Lorin told her security chief to contact General Zitor and ask him if he was available for breakfast. Then she took a shower. After she’d dressed, she went to the dining room for breakfast. As she was taking a seat she was advised that General Zitor had arrived. She asked that he be escorted to the dining room. A loon later he walked in and sat across from her.
“Good morning, Madam Chancellor,” General Zitor said. “Thanks for inviting me for breakfast. I’ve been so busy lately I often miss breakfast entirely.”
“Yes, well, I usually work while I eat, so breakfast is just part of my working day.”
“Right. So, are you relieved to have all this Earth business behind us?”
“Well, that’s why I wanted to talk to you. We’re about to get a lot of criticism for worrying too much about Earth’s defense and ignoring our own problems here on Tarizon.”
“But that’s unfair.”
“It is and it isn’t. It’s true we are sacrificing a lot to defend Earth, but we’re doing it for two reasons: First, we let the Purists get away and now have a responsibility to stop them. Second, if we don’t stop them, they’ll likely come back and destroy us in the future. Unfortunately, as honorable as that sounds the people will soon forget about Earth and be more concerned with what’s happening on Tarizon.”
“Yes, you’re probably right.”
“So, we need to come up with a bold and aggressive plan to stop all of this lawlessness while we continue working to rebuild the fleet to defend Tarizon.”
“Sounds good. So, how can I help?”
“We need to appoint a high profile person to go immediately to Clarion and to start work on rebuilding the spaceport and getting ship production under way.”
“Okay.”
“And we need to announce the formation of an elite, mobile military force to respond quickly to these marauding ex-TGA soldiers who are terrorizing the population.”
“Did you have anyone in mind?”
“Yes, Captain John Sillmar is my choice for the Clarion project. He’s well known, a war hero, and one of the Avengers. That should help give the Clarion rebuilding project credibility.”
“And for the elite, mobile military force?”
“Rhin the rhutz.”
“Excuse me?”
“Rhin. You know. Commander Lanzia’s rhutz.”
“She didn’t go to Earth?”
“No. She didn’t want to leave Tarizon.”
“But . . . she’s a rhutz.”
“She’s also a better soldier than any human I know. My God, General, Leek told me stories about how she took down copters and even a hovertank using only her telekinetic abilities.”
“But can she lead a military unit?”
“Yes, specifically, a unit made up of rhutz and seafolken. Seafolken can communicate telepathically just like the rhutz.”
General Zitor was speechless. After a minute he said. “I’m just not sure how the people will react to a rhutz commanding a military unit. Besides, I thought the rhutz had all left the service and had gone back into the wild.”
“Rhin is still at our base in the Doral Mountains. She has a family there now, you know. I had someone talk to her to see if she would continue to help us for a while since Leek had to leave so suddenly. She agreed to help in any way she could. I actually think she’s enjoying her continuing military service.”
General Zitor laughed. “Then she might like an opportunity to kick a little more TGA ass.”
After breakfast the General left and Lorin went to her office. She told Cora to get Captain John Sillmar on the GC. She looked at the calendar and saw that the General Assembly was set to open at 1200 hours. She checked her watch and saw it was 0903. She figured if John agreed to her appointment she’d have time to call a news conference and announce her new initiatives before the session began. A few loons later John’s smiling face appeared on her monitor.
“Madam Chancellor. So nice to hear from you.”
“Yes, it’s been awhile, Captain. How are you?”
“Okay, I guess. Feeling a little lonely with all my friends going to Earth.”
“Yes, I was surprised you didn’t find a way to go yourself.”
“I was tempted, believe me, but I doubt my presence would make much of a difference. What they need is more attack cruisers. Speaking of which, that was quite a feat hijacking Earth’s Destiny, wasn’t it? I’d like to meet that Rossi Sincini. He’s one bold and courageous man.”
“Yes, he is. He reminds me a lot of you.”
John laughed. “Well, thank you, Madam Chancellor, but—”
“In fact, I need a hero like you right now for a very important mission. A mission that may well determine the survival of our planet.”
“What—?”
“You did hear of the threat made by Videl’s adopted son, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but it was just talk.”
“We can hope that’s all it was, but can we really afford to take that chance?”
John sighed. “No, I guess we can’t.”
“John. I’ll be honest with you. I’m at odds with the General Assembly. You know many of them hate me and loathe the fact that they were forced to elect me chancellor to win the war.”
“Yes, Commander Lanzia told me all about that.”
“Well, I need a high profile hero like you to take on the Clarion reconstruction project. I need you to rebuild the fleet for me and for Tarizon. I hope we never need it, but I fear if we don’t build it we’ll regret it.”
John took a deep breath. “Well, I don’t know anything about manufacturing.”
“I know that. But you don’t need any technological knowledge. We have all that at our disposal already. All you need to do is oversee the project and report to the General Assembly and the people as to its progress. And in your spare time you can develop a strategic defense plan for Tarizon in the event of an invasion from deep space.”
“You are my commander in chief. Of course I will do as you ask.”
“I know that. And I’m not ordering you to do it. I’m asking you to do it of your own volition. I want you to be totally committed to the project and undertake it without reservation.”
“Yes, Madam Chancellor. I understand. And as much as I’d like to dismiss the Purist threat and believe it will never plague Tarizon again, I have a fear that the mission to Earth will fail. Therefore, I will accept your offer because I know it is of the utmost importance for the survival of Tarizon.”
“Excellent, Vice Admiral.”
“Vice Admiral?”
“Yes. I think you’re overdue for a promotion and since you are moving from the army to the navy, the rank of Vice Admiral would be comparable to commander general.”
John smiled. “Yes, Madam Chancellor.”
“You should report to Gallion right away to get started organizing your command.”
“I will leave immediately. Thank you, Madam Chancellor.”
Lorin cut off the GC and fell back into her chair. She looked at her wrist array and saw it was 0933. She hit her intercom button and asked Cora to come in.
“I’m going to need you to contact the media and announce that I’ll be holding a news conference at 1000.”
“Yes, ma’am. Can I say what it’s about?”
“Yes. Tell them it’s a matter of world security.”
Cora left, and Lorin started writing an outline of her remarks. At 0955 Ruffe Marcuzzi arrived and escorted her to the media room. Every chair was filled, and reporters were standing two deep along both walls. Lorin walked up to the podium and smiled.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Before I take questions I have a short announcement to make. As you know, a few days ago I advised the General Assembly of a threat made by the Purists before they left Clarion, to come back one day to either reclaim or destroy Tarizon. Since we must take such threats seriously, I recommended the rebuilding of the Clarion Spaceport and manufacturing facility. I told the assembly it was imperative that we build anothe
r Intergalactic Fleet, not to invade another world, but to defend ourselves from the Purists should they successfully conquer Earth and then target Tarizon.
“I called you here today to announce that Captain John Sillmar, known to the press and the people as one of the celebrated Avengers, and a great hero of the Tarizon Civil War, shares my concern. Accordingly, he has agreed to take on the task of defending Tarizon from this new Purist threat by leading the project to rebuild the spaceport and our fleet. So, today I have transferred him to the Tarizon Navy and promoted him to the rank of Vice Admiral. As I speak he is on his way to begin his new assignment at Gallion until the General Assembly funds the project and it can be moved up to Clarion.”
The reporters started shouting out questions for the Chancellor, but she raised her hand.
“I’m not quite through,” Lorin said. “Thank you. On another issue of world security: You all are aware that since the signing of the Treaty of Shisk, groups of ex-TGA shoulders have been wandering around the countryside attacking innocent citizens, raping our women, kidnaping our children and holding them for ransom. Although we have been working hard to hunt down these skutz and bring them to justice, too many of them still run loose over our land.
“To bring an end to this lawlessness, I am creating a new elite response team that will be flown in immediately when any of these marauders are discovered. The team will be commanded by Rhin the rhutz and will consist of our most talented and feared seafolken soldiers, along with a number of rhutz.”
The reporters looked on in stunned silence. Finally, one of them asked, “Madam Chancellor. How can a rhutz command a military unit?”
“Telepathically,” Lorin explained. “The average rhutz has an intelligence equal to our most brilliant scientists. They also have the gifts of telepathy and telekinesis. You have all heard the stories of Rhin the rhutz taking out copters and even a hovertank. These are not exaggerations. And since the seafolken also communicate telepathically, these two life-forms are well suited to work together to bring peace to our countryside.”
“Madam Chancellor,” another reporter asked. “Has Rhin agreed to this?”
“Yes, she has, and Riddle the rhutz has agreed to command another unit. They will each lead teams of ten rhutz and ten seafolken, and these teams will be on the job within the next few days.”
“Madam Chancellor,” a third reporter said. “There have been reports that you may have difficulty getting the General Assembly to fund the reconstruction of the Clarion Spaceport. Do you have any comment on that?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that rumor, too, but I can’t believe that the General Assembly, whose members have pledged an oath to the people of Tarizon to act in their best interests, would leave them defenseless against an enemy that has already killed millions of our citizens without the slightest remorse. If the members do turn their back on this very real threat, then I am confident they will feel the wrath of their constituencies.
“I’m afraid that’s all the questions I have time for,” Lorin concluded. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice.”
She smiled and walked away from the podium. Marcuzzi took her arm and escorted her out of the media room. Cora handed her a glass of water as she walked down the hall to her office.
“Excellent press conference. Congratulations, Madam Chancellor,” Marcuzzi said.
“Thank you. Do you think it will work?”
Marcuzzi chuckled. “I’m sure Senator Drul is tossing a few profanities your way right about now.”
“I certainly hope so. I’d like to see them accuse me of being soft on security now.”
They arrived at Lorin’s office, went inside, and sat down.
“I’m just worried about the reaction we’re going to get over putting Rhin the rhutz in charge of our security response team,” Marcuzzi said.
“There may be a few raised eyebrows at first, but after a few successful missions nobody will be complaining.”
Cora walked in. “Good news.”
“What?” Lorin asked.
“Senator Drul delayed the opening of the General Assembly until 1300 to give them time to review what you said at the press conference.”
Lorin smiled. “Good. Gave them something to think about, huh?”
For the next thirty loons, staff members, friendly senators, and government officials dropped in to compliment the Chancellor on her news conference. She received them cheerfully, and at 1100 left to meet Defense Minister Threebeard for lunch at a ritzy Shisk restaurant. He was waiting for her with General Zitor in a private room. They stood up when Lorin walked over.
“Gentlemen. Sorry I’m late. Busy day.”
“Yes, and that was a brilliant move, getting Rhin to lead your security response team,” Threebeard said. “I’ve talked to her and she’s very excited about it. It seems she’s missing all the excitement of military service.”
“That’s what I was told. I wish I could talk to her myself.”
“Yes, I wish you could, too.”
A waiter came over with drinks and took their lunch orders.
“So, all the ships got off okay?” Threebeard asked.
“Yes, I believe so. Now we wait.”
As they were talking, Cora rushed in. “Madam Chancellor. It’s all over the news! It’s so horrible.”
“What is it, Cora? What has happened?”
“They’ve kidnaped Tehra and Sophilo!”
“What!” General Zitor said, outraged. “Who did this?”
“I don’t know. But they are demanding all our ships traveling to Earth be recalled or they will kill the hostages!”
Lorin got to her feet and started pacing. “Get me Colonel Tomel on the GC. I sent him down to Marlais Beach to escort Tehra and Sophilo back home.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cora said and left. A few loons later she returned with the GC. “Colonel Tomel is in the hospital but he’s well enough to talk.”
Lorin turned white and grabbed the GC. “Colonel Tomel! What happened? Are you all right?”
“We were ambushed on the way to the airport,” Colonel Tomel replied. “There were half a dozen of them heavily armed. Two of our security escorts were killed, and I took a bullet in the leg. I’m going to be okay, but they’ve got Tehra and Sophilo.”
“Oh, my God!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Madam Chancellor. I should have prevented this from happening.”
“It’s not your fault, I am sure,” Lorin said tentatively. “Did you get a good look at them?”
“Yes, but most of them were wearing helmets and masks. They came at us on jetcycles.”
“Were Tehra and Sophilo injured? Do you know?”
“I don’t think so. There was a PTV waiting near the ambush point and they were taken away in it.”
“Is anyone trying to find them?”
“The city police have set up roadblocks around the area, but I’m afraid they had a copter waiting nearby. I saw one take off heading northwest just a few loons after they attacked us.”
“Did you send anyone after it?”
“Yes, I called the airbase and they’ve sent a half dozen copters to try to find them.”
“What about this demand that the shuttles be recalled? Where did that come from?”
“They called the local VC station and told them they’d kidnaped the Liberator’s brother and would kill him if all the ships heading to Earth were not recalled immediately.”
Lorin started to feel weak. General Zitor saw her start to fall and grabbed her arm to steady her. He made her sit down. Tears were streaming down her face. Someone handed her a handkerchief and she wiped her eyes. She put the GC back to her ear.
“Sorry, Colonel. I’m just a little shaken.”
“Of course, Madam Chancellor. As am I.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sending help. They should be there soon.”
“Who are you sending?”
“Rhin and some very capable seafolken soldiers. You remember the
special ops team from Gallion?”
“Oh, yes. They were extraordinary.”
“They’ve all agreed to help us in matters of this sort. This will be their first mission. Pray to God and Sandee that they will be successful.”
“I certainly will and I look forward to seeing Rhin again,” Colonel Tomel said and disconnected.
Lorin looked at General Zitor and the crowd that had gathered around her. She felt like the world was crashing down upon her. She couldn’t recall the fleet, nor could she let Tehra and Sophilo die. What was she to do? All eyes were fixed on her, expecting her to say something profound, something reassuring, but Lorin’s mind was so clogged with agony and despair that she could think of nothing.
Tarizon, Conquest Earth, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 3 Page 22
