The bridge on Videl’s Revenge was quiet as everyone contemplated the loss of New Age and the brutal murder of Admiral Vin Lugart. Evohn had left to confer with Rupra Bruda in private.
Lt. Hanze was particularly upset, because he’d liked the admiral and wasn’t particularly fond of Vice Admiral Cystrom. But he didn’t dare say anything to anyone as he knew Lt. Lethrow was Cystrom’s friend. He also figured that Lt. Muri would latch on to him like an amorous leech if he showed any outrage over Evohn Cystrom’s actions. So, he kept his thoughts to himself but secretly had great concern and misgivings about Evohn Cystrom and Rupra Bruda.
Specialist Prill turned to Lt. Hanze. “One of our fighters on patrol is missing.”
“What?” Lt. Hanze said. “What do you mean?”
“I overheard the pilot saying she was checking on something she’d observed and would be right back. Then she reported she was under attack.”
“So, what happened to her?”
“I don’t know. The sensors are not picking her up,” Prill advised.
“We’d better let the admiral know.”
“I’ll call him.”
A few loons later Evohn Cystrom showed up with Lt. Lethrow at his heels. “What’s this about a missing fighter?”
“Eleven fighters went out on patrol and only ten came back, sir,” Specialist Prill advised. “The squadron commander reports that one of his pilots disobeyed his orders and left the formation to check on something she’d seen. Apparently she was shot down by hostile fire.”
“She?”
“Yes. The voice was female but that particular fighter was supposed to be piloted by a male pilot, 2nd Lt. Rallo Santee.”
“Has anyone checked his quarters?”
“No. I’ll have that done right away,” Prill said.
Lt. Lethrow frowned. “You might have someone check on Lt. Muri. She was pretty distraught. Maybe she decided to take Santee’s place.”
Evohn Cystrom gave Lt. Lethrow a disturbed glance. “You think she’d do that?”
“I don’t know, but she’s the only one I can think of who’d have reason to take a fighter and run.”
“If it is her, where do you think she’d go?”
“Probably just land on Earth somewhere and try to blend in with the regular population. She’s smart and attractive. It wouldn’t be hard for her.”
“That ditz!” Evohn exclaimed. “I should have shot her, too.”
The next day, after they’d thoroughly searched the ship and interviewed everyone who’d gone out on the patrol the previous day, Lt. Lethrow concluded that Lt. Muri was AWOL. He reported this to Admiral Cystrom, but he was too preoccupied with the survival of the last two attack cruisers to worry about it. Without Relentless and Videl’s Revenge OCE would fail and he couldn’t let that happen.