The Tokarev brothers nodded in agreement. Long-bearded, monkish Piotr answered for them. "The Coalition may have become cowards, but Cyrilgrad will always stand against League evil."
"They're not all cowards," Tia replied quietly, nodding to Kaiya. "You've stuck with us, Captain Chagger. You and your crew have a home on Hestia as long as you need it."
"I intend to return to Khalistan eventually, even if it is to face court-martial," Kaiya replied. "But I thank you for your courtesy, Ms. Chairwoman."
There was a low rumble in the air. All above looked up to notice one last shuttle coming in for a landing. It was unmarked and the design, outwardly at least, was a mass production model from the Coalition. It landed with a rush of air and the low whine of graviton engines. Once it was still, the side door opened. Tia didn't immediately recognize the man who stepped out, at least not personally, but she'd seen enough to know he was a CDF officer. He walked up and nodded. "Ms. Chairwoman. I'm Colonel Robert Sinclair, CDF Intelligence." His voice was accented—Anglo-British, Tia thought. Likely from New Britain itself instead of Croydon or New Cornwall or any other British-descended worlds. "Proud to have been of service."
"Thank you for your help," she said. A nod from Henry confirmed for her that this was the man in charge of the Oxford. "You risked your ship for our sakes, and I imagine your career and freedom as well."
"Career's not worth much these days, given Ostrovsky's out and Barton's still hunting for a yes-man to run CDF Intel like Jezebel Rhodes desires." Sinclair's voice betrayed a hint of bitterness. "Technically, it's not my ship either. Colonel Westbrook is the CO; I'm just the intel staff chief. But I have broad authority to overrule him, and he's a sharp chap."
"I hope he doesn't get in any undue trouble," Henry said. "Why were you out here anyway?"
"Oh, we've been sent to encourage Captain Chagger to bring the Majha back," he revealed. "Some things about avoiding a court-martial and such. Barton's afraid she's going to stir up trouble with the League."
That got a laugh from Kaiya. "He's a little late."
"Thank you all for coming, but we should get going." Tia gestured toward the door into the complex. "Mother Sarno and the others are waiting for us."
The group journeyed into the building. It was undamaged from fighting, at the very least, and they split up to take the elevators. Linh and Henry rode with Tia and Yanik. Linh gave Tia a hug. "You did it," she said. "I can hardly believe it, but we won. After all these years."
"I feel the same way about it. Like I'm in a dream," Tia confessed. "I'm scared I'll wake up and it'll be over."
"Well, don't go pinching yourself to test that," Henry advised amiably. He extended a hand. "Here, with just the four of us, I'd like to extend my congratulations. The others will on their own time, but given all I've seen of you these last fifteen years… I know how much this means. And I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, Jim. I couldn't have done it without you."
"What about the HBC?" Linh asked the question as the lift came to a stop. "Did you catch them?"
Tia nodded. "I sent the Sisters after them. They intercepted their convoy trying to flee the city over two hours ago. We're putting them under house arrest until I can meet with them, probably tomorrow or the day after. It depends on what happens here."
Another set of doors brought them to a large conference room, with multiple tables present. It had an elegant look, which implied it was more used for corporate matters than governmental, given the realities of the Republic. Tia headed toward the central table and a podium there. Through the window, the skyline of Wen Hao—Thyssenbourg was not going to be the name for long if she had anything to say about it—was still visible in the night, the buildings lit up as if the city hadn't just been a battlefield for the whole day. Most of the fires were out, at least, although she could see a couple still blazing in the far distance.
She turned back toward the assembled. The Cabinet was present, as were the leaders of every political party. Her eyes settled in the sullen, quiet figure of Felipe, but she refused to give him any further attention. They'd speak later.
"The world begins anew here," she said to them. "It's been born in pain and blood, I know, but compared to where the last world was going, and that damnable law you were ready to pass, I consider it a necessary change. Questions?"
Prime Minister Awang exchanged a glance with President Colbert, the Hestia-born son of New Gabonese workers. He gave a silent nod to Awang, who rose and spoke. "We acknowledge the surrender of the HSF and the Council," he said. "Our fates are in your hands. We invoke your promise for amnesty and fair treatment, both as individuals and in terms of our rights to stand for election."
"Fair enough," she said. She noted Quan Khánh's smoldering look. This will cost me among the comrades. "That said, you will likewise accept my party standing for election, and I expect the entire Cabinet to resign for pushing that horrible law."
"We had no choice," said another man. Tia recognized him as the Minister of Commerce Jean-Bertrand Balland, also born on Hestia of offworlder parents. "Director Rigault had the Council's permission to push the law."
You could have refused, she wanted to snarl. But you cared more for your own luxuries than the people you'd hurt!
"I'm aware of the real relation of power between the Government and the HBC," she said calmly. "That is precisely why you must resign. The people will have no faith in you."
There were stern, unpleasant looks, but Awang quickly stood again. "You are correct," he said. "And, I may remind my colleagues, more than what we expected from your movement succeeding."
She stopped herself from laughing at Awang's remark. You mean we're not putting you against the wall like you expected.
One of Awang's party members stood. He shared her coloration, and given his appearance, she could guess he was related to the Thieu family from her hometown. "I am Daniel Nhung of Xom Lang. Before this meeting, I was given word from my constituents that they wish for me to stand down. The people want you as their Assembly representative, Miss Nguyen."
She was flooded with memories of her family and neighbors at those words. With all the suffering in exile they'd experienced, hearing those words was a weight lifted from her heart. For a moment, she let that show on her expression. "Thank you, Mister Nhung. I will be glad to serve as our representative." There will have to be a formal by-election, of course. I must have legitimacy. A part of her quailed at what it all meant, but she forced the thought away. She couldn't afford to let it affect her now. "Have them hold an election immediately. In fact, I want to hold elections planetwide soon. Our constitution needs firm reform to remove the HBC's fetters. All parties will be allowed to run, and amnesty will be shown to all members of the Assembly with one exception."
"Which exception is that?" Awang asked.
"Human rights violations, by which I mean the neural control implants, the public punishment abuses, and the penal labor program." Her voice hardened. "I am personally aware that some on the Assembly, including certain party leaders, were directly involved in these matters. They will resign all offices immediately, and we reserve the right to put them on trial for abuses of human rights if we find sufficient evidence."
"Ha!" Felipe's voice carried over the room. He stood from the chair. "Don't mince words, class traitor. You mean me."
"Among others, yes, Mister Xiu," she replied coldly. "You were directly involved in the neural control program."
"I don't deny it," he said. "But it's clear to anyone that you're not here to liberate Hestia. You're here on behalf of your Coalition paymasters to destroy the workers' revolution promised by the League." He started walking toward her, slipping around one table as he did. "From whom else could you get your army? Your fleet? The Coalition!" He pointed an accusing finger toward Sarno. "You even flaunt their agents among you, as if we don't remember what was done to the revolutionary government on Monrovia! Although since you helped them there too, I shouldn't be surprised."
"You have sold yourself to the League so completely, you would stand up for the Monrovian butchers that were overthrown?" Tia asked pointedly. There is no point in debating him, but I will show him for what he is to the others. "Is that what they've reduced you to?"
"The League is our only hope for revolution," Felipe insisted bitterly. "You are a fraud."
"And you've betrayed your own people to the allies of their oppressors," she shot back, even as he took another step closer. Suspicion gripped her at his motivation. "Your resignation is expected, Representative Xiu, and once we've gone through the evidence, I wouldn't be surprised if you've done enough to justify trial. Now sit down."
"I do not recognize your authority, traitor," he hissed, moving forward again. "And I will not allow you…"
She didn't quite catch the rest of his words, as her eyes settled on his. Those eyes glistened with something like vicious pleasure and a smirk curled his lips.
That was the moment she realized his suit was hiding a bomb, and that they were all about to die.
* * *
Felipe's approach toward the podium caught the undivided attention of Yanik. He could smell the strain on the human, for one thing. He knew the species well enough to see that beyond the rage there was another emotion beneath it. Something primal.
Fear.
It wasn't enough. He couldn't be sure of what the man was doing; he could only listen to the argument and try to figure out what he was doing. The rage and fear, where did it come from? His tongue flicked the air, tasting the scents, while his eyes focused on the man. There was another scent there, something about him that Yanik could feel as he drew closer.
"I will not allow you to undermine the true Revolution. The workers will triumph."
The scent. An adhesive. Tape of some kind. The realization went through his mind like a lightning bolt. He has a bomb.
His hands were free. It didn't rule out a switch, but it was unlikely. The people here were frisked. A switch would've been found. That the bomb wasn't meant it was quite carefully obscured, likely a small, advanced charge.
That meant the bomb was on a timer. His approach implied that timer was almost up.
A prayer echoed through his soul—Divine, grant me strength and speed!—as he lunged forward. The space ahead of him seemed to elongate in his vision as he centered himself on Xiu.
It felt like minutes. It took seconds. With nothing but a low, instinctive hiss, Yanik rushed across the room. His right arm and shoulder screamed in agony at the impact he made with Xiu, who let out his own shout of surprise as Yanik's mass and strength carried his target along in as powerful an embrace as he could manage. In this act, his body cried out at all the wounds and injuries being jostled. He ignored the pain, knowing it would not matter any longer.
More wounds formed. Cuts from the shattered glass as Yanik carried his foe with him through the big window. They fell into the darkness of the night sky together, a scream issuing forth from Felipe Xiu. "No!"
Yanik didn't respond. As winds whipped around him, as his blood issued from the new injuries inflicted by the glass, only his heart and soul spoke. My soul is yours, Divine.
His answer came in the flash of intense light that enveloped them both.
* * *
The explosion lit up the night sky of the Hestian capital. The resulting shockwave sent tremors through the Palace of Government, blowing in every window in a cacophony of shattering glass.
Everyone in the conference room dove for cover at the first rumble. Pieter jumped on Samina as they went down. Armored Sisters did the same to Tia and Sarno.
Slowly, everyone stood, their minds still reeling from the series of events that happened in such time, they barely had a chance to think. With everyone stunned to silence, Linh was the first to speak. "That blast could have damaged the building. We need to get out, now."
Tia heard the words. The thought cut through the confusion of the moment, not to mention the sheer shock at seeing Yanik go out the window. "Everyone out, now!"
"Take the stairs!" a voice called.
The threat of the entire group turning into a mob was a great one. The Sisters made sure it didn't, setting themselves up in sections to guide the frightened people to the stairwells. Henry led the way with Sinclair, guiding everyone to the nearest door. It led out into the Palace of Government courtyard. Here and there, a shard of glass from that upper window crunched beneath their feet.
The Shadow Wolf crew gathered as a group once they were on the ground. Linh joined them. "He had a bomb," Tia murmured to the others. "Felipe had a bomb strapped on." Her voice failed her. Now that the danger was over, she realized she and everyone else in that room were only seconds from death before Yanik acted.
"Yanik. He… he jumped out of the window." Samina looked around, as if she might find his remains. "He's… he's…" She started to weep as the truth hit her full force.
"He's gone," Vidia said. His eyes lifted upward, as if he could see the point in the air where their friend's life ended. "He died saving us. Upholdin' his obligations ta the last, as his faith commanded. May God grant him the rest he deserves."
"Amen," Henry agreed, his voice wavering with grief. The others were already tearing up, most of them too stunned to find the words they wanted to speak. He swallowed and brought his own grief under control to speak firmly. "He was our friend, and he'd want us to keep going. We've still got work to do before this business is over. Let's see to it."
"Yeah." Tia thought of what was to come. The election, of course, although that was likely to prove a formality. But afterward… She had business with the Hestian Business Council. And she didn't intend to take "no" for an answer.
51
After a day of quiet preparation, Tia approached the Hestian Business Council's meeting room the following morning. Antoine Rigault's words about them echoed in her ears, as did the sweet temptations of Quan Khánh's desire to execute every last one of them. They probably deserve it. Plus Lou's supposedly jumping in soon to check up on things, and so I'll have to deal with him too… ugh.
It's for our people. It's for the dead. With those thoughts in mind, resolution came to her. I won't let them goad me. I won't let them trick me. I won't let them bribe me. I will make them listen.
The guards at the double doors swung it up. For the first time, Tia beheld the chamber from which her world was misruled for so long. Befitting the nature of its usual denizens, it was more corporate board room than government conference room. A simple long table made of a tropical hardwood sat in the middle of the room. Seven seats, fine leather office chairs, lined one end of the table. After a couple of empty spaces on either side were five more seats at the opposite end. They were smaller, cheaper chairs, clearly meant for visitors or appellants, not members.
Toward one wall was a great window showing the city, while the other bore a holoprojector set over a table with spaces for coffee and tea machines. The gentle smell of the latter drink drew Tia's attention to Huang Lu Meng, who held a steaming cup of tea from his seat. The other members of the Council had coffee cups with them. Rigault's seat was obviously vacant.
"Chairwoman Tia Nguyen." The accented voice was Bohlen's. The older banker's smile was genial. Diplomatic. "I suppose I should thank you for not executing us. Your revolution has been milder than the one your uncle would have enacted."
"My uncle didn't have the luxury of loyal off-world allies," she replied. "I've come to speak with you about the changes to our world and your role here."
"And on what grounds do you speak for Hestia?" Cooper of Whalen-Scobrook asked, her voice full of challenge. "At best, your people have submitted to giving you an Assembly seat so you don't have them shot. We don't meet with members of the legislature."
"No, you meet with leaders of the government." Tia folded her hands on the table. "As of last night, that's me."
The other council members glanced at each other. Ortega spoke. "Are you meaning to say…?"
"At t
he request of the Assembly, I was asked to form an emergency government upon my swearing in yesterday," she replied. "I am the new Prime Minister of Hestia."
The response was silence from most of the others, but a harsh laugh came from Cooper. "Oh, how marvelous. I'm sure they'd name you anything so you didn't have them shot."
They're going to try and provoke me, she reminded herself. I won't let them. Aloud, she said, "We're seeking immediate constitutional reforms. Among those reforms will be an end to your role in our government."
"By the law of Hestia, we must be consulted on all new governments," Bohlen said. "As we haven't yet advised of your appointment, you cannot be Prime Minister. Nor were we consulted about removing your political party from the ban on electoral participation. You're not even a legal member of the Assembly."
"The only thing you've got going for you are guns," Cooper added. "The fact you're here and not having us shot means you know your new government is weak and isolated. You need us. More than we need you, frankly."
"Among the reforms will be an end to your so-called 'advisory' role," Tia continued, ignoring their attempts to goad her. "Furthermore, the penal labor facilities are being reclaimed by the government, all prisoner labor suspended, and political prisoners amnestied. After their suitable clean-up for safe working conditions, local communities will be granted ownership and the jobs given to proper workers."
"We have cast-iron contracts for the operation of those facilities," Yamaguchi protested.
Tia forged on. "And in light of your misrule and abuse of Hestian labor, I'm intending to expropriate your other holdings, to be granted to the workers who operate them as compensation for those abuses."
"So you intend to steal our property," Huang said. "As we anticipated."
Breach of Trust: Breach of Faith Book Four Page 43
