Ronan: Ziva Payvan Book 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

fact designed to protect agents; if the agency was somehow compromised, anyone in the field could remain anonymous and, theoretically, work independently to counter whatever force threatened headquarters. If Condition Black was in effect now , it could only mean—
    “Does the user have any queries before this transmission terminates?”
    Skeet drummed his fingers on the console. “What’s the status of Noro Headquarters?”
    “One moment…Noro Headquarters remains under Code Red lockdown following an attack on the Grand Army’s Na Base. Casualties have been reported.”
    He felt his pulse spike at the mention of Na. “Nature of the attack?”
    “Base officials have initially categorized the attack as type: chemical. No other information is available at this time.”
    “Find person: Ziva Payvan.”
    “Accessing personnel database…searching. Alert; status of person ‘Ziva Payvan’ not found. Please try again.”
    “ Sheyss ,” Skeet muttered, ruffling up his hair again. “No more questions. End transmission.”
    “Ending transmission. Warning: Condition Black protocols in effect. Please cease all communications immediately.” The VI repeated itself twice more before the call went dead.
    Skeet swore again and immediately began packing the communications equipment into its compact carrying cases. Everything in the room had been set up in a manner that allowed it to be torn down and stowed in a matter of minutes. Even on his own, he got the job done in no time. He held his pistol up to check the plasma charge, bristling a bit when the door of the room slid open. A quick glance revealed that the intruder was only Aroska Tarbic, and Skeet slid his finger away from where it had subconsciously come to rest just above the pistol’s trigger guard.
    If the former field ops lieutenant was surprised to see the room empty and their supplies packed, he concealed it well. “Can I assume this is about the emergency code I just received from Headquarters?” he asked, holding up his communicator.
    Skeet nodded and gave Aroska a quick rundown of what he knew, which, he regretted, wasn’t much.  “It sounds like the agency is secure for now. I’m sure they’ll be on board with the investigation on Na.”
    Aroska was quiet for a moment as he checked his own pistol and slid his field pack over his shoulders. “What’s Ziva’s status?”
    “Unknown,” Skeet answered. “There…were casualties. But I’m sure she’s fine. That base covers the majority of the moon – what are the chances she was even in the vicinity of the attack?” He forced a good-natured snort, trying to ignore the knot that had formed in his throat.
    “We can’t worry about that now,” Aroska said, brow wrinkled as if it pained him to speak the words. He held up the data pad he’d been carrying when he entered the room. “We may have a lead, and you know as well as I do that we’re running short on time.” He offered the pad when Skeet reached for it. “Emissions signatures from a ship matching our target were picked up by a science team on Bectin. They said it was headed further out into the Fringe, toward Aubin or Plaunus.”
    Skeet handed the data pad back and gathered up some of the cases he had packed. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get moving.”

-5-
    Quarantine Zone
    Haphezian Grand Army Base, Na
     
    Ziva sat motionless as the syringe impaled her arm and watched as the barrel slowly filled with her blood. The medical bot removed the needle and replaced it with a caura pad, which Ziva continued to press down on as she rose from the chair. She watched as the bot pivoted and transferred the blood to a delicate vial, sealing it and placing it gingerly in the padded case that contained everyone else’s blood samples.
    She was one of the last people to have their blood drawn. The other soldiers from the crash site had already filed through the line and now loitered on the other side of the quarantine zone that had been set