Beside her, Piper wiped a tear away. "He was a gentle giant."
"Right good man." Pieter looked around. "How about we have a toast?"
Cera nodded in agreement. "Aye, I'm good for that. For Yanik, an' Felix tae."
While she was new to the place, Tia didn't have trouble finding a cabinet with liquor. Not just any liquor either. Awang drinks Thanh too. I suppose he has some taste. The others joined her, each accepting a glass, and she poured a shot for each of them, save Samina and Henry, who returned from the kitchen with glasses of water. Once they were ready, she put the bottle down and raised her glass. "To Yanik and Felix, and all of our fallen comrades," Tia said.
"To the fallen," Henry agreed, his own glass coming up. "They gave their lives for us."
Every glass rose to join them. "To the fallen!"
* * *
Tia saw the others off. She offered them rooms, but Henry already had rooms rented in a nearby commercial hotel. "We're honest spacers. We're not going to mooch off you, Madame Prime Minister," he teased her upon leaving.
While it was a friendly tease, it left her feeling melancholy. After changing into a nightgown, she retired to the private study with the bottle of Thanh and a glass. Awang had digital readers and printed books he'd yet to take out, but she wasn't interested in them. She wasn't interested in anything but her own thoughts.
I should be happy. I'm the leader of my people, by their own acclamation. I'm free of the implant. My people are free of the megacorps, whatever deal gets worked out. We won. After all these years, we won.
The melancholy didn't go away. Not when her mind went to those intervening years. Seeing all of those worlds and places while serving on the Shadow Wolf. Proudly voting in elections for the ISU, even attending ISU meetings when able. It'd been a good life. Rewarding. Worthy.
But that was all gone now. Her ship was destroyed. She'd lost more comrades in the war, giving it a bitter tinge. And now duty had her shackled even more thoroughly than that damned implant. The implant that would undoubtedly be responsible for many nightmares over the rest of her life.
I wasn't supposed to be the leader. She shook her head at her own remark. But I'll carry this burden if I must. It's worth it for my people. She took a drink of the Thanh. It felt good burning its way down. My people are what matters.
"Tia?"
She turned her head. Linh entered, wearing plain clothes and holding a tablet in her metal hand. "Linh?"
"We're getting more figures from the districts. The planetary election's not being held yet, but they're already voting in managers for taking over the work sites. Every mine, factory, farm, and ranch will have worker-elected supervisors by the end of the week, if this keeps going."
A smile crept across Tia's face. "Good," she said. "It's about time our people worked for themselves. I'm happy they're taking the opportunity."
"We're probably going to win the Assembly at this rate." The enthusiasm in Linh's voice would have infected anyone else. "We might have to caucus with some of the other liberationist parties, but we're certain to get a solid government committed to economic reform."
"Good." Tia took another drink and said no more.
Linh finally seemed to notice her mood. "Are you all right?"
"I'm nostalgic, and I'm afraid," Tia admitted. "I miss the Shadow Wolf."
"Ah." Linh nodded. "I'm going to miss Trinidad Station too."
"You decided not to go back? You were certain to be elected Secretary of the Dockworker Guild."
"I know, and I'll miss that opportunity." She shook her head and sat down on the couch nearest the desk chair Tia was in. "But this is my home. I want to help rebuild it, in whatever way possible."
"I'm sure you'll be busy enough fixing those cruisers up."
"For now, although I'm not sure we can easily afford them. We'd need a supporting fleet," Linh pointed out. "Destroyers, frigates, corvettes. Hestia can't afford something like that right now."
"Hmm. We'll find a solution." Tia held up the bottle. "A drink, Linh?"
"Certainly." After Linh had a glass and some liquor to fill it (and her in turn), she returned her attention to Tia. "So I get why you're nostalgic. But what are you afraid of?"
"Myself. The future." Tia sipped at the liquor. "Being the leader of Hestia is a lot of weight. It's not something I ever dreamed of having, nor did I want it."
"That's what qualifies you more than others," Linh assured her.
"Maybe. But I am going to make enemies of our own. Our party comrades, your cousin; they want justice. Some want us to take over directly. We died fighting after all, why share power? And they won't be patient for the compromises I might have to make." Her eyes turned distant. "The compromises I've already made. I worry I might betray the things we stand for."
"Quan's angry at the moment, true, but I'm working on him," Linh promised. "The Truth and Reconciliation Committee is going to heal Hestia more than the trials he wants."
"There will be trials, for those who went too far. But honest Hestians trying to survive, well, we can forgive them, even if we can't forgive what they did. What they were made to do."
"The opposition parties are another matter. He's not the only comrade thinking the Social Conservatives and some of the other collaborators should be banned just as we were."
"I know. But I don't want to replace the HBC as autocrats, deciding what voices get to be heard. And banning them would make it sound like they fear them, and we shouldn't." Even as she spoke the words, Tia recognized she wasn't being honest with herself, not entirely. "I admit a part of me wants them to be punished for letting the megacorps get away with so much. Sixteen years ago, I'd be throwing them against a wall, just as Quan wants."
"We all would, I think," Linh confessed. "But time changes us."
"Not just time. The people we meet. The comrades we make." Tia glanced toward the window. "Jim and the others, even Felix; they softened my edges. They made me willing to consider alternatives and question myself sometimes."
"You regret that?"
"I don't know." Tia shrugged. "What do you think, Linh?"
"Hrm?"
"Am I betraying the others? Ngoc, Thuần and Mathilde, Nhung, Quang, Kanda." She listed the name of every member of their old cell with grief and doubt. "Have I betrayed our dead comrades with my compromises?"
"No." The answer came automatically. Linh shook her head to emphasize it. "We won, Tia. Our people are free. They would cheer that more than anything else."
The sigh that came from Tia wasn't entirely one of reassurance, merely acceptance. I must continue this path, she thought. Whatever the future holds.
And with my mind on distasteful things… She brought out her link and made a call.
"Yes, Tia?" Miri answered.
"Miri, now's as good a time as any to deal with Kepper." She frowned. "As much as I'd love to execute the bastard for killing my comrades, we made a fair bargain and he honored it. We have to let him go."
"Yes, it's important to honor such promises," Miri agreed. "Don't worry. I'll handle everything in the morning."
* * *
The door to the makeshift cell opened. The forcefield projector shut down. Kepper smiled quietly as Miri walked into the room. "I hear congratulations are in order," he said. "You won. Is Rigault alive?"
"Yes, and in custody. He'll be going on trial for crimes against humanity, among other things." Miri approached him.
"So the work's done. I lived up to my end of the bargain." Kepper raised his arms to gesture toward his restraints. "I hope you're here to do the same."
As he spoke those words, he wondered if his gamble would fail. It was only at the slight disgust showing on her face that he was reassured. Nguyen's a woman of her word, he thought. I'll have to give her my card. Whatever image she wants to project to the galaxy, I'm sure she'd like a few HBC members to take a dirt nap.
While he thought these things, he refrained from moving, allowing Miri to unlock his restraints
. She bent low to free his ankles. He watched her intently as she worked on the ankle monitor. It took her a few moments to deactivate all of the security features employed to thwart him from sabotaging it. When it was done, she pulled it away. "This way. We've brought the Nimrod back for you."
He nodded. "After you, Miss Gaon."
She led him out into the corridors of a transport ship. He kept a careful eye out for trouble. None came, and after a few minutes, they were in a cargo hold. His ship was already there, waiting. "She's refueled completely," Miri said. "You're free to go."
"Excellent working with you, Miss Gaon. Good luck out there." He gave her a salute, two fingers to his temple, before entering the ship. He locked the airlock behind him.
He flew the ship free of the transport. They were not far from Hestia's moon, and the solar S2 point wasn't far. He programmed the ship's course out that way before getting to work.
Panel by panel, piece by piece, the entire ship was opened up. His equipment meticulously scanned for the slightest trace of a transmitter left aboard. When his search proved fruitful, he checked his space suit, brought the Nimrod to a relative stop, and made a complete search of her hull for micro-QETs or any other trackers.
After over an hour of checking, he felt confident that he was free and clear. She's a tricky one, he thought, reassuring himself that his measures were warranted. But she knew better. Good for her. He walked over the hull to the main airlock and opened it.
Once he was out of his space suit and back at the helm control, he resumed his course to the system jump limit. It was time to see what other work was waiting for him.
* * *
The courtyard of the Palace of Government was packed with spectators. Assembly Members, their families, visiting members of the allied fleets, the Shadow Wolf crew… everyone who deserved to be there was there, as well as local residents and visiting reporters from the nearest worlds.
The podium was marked with the new gold-starred seal of the Hestian Republic. After a few remarks with Shahkrit, who was in the running for the Assembly seat for Hue, she walked up to the podium. A gesture from a technician told her they were transmitting over both planetary comms and the GalNet. All of Sagittarius would see this.
"People of Hestia and our neighbors in Sagittarius, a pleasant day to you all," she began. "I am pleased to announce that my new government has finalized a deal with the Hestian Business Council. Under these terms, the Council will no longer have a role in the governance of Hestia, and substantial reform will continue. The first constitutional reform has already been passed, returning complete electoral choice to the people, which they will enjoy in the upcoming elections. From now on, Hestians will decide the future of our world."
Cheers answered her.
"While we will decide our future for ourselves, we acknowledge that our liberation came with the aid of offworld forces. Hestia will not forget the sacrifices of those who died so that we may be free. We will show them the gratitude they are due. As such, the protections of the new constitution will apply to offworlders as well as citizens. Freedom of choice, of religion, and all other freedoms that are the common right of living beings will be the heritage of our world."
The speech continued on, affirming the immediate changes to management, the gradual ownership change, and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Tia could tell the policies were not universally popular, but there was no surprise to that. Hestians were no different from any other people. In the end, what mattered was that their world belonged to her people again.
Once the speech was over, Tia stepped back. As the crowd dispersed, she walked over to the attending dignitaries and started shaking their hands, thanking them in turn.
From Dulaney, she received a simple instruction: "Take care of Chief Khánh. She may be one of yours, but as far as we're concerned, she's still one of ours."
Mother Sarno smiled pleasantly at her. "So far, you have done as well as I could ever hope," she assured Tia. "Rule with justice and God's blessing will remain with you."
"We'll want you back," Tia said to her. "For the memorial."
"Oh?"
"The Liberation Memorial, for the park where we landed. It's going to represent every group that came to liberate Hestia. A Sister will be standing tall with the others."
"It is not our way to seek such remembrance," Sarno protested gently. "But I will come to honor all who fell here."
Next came her old crewmates. She started with Samina, who nearly gave her a hug before remembering herself. The young woman extended a hand. "It's been great working with you, Tia. I'm going to miss you."
"And I'll miss you. Linh will too."
Pieter's hand was ready. "It's been great serving with you, Tia. If you ever get tired of being a politician, make sure to look us up. Good spacer hands are hard to find."
"You know I will."
Oskar nodded and gave her his hand. "At least one of us exiles gets to go home," he said warmly. "I'm happy for you."
"Maybe you will too, one day."
Brigitte was next, and she overheard the entire exchange. "My home's the spaceways," she said. "If the damned League ever goes down, the only thing I want from my homeworld is finding my Aunt Kallista."
For a moment, Tia imagined Uncle Guillaume was beside her. I hope you'd be proud of me, Uncle. "I hope you find her."
"I'm going to miss you too," said Piper. "You taught me how to be a real spacer, not just a stargazer."
"And if my lessons stick, I hope you make a fine First Mate."
Piper sighed in resignation. Tia grinned at her for that reaction.
Cera was next. "I'll miss ye, Tia, an' all yer complaints about my flyin'."
"And I'll miss the near-heart attacks you gave me, you reckless daredevil." Tia allowed herself a laugh while shaking Cera's hand. She stepped up to Vidia with her hand still raised. "Vidia, you take care of everyone, alright?"
"I'll do what I can," he promised. "I know ya never sought my spiritual advice, but I'm glad I was of help ta ya anyway."
"You did more than you know." She took another step to the last, but certainly not least, of her former crew standing there. Henry nodded at her and offered her a hand. "Jim, thanks for everything."
"You're welcome, Tia. You've been the best XO a skipper can ask for, and now you've got your own ship."
"And she's a big one too," Tia said. "I hope I can keep her steady."
His eyes shone with assurance. "I have faith you will."
As she stepped past him, tears filled her eyes. She might never work with them again, and deep down, she didn't want to say goodbye.
Or maybe I'll lose the next election and follow Pieter's advice to go become a spacer again, she mused.
The Tokarevs came last. Piotr looked every inch the monk, with his long beard, while Pavel had a more introspective, scholarly look. "God bless your rule, Prime Minister," the younger Tokarev said. "Know that Cyrilgrad will be your comrade in arms forever."
"Thank you." She couldn't quite keep the discomfort from her voice. "Your people are welcome to send missionaries, the same as Sister Sarno."
"The Church will plant seeds here, yes, and it will strengthen our brotherhood, but we are your comrades regardless." Pavel narrowed his eyes. "You seem concerned, Prime Minister. Is there a problem?"
"I'm just surprised you're not angry with me," she admitted. "I honored my deal with Kepper. I let him go instead of having him face justice for the people he's hurt. I heard from Miri he killed one of your church members on Harron."
"Yes, we know," Pavel said. "But you were honoring your word. Honesty is a virtue in the eyes of God."
"Yes. Do not worry." Piotr grinned. "Justice will be done to Kepper, by God's will, wherever he goes."
* * *
A couple jumps away, Kepper watched the press conference over his encrypted GalNet connection. The raw feed continued even after the speech ended, allowing him to see Nguyen speak with the Tokarevs. He couldn't see her mout
h, but he saw theirs, and his lip reading was more than enough to understand their words.
I'm not worried about some colony world yokels, he thought to himself. The League's a threat. You're just—
His ship howled a warning, drawing his attention to the sensor display. The proximity sensors showed a wormhole forming almost on top of him. That's too close! He reached for the jump controls. Time to jump out.
His eyes spied the monitor. Through the wormhole flew a recognizable ship, marked with Cyrillic lettering on the side. The system translated immediately.
Morozova.
His ship showed the jump engine was ready. He reached for the control to open the wormhole, just for the ship to rock violently under him. Alarms went off and a status screen showed the entire rear of his ship turn black. The Morozova's weapons hit dead center on his jump drive, blowing out the entire engine compartment in the process.
A moment later, a pale beam snagged his vessel. He was in the grip of an energy grappler. They had him.
No. No, no— NO DAMMIT! His face twisted in fury. He knew full well, at that moment, he was good as dead, and he couldn't figure out how his fortunes turned so quickly. How did they find me?! I searched everywhere for trackers; there's no way—
A memory came to him. Kepper looked down at his feet.
Or rather, his left ankle.
He bent down and slipped the fingers of his right hand into the inside seam of his left trouser leg. His fingers probed the area for several seconds until he felt a contact against the tip of his index finger. With care, he gripped it and pulled it out to look at it.
A micro-QET transmitter sat on his finger. The lethal device was a mere dot of pale gold, but it'd killed him as certainly as a bullet or bomb would have.
She tricked me! Instinctive rage and terror came with that thought, as he remembered Miri Gaon removing the ankle monitor from the same leg. She'd done it quite speedily too. How had he overlooked that? How could he be so sloppy as to not double-check his own clothes? Now the Tokarevs had him, and he was going to die. And it wouldn't be pleasant!
Breach of Trust: Breach of Faith Book Four Page 45
