“Hall clear. Stella?” Silva asks in a low voice that tells mewe may not be clear yet.
Standing straight, I move to secure Jed. Mucimi being here means I don’t need to explain.
A sound at the door has my arm swinging.
“Hud in. Alder?” Hud asks in his clipped tone.
I relax my arm and refocus on my wiggling Jed hoser. “Mucimi and Aurora are in with him. I’m glad he took the inner room now.” The earlier room change felt like a warning but no one explained the why to me. Picard steps into my limited hallway sight line, then steps back into the shadows outside someone’s flashlight. I let Hud know so he stops scanning. “Acosta is in, Picard is outside the door. I heard Silva ask about Stella, she’d know if we’re clear. We need coms linked and the Ops room hooked to us, do that while I get these two secured?”
His eyes snap to mine. “Yeah. I’ll put my second out with Picard and third to come help move these two. Meet me at the Bravo suites. The VP…” He stops quick with the door opening behind me.
Since he’s facing that way, I finish shackling Jed and his partner while Alder tells him the plan. “Pres Justice send Boss Mucimi to protect to me. You workwithBoss Sophie clear cruise ship. I help Web and Alpha-Bit IT.”
I stand and step aside for Hud’s team to deal with the two enemies. “Get ID’s, face and print uploaded as soon as you can. AB IT is working on this already but their little drones don’t have night vision.” I pivot quick to Alder. “Can you get the link to the teams?”
He nods once. “All Officer, Protector, Lead Security have new link.”
I pull and push away protocols. “Drones and cameras?”
“Tracking. I send to Leads.” Alder is quick and wearing a little smirk. “Anton work on night vision.”
Hud moves a step forward. “We got overwatch on thisdeck and clearing one down.”
I nod. “I’ll clear, my team is new, pick from them or yours for overwatch. I’ll take a K-9.”
Mucimi bends and Alder climbs on his back. “Boss Sophie quick. VP Jack want answer.”
Hud nods. “We’ll get them for you, Boss.” He turns to watch Mucimi carry Alder out the door with his hand on Aurora’s back.
I nod for Picard to follow. The Bravo suite is just down the hall. “Picard is walking to the suite with them.” I let Hud know as I get the rest of my gear on.
“I’ll set my new on overwatch and meet you below.” He’s gone before I answer.
I didn’t have an answer so it’s all good. Readied, I meet Picard and Acosta who have a new dog standing by them. We make 2 teams on a floor. This is good.
§*§*§
Cruise ship
Hud
She’s thorough and fast with the K9 indicating she must have worked with them outside the wire. Not that she had much of a bio, nothing said K9 partner. I got a buddy who’s a Jag on the joint base that said she’s a classified asset. He said it’s like M6 or GIGN. I didn’t work with them but knew some by name or sight. I don’t know about that but know she can ride and she’s high on the LS board. Tats said she understands the Lab work. He doesn’t, I don’t really either but it’s not my job. My job is to protect the package.
Working with her for a week showed she’s military all the way and competent in everything I’ve seen her do. The riding surprised me but Asa said he’s training her on the Honor track. Asa and Alder are trained at master level for everything. I don’t know how they figure levels in ride and shoot but they’re better than me and the Charlie’s Angel. Silva said they rank higher than most Officers but they don’t advertise. I wouldn’t either if I were them. Being the best anything means you’re open to shit-for-brains trying to beat that record as if you’d be offended coming in second or here fifteenth.
The laugh has me turning. Mucimi turns. “She’s like Stella but she can hear.”
That stops my feet. “Stella can’t hear?”
He pushes my gun arm down. It was pointed straight into the hall intersection but no one is in it. “Stella’s glasses tell her what’s said and the ear pieces alert her to sound around her. This floor is clear. Citiali got the last 2, I came for Sophie and Bobo’s two.”
Who the hell is that? “Bobo?”
He slows and smiles my way. “Bobo and Hunter are chipped K9s from the Maestro Club. Before you ask, that’s the …”
I finish for him. “K9 Ops Club at Honor Rising.” It’s the Club Charlie’s Angel Sophia comes from and I’m not totally clueless.
His laugh surprises me, then it hits me, so I’m calling me a fool for forgetting. “Shit. Stop reading me.”
