4 Days Later. September 27th, 2267. 13:20 Rose Building—Dining Table

Elias had done some reading about the local culture. This world in particular avoided doing business, even thinking about it, while they were eating. It was as if it was a safe time from the mundane duties of all. Save the meal to enjoy the food and talk with one another about themselves or the day, but not business, that is saved for before or after the meal.

There was no peace in Elias’ mind that day. He was upset and embarrassed that their last scheme blew up in their face. That it seemingly did not affect Dale’s ability to earn a cabinet position in William’s likely, now much more so, government. The tabloids took a heavy hit for gleefully running with this story without first thoroughly fact-checking it. That they did that wasn’t much of a surprise for anyone.

“OK, so Mr. Unsociable hasn’t been to the city in over a week. He drove out towards the northeast but came back an hour later,” Castor said as he set his plate down on the table, “Take a look at this.”

Castor unlocked his data slate and handed it to Elias. Elias quickly chewed his burger and took the device. He looked at the truck. It was beyond filthy, and it had a dead animal in the bed.

“He was hunting…”

“Poaching, that animal isn’t in season. Not exactly moral now, is it?”

Elias shook his head, “Less moral than it is ethical, not that it means anything to us. It does show that he is capable of using a weapon that we already knew he could use. What else is in that general area?”

“A prison, two plains on either side of the rocky hills, and I think there’s a smaller settlement north of the prison. Farming town if I recall correctly.”

“Does he know anyone out there?” Elias asked, “Obviously he drove out into the plains, which he isn’t allowed to do if I recall, and took that animal.”

“Not much in the way of authorities outside of the city. There isn’t a strong hunting ethic here, outside of the rural workers and families that is,” Castor said.

“Anything of note happened out there in the past four days.”

Castor grinned, “The anarchist head honcho was killed in prison.”

Eliase tilted his head and looked at his subordinate, “How?”

“The news didn’t report how. I know, I know,” Castor gestured, “We dug into their communication system, and nothing is being said about it. Beyond the fact that prisoner-one-one-five-alpha-five-nine is dead.”

“What are the rumors saying?”

Castor sighed, “The three leading assumptions are he was shanked, he was shot during an escape attempt, or he was shot in the yard.”

“Well, we can cast aside the first as our assassin wouldn’t risk going into jail to eliminate a target.”

Castor nodded, “Hell of a thing to get someone else to do your job though.”

“Show me on the map where a shot could hit him while he’s in prison please.”

Castor took a bite of food before activating the hololith on the wall. The map displayed a road pass through a hill pass, then the prison. Elias looked at it and thought no one could take a shot from that far.

“Hey, how far was the sniper shot that took out Constantine?” Elias asked.

“Me and Linus lasered that out. Six hundred sixty-five or so meters,” Castor took another bite of food and looked deep in thought as he chewed it, “Twenty-five- or thirty-five-meter drop.”

“And this shot?”

“Woo boy, you can only hit the smaller second yard. I’d expect the shot to be sixteen hundred to nineteen hundred meters. Two to three hundred meter drop too,” Castor said, “That’s a hell of a shot to be able to hit a target from there.”

“Is our man skilled enough to do that?” Elias asked accusatorily.

Castor shook his head, “The Confederate special forces do have tech that makes those shots easier, but it takes years of practice to be able to take that shot. Even with that tech. Nothing about Steven screams he’s a sniper.”

“He killed that animal…”

“It’s a shot that is normally made inside fifty or seventy-five meters,” Castor said, “He was trained to be a survivalist and hunter from his father.”

“He tried to be in special forces, didn’t he?”

Castor shook his head again, “No, in fact, his jacket indicated that he failed his long-range rifle test in the academy. He nailed the short-range test.”

Elias took a deep breath and thought for a moment. Was this their guy? His gut was right about their being an agent. But now it failed him. He honestly didn’t know if Steven was the guy.

“That man is sketchy as fuck. But…”

“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think it was him either. The darndest thing though, physically he fits the bill,” Castor said innocently.

“Say that again.”

Just then Nemo walked into the room with a worried expression on his face.

Castor not reading the room at all and losing all track of the conversation, “I swear I never see you despite your room being next to mine.”

“Yeah, that’s weird. Anyways, Elias, there’s a message from command. Two deep cover agents are going to begin reporting to you,” Nemo shook his head at Castor as he handed Elias a new data slate with their orders, “Legatus Sorana wants all our people together when the invasion happens.”

“Do we have a date on that?” Elias asked as he took the data slate and began scrolling through the orders.

“Slip tides are not being kind to the Sanctus Peregrinus,” Nemo watched both of the men’s eyes bulge slightly.

“They are sending that without an escort?” Castor asked incredulously.

Nemo shook his head, “Naval leadership didn’t think it was necessary because we’d have our reinforcements in the system eight to twelve days before the Confederates send any ships.”

Elias sighed, “Arrogance has been the doom of many a man over the great passage of time. Sending a single dreadnought into enemy territory is a sign of idiocy. The arrogance of that decision is astounding.”

“Who are the new people?” Castor interrupted Elias with the change in topic.

“Tironus Bacchus Pulcher and Tirones Silvia Catullus,” Elias took a drink then continued, “Bacchus will report to me. Silvia will report to Linus.”

“I knew we had sleeper cells all over. Didn’t know there were any here,” Nemo said.

“Makes sense if you think about it,” Castor said, “How’d we have as much intel on the system? Kinda makes sense to put all your eggs in one basket just before the cavalry shows up.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“The downside to that is that now those two lives are in danger with our adversary. When we get to the new place everyone is changing hair styles and colors, men are changing their facial hair as well,” Elias said, “We need new clothing too.”

“Speaking of, when are we moving?” Castor asked, “I thought we were going to move already.”

“Two or three days,” Elias said then looked up to Nemo, “Contact those two and have them report to our new facility. Give them our sizes and have them pick up new clothes for us.”

“Consider it done,” Nemo said as he turned around.

Elias and Castor continued their conversation throughout their late lunch. He was happy they didn’t follow the local traditions. It was a very productive lunch. One they desperately needed to have. Though it didn’t get them across the finish line, or solve the enemy spy issue, they continued to push forward.

19:50 Rose Building Roof

Alberic peeked his head out the roof access door and looked both ways. He cautiously stepped out onto the roof of the building and slowly began to walk over to Elias. There was a chill in the evening air and dusk was already overtaking the sky.

“Boss, you wanted to hear when the new team members were situated?”

Elias was surprised to hear a voice as he looked over at Alberic. He was lost in thought and hadn’t heard the door open. That was a bad look on him.

“Sorry, thank you. Are the accommodations befitting of them?”

“Sounds like it,” Alberic said, “They took the rooms that you assigned them and had no complaints. They went on several stock runs today, and they also picked up new clothes for us.”

“On that note, are you prepared for the move?”

Alberic nodded, “I’m packed up, whatever I don’t need is what I’m wearing and using now. All that shit is being left here.”

Elias smiled, “Good, we’ll be leaving this building soon.”

“Sir, I know you’ve chatted with me Linus about an operation. Are you sure you want to do that?”

“Yes.”

Alberic winced a bit at the answer. He knew he was capable of what was being asked, Linus was implicitly capable due to his position. Still, doing what he was asked rubbed him the wrong way. A reason for the operation needed to be given to him, a simple order wasn’t enough.

“Sir, with all due respect, I will kill if ordered to. But I need to understand the why behind such an order. I will not be able to fulfill my mission without understanding why it is being asked of me,” Alberic paused and took a deep breath, “I don’t understand the rationality or need to do what you asked us to do.”

Elias grinned as he walked nearer to Alberic. When he got within arm’s length, Elias reached out, slapped Alberic’s shoulder a couple of times, then looked up at the twin moons in the sky. It was a fair question to be asked of a leader, his orders hadn’t been well explained.

“Eliminating Daphne prevents her from becoming a liability for our government in the future. To be frank, I am covering my ass in a mild sense, but I erred when I gave her the option of exile. My concern is what damage she could do to us.”

Alberic looked stone-faced at Elias. The commanding officer took it as Alberic was processing the explanation, brief as it may be. It didn’t take long for him to finish processing his thoughts.

“Again, in all due honesty, I don’t feel that it is our responsibility or duty to correct your mistakes. I’m aware that someone in your role is given broad discretion over issuing orders to your team. But to be frank, this exceeds it.”

Elias winced internally but he couldn’t help but agree with his junior member, “How would you rectify that issue?”

“Come with us,” Alberic answered immediately, “We will act as support for you. Bodyguards effectively. Ultimately you resolve the situation with your own hands.”

Elias smiled and shook Alberic’s shoulder lightly, “You are right. I created the situation. It is on me to resolve it. I will do the hit. Draw up the plan for it and when you have it finished brief me on it.”

Alberic nodded then left to head back inside. Elias smiled and looked off into the distance. He wasn’t looking at anything in particular but he was happy. His subordinate was right, his mistake was his to correct. He’d get to deliver the comeuppance to Daphne that she so justly deserved. Within just three months he’d be going home triumphantly. Just three months.

December 17th, 2267. 12:25 Vosture Prime – John’s Homestead

John began to giggle quietly. Elias found it both disturbing and off-putting. More than that, he couldn’t understand why John was giggling.

“Why are you doing that?” Elias asked accusatorily.

“That was what, three months ago?”

“Close, more than a week less so, why?”

“Ahh yeah, so to answer a burning question you have, I killed their leader,” John grinned as he took a drink.

Elias shook his head, “Of course you did. I suppose you're going to tell me that you did it blindfolded while you juggled.”

“It was a royal pain in the ass. I had a platform that I set the rifle on, but I still had to pull the rifle into my shoulder. The system I used also ran five drones that gave me temperature and wind readings. With all of those parameters known, along with the bullet weight and powder charge, it could calculate where the round would strike.”

“So, you aren’t a natural sniper?”

John began to laugh, “I can manage without all this gear inside five hundred meters. More than that though I am less good at that role. Even with all this tech, it isn’t foolproof.”

“How long of a shot was it?”

“One thousand six hundred forty-five meters, at least from where he was sitting, with a two hundred six-meter drop.”

“How did you escape notice?”

“Dude, that truck is fucking awesome,” John smiled as he watched the commercial space traffic on screen, “I had the rig setup in the bed of the truck. I backed it off the road, activated the drones, got out of the truck, took the rifle from the back seat, and got in the bed. Two minutes from start to finish was all that I needed.”

“We saw a picture of you hauling back a dead dew deer, did you also shoot one?”

John smiled, “Well kinda. I mean yeah, I did shoot it. But I shot it because it snuck up on me after I shot that asshole.”

“How did that thing sneak up on you?”

“Well, I still had my earplugs in. I finished putting my rifle in the back seat, turned around, and boom! There this dumbass was trying to nip at my jeans.”

Elias sighed as he closed his eyes, “So you shot and killed a poor, defenseless animal because you got startled by it.”

“More or less. But to call those things defenseless during the rutting season is just wrong,” John grinned, “I drew my sidearm and shot it in the head twice. Then I started to sweat when I realized it wasn’t a bad guy or anything. I chucked it into the back of the truck and then hauled ass away from there.”

“You are going to tell me that you didn’t waste the animal next, aren’t you?”

“They taste really, really fucking good. I am shit at butchery, but I tried my best. I kept its hearts, the rest of the organs I just tossed in the burn pit,” John said, “Smoked a thigh the next day. But all that work made my arm hurt like a motherfucker.”

Elias was surprised at the candid response. He didn’t know if his background was like that of Steven’s, after all, everything about this man seemed to defy description. It was hard to know how much of what he said was true or not. Everything that he heard sounded plausible, yet at the same time sounded ridiculous. Presuming it was true this man, while injured, shot and killed a man from over a mile away and murdered a native mammal in a matter of minutes.

And escaped detection or punishment for his actions. That’s the part that just rubbed him the wrong way. He had been shot and stabbed, sure, but the government and police were utterly clueless about the dangers of this man. Then Elias paused, his team was unaware of the true danger until far too late. Well after many of their members had been taken from them.

“Hey, you mentioned the ship, Sanctus Peregrinus, by name. Is that one of your flagships?” John asked.

“The dreadnaughts are meant to anchor each fleet. This one is brand new and hasn’t yet been assigned to a fleet. I can’t tell you much more than that as I’m admittedly not all that aware of the ship’s capabilities.”

“But’s coming here without an escort. That’s a bold strategy,” John smirked as he took another drink.

“It is, and to be frank not one that I would recommend or have ordered were I in charge.”

“Then we’re alike then. The risk-reward for doing that doesn’t seem right to me. What would the ramifications be if we blew it up, or managed to take control of it?”

Elias burst into laughter. The very notion that the cave dwellers in this solar system could destroy one of their most advanced ships was ludicrous. Idiotic even. And yet the question seemed earnest in its delivery. Why was that?

“You are being serious.”

“I am,” John responded politely.

“There is no way that would happen.”

“Humor me for a moment. What would happen back home?”

Elias frowned as he thought. What would happen? Legatus Sorano would almost certainly be dismissed. This type of action seemed right up his alley. Vegetius Valentinus Maximus would never allow one of his precious ships to go unguarded for long. Especially in enemy territory. Perhaps in the capitol system under very specific circumstances.

Sorano must have pulled many strings to get that ship and rush it here. Perhaps Consul Ursinos Pictor played a role in that as well. The two were long-time allies. Sorana could pull such a feat off with that backing.

Elias was then struck with that revelation. That meant the fall of not one, but two of the highest-ranked individuals in their government. The Consul’s family could avoid deep shame if he was lied to or led to believe the danger was much less than it was. But for Sorano, his fall from grace wouldn’t end with his death. His family would certainly be stripped of all their holdings and likely would be banished from the home world.

John grinned as he sneaked a peek at Elias deep in thought, “Yeah, so pretty fucking bad. Truth be told I expected that. Nothing much happened beyond y’all moving to the new location, fuck you by the way on that, and the election, right?”

“Excuse me?”

“I had to find you assholes again. I would’ve done it more quickly had I known about the two new faces, so yeah, your sleeper cell did its job well,” John grinned, “I had to find you assholes again. This time you did a better job at covering your tracks.”

“Of course,” Elias said, “But no, nothing happened between then and the election. I suppose you’d like to find out how we all felt on that day.”

“Well, if you are sharing, I’d be all ears for ya.”

Elias shook his head and continued their tale.