Mercury: The Interscission Project, #4

By Arshad Ahsanuddin

Death comes for us all.

But sometimes it comes early, because it's sent.

Everything seems to be going great in Christopher's world.  Newly married and promoted, he's even hammered out the dents in his relationship with his brother Marley.

Then a death in the family shakes the foundations of his world.  When the word comes down that it was murder, then only the best forensic investigator of the Chiron Defense Force will do to assist the Travellers in finding the culprit.  And that happens to be Marley.

When the investigation begins to lead to one of their own, however, the question changes:  was it murder, or treason?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arshad Ahsanuddin
• Release date: May 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781927528716

Arshad Ahsanuddin

Arshad Ahsanuddin is a practicing hematopathologist, a physician who specializes in using microscopic and laboratory data to diagnose diseases of blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Yes, a blood doctor writing about vampires. The irony is not lost on him.  For more information about Arshad, or for more information about the series, check out his website at http://pactarcanum.com and leave him some feedback. Social Media: Website:  http://pactarcanum.com/ Blog:  http://pactarcanum.com/blog/ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/pactarcanum Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pactarcanum Goodreads Profile:  http://www.goodreads.com/pactarcanum Twitter Handle:  @pactarcanum

Book preview

Iteration Timeline

Iteration Two (1–2):

Gifford Sutton mines the Alpha Centauri star system, 2176

Iteration Five (1–5): 

Trinity Spacelines Flight 273 shot down by Gifford, 2176

Iteration Six (1–6):  

Edward Davenport infiltrates the Interscission Project, 2176

Iteration Seven (1–7): 

Martin Atkins and Charles Davenport murdered, 2178

Iteration Eight (1–8): 

Edward Sutton infiltrates the Hourglass Corps, 2178

Iteration Nine (1–9):

Admiral O’Dare kidnaps Martin, Charles, and Jacob, 2164

Iteration Ten (1–10):

Hourglass Corps prevents Janus Station Disaster, 2153

Prologue: I Will Fear No Evil

March 2157

Hourglass Headquarters. Four years after the Janus Incident

The poison had been subtle. She hadn’t realized what was happening to her until much too late. But she might have just enough time to secure their legacy against whomever it was that had decided to take her out of the picture.

Sophia Wu completed the final connection and waited until the activation lights blinked green. All was in readiness.

Laboriously, she got to her feet and half stumbled into the chair. She closed the VR headset around her head and initiated total fusion. In a moment, the advanced heuristics synced up to her brainwave patterns.

She became the Hub: could feel every aspect of the station, knew where every one of its inhabitants were, and knew what they were working on.

With this level of access, it was simple enough to identify the spy. If she’d had more time, she could have waited long enough to catch him in the act, but that was a luxury she didn’t have. At best, she could deny him what he sought and hope the others would find enough evidence to convince themselves of his guilt. There was nothing else she could do in what little time she had available.

She deactivated the VR pickups and rose to her feet, noting the tremble to her movements. Quickly, she typed a series of commands into the workstation control pad, and the VR access chair shimmered and disappeared from view.

She smiled. Without direct access, the data could now only be accessed from Shamballa, and the spy could go to Hell and back before he received any help from that quarter. The data was safe.

Her knees gave out, and she fell to the floor. My duty is complete. Honor is satisfied.

A voice sounded in her mind, surrounding her. Indeed, it is. Come, sister. It is past time we welcomed you home.

Her lips quirked upward as she died, falling backward into the arms of the being who held her up and walked beside her into Shamballa.

Part I: Time and Tide

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Chapter 1

Paris, France, Eurozone

Christopher woke suddenly. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he cataloged his senses to try to identify what had disturbed his rest. It was early, if the faint sunlight streaking through the uncovered windows was any indication. The scent of lavender rose from the perfumed sheets. Running water in the background suggested Matt was enjoying the luxury of a real shower after so many years of sonic showers in space, where water was at a premium. Chris rolled over, smiling at the soreness of muscles pushed to the brink of exhaustion.

A chime sounded, breaking into his thoughts. Ah. That’s probably what woke me. Maybe Matt ordered room service. He slid out of bed and grabbed his shorts off the floor. The chime sounded again as he pulled on his underwear.

He frowned at the persistent tone. Just a second!

He yanked the front door open just as the chime sounded again. I said—

Henry Bradford stood on the other side, his dark linen suit looking even more rumpled than usual and one of his eyebrows cocked at Christopher’s hostility.

Christopher was acutely conscious that he was standing in front of his commanding officer in his underwear. He crushed the urge to salute, remembering that they were dirtside, not on an Hourglass ship. Uh, Mister...Bowman. Hello. This is a surprise.

I’m sure it is. Bradford gave him a strained smile. I’m sorry to drop by unannounced, but I had some news I needed to deliver in person.

Sorry for yelling. We’d asked not to be disturbed. Christopher stepped back, holding the door open. Please come in.

Bradford stepped into the room, and Chris closed the door behind him.

Can I get you anything, Commander?

Bradford frowned at him.

Christopher hastened to reassure him. We swept the room for listening devices on arrival, and we turned off the usual internal pickups for voice commands on the room software, sir. We’re private in here.

Bradford nodded. I see. My apologies, Lieutenant. I should have assumed you’d taken precautions. He glanced along the hallway, taking in the baroque furnishings. You certainly went all out on quarters for your shore leave, didn’t you?

Yes, sir. We, uh ... wanted it to be special. Christopher pointed to a gilded chaise in the sitting area at the front of the suite. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll get dressed. Did you need to speak to one or both of us?

It’s Lieutenant Commander Davenport I need. Bradford sat on the edge of the chaise and put his head in his hands. But I know he’s your partner, so this will concern you as well.

Aye, sir. I’ll go grab him.

Christopher hustled to the bedroom and climbed into a pair of black jeans and a clean shirt. Sticking his head into the door of the large bathroom, he called, Hey, Matt! Move it! We’ve got company.

As he