Audacity (Warner's World Book 5) (35 page)

“About time” huffed Bakun as he watched the media announcement that the security operation on Cheklin was being wound down. He had been one of the most vocal advocates for lifting it. In the end though, it was all about money. The grounding of his fleet meant that the local government was losing a great swag of its taxation, licensing and excise revenue. It was unsustainable.

He relaxed back into his chair in his office on the top floor of Likta Towers. It was turning out to be a good day for him. But perhaps the better news was the report that Agent Torine had warped away earlier in the day. He had been unable to find out her destination but was grateful nonetheless.

He pulled up the list that he had been working on at various times throughout the day. It was from his most classified repository. No one knew about it and only he had access to it. It was a list of people who worked for him, not all of them for there were nearly a million employed by the Likta Corporation. He had filtered them according to role and whether he knew them personally. At the top of his list were station managers ranked by tier and star system. Next came the air and ground crews. He was steadily working his way down the list ranking them as to whether they could be trusted to perform certain types of missions. It was going to take a long time.

His attention was taken though by a report now playing on the screen on the wall. The talking head mentioned the word Qwantum. Bakun increased the volume and listened with interest as the Government spokesperson explained that the other report being broadcast was a hoax and that it had been the Resistance who set off the device.

Bakun switched channels to one of the indie news channels. In theory these were banned but it had proved easier to ban them than to shut them down. Of course it was the number one topic. The footage was halfway through and Bakun peered at the digital signature of the IRS Fustus. “Trump card” he said out loud as he rubbed his hands gleefully.

Three floors below, Meelanda was also watching. “Dynamite” she said with a smile.

Chapter 6. Kiev over Chelora 1130, 19 August

Dave had been right about Phil’s changing expressions while reading his report. It was as well he was within his office on board and not in the command centre. In the space of the ten minutes it took him to read Dave’s report he covered the full gambit from exhilaration to outrage.

It was at the moment when he yelled out in anger “Fucking hell” that Rihan knocked on his door. The sound proofing was usually pretty good but not that good. Rihan gulped and tentatively opened the door upon hearing an “Oh come in” from her boss.

Phil scowled at her. “This is all your husband’s doing” he said. Rihan shrugged in ignorance. Phil waved for her to come and read the report.

She did so in silence and Phil watched her reactions. When she started to smile he chimed in “Yes, yes that’s the good bit. Read on.”

Rihan put her hand to her forehead as she read the casualty figures and she immediately skipped to the annex to see if she recognised any of them.  She bit her lip as she did. “Poor Kat” she muttered. Many of the others were new, obvious replacements from their last major battle in which she had led the ground op on Beta Phi.

Phil waited patiently. She turned to him “so many?” Phil nodded.

“Could have been a lot worse” said Phil. Rihan knew that too. She flicked back to the main body of the report. After a couple of minutes she again put her hand to her forehead.

“Yes, yes” said Phil. “Look what he has committed us to? We are poised to liberate the sleth home worlds and he not only commits us to provide a carrier group deep into enemy space but gives away half our entire transport fleet. How on earth are we supposed to mount this operation now?”

Rihan understood the Admiral’s frustration. They had all been working so hard to gather up all the resources needed. But her incisive mind cut straight to the chase and she abandoned all attachment to her own endeavours because she could see what Dave had seen. Here was a much bigger prize, an opportunity to go straight for the heart of the beast rather than take the long road.

She turned to look up at Phil as she stood behind her chair and she beamed at him.

“What are you so happy about?”

“Don’t you see?” she said with a smile.

“What, that we are now the proud owners of a doomed rock?”

Rihan face changed to one of disappointment. “My husband has just presented you with a jewel and you are worried about losing a few coin.”

Phil did not appreciate being reproached. “Rihan” he said. “In twelve months it will be useless.”

“Then we had better hurry up and capitalise on it” she said. Her nose flared a little in annoyance.

“The only way to do that would be to forego the liberation of the sleth. That is not going to go down too well with our sleth allies. We had an agreement in case you forgot.”

Rihan stood up so she could speak on relatively even terms, even though Phil was still much taller than her. “No, I am well aware of that and I reckon they will see the wisdom in changing tack. Anyone with a brain can see that this new base allows us to attack the rogan home worlds…”

“That’s enough” barked Phil. “You are out of line Captain.”

Rihan’s natural instinct was to escalate the argument but she was a little wiser now. She nodded. “Sorry Sir.”

“You may well be right. We have time to consider this. Let’s leave it there for now.”

“Of course Sir” and Rihan exited.

Phil sat back down in his chair and a big smile came over his face.

Chapter 7. Slidwon 0500, 20 August

Angina Slirinus had been bitterly angry when she had been called in at 0100. News of the riots reached the ISS HQ. It was like a great ripple effect that originated from Qwantum and was spreading outward overrunning each system in the extended territories and now the home worlds. It was by far the greatest challenge to the established order since the beginning of the 24
^th
Plenum.

Yes, she understood the emotional anger and reaction by the populous to the news that Qwantum had been doomed by the Government but the speed and scale of the response was such that she and all her best analysts concluded some organisation was martialling and organising this response. In the extended territories the finger as always was the Resistance. But in the home worlds? So far there had been no Resistance movement or activities identified. And that was the frustrating thing.

She had dismissed her staff, partly because she was so tired she was finding it hard to think, but also partly because she wanted a break to clear her mind. She had closed the door to her office and left instructions she was not to be disturbed. She had put on some soothing music and eventually she fell asleep.

She woke twenty minutes later with a scary thought. What if there was no one orchestrating these riots in the home worlds? What if they were simply a genuine spontaneous reaction from the populous? Surely then, someone must fill the vacuum. If so, whom?

Her questions though remained unanswered. She collapsed her head on her arms over her desk and fell back to sleep as the sounds of the forest echoed about the room.

Twenty minutes later she woke with a start. The dream had been horrible. She had been witnessing each of the home worlds descending into anarchy like a great fire consuming everything in its path. In the dream it had been her role to put out the fire, to preserve the order of things. But everywhere she looked she saw angry faces. They were angry at her. ‘Why?’ she had asked and then in that moment she realised that she was on the wrong side.

It was such a shocking thought. She had invested so much of her life in preserving this edifice. But there was no shying away from it. The edifice was rotten to the core and especially at the top. A sense of guilt overwhelmed her with a nauseating feeling. It was almost repulsive. And it was this repulsion that had forced her awake.

Her breathing was heavy and her forehead ached. She took a drink of water to cool her brow but the taste was not pleasant. She stood up and walked to the window. The flashing lights from the streets off in the distance confirmed that the rioting was real and so too was her realisation.

“I could help fill that vacuum” she muttered. There was no thought about personal aggrandisement. As with all her life, it was one of how I can serve. “Or more importantly who?” she said in a steadier voice.

She sat back behind her desk and began the task of identifying those she should seek out.

Chapter 8. Slidwon 1600, 20 August

Emilius exited the full council chambers in central Slidwon in a rage. Resentment burned into his furrowed brow and his cheeks were flushed a near beetroot colour. Benchin had been waiting outside and even his usually unflappable demeanour was alarmed at the sight. He held open the door of the hopper. Emilius looked so foul as he clambered aboard. Benchin followed suit sitting opposite Emilius. The pilot knew better than to wait for instructions. The blue liveried hopper with the Imperial markings quickly ascended.

Benchin dared a glimpse at Emilius. He no longer looked like he would explode but Benchin knew he was raging within. “Never, ever has the full council censured the first consul” blurted out Emilius.

Benchin was old enough to know that this was not technically correct for the full council had done so before on more than one occasion but that was all before the Imperialists took over.

“Fools, the lot of them. This hybrid system has passed its use by date.” Emilius knew all too well why he was lumbered with a full council that still retained some albeit limited powers. It was all historical. ‘But I will rewrite history starting right now’ he thought.

Benchin saw the heat coming out of Emilius’ face. He knew that Emilius would now be plotting his revenge. ‘Oh, the rogan way’ he said to himself while maintaining his usual passive expression.

Chapter 9. Lewista 1845, 20 August

Meelanda knew they were taking a big risk. But she also knew that they had to capitalise on the wave of anti-imperialist feeling that was now boiling over on the streets. Now was the moment. If they did not act now someone else would.

“Yes” she hailed “2000 outside the Ripple building. We’ll all be there.”

She put the communicator back down. ‘Another fellow conspirator’ she thought. No sooner had the communicator been placed on the table it rang again.

“Bakun” she answered.

“Meelanda, what time are we due there?”

“We’re going to be there at 2000 but I think it best if you are not seen there just yet.”

“No, I think it’s time.”

“Very well. I will be pleased to be at your side.”

“And me at yours. I thought I should let you know that I have sent a small flotilla of transport shuttles to Qwantum to assist in the evacuation. They should arrive in a week. Over time we can increase the number. But for now that is all I could manage.”

“It will do – an expression of our commitment and willingness to help other Resistance movements. We need to become united.”

“Indeed.”

The sound of the doorbell alerted Meelanda to the time. “I have to go. I will see you at 2000.” She terminated the call and ordered the apartments AI to open the door once she had confirmed who it was.

Erkum entered. Evie and Felis followed. Erkum slid the pistol over the table to her. She stopped it. “I won’t need that.”

Erkum came closer and leant over her seated form. “Don’t be silly Aunty. Just in case.”

An hour later and they joined the crowd in front of the Ripple building. It had materialised quickly with the word being spread by social media. Some of Meelanda’s organising team had claimed a vantage point on the first floor balcony of the building, gaining access by a temporary ladder. They had setup a large banner and it draped over the front. At the appropriate time several lights would be activated to highlight it.

A hopper hovered lower to check out the crowd. The on board observer was only now calling in the formation of the crowd. It would take the security forces some time to amass the forces necessary to deal with the size of the crowd.

“Ah… there you are Meelanda” said Bakun. One of Meelanda’s organising team had guided him through the mass of bodies to the area below the balcony where a collection of hand held lights denoted a semblance of activity.

“We were getting worried about you” said Meelanda. “We couldn’t start without our opening speaker.”

“Indeed but that will be you Meelanda. I am just the support act.”

“No Bakun, we do this together.”

“I don’t think that’s wise. I represent everything these people want to get rid of. No, you are the leader. Besides I am getting too old for all this excitement. I will help where I can and I will gladly stand beside you and be counted as a supporter.”

One of her team who was to be the MC was urging Meelanda to come up to the balcony. “All right then Bakun. We’ll do it your way” said Meelanda. Erkum was shepherding them to the ladder and he climbed up first, followed by Meelanda, Bakun and Evie. Felis acted as guard down at the base of the ladder.

There was a throng of conversations echoing through the large space around the Ripple building. There must have been over ten thousand gathered with more pouring in. Another of Meelanda’s organising team gave the signal to start.

The lights came on and in brilliant fashion illuminated the balcony and in particular the big banner on which was emblazoned ‘24 no more’. The crowd erupted in a huge cheer. The MC took just a minute to welcome everyone and to introduce Meelanda. There wasn’t the time for long introductions. They knew they had only a limited amount of time before the security forces arrived en masse.

“My fellow citizens” began Meelanda in a strong voice “I come here tonight to let you know that you are not alone. You are not alone in wanting an end to this rotten imperialist system. You are not alone in wanting a future in which all are treated fairly. You are not alone in wanting to bring an end to the murder of innocence in our name. You are not alone in seeking an equitable share of the wealth and resources of our great star systems.”