning."

"I and my command team agree that we need to respond, but truthfully, we haven't met to discuss that yet," I admitted. "My staff have convinced me not to try anything alone, and after my blundering about Copán like a wounded mammoth, I am now quite aware that I would likely only manage to get myself and anyone I brought with me killed. I just don't have the specialized training necessary for undercover work, nor do I know the city. Captain Monaycote and Lieutenants Fortri and Raltikon here are at least familiar with Copán."

"Thank the gods for small favors," Itznacoco muttered to himself. "So what exactly are you planning, Commander?"

"At a minimum, I intend to end the priests who participated in the murders of our people. They killed Warriors for political reasons, not for religious ones. That cannot be allowed to stand. The video and the photos we have will be examined to build facial profiles. That will give us a list of targets to eliminate."

He stared at both of us a moment, then slowly nodded. "I can sanction that. When you have the list compiled, I want a copy. You have a platoon of counter-intelligence people under Voloon. The trouble is they're all greener than spring grass. I also see you've requested authorization to expand the size of the 602 by a full company. What do you intend with them?"

"Special units mostly," I answered. "I'd like a minimum of two platoons of the special dog handler teams. The other would be two platoons expressly dedicated to personal security teams, specializing in defensive tactics. This would also take the load off the field troopers doing patrol work."

He shook his head. "Amend your request. Add those platoon teams to each of your three existing trooper companies. It'll make them almost double the size of a normal company, but it will give each of your Shift Commanders the flexibility they need to operate. Kandikan, making discrete units tends to foster separateness. What you need is more integration. Plus, it will eliminate the need for finding a company commander and staff and further complicating your current setup. You don't need that headache."

I glanced at Jay, and he nodded thoughtfully. It really was a good suggestion, and I'm always ready to listen to sound advice. "Thank you. I'll do that. Anything else?"

He paused a moment, as if debating saying anything. Then he said, "Nothing right now. Only... if you get any missions to Atlantis, anything at all, let me know right away."

Raising my eyebrows, I asked, "You think that'll happen?"

"I'm working directly with the War Minister to coordinate our overseas operations. The Atlanteans need to be dealt with, or at least slowed down. However, you are needed here, so you should not be approached. However, I am not always kept in the loop, so it may happen."

"Understood. Thank you."

He stood up, stretched, then retrieved his jammer. "One more thing. I've assigned someone to provide technical assistance to you, Commander. Watch your backs, gentlemen. There are still scorpions in the nest."

After he exited, Jay got up and examined the cases. Each had our House name on the outside. He brought mine to me, and brought his own over to his desk.

Opening them up, we discovered inside three sets of Imperial Security uniforms. One was a Class A with a dress jacket, and two sets were Class B; one shirt with long sleeves and the other with short sleeves. Also included were the peaked-caps favored by Imperial Security officers, with the silver-plated shields and crossed daggers of the service branch. I preferred my Air Service blue garrison cap, which could be stored under my left shoulder board or hang from my belt.

"Ranji, I think we should remember that we agreed to join Imperial Security," Jay said. "The Minister is not the entirety of the service. There are many who've worn it with distinction and honor, the general among them."

I smiled gratefully. "You're absolutely right, Jay. Besides Itznacoco, there's Orchid. My brother. The late Captains Devaal and Korreem. We've worked to rebuild the honor of the 602. It hasn't been tested yet, but I'm proud to be associated with the fine men and women of this regiment."

"Exactly. With the same rules to guide us, we can help restore the honor of Imperial Security." Jay closed his case up, then set his and Pen's case behind his desk.

We resumed discussing various work projects.

After an hour, I stood up and prepared to head to my office. With all the excitement, I was sure my email was bulging with urgent matters to attend. I also had some reports to read and sign off on, more reports to write, and a few letters of condolence to families to compose.

Around lunch time, my XO Hachan and I were scheduled for a luncheon meeting at C&C. Bringing along my admin, Hanami, to some of these meetings was proving useful.

As I moved the guest chair back against the wall, Jay spoke up. "By the way, Commander. Congratulations on the promotion."

"Thanks, but the 602's success wasn't mine alone. I wasn't bucking for the grade, and I'm not sure what I did to deserve it."

"Yes, we helped -- and we appreciate you sharing the glory -- but you led the way in rebuilding the 602, Ranji."

"Jay, don't underplay the work done by you and everyone else. I have a very good command staff, and the success of this regiment is as much your doing as mine. Some will see this as favoritism."

"I think that's the point," he said, looking serious.

"So, the Air Marshal sets me the task of fixing the problems at High Guard, and rebuilding the unit. He comes and reviews the situation, and I'm promoted again."

"It sends a message. Good and honorable service will be acknowledged and rewarded."

I nodded. "I suppose it does at that. Keep it up, Jay, and I'll spread the wealth."

He chuckled. "While I'm always happy to be rewarded, that actually might not be a bad idea, sir. If the Air Marshal approves the additions you were talking about earlier, it'll bring the regiment to over seventeen hundred."

"If I promote everyone now, what am I going to do next year when all three of my senior staff are still dazzling me with all of their amazing accomplishments?"

Jay chuckled at that. "You're the boss. I guess it gives us something to aspire to and work toward."

"Exactly." I smiled. "In the meantime, like he told us, you watch your back, Jay. I'd be sorely put out if anything happened to you."

Suddenly serious, he looked at me. "You, too, Commander."

Carrying my case to my office, I paused at Hanami's desk. Tilting her head back, she looked up over the rims of her glasses. Then she nervously sucked in her lower lip, pushing her glasses higher onto her nose. Hanami's normally dark brown hair had been dyed. The hair on her head was now a complicated mix of blonde, light brown, and russet red. The ponytail from her neck down to her mid-back was mostly black with some blonde streaks mixed in with her normal dark brown hair color. It must have taken her hours to do.

I blinked. Reddish on top, black ponytail... Hanami Running Fox. With a grin of sudden understanding, I looked at her.

"You don't like it, sir?"

"Not at all. To be honest, if you wanted to dye it purple, I wouldn't care as long as it didn't interfere with your work."

Two desks over, Suhanee did a fist pump. "Yes!"

Looking at Suhanee, I asked, "Is this going to come and bite me, Sergeant?"

Shaking her head while trying and failing to hide her grin. "No, sir! Not at all, sir."

Lowering her voice, Hanami said, "Sergeant Chita said hair color and styles were our own, but they had to be what was commonly accepted. Her exact words were, 'We're here to do Air Security, not fuss with the latest fashion, and if it's too distracting, I'll make you shave it off.' She also said we could not ask you for any exceptions."

"I see. Well, then I guess I'd better discuss this with Sergeant Chita."

"Yes, sir." Then she gestured to one of the desks across the aisle behind me. "Commander, this lieutenant has been waiting for your arrival. She was here when I arrived this morning."

A tall woman in Air Service class B uniform with the rank of Senior Lieutenant rose from the desk and approached, briefcase in her left hand. Her hair was light brown in a tri-fold braid folded into a bun, pinned up with three hair sticks to keep it off her shoulders. Lighter skin tones and small-breasted, she had a strong, long, and lean physique that reminded me of both Zinja and Ixma. Based on her skin coloring, I flashed on whether she shared Ixma's birth tale. However, it was her grey eyes that surprised me.

Giving me a salute, she announced, "Lieutenant Ja-See reporting for duty, Commander."

I returned the salute, and she pulled out folded papers from her breast pocket and handed them over.

"Here are my orders, sir."

Scanning them, it stated her official position was Tactical Advisor assigned to the 602 Air Security Regiment, countersigned and stamped by High Command. Signed off by the Air Marshal, too. The travel orders with them showed she'd been at High Guard War Base for the past week.

Itznacoco said he was sending someone. It would just like him to have her here waiting for me just after he'd told me about it.

Unlocking my office, I opened the door and flicked on the light. "Step inside, Lieutenant and have a seat. Hanami, no disturbances unless it's urgent."

"Yes, sir." She resumed typing away at her computer.

The lieutenant glided by and entered. I closed the door behind us and locked it. She grabbed a chair and moved it near my desk before sitting down.

"I already have a Senior Lieutenant Jaynobro Raltikon working for me, and I frequently shorten his name to Jay. Having a second Jay around is going to confuse things." I moved over to my desk, pulled my laptop out of its satchel, dropping the carrier to the floor by my coatrack, and hung up my jacket.

She cocked her head. "Why should it? My name isn't Jay, it's Ja-See." She pronounced it jaw-see. "And while we're both bipedal, I don't look very much like the Night Shift Watch Commander."

After sitting in my chair, I extracted my laptop and connected up the power and network cables. "Point taken, Lieutenant. Your orders say you've been on site for a week. Care to explain why you didn't report for duty earlier?"

"I was doing work for Tikún Travel, Commander. I completed the rest of my tasks last night, and given the rest of the evening to relax a little. This morning was my earliest opportunity to present myself to you. Besides, I understood you were at the ER yesterday evening till rather late."

Was she the one who neutralized the sniper for Itznacoco? Or was she doing something else? Oh, well. If it was my business, Itznacoco would have said something.

Powering on the laptop, I sat back in my chair. "I'm in the dark here as I didn't ask for you and your position isn't on the usual Air Security org chart. Yet you've been assigned to me, and I'm willing to be open-minded about the benefits of you working with us. So tell me. What exactly does a Tactical Advisor do, Lieutenant?"

"As an advisor, I'm not attached to any particular company, but rather I work on projects and tasks as needed and directly approved by you. Initially, I will survey you and your routines as well as that of your entire unit--"

"The Air Marshal's inspection team has already done a lot of that. Why duplicate their work?"

She pursed her lips, then resumed. "What I'm looking for and what the inspection team looked for will have some overlap, but my focus will be different. Another of my duties will be to ensure that communication with the Travel Agency is maintained. The empty desk in the office pool where I waited will be fine for my needs. I've already notified the Systems Admin of my arrival and presented my clearances. I will send you an email, and I request that I be invited to attend all meetings with senior staff for the duration of my stay here."

"Duration? This isn't a permanent assignment?"

"Of course not. I'm a fixer. Something which I'm told you have some experience as well." Her smile almost seemed indulgent.

"I see."

"We should establish code phrases to help ensure identity, in case there's any question. Orchid established the practice, and it's a good one. I'll let you pick the first phrase, but let's skip the one about starlight gleaming, shall we? That one is too well known to uniquely identify you. Also, once the phrases are used, we will need to make new ones."

I started at her casual mention of Melannee, but didn't let it distract me. "Hmm. All right. Arrayed in a myriad different colors every day, she heralds the dawn."

A small look of surprise. "Vedan poetry. Fascinating choice for an Imperial officer, Commander. The first line of the second verse from Surya's Lament, as I recall. I'll reply with the first line of the fourth verse. Ratri remains ever out of his reach, but Soma sometimes comes out to play."