Chapter 2

Director Knox drank deeply from his third cup of coffee, a substance far scarcer than it used to be what with the sidhe in all but complete control of South America. Only three megacities had been constructed down there after the portal collapse before the sidhe had rallied seized most of the continent, and two had since fallen leaving only Rio left. As far as Knox was concerned that alone warranted full blown war with the God damned invaders. If he ever ran for office, he had a feeling that might serve as a surprisingly effective platform considering the lengths, he’d seen people go to for caffeine. As the mug reached its halfway point a group of three filed into his office. Mills entered first followed by an attractive woman somewhere in hear early forties wearing a severe expression that Knox recognized as Deputy Director Jameson the Director of Training for the investigatory branch of the Phoenix Armed Forces. As his gaze shifted from Jameson to the third member of the party years of training both as an observer/spy and an investigator were the only thing that kept Knox’s jaw from dropping. Holy creator Knox thought as took a strategically slow sip of his coffee to give himself a second to gather his thoughts, get it together you have daughters older than her, he told himself mentally before looking back young soon to be agent and tracker that just entered his office.

She was young barely over twenty and gorgeous only began to cover it. She was tall for a woman, probably close to 5’10” with curves that even her suit that was tailored to hide them couldn’t completely conceal. Her midnight black hair that was pulled back in a simple pony tail contrasted perfectly with her sapphire eyes and her high cheekbones and delicate heart shaped face were beautiful even without makeup. The most incredible part was that to Knox’s trained eye it was obvious that she had actually tried to lessen her appearance and still achieved a level of beauty that most models needed an hour with a stylist and airbrushing to achieve. Even jameson who he normally found quite attractive paled next to her.

Finishing his sip of coffee Knox set down the mug before taking a deep breath and began speaking. “thank you everyone for coming,” he started. Not that they had a choice seeing as how they all worked for him although for the tracker that statement could and would be contested by the church. Next, he looked at Jameson, “Director Jameson I appreciate you handling this matter personally unfortunately this case is rather sensitive and since you do not have a need to know for this, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave.” Knox said apologetically. Upon being dismissed Jameson who had already seemed perturbed by the situation adopted a rather insulted expression before replying “You pull one of my students out of the graduation exams in the name of some pilot special practical that I’ve never heard of before yesterday and now you’re telling me that I don’t need to know.” Jameson seethed. “Director all due respect Cadet Walker is still in training making her my responsibility, and since this obviously goes beyond a simple exam I’d say I very much Need To Know,” Jameson practically spat as she said spat the last few words. A fierce scowl twisting he normally attractive features.

Knox sighed; he’d been afraid of this as soon as he’d seen Jameson walk into the room. “You will receive a full report on Cadet Walker’s performance from Deputy Director Mills upon completion of the assignment for grading purposes but other than that I cannot share further details especially while the case is active.” Knox said in his best I’m the boss tone. Refusing to give up Jameson pulled out her trump card, “As a tracker, Walker has a special status. Even you are not free to assign her without.” “I have already looped in the Church and briefed the Archbishop on the matter,” Knox said cutting her off. “He has been briefed on the circumstances and given his approval, pending certain conditions that I have already met.” He said thinking back to the third most stressful call he’d had to make the day before. Chief Wren ordering him around like an errand boy being the first and canceling his plans with his wife last minute coming in a close second. It had taken some creative wording a few half-truths and more than one outright lie to get the proper spin for the bishop to approve the endeavor. Now he just hoped the girl was green enough to not figure out just shady this operation actually was while she was investigating.

Having learned that The Archbishop, her uncle and favorite powerplay, had already signed off Jameson snorted in disgust. “If you get her killed, I swear I’ll have both your heads,” she said venomously before taking the girls’ hand. Locking eyes with her. “If things look like they’re going sideways you have my number. Call me and I’ll put an end to this I don’t care what the director says,” Jameson said protectively before marching out.

Elliana

Elliana’s nervousness at being mysteriously summoned to the Director of the Investigative branch for some special new exam which had done nothing but increase since she walked into the room peaked as Jameson walk out. For one there was the two men’s reaction to her. They hid it well, far better than most, but her tracker training had made it possibly for her to pick up the signs, subtle as they were, even without relying on her more arcane means. Fortunately, she was used to that sort of attention, much as she wished he wasn’t, from practically everyone. Hell, even Director Jameson obviously wanted her that way, her preferences were well known in the Investigative branch training command. Such things had been frowned upon centuries ago, especially by ultra-religious types but it turned out one of the few positive side effects of dozens of portals opening dumping out race of vicious invaders was it gave people plenty to hate. These days, as long as you weren’t a sidhe cultist or heretic that attempted or condoned soul warping spirit arts, no-one much cared who what race you were and what or who you did.

What had her increasingly nervous was the fact that this was clearly not a practical training exercise or a minor case for field experience. Her psionic abilities let her read into people’s moods even without actively trying and these two were giving off waves of tension and even hints of fear. Anything that scared men as highly ranked as these two, justified her being terrified, especially considering she was likely going to be tracking it down if her guess was right.

Knox gave her the friendliest expression he could manage before starting to talk, “Welcome Cadet Walker, I know this whole operation may seem unorthodox, and in truth it is.” Knox said before continuing. “Yesterday in the early hours of the morning there was an altercation at the docks. While we don’t have a complete picture, what happened we believe the crimson hawk street gang conducted a raid on what they believed to be another gang conducting a smuggling operation on their turf.” Knox stopped and turned to Mills. “I’ll let you take it from here,” he said with a nod.

“Yes sir” Mills said before turning back to Elianna. “The Hawks came in heavily armed, including a few aether tech weapons I’d love to know how they got, with what we estimate was a significant advantage in numbers as well as a far superior tactical position.” Mills took a deep breath before continuing. “It should have been a slaughter,” Mills paused again before continuing, “and it was, but not in the way you’d expect. Despite every advantage the Hawks were crushed.” “How,” Elianna finally blurted out not being able to resist asking question any longer. “I was just getting there,” Mills said warmly as could manage given the situation. “Our theory is some sort of amplifying device superior to the amplifier staves our commando’s or the church paladins use. Our best guess at the moment is that the device has foreign origins and the ones conducting the operation weren’t gangsters but foreign operators, maybe from overseas”.

“So, you want me to track down the weapon,” Elianna said hesitantly. “Exactly,” Mills beamed, “Your file says you can detect aetheric device signatures even when they’re not active. All we need is a location.” He said reassuringly. “you narrow it down to a building for us and we have a strike team on stand bye to handle the rest. They’ll shadow from a couple minutes out until you get the location then you call in the cavalry and pull out. If you can do this, I’ll make sure you get a perfect score final exams and we’ll even have a commendation put into your record. In addition, we’ve gained the Archbishops approval to borrow you on the condition that any teams researching the weapon have church scientists involved.” Mill finished taking a deep breath as he completed his pitch.

Elly looked back and forth between the two men the prospect of hunting down ruthless foreign operators with dangerous advanced weapons had her sense of duty and honor burning, plus I suppose I don’t have much of a choice, she thought sarcastically. “I’m in,” she said with as much confidence as she could muster. Earning her a couple of approving nods. “excellent,” Mills said grinning “I’ll bring you down to meet with the two agents running the investigation and they’ll take you to the scene. I’ll have the strike team gear up and move out to follow for when you need them.”

Mills turned back to Knox, “Director may I inquire the status of the specialist you mentioned.” “He won’t arrive for a couple more hours. I’ll have him rendezvous with Walker and the investigating agents once I’ve briefed him,” Knox replied, then continued seeing Mills nod, “On the chance that Walker tracks them down before he arrives everyone is to hold position till he gets there. If this is what we think it is I want someone who can at least slow them down while the strike team employs their big guns. This is not the time to be rash. I don’t want my agents ending up like the Hawks.” Knox said sternly,” Mills bobbed his head in agreement, “Understood sir I’ll brief the relevant parties and loop you in before authorizing an engagement.” He replied. Knox nodded and mills turned to Elianna “Cad…” he started before trailing off, “If you’re going to be involved in this I guess that warrants calling you Agent Walker,” he sighed smiling, “If you’ll follow me I’ll bring you to meet the Agents on the case and they’ll bring you down to the scene so we can get started. Also, I had this made for you.” Mills finished as he handed her a badge. Elly barely refrained from jumping with joy when Mills handed her the badge. She’d been dreaming about getting one since she started training as a tracker at sixteen. To have it handed to her out of the blue was almost surreal. Instead she managed to only slightly smile as she as thanked Mills and followed him out of Director Knox’s office and down to the situation room.