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Baker's Dozen
TheKnave
Ranger
in Fan Fiction
Here's another one. Hope you guys like it.
Status: First Post
Title: Baker’s Dozen, Part 1 (maybe, depending on feedback)
Rating: G
Genre: SF (B5 related)
Author: I am the author.
Marius Baker watched. The colors of the courtyard were washed out through the lens of the EA/NOD-37s (Earth Alliance/Night Optical Device, Mark 37). There, was that movement? Two guards, perhaps three. Glancing at his watch, he noted the time, 2335.05hrs EST (Earth Standard Time). The other operatives should be in position now.
He scanned the far side of the compound. First one, then another, then a third infrared hand light winked on momentarily, then off again. The team was employed and waiting for the “go” signal.
Using the camouflage screen, Marius low-crawled into his preplanned location, inch by long inch. He stopped and held his breath as a patrol moved past him. The two men were occupied with talk about the latest World Series, failing to notice his dark shape.
As the figures passed him, he glanced at his watch again. 2340.33hrs. He had five minutes to get into place. As his body made its agonizingly slow way forward, his mind ran over the conversation that brought him to this place and time…
*****
General Hague, his lean figure seeming to occupy more space in the room than physically possible, watched for any reaction. Marius returned his look evenly, eyes never wavering. Finally the general turned to the file on his desk. He began speaking without taking his eyes from the papers, “Too young to join Earth Force during the Minbari war. Lied about your age, but were found out. Highly decorated for participation in the Mars riots. Served as inter-service liaison aboard the Agamemnon. Did you know Sheridan?"
"No, sir, I was there before he arrived."
"Too bad. He's a good man."
"So I hear, sir."
"Fast track promotion to Captain, where you were a company commander, then a staff assignment with G-2, intelligence. Major, I’m impressed.”
“Sir, if there is something…”
Hague silenced him with a gesture, “What is not in the records is probably more interesting than what is in them. For instance, did you know that as a plebe at the academy, I was known as Hague the Keg?”
“No, sir. Is this…”
“Old Lead Bottom Baker speaks highly of you. Major, what I’d like to do is have you assigned as one of my aides.”
“Uh, Lead Bottom, sir?”
“Your Uncle Robert. We were roommates at the academy. Sometimes I think he did the smart thing by getting out when he did. He’s kept me apprised of your career. I also have other sources of information, as well.”
“Well, sir, I don’t know what to say.”
“Yes is the appropriate response, Major.”
“Yes, sir. I would be honored.”
“You’ll serve as my chief of staff, Earthside. This carries the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, so you’ll get the silver leaves, and a nice little pay increase.”
“What about Colonel Scott?”
“I’ve talked with your old commander, and he recommended you with flying colors. It reflects favorably on him, if the senior aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs comes from his brigade. His only worry was that I couldn’t convince you.”
Three years later, the balloon went up when president Santiago was assassinated.
*****
Hugging the wall, Marius watched the entrance. He glanced at his watch, 2345.00hrs. He closed his eyes and thumbed the button on a miniature remote control. With this triggering, several things happened. Several high intensity ground flares went off, bathing the courtyard in bright white light, as well as destroying the night vision of the guards. The second effect was that the entire communications network for two blocks was knocked out: televisions, radios, comlinks, and, most importantly, alarm systems. A one block radius also had the addition of having the power go out.
The light died as rapidly as it appeared, leaving the guards virtually blind. Marius snapped his night vision goggles over his eyes and began to move. He picked up several other figures emerging from the darkness. Watching their progress, he nodded his approval. Their mission was to incapacitate the guard force. Each member of his twelve man team knew several ways to kill a person instantly in complete silence, but the rules of engagement were to take them down non-lethally. That would take a few moments longer, but he had every confidence in his hand picked commandos.
He watched the chronometer of his watch winding down, past the five minute mark. They had two minutes to get in, a minute to find and revive their target, and two minutes to get out. No margin for error, but this is what they had trained for.
He motioned one of the figures closer, pointed at the door, and pumped his fist several times. Akira Kurasowa gave the thumbs up sign, opened a small backpack. Lighting the pocket torch, he cut around the door power conduit, fished out a set of jumpers and attached the minigenerator. The circuit complete, he inserted two hair thin probes into the locking mechanism. The gauge on the generator dipped as the power doors hissed open.
Wedging the doors open, he moved into the airlock and worked on the inner doors. Marius fired three shots from his pistol as the doors slid open, dropping the guards in a hiss of compressed air.
He whispered to Andrea Truffaut, as she slid silently next to him, “No evidence.” Andrea nodded and approached the unconscious guards, removing the tranquilizer darts.
Moving deeper into the complex, his team made its way to security holding, avoiding contact when possible, neutralizing it when not. Putting on the gas mask, Marius tossed the paralytic gas grenade into the room. Glancing at his watch, he noted that they were thirty seconds ahead of schedule. Striding into the silent room, he carefully avoided the prone security guards.
He made his way to cell 425 and glanced in. Dr. Fitzpatrick McGoohan, the field surgeon nodded, “That’s him.”
Pressing the stud on his comlink, Marius whispered, “Redline six to Redline two-five.”
“Two five.” came the reply on the encrypted channel.
“Target acquired, let’s bust him out.”
“I’m there.” Moving rapidly, Kurasowa used the pocket torch to cut through the lock. Dr. Mac popped an ampoule under the unconscious man’s nostrils.
The man began to struggle. Marius clamped a hand over his mouth and held up a finger before his own. The elderly man nodded.
“Dr. Jacobs?”
The heavily bearded face nodded again.
“Dr. Everett Jacobs. President Clarke’s personal physician?”
“Yes. Then vice president.”
“We’re here to get you out of here. We need to move fast, so I need you to do everything I say, when I say it. Understand?”
“What’s going on here?”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We have to get out now, before Clarke’s people and the Corps gets here to move you to a higher security facility. Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
Marius nodded and the small extraction team moved out, clearing the evidence of their infiltration as they went. There was not way to cover up the torch cuts, but there it was.
The team made its way to the waiting ground car and entered it. The vehicle became lost amid the traffic. The chronometer wound down past the thirty second mark.
The team stripped out of their camouflage outfits. Every couple of miles a few of the team members broke away from the group and disappeared.
Leaving Dr. Jacobs with Dr. Mac, Marius gave a short list of instructions, “Get him to the safe house. What’s in his head is priceless. I’ll make some inquiries and find a way for him to vanish.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
The car sped away into the night. Marius watched it for a moment then entered the transport tube. Leaning back against the cushioned seat, he closed his eyes and let his mind drift.
[This message has been edited by TheKnave (edited 11-07-2000).]
Status: First Post
Title: Baker’s Dozen, Part 1 (maybe, depending on feedback)
Rating: G
Genre: SF (B5 related)
Author: I am the author.
Marius Baker watched. The colors of the courtyard were washed out through the lens of the EA/NOD-37s (Earth Alliance/Night Optical Device, Mark 37). There, was that movement? Two guards, perhaps three. Glancing at his watch, he noted the time, 2335.05hrs EST (Earth Standard Time). The other operatives should be in position now.
He scanned the far side of the compound. First one, then another, then a third infrared hand light winked on momentarily, then off again. The team was employed and waiting for the “go” signal.
Using the camouflage screen, Marius low-crawled into his preplanned location, inch by long inch. He stopped and held his breath as a patrol moved past him. The two men were occupied with talk about the latest World Series, failing to notice his dark shape.
As the figures passed him, he glanced at his watch again. 2340.33hrs. He had five minutes to get into place. As his body made its agonizingly slow way forward, his mind ran over the conversation that brought him to this place and time…
*****
General Hague, his lean figure seeming to occupy more space in the room than physically possible, watched for any reaction. Marius returned his look evenly, eyes never wavering. Finally the general turned to the file on his desk. He began speaking without taking his eyes from the papers, “Too young to join Earth Force during the Minbari war. Lied about your age, but were found out. Highly decorated for participation in the Mars riots. Served as inter-service liaison aboard the Agamemnon. Did you know Sheridan?"
"No, sir, I was there before he arrived."
"Too bad. He's a good man."
"So I hear, sir."
"Fast track promotion to Captain, where you were a company commander, then a staff assignment with G-2, intelligence. Major, I’m impressed.”
“Sir, if there is something…”
Hague silenced him with a gesture, “What is not in the records is probably more interesting than what is in them. For instance, did you know that as a plebe at the academy, I was known as Hague the Keg?”
“No, sir. Is this…”
“Old Lead Bottom Baker speaks highly of you. Major, what I’d like to do is have you assigned as one of my aides.”
“Uh, Lead Bottom, sir?”
“Your Uncle Robert. We were roommates at the academy. Sometimes I think he did the smart thing by getting out when he did. He’s kept me apprised of your career. I also have other sources of information, as well.”
“Well, sir, I don’t know what to say.”
“Yes is the appropriate response, Major.”
“Yes, sir. I would be honored.”
“You’ll serve as my chief of staff, Earthside. This carries the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, so you’ll get the silver leaves, and a nice little pay increase.”
“What about Colonel Scott?”
“I’ve talked with your old commander, and he recommended you with flying colors. It reflects favorably on him, if the senior aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs comes from his brigade. His only worry was that I couldn’t convince you.”
Three years later, the balloon went up when president Santiago was assassinated.
*****
Hugging the wall, Marius watched the entrance. He glanced at his watch, 2345.00hrs. He closed his eyes and thumbed the button on a miniature remote control. With this triggering, several things happened. Several high intensity ground flares went off, bathing the courtyard in bright white light, as well as destroying the night vision of the guards. The second effect was that the entire communications network for two blocks was knocked out: televisions, radios, comlinks, and, most importantly, alarm systems. A one block radius also had the addition of having the power go out.
The light died as rapidly as it appeared, leaving the guards virtually blind. Marius snapped his night vision goggles over his eyes and began to move. He picked up several other figures emerging from the darkness. Watching their progress, he nodded his approval. Their mission was to incapacitate the guard force. Each member of his twelve man team knew several ways to kill a person instantly in complete silence, but the rules of engagement were to take them down non-lethally. That would take a few moments longer, but he had every confidence in his hand picked commandos.
He watched the chronometer of his watch winding down, past the five minute mark. They had two minutes to get in, a minute to find and revive their target, and two minutes to get out. No margin for error, but this is what they had trained for.
He motioned one of the figures closer, pointed at the door, and pumped his fist several times. Akira Kurasowa gave the thumbs up sign, opened a small backpack. Lighting the pocket torch, he cut around the door power conduit, fished out a set of jumpers and attached the minigenerator. The circuit complete, he inserted two hair thin probes into the locking mechanism. The gauge on the generator dipped as the power doors hissed open.
Wedging the doors open, he moved into the airlock and worked on the inner doors. Marius fired three shots from his pistol as the doors slid open, dropping the guards in a hiss of compressed air.
He whispered to Andrea Truffaut, as she slid silently next to him, “No evidence.” Andrea nodded and approached the unconscious guards, removing the tranquilizer darts.
Moving deeper into the complex, his team made its way to security holding, avoiding contact when possible, neutralizing it when not. Putting on the gas mask, Marius tossed the paralytic gas grenade into the room. Glancing at his watch, he noted that they were thirty seconds ahead of schedule. Striding into the silent room, he carefully avoided the prone security guards.
He made his way to cell 425 and glanced in. Dr. Fitzpatrick McGoohan, the field surgeon nodded, “That’s him.”
Pressing the stud on his comlink, Marius whispered, “Redline six to Redline two-five.”
“Two five.” came the reply on the encrypted channel.
“Target acquired, let’s bust him out.”
“I’m there.” Moving rapidly, Kurasowa used the pocket torch to cut through the lock. Dr. Mac popped an ampoule under the unconscious man’s nostrils.
The man began to struggle. Marius clamped a hand over his mouth and held up a finger before his own. The elderly man nodded.
“Dr. Jacobs?”
The heavily bearded face nodded again.
“Dr. Everett Jacobs. President Clarke’s personal physician?”
“Yes. Then vice president.”
“We’re here to get you out of here. We need to move fast, so I need you to do everything I say, when I say it. Understand?”
“What’s going on here?”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We have to get out now, before Clarke’s people and the Corps gets here to move you to a higher security facility. Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
Marius nodded and the small extraction team moved out, clearing the evidence of their infiltration as they went. There was not way to cover up the torch cuts, but there it was.
The team made its way to the waiting ground car and entered it. The vehicle became lost amid the traffic. The chronometer wound down past the thirty second mark.
The team stripped out of their camouflage outfits. Every couple of miles a few of the team members broke away from the group and disappeared.
Leaving Dr. Jacobs with Dr. Mac, Marius gave a short list of instructions, “Get him to the safe house. What’s in his head is priceless. I’ll make some inquiries and find a way for him to vanish.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
The car sped away into the night. Marius watched it for a moment then entered the transport tube. Leaning back against the cushioned seat, he closed his eyes and let his mind drift.
[This message has been edited by TheKnave (edited 11-07-2000).]
Comments
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"If there was light then we could behold it, but I don not see any, do you?"
Never give in, never surrender to the coming of the night.
____________________________________________
The transport eased to a halt at the Geneva station. The pilot pushed against his shoulder, “Hey, buddy, end of the line.”
Springing from his sleep, disoriented, Marius rolled to his left. His right hand reaching to his hip for a PPG that wasn’t there. His left hand stretched across his body in a defensive gesture. Becoming aware of his surroundings, he relaxed, taut muscles uncoiling. He gave his surprised companion a lopsided grin of apology.
The pilot held up his left hand, three artificial fingers replacing lost ones, “I understand. I’m an old gropo from way back.”
Marius’ grin of embarrassment transformed to one of genuine pleasure. “Sorry about that. A little on edge.”
“Ain’t we all these days.”
“Can I buy you a drink or something, uh…”
“Carl. Sure, but this don’t mean we’re engaged or nothing.”
“Perish the thought. Just two old gropos swapping lies and washing them down with some booze.”
“Sounds like a plan. Here’s my comlink code. I go off shift in about an hour.”
Marius looked at his watch. “Fair enough. I’ve got a meeting I need to attend. I’ll give you a call in about an hour and a half.” Marius shook hands with the old veteran, his firm grip matched by the other’s synthetic flesh. The deal made, the younger man departed, entering the busy Swiss station.
Entering the small bathroom adjacent his office, Marius stripped the civilian clothes and shoved them into the incinerator. He activated burner, destroying them. There was no way that any investigation team could connect him to the scene of Dr. Jacobs’ escape through cloth fibers. He slipped into a form fitting gray T-shirt, and buttoned his uniform slacks over it. Next came the gray and blue Earth Force tunic. He adjusted the braid on his right shoulder, the badge of general officer staff, and surveyed himself in the mirror. Aside from the dark bags under his eyes, he was presentable.
Moving through his office, he picked up his digital notepad, freshly downloaded with briefing data for The General. The door opened as he approached, its motion sensors picking up his passage. Footsteps echoing through the bare corridors, Marius made his way to his boss’s office. He knocked twice, rapidly, and entered.
General Hague, seated behind his desk, was in deep conversation with his visitor. The two men turned to him as he made his presence known. Hague’s visitor, dressed in black, the only spot of color, the golden pin with the Greek letter Psi, fixed Marius with an intense gaze. Time seemed to dilate as the two men stared at each other. Marius felt a slight tingle and smiled, thinking innocent thoughts, Marius concentrated on the day’s itinerary. After what seemed like centuries, but was more probably no more than a couple of moments, General Hague broke the tension building in the room, “Colonel, this is Mister Bester.”
Bester smiled at Marius, “Colonel, it is a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard good things about you.”
“Mister, Bester is it? I don’t believe I’ve heard anything about you, good or bad.”
Bester shrugged affably, ignoring the snub, “Be that as it may, you will. I was just informing General Hague that one of my assistants will be investigation. I would do it myself to expedite matters, but I have other obligations at the moment”
General Hague answered the unasked question. “It seems that Doctor Everett Jacobs has disappeared from a security facility in the American Consortium.”
“And who, exactly is that?” Vaguely aware of Bester’s eyes on him he turned his mind to his military general orders.
Bester smiled, “An enemy of Earth.”
“I see, and he’s a teep is he?”
Bester’s smile tightened at the insult, “Not at all. He is a mundane.”
“So what is Psi Corps’ interest in him? I thought they didn’t bother with mundanes.”
Hague, sensing that critical mass was rapidly approaching, attempted to defuse the situation. “The President has asked them for help in investigating the disappearance.”
“With all due respect, sir, what does this have to do with Earth Force?”
“The President has also asked that we assist security forces in their investigation. I’ve decided to assign you to the mission.”
Momentarily taken aback, Marius blinked. “Yes, sir. If you think that’s best.”
Bester replied, rising from his chair, “I’ll have my assistant, Ms. Hernandez, contact you.” Turning his attention to General Hague he added, “I would have thought you would assign more intelligent people to your staff. Nothing in his head except military thoughts. He should really get out more.”
Marius glared at Bester, “Did you scan me, you little son of a—“
Bester cut him off with a gesture, “You know that unauthorized scanning is against Psi Corps rules.” Joining his thumb and forefinger in a circular figure, he brought it to his forehead, “Be seeing you.” Without waiting for a reply, the powerful telepath exited.
After the Psi-cop had gone, Hague motioned his aide to sit. Collapsing in one of the chairs in front of the large desk, Marius began to tremble. The General watched him closely. “Are you okay, Colonel?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be alright in a moment.”
“And did he scan you?” Marius nodded briefly. “How can you tell? I thought that mundanes couldn’t tell when they were being scanned.”
“I just know it, sir. Please don’t ask any more.”
Hague let the subject drop, “The mission was obviously a success. “ Motioning to the flat piece of plastic in Marius’ hand, “Is that my schedule for the day?”
Marius nodded and handed it to the older man, glad to be out of dangerous territory.
Later that evening, drink swirling through his head, Marius returned to his small apartment. The cultivation of Carl could prove to be one of the best things his small underground organization had done. He felt pretty good about it. Facing himself in the mirror, he had nowhere to hide from his memories.
[This message has been edited by TheKnave (edited 11-12-2000).]
“You must never let anybody know. Death before discovery. Trust no one” The words tumbled through his mind, locking itself below the conscious. Vaguely aware of some kind of pressure on his right forearm, the child continued to sleep. The adults around the child conversed.
“Do you think he’ll remember any of this?”
“I shouldn’t think so. I implanted the trigger so deep inside his subconscious that he should never recover memories of them.”
“ I still don’t like it. Manipulating him like this.”
“Would you rather they get their hands on him? That can’t happen. I won’t let it.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better if…”
“Dear, I understand your feelings. Believe me I do. I wouldn’t wish this choice on anybody, but he’s our son. He doesn’t belong to those bastards at the Corps.”
“What about the testing?”
“Results can be faked. Tests can be fooled. I’ve given him all the information he’ll need to pass any test they give him.”
“And if they do find him out?”
“That’s something that we’d do best not to think about. Let’s go. He’ll sleep for hours.”
The two adults left. The youth continued to slumber. Both parties were unaware that the boy was recording the entire conversation with the accuracy of a data crystal.
*****
Marius woke to the insistent buzz of his com unit. Rolling out of his bed, he ordered the unit to answer, “Audio only.” He slammed his bare shin against the low table and muttered an obscenity. Looking at the black screen, he was greeted with the golden Greek letter Psi.
“What?”
“Colonel Baker. This is Ms. Julia Hernandez. Mister Bester told me to call you. This is a reminder that you and I will be working together on the Jacobs case.”
“Yeah, okay. Where do you want to meet?”
“I thought the scene of the crime.”
“Okay, send me directions,” He was glad that a telepath couldn’t read through a com unit as his mind warned him to give nothing away, and make no mistakes.
The data port glowed as the information was transmitted. “I’ll be there in six or seven hours.”
Watching the blank screen, Julia remembered the warning from Mr. Bester.
“He knows something.”
“Are you certain, sir?”
“He did a good job at trying to hide it, but he’s just a mundane. I saw a recent picture of Dr. Jacobs in his mind. A very recent one.”
“I’ll watch him.”
“I suggest that you do. Be careful, though. There’s something else there. I’m not sure what, but something.”
Back in the shuttle, Marius watched the Earth pass by overhead. The transports, running like a spider’s web under the Earth’s crust, always gave him a feeling of slight claustrophobia. He closed his eyes against the darkness.
*****
LTC Marius Baker walked into the office of his boss, General Hague, his hands full of reports. “Sir, here’s the information you requested.”
Hague, motioned distractedly towards the desk. Marius set them down and began easing his way out of the room. The general stopped him with a gesture. “Marius, how long have you been here?”
“Today, sir? A couple of hours.”
“As my aide.”
“Just under two years, sir, why?”
“I’ve noticed some things. Things I don’t like.”
“Sir?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it. Very soon we’re going to have to make some difficult decisions.”
“How so, sir?”
“Lieutenant Colonel, I know I’ve not asked before, but I need to know now. Where are your loyalties?”
Marius paused, trying to frame a response, “Well, sir. My loyalties are to Earth.”
Hague nodded, contemplative, “Not to me?”
“Certainly to you, sir, but…”
“Yes, but?”
“Sir, my first loyalty is to Earth Alliance, not any particular person. When I put on the uniform, I swore to defend her from all enemies foreign and domestic. If you issued me an order that I could not in good conscience follow, well…”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I hope not either, sir. Is there anything else?”
“One other thing. I want you to go through this list of officers.”
“Anything I’m looking for?”
“Nothing in particular, just feelings. One last thing, what are your thoughts on President Santiago and his policies?”
“Sir, I try to be apolitical. It doesn’t go with the uniform.”
“If you got as far as you have without being political, you are either the luckiest or the dumbest man in uniform.”
“Sir?”
“I want you to write me a report. Give me your interpretation of current Earth policy regarding the colonies and the mood of Earth towards aliens.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll have the report to you by Friday.”
Marius exited the office, not a little confused. The first thing he did upon returning to his office was to go over the dossiers of the officers that the general had given him. The next was to dig up all the information he could on current Earth colonial policy.
*****
Standing on the platform was a pale young woman with black hair. Her dark eyes alert. She glanced at any man in an Earth Force uniform that moved past her. He walked up to her and extended his hand. “Ms. Hernandez?”
Ignoring the offered hand, she nodded, “Yes. We should get to the security facility. You’re already an hour late.”
Shrugging and dropping his hand, he put on his best impress them smile, “Sorry, we got stuck in traffic.” Julia Hernandez, PsiCop chose to ignore the comment. Marius thought as loudly as possible, no sense of humor. Probably frigid too.
Ms. Hernandez turned, her eyes lasering into him. He smiled back at her, picked up his travel pack, and walked past her.