Chapter 21: Officer Candidates

Sybil, Martha, and Sister

Sybil, formally known as Geha was no longer confused. She now knew who she was and how it all started. The one thing she and her alter ego had in common was their origin. She was born on a planet named New Olympus colonized by the Privileged. She once again knew that the Privileged were exiled from a society known as New Gods who had split into three distinct societies, the Standards, the Outcasts, and the Privileged.

The Privileged split into four groups and left Exile colony in substandard arks of their own making. Her Ancestors arrived on a garden world they called New Olympus. Without any real resources, the colonists almost succumbed. In the proverbial nick of time, they were discovered by a Saresii scout mission. A Saresii woman, revered as the greatest hero in Novaj Dioj history opted to stay behind and help the faltering colonists. Master Kilamea, a high priestess of the Black Cat society galvanized the colonists, taught them how to use their psionic gifts and under her guidance, the Novaj Dioj applied for Union membership in 2323 and became member society number 33.

While this happened over 2600 years ago, the Novaj Dioj remained an exclusive and little-known Union society. This was not an uncommon aspect for a one planet member in a mega civilization with almost 5000 member societies, some of which consisted of thousands of planets with billions of individuals on each world, the existence of the Novaj Dioj was kept under the proverbial scanner screen on purpose. Since they were virtually unknown to the rest of the Union, it was decided to retain most of the insulation measures. NAVINT and PSI Corps established a training academy and Special Forces training facility there. Intelligence and counterintelligence became a virtual religion to the Novaj Dioj, and almost every one of the approximately 50 million Novaj Dioj are either active or retired intelligence officers or active in related fields.

This held true for Sybil Putnam, born in 4892. She became a top NAVINT specialist for the Dai Than culture.

NAVINT maintained so-called Specialist Desks for virtually all known space-faring societies, both big and small, even for Union member species. Some of these desks were departments with many thousand agents and specialists, while other desks consisted of one perhaps two specialists.

The core activity of these desks was to keep an accurate and up to the minute assessment, which in turn was used by MATA HARI to create a daily security and intelligence report for the Security Council and Senior Fleet officers. A condensed form of that report was part of the daily Command Officer brief.

True, the Dai did not pose a serious challenge to the Union as a whole, but these space nomads were still a considerable force in the M-0 galaxy, especially towards regions considered Galactic South. Up to the time that Sybil joined NAVINT, there was precious little information regarding the Dai, primarily due to their nomadic nature and tight tribal societies. When her department, which was assigned to the Dai, devised a plan to gather more information and Intel regarding the Dai, she volunteered for the Red Mole project.

The project realized that it would be impossible to use a Dai Than, due to the lack of information. Since it was known that the Dai allowed non-Dai to become Than, it was decided to create a dozen genetic clones and implant them with the brains and minds of established and fully trained NAVINT operatives. To assure that they could not reveal their true identity and purpose, they received extensive Psychosurgery and instructions were coded into their genetic information.

This is how Sybil Putnam became Geha Snorelka, the five-year-old girl child and part of a group of ‘independent’ colonists leaving a Union world. Now that she remembered it all, she also recalled the family name of her cover identity.

As planned, the ship of refugees was stopped by a Dai raiding party. The girl Geha was captured, though considered to be a worthless female. But when an Arti Grav handler malfunctioned, the girl saved the life of the first son of the Tar by pushing the boy out of the way of a falling crate of loot.

This deed not only saved her from being sold but was the beginning of a very unusual and deep friendship between her and Bas, the son of the Tar of the Co tribe. Their relationship was unusual because: first, Bas was bound to become the next Tar as the Declared; second, the Tar disregarded all Dai convention regarding females and allowed Geha to train with weapons and even become one of the few Daiyee allowed to become a fighter pilot;.and third, Bas, who was only a year older than her, treated her like a real friend and sister, not a Daiyee.

As they grew older together, they realized they loved each other in a different way than siblings did.

Now that she remembered everything, she realized she was still in love with Bas. She wanted to reunite with him, hoping against hope that he had not forgotten about her.

If there only was a way to send him a message; the Dai of course did not have GalNet.

She and her friends, Martha and Sister were aboard a civilian luxury yacht on their way to Green Hell. Cherubim, their mysterious guide had just left the comfortable main lounge.

Martha was dozing in her seat, while Sister stared past the transparent panel of a viewport into the eternal night of deep space.

Sybil hoped that her scary friend would eventually find peace or at least answers.

Sybil got up and sat closer to her scary friend and spoke without hesitation. “Whoever they are,” she began, “they helped me, by unlocking what I am. They will do the same for you, I am sure.”

Sister turned her demonic head and looked at Sybill. Sister had four eyes, where humans had two. The eyes were unsettling and the maw was filled with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth and was able to unhinge just like a snake to create a cavity big enough to maim a human face with one bite. The face displayed only one emotion, an evil satanic grin, yet Sybil saw more behind all this. The yellow eyes with vertical reptilian pupils, never blinking, were locked into a wicked stare. Sybil could not tell how it was that she was able to see more behind that expressionless face.

Sister could not even modulate her voice to anything but a dreadful deep throated hissing quality; however Sybil had learned to detect the subtle ways her monstrous friend used volume to achieve an emotional quality. Sister was speaking as softly and quietly as she could, so as not to disturb the sleeping Martha. “I so much want that chorus of voices inside my head to fall silent, to have none but my memories and thoughts.” Her voice trailed to a whisper. “I am also afraid of what I might be if they are successful in restoring my original mind.”

Sybil blinked. “You?” This admission seemed so out of character to her usually so forceful friend. “Sister, I always thought you could not be afraid of anything.”

The demon-like creature designed by unknown genetic tailors and bio wizards lowered her head, riding on a short and wide neck. “I am some kind of weapon, Sybil. Whoever created me, did not want me to have friends. I did not have a name, I am sure about that. I have a name now, I am Sister and I have friends. You and Martha stayed with me, disregarded what I am back in the slave cages. Both of you traveled to come for me, again disregarding your own safety. Of all things I am or might be, no considerations were made for me to have friends.”

Sister looked up again. “I am afraid, Sybil that my true personality, the creature I am supposed to be will forget you and Martha. Will see you as prey and nothing more than weak things that must be destroyed.”

“I don’t believe that, Sister.”

“I have been fighting the urge to kill you both since I saw you for the first time in the cage of the Slave dealer.”

Silently Martha sat down on the other side of Sister, it appeared she hadn’t really slept and had heard it all.

“I know you wanted to kill me. I remember your maw wide open right before my eyes while you pinned me to the deck plates of that small craft. You are many times stronger and faster than me. I should be dead, Sister. That I am sitting here must be evidence that there is a caring soul inside you. I learned to trust you with my life, Sister.”

Sybil agreed. “I know that as well, Sister. That urge to kill us has gotten much weaker. It sounds terrible when I say it like that, but nothing but real friendship can explain that we both still live. I am not afraid to sleep while you are present, Sister. A Dai warrior will never allow a threat to go unchallenged. You are not a threat.”

Sister fell silent, thinking about what her friends just said and wanted to release her emotions in a sigh or tears. She could do neither. So she reached out with her razor-sharp claw-like hands, able to gouge steel, and gently touched both her friends. Something in her stirred, something she could not explain. Whatever it was made her say. “Thank you.” Words she had never thought to utter and now she understood their true meaning. “That makes me even more afraid of whatever I may become. I... , I care for both of you very much.”

“Aboard the Kilcore, the immense Dai Mother of the Co tribe, I was not treated like the other Daiyee but attended school alongside the declared Vant-Kath, my beloved Bas. We had an old and very wise teacher by the name of Orik-Co. He told us that the Universe is unforgiving and harsh. It is so vast that no one can grasp it with their minds, not the Dai, not all the Union scholars, and not even the uncanny Narth. However, it can be understood by emotion. He told us about an ancient Dai legend that was told even before the times of the Forbidden Past. This legend speaks about an unfathomable evil of universe-shattering powers that will rise. No weapon can harm it, but love and emotions will tame it.”

Sybil stared out the viewport into the darkness of space. “Whatever you will become Sister, your emotions and feelings for us will be stronger than everything else.”

All three fell silent for a long moment, then Sister said. “You are free of whatever they planted in your mind, yet you still speak of the Dai as if you belong to them.”

“No one forced me; I freely participated in a mission of great danger to spy on the Dai, find their weaknesses, their secret hiding places, and the location of Thana Shoo. NAVINT planned to destroy Thana Shoo during a meeting, killing every Dai attending and thus break the Dai threat forever. Operation Red Mole was only a part of Project Red Dusk. I know now, it was a plan with many parts conceived by NAVINT leaders and approved by the Security Council of the Assembly.” Sybil’s face reflected shame and sadness. “Cherubim and her people only unlocked the demons inside me and made me realize who I was. However, as Geha, an unforeseen accident where I saved the life of the Tar’s favorite son changed everything. I still love Bas and want to return to my real family aboard the Kilcore. The Tar became more a father to me than my biological one and Bas-Co much more than a brother, he became the man I love and want to be with.”

Now it was her voice that trailed off. “I know I lost this home forever. My beloved Bas thinks I am dead and now looks on other Daiyee. Maybe he has forgotten about me. I wish there were a way I could at least tell him that I am still alive and then ask the Tar for forgiveness or whatever punishment he sees fit for my betrayal. Of course, there is no way to do that. After we have done whatever this Cherubim wants us to do, I will be lost.”

Cherubim’s voice came from the doorway. She had silently appeared in the space ship’s lounge. “I think there is a way you can contact the Co tribe. I am supposed to be a heartless assassin, but my story of origin is not so different from yours, Sybil. I too lost the love of my life. I lost him to the sands of time but I know what you are feeling.”

Sybil gasped. “How? How can I let Bas know I am alive? The Dai have no GalNet and I do not even know where the tribe might be at this time.”

“There is a Leedei device called the Tele Listener. This device was used by Roy to find you, Martha.”

--””--

BLUE BISHOP

Neither Tilo Taros nor his Earth liaison, Alexandre Toussaint could explain why the expensive cloaked spy drone had failed. The small sophisticated and quite intelligent device followed the flyer with Sam Brown, the old robot, and the old detective Phil Decker out of town and due north. But the device stopped transmitting almost right away.

Tilo suspected that the device had been discovered and destroyed, most likely by one of the other parties interested in the flyer’s destination.

After they had lost track, they tried to guess where the black Marine, the policeman, and the robot went. After hearing what happened at Eastmain, both were actually glad.

Alexandre said. “We should thank whatever caused our spy drone to malfunction. All the news channels speak of a fierce battle right at the shores of Hudson Bay and less than a mile from Eastmain. While there are no details, they speak of a major Kermac spy ring bust. The region is crawling with Union soldiers and counterintelligence.”

Tilo had to agree and he hoped they were far enough into making their retreat back to Montreal and then off-planet.

The Blue Bishop however was not pleased. “Yes, one could say this is fortunate, but what about the Experiment. I must have it.”

Alexandre shrugged his shoulders as he instructed the flyer to return to the next big city. “I do not see how, your Holiness. It looks as though this was a well-planned trap by Union Counter-Intel. We should be glad no one was following us. If they think we are spies we might get brain scanned and then executed.”

Tilo touches his head. “This must be avoided at all costs. However, you spoke of that device Stahl destroyed. That Kermac experiment will know where to find another.”

“Maybe it never really existed and was created as a bait to draw out all the spies? I must point out that Decker was part of that party. He was the one who uncovered our first attempt to establish Necro rule, he is an immortal. Maybe he never lost sight of us?”

“Let us return to your Eglise de la Mort in France, before we leave this cursed world. We must consult our network.”

--””--

The Admiral of the Fleet was nothing if not diligent and hard working. Even after almost 3000 years, he was at work and on duty daily. He put in long days and other than the occasional game of golf, he never really took any extended vacations. Oh sure, he visited his beloved Scotland, and there was nothing that recharged him like a long walk along the shores of a loch or a long afternoon among the mist-covered mountains of his true home.

He had seen a thousand worlds, some considered the most beautiful but to him, nothing could compare to Earth and the Highlands of Scotland.

He had just returned from such a weekend; thanks to the TMT network virtually only a few steps away. He still felt the moist fresh air in his hair as he sat behind his desk to begin his day.

At the top of the priorities, and the reason he returned earlier than planned was the news of a major spy ring bust right here on Earth.

Unlike the official news, he of course had access to the most minute details. Just as he was about halfway through examining the disturbing news, his aide announced General Braddock, the current Commandant of the Union Army.

Unlike the fleet, the Army did not have an immortal at the helm, and while there always was a certain amount of branch envy, McElligott respected this Commandant. The rivalry between Union Army and Union Navy was as old as the Union itself. There always was a discussion of why there was a need for an army in the first place. Critics suggested that a space-born society did not need a surface-based military force and there was no need for a second fleet. However, over the years the Union Army managed to create a legacy of being needed and relevant.

General Braddock in terms of rank was equal to McElligott, but not close in terms of importance. Union Army had only a fraction of the funding and a fraction of the personnel.

Braddock looked about as textbook army as a man could look. This was the first human commandant in decades. The previous commander was a Botnaar, and a person McElligott did not get along with at all.

McElligott got up from his seat holding a PDD in document view mode and greeted the high ranking officer with a sharp tone. “Can you explain this?”

McElligott was certain the man knew exactly what he was talking about.

The General shook his head. “No, O’Brock I can’t. One of our guys went way beyond his authorities. From the initial looks of it we will have to investigate.”

“Who?”

“General Warwick, of the Advanced System Development Bureau.”

McElligott suddenly changed his tone. “I am sure we can work something out. Let us make sure this isn’t blown out of proportion. Maybe the Army can take credit for busting the Kermac spy operation, which is quite embarrassing to our Counterintelligence community.”

Braddock was taken aback by this sudden change in attitude. He was not an immortal, but he didn’t become the Union Army Commandant for being a fool. “There is more going on, isn’t there?”

“What do you want, General? We can make this official and drag it before the Assembly. You know heads will roll if this happens, quite literally. Or we can do it the sensible way.”

“I am not sure we should, Admiral Sir. I wear this uniform out of conviction, and I am reluctant to hold anything back from the Assembly. However I am also a realist, I know about your reputation and your pull so the proposed solution to this situation seems best.”

“I am glad we came to an understanding so easily. Do send Warwick to me when you have a chance. In the meantime, I will instruct NAVINT to share all details with you guys and then we’ll inform the public in a joint statement.”

The Admiral of the Fleet watched the General leave and pressed a contact on his desk to secure the room. He then switched his desk unit to NAVINT. He disconnected from NELSON and was now in contact with MATA HARI. The AI of NAVINT was sentient and, unlike NELSON, had no moral qualms whatsoever. The AI with the simulated personality of a human female called him by his NAVINT code name, Black Bishop. It was a code name he quite liked.

“MATA HARI, you know of course about all the details regarding the recent situation in former Canada?”

“Indeed, Sir. We believe the recent exposure of Kermac operatives and their disturbing involvement with a genuine Terran Weapon company cannot be attributed to the Kermac Ministry of Information as a whole, but a somewhat independent group operating within the Ministry of Information. There are intelligence reports which cannot be substantiated beyond a probability of 67 percent, suggesting that the Kermac leadership was not informed or involved. This operation, just like the one that exposed the Slide Belt Company as a Kermac front, unmasked carefully developed assets they were not intending to sacrifice.”

“Do we know what they were after?”

“The same thing Warwick and our operatives were after, the resurrected Experiment that escaped our research facility on Ceres.”

“So the Experiment did escape to Earth after all. Where do we think is it now?”

“All traces end in Canada.”

“Did we not have assets on the friend of the Experiment, what’s her name? The woman from Green Hell.”

“Yes, Dr. Martha Masters. NAVINT wanted to recruit her at first, then we sent Dr. Erine to explore your suggestion to reduce the involved parties. Dr. Erine was murdered before he could even make contact. NAVINT also secured the services of, Ivan Harrow who was found dead aboard a civil clipper ship inside an emergency equipment locker. Our assets lost all trace of Martha in rural Quebec.”

McElligott took one of his pipes off an ornamental stand on his desk and begun to stuff it with tobacco. “Was she not considered to be a Biologist of some sort? Hearing all this makes her sound as if she is one of the most professional operators.”

“Indeed, Sir. Situation analysis suggests Cherubim and the TSI are involved. Also, it must be noted that Phil Decker is now on the case. The detective of the Union Police assigned to the case of Dr. Ruhtkamph and his fiancé contacted the immortal detective and he took over the case. He was seen in the company of Sam Brown, who is an associate of Martha Masters as you know.”

McElligott didn’t like that at all. He didn’t like Decker much and had had little contact with the man because their fields never really crossed and Decker was never interested in anything political or of prominent exposure. However, he knew of Decker’s reputation. “That complicates things.”

“There is a report that Cherubim tried to have him assassinated and failed. Eliminating him might be exceedingly difficult.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Did he locate the experiment?”

“Phil Decker, Sam Brown, and Charles the Cerberus robot are reported to be in Quantico Virginia.”

“What would they do there?”

“Attend the graduation ceremony of a young marine recruit. His name is Roy Masters; he is the son of Martha Masters.”

“Oh? Maybe her son will be able to find Martha Masters. It seems too much of a coincidence both of them being on Earth at the same time. Prepare a dossier on this young man and put some assets on him.”

“A dossier has been created, and NAVINT assets are already deployed. It should be noted that Roy Masters was the focus of a PSI Corps operation that began with the assassination attempt on Pandar Strong and the Klack delegation while they were at Harper’s Junction. Roy Masters appears to have ties to the Leedei that are still under investigation. The Tri of Science allowed him to use the Tele Listener. He is known to Admiral Richard Stahl who has come to Earth to partake in said ceremony.”