Outriders Page 27

  His words were greeted with jeers and boos, though Winston admired how he continued in the face of opposition rather than capitulate to popular opinion as most politicians inevitably did. Andronico was the rarest creature in the known galaxy: an idealist. How fortunate he and Jiaying conspired to sabotage his run for chancellor. A person who made decisions based on his unwavering conscience was not desirable for business. Winston required a chancellor who understood the art of negotiating, a consummate politician who was not burdened by altruism and the misguided concept of moral absolutes.

  A representative from Enuma Elish, capital city on the planet Anshar, stood in the House of Commons. “Far be it from me to suggest a course of action that doesn’t enrich my own constituents at the expense of others.” She paused to allow for appreciative chuckles at Balotti’s expense. “But if we take no action we risk more damaging outcomes. Invading Delbaeth may incite unrest among other non-aligned worlds, a threat that might spiral into more isolated conflicts, but not launching reprisals invites far worse. What will happen if other antagonistic governments believe we lack the will and strength to counter their acts of aggression? How long until warships from Merneith ambush our patrols on the assertion their airspace was breached? How long until Boreas and Phaethon reassert their claim to planets controlled by Kamala? We lack the resources to police and defend every star system bordering or coveted by independent governments. If we allow one threat to go unpunished, we’ll find ourselves facing a dozen others. Eliminate Delbaeth’s ability to wage war now, before others start to feel untouchable.”

  Other parliamentarians echoed her words and offered support for such a hardline stance. Many were quick to speak in favor of war, even if they merely repeated words delivered earlier, in order to publicly demonstrate their position. What an opportunistic flock of followers.

  Winston’s virtual intelligence Evie materialized along one wall in a kaleidoscopic whirl of iridescent geometric shapes vaguely resembling a human face. The hotel allowed guests to interface with networks localized to each suite, which permitted uploading personal programing and VIs. All modifications would be deleted automatically after vacating the room, though until then Winston was pleased to have his artificial software managing the mundane affairs while residing on Jiaolong.

  “Yes, Evie?” Winston inquired.

  “The hotel concierge has informed me the Honorable Member of Parliament Sima Jiaying is ascending the elevator to this level. Shall I permit her entry?”

  “Of course. We have business to discuss following the vote in Parliament.”

  “At once, sir.”

  Winston turned off the television and waited for the elevator to reach his top floor suite. Had Evie not granted access, her ascent would have stopped one level below among regular rooms and apartments. A soft white light glowed above the doors as they parted to reveal Jiaying. She strode across the threshold, her appearance regrettably lacking the exhilaration Winston felt.

  “Good day, Ms. Sima. Care for a drink?” He smiled and lifted his own half-finished glass. “We can toast today’s pleasing results. I hear we’re going to war.”

  “The assault on Task Force Echelon was not supposed to happen for another week. You were under strict instruction not to initiate the operation without informing me.”

  “I don’t take commands from you. I’m not a member of your party, nor am I a fawning underling desperate for your approval. Stop considering me as such if you want this partnership to continue.”

  Jiaying inhaled a slow breath, evidently choosing not to force the issue. “We were not prepared for Shadow Scythe.”

  “On the contrary, the operation produced exemplary results. Captain Letourneau reacted as anticipated, though proved more capable than our analysts predicted.”

  “How many vessels were lost?”

  “Echo Flotilla sustained damage to all three Tridents and Sickle frigates, though each remains serviceable. Nine starfighters were destroyed by Confederacy gunnery however, despite our computer models calculating Letourneau’s force would be too overwhelmed to accurately focus on smaller threats.”

  “Her command only consisted of three warships.”

  “You were the one who recommended she be assigned to Tuatha. You could have chosen a captain who earned their rank on familial connections alone.”

  “As I explained, we needed an officer with a clean record whose accounts would not be questioned.”

  “I remember your justification. But the death of personnel is on your head.”

  “From what I’ve heard, Letourneau also managed to extricate all three ships under her command from the system, despite one losing its entire bridge crew. A considerable feat.”

  “Gloating is beneath you.”

  “No matter.” Jiaying dismissed the conversation with a casual wave of her hand. “What matters is the end result, and to that end I’m satisfied. Even if your timing was questionable.”

  “We’ve achieved our aims thus far without complications, and ahead of schedule. The Confederacy is preparing for war against the Tuatha star system.”

  “If you recall, the decision on whether to sanction Triaxus Corporation as an unofficial liaison between our governments was supposed to happen before a declaration of war. Which we were scheduled to vote on three days from now.”

  “The timing is irrelevant. Once Article Thirty-Seven is triggered after the War Measures Act comes into effect at midnight, you’ll have full authorization as the Minister of Trade and Development to unilaterally grant my company exclusive mining rights to Delbaethi and Elathan territory.”

  “Our objective was to position you as the ideal choice for that role before I announced my decision. But without endorsing you first as liaison, I’ll now face criticism for appointing Triaxus without consulting other organizations. StraCon will critique my choice and hound my office with obstructionist petitions. All because your impatience trumped caution and demanded immediate gratification.”

  “Ignore the Goods and Trade Consortium. Their agency is partially funded by the federal government. They have no right to protest decisions made by the individuals who fill their coffers.”

  “Responses like that make it clear you’ve never been a public servant in all your life. Politicians are held accountable to our constituents, which includes organizations and citizens alike. You can run Triaxus as your own personal fiefdom if you wish, with no one able to challenge your authority. But I can only retain office so long as I hold the populace’s trust. Which I will lose if I close the door on legitimate appeals and requests. I depend on their goodwill to remain where I am or climb higher. I can do neither if I condescend, ignore or antagonize anyone who confronts me with an inquiry I’d rather not face.”

  “How complicated your world must be,” Winston responded. “You have my sympathies.”

  “That is precisely the kind of condescension capable of losing an election. How fortuitous for us both that your popularity and reliability don’t hinge on holding your tongue.”

  “Should we schedule our conversation for a time when you’re feeling less argumentative? Quibbling seems counterproductive when we have a war to manipulate. Unless you feel I’m no longer useful to your own aspirations. I can pull all contributions from your campaign fund if you’re keen on testing that theory.”

  “And where will you be without the clearance to expand into Tuathan territory? I suspect all your expenditures thus far would be wasted, and with no tangible benefits either. Yet a setback of that magnitude would be nothing compared to losing contracts your company already holds. In my position as minister, I have direct control over seventeen of your operations. Do you want to experience firsthand what occurs when my office deems an agreement unsatisfactory? Your crews and machines are extracting and manufacturing resources on a number of planets held in trust by the Authority government, not by private firms or member worlds. Do try to remember that fact the next time you believe threatening me is a wise decision.”

/>   Winston offered a smile and spread his palms in a conciliatory gesture. “My apologies, Honorable Minister. We appear to have veered off course. Perhaps I should have informed you when Shadow Scythe was launched, and perhaps you should trust my judgment. But quarrels will not help either of us achieve our goals.”

  “They will not.”

  “Our time is better spent focusing on the future instead, one that will be bright for both our endeavors.”

  “I agree. Provided we adhere to our schedule and resist the temptation to deviate, the coming days will prove beneficial.”

  Winston ignored Jiaying’s parting quip and nodded. “Then it’s time we finalize our strategy. Have Parliament and planetary security agencies taken steps to prevent the Tuatha system from learning about the declaration of war?”

  “The Elathan and Delbaethi ambassadors, along with their highest ranking support staff, have been placed under house arrest and had all security clearance revoked. Use of interstellar comm relays have likewise been restricted and are now under the control of FEDRA and Naval Intelligence. Tuatha is utterly isolated from all transmissions originating in Confederacy space, with the sole exception of those placed on military frequencies. As of today, no message sent by civilians or media outlets will reach Elatha, Delbaeth or their colonial territory.”

  “What of their spy networks?”

  “Fewer operational ones than you might anticipate. Their espionage and information-gathering capabilities are primarily directed toward one another rather than us. Regardless, the Ascendant Starfleet will be conducting more invasive and less forgiving security checks on starships hoping to leave the Heliades.”

  “Commerce will suffer.”

  “Unlikely. Trusted corporations such as Triaxus will be given exemptions. Private civilian travel is the main category affected, and their wishes don’t concern us. They’ll stomach delays and cancellations of flights because we’ve told them the procedures are mandatory to ensure safety. Critical thinking skills have never been a hallmark of the general populace.”

  “Then we’re nearing our endgame.”

  “Indeed. For the sake of this mutually beneficial venture, I’ll forget our disagreements and look ahead to a bright future when we no longer need to tolerate one another.”

  *

  “Absolutely not,” Taylor declared, forcing an authoritative edge to his voice. “The Solar Flare isn’t traveling to Jiaolong. I don’t care how close the planet is to Thoth. We aren’t going in our freighter and my mind’s made up.”

  Harun was in a petulant, intractable mood, and refused to budge. Par for the course, to be honest. “Our entire purpose for coming to the Heliades, everything we’ve put our lives on the line to uncover, can be found on Jiaolong. We know where the information is.”

  “We know where it might be. You start putting all your faith in one venture and you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. High time you learned a valuable lesson from me. I never expect anything good to ever happen, and I’m not frustrated to be proven right. It’s a tolerable cycle, and you should consider adopting the attitude.”

  “We are traveling to Alishan and extracting every file from that Triaxus asshole’s computer. End of discussion.”

  “Major, I’m starting to suspect you aren’t listening to my words. I said our freighter isn’t taking a jaunt to Jiaolong. Never claimed we weren’t.”

  Harun reacted with confused silence, and Taylor felt proud to finally leave the man genuinely speechless for a moment. “Then why are do you insist on being so difficult?”

  “It’s in my nature. I also feel the need to reiterate at every opportunity that you don’t command us. If we tag along, we do it of our own accord, not on the say-so of some interloper.” Taylor cracked his knuckles and groaned when one finger popped a little too enthusiastically. “Now then, back to business. Starships landing on the Confederacy capital world are subject to excessive security protocols. We also don’t want their immigration folks linking us with the unidentified Stingray that escaped from Milesian Station, which will happen if we leave the safe confines of this hangar. Right now we’re shielded from too much scrutiny thanks to Alexis’ Parliamentary contact providing us with priority landing, but I have a feeling we won’t be receiving clearance a second time.”

  “Not a chance,” Alexis confirmed. “Getting authorization codes for Thoth was risky enough. Jiaolong is out of the question, and I won’t put someone who already helped us once in the crosshairs again.”

  “As I thought.” Taylor stroked his non-existent beard as if conjuring a diabolical scheme. “This leaves us with only one viable alternative.”

  Leaning against the far wall, Tessa cleaned beneath one fingernail with a dagger. “Which is?”

  “Public transit.”

  “And here I thought you couldn’t possibly make my role less pleasant.”

  “Though Specialist Dirksen won’t appreciate my opinion,” said Harun, “the strategy does have merit.”

  “Naturally,” Taylor replied. “Security is less invasive for the millions of folks arriving on standard transport shuttles each day. Much harder to smuggle weapons and contraband in your knapsack than in a starship after all. Believe me, I know that from experience. Even licensed and registered starships carrying legal permits are forced to endure multiple checkpoints and scans, not to mention vessels are chosen at random to board and search. But if you waltz in on foot after stepping off a transport, the process is comparatively painless. For an Authority world, at any rate.”

  Alexis lifted one hand and Taylor nodded at her. “The reason travelers on public shuttles face so little security is because those who travel to Jiaolong from Thoth or another world in the Heliades will also have passed through other security points beforehand. Transiting from the Balor system, arriving in this system, answering questions from Thoth’s Air Traffic Regulatory Commission, then finally Customs and Immigration after arriving planetside. Thanks to GoNav’s secret FTL spacelane and my contact giving us diplomatic landing permits, we circumvented all those barriers. Which, to be fair, are designed to keep people like us out.”

  “Your reasoning is sound,” affirmed Harun. “What can we bring without arousing suspicions?”

  Taylor held up one hand with his fingers and thumb touching in the shape of a zero. “Nothing. Bring the clothes on your back and little else. That goes double for weapons and other tools meant to kill getting left behind. I know how you operatives conduct business. Personal UpLinks are fine, assuming yours don’t have illegal software enhancements.”

  “Of course they do,” responded Tessa. “Just none that are detectable with standard surveillance equipment.”

  “You’d better damn well hope that’s true. Everything else stays here. Only person with permission to haul around special crap is Rinko, since she’ll need her electronic gear for slicing.”

  “Agreed,” Harun conceded. “The insertion team will be Captain MacDowell, Specialist Dirksen and myself, along with Kaneshiro.”

  Taylor glanced sidelong at another table in the freighter lounge. “Kyla and Reyes, you’ll come along for the ride to Jiaolong and provide support elsewhere as needed.”

  “Sure thing, boss,” replied Reyes.

  “The rest of you remain with the Solar Flare on Thoth.”

  “Ooh, golly,” Connor announced. “Another fun excursion while I have the privilege of keeping our seats warm.”

  Alexis snorted. “Remember what happened the last time you insisted on joining the others off the freighter? How you fussed because someone else touched your precious control panel? Is your memory really that selective?”

  “Though I don’t care for her tone, she makes a fair point.”

  “I’ll leave you a deck of cards,” Reyes promised.

  Harun directed his gaze at their eager hacker. “Once inside, how long will you require to access Mr. Vanderlin’s files?”

  “Hard to predict,” answered Rinko. “I have no idea what encrypti
ons and defenses I’ll need to counter. I’m hesitant to give an overly optimistic guess and be way off the mark.”

  “For those of us who know little about your world, even an overzealous estimate would be helpful.”

  “Might need at least an hour. I won’t promise a miracle in less time than that.”

  “Then our window needs to be large,” said Kyla. “Factoring insertion, disabling hotel security and exfiltration into the mission, we’re looking at two hours minimum.”

  Rinko tapped at the holographic keyboard projected under her computer. “At least tracing the Triaxus CEO’s movement isn’t difficult. A public, wealthy figure like him is photographed, recorded, tagged on social media and analyzed by commentators with nothing better to do. I can tell you how he’s spent the last several days without needing to go deeper than a generic search on InCore. Give me another forty-five minutes and I can practically map out his life.”

  “Any promising trips away from his swanky penthouse?”

  “Fortunately for us he prefers chit-chats with associates in person. Plenty of lunch and dinner meetings, or negotiations with rival or friendly corporations. He also frequents the Parliament Spire often.”

  “See if you can find us an ideal time for our infiltration,” instructed Harun. “One when Mr. Vanderlin is indisposed elsewhere for a considerable time.”

  “I’ll see what I can scrounge,” Rinko stated. “Though I did just say no miracles.”

  “Find a long appointment the Triaxus dipshit can’t afford to miss and you’ll have the extra time you wanted,” said Tessa.

  “Do more work now so I’ll have enough time to do more work later. Can someone explain why I’m always the one clocking long hours without extra pay?”

  Taylor waved his hand dismissively. “Nonsense. I supervised while Evan made repairs in the engine room the other day. Never received a single thank you for my efforts, even though I helpfully rearranged his muddled, topsy-turvy organizational system for tools and spare parts.”