by Eric Thomson
“Are you just as unhappy with your second-in-command?”
“No.” She shook her head. “We’ve always worked well together, and I wouldn’t want him executed over this.”
“Suppression means to purge. Are you changing your mind?” When Farrah didn’t immediately reply, Mandus resumed pacing. “Admiral VanReeth is for suppression; Chancellor Conteh is for releasing the news and changing the way government does business, and General Farrah has joined the ranks of the undecided. Consuls, what say you?”
The rulers of the Hegemony’s star systems, retired admirals or generals elected by the Conclave for nine-year terms, ran their worlds almost like medieval fiefs. And it was an open secret that Consuls, along with their deputies and secretaries, left the post much wealthier than they were before taking it up. As such, they had a vested interest in the current system, and Mandus fully expected they would voice support for suppression.
“Wyvern?”
“I’m worried about the idea of a purge, Regent. It would generate a lot of discontent within the Guards Corps, especially if that purge includes those who took part in the Hatshepsut expedition. There’s no way of keeping it hidden from the rest of the armed forces. Worse yet, Sandor Benes has a strong following in the Navy.” He glanced at VanReeth. “I can still count on friends in various places, Marco, and most would rather see him in your seat. Sorry, but that’s the reality at the more junior flag officer levels and below. I’m convinced suppression won’t work, and the fact we tried will only make matters more fraught with peril for the government. What is it they say since time immemorial? The coverup is always worse than the scandal? I’m with Chancellor Conteh on this. Acknowledge, adapt, and move forward.”
“Dordogne?”
She waited for the usual transmission delay, first for her question to reach the Consul, then for her answer, eyes on the relevant display.
“We’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Regent, and damned either way. News of this magnitude will come out, if not tomorrow or the day after, then next month. Five starship crews will make sure of it, especially if we purge Gatam Watanabe. He’s another Sandor Benes, with a loyal following among the Navy’s officers. I’d rather not be hanged by the neck from the nearest lamppost by enraged spacers because mutiny will be a real concern if we don’t limit a purge to the most senior people.
“I vote no to suppression. Let’s focus our energies on a managed release of information and plan to carry out the Oath of Reunification. Even among those who might not, at first, be favorable, the general reaction might surprise us. There’s a lot of opportunity in a growing Navy, revived exploration, and especially colonization. The worlds between Hatshepsut and the Hegemony are ours for the taking. I’ll bet if we ask the Conclave in a plenary session, we’ll obtain a majority vote to get on with expansion before Lyonesse wipes us out. And that’s all I have to say on the matter.”
Chancellor Conteh clapped his hands in a slow, measured beat.
“Bravo. Someone who truly gets it.”
Mandus ignored him and turned her eyes on the next display.
“Arcadia?”
Again, a delay before the reply came across the subspace net.
“My gut tells me this is a no-win situation. Keeping news of Lyonesse from the Hegemony’s people would place us on the wrong side of history. I’m with Dordogne. Let’s seize the opportunities. There should be plenty of riches for everyone out there. Count my vote as a no to suppression.”
“That’s three against two, with one abstention. Torrinos?”
“I’ll make the Consuls’ response unanimous, Regent. Suppression wouldn’t do our credibility any favors, and a purge would see us replaced wholesale without Conclave intervention.”
Mandus nodded once.
“Four in favor. I’ll add my vote and make it five. The debate is over. Before we discuss how to handle the situation, it might be prudent if I take a few minutes and inform the Archimandrite. Who knows what mischief is brewing across New Draconis in the expectation we would move against those involved for defying this Council? A five-minute break, everyone.”
Shortly afterward, Mandus settled behind her desk, alone in the office, and opened an encrypted link with the Archimandrite’s office in the New Draconis Abbey. He answered within seconds, an expectant air on his face.
“And?”
“We’re good. Surprisingly, the four Consuls agreed, absolving me of the need to force the issue, but I’m disappointed in the service chiefs. Two blood-thirsty bastards in favor of a purge and one waffling general who somehow reached four stars in the Ground Forces without facing a hard decision.”
Bolack nodded.
“Then you know who needs replacing. I’m not surprised, however. The Consuls are nearer to the people, especially those with wealth. They know which path will keep them in power and riches, and it isn’t the one that might trigger a revolt.”
“Thank you for trusting me with this, Archimandrite, even if you waited until Task Force Kruzenshtern left the Torrinos system on a course for Hatshepsut.”
He inclined his head.
“When faced with such an existential decision, I knew you would make the right choice, provided you had time to think about it.”
“Call it enlightened self-interest. I enjoy my job and would rather not be hauled out of the Wyvern Palace by enraged Guards Corps officers or overthrown by the Conclave.”
“I admire your self-awareness.” He smiled at her. “When will you release Colonel Torma and Sister Ardrix?”
“As soon as we’re done here. But they must stay silent until I unveil my plan of action.”
“Then see that they’re delivered straight to the abbey. They can join the Lyonesse Brethren at the Grenfell Priory.”
“Whom I should enjoy meeting as soon as possible.” She sighed. “Just make sure no one ever finds out you’ve been keeping me apprised of Task Force Kruzenshtern’s expedition, for both our sakes. This must forever be known as the night Vigdis Mandus stared down inertia and reaffirmed the Oath of Reunification. Those involved would not react well if they knew we’ve been manipulating events.”
— 41 —
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When Mandus, wearing a grim expression, returned to the conference room and took her seat at the head of the table, Admiral VanReeth rose.
“Regent, during your absence, we discussed options.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Did you now. Clearly, you’d like to lay them out before me, so please, go ahead.”
“The idea of wholesale suppression is off the table. Fine. But few heard the name Lyonesse and are aware it’s expanding across the Coalsack and neighboring sectors. We know who they are and can swear them to secrecy in return for a prominent place in our own expansion plans. That way, we keep control of the story. Yes, we sent an expedition to Hatshepsut as a way of defining an expansion corridor now that we, the Hegemony’s Ruling Council, determined the time has come for enacting the Oath of Reunification. Without public worry about another polity taking away what many consider our birthright, we can manage recolonization at our pace. And not coincidentally, we would make sure certain elements in our society who might otherwise wish for full suppression see they have a stake in supporting the new policy.”
Mandus let out an amused snort.
“In other words, contracts for ships, colonization packages, and the like would go to the right people. And they, in turn, will do what is necessary, so this government persists no matter what.”
“While this government enforces social peace so the right people can do what is necessary and see that we meet Lyonesse on our terms.”
“In other words, the same old graft, only on a larger scale,” Chancellor Conteh said in a sardonic tone.
VanReeth turned a hard eye on him.
“Would you rather face unrest?”
“Of course not. I merely deplore the fact our political status quo rests on keeping the wealthy happy and the citizenry under both tight control and a smothering blanket of entitlements that kills any drive for change. It wasn’t always so in the centuries before the Ruggero Dynasty perverted a perfectly functioning, quasi-republican system under a Crown with defined powers who stayed above petty politics. Oh, the wealthy had their fingers in every pie, but at the star system level mostly, which limited the damage.”
“Pardon me, Chancellor, but has anyone ever mentioned your love of ancient history can be trying at times?”
“My wife reminds me every day, Admiral.” Conteh winked at VanReeth, then turned to Mandus. “Notwithstanding my comments, the Admiral’s proposal is sound. As much as I’d like to eliminate graft, we can’t do so in one fell swoop, and the Almighty knows how far the privileged will go to preserve their privilege. Better we use it as a way of expanding the Hegemony. Structural changes will follow in due course, though not as fast as some, such as I, would like.”
“If the Chancellor agrees, that means it’s unanimous. We suppress intelligence about Lyonesse but announce Task Force Kruzenshtern was our first move in enacting the Oath of Reunification.”
Everyone around the table nodded, as did the three off-world Consuls a short time later.
“Then a press release tomorrow morning announcing the success of Kruzenshtern’s expedition meets with everyone’s approval?”
More nods.
“Admiral VanReeth, you have the rest of the night to make sure no utters the name Lyonesse until we say so. Fortunately, as I understand, only Commodore Watanabe and a few Kruzenshtern personnel know the full story. If ever word gets out before we’re ready, we will run a disinformation campaign that paints it as an unsubstantiated rumor, but something we will check out in due course.”
“Yes, Regent.”
“What about Colonel Torma and Sister Ardrix?” Chief Commissioner Bucco asked. “They’re ground zero of this whole debacle.”
“Both will help further our plan in due course. And no, I won’t discuss what it is until we deal with the immediate fallout. In the meantime, I’ve arranged for their temporary disappearance from mainstream society, so no one can question them about their knowledge of this matter, and that includes you, Chief Commissioner, and anyone else in the State Security Commission. Consider them temporarily part of the Wyvern Regiment and under my personal command for all intents and purposes.”
Bucco inclined his head.
“Understood, Regent.”
But Mandus could hear resentment in his tone.
“Then we’re done here for the moment. It’s late, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. Thank you, everyone.”
With that, she swept out of the room as the displays went dark and the members present in the flesh stood, lost in thought. All save Chancellor Conteh called their aides on the way to the underground parking lot.
Conteh, who enjoyed walking between the Wyvern Palace and the Chancellery since it was a mere one kilometer, nothing for a man in decent physical condition, let himself out via the side door and arrived at his office even before the service chiefs reached theirs. As arranged, First Secretary Vermat waited patiently in the antechamber, reading from a tablet, coffee cup in hand. He made as if to stand, and Conteh waved him down before taking a seat.
“And?”
“Vigdis convinced them they should accept reality, make the Kruzenshtern expedition their idea, and announce the start of a recolonization program, but without mentioning Lyonesse. Those few who know about it will be told silence on the subject is a good career move. In other words, we obtained most of what we wanted. It might take a few years, perhaps even a few decades longer than if Lyonesse’s existence was made public now, but military rule will end in due course. The admirals and generals will inevitably come back under civilian control because they’ll be too busy spearheading the Hegemony’s expansion and adapting to a radically different outlook than the one that has governed us since the empire’s downfall. You and I may not see that day, at least not in our current roles, but it’s coming.”
Conteh allowed himself a sigh of contentment as Vermat put down his cup.
“Excellent news, sir. I confess I was doubtful when you came up with the plan of sending out fishing expeditions in the hopes one of them would bring back something that could shake the Council out of its torpor. It took almost five years, but Jan Keter hit the motherlode. Anonymously denouncing him to Crevan Torma when we found out what he discovered was a piece of genius, by the way.”
Conteh smiled at his first secretary and de facto Deputy Chancellor.
“Torma was the right man at the right time, but I can’t take credit for thinking of him. That was the Archimandrite’s doing, based on what he knew from his people in the Commission. Wheels within wheels, Gelban. I do hope Keter’s still alive and well, by the way. I’d hate to think our sole successful dupe died because of this.”
“He’s under the Order’s protection, tucked away in one of their houses and undergoing a Friar’s training.” A frown crossed Vermat’s face. “Wait a minute, sir. Was the Archimandrite in on the fishing expedition scheme?”
“No. I simply asked whether one of his people worked with a senior officer known for doggedness, who didn’t fear his superiors and focused on doing the right thing. I don’t doubt he eventually suspected a connection with Keter’s illegal travels but was so captivated by the mystery and the possibilities for his Order that he didn’t breathe a word to anyone.”
“Wasn’t it risky?”
Conteh shook his head.
“He’s motivated by self-interest, just like the rest of us. Besides, if anyone asked, I’d simply have said Keter came to my attention via a backchannel, and I wanted his case investigated by a senior officer who wouldn’t bury it out of political expediency.”
“We do love our backchannels.” Vermat chuckled. “What happens next?”
“Considering the hour, we go home, sleep and come back in the morning. Other than that, it depends on Vigdis.” Conteh climbed to his feet. “Good night, Gelban.”
“Good night, sir.”
Vermat didn’t leave right away. He strolled over to the nearest window and gazed out at the sleeping city. Come tomorrow, everything would change, one way or the other. Either Mandus officially announced a recolonization and naval expansion plan like none before and to hell with those who’ll howl at the dismantling of the status quo, or there would be a coup d’état ousting the entire Council and replacing it with a junta. Since a coup would have made him acting Chancellor, Vermat privately acknowledged slightly mixed feelings at the missed opportunity. But better this than blood in the streets. Besides, Conteh was a decent man and a fine administrator. He didn’t deserve arrest at gunpoint, especially since his views coincided with those of the Network. Wheels within wheels, indeed.
**
General Cameron Bucco and Admiral Marco VanReeth met at the former’s residence after exchanging a few quiet words on the way to the Wyvern Palace garage. As head of the Hegemony’s powerful paramilitary police, Bucco ensured his property was the most secure spot on the planet where no one could overhear conversations or observe those within. If someone were watching, he or she would see VanReeth’s staff car enter the grounds but not discover anything more.
Once in Bucco’s study, whiskey glass in hand, they settled into comfortable chairs facing each other across a low table.
“I found Vigdis surprisingly eager to disrupt the status quo,” VanReeth remarked after taking a sip. “And in such a hurried manner. It’s as if she has another agenda. You’d think a prudent Regent would take her time and study every possibility, perhaps even consult with relevant people outside government before shaking up the masses with news we were heading back into the galaxy. Watanabe and his ships returned what? Less than ninety-six hours ago, and Bolack didn’t bring wo
rd until this morning. Did you ever know her capable of making momentous decisions so quickly?”
Bucco shook his head.
“No, and I agree, there has to be something else behind her unusual behavior. It’s almost as if Vigdis was aware of Task Force Kruzenshtern’s expedition from the start.”
“Could she and Bolack be cooking up something we won’t like?”
“Without a doubt. Then, there’s her making Torma and Sister Ardrix vanish right after Bolack’s visit. What better way of removing them from circulation than arrest by the Wyvern Regiment.” Bucco tasted his drink, then smacked his lips. “Good stuff. It’s a shame we can’t tap into the Regent’s private conversations without leaving a trace. I’d pay good money to know what she and Bolack discussed during our break tonight. Those two have been in cahoots for a long time.”
“So, they’re scheming. But to what end?”
“I can make a few guesses.” Another sip. “The most obvious is Vigdis seeing a way of increasing her power with Bolack’s help by springing the news on everyone and grabbing what she can in the turmoil. Without a constitution or a supreme court, the only thing that stops her from disbanding the Council and becoming Regent for life is two hundred years of accepted protocol and procedures and, ultimately, the Guards Corps. However, she owns the Wyvern Regiment, and I’m sure sentiment in the Navy and the Ground Forces will be such that anyone perceived as impeding her call for expanding the Guards and recolonizing former imperial worlds will be deemed an enemy of the state. In effect, Vigdis could be making a bid for the imperial Crown under the blessing of the Almighty via his servant Archimandrite Bolack. Historically, it’s always been a tiny step between Regent and Sovereign.”
VanReeth nodded thoughtfully. “Plausible. Extremely plausible, if worrisome. Vigdis always was ambitious, which is why she’s one of the youngest admirals whoever became Regent.”
Bucco let out an amused chuckle.
“Do I hear jealousy in your voice, Marco?”
