"Before we get into why your policies would be disastrous for your people, Miss Nguyen, we will provide you a diplomatic alternative," Bohlen said. "We grant that there have been unfortunate abuses on this world. Men like Director Rigault have broken the compact between our companies and your people. We will concede as much."
"A concession I find empty."
Bohlen ignored her with ill-concealed contempt. "We will advise President Colbert and Prime Minister Awang to allow your party to stand for elections. And we'll happily agree to a reform of the justice system. The HSF will be reconstituted with a higher proportion of Hestian members, including field officers. The penal labor system will be examined by a joint committee and recommendations for reform accepted."
"And what of the Food Quality Control Act? The Fair Compensation Laws? The Employer Security Act? Will you still leave us on the edge of starvation without imports, force us to accept company scrip as wages? Will the blacklist continue to be legally allowed?"
"Some… revision of those laws may be allowed as well."
Tia snorted contemptuously. "In other words, you will reform little but pretend you are doing much. And we will be right back where we started. I do not accept this, and nor do my people."
"Consider the alternative." Bohlen folded his hands together. "Let's say you carry on your radical political agenda. You expropriate our holdings. Do you know what happens next? A complete, utter end to all interstellar trade to Hestia."
"Your new government won't be recognized by anyone," said Cooper. "We'll help set up a government in exile that will control Hestian diplomatic offices. Meanwhile, we'll sue in the courts, yours and those of other worlds, for the theft of our property. We'll demand that the income from all Hestian exports be seized and provided to us as compensation. Your new government will earn no new hard currency with which to pay for any imports."
"You will be embargoed as well," added Jardin. "We'll see to it. Every government we have influence in will do so. Even those we don't will join for fear that sanctions will be expanded to them. Even if you had the money, you wouldn't be able to purchase the things you need on the interstellar market. Not at any reasonable rate."
"How much influence do you think you'll have as news of Rigault's neural control project spreads?" Tia asked harshly.
"We weren't involved in that," said Huang. "That was young Rigault's indiscretion, and you're welcome to punish him for it. His cousin will hopefully appoint a more reasonable replacement to his seat. Indeed, we've been led to expect the arrival of the new representative today."
"Our own minutes will show that we did not support the devices." Bohlen shook his head. "I'll admit we did not stop him from asking for the new law, but he was head of security and insisted it was necessary. We can't be blamed if he misdirected us."
"Allying with the League like he did." Cooper shook his head. "After Lusitania, people should be smarter than that."
"To get to the point, Miss Nguyen. Your people need food imports, and it will take time to get your own food production high enough to feed your world. If you seize our property, you won't be able to afford that food."
"President Fuentes may not see things your way."
The Council members grinned impishly. "I think you'll find the Terran Coalition unwilling to intervene so strongly in Neutral Space. You are not palatable to either side of their political divide. The anti-League parties have no love for socialism, so you won't be getting their sympathies when they hear about your expropriations. As for Fuentes and the Peace Union, they've already denounced you. The peace treaty with the League is more important to them. No, you'll find no aid in that quarter."
She said nothing in response to that. Sinclair already made it clear to her that help was still unlikely from the Coalition.
"Miss Nguyen, I don't want you to get the wrong idea," Bohlen said, returning to his soothing tone. "We recognize that you're not as bloodthirsty as Director Rigault claimed. The fact we are breathing testifies to that. We're willing to give some concessions, but we will not allow our decades of investment into Hestia to be undone. We built your world into what it is. We won't allow you to kick us out in any way. And given your behavior, I'm betting you won't starve your own people to win."
When the smile formed on her face, Tia thought she could see some bewilderment come to theirs. She found that gratifying. "I'm not as friendless as you think," she said. "I've already received a solid pledge of support from Cyrilgrad, including offers of food exports."
"They're a jumped-up pirate colony," Ortega declared dismissively. "They can't feed you."
"No, but Lusitania… they'll help." Tia leaned forward, keeping the grin on her face. "Prime Minister Ascaro and I have already spoken by QET. I informed her of my plans and she accepted the justice of them. Lusitania's willing to continue trading with Hestia. My people may need to get used to new cuisine, but they won't be starving like you think."
The looks on their faces turned vicious. "Ascaro won't be in office forever," Cooper hissed in a tone of voice that made it clear she'd be personally invested in ensuring the matter. "Lusitania has many politicians who won't sacrifice trillions of credits of economic activity for your shithole planet, Hestian."
"I wasn't finished." Tia shook her head. "You've also forgotten the League and Coalition aren't the only powers. The Saurian Empire is strong as well, and they hate the League of Sol. I'm sure I can make arrangements with them."
"They're also isolationists, and aliens," Huang retorted.
Rigault was right, she thought bitterly. They're convinced they can still win. And they may be right.
But I can't submit to them. It would make all the bloodshed for nothing.
The quiet was broken by the opening of the door. Tia noted the irritation on Bohlen's face turn to outright anger, with Cooper and the others showing various levels of contempt or shock. She turned to see who'd entered.
With steady, firm strides, Frank Lou walked up to the table. "My apologies," he said, straightening his white business suit. He wore the Chinese ideograph insignia of his company as a pin for his dark gray tie. "We burned in as quickly as we could."
"What are you doing here, Lou?" Cooper hissed.
"I'm here to take my rightful place."
Tia stared in surprise as Lou strode over to the HBC side of the table. He pulled out the Rigault chair and lowered himself into it. A smile crossed his face as he rolled himself back up to the table. "How are negotiations proceeding?"
"Chairman, this is outrageous!" Cooper's voice oozed offended rage. "This… this Hestian stowaway has no right to be here! I move that the session be suspended until he is removed!"
"I second," Huang added.
"You are not an approved member of this Council, Lou," Bohlen said, his voice rather more controlled, even if his anger clearly simmered. "Leave."
The Hestian tycoon's response was laughter. It took him a few moments to reduce it to titters, at which he resumed speaking. "I do so frighten you, don't I?" he asked confidently. His mood, his voice; it all made him look almost intoxicated with how giddy he behaved. "I've been your bogeyman for twenty years. It's like you can't stand that a filthy Hestian peasant became as rich as you all." His grin sharpened. "Richer, in some cases."
Lou, what the hell are you up to? Tia said nothing. She wanted to see where her ally was going with his performance.
Bohlen opened his mouth to speak, but Lou continued before he could. "Yes, I'm well aware of your rules banning me, personally, from ever sitting on this Council. But that's no longer valid."
"Whatever do you mean?" Huang asked.
Tia noticed Bohlen's face start to pale.
"I see my friend from Trifid Commercial Trust has already figured it out." Lou leaned forward. "Under the rules, no founding corporation can ever be denied a seat here."
"And you're not a founding corporation, Lou," Cooper said.
"I wasn't, true." He folded his hands on the table. "But I am now, as
Lou Shipping and Transport is the new primary shareholder of Rigault Heavy Industries, a founding corporation of this august body." He spoke the latter with particularly vicious sarcasm. "This is my seat now, and I've appointed myself to hold it for the time being, as is my right under HBC bylaws."
Tia's mouth dropped open in shock. What did he say?!
The other members of the Council, save pale Bohlen, were just as surprised. "Im… impossible," Cooper stammered. "You're not that wealthy! The Rigaults would never sell anyway!"
"They didn't have a choice, Mrs. Cooper." Lou's grin was almost predatory. "You may have noticed that your companies' stocks took quite a hard tumble since Prime Minister Nguyen announced her successful takeover?"
"We're aware," Bohlen said woodenly.
"Well, as it turns out, Rigault's stock tumbled even further as certain financial facts came to light. You see, Rigault was virtually bankrupt before this revolution succeeded."
Tia watched the blood drain from the faces of the other Council members.
"Yes, you're realizing it now," Lou remarked. "I had my suspicions, and once I saw what Antoine Rigault was up to, I realized it was true. So I was ready for Prime Minister Nguyen's victory. Once it was publicly known that Hestia fell to her forces, I waited until the stocks dropped and started buying Rigault stock. Once I had enough to ask for a stockholders' meeting, I convinced the shareholders to compel the books to be opened for us. They were rather horrified to find the true state of the company finances. They couldn't get on their links fast enough to sell their shares. I made a few generous offers that many found irresistible."
While the other members of the HBC reeled from this news, Tia swallowed and tried to control herself. He played us all, she thought. This is why he backed me. So he could steal Rigault's company for himself! She wanted to choke with rage.
"I suspect the Council and the new authorities aren't seeing eye to eye," Lou continued, breaking the quiet once more. "I think I may have a mutually acceptable solution." Seeing he had their attention, he charged on. "Allow the Hestian government, or local communities, to purchase your holdings to do with as they see fit. Payments over time, perhaps. Combined with necessary reforms and new laws to ease the situation for Hestian workers, a repeal or reform of certain laws like the Food Quality Control Act, and that should be enough to match your property rights to Prime Minister Nguyen's economic policies."
The word "compensation" brought a snarl to Tia's face. Like hell! was her instinctive reaction. They've earned enough wealth from our labor! Only with great effort did she hold her tongue.
The Business Council glanced at one another. They were still stunned, that much was plain by the looks on their faces.
After no response came to the suggestion, Lou spoke again. "Chairman Bohlen, I would move that we hold a recess. It's clear this has been a trying time for all involved, yourselves included. Once we've had a break, maybe we'll be better able to discuss my general proposal."
Bohlen snapped up the opportunity. "Yes. The Council is now in recess." The moment he spoke, the others fled the room like it was plagued.
Tia didn't. She rose from her chair and approached Lou. "You bastard," she hissed. "You smug bastard."
Lou stood from the Rigault chair. "Prime Minister. Congratulations on your victory."
"Don't play me!" she shouted. "This was never about the liberation of Hestia! This was about you being a typical exploiting capitalist bastard! You did this to buy out Rigault!"
A small smile creased his face. "I do admit I wished to," he said. "I knew it would crash their stock prices if HBC control of Hestia collapsed. Maneuvering myself into position for a buyout was rather easy afterward."
"Thousands of people are dead," Tia said. "All so you could get more wealth!"
"No." With that word, the giddiness Lou showed earlier was gone. He wasn't even reserved like before, in their strategy meetings. His voice was hard, harsh, and he sounded offended. "No, not just wealth." His eyes glared at her. "I understand you and I don't see eye to eye on economics, Prime Minister."
"I think you're just as exploitative as they are!"
"Is that what you see when you look at me?" he asked.
"Yes! You're a capitalist, just like them!"
"Ah." His hard tone turned somber as he turned to face the window. Their reflections showed faintly on the glass surface, beyond which the skyline of Wen Hao spread out before them. "Well, I have no one to blame for that but myself. That's the image I've cultivated for decades. But do you know what I see, Prime Minister? Do you know what I see when I look into a mirror?"
She wasn't in the mood for word games. "What?" she snapped.
"I see a Hestian boy who had to leave his home to get ahead in life," Lou replied. "It was the only way to be something more than a glorified slave."
Tia bit her lip.
Evidently, he took her silence as an invitation to continue. "Buying out Rigault will make me even wealthier over time, yes. But that's not why I did it. I needed Rigault's seat on the HBC to fulfill my true objective."
"And that is?" she asked, managing not to hiss the words.
His eyes bored into her own, straight into her very being. "You saw my grandchildren on the Vesta. They are of Hestian blood. And I want them to be raised on their homeworld as free citizens. I want them, and every new generation of Hestians, to live a full life under our Hestian sky, eating our Hestian foods, paid fair wages in Hestian bhats, I want them to enjoy being Hestians. I want Sagittarius to stop seeing us as the uncultured serfs of megacorporations and start seeing us as a people." He said every word with careful deliberation, as if long-practiced. "I want our people to have their rightful place in the stars. I have risked everything I have on that coming true. And that includes risking everything on you."
His words resonated within her. Her suspicion of him didn't go away, couldn't, but she didn't hear falsehood in them. Indeed, she could feel the aggrieved pride, the raw yearning, in his speech. Enough that she believed he meant it. "So what now?" she asked.
"One day, we may be political enemies," he said. "Or you and my children will be foes, should it come after I die. That's inevitable. What matters is how we see each other at this moment. If we're to win, I can't be a megacorp-owning capitalist, and you can't be a revolutionary socialist. We must be Hestians."
"I'm not letting you undermine the economic policies I want to pursue," Tia warned. "I'm giving those properties to the Hestian people."
"And I won't stop you. Our people must learn to own things, whichever of our systems they eventually embrace. For the time being, we're going to be busy with that."
She nodded. "We also need to expand our farmland and open up the fisheries. We need to become self-sufficient in food so we can't be held hostage again. That will mean cleaning up the environmental damage the megacorps caused."
"Agreed. That'll take time and money."
"It should come from them."
"It will, indirectly, but only if they can show something for it." He turned his head to the table. "They'll accept an end to their control, and eventual divestment, if they can report they'll get something from it. I'm sure they blustered about sanctions and embargoes, but they know they likely won't get anything for that in the long run. A gradual, compensated divestment, however, well, given the alternatives, they'll need to be mad to turn down the deal."
"It's better than they deserve."
"Agreed. But it's the best way for our people too. We can use the divestment period to enact management changes. The local communities can replace the offworld managers. Over time, they'll buy the megacorps out, and all the while, Hestia's economy continues to function, we can afford to clean things up and expand food production, and our people get to eat."
"They're not getting full value," Tia insisted.
"Indeed not, and they'll settle for that over nothing."
Despite herself, Tia found his recommendations interesting. She didn't want to create a centraliz
ed state; that was a mistake too many socialists made over history. The people of each community should enjoy the fruits of their labor, not have them distributed by a distant government.
"We should get a proposal finalized, you and me," Lou said. "They'll recover soon enough."
"Alright." She nodded. "Let's move on to political reform then."
52
With the end of the day came an end to the talks with the HBC. Despite Cooper's efforts to deny Lou's new seat, Bohlen ruled for him each time, and the entire Council turned on her. They were far more interested in the proposals Tia submitted and which Lou pushed for. While the deal wasn't done yet, it wasn't dead either.
The end of the meetings didn't mean an end to Tia's day. She had to deal with her own people now. Her party comrades, eager to be assured she didn't sell them out, and other party leaders desperate to distance themselves from Rigault. But first, she had something more important to do.
Awang was out of the Prime Minister's official residence at 39 Tinsdale now. She arrived at her new abode to find the others waiting in the parlor. Her surviving comrades of the Shadow Wolf stood or sat here and there. Oskar looked as exhausted as she was. "It's good to see you again," she said. "I heard you destroyed their work."
"I did," he answered. "I'm not done with the surgeries."
"Doctor Singh from the Majha is training other surgeons on removing the implants safely," Brigitte said. "You won't need to do them all."
"I know." He let out a sigh. "But that's not what matters right now. We're here for Yanik."
The mention of their slain comrade's name silenced the room. "He was so nice," Samina said. Tears formed in her brown eyes. "And such a good man. I hope he made it to Paradise."
"Of course he did," Vidia said. "God knows him as He knows us all."
Miri smiled softly at that. "A rather sobering thought, but true."
"I'll never forget the fright he gave us when we stowed aboard the Wolf." Brigitte smiled. "A great big bloody lizard man. We'd heard the tales but never seen a Saurian before. About pissed myself."
Breach of Trust: Breach of Faith Book Four Page 44
