Hellhole: Awakening (30 page)

The General shook his head, returned to his chair. “That was my initial plan, after we captured the enemy fleet. Circumstances have changed, now that all those ships have vanished.”

Goler’s eyes brightened and he leaned forward, spoke in a conspiratorial voice. “But, General, Diadem Michella might not
know
that the situation has changed. The stringline was cut—and if her warships disappeared en route, how does she know we don’t have them?” He looked at Adolphus and grinned. “I can try to bluff her.”

“You’re taking quite a gamble if you expect the old bitch to behave rationally,” Sophie said. “With her tribute payments gone and growing unrest in the Crown Jewels, she’s hanging on by the tips of her claws.”

Goler said, “If I issue the threat in a public forum on Sonjeera—say in a broadcast instead of privately in her offices—the publicity should force cooler heads to prevail. I can then demand a meeting in the Council Hall to discuss our peace terms.”

Tanja Hu gave a crafty smile. “And we have her loyal Territorial Governor Marla Undine as a hostage. She might be a useful bargaining chip.”

The General nodded slowly, pondering if Goler would be able to convince Michella. He did, however, welcome the opportunity to pass a covert message to Enva Tazaar that he would consider her offer of an alliance.

“All right, Governor. Go to Sonjeera with my blessing. I won’t have it said that I didn’t try every possible avenue for a peaceful resolution.”

*   *   *

By the end of the daylong meeting, Adolphus was concerned that no one had heard from Sia Frankov. Before accompanying Tanja Hu to Candela, Walfor said, “I’m due to retrieve another load of spacedrive engines, General—twelve more for the warships we’re refurbishing at the Buktu shipyards. I’m going to Theser on the direct stringline from Candela, so I’ll find out why she isn’t here.”

Adolphus thanked him. “Good. Report to me as soon as you talk with her. It’s difficult to win a strategy game when I don’t know the positions of all the pieces on the board.”

43

During his normal trips to Sonjeera for the Bureau of Deep Zone Affairs, Governor Carlson Goler had always traveled in a passenger pod carried aboard a large stringline hauler. Now, on his mission as the new DZ ambassador, he rode aboard a much smaller ship that had been outfitted from one of the old colony vessels. As he spent the passage in the rear while two pilots guided the vessel along the embargoed line from Ridgetop to the Crown Jewels, Goler felt like a celebrity being chauffeured.

He knew his diplomatic immunity could be tenuous. By tricking Michella into delivering twenty-one serviceable military ships to Ridgetop—ships that were now part of the DZ Defense Force—he had deceived her. By siding with General Adolphus he had betrayed the Constellation, and by exposing her massacre of the original Ridgetop colonists, Goler had turned many restless populations against her. His stomach knotted as he thought of how vindictive Michella Duchenet could be.

The journey took the better part of four days, and he had time to plan in detail how he would face Michella and present his case. Few others in the breakaway Deep Zone worlds knew the old woman better than Goler did. Even when he was her territorial governor, she had never respected him much, but Goler still hoped he could make her listen … or if not Michella, then maybe someone on the Council.

Enva Tazaar had already begun circling the old leader like a vulture, the boldest noble to do so, but Goler knew there must be others in the Crown Jewels who would be happy to see a new Diadem on the Star Throne. Goler decided he would make surreptitious overtures to Tazaar on the General’s behalf.
Someone
had to see reason.

In her first clandestine communication, Enva Tazaar had provided a means for Adolphus to respond to her. Goler carried a coded message for her, recorded, condensed, and disguised as an innocuous-looking advertisement. Although he knew he would be closely watched as soon as he made his presence known, one of the two pilots should be able to find a way to slip the advertisement into a mail packet for dispatch to the Tazaar holdings on Orsini.

In the meantime, Goler would bluff the Diadem and the Council that Adolphus
had
captured their fleet and was prepared to cut every one of the Sonjeera stringlines out to the DZ. He would demand that they accept peace terms. Any rational person would see that there was no logical alternative.

The pilots called over the intercom, “We’ve begun our deceleration, Governor Goler. We should arrive at the Sonjeera hub within one hour.”

When Goler thanked them, his voice sounded strong, although his heart leaped into his throat. “As soon as we’re in communications range, send out our identifier beacon and announce that I am an official representative from the Deep Zone and that I request an audience with the Council. As soon as you have everyone’s attention, transmit our message on the open bands so the Constellation government and the general population can hear what we have to say.”

In the broadcast, he provided information on the secondary DZ stringline network, including enough hard data to convince the Diadem that the frontier worlds no longer needed the Crown Jewels. The Deezees could be quite self-sufficient without any connection to the stagnant old planets, he said, and they were quite willing to cut the stringlines if provoked into doing so. Goler then went on to provide a summary of the vital materials and supplies that came from the Deep Zone—all of which would vanish permanently if the rebels cut themselves off. The Diadem and her advisers already knew these details, but Goler’s broadcast would remind the general populace of how much they had to lose. He finished his message by demanding to meet with the Diadem and the Council of Nobles.

Goler knew all too well what had happened when Fernando-Zairic and the alien Cippiq had gone to speak with the Diadem. Now, even if Michella killed him, too, at least his message
would
be delivered.

“Judging from the amount of codecall traffic, we’ve already caused a stir, Governor,” the copilot said. “It’ll be a hornet’s nest by the time we pull into the hub.”

“I expected nothing less. And you both have your own mission. Any questions?”

“Leave that to us, Governor. Meanwhile, you tackle the old lady and the Council.”

Goler leaned back in the seat and concentrated on breathing in and out, in and out, but a state of calm eluded him.

*   *   *

A swarm of the Diadem’s guards intercepted the ship as soon as it docked at the Sonjeera hub. Goler instructed his pilot and copilot to remain inside the craft as he emerged from the hatch, both hands raised. Upon seeing thirty armed soldiers, tense and ready to open fire at the smallest provocation, he gave them a smile of wry amusement.

“An impressive show of force,” he said, “but I assure you General Adolphus has not managed to hide an entire invasion army inside this small diplomatic vessel. I already broadcasted my credentials and stated my purpose.”

“We have orders to take you into custody,” said the guard captain.

Goler did not find that surprising—Michella had a penchant for dramatic overreaction. Imagers were capturing every moment of this event, but whether the Diadem allowed it to be broadcast was another question entirely.

“I see, Captain. Well, I wouldn’t ask you to disobey orders. Meanwhile, kindly inform Diadem Michella of my arrival and ask her to schedule my address before the Council as soon as possible.” He paused, then added mysteriously, “The General’s offer has a time limit.”

The guard captain seemed uncomfortable, but he commandeered the next shuttle to the capital city. Under heavy security they escorted Governor Goler to the Constellation’s main spaceport, then took him in an unmarked vehicle, still heavily guarded, to a large and imposing structure—which was not the Diadem’s palace or the Council Hall.

It was the Sonjeera prison.

*   *   *

Goler didn’t have long to wait. Since his own diplomatic ship had already broadcast a widespread message, his presence on Sonjeera was not a secret. It was well-known in the Deep Zone that many people here remained sympathetic to the General and his failed rebellion.

Some of the most influential Sonjeerans openly admired how Adolphus had kept his network of colonies alive under trying circumstances, and how he had remained honorable and heroic throughout. Despite more than a decade of the Diadem’s devastating propaganda, an increasing number of people did not believe the “official” story. Lately, with unrest brewing, Michella Duchenet seemed a far less favorable alternative than others who might lead the Constellation. Without question, Enva Tazaar had seen that as well.

Goler remained in prison quarantine, watching as doctors in decontamination suits came into his cell, which baffled him. Despite his indignation, they took hair clippings, skin scrapings, and blood samples by force.

“We must prevent any alien infection,” a physician said. “It’s possible you were exposed, and we need to make sure you haven’t been contaminated.” From the terseness of the doctor’s voice, Goler saw that his protestations would do no good, so he held his tongue. The fears these people exhibited were very instructive, though, and wheels began turning in his mind.

The pilot and copilot of his craft had been questioned and were held at the Sonjeera hub, but Goler was hopeful they would still find a way to dispatch a message to Enva Tazaar.

Within five hours, the door guards announced that Goler was to make himself presentable for the formal Council meeting. By now, he expected that the public uproar had grown in his favor—and although the Diadem surely dreaded what the General wanted, she could not ignore his offer to negotiate peace. She had little choice but to listen to Goler.

Diadem Michella presided in the Council Hall, sitting on her Star Throne and gazing down at the horseshoe-shaped arrangement of seats crowded with noble representatives. For generations, families rose and fell, fighting over the same twenty Crown Jewel planets like drowning fishermen struggling to hold on to a life raft. By opening the Deep Zone to colonization, Michella had eased that pressure, providing a dumping ground for disaffected heirs, disgruntled nobles, and ambitious investors and visionaries. Now General Adolphus had cut off that pressure-release valve and left the old-guard nobles reeling.

Carlson Goler had not been able to make much of himself in the entrenched Constellation system. As territorial governor, he’d had few responsibilities except to fill out the proper forms and see that the tribute payments were sent on a timely basis. The Diadem never expected him to have a backbone, and now he had surprised her.

Goler stood straight and walked forward as if
he
were the one in command, an important visiting dignitary. And he was. He marched down the central aisle of the great hall, with the nobles looking at him; some sneered, while others regarded him with grim interest, as if he were on his way to an execution chamber. At least the Diadem did not make him shamble forward in shackles, like the disgraced and defeated General Tiber Adolphus.

He stopped in the speaking circle and faced the Star Throne. The old woman leaned forward to glower at him. “Governor Carlson Goler, you were our trusted territorial governor, assigned to represent and enforce our wishes in the Deep Zone. Yet, you abandoned your sworn oath.”

Goler forced himself not to flinch. He had hoped for a more neutral beginning, but Michella had already launched her attack. He responded calmly, “Eminence, I represent the free Deep Zone planets and bring an offer of terms from General Tiber Adolphus.”

Even though they all knew this from the general broadcast he’d made, his words still sparked a susurration of whispered comments and grumbling complaints. He scanned the faces of the nobles and spotted the blonde Enva Tazaar in one of the seats. The noblewoman was quite attractive, and her expression was not unfriendly. Glancing from face to face, Goler noted others who might be sympathetic, but he doubted if they would speak up on his behalf.

The Diadem’s anger flared. “Tiber Adolphus is an exiled criminal! His rebellion is an illegal action. We have sent the Army of the Constellation to end the disturbance. They will defeat the General and crush this uprising.”

Goler watched her expression carefully, and then he gambled. “Truly, Eminence? Just where is your fleet now? I came here from planet Hallholme, and I assure you General Adolphus does not seem defeated to me. Are you certain your fleet is safe and sound? Where is it?”

Michella rose from the Star Throne as if to intimidate him, towering down from the high dais. “I demand to know what you have done with our ships! How dare you take hostages?”

So, Goler had his answer, and he continued his bluff with even more boldness. “Your hundred warships didn’t have a chance. General Adolphus has his own powerful fleet to protect against any military incursions from the Crown Jewels, and we also have certain … alien allies, the original inhabitants of the planet they called Xaya. Their psychic weapons are unlike anything you or your military forces have ever encountered.”

The Council Hall erupted in an uproar of angry shouts and threats of retaliation, but Goler continued, even more confident now. “The General charged me as his official ambassador to deliver this message: The Deep Zone does not want war with the Constellation. Although he could easily conquer the Crown Jewels, he has no intention of doing so—on the condition that you cease all hostilities against the Deep Zone. Be forewarned: Any force launched against any DZ world will meet the same terrible fate as Escobar Hallholme’s fleet.” He paused. “Can you afford to lose another hundred warships and their stringline haulers, Eminence?”

Silence held for a long, uncomfortable moment. Michella tried to sound brave and commanding. “I don’t believe you. You’re bluffing.”

Goler shrugged. “You’re welcome to try an attack. See what happens. We have already placed explosive charges on the stringlines leading from Sonjeera to the Deep Zone. The General will blow those lines without hesitation, if you don’t abide by the peace terms he demands.”