Free First Admiral 02 The Burning Sun by William J. Benning Page B

you access to the Sensitive-level data on the Bardomil Desk,” Sownus said, “you’ve earned this opportunity; if you do well, we can think about moving you up the board.”
    “Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” Marilla Thapes beamed broadly.
    In the Security structure of the Intelligence Department, bronze clearance was only three steps down from the Ultra-Sensitive level clearance that carried a Diamond-icon on their Security file. She had gained a significant temporary promotion, and was determined to do her absolute best with the project.
    “Your new clearance should be active by the start of your next shift,” Sownus added, “now, take your findings to Officer Drang. She will be your supervisor on this and coordinate any resources you need to clarify what is going on here. But, you report your findings to me, am I clear?”
    “Yes, sir,” Marilla barked, the broad beaming smile still plastered all over her olive face.
    “Good,” Sownus said, “now, go and get some rest and be ready to hit the deck running first thing.”
    “Sir,” Marilla replied and gathered up her folios before stepping briskly to the door.
    “And, Marilla?” Sownus halted her just before the door.
    “Sir?” she half-turned expecting more instructions.
    “That’s a good piece of work, Technician,” Sownus praised.
    “Thank you, sir,” Marilla’s smile got even broader as she stepped through the door and walked breezily along the corridor to her own quarters.
    Back in Sownus’ office, the Senior Intelligence Officer now had a new nightmare to add to the growing pile of potential threats to the Alliance. Moving to his dimly-lit relaxation couch, Sownus scanned the folios left by Marilla Thapes and began asking himself the questions that First Admiral Caudwell would ask him. Is it feasible? Where would they target such a weapon? How would they deliver it to the intended target?
    But, as he thought, he found the answers elusive.

Chapter 11
     
    Planet Earth
     
    “Emma, Billy, would you like some tea!?” Gillian Wallace called brightly from the foot of the stairs.
    It had been a whole ten minutes since she had last offered them some refreshment. The constant procession of young men into the Wallace household had made Gillian Wallace cautious of just what has likely to be happening in her daughter’s bedroom. The liberally-minded parent understood that Emma needed her freedom to meet young men, but the mother in her wasn’t quite ready to let go of her ‘little Emma’ just yet.
    “No thanks mum!” the voice of Emma Wallace replied from behind the solid rampart of her closed bedroom door.
    “Some lemonade or juice!?” her mother persisted.
    “No! Thanks mum!” Emma responded wearily.
    “I think we should take a break,” Billy Caudwell suggested as he stood up from the cramped little table in the corner of Emma Wallace’s room.
    It had been a long and exhausting two hours since he had arrived at the Wallace’s house to help Emma with her maths revision. Burying his face in his hands and wiping his eyes, Billy had to admit that in terms of mathematics, Emma Wallace was not the brightest candle on the tree. But, he had promised to help her through the pre-Qualification exams, and help her he would; even if it did take over half an hour for her to grasp the most fundamental concepts of equations.
    Yet, strangely, Billy felt calm and at peace as he gently guided the struggling girl through the finer points of algebra; where x and y took on new meanings, but still retained some semblance of constancy and familiarity. Rather like his own life, Billy considered, as he tried to integrate a life on Earth with that of the First Admiral of the Universal Alliance Fleet. But, the worries of the rapidly expanding Alliance were far from the thoughts of Billy Caudwell this night.
    “Yeah, my head hurts,” Emma said, “but, you’re really helping me here,” she flashed the dazzling but wholly insincere smile.
    “It just takes a bit of