With a forced smile the Bishop took his hand. “Bless you, my son,” he said.
“Thank you, Bishop. I’m sure many here would like to hear you speak, as would I,” he said as he turned to the cameras.
“I do have an urgent message on behalf of Admiral Jarvis of the Confederate Navy, who is also the senior representative of the Confederacy in this sector. Once I have conveyed this message I’m sure the President will be able to get the Assembly back on course for discussion.”
The Bishop looked a little irritated at the interruption but with so many cameras now pointing at the two men he appeared to give ground. Perhaps sensing it would be a good idea to get this out of the way rather than spend the time having a publicised debate. He stepped to one side and looked off to the side of the room where a number of the Church members were seated. He turned back, his face already changing to an expression of anger. He lifted his hands and pushed the General back and away from the podium.
“Admiral Jarvis has brought death and destruction upon our people. The good citizens of Proxima have for too long been worked to the bone for the benefit of your Admiral and your precious Confederacy. Today we have a proposal that will improve the lives of our citizens forever and it will start by the dissolution of the Confederacy!” he shouted.
General Rivers stood in silence, completely surprised by the outburst from the apparently calm and collected Bishop. Spartan had already stepped forward to ensure no one else came too close to the General and guards for the Bishop did the same. A great commotion came from the side of the room as black armoured guards rushed and in and surrounded the Bishop. The President walked to the podium, flanked by his own guards though with so many armed men it was starting to give a very dark and dangerous impression.
“Bishop, General Rivers, I suggest we keep this discussion for tomorrow when the Assembly convenes,” he said, trying to stay as neutral as he could manage.
With a flick of his wrist the security units moved in on the Bishop and forcibly pulled him from the podium. As soon as he started to struggle, the cameras and press were on him. As they tried to get closer a number of the guards did the same with the press and in less than five minutes the building was empty of all but the most die hard supporters of the President. He was still stood at the podium, surrounded by his guards.
“Mr President, that is not what I wanted,” said General Rivers.
“Neither did I, but this Bishop has been preaching an end to capitalism and an end to secularism for the last decade. He cannot and must not been given a platform to continue his message of hate.”
“I understand, you do realise this is going to get a lot worse?”
“How can it get any worse, General?”
The General shook his head. “Are you serious, Mr President? In my experience things can always get worse, a lot worse. If you want to control this thing you need to diffuse the platform he has built for himself. Announce something substantial that will make his sermons appear impotent. Whatever you do though, do it fast!”
“Come with me, I think I need a drink right now!” said the President.
General Rivers sighed as he realised the President wasn’t likely to do anything significant in the next few hours. The President started to walk away when an advisor approached and started whispering to him. General Rivers, sensing it was important moved closer.
“Yes?” asked the advisor.
“Don’t you ‘yes’ me! What is the problem?” demanded the General.
The President nodded to his advisor, giving him the go ahead to speak.
“Well, General, we’re getting information from the public network stream that the church of Echidna is going to make an announcement prior to the opening of the Assembly Building tomorrow morning. They say it will change Kerberos and Proxima forever and we can expect a demonstration of their power.”
“Power? Pah!” snorted the President. “This is just more rhetoric, we’ve had this for years now. Their announcement will be just another social programme or more likely, an attempt to reclaim their tax concessions for the Church.”
“Sir, the stream indicated that a large number of groups will...” started his advisor before being cut off.
“Look, Wilkins, I’m getting a little bored with these people. Notify the security staff and report back to me at five thirty in the morning. Let them have their talks and streams. It will keep them busy while we get ready to deal with the real problems tomorrow. There are more important issues at stake than one Church!” He stomped off along with his guards.
“Idiot!” muttered General Rivers to himself before turning to Spartan.
“I need a secure link to Admiral Jarvis and fast, something is coming and if I’m right we’re going to need one hell of a plan to get around it.”
He acknowledged the General as he watched the President disappear around the corner, still complaining as he went.
* * *
The early morning light had already started to burn through the cloud cover when the Bishop and his entourage arrived outside of the Assembly Building. The crowds had increased overnight and they now numbered in the thousands. Most were there to hear the message from the Bishop about improvements to their lives and the promises the Church had made in the last few hours. A token number of police were scattered along the perimeter of the Assembly Building. At first glance it looked like a soft hand with regards to policing, in reality most of the riot police were deployed within the compound waiting for the word to move to where they were needed most. Mixed in with the crowd were the scores of press, some with cameras, others with microphones and all waiting for the word from the single most important person on Kerberos that day, the Bishop of Yama.
He stood up on top of the burnt relic of the Church, so recently damaged and scarred by a bomb attack. This ancient relic was already becoming even more important in its damaged state than it ever had been as a survivor from the Iconoclast Controversy so many years before.
“Good people of Yama. I come to you today as a humble man, a man of the Church and a man of peace. I am not here to stir up hostility or resentment. I am here to help turn your lives into those of joy and fulfilment. Let me tell you a terrible story, one of intolerance, depravity and the base desires of men in power. I am in touch with our brothers on every colony, ship and station in Proxima and they all tell me the same thing. When will they end? I tell you all, the time is coming!” he cried.
CHAPTER TEN
Titan, the old moon of Saturn was the first major body to be colonised in the earliest days of space travel. Its atmosphere and abundant resources quickly helped turn it into a hub from which many more stations and eventually colonies could be built. The computer failure of the habitation system demonstrated early on that over reliance on technology could have catastrophic consequences. Over a million people died in that terrible tragedy, one that has still never been fully explained.
The Lost World
Teresa was still sitting at the table, facing Antonius. In front of them was a datapad that contained military schematics and data on a number of pieces of equipment.
“Where did you get this?” Antonius asked as he thumbed through the diagrams.
“You know I can’t reveal my sources. Let’s just say the friends I have are certainly not on good terms with the users of this kind of gear.”
“And what was it you wanted?”
“That’s more like it. I need six hundred metric tonnes of food and medical supplies, about the same amount you would expect on a single military resupply drop.”
“Six hundred? Why do you need that much?” he asked suspiciously.
“None of your business, I have a need for that kind of aid package, if you’re interested in what I have to offer, this is my price.”
The man sat at the table, silent as he assessed the deal in front of him. From where Teresa sat she couldn’t believe the man would go for it. Six hundred metric tonnes could buy several armoured vehicles. It all depended o
n how much the man wanted the data. He looked at the datapad again, looking intently at one of the items.
“This datafile has the official signature seal of the Avagana Colonial Militia. Have you been there recently?”
“Maybe, why all the questions?”
“Well, I’m starting to think we might have some friends in common. What are your thoughts on the military peace keepers on Prime?”
For a second Teresa almost argued with him, her face betrayed her though. It was obvious she disagreed and try as she might she couldn’t disguise her anger.
“I see, so you’re no great lover of our vaunted friends in the Confederate Military,” he said as he started to relax.
Teresa took a breath, she may have messed up but it had worked to her advantage. She had given the impression she had feelings, strong feelings about those on Prime, it wasn’t her fault he had misread her emotions.
“The occupation on Avagana is good for business if that’s what you’re asking,” she decided to add.
“I think we both know you want those supplies for the rebels on Prime. Many would call that treason. Perhaps I should mention this to our friends in the Confederate Navy?” he added with a mischievous smile.
Teresa was now starting to enjoy this, their conversation had moved on to an almost flirting position as Antonius became a little less suspicious of her. She twisted slightly, knowing it gave him a better view of the gap in her jacket and down to her breasts. She immediately spotted his eyes moving.
“Your friends! You really want those Navy assholes wandering around the station? I have an empty ship, you’re the ones with supplies and the dodgy goods.”
Teresa looked about and then leaned forward.
“I’ll tell you what. I have a few more meetings to make, I know a man who might be able to help with your shipment. If you play your cards right you might even get a permanent arrangement out of it,” he said.
“Sounds good, we’ll be at the bar when he’s ready to talk.”
“If he’s ready to talk, I think you mean.”
Teresa stood up and grabbed the datapad, tucking it inside the leather pouch carried by Bishop.
“Whatever you say,” she said dismissively.
Teresa moved to the doorway, her crewmates moving aside for her but still keeping a watchful eye over Antonius. As she reached the door she turned back just for a moment, smiling.
“Don’t take too long, my customers don’t have much time, if you know what I mean.”
She turned and left the room, closely followed by the others. Rather than stopping she continued walking along the wide walkway, gazing at the stalls as they moved. Once they were out of earshot Bishop spoke quietly.
“Are we in?”
“Maybe, he obviously thinks we are running supplies through the blockade. The question is, will he talk to anyone higher up and if he does, will that get us the leads we need to crack this thing wide open?”
They moved past a few more stalls until reaching a pair of well-worn wooden doors. A drunk staggered out and crashed into Kowalski. Bishop grabbed the man and pushed him on his way.
“I guess this is the bar then?” he said with a laugh.
“Come on, we have some waiting to do,” said Teresa.
Inside they found a long wooden bar with a tattooed man serving drinks. Half a dozen men and two women sat at tables drinking and on the wall an antiquated video display showed video feeds of events on Kerberos. Teresa plonked herself down on a barstool. The rest of her crew spread out with Barca and Williams heading for the pool table at the rear. The barman looked up.
“You’re not from around here?”
“Quite. Whisky,” she said sarcastically.
As the drink arrived a weasel-looking man entered the bar and looked about. As soon as he spotted Teresa he slunk over and dropped down next to her. The man lifted his hand and the barman wandered over, putting a drink in front of him, but saying nothing. The man took a swig and then turned to Teresa.
“Vasili, Antonius says you are involved in supplying the rebels.”
Teresa threw back the whisky and instantly regretted it, but at least it helped calm her already frayed nerves.
“Really? He says a lot doesn’t he?” she laughed.
The man looked around the room, checking for any problems before leaning in closer. He smelt like cinnamon but where he would have got that smell she had no idea.
“Look, we have a few interested parties on the station. This regime is going down and fast. There are going to be opportunities people with the contacts and the knowhow. You interested in upping the stakes and making some real money?”
Teresa looked over to Bishop who was busy watching them from a discreet distance.
“Hey, Bish, you interested in a bit more money?”
“Always,” he came over and sat next to the man. “What do you have in mind?”
“Is it true, you have access to military grade blueprints?”
Teresa waved over to Kowalski who was now holding the satchel containing the encrypted military datapad. He pulled out the device and handed it to her. Before she switched it on she looked at the man for a moment before sliding the switch and turning it on. The first image to pop up was a technical schematic for the CES armour suits.
“Fuck, is that what I think it is?”
“Well, it ain’t no pizza oven,” said Bishop.
The man looked at the details, soaking in the facts and figures.
“Hey, this doesn’t come cheap, we paid a heavy price for this information,” Teresa said as she pulled back the datapad.
“That armour is the stuff I’ve heard about on Avagana. Those fascist bastards used it to kill civilians, you know that right?” he asked vehemently.
“Yeah, yeah, I know what they used it for. Now, what did you have in mind?” she asked.
“Well, there are some people here that could do with this kind of intel. To the right person I reckon we could make some serious money, I mean serious,” he inched closer.
“We?” asked Bishop.
“I can get you a meeting with one of the groups from Avagana. You need to be quick, they won’t be here for much longer, there’s a price though.”
“How much?” asked Teresa as she glanced at Bishop who was already placing a bug in the man’s clothes.
“If I arrange a deal I want a fifty percent stake.”
“Fifty percent, fuck off!” Bishop shouted who then turned away, feigning anger.
“Come on, we have things to do,” Teresa stood up and dropped some cash on the bar for the bartender.
“Okay, easy now. Forty percent plus a look at the files,” he countered.
Teresa turned towards him a little closer so that her skin was almost touching his face.
“I’ll give you forty percent if you can arrange a meeting within the hour!”
“An hour? No way can I do something that fast!”
“Look, we have arrangements with another supplier, you make your arrangements or we move on. I don’t have the time to mess about, it’s up to you,” she made to leave.
“Hey, how do I contact you?”
“My ship, the Tamarisk, don’t leave it too long though.” Then they were gone.
As they went down the corridor Teresa started to speed up. Bishop was alongside, sensing something was wrong. He was about to speak when she pulled over to the side and retched, vomiting onto the metal floor. As Bishop held her, Barca approached.
“I’ve got a message from Anderson, he says he’s picking up traffic from one of the bars two floors up. According to the station plans it’s unused.”
Teresa wiped her face and coughed a little before speaking. “Show me.”
Barca passed the moving map to Teresa and she tracked the bug’s movement and the new location.
“That has to be the place. Tell Anderson we’re going in, he needs to have the ship ready in case we need to leave in a hurry.”
Back in the main hallway they
moved further along until they reached the door that led to different levels. Bishop went in first, closely followed by the rest of them. Teresa was last in and she quietly pulled the door behind her. The stairwell was dark and obviously little used. As they waited Williams checked his scanner for a better way to reach the area.
“The stairwell is blocked one level up. I’ve got a ventilated shaft running two metres outside the bar. Close enough for the UAVs?”
“It’ll have to do. Come on, get them in position, I need to speak with Anderson.” Teresa pulled out her radio.
“Anderson, we’re in position. We’re sending in the UAVs now, are you tracking the bug?”
“He’s entered the area now, send in the bugs. Once they are in position, get back to the ship.”
Williams knelt down and took out a plastic box, laying it out on the floor. He opened the lid carefully to reveal four small metallic objects, each one the size of a finger. He looked up at Teresa who quickly gave him the nod. He took the first object out, twisted the cap and then placed it on the ground. Almost as soon as his hand was clear a wafer thin membrane extended from its side and then started to gently buzz. It rocked to the side and then took off hovering at head height. He quickly did the same to the rest of the units and in seconds all four were hovering near them.
“Okay, they are set to take the air ducts to the floor and then spread out. We need to wait until they reach whatever is going on. Everybody watch the door and stairs, if anybody comes in put them on the ground and shut them up,” Teresa ordered.
* * *
Inside the Tamarisk Commander Anderson and Special Agent Johnson were busy watching the display panels. An additional screen showed a schematic of the station. Flashing dots showed the position of Teresa, her team and the bugged man. The first four screens all showed very dark images as the four miniature-robotic spies made their way to wherever the bugged man was heading.
Star Crusades Uprising: The First Trilogy Page 36
