Hellhole Inferno

by Kevin J. Anderson

  Michella turned her back on Heer, issuing commands as they awaited the arrival of the diplomatic shuttle. “Establish an iron grip here on Tehila, which will become our long-term base of operations, the springboard for reconquering the Deep Zone. First, Commodore, you must totally crush General Adolphus.” Her voice grew even harder. “I have given you chances before—I want no mistakes this time.”

  Percival gave a slight bow, suppressing anger. “No one can guarantee that errors won’t occur, Eminence, but I will devote the full extent of my talent and experience to assure the success of this operation.”

  Michella didn’t seem to hear him. She merely repeated, “No mistakes this time.”

  A sentry force of armed destroyers surrounded each terminus ring, and Percival dispatched an armed squadron to each station to prevent any possible sabotage. As Michella watched the maneuvers, she nodded, obviously impressed. “If we control the stringline path back to Sonjeera, we can send a courier drone back to announce our success, correct? My people must be hurt and frightened after I saved them from the terrible danger of alien contamination. They need good news, and this comes at a perfect time.”

  Percival cautioned, “Eminence, that would not be wise. We must keep this conquest secret from General Adolphus until we’ve established our base and launched our strike against him. No announcements.”

  She was visibly disappointed. “Of course, Commodore. Besides, we should record Administrator Reming’s surrender before we send a confidential message back to Sonjeera. I have no doubt Lord Riomini’s taken it upon himself to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Constellation for me during my unexpected absence.”

  Reming’s diplomatic shuttle reached orbit, where it dodged among the military ships swarming into position. The administrator had some difficulty determining the flagship among the many ominous warships, so Percival dispatched a cluster of escort flyers to guide the shuttle into the appropriate docking bay.

  In the meantime, Diadem Michella tasked Ishop with finding a suitable chamber to serve as her surrogate throne room. Duff Adkins had already suggested a small meeting chamber for the formalities, but the Diadem wanted something much showier.

  Ishop seemed flustered by the assignment, which he must consider demeaning. “I am unfamiliar with the layout of these military ships. Perhaps—” He glanced at the Commodore, who obliged.

  “The convocation auditorium where we induct new officers,” Percival suggested. “It is a place designed for ceremonies.”

  “That will have to do,” Michella said, then frowned at her aide. “I’m sure you could have determined that yourself, Ishop.”

  Adkins dispatched crew members to assemble a temporary platform and to take a captain’s chair from the Commodore’s private quarters to serve as the Diadem’s makeshift throne. She had come aboard the flagship in such a rush that she had no formal trappings whatsoever, not even a change of clothes.

  Percival’s people did not disappoint him in their efficiency. They managed to turn the convocation auditorium into an impressive diplomatic reception chamber even before Administrator Reming had disembarked from his shuttle. Bright pennants of the Constellation, as well as the Duchenet family crest, dangled from the walls, while ribbons and streamers adorned the ceiling.

  Percival pulled on his formal uniform jacket and went to stand at the base of the raised platform, shoulders squared, arms straight at his sides. He wished he could be directing the military consolidation of Tehila instead of this ceremonial nonsense.

  Adkins led the Tehila administrator to the chamber. Karlo Reming wore a formal business suit and carried a sheaf of documents he had drawn up to commemorate the occasion. He had a formal demeanor, but his façade crumbled as soon as he saw Michella seated on her surrogate throne.

  He gasped. “Diadem! Eminence—I had no idea you were here in person. I am deeply honored.” He scuttled forward, unsure whether to fall to his knees or shake her hand. From her raised seat, she frowned in displeasure, but she didn’t deign to give the man any explanations, or any hint as to how he should respond, or what, if anything, he had done wrong.

  “It’s fortunate that you’ve come to your senses,” said Michella, “though I wish you hadn’t made my response necessary in the first place.”

  Reming paled, then fumbled to extend the documents. “It is with great pleasure that I deliver Tehila to you. My planet has always been a proud part of the Constellation, and we are glad to be back under your personal protection. The terminus rings and the stringline routes are yours. The Army of the Constellation now has a straight shot to Hellhole for a complete victory against the General we all hate.”

  Michella remained stiff. “Be glad you didn’t force us to conquer Tehila by military force. I love all my people, even the deluded ones who joined this foolish rebellion. Fortunately, we didn’t have to kill you all and incinerate your planet, as Lord Riomini did to Theser.”

  Administrator Reming swallowed. Percival saw beads of sweat on the man’s forehead and could almost smell his fear. “I … agree, Eminence. The terms of our bargain were that there would be no punitive measures against Tehila. The General brought us unwillingly into his reckless schemes. We had no part in creating the Deep Zone stringlines, and we did not accept the rebel declaration of independence.”

  “And yet, you didn’t speak out when the crisis occurred.” Her wrinkled lips puckered into a frown. “However, I am a loving Diadem, and I will be true to my word. Provided Tehila’s citizens cooperate, there will be no reprisals—but I’ll not forget those who defied me. Complete forgiveness may come in time … but not until the Constellation has recovered from all the damage done by General Adolphus.”

  27

  Ishop Heer hated the fact that he was forced to be here, at the side of the loathsome Diadem Michella. Her impulsive and panicky decision to join the expeditionary fleet had taken him by surprise, and now he was stuck with her. Michella had never intended to come out to Tehila, and although he shared her disgust and fear of the alien contamination, he had never imagined she would act so disastrously. Destroying half of her own capital city! He had been reeling since the vicious bitch told him she’d murdered Laderna.

  He’d been swept along, when she fled to the Deep Zone, but now what did she intend to do out here? Did Michella expect the people back in the Crown Jewels to applaud what she’d done? Ishop would be doing the Constellation a favor—not to mention giving himself a great deal of personal satisfaction—if he found a way to kill her. And the sooner the better. He remained alert for his chance to do that.

  The Constellation troops maintained a tight cordon around Tehila. In the first days after their arrival, three unsuspecting DZ commercial vessels arrived on schedule along the Hellhole stringline. The enemy ships were immediately captured, taken off the line, and impounded. No word could be allowed to get back to General Adolphus.

  According to the best projections, Commodore Hallholme expected to have six full days before anyone back at the Hellhole stringline hub noticed that ships had gone to Tehila but not returned. General Adolphus would send ships to investigate, which would give the Army of the Constellation a little more time.

  Hallholme’s troops locked down Tehila without incident, establishing a foothold at the spaceport. With Reming’s assistance, they arrested and detained General Adolphus’s soldiers, locking them in secure brigs. The Commodore wanted no troublemakers loose to cause unrest on the surface.

  As far as Ishop could tell, Tehila’s populace wasn’t thrilled that the Diadem had reasserted her “benevolent” control, despite Administrator Reming’s promises to the contrary. Tehila had been a small colony to start with, and now it was a locked-down military garrison.

  Seeing that the operation was going so well here, Michella seemed to think she had something to do with the success. She strolled off to the flagship’s landing bay. “Ishop, accompany me to the surface. These military vessels leave much to be desired in personal comforts, so we shall find b
etter accommodations down there. I am already tired of ship’s quarters. Tehila must have an appropriate mansion or two for our temporary stay.”

  Ishop said, “I’m sure we can find something, Eminence.”

  “I want my feet on solid ground again, on the surface of my new planet.” She gave him the familiar grandmotherly smile that had never fooled him. “I need you at my side.”

  “Of course.” How he loathed her! “I’ll make the arrangements.”

  * * *

  As their commandeered shuttle descended to the Tehila landing zone, a hastily reassigned honor guard of Constellation soldiers sat on perimeter passenger benches, looking unhappy with the Diadem’s whims. Oblivious, Michella wanted Ishop to sit next to her. She patted the bench.

  He had served her well for many years, bloodied his hands countless times, ruthlessly accomplishing anything the Diadem asked. The two of them had an understanding, a viable partnership. She claimed to appreciate him, but she’d laughed at his aspirations to reclaim his family standing.

  And now she’d killed Laderna.

  He felt exiled out here. All of his connections were back in the Crown Jewels. And after what Michella had done to the Sonjeera spaceport—blowing up part of her own city, vaporizing tens of thousands of her people—did she think she could simply return home as if nothing had happened?

  If he found a way to kill her, however, he might return home a hero.…

  “Why so preoccupied, Ishop? You look deep in thought.”

  He chose his words carefully. “Sometimes my mind just races with ideas.”

  Michella chuckled. “Always thinking, and that’s one of the things I like about you—your intelligence. I know you well, dear Ishop.”

  After the shuttle landed, they were met by an escort sent from Administrator Reming’s office. Michella let herself be surrounded by the men and women in militia uniforms. “I wish to see the town, and I want the townspeople to see me. Come, Ishop, don’t lag behind.”

  Ishop thought Tehila’s capital was a disappointment, more modest than even a small city on the least of the Crown Jewel worlds, less impressive even than Michella Town on Hellhole. Soldiers patrolled the streets, wearing the uniforms of both the Constellation military and the Tehila militia. Michella grumbled as she looked around, expecting much more. “It’s a surprise they have electricity and plumbing.” She asked why crowds didn’t come out in droves to welcome her, but the only bystanders looked at her with curiosity, not joy.

  Administrator Reming hurried out of his mansion to greet her. “Eminence, I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate your coming to save us from General Adolphus. Let me welcome you to my humble headquarters.”

  He led her and Ishop up the wooden steps into the large house. Michella looked around the halls and said, “Yes, humble indeed, and certainly not worthy of my station, but I suppose it’s superior to my cramped quarters aboard the flagship. It will have to do. When the Commodore departs to battle the General, it wouldn’t be proper for me to accompany the operation—he is the tactical military genius, after all. So, I will remain here. Thank you, Governor. I accept this as my new residence here on Tehila.”

  Reming stared at her as if he hadn’t heard right. “Your … residence? But … I can certainly find adequate quarters for you in town.”

  “No need to bother. This will do. Ishop, I’m sure Administrator Reming will find adequate quarters for you in the mansion, too. I’ll need you available to take care of any problems that are sure to arise.”

  Ishop could barely bite off the words. “Yes, Eminence.”

  Reming looked from side to side. “But the business of government, all of our work here, the offices, my staff—”

  “I’m sure your adequate staff will make do,” Michella said.

  Ishop understood that she was continuing to needle Reming, making him know his place. The sooner the administrator understood and metaphorically bared his throat, the greater chance he had of surviving.

  “I’ll be nearby at all times, Eminence,” Ishop said, always open for an opportunity, “to watch over you and to attend to your every need.”

  She gave him a humiliating pat on the shoulder. “Of course you will, dear Ishop.”

  28

  As a former noblewoman and planetary leader, Enva Tazaar was not accustomed to keeping a low profile, but as she went to work in the government mansion in her new routine, she maintained a quiet demeanor—a useful but unremarkable civil servant. Each day, she felt as if she were tiptoeing through a nest of snakes.

  The Tehila purge was obviously not what Administrator Reming had expected. The Constellation military crackdown had secured the shocked and dissatisfied populace, but Reming had little power now. After letting the wolves in the door, he’d been a fool to expect a warm embrace from the Diadem. Now, after the military takeover of his planet, Reming was forced to set up temporary offices in a small annex building, but he had no real power and nothing to do. Enva wondered if the man realized how lucky he was that Diadem Michella didn’t simply execute him, as she’d done with Territorial Governor Goler.…

  Enva went to her clerk’s job in the mansion, which was swarming with the Diadem’s entourage and Commodore Hallholme’s military personnel. She dressed conservatively, kept her eyes low, did not speak unless spoken to, and tried to perform her job as if it were any other day. Even with the crackdown on Tehila and the imminent plans to launch a massive assault against Hellhole, the daily mechanics of bureaucracy needed to continue. No matter that historic events were happening, the most important thing to the populace was that the transportation, power, water, and food continued—services functioning as expected, with daily life remaining as normal as possible.

  She passed two militia members manning a checkpoint at the mansion—they did not question her ID badge, which showed the false name Enva Lien. One of the local guards, puffed up in his new costume, recognized her from her work with Administrator Reming. The secondary checkpoint guard, more comfortable in his Constellation uniform, was diligent but uninterested. Enva remained passive, as a clerk should be, and they let her through.

  She entered the office she shared with Maruni Li, who was already at her desk. Previously, Maruni had been habitually late to work, receiving repeated reprimands from her immediate supervisor. Now, the woman was scared enough to be punctual (although, as far as Enva could tell, no more efficient). The two of them had little to worry about, as long as they did their tasks and called no attention to themselves.

  Maruni looked up. “Oh, Enva! I finished compiling our summary of fuel supplies as well as an inventory of impounded ships at the spaceport.” She looked both hopeful and worried.

  Enva kept her voice firm. “Did you break down the inventory by ship type? They’ll decide what cargo can be confiscated and distributed, and Commodore Hallholme needs to know which of the captured ships he can incorporate into the Constellation fleet.”

  Maruni blinked. “I didn’t think of that—I just listed them. None of those vessels are military, so why would the Commodore want them?”

  Normally Enva wouldn’t bother explaining, but she worked through the strategic thoughts herself. “Any captured ship could be useful in a military engagement. For instance, the Hellhole stringline hub will recognize them as registered DZ vessels, so maybe they can infiltrate, with armaments concealed, and strike a first blow. Or, if nothing else, the Commodore could sacrifice them as cannon fodder, shock troops to take the brunt of the attack.” When Maruni’s eyes widened, Enva added quickly, “But I’m just guessing. I’m no military expert.”

  Maruni forwarded the data compilation she had done so far. “Could you help me? It won’t take you long.”

  Enva frowned. It wouldn’t take her long … but she had no incentive to aid the hateful Diadem. Why should she help the Army of the Constellation achieve a victory? “I have my own projects and deadlines.” Maruni looked crestfallen. But Enva’s mind kept spinning as she realized that the information
might be useful, and she could make a few surreptitious alterations. “All right, I’ll trade you jobs. They’re both equally dull.”

  “One project after another.” Maruni let out a dry laugh. “It never ends.”

  Enva got to work, and again noted that one of the impounded ships belonged to the obvious Adolphus loyalists Tanja Hu and Ian Walfor. No one except Enva seemed to have noticed the significance of those two—and the pair of former planetary administrators must still be keeping a low profile on Tehila. Enva examined the records, considered carefully, and then simply deleted the information, erasing all trace that Hu and Walfor were here.

  Diadem Michella would be beside herself if she discovered that not only was Enva right here under her nose, but so were two of the General’s main coconspirators! If any of them were discovered, they would be executed.

  Despite the risk, Enva saw an opportunity to throw a major wrench in the works. Though she had not managed to secure an alliance with General Adolphus before her downfall, Enva Tazaar found the rebel leader to be far preferable to the Diadem. Now, her plan went beyond just a political decision or power play, it was a real chance to thwart the old bitch and bring her down. Now, that would be the best day a civil servant could imagine!

  Administrator Reming had seized control of the Tehila stringlines and arrested anyone who supported the rebellion; Commodore Hallholme had taken over the planet and was preparing a massive strike against Hellhole. And General Adolphus knew nothing of it. If Enva could somehow send a warning and alert the General, she would change the outcome of history.

  But, she had no way to get to Hellhole. The Army of the Constellation controlled the stringline stations and had locked down Tehila.…