Lightyears Series - Episode 5: Project Sierra-Lima-Tango

Spacetastic Mysteries

She looked over to me and asked, “Project Sierra-Lima-Tango?”

I asked, “How much do you know?”

“It is actually Intel that has come across the President’s desk…”

I turned to Graham and decided, “This isn't working because if there is Intel on her desk., it is over. I believe we need to rethink this. I say we bring everyone in on it…maybe together we can solve this.” He thought about it for a moment. “Do you have to discuss it with anyone? Leland? Rueland? Bradley?”

He shook his head. “Bradley told me to handle this any way I see fit… and, unfortunately, I think you are right. You want to bring them up to speed?”

I took a deep breath. “I will give them the abbreviated version. I cannot, I will not, relive the details.” I turned to Jake. “I am sorry, but you will see why we cannot be together.” I moved my eyes to Jessa. “Can you get Nate?” With Alex, I asked, “Can you get Tony?”

A few minutes later, Nate and Tony came into view. They both waved at Jake, greeting him. Nate, the dark-haired, brown-eyed Lieutenant Colonel of the Liberty, expressed, “I am glad to see you home safe and sound. We need to do a guys’ night or weekend.”

“I agree,” Jake responded, “and you are invited too, Tony.”

I saw Nate's nose wrinkle. There was no love lost between Jessa’s husband and partner, Nate, and Jessa's childhood best friend, Tony. I internally laughed. If I wasn't about to bare my soul to these people…and risk losing my friends and Jake forever, I would have laughed aloud. I cleared my throat. “Graham and I have been keeping secrets…that is our business, I know, but we did not disclose what we knew to keep people safe.” When all eyes were on me, I revealed, “There was a couple who came to us eight years ago, claiming to be my parents. DNA proved that claim to be true.”

Jake required, “You know where your biological parents are?”

“You have to understand why we did what we did--”