The Crypt: Shakedown: (A Military Sci-Fi Novel) by Scott Sigler

Author:Scott Sigler [Sigler, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2023-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

38

“It’s a terrible story,” Gillick said. “That’s supposed to be funny?”

Lieutenant Hathorn shrugged. “Darkwater seemed to think it was.”

“Well, it’s not,” Daniels said. “Lieutenant, I don’t find workplace sexual harassment humorous in the least.”

Hathorn threw up her hands.

“You guys wanted me to get her talking, so I did, Darkwater isn’t a puppet. I can’t control what comes out of her mouth.”

Anne thought of letting the process go on for a third retelling. Gillick and Daniels were following BII protocol, which was to get the informant aggravated, then ask them to repeat what they’d said. Three times through a tale was usually enough to figure out what was real and what was bullshit, but Anne had heard enough.

“Lieutenant,” she said, “what was the name of the shipping company again?”

Hathorn’s face scrunched as she tried to remember.

“Colbinson,” she said. “I think that was it.”

Anne looked at Gillick. “That’s one of the biggest shipping companies out there.”

“The biggest,” he said. “You see their ships everywhere, especially in the Sol system.”

Anne was getting to know her team. Gillick and Daniels seemed sharp. Gillick, a little more so. She could tell just by the look on his face that he’d picked up on the same thing she had.

“It’s still not funny,” Daniels said. “Hopefully Darkwater is better at her job than she is at telling stories. How’s her training coming along, Lieutenant?”

Hathorn’s head dipped, just a little.

“Really well,” she said. “Hasik likes her. I think Darkwater already knows the xeno system better than I do.”

Hathorn was jealous. That was good. She feared Darkwater might get fast-tracked ahead of her. Unless the ship took on more personnel, Hathorn or Darkwater would likely replace Hasik if he moved on. Taking over as department chief was a big deal. Even in a fucked-up place like the Crypt, a promotion to department chief would boost a career once the two-year stint was up.

“Thank you, Lieutenant Hathorn,” Anne said. “We appreciate you informing us. Keep Darkwater talking. Keep listening. Tell no one of this, including Colonel Hasik. Especially Colonel Hasik.”

Daniels opened the door and leaned out. Seeing no one in the passageway, he waved Hathorn through, then stepped back inside and shut the door.

“That was a waste of time,” he said. “So someone waggled a schlong at Darkwater, so what?”

Anne looked at Gillick. “Is there something more than that, Corporal?”

“There is.” He grinned wide. “Darkwater doesn’t have pilot certification in her skills list.”

Daniels realized he’d missed that. “Well, maybe she’s just full of shit.” He sat. “Maybe she wanted to fit in, so she made up a story about being a trucker for the biggest shipping firm out there and having a perv-dog boss. Telling a tall tale doesn’t make her a spy.”

If it was a tall tale, it was harmless. An intel chief’s job, though, was to assume the worst and act accordingly.

“Or she really was a pilot, and it’s not in her record,” Anne said. “Which would mean Darkwater either lied about her work history when she joined Fleet, or she’s not who she claims to be.

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