Free The Phoenix Rising by Richard L. Sanders Page A

Agreed.”
    “ In that case I’ll keep this
information need-to-know,” said Calvin. “But I won’t keep the rest
of my crew in the dark forever.”
    “ Fair enough.”
    “ Now tell me more about your
lead.”
    “ I’ve heard rumors, whispers
of rumors really,” said Tristan. “From my brothers in the clan. The
Arcane Storm is in the DMZ. And carrying something important. I
have no doubt that means it is carrying the isotome
weapons.”
    “ And you think it’s at Echo
Three? What is special about Echo Three anyway?” A military ship
such as the Nighthawk entering the DMZ was technically an act of
war against the Rotham Republic. It wouldn’t be the first time
Calvin had violated the agreement, Intel Wing ordered stealth ships
into the DMZ every now and then. But the utmost discretion was
needed.
    “ Echo Three is my home,”
said Tristan. “It’s an asteroid colony around the QH-212
star.”
    “ And the Arcane Storm is
there?”
    “ No, but some of my people
claim to have seen it. We must go there and question the one who
will know.”

Chapter 7
     
    Their faces were mere echoes now. Nimoux
remembered the woman’s blonde hair but not many of her other
features. As for the two men, they were even less clear in his
mind. One had been short with brown hair, the other was average
height and a bit overweight. The subtle details were long gone, but
what was clear as day—what he could never forget—was the horror in
their eyes. He knew what it was when he saw it. He’d felt it too.
The cold, brutal realization that one was about to die. And at the
hands of a friend, no less. He recalled the firm resistance of the
trigger as he curled his finger around it and pulled. The slight
blowback. The sound of the reports splitting the air. Shot after
shot. For each victim it had been the same. One in the head, two in
the chest. Nine bullets. Three corpses.
    They hadn’t deserved this end. They’d been
innocent people. And he hadn’t delighted in giving it to them. In
fact, it was the worst thing he’d ever done. The guilt haunted him
every day since. Tormenting him severely, in ways no one knew and
few could understand. It consumed him. Entered his thoughts.
Invaded his dreams. Always on the back of his mind. Stalking him.
Even years later the feeling hadn’t lessened, and he knew he’d
never forgive himself. Nor should he. He fantasized for the
millionth time about placing the barrel of his sidearm against his
own head and squeezing the trigger. Such a small action on such a
tiny piece of metal. And yet maybe, afterwards, he would finally
have peace.
    The communication panel chirped, startling
him out of his meditation. He took one final deep breath then
uncurled his legs and stood up. Stretching briefly as he came out
of the lotus position. He wanted to reach for his tea and ignore
the comm panel, but knew he couldn’t.
    “ Yes what is it?” asked
Nimoux.
    “ Notifying you as you
requested, sir. We will be dropping out of alteredspace in a few
minutes,” said the on-duty ops officer.
    “ Thank you, I’m on my
way.”
    He exited his quarters on deck five and took
the nearest elevator to the bridge. When he arrived, a crewman blew
a whistle announcing “Captain on the bridge.”
    Nimoux moved immediately to the command
position and relieved his XO, a salty, no-nonsense forty-year old
man who’d thrown himself into his military career to escape two
ex-wives and several unwanted children. Despite his domestic
issues, or perhaps because of them, the commander had made a
reputation for himself as the most hardworking and enthusiastic
member of the crew. Nimoux was glad to have him.
    “ ETA?” asked
Nimoux.
    “ Forty-five
seconds.”
    It was time to see what all the fuss was
about. He could only guess at what they’d find there. But one thing
was certain, Intel Wing wanted it swept under the rug. The IWS
Desert Eagle was to clear the area before continuing on mission.
Fortunately it wouldn’t prove much