Ice and Peace (13 page)

But then again, nothing around here is as it should be. My wife is a part of my crew. I have an enemy spy on board killing people, and another one determined to send me to an early grave
.

“Sir,” the sergeant said, handing him a piece of paper on a clipboard.

“What?” he barked.

“Brig log,” the man replied flinching.

It was standard operating procedure for the commander of the ship to approve or at least be notified of all detentions aboard the ship. And considering it didn’t happen very often, he was surprised to see it.

“Thank you, Sergeant,” he said, realizing his blunder.

The white sheet had only one name on it. As he read it, he clenched his teeth and tried not to snarl. It read “Chief Warrant Officer Caitlin Driskoll.”

***

Caitlin relaxed on the rack inside the brig. Sighing, she refused to worry about her situation. It wasn’t the first time she’d been behind bars on a ship and it probably wouldn’t be the last. At least she would have her meals delivered to her, and she could sleep in without the threat of missing muster. It was like staying at a resort only smaller.

“You have company,” a sergeant said, turning off the field that kept her inside.

“I do?”

The sergeant escorted her into the interrogation room. She glanced at Gadison who stood in the corner watching her enter. She sat down at the only table in the room.

“You again.”

“Ready to talk?”

“About what?” She sighed wearily.

“Who you are? You know I can make your life a living hell. I can end your career,” he threatened.

“Then do it. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing either, considering I didn’t choose it in the first damn place. It chose me.”

Gadison pulled up a chair and sat close. He leaned forward and spoke in a soft yet firm tone. “I don’t know what you’re up to but I’m going to find out, I assure you, even if it means making you spend the rest of your days in Leavenworth.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Based on what, a few missing vials of stuff they force us to take on a regular basis? Come back when you have a real threat.”

Caitlin tried in vain to stifle the resentment building within her. Every day she served, she gave it her all. When would it end? The threats? The recriminations? How much blood did she have to spill before she got some respect?

“Follow your conscience; your kind has them, though you may not use it. Just tell me. Why did you kill the nurse? Did she figure out you are working for the other side?”

Her nails dug into her palms.

“Maybe while administering your meds, you talked too much. Said something you shouldn’t have. Admit it, you’re feeding intel to the enemy.”

Her rage spilled over. She slapped her hands on the table. “That’s a lie!”

Gadison smirked. “We know all about you. The O-Cryo Rebellion. You hate humanity. And you’ll do whatever you can to get back at us.”

“We have given our lives in service to our country and our planet. How dare you cheapen the sacrifices we made. We earned our rights!”

“And you’re getting back at us by helping the other side. But Ms. Driskoll, you picked the wrong team. The Verneans will kill you as soon as they look at you. Once they get what they need, you will be tossed aside like the garbage you are.”

Caitlin flew across the table, all restraint gone. She no longer cared who the man was or who he worked for. He had no right to make such accusations. Before she could reach him, she was pulled back.

“No!” she wailed. Tears stung her eyes.

Gadison glared. “Sergeant, take her back to her cell.”

She shook the other man off and straightened her shoulders. She gave Gadison one last look before she turned to the door, contempt clogging her throat. What did he know about her kind or what she’d been through? “I can walk back myself.”

***

“How the hell was I supposed to know she’s your wife? Even my security clearances have limits.” Gadison loosened his collar and paced the room.

Keegan had heard about the interrogation of his wife. His blood boiled. How dare Gadison do so on his ship without his express permission? And much less to the woman he loved. “What made you think my wife knew anything?”

Gadison ran a hand through his hair. “Drugs were missing and she’s an O-Cryo.”

“She didn’t steal the drugs.”

“I believe you, but—”

“She’s an original cryo, yes, but was at and not a member of the rebellion. I know because I was there. And considering no one cared to pay attention to that little fact, she, too, was given the AF neurotransmitters. The active perpetrators died in the fire. Everyone else was given the transmitters as a safety precaution.”

“My God.” Gadison stopped his pacing.

“Yea, the cryo soup.”

“That stuff is illegal.”

“It is now. But then it wasn’t for her kind. The prohibition only applies to the newest group—the volunteers.”

“I’ll release her from the brig immediately.”

“It’s been done. I’m not telling you this to garner your sympathy. I’m simply trying to get you to understand. You’re looking in the wrong direction.”

“Then who is committing these crimes? Who is killing our people?”

Keegan shrugged. He rubbed his neck, then looked up. “Have you seen Doctor Roesner?”

“No. There are thousands of people on board. How are you keeping track of everyone?”

“We have our systems and everyone has certain access, but she’s a civilian. There wouldn’t be a need to keep track of her unless she wanted to leave the ship….”

“So what are you saying?”

Keegan crossed his arms. “Maybe you should aim your suspicions at her and start your interrogations with her first.”

“Perhaps you should make a ship-wide broadcast.”

“And let her know we’re on to her? No.” The last thing he needed was a full-scale panic regarding a spy on his hands. “I’ll have the XO speak directly to the department heads. We’ll have them stay on the lookout for any unauthorized personnel seeking access to their areas, but I’ll have someone check the civilian quarters first.”

“I’ll get right on it. You talk to your XO.” Gadison stormed out without another word.

Keegan glanced at his gold wedding band. He could guess what his wife was probably feeling at the moment. If only he could go comfort her....

Chapter Sixteen

“Pardon me, ma’am,” a man said, to Jenny as he walked by her inside the CIC.

Situated on the third deck near the back, the ship’s nerve center was guarded by armed personnel. Fortunately, the dead lieutenant’s uniform made her look as if she belonged. She entered the darkened room and was assaulted by the noise of conversation and machinery melding into one.

She surveyed the workstations lining the perimeter of the room. Each contained vital information as to the location and mission of the ship. She only needed one.

“Specialist, can I help you?” a man asked, approaching her. He appeared to be in charge.

“Uh, sorry, sir. I was just on my way back to my station.”

“Where is it?”

Flustered, she surveyed the room, spotting an empty chair. “There…sir.”

“Carry on.”

“Yes, sir.”

Walking over to the vacant station, she sat down. She studied the screen. It was locked and could only be accessed by code. Reaching into her pocket, she removed a small cipher and placed it underneath the console. The screen flashed momentarily before coming to life. A menu system appeared.

She selected the item that tracked the ships trajectory and studied the information, pleased they’d be unable to complete their mission. Selecting the signals communication screen, Jenny input the code she had memorized. With the code accepted, she navigated to the area that was most important, tracking and identification. She tapped the cipher once again.

The words, “Identifier Accepted” scrolled onto the screen. The information she needed was securely transferred to the micro receiver in her pocket.

“Sir, I’m only trying to do my job,” she heard a man say.

“I am scheduled to be on duty,” he argued. The conversation became heated and uncomfortably close.

Making sure the cipher was securely in place, she closed the file and then quietly slipped into a corner as the officer she’d spoken to earlier walked by accompanied by another Sailor. As they arrived at the station where she had been sitting, she slipped out the door and down the corridor.

Mission accomplished.
Almost
.

***

Freed from the confinement of the brig, Caitlin prepared herself to meet General Hollis. She had barely stepped out the door before receiving the notice Hollis wanted to see her ASAP. Still hurt and angry, she wondered how things could get any worse.

“Chief Warrant Officer Driskoll reporting as ordered, ma’am.” Caitlin spoke into the com beside General Hollis’ door.

The lock to the door clicked, opening it. She pushed it ajar and walked inside. Carefully closing the door behind her, Caitlin then stood at attention. The general’s quarters were just as she remembered when she and Beller had visited for their briefings as team leads. Its rich, dark décor and lush furniture was a nice change from the dull gray of the rest of the ship. From the corner of her eye, she could see the closed-circuit monitoring system, showing various areas of the ship that ensured the general kept her focus on all things.

“Thank you, Chief, for coming.” Neatly coiffed, wearing a dress-green uniform with a row of ribbons on her chest, Hollis had the brand of the Blanchard all over her. It was as if she carried its history on her shoulders. Caitlin could tell it was and would always be her home.

“You’re welcome, ma’am.”

Hollis approached her with a short saunter, her arms nestled firmly behind her. She looked older than Caitlin remembered.

“Please sit,” she offered gesturing to the sofa across from a wingback chair in which she sat. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you, ma’am,” Caitlin responded.

“How are you?”

“I am well, thank you.”

“Your team is faring well?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Everything is going smoothly on the ship for you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The hairs on her neck rose. The first time she served under the general’s command, she was just a number. Hollis had taken no personal interest in her at all. And now, all of sudden, she desired a personal meeting? This was not a good sign. Anytime a CO called a subordinate in for a personal meeting it was either for a disciplinary measure or approbation. Since she didn’t see any smiles on the woman’s face, she was sure it was the former. Bracing herself, Caitlin waited for the axe to drop.

“I suppose you’re wondering why you’re here,” Hollis said with the slightest hint of a lisp.

“Yes, ma’am.”

The general fell silent, as if studying her. Trying not cave under the scrutiny, Caitlin looked around the room. Her sight fell upon the monitors behind the general, just as one switched to one of the launch bays. It was empty of all craft because the ship was still in transit.

“I just wanted to see the woman who managed to catch the colonel’s eye.”

“Ma’am?”

“I don’t know if he’s told you, but Keegan and I go back a long way. I know him pretty well. That’s why I am surprised your relationship with him managed to slip under my radar the first time around. I don’t intend on letting that happen again.”

Caitlin remained silent. No matter who she was, this lady was treading on dangerous ground. Her relationship with her husband was nobody’s business.

“I’ve seen the colonel go through a lot. I knew Margaret. She was a good woman. A fine pilot. As dedicated to the Corps as he in some respects. Yet, in others, not as much. But one thing she did give him was balance. And when she died, he suffered a lot. It was hard to see him go through it. I was surprised, and still am, that he managed to stay in and serve with pride.” She shook her head as if to remove a bad thought. “You see, for the average person, there would be no reason for them to stay and to fight for people who destroyed the only person they loved. In that respect he’s a very dedicated man—to his work and to those involved in his life.”

Caitlin focused on the general’s eyes, never allowing her gaze to fall upon her uniform. It was the only way she could remain tuned in to the moment.

“After she died, he took a short leave of absence,” Hollis continued. “And when he came back, he was a changed man. It was as if he left everything behind except his work. The Corps became his life, and in Command, this self-abandonment was seen as dedication. He became so good at this, there was an automatic expectation built into his performance record that he would continue living that way. No one can live a life like that, at least not a full one. I know it and, deep down in their paperwork-covered hearts, they know it too. But I can tell you this, if they do know it, they aren’t going to acknowledge it.”

“Yes, ma’am. But what does this have to do with me?”

“I think I’m a damn good soldier, a fine officer, and pretty good commander. With that said, I don’t have eyes in the back of my head and I’m not God, in spite of my reputation. So I’ll stress one word to you—decorum.”

Caitlin hardened her resolve.

Hollis’ eyes narrowed. “You just got out of the brig?”

“Yes.” Caitlin’s attitude soured.

“This is the second time you’ve vacationed there. You plan on making a habit of it?”

“No ma’am.”

“Twice in the brig? On the same ship? That’s not a problem to you?”

She remained silent. Had the entire universe gone mad? Both times, the reasons for the arrests had been dubious at best. Did that count for anything?

“Chief, I could care less if this was in this stars, planned by God himself, or a plain old mix-up in paperwork. I need you to remember why you are here, and why he is here—to do a job. Thousands, possibly millions of lives are depending on him to do it well. He has to make some tough decisions and, with you under his command, undoubtedly things will be all the more difficult. I read your file. The dead JAG husband, the illness, the cryo mess—all of it. And I want you to know this, as of today, it is ancient history. So if you have some sort death wish, axe to grind, or any other built-up angst, take it back to Fairmount. I don’t want it here. Things are going to get tough, and sacrifices will be made on everybody’s part. When the time comes for the hard choices, don’t make him choose. Don’t make him have to.”