The Ethos Effect, page 50
“I’m certainly not opposing your requirements and actions, and neither is IIS. In fact, I would think that IIS could be of great assistance—”
“I understand that. I’m very sorry, Director Albert. The Service knows how much you and IIS have done to support us, and you’ve been most supportive of the Coalition, but you must understand that if we broke the embargo for you...” Yoriki shrugged.
“I understand. I appreciate your explanation.” Van paused. “Is this the policy for most of the systems recently annexed by the Revenants?”
“We’re taking it on a case-by-case basis. If there’s a change, a real change, we’re just monitoring. But on the older planets, this is pretty much standard. They just don’t get it.”
And they probably won’t for a long time, Van reflected. “Thank you. I do appreciate the explanation.”
“My pleasure, ser. And thank you for all you’ve done.”
The holo projection blanked.
Van leaned back in the chair. After a time, he searched to see if the station had access to planetside comm channels. Since it did, he began to scan them, seeking out the media news outlets and stories.
... joint enforcement effort of the Argenti-Coalition forces again refused to lift the ban on air transport anywhere on Angslan. High Bishop Truman yesterday denounced the ban as genocidal and inhumane, citing the death of fifteen-year-old Elton Christensen as an example. Christensen died before ground transportation could reach him and take him to the trauma center in Ingelar...
... In his capacity as minister of public health, Bishop Hansen offered statistics showing that over five hundred people have died needlessly as a result of the embargo...
... the first president of the Angslan Quorum rallied his congregation in Susseks ... part of his speech ... excerpted and broadcast continentwide ... “What did we ever do? We have worshipped God in our own way. We have taken care of the sick ... and all we have ever required is that those who partake of the goods God has provided follow his commandments and give him thanks and share that bounty with others. Is that so much to ask for we owe all to God...”
Van thought about the reeducation centers on Samarra, and presumably those on Angslan. Somehow he had trouble with a culture that believed in destroying the lives of people who didn’t agree with a given theological view. But was the Republic any different? The true “beliefs” of the Republic were more political; but the means were the same, if directed so far more at individuals than at whole planetary populations.
He called up another news story. He’d record and study what he could, but, from what he had already seen, it would be a long, long time before there would be an IIS office on Angslan.
Chapter 87
Once out of jump, and on the outskirts of the Islyn system, Van headed the Joyau in-system before checking the coordinates with the system comparator. He’d gotten almost as close as possible.
“Short trip in,” he said to Alya.
“That would be nice.”
“For a change, you mean?” Van teased.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You thought it,” he countered.
On the inbound trip, Van reviewed the records of the principal clients, as well as the recent revenue transfers. Camryn Rezi had done exactly as he promised. Now the question was how to handle someone who had had the majority share of ownership of the planetary office. It would have been easier to let matters alone, but he either had to ratify the arrangement, obtain a modification, or pull IIS out. He couldn’t just let the problem sit. Letting things fester just made them worse. He was seeing that firsthand with the Revenant problem.
As the Joyau continued in-system, he kept checking the net, the EDIs, and the far-screen monitors—which showed a Hyndji ship, and one Argenti battle cruiser, in addition to the handful of Islyn Defense Forces ships—three corvettes and two frigates. As he took in the Argenti battle cruiser, he smiled. The good general Marti had wasted no time in sending a reminder to the Islyn Quorum that Revenant power had waned in the Arm.
When he could study no more, he left Alya in the cockpit, set the alarms, and tried to take a nap, hoping he would sleep soundly. He was getting quite the repertoire of nightmares, what with those about the Regneri or the Fergus—more infrequently—and the newest two.
He was tired enough that he woke abruptly with the alarm. Unidentified object...
He shook himself and walked to the cockpit, more to clear his head.
“It’s just debris, I think, ser,” Alya offered.
Van settled into the command couch, checking the monitors, and altering course slightly to give a wider berth to the asteroid ahead, before studying the EDI and the system plot. The only out-system ships remained the Argenti battle cruiser and the Hyndji ship.
Then he leaned back and called up the recommendations prepared by Laren’s staff once more. He hoped Camryn Rezi was still as cooperative as before—and would be interested.
Hours later, as the Joyau neared the approach to Sandurst, he squared himself in the command couch and began the contact with orbit control. Sandurst orbit control, Coalition ship Joyau, requesting approach clearance.
Ship Joyau, interrogative purpose.
Orbit control, Coalition ship Joyau, purpose of visit is business. Van pulsed the standard Coalition ID.
Ship Joyau, cleared to charlie three. Continue approach this time.
Van couldn’t help but smile. It was amazing how much more cooperative the controllers had become since his previous trip. Understand cleared to charlie three. Authorization follows.
Thank you, ship Joyau. Interrogative beacon.
We have the beacon.
Only a minute or so passed before another transmission filled the net. Coalition ship Joyau, this is the Bolvara. Interrogative Commodore Albert.
Van cocked his head, then replied. Affirmative, this is Commodore Albert, commanding.
General Marti requested we convey his regards if we saw you.
Thank the general for us.
He said to tell you that madmen can also be saints.
A wave of sadness washed over Van, unexpectedly, and he did not reply for a moment. If you would thank him for that as well.
We will, Commodore. If you need any assistance, the Bolvara stands ready.
Van understood that message, sent in the clear, was a message to Islyn as well. Your support is most welcome, although we trust we will not need it.
The Joyau had begun the final approach to lock charlie three when control transmitted, Welcome to orbit control, ship Joyau.
Thank you, control. Commencing docking this time.
Once the Joyau was locked, using station power, Van brought up ship gravity.
“Smooth approach, ser,” Alya said.
“Thank you. I won’t know what we’ll be doing until I talk to Director Rezi.” Van unstrapped.
“That’s fine, ser.”
From his stateroom, Van accessed the planetary commnet, first scanning through the news and media highlights. He started with Islyn political news.
Commerce Ministry Looks for Resumption of Info-Trade... Cairen Volcano Quiet... Guard Units Released... Quorum Repeals EEA...
Van hoped the story was what he thought it was. The Islyn Quorum had unanimously repealed the Economic Equalization Act on the rationale that the economic and political situation in the Arm had changed with the recent joint-access treaty signed between Islyn and the Hyndji and Argenti governments.
“Court Affirms Decency Act...”
Van nodded to himself. Some things would not change.
The rest of the news did look more encouraging, and definitely better than the situations in Samarra and Angslan. Van pulsed the local IIS office.
As before, he got the simmie receptionist. “This is IIS, Kahla. May we help you?”
“This is IIS Managing Director Albert. I’ve just locked in at orbit station—”
The simmie’s image was replaced by that of the dark-haired Rezi, who wore a cream singlesuit with dark brown cuffs and trim.
“Director Albert, it’s good to see you again.”
“We’re on orbit station, Director Rezi.”
“Will you have time to make a tour of the office and visit some of our clients?” Rezi offered a broad smile. “Matters have changed much.”
“I had hoped that might be the case,” replied Van cautiously.
“For the past week, I have been working out the transfer paperwork, now that the need for my duties as custodian for IIS is passing...”
That was a clear and welcome message.
“You endured a great deal, Director Rezi,” Van replied, “and I’d like to discuss some changes in those terms in order to ensure that you receive adequate and permanent recompense for your efforts and the risks that you undertook.”
Rezi bowed slightly. “IIS has always been known for rewarding loyalty.”
Van couldn’t help grinning.
“This time, you must come with me to Sian’s for the most wonderful meal.”
“I think I’d like that. Is it a favorite of members of the Quorum?”
“One or two of the ministers eat there, and if we find them there, they will be most pleased to see you. They are looking forward to a wider range of trade and commerce.”
Van understood that reference as well, but he would still wear his personal nanite shield. “This evening, perhaps?”
“That would be most possible.” Rezi bowed again. “I look forward to seeing you...”
After they discussed the details and locations, and Van broke the link, he stood, shaking out the stiffness as he pondered his next steps.
He would have to give Rezi a share in the outbound revenues, and he needed to calculate what was both fair, and what was workable. Still, if he and Rezi could come to an agreement, that would mean another functioning office, with ongoing projects and revenues, and one less headache for him, for Nynca, and for Laren and the rest of the staff.
Chapter 88
After turning left off the main corridor of Neuquen orbit station two, Van walked briskly along the corridor to The View. This time, the cherry-paneled walls felt both tired and affected, an attempt at evoking a time and place that had never been.
Van had been fortunate—he thought—that Marti had actually been in the Neuquen system, and that he only had been required to wait ten hours for an evening meeting with the general.
“You are with General Marti?” asked the waiting maitre d’hotel.
Van nodded, then followed the man to one of the private booths. Marti stood and stepped out of the booth as Van approached. Even from meters away, Van could see and sense the tiredness in the other’s face and carriage. Even Marti’s uniform shipsuit lacked its usual crispness.
“Commodore Albert...”
“General... you’re kind to take the time.”
Marti reseated himself. “For you, it is worth every moment” A wry smile appeared. “It is also good to get away.”
Van slid into the booth and sat opposite the general. A tall pale ale was waiting. “You look as though you’ve been busy.”
“Fighting too many battles that are not battles.” Marti shook his head, then looked at the waiting server. “I will have the greens, the consumme, and the ascadoro con arroz.”
Van had to pick up the menu and scramble through it. “The greens, wild mushroom soup, and the duck cassis.”
Marti picked up the wineglass, half-empty. “And another glass of the cabernet.”
The server bowed and turned.
Van took a sip of the still-cold pale ale. “What sort of battles?”
“The kind that one cannot fight” Marti took a long swallow of the red wine before setting the wineglass on the white linen. “If one insists that the fanatics accord nonbelievers equal rights and access to education and services, the fanatics riot because we do not respect their way of life. If we do nothing, nothing changes, and all will revert to what was the moment our forces withdraw, whether that is in two months or two centuries. If we embargo the planets that do not meet the terms of the protectorate, then the fanatics murder their dissidents and unbelievers, and matters are worse than before. All this is true in systems long held by the Revenants. In those systems held only for a few years, the same thing is true, except on the other side. The local people so hate the Revenants that without threats, they would murder them all—or enslave them.” Marti drained the last of his wine, but did not lift the second glass delivered by the server.
The greens followed the wine.
“That was an interesting message you sent,” Van offered with a smile.
“Message?” Marti’s voice was absolutely deadpan. “The Bolvara conveyed a message from you, something about madmen also being saints. I assumed that a battle cruiser commander would not convey such without absolute certainty of its contents and source.”
Marti laughed. “At times, Commodore, you are so serious.” He continued to smile. “I did think it was an appropriate message.” He lifted the wineglass, but, this time, only took a small sip.
“Intriguing, but cryptic,” Van pointed out. “Saints have often been madmen, but a label does not change facts.”
“That depends on the value of the label, my friend. It also depends on how much force lies behind it I fear we all underestimated the force behind the label known as IIS.”
“Oh?”
Marti snorted, then took another sip of wine. “You know what I mean.”
“I know several things that you could mean,” Van parried. “Guessing which it might be could be dangerous to my health.”
“I will be blunt, then. I would earnestly hope that IIS does not plan to use whatever device the late—he is late, is he not?—Commander Desoll used on Jerush as a means to Galactic empire.”
“You seem rather certain that the flaring of Jerush was not accidental,” Van replied. “I don’t know of any way to create a solar flare, and so far as I know, no one else does, either.”
After taking another sip of his wine, Marti laughed again. “That offers some reassurance... if not complete reassurance...”
“Why do you feel that Commander Desoll had anything to do with the unfortunate events befalling the Revenants.” Van took a sip of the pale ale.
“There was a remarkable confluence of events... First, Commander Desoll made a change in the procedures for IIS administration and succession just before he disappeared...”
Van managed to sip his ale without choking. How did Marti know that? Van hadn’t even known that until he’d looked at the records afterward. And how had Marti found out so quickly that Trystin had disappeared?
“Second, he left his chief technician behind. Third, that technician is now the chief technician on your vessel. Fourth, there are reports that all three IIS vessels, three light cruisers in effect, all vanished from known space at the same time. Now one adds to that the fact that Commander Desoll did not care for the Revenants, that he had armed his vessels, and that over the years large numbers of Revenant warships vanished when his IIS vessels were nearby. I might also add that you, my friend, are known as a superb combat pilot, and a number of Revenant vessels have also vanished when your ship was in their general area. Nothing conclusive, but I have a most suspicious mind... Generals, I have discovered, must be most suspicious...” Marti raised his eyebrows.
“You’re doing that very well, General,” Van said. “You have decided that one man, alone and without human assistance, invented a technology no one has seen or knows about to create an effect that only time and nature have been able to do so far. You have also decided that the man who supposedly did this either vanished or destroyed himself after doing the impossible, and you imply that I know things that I don’t.”
Marti laughed. “Commander Desoll chose well, I can see. You have not said an untrue statement ever. Neither did he.” He took a small sip of wine before setting it down next to the plate containing the salad that he had eaten without Van’s even noticing it “I don’t lie well,” Van admitted. “So I try not to.” He took the last few bites of his salad.
“Most of us do not.” Marti’s smile turned wry. “So I would like to know what you and IIS intend to do with the Republic of Tara.”
“The Republic?” Van wasn’t sure what Marti meant. “You have not heard?”
“Heard what?”
Marti nodded. “At times I forget that what I see is not what everyone can see. No matter. It will be on all the media nets before long.” Van waited.
“The Republic claimed that the Keltyr space forces refused to surrender.”
Van’s stomach tightened. He could feel his face stiffen.
“I see you are beginning to understand.” After a pause while the server removed the salad plates and presented the entrees, Marti went on. “The word is that none of the Keltyr ships survived.” Another moment passed. “Not a single one. That is an even more remarkable ... coincidence than those surrounding Commander Desoll.”
Van forced himself to take a moderate and slow swallow of his ale before he replied. “That is, as you say, remarkable. I cannot see how it applies to me, though. I am unwelcome in any Republic system, and the RSF certainly has little interest in listening to my views.”
“That is a pity.” Marti took a bite of his meat, a dish Van did not recognize except for the rice on the side. “They refused to heed your views before, as I recall.”
“A number of times,” Van said dryly. “I can’t say that it seemed to harm them.” He tried the duck, piquant and tasty, but not oily.
“Not for now. The Revenants did not heed Commander Desoll, and the cost was high.”
“I can’t see how not heeding me would increase the Republic’s costs.”
“Is there a state faith in the Republic?” asked Marti.
“No. Not unless it’s the blind worship of wealth and power.”
“You see?” Marti laughed, gently.
Van didn’t have to feign confusion.
“You do not wish to see, but you will,” Marti added. “Because you are what you are, you will not be able to avoid it.”
“I’ll take your word for that.”
