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why.”
    Lt. Evans nodded. “I understand all that, sir. I
was asking why am I here? I mean, why did you choose me for this
detail?”
    Cmdr. Cline replaced his glasses and smiled. “Oh.
That is simple. On the night of the assassination attempt you impressed me, not
only with your quick thinking, calm mannerisms and thorough knowledge of
regulations and tactics but you also had the tenacity to put me in my place
when I tried to micro-manage the situation. And to top that off, you did it
with tact. Don’t think I, and others in positions of influence, didn’t notice.”
    Lt. Evans looked shocked at the admission. Sure,
she got a rare field promotion that night but she was certain her harsh words
and brusque mannerisms were going to come back and haunt her. Now her commander
was telling her that it actually endeared her to some on the Command Staff. She
forced herself to focus back on the commander as he began talking again.
    “Your no-nonsense attitude and knack for getting
to the heart of the problem could prove to be very valuable during this
mission. Besides you have a certain, if I can be so blunt, sweet and innocent
look which hides a backbone of steel. The combination could very well aid this
investigation.”
    Subconsciously, Lt. Evans pulled her shoulders
back slightly as she walked. It was a good feeling to be recognized for being
yourself. “I will do my best, sir.”
    “I know you will, but if I can continue to be so
bold, I would prefer you to act like the stereotypical blonde anytime we are
around Titan Avionics executives. Be clumsy, flirty, anything but yourself.
Make sure they don’t see you as a threat.”
    As they stepped onto a moving sidewalk and stopped
walking Lt. Evans fidgeted with her hair for a moment. “That is a strange
request, sir.”
    “Be extremely subtle, even to the point of
formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness.
Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.”
    Lt. Evans turned and faced her commander. “What
was that?”
    Cmdr. Cline grinned. “It’s a quote from the Art of
War, written sometime in the sixth century by the legendary general Sun Tzu.”
    Lt. Evans nodded. “I think I understand, sir. You
want them to underestimate me so they might let something slip that they
otherwise wouldn’t. Good plan.” She absentmindedly toyed with a stray strand of
hair before asking, “When is our meeting with Titan Avionics?”
    Cmdr. Cline checked his chronometer and made a
slight adjustment. “We meet the Titian Avionics shuttle in two hours at
ten-hundred hours local time, which gives us just enough time to check in with
the local law enforcement and Coalition command.”
    “Aye, aye sir.”
    “One more thing, from this moment on always assume
that someone is watching or listening to everything we do or say.”
    Lt. Evans shook her head slightly. “This is some
real super spy stuff you have dragged me into…sir.”
    “True, but I think you’re up to the task.”
    “I won’t let you down, sir.”
    *   *   *   *   *
    As the gangplank slowly lowered until it touched
the deck of the Saturn Starport, SWAT Officer Tim ‘Spike’ Ernspiker studied the
passengers with an experienced eye. Even though he’d spent the last sixteen
hours on the same transport with them and he hadn’t seen anything that might
warrant such scrutiny, he knew this was a prime opportunity for an attack. Only
a zealot bent on pure suicide would’ve attacked the Councilor during the flight
from New Atlanta to Titan. A truly professional assassin would wait until they
touched down and make a blitz attack, hence the heightened vigilance.
    Spike hazarded a quick glance over his shoulder at
his partner to find that fellow SWAT Officer William ‘Sponge Bob’ Spurgeon was
standing between the opening doorway and the Councilor, much to her dismay.
Neither of them had asked for this assignment, but when you’re a simple grunt,
you follow orders especially