Chapter 109 - LaPorte
"How did you get out, Paulus?" Rav Suvorov asked as they approached the base, "Is it a method we can use to get back in?"
"Fraid not," Paulus told him, "Tony Stack committed suicide to draw attention away from my escape. I left from the jail and headed north."
"Not much help there," Suvorov said, "How much do the rank and file actually respect their boss?"
"Not much," Paulus shrugged, "Everyone I talked to hated him. He’s got a core of officers that answer to him, but loyalty? I doubt it."
"I wonder how hard it would be to get in," Suvorov said, "Let’s go up and find out?"
"What are you talking about?" Paulus asked him, "Go up where?"
"Wait here," Suvorov said, "I’ll be right back."
Suvorov stood up and walked over to the gate, some thirty yards away from where they were hiding. He was covered by mud, much like everyone out in the rainstorms that day and didn’t even cause the guard to raise an eyebrow. Suvorov, familiar with the routines of the base from his time there went up like he knew what he was doing.
"Halt!" the guard said, "Who are you?"
"Name is Suvorov," he told the guard, "Got some reports from the field for Colonel LaPorte."
"Where’s your satchel, mate?" the guard said, "Or your patch?"
"Oh," Suvorov said, "I lost the satchel in the mud somewhere. My patch is here, isn’t it?"
Suvorov made as if he was looking on his shoulder and looked for other guards. Seeing none within easy seeing distance he reared back and punched the guard in the nose. He then picked up the guard and dragged him into the shed that was used for shelter. He removed the guard’s own sword and placed it against the young man’s throat.
"What patch were you referring to?" Suvorov asked him, "What patch?"
"Fuck you," the guard said, grunting, "I don’t have to tell you anything!"
"You work for a traitor and have a sword against your throat," Suvorov said, "If I were you I’d tell me what I needed to know."
"Traitor?" the guard said, "I work for Colonel LaPorte you fool! You’re the one working for the traitors!"
"I work for the Mullinix," Suvorov told him, "Colonel LaPorte works for the Mavelans. Who is the traitor now?"
"He’s trying to make peace with the Mavelans," the guard said, "Not working for them."
"Wrong answer," Suvorov said, pressing the sword tighter, "Would you like to try again, for double the money?"
"Oh god," the young man said, "He’s been lying to all of us!"
"Yes he has," Suvorov said, releasing him a little, "Now what patches were you talking about?"
"These," the guard said, pointing to the strangely colored insignia on his shoulder, "LaPorte tested us all when we came in. Those of us who met his criteria received these. He said it was an additional security measure."
"It’s a way of identifying his people and the conscripts," Suvorov said, "Do you have more?"
"I have six of my own," the guard said, "But if I give you these…"
"You’ll avoid prosecution for aiding LaPorte in his treason," Suvorov said, "He’s trying to give Cirrus back to the Mavelans."
"All I want is to go home," the guard said, "That’s all I ever wanted."
"Head north," Suvorov said, "Don’t come back."
"You got it!" the guard said and handed a bunch of patches over, "I’m out of here."
The guard ran like hell and Suvorov went out to wave the others inside. They came up and Suvorov handed out the patches. The men wiped themselves off and looked around the shack.
"LaPorte has a kink in his armor," Suvorov said, "And these are it. Those patches are worn by his troopers."
"Figures," Paulus said, "I knew he had to have some loyal people somewhere."
"Where is that guy going?" one of Suvorov’s people asked, "I mean is he…"
"They are more loyal than others," Suvorov explained, "But they aren’t going to sit still for treason."
"I take it you have a plan," Paulus said, "You have that look in your eye."
"Why crawl around when you can just walk in?" Suvorov said, putting the patch on his shoulder, "Let’s go have a little chat with our gracious host, shall we?"
"You can get away with that," Paulus said, "I can’t. They know me, remember?"
"Not with a helmet on they don’t," one man suggested, handing over his helmet, "Try that, sir."
"I think we have a plan," Suvorov said, "Now we’re going to walk in there and act like we know where we’re going."
"What do we do if they realize we aren’t who we say we are?" one man asked.
"Pray," Suvorov said, "But we’re running out of time."
"Let’s do it," Paulus agreed, "Before I have time to think about how stupid this really is."
Suvorov nodded and checked everyone’s patches. Paulus took a deep breath and hoped that he survived the hour, but gave the nod to go ahead. Suvorov opened the door and they let themselves in to the building. One of the guards walked over to greet them and check their patches.
"Ok," the guard said, "What brings you inside?"
"Reports from the field," Suvorov said, "The Colonel needs to know what’s going on."
"Right," the guard nodded, "You know the way, right?"
"I should," Suvorov said, "I’ve been there enough times before."
The guard motioned for them to pass. The group of men walked through much like the soldiers that they were. Paulus stayed to the back of the group and slipped in, trying to keep himself from being noticed. The guard looked at Paulus for a second and then shrugged to himself and turned away. LaPorte’s penchant for bringing the less intelligent people into his service was working to their benefit.
They walked quietly up the stairs and past the line room where Paulus had been taken and Tolando had been killed. Suvorov looked over at his people to make sure he hadn’t lost anyone yet. Paulus moved forward in the line and tapped the younger man on the shoulder.
"He’ll have troops close," Paulus whispered, "How do you plan on dealing with them?"
"Joey," Suvorov said, "Can you find the General’s defensive signals and disable them?"
The young man nodded and slipped off to go create some havoc. Suvorov looked at Paulus and smiled. Paulus shrugged and pointed at the door to LaPorte’s office. Suvorov nodded and walked up to the two young guards. They looked over him closely and decided they’d better question him.
"What are you doing here, soldier?" one of them asked, "You should be out in the field."
"I’m here to see Colonel LaPorte," Suvorov said, "Is he in?"
"He doesn’t want visitors," the guard said, "Now get back to your lines."
"I don’t think so," Suvorov said, shaking his head, "Now I asked you a question. Is he in?"
"Not for you," the other guard growled, starting to go for his weapon.
"Wrong answer," Suvorov said, reaching out with his right hand and grabbing the guard’s neck and pulling him closer, "Now is he in, asshole?"
"You can’t do that!" the first guard exclaimed, going for his own weapon.
"Yes he can," Paulus smiled, letting off a solid forward kick into the guard’s balls, "Proceed, Rav."
"I believe you’d best answer me," Suvorov said through clenched teeth, "Unless you want to end up like your friend."
"He’s in there," the guard choked, "But you do anything to him his goons will kill you."
"I doubt it," Paulus said, "Let’s go talk to the man, shall we?"
"Yes," Suvorov said, punching the guard in the stomach, "Let’s."
The guard doubled over and fell to the floor. Paulus and Suvorov moved forward to LaPorte’s office while the rest of the team took care of business outside the office. The team secured the former guards inside a nearby closet and took their spots as guards, completely unnoticed by the few people who actually walked by.
"I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed!" LaPorte barked from hi
s position looking out the window, "This had better be important!"
"I’d like to think so," Paulus said, "We never did get to finish our discussion about what you were doing here, LaPorte."
Ellis LaPorte turned around and looked at the two men now standing in the room. He actually smiled as he took in the two interlopers and sat down at his desk. He pulled out his box of specially crafted cigars and pulled one out, offering the box to the newcomers. Both of them declined.
"So you did manage to escape, Mr. Tally?" LaPorte said as he lit up, "I guess I have you to thank for that extra force that is opposing my people out there?"
"Actually you have Medoferro to thank for that," Paulus said, "He’s leading the main thrust and did a lot to repair the damage you’ve done to our credibility."
"Credibility, huh?" LaPorte said, smoking his cigar, "Since when has the Mullinix government had any credibility?"
"That word has no meaning for this man," Suvorov said, "He should write a book called how to kill friends and ingratiate yourself with enemies."
"You’re a funny man," LaPorte said, "I don’t believe I’ve made the acquaintance?"
"My name is Suvorov," Rav said, looking harshly at the would-be dictator, "I was one of the people you co-opted to do the massacres under Major Stack."
"Oh yes," LaPorte said, "One of Major Stack’s boys. Our late and unlamented Major Stack."
"Unlike you he paid for his sins," Paulus said, "You do know that he’s how I got out, right?"
"Doesn’t take a brain surgeon," LaPorte agreed, "Tony was just too weak to do what had to be done."
"That’s the thing I never understood," Suvorov said, "Why have you been working to destroy the country that gave you everything? I mean last I knew the Mullinix had been pretty good to you."
"The Mullinix are weak," LaPorte said, standing up again, "They waste their time educating people who don’t deserve it and waste all those resources trying to keep the people around here as part of the empire when they’d be better served being ruled over and told what to do."
"And you are the one who needs to make this choice?" Paulus asked, "What makes you better than everyone else?"
"Those who take the power are automatically better," LaPorte told them, "I’m certainly better than those cretins up in the centre who think that those weak people who claim they don’t want to be there should rule anything."
"There’s a reason that they have power," Paulus said, "Do you want to know what it is, LaPorte?"
"Sure," LaPorte chuckled, "Educate me, O wise prisoner to be?"
"It’s to make sure that assholes like you never get it," Paulus said, "Because people like you are so self centered that you don’t understand what it takes to be a good ruler."
"All it takes is strength," LaPorte said, "The will to break a few eggs to get what you want."
"Those aren’t eggs you’re breaking," Suvorov seethed, "They are people! You’ve murdered hundreds of people just to fill your own pockets and give you a power that is illusory at best!"
"Illusory?" LaPorte chuckled, "There’s nothing illusory about the power to take anyone’s life at will."
"And you think you’re going to get this from the Mavelans?" Paulus said, "Not only are you insane but you’re stupid as well, LaPorte. King Facie is a known liar and cheat. He’ll use you to get Cirrus and then he’ll kill you like he has everyone else who helped him."
"That won’t happen," LaPorte said, showing how much he was living in a dream world, "I will prevail in this."
"Not likely," Suvorov said, "You didn’t ask how we got in."
"I don’t care," LaPorte said, yawning a little, "All I know is that you’ll now be leaving."
LaPorte pulled a cable behind his chair and waited. Paulus and Rav looked at each other and chuckled. Joey had found the security center and made sure that anything from General LaPorte’s office went blissfully ignored. LaPorte pulled the string a few more times, but when no soldiers came he started to get nervous.
"They may have been assigned to you, Ellis," Paulus said, "But they are still Mullinix. You played the system, but you never did really understand it. Being a Mullinix citizen is more than just a game people play to get ahead. Most of them really believe it."
"Why would anyone believe that crap?" LaPorte said, "It doesn’t make sense."
"It never will to people like you," Paulus told him, "You believe in power and expediency. Well there’s only one way to deal with people like you."
"You can’t kill me," LaPorte said, glaring, "It would go against all your precious moral codes."
"Treason is a capital crime," Suvorov reminded him, "So is murder, and you are complicit in Massimaferro’s death."
"So you did figure out Coblein?" LaPorte said, "But the wires…"
"The wires told you what they were intended to," Paulus said, "The reason things didn’t go smoothly is we have brought an entire regiment of guard in to stop you, led by the Mullinix himself. You never had a chance, LaPorte. Not one."
"I’ll tell you about having chances!" LaPorte exclaimed, standing up and flicking his cigar across the room at Paulus, "You try growing up with the hellish parents and insults I got from this so called system. I had my shot and I took it! Who the hell are you to condemn me for that?"
"I don’t have to condemn you," Paulus said, dodging the cigar, "You seem to have done the job just fine by yourself."
"Well condemn this!" LaPorte yelled, pulling out a sword, "I won’t go down alone!"
Paulus and Rav watched almost with amusement as LaPorte came up from his desk and tried to swing at Paulus. LaPorte was not the man he’d been when he learned his swordplay twenty years earlier. Paulus dodged the first one easily and the second without a problem.
Suvorov started to raise his weapon as LaPorte raised his above his head to try to take a whack at Paulus. Paulus was about ready to dodge when he saw a rapid change in LaPorte’s eyes and pallor. The large man started gurgling a little and instead of bringing the sword down at Paulus he dropped it flat out, with it clattering on the floor.
"Not now…" LaPorte mumbled, "Not today…"
Paulus and Suvorov looked at each other as LaPorte fell backwards, crushing a very expensive looking coffee table as he did so. Suvorov kicked the sword away and pulled his own as Paulus went over to check on LaPorte. The large man was gurgling a little and obviously having trouble breathing.
"Well," Paulus said, looking at the fallen man, "I guess your heart can’t take the excitement, fat man. It is your heart, isn’t it?"
"Pills…" LaPorte said, gurgling a bit more, "Desk…"
"I don’t think so," Paulus said, "You see, you’ve been a major embarrassment to us, Ellis. I think it would be best for all concerned if your heart attack there turned out to be fatal, don’t you Suvorov?"
"Fitting too," Suvorov said, nodding, "Saves Medo the trouble of a trial."
"Bastards…" LaPorte grunted, "Mavelans… will… kill… you…"
"You won’t be around to see it," Paulus told him, "Rot in hell, Ellis."
LaPorte knew he was dying, but he wasn’t going to do it without striking back. He lifted his hand, using the last of his strength to do it, and grabbed Paulus’s throat. Suvorov ran over and pulled at the hand, but it was rapidly turning into a death grip on the Mullinix Representative’s throat.
"You don’t get to win!" Suvorov exclaimed, pulling, "Let go, you dirty old corpse!"
"Fuck…" LaPorte gasped, "You… Mr. Tally…"
"Chest," Paulus managed to choke out, "Hit…"
Suvorov nodded and reared back. He then flattened his palm and brought it down full force on LaPorte’s chest, right over his heart. The fallen general gasped for breath and lost the hold on Paulus. Paulus pulled away and fell back on the floor, gasping for air as LaPorte took his last breaths.
"Good riddance," Suvorov said, checking to make sure LaPorte was really dead, "Rot in hell, asshole."
"
Go get control of his troops here," Paulus said, "I’ll find his codes, give his troopers orders to withdraw. That should pull some pressure off of Cholt and Hardin’s groups."
"Let’s do it," Suvorov nodded, "See you in a few, Paulus."
Paulus nodded and stood up, looking at the bloated corpse of Colonel LaPorte. He pondered kicking it, but couldn’t bring himself to want to touch it. He instead remembered the conversation he’d had with the traitorous Colonel in the cell. He shook his head as he walked over to LaPorte’s desk.
"You were right about one thing, Colonel," Paulus said as he dug around, "You will never hang."
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 113
