Clidepp Deja Vu Read online

  Clidepp Deja Vu

  AGU:® Border Patrol series – Book 3

  Copyright ©2015 by Thomas J. DePrima

  16.k.29

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. The scanning, uploading, downloading, and/or distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal, and punishable by law.

  No part of this novel may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright holder, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

  ISBN-10: 1-61931-030-9

  ISBN-13: 978-1-61931-030-8

  Cover by: Thomas J. DePrima

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person with whom you share it. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to the owner and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  An appendix containing political and technical data highly pertinent to this series is included at the back of this book.

  To contact the author, or see information about his other novels, visit:

  www.deprima.com

  Acknowledgements

  Myra Shelley, my editor at Independent Author Services, and her proofreaders, came through for me once again, allowing me to release this book in record time.

  My good friend and military protocol advisor, Michael Norcott, also found the time somehow to review it and offer suggestions in time to include them before publication.

  This series of novels includes:

  A Galaxy Unknown®…

  A Galaxy Unknown®

  Valor at Vauzlee

  The Clones of Mawcett

  Trader Vyx

  Milor!

  Castle Vroman

  Against All Odds

  Return to Dakistee

  Retreat And Adapt

  Azula Carver

  Changing of the Guard

  Other series and novels by the author:

  AGU:® Border Patrol…

  Citizen X

  Clidepp Requital

  Clidepp Deja Vu

  AGU:® SC Intelligence…

  The Star Brotherhood

  Colton James novels…

  A World Without Secrets

  Vengeance Is Personal

  When The Spirit…

  When The Spirit Moves You

  When The Spirit Calls

  * * *

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Appendix

  Map

  * * *

  Chapter One

  ~ November 11th, 2286 ~

  As the twin doors slid noiselessly apart and temporarily disappeared into the bulkhead on either side of the doorway, the young Space Command officer entered the captain's private office adjoining the ship's bridge. Walking to within a meter of the large desk, she braced to attention and announced in a calm and clear voice, "Lieutenant(jg) Sydnee Marcola reporting to the captain as ordered." As always, or at least as was usual when she was to be briefed by the captain, Commander Bryant was seated in a side chair to the right of the desk facing away from Sydnee. Without expression, the ship's XO turned slightly and glanced momentarily over his left shoulder at Marcola.

  "At ease, Sydnee," Lidden said. Glancing up from the report he was reading on a viewpad, he added, "Have a seat."

  Commander Bryant swiveled his oh-gee chair to face Sydnee as she sat down in a chair facing the captain's desk.

  "I need an answer to the offer I made three days ago," Lidden said as he put the viewpad down. "Do you accept command of the new mission to Yolongus with Marine Captain Blade?"

  "Yes, sir, I do. I've given it a lot of thought and realized you're right. We do owe the Clidepp minister something for all we've unfairly put him through. As much as I don't look forward to another clandestine mission inside Clidepp space, I'll take him home."

  "Good. Blade reported aboard yesterday with his Special Ops team and the package you'll be delivering."

  "And how are we to treat the package on this trip, sir? As a prisoner or a guest?"

  "As a— detainee, but with consideration that he's guilty of nothing except being used as an unwitting pawn by the Clidepp Rebel Command. Special accommodations have been created for him in the Marine habitat container. While basically a brig, the size is several times normal cell size and outfitted to appear as normal living quarters. Obviously, we cannot give him the run of the ship, and he's to have no contact with anyone except his guards. Also, no one is to converse with him. We don't want him to learn anything about the ship, the crew, or the mission. He's been led to believe his trip from Yolongus to Simmons SCB took place aboard one of our newest and largest battleships and that he's being returned the same way. He knows we've cleared him of any culpability in the bombing of the Trade Show and that we're taking him home. The Clidepp government only knows he's been missing. They aren't aware Space Command was responsible, and the GA Senate Council insists we maintain deniability. Not even the full Senate knows about the kidnapping— or at least shouldn't know. It's always so difficult to get politicians to maintain security. The package will naturally report the true facts as he knows them as soon as he's home, but by then you'll be on your way back, and there must not be any proof that Space Command was responsible or that we were even there. Once he relates the details of his ordeal, the Clidepp High Command will probably accept we took him and that our speed capability is no mere myth, but our double-envelope travel has become almost common knowledge anyway— at least with the intelligence service of every nation with whom we have regular contact. As far as Space Command is officially concerned, his alleged kidnapping was a ruse devised by him so he could enjoy a year-long vacation with one of his numerous mistresses. And SHQ wants no muck-ups on this trip."

  Sydnee opened her mouth to state she was not responsible for the shipboard problems that had occurred inside the Clidepp Empire but then shut it just as quickly without uttering a word. Lidden was familiar with the facts and knew she wasn't to blame for the events that had plagued their last mission. She realized Lidden wasn't making an accusation but was merely giving voice to the frustration they had all felt during the mission.

  "Marine Captain Blade and Major Burrows will meet you in the conference room on Deck 12, Frame Section 78, at 1400 hours to discuss the mission," Lidden said. "Any questions?"

  "One, sir. Will the Justice have a full crew on this mission?"

  "A full crew?"

  "Yes, sir. On the last mission I had just seven crewmembers. Because we were so shorthanded, I had to leave the ship to perform as the backup MAT pilot once we
were on the planet. Our crew size was perfectly adequate for a brief mission or simple training exercise, but I quickly learned that an extended voyage needs at least twice that number. And for a covert mission in hostile space, like the one we just completed, I believe that a full complement of twenty-four crewmembers is required to adequately respond to the demands of such an undertaking, as well as provide replacements for key personnel who might be injured or lost during the mission."

  Lidden took a deep breath and released it slowly before saying, "Commander Bryant and I have already decided that eighteen, not counting the captain, should crew the ship this time. We agree that eight was woefully inadequate on the last trip, but twenty-four might be too many. There's not much to do in a vessel the size of a CPS-14, and too much downtime can create its own problems. This is just a quick foray into Clidepp space to drop off the package and an equally quick exit back to GA space."

  "Yes, sir. And if everything goes smoothly, eighteen will be perfectly adequate. But if we should encounter even half the obstacles we faced last time, the extra hands would help considerably. We were all pretty ragged when we returned from the last voyage."

  "We're aware of how taxing that mission was and reported it as such to headquarters. Commander Bryant and I will discuss your request and reassess the situation. Is there anything else?"

  "Have you heard anything about the investigation into the speed anomaly we experienced on our last mission?"

  "No, nothing. But that's not unusual. Research into such matters usually remains Most Secret until reports are verified and the science can either be reproduced or declared impossible to replicate. And at our level we probably won't hear anything unless— and until— it's deemed safe for general shipboard use. Even then the information can remain highly restricted and privileged, with only the senior officers and senior noncoms privy to much of the information until it becomes part of the normal routine. In the service we always like to have an edge our enemies don't know about, and we tend to hold our cards close to our vests, to use an old term, until we're called and it's time to lay our hand on the table. Look at the situation with the speed advance that took us to Light-9790. We had it available and were using it for two years before the information became generally known even to the security forces of other nations. When the Milori and then the Tsgardi and Uthlaro nations attacked us, their militaries had no idea we could fly circles around them. Their maximum speed at the time was only about Light-460."

  "Yes, sir. I understand."

  "Anything else?"

  "No, sir."

  "Then you're dismissed."

  Sydnee stood, braced to attention, then turned on her left heel and left the office.

  *

  As the doors closed completely behind Marcola, Lidden swiveled his chair towards Bryant. "What do you think of her request for a crew of twenty-four?"

  "She has a point. When we discussed the matter, we were looking to determine the optimal crew size for an extended mission in GA space. We merely wanted to maintain a full presence on the bridge at all times. Eighteen crewmembers, plus the commanding officer, would accomplish that. But perhaps for a covert mission inside enemy territory we should increase that to the twenty-four she requested. Space Command did design the crew's sleeping compartment aboard the CPS-14 to accommodate twenty-four, so SHQ must have come to the same conclusion at some point."

  "Yes, that's true. But my main consideration in this instance is putting a junior officer in command of what approaches a small warship with a full crew of twenty-four. The commanding officer on a mission of this type and with a crew of that size should at the very least hold the rank of Lieutenant, and I'd actually prefer to see a lieutenant commander in command. Sydnee is the logical one to send only because she commanded the first mission, has proven herself capable, and has Blade's unwavering support. I again recommended that Sydnee receive an early promotion of one grade in recognition of her accomplishments, but I've heard nothing back."

  "You're not worried about losing her if they do agree to early promotion?"

  "Not really. With things settling down slightly in Regions Two and Three, our patrol area is just as important as any other in GA space— perhaps even more important than most. The old Perry has finally gone to the scrapyard, may he rest in peace, and hopefully the stigma of being posted aboard that ship went with it. We're the Denver now, and we've proven our worth. And we still don't have the full crew complement approved for this destroyer class, so we do have an open O-3 bridge officer position. Most ships in the fleet are presently understaffed, but I'm fairly confident that SHQ won't reduce our crew size further by removing one of our most able junior officers."

  * * *

  Everyone who had participated in the recent mission aboard the CPS-14 Justice had been granted two weeks downtime following their return to the Denver three days earlier, but after ten months of almost constant worry and activity, it was difficult for the Justice crew to come to a complete stop unless they were sleeping. Sydney hadn't been assigned any shipboard duties aboard the Denver yet and apparently wouldn't be until she returned from the new two-month mission, so after completion of her meeting with Captain Lidden she changed into her sweats and headed to the exercise hold where a running track was available when the hold wasn't filled with supplies and materials. Since it had been designated as an exercise area, that particular hold would only be used for other purposes when there was nowhere else available for storage.

  As Sydnee entered the hold, she saw there were six other runners already using the track. She hung her towel on a hook provided for that purpose and fell into line behind a runner. Over the next thirty minutes, a dozen other crewmembers came to the hold to run while earlier runners dropped out and left. When Sydnee tired, she left the track, wiped the sweat from her head and brow, and walked back to her quarters. A hot shower briefly reinvigorated her, but the tiredness returned as she dried off, so she lay down to take a quick nap. She arranged for a wakeup call from the computer before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

  * *

  As the computer announced it was 1130 hours, Sydnee's eyes fluttered open. She jumped out of bed, dressed, and was on her way to the officers' mess before noon. The nap had refreshed her, and now she intended to sate an appetite heightened by her recent activity.

  After selecting her food at the serving counter, she took a seat at a table where several bridge officers, including Lt. Milton, were discussing shipboard matters. Since her return, she had caught up on current events and was able to join in such conversations.

  During a lull, Lt. Milton looked at Sydnee and said, "Scuttlebutt says you'll be leaving us soon, Syd."

  "Leaving?"

  "Another away mission, we hear. Any truth to that?"

  "I'd tell you if I could, Milty."

  "That's not a yes or a no."

  "No, it isn't. Sorry, but it's the best I can offer right now."

  "I understand. Well, best of luck."

  "Thanks. And I know Lifeguard will be there again if we need him."

  "Let's hope he's not needed."

  "Amen, Milty."

  * * *

  Following lunch, Sydnee wandered the corridors in silence as she thought about the previous mission. It had taxed her to the limit, and she certainly didn't relish another secret mission to Yolongus, but someone had to go. And on this mission there would be no hiding in lakes while waiting for the Special Ops team to capture their quarry. All they had to do was drop the minister off in a safe but slightly remote area where he'd be able to get help without much difficulty while the Justice used that time to ensure their safe departure before an alarm could be sounded. The Justice had had its space trial, and all the kinks had been worked out.

  When it was almost time to report to the conference room, Sydnee took a lift to Deck 12, then a transport car to Frame Section 78. As she stepped into the area outside the room where the sensor would verify her identity using her CT, the door opened immediate
ly.

  "Come in, Sydnee," Major Burrows said as he looked up from the viewpad he was scanning from his chair at the conference table. Marine Captain Blade was seated next to him, and Marine First Lieutenant Kelly MacDonald sat across the table from both. Sydnee took a seat next to Kelly, facing the two more senior officers. Although Major Burrows held the same official O-3 Marine rank as Marine Captain Blade, he was in command of all Marine forces posted to the Denver, and was addressed as Major. There can only be one captain aboard ship, so captains in the Marine Corps had to be addressed as Marine Captain. However, a shorter title of Major was commonly used for the senior Marine Captain aboard ship.

  "Captain Lidden tells me you've volunteered for the new mission into Clidepp space," Burrows said. "Is that correct?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "You understand that this new mission is another unannounced incursion into the space of a neighboring nation and, therefore, doesn't have the official sanction of the Galactic Alliance Senate?"

  "Yes, sir. But it's necessary that we do it."

  "You don't exactly sound like you're ready and anxious to get underway," Blade said with a grin.

  "Ready, yes," Sydnee said. "Anxious, no. But that won't prevent me from performing to the best of my ability."

  "The purpose of this meeting is to lay out the objectives of the mission," Burrows said. "If you still wish to participate when it's over, it'll be up to you to recruit your crew and be ready to depart within seventy-two hours. All hands must be volunteers. The Justice has been prepped and ready for two days. In addition to the three simulated cargo containers the Justice carried on the last mission, five more have been added. You'll be maxed out on this mission."