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“You have proof they’re responsible?”
“Cybersecurity hasn’t been able to prove how or when the footage disappeared, but these aliens have technology we’ve never even conceived of. They withhold all the advanced tech from us until they deem us worthy or they need something in exchange. I want to know what GI7’s doing, who they’re protecting, and why.”
Her stomach turned at the thought of spying on Zirkov and his marshals. Even if they didn’t fully trust her, they were allies… friends.
“I’m not an undercover agent. What do you want me to do, precisely?”
“Stick to them as much as possible and find me something, anything, tying them to these murders. Give them any excuse to be in their faces 24-7. Tell them you’re verifying that they’re following protocols as part of an annual compliance check on marshals. Fuck that blue bastard Kesk for all I care, but stick to those aliens like glue and get me answers.”
Someone higher up, like Director Nguyen, had to be pressuring Sutherland for him to even suggest she sleep with an alien. Both men constantly complained about having to work with aliens. And they’d voiced their disgust of interspecies mating between humans and aliens. Like many humans, they viewed having aliens in their lives as a necessary evil to protect Earth from another invasion.
Maggie genuinely enjoyed getting to know each of GI7’s marshals, but investigating them like this felt like a betrayal. “Marshal Protocols Annual Compliance Check, then. I’ll make up the details as I go.” She had to keep Sutherland happy, which meant appearing to go along with his orders. She’d investigate the murders, especially her connection, whatever it was, but she wouldn’t pin this on Zirkov or anyone from GI7, no matter how much Sutherland pushed her.
“This is a matter of planetary security, Walsh, and you’re in the best position to get the information we need. If you’re hesitant or if you can’t commit and do whatever’s necessary, I’ll send in a qualified field agent like Hobart or Yamato.”
She dug her nails into her thigh to keep from snapping at him. “I’m fully qualified. I’ve passed the same annual re-certification as every other DAA field agent. In fact, unlike most of the agents here, I have practical warfare experience. Before the occupation ended, I fought with the resistance for two years.”
“I’m well aware of your background, but your job as liaison has made you soft.”
“I go to the firing range, I work out, and I’ve been involved in several GI7 ops.”
“Not many, but that’s not what I meant.”
“As many as any other agent. I’ve been with the DAA since its inception three years ago, sir.”
He tapped his temple. “You’re soft up here, Walsh. You see these aliens like they’re one of us. They’re not.”
“You can’t use my personal views against me, not when my performance has been outstanding.”
“We all have different strengths. Your ability to tolerate the aliens is part of the reason I appointed you liaison officer. Galactic Intelligence requires transparency, intel… cooperation,” he spat the last word out. “You have an innocence that makes others believe you. Our other agents, Jackson, Mayfield, Kaplan… They know how to push back.”
Did he call her a coward?
“You make the alien operatives feel like we trust them, like we’re not watching them.”
“You’re watching them?”
“They’re aliens, Walsh. Of course, we’re watching them, along with every alien working on Earth. The only ones we can’t watch are the ones they hide because that bastard Kesk refuses to give us their locations.”
“There are only five alien witnesses in hiding here.”
“That’s five too many.” Sutherland leaned forward on his desk. “Look, Walsh, we all play a part. My agents solve crimes involving aliens to make our people feel safe while aiding in Earth’s defense. You communicate between Earth Intelligence and Galactic Intelligence, making the aliens believe we’re giving them everything they ask for. We still need them. But what we do is largely for our citizens. If our people knew the full truth of how much we rely on alien technology, and how easily these so-called allies could overrun us, they’d panic. Panic leads to riots and everything counterproductive to keeping Earth safe.”
“As you said, they are allies. They’re helping us build a defense shield and they protect Earth.”
“For now. But they could turn on us any time. We need to be self-reliant, which means never fully trusting them.”
“You don’t think what I do as liaison matters.”
“It matters. You’re cheery and easy on the eyes. Women trust you and men want to look at you. You have what it takes to reassure the public we’re in charge, not the aliens. If we lose a few witnesses, it’s a loss, but not as big as losing Galactic Intelligence as an ally. Or handing them all our secrets.
“Having a few GI7 marshals on Earth and letting them keep alien witnesses here is how we prove we’re doing our share for Galactic Intelligence. But when it comes to our people, we have to look like we’re the ones in control. Which means minimizing alien activity on Earth. Bottom line, I need to know what Zirkov’s hiding and if he’s covering for one of his people or the og’dals. If I don’t catch these og’dals and stop whatever they’re doing, someone’s head will roll, and it won’t be mine. Got that, Walsh?”
“Yes, sir.”
Bastard.
CHAPTERTHREE
