Trident Fury (The Kurgan War Book 3) (34 page)

Killam turned in his seat and pressed a remote. On the main briefing screen a picture of the federation president appeared. He was standing outside of Allied Defense Headquarters making an announcement. A second later, the news report began.

Sheridan sat forward in his seat, studying the screen to determine what was troubling his father so much. He did not have to wait long. There was the sound of a rifle firing followed right away by the sounds of panicked and frightened people trying to take cover. The image on the screen got blurry as the cameraman also sought safety.
 

“Jesus, they didn’t get the president, did they?” Cole asked.

“No,” replied Killam. “Unfortunately, a couple of bodyguards and an innocent bystander were killed in the shootout.”

“Shootout with who?” queried Sheridan.

“Chosen deep operative agents,” said the admiral. “They were all killed by our security forces, but there is something you need to see at the very end of the broadcast.”

Sheridan was still in shock that the president had come so close to being assassinated back home on Earth. His eyes took in each image until the program stopped just as the camera was panning the scared-looking crowd.
 

Sheridan’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the face of a man who should not be alive.

“Hey, he’s supposed to be dead,” observed Cole.

It couldn’t be. Sheridan was sure that his eyes were playing tricks on him. He stood up and moved over to the screen and studied the face of the man standing there. There could be no doubt it was Harry Williams, Sheridan’s closest friend who had turned out to be a sleeper agent. Sheridan had been forced to kill him with a knife to the heart, yet he was still alive and loose on Earth.

Sheridan turned to speak to his father. “I don’t get it. I held him in my arms and watched him die.”

“Michael, I have no doubt that you believe that you killed Harry, but it would appear that he somehow survived.”

“Why don’t the police just go and arrest him?” said Cole.

“How do you arrest a dead man?” said Killam. “He’s probably got new fingerprints and is wearing contacts so he can pass through retinal security scanners without being detected.”

“There are security cameras everywhere back home,” pointed out Sheridan. “Surely the facial recognition computer software can spot him.”

“A simple jammer hidden on a person’s body can screw with the cameras for a few seconds, so a person can walk about practically invisible,” explained Killam.

Sheridan took his seat. “Admiral, what does this have to do with Master Sergeant Cole and me?”

“Michael, Admiral Oshiro has ordered the two of you back to Earth. Fleet intelligence knew that you and Harry were close, so they believe that you have a better than average chance of finding him. Admiral Oshiro wants you to arrest Harry. If he resists, you are authorized to use all force necessary up to, and including, deadly force to stop him from committing any further acts of terrorism.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Sheridan. All of the pent-up feelings he had worked hard to suppress after killing his friend came rushing back into his chest. He felt like he was trapped in a vice and was being squeezed until he blacked out. His mouth craved the taste of Scotch. If he could have, he would have fled the room and found comfort in the bottom of a bottle. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Is there something bothering you, Michael?” asked his father.

“The day can’t get much worse,” said Cole. “Captain, tell the admiral what Captain Pheto passed on to you.”

“Is Tarina okay?” asked the admiral.

“Yes, Dad, she’s fine, but I’m afraid what I know will only make things a lot harder for everyone involved.”

“You have my word, Michael, that whatever you have to tell me will not leave this room.”

Sheridan dug out his note and handed it over to his father who calmly read it over before passing it to Killam.

“Well, it didn’t rain so much as pour on the Sheridan household today,” observed the admiral. “There’s not a lot I can do about this right now. You’ve got a mission to do. Leave this with Captain Killam and me, and I’ll see what we can do for this woman.”

“Thanks, sir,” said Sheridan as he stood up. “I guess Master Sergeant Cole and I had best hop on board a ship heading back home.”

Killam said, “The
Sydney
is departing in the morning for a scheduled overhaul. I’ll arrange for passage for the two of you.”

Sheridan nodded. He and Cole came to attention, turned, and walked out of the room to pack their kit.

“Jesus, sir, we’ve got to report this,” said Killam to the admiral.

“After an assassination attempt on Earth, do you honestly think this woman will be treated as anything but an enemy agent?”

“Admiral, I sympathize with her plight. But there are a lot of people who would lose their minds if they thought high-ranking officers in the fleet were deliberately hiding information that a Kurgan could be found among the prisoners freed from Klatt.”

“I know. But I believe that we owe this woman some thanks for helping keep some of our people alive, even if she is from a Chosen homeworld.”

“Sir, you know me, I’m not going to go behind your back and report this, but what can we possibly do from here?”

Admiral Sheridan sat back and stared at the wall for a few seconds. He got out of his chair, walked over to a table, and picked up a tablet. He touched the screen and scrolled through a list of his staff officers before stopping over a name. He began to smile. “Commander Roy has been working hard these past few months, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, sir, I do believe so.”

“I think it’s high time for her to take some much-needed shore leave.”

Killam nodded. “Yes, sir. An excellent idea.”

“Please ask the commander to come see me right away.”

Killam nodded and left the room to catch Roy before she went to the gym to burn off the frustrations of the day.

With a resigned sigh, Admiral Sheridan sat down again. While he waited for Roy, he brought out another note, this one from his wife. He shook his head when he read it. It was not unexpected. She had filed for divorce. It was the worst kept secret in the fleet that she had been sleeping with a politician with his eye on the presidency. He regretted not telling his son, but knowing his fractured relationship with his mother, he probably wouldn’t have cared.

The door to the room slid open. “You wanted to see me, sir,” said Roy, dressed in her workout clothes.

Robert Sheridan placed both notes away and stood up. “Commander, I need you to do something very sensitive. What I’m about to tell you is for your ears only.”

Roy stepped inside the room. Behind her the door closed. She saw the grave look on her boss’ face and smiled. “What’s the op, sir?”

Admiral Sheridan pulled out a chair for Roy and took one facing her. He dug out Tarina’s message and handed it to her to read.

“My God,” murmured Roy.

“Now listen very carefully. Here’s what I need you to do . . .”

– THE END –