by Chris Hechtl
So far though things were going well. They stuck to the usual questions. Most of them could have been answered by the FAQ on the administration's website but some people just wanted a live response. He was aware that some of it was to test his own knowledge base of the subject matter too though.
He was asked about April and finally decided to respond since her case was no longer in the court. She had finished testifying and had moved on.
"Miss O’Neill’s case … that was a hard decision. For a long time, I've refused to answer since it was an active and ongoing investigation. It was also highly personal and quite frankly, painful to me." He paused with a frown. "I thought she would be someone special. For a long time, she was. I bet a lot of you noted how Knox News has done a 180 on me. Pete can't help being a person, being human. He was hurt and angry, and I became his target. Fine. It isn't fair, but life isn't fair. I'll deal with it."
"April was my friend. And yes, she was far more than that. ONI found out through various sources that there had been a second assassin on Destiny when I was traveling aboard it. She was there as a part of the Information Guild. She was the spy, the passive member of the duo who was assigned to befriend me and to make me vulnerable."
He grimaced in pain. "And she did her job. I was alone. Lonely, hurting and she took advantage of that. What she didn't realize was that her partner was ruthless. When she realized April was getting too close, she set April up as well."
He shook his head in remembered pain. "She should have died there. My implants were still coming online when the plasma conduit burst. They protected most of me, but I extended them to save her. She was placed in stasis after being stabilized."
He shook himself. "Anyway, ONI figured out who she really worked for. I think Pete is still coming to terms with that. April told him herself, face-to-face." He shook his head. "In the course of investigating April and others, we found links to the Information Guild, Thieves Guild, Assassin's Guild, and others. You name some crime, and there is probably a guild for it."
"So it was a bonanza of information," the moderator stated.
"Exactly." The admiral paused and took a sip of water.
"That leads us to Mister Byrans," the moderator stated, turning as an assistant held a microphone to a young man. "You have a question for the president?"
"Yes," the young man said nervously, bobbing a nod. "I was wondering, we heard about the Assassin's Guild and that they were using an ansible network. Why did you have it destroyed?"
The admiral smiled. "Good question. I wrestled with it for months," he admitted. "You have to understand the background of his question," he said, turning to the audience. "He's not wrong to ask it. I'm still being asked why by some senior members of various local governments. They thought we could preempt the system for our own uses."
He shook his head as there was a rustle.
"You have to understand, the network was dedicated to pass on information for the Guilds. They knew where the ansibles were, how to communicate with them, and how to destroy them or cut one out of the circuit with a computer command."
He grimaced. "But there is something to be said in counterintelligence that you always leave an enemy spy networks communications intact. You monitor it, but you don't interfere unless they are passing on something that will severely impact the war effort. Instead, you find out through various means who are the sources of their information and flip them or cocoon them. You see, if you cut that communication line, they can always activate another, one you aren't aware of."
"So, didn't they do that?" the young man asked.
"It's possible. But," the admiral held up his index finger, "we did our research first. The ansibles were old, built before the Xeno war. They were placed in dens of criminal activity. Hotspots in this and other sectors. I won't go into too much detail about what we found but I will impart a bit of knowledge to you."
He smiled when the audience rustled a bit. He let them settle down and then continued.
"We know from accident that there was one in ET. One of our ships detected the platform. That gave us one of their platforms. We mapped their network through that one and know where others were, for instance, Konohagakure, Hinata, and …," He paused for a moment, "Horath."
The audience instantly erupted into murmurs over that revelation.
He nodded, surveying them. "So, the enemy had a conduit to get information from us. We are more open about our information," he indicated the forum and the moderator and then the cameras around them. "This is going to be broadcast across the Federation. It has relevant information in it. But there are also minor news broadcasts, everything from news coverage of a ship's launching ceremony to deployments of our forces that the enemy could use. The news agencies were broadcasting this to every star system. That included ET."
"So it was to protect us?" Mr. Byrans asked.
The admiral nodded. "Once we knew that, we had to act to end the threat. Which was why I authorized ONI and the navy to act as it did to spike the enemy's computers and their ansible."
He shook his head. "Look, I know some people are saying I did it because I didn't want a competitor. That is not true. I've repeatedly stated that any news agency which wishes to purchase and set up their own ansible network are free to do so. I stand by that promise. I am all about free press," he stated.
There was a smattering of applause from the group. It grew into a surge and then ebbed as the moderator signaled for quiet. "Thank you, Mr. Byrans. Now, Admiral, another question from our audience …"
Chapter 6
Horath
Admiral Rico shook his head as he watched the news. Apparently, someone in the administration was planning some grand bullfight using Taurens like Spanish bulls. The humans would fight on horseback with spears, capes, and swords. The media outlet even had a CG piece of a Tauren charging some brave stupid fool.
He shook his head. No doubt some idiot had come up with the idea before the massacre, and they were now running with it. When they switched to an announced plan to use a series of Taurens to perform as minotaurs in an ever changing maze for prisoners, he got disgusted.
The prisoners were supposed to be condemned people. Obviously, someone hadn't thought that one through. Did they realize that they were going to show Taurens able to fight back and actually kill humans? That plan should have been nixed.
"Someone has a glut on Taurens it looks like," his chief of staff stated. "Do you think all of the bread and circuses will distract the public for long?" Admiral Lewis Post asked. Admiral Rico frowned thoughtfully. "We're doing this to keep them happy and under control while the Feds are at the gates demanding an accounting."
"True."
"And the rioting and crackdowns are only getting worse. It hasn't made the news but it's all over the web if you know where to look. II can't keep up with the crackdowns on it. It's a perpetual downward cycle—one we're on the losing side of. Eventually something has to break."
His boss gave him an almost whimsical smile. "But it hasn't yet."
Admiral Post shook his head. "No, I suppose it hasn't. You wanted to see me about something?"
"Yes, we need to work on the fortresses. We've been updating them but now we need a better plan to defend them. And the emperor wants a status report on our forces as well as the water dwellers." He grimaced. "I think something is brewing there, but he hasn't let the other shoe drop yet so I'm in the dark."
"And we both hate that. Okay, well, we've just gotten a new appropriation for an emergency refit of the fortresses. Pity the one we requested for Garth got dropped," Lewis said sarcastically.
His boss flicked a hand as if to deflect the sarcasm.
"Sorry. Okay, we have the money coming but there are strings. The lords want inspections and want assurances that the line will hold."
Rico snorted. "I wish I could give them to them with a straight face," he muttered. "Okay, go on?"
"Right. We've got to shift a few priorities around with industry
to make this work. We've already tapped a lot of our industrial reserve. But your friend pointed out that we have some untapped industry in the boneyard and prize yards."
"Friend?"
"Captain Varbossa."
"Ah. An email I missed?"
"Quite probably. She did a bit of digging into the various reservations and boneyards. She couldn't make any headway with the fighters, so I let her run with it. Apparently, she found something over the weekend and wants to investigate."
"Have her look into that. Give her a modest budget and staff and see what she can come up with," Admiral Rico stated. "Her hunches tend to pay off so I'm willing to take the risk."
Lewis blinked and then made a note on his tablet. "I thought you'd say that, so I already did the preliminary work. It just needs your signature," he said, pushing the tablet over to his boss.
-~~~///^\~~~-
"You have something, Baron? Countess?" the emperor demanded. "You know who tried to kill my son?"
Someone had tried to kill his youngest son Kevin while the teenager had been moving between the Academy prep school and the spaceport to return home to the palace. Kevin had survived but only just barely.
Piotr was still seething over that massive breach in his family's safety and security. That someone could get that close to killing one of them said very bad things about his control over the empire. It also said bad things about his security allowing that to happen.
His son was okay. The boy was a bit rattled but that might do him some good long term. A little paranoia was good for anyone in their life. Paranoids had real enemies, and if they took their eyes off of their enemies, they usually ended up dead.
"We have a few leads. Imperial Intelligence has traced transactions to the palace, your highness."
"The palace?" the emperor demanded, staring at the baron.
Baron Ghadaffi nodded.
"And no one stopped it?"
"The transmissions were encrypted. We traced them from the other end, sire, from looking at the shooters and tracing their lives and who they spoke with. We only confirmed the palace connection this morning."
"You are telling me, someone here was behind the attack on my son?" the emperor demanded dangerously, right index finger stabbing the armrest of his throne meaningfully.
"We aren't sure. Someone could have created a virus to make us think that. But all leads point in this direction, yes, sire," Countess Newberry stated. "Our best cyber security people are looking into it now."
"Someone here. In my palace."
The possessive pronoun wasn't lost on the baron or countess. "Yes, sire." The investigator didn't look like he was at all happy about admitting it.
"You have a suspect list I presume?"
"We do. We know where everyone was at the time each of the messages were sent. We're running down leads now. So far we haven't found a prime suspect."
"But you are eliminating some, correct?"
"Yes, sire, to some degree."
"Someone here. A member of my staff."
The baron coughed in his hand. "What?" the emperor demanded.
"Or a family member, sire," the baron said without meeting the emperor's eyes.
The emperor fumed for a moment as he tried to run down who would do such a thing. "Is Catherine on that list?"
"No, sire. She was not here at the time of either message."
"But you said it could have been a virus? Could it have been timed to have been sent out when she wasn't here?"
"It's theoretically possible," the baron said slowly. "We can check that angle, sir. But all other leads are to suspects on the ground. I mean, we didn't see any message traffic going to and from space."
"And that means what exactly?"
"She spends most of her time in space, sire," Countess Newberry interjected. "Usually under the eyes of II and others at all times."
"As do the royal family."
"Most, sire."
"Most?"
"Some demand privacy. Such as yourself, your wife, your mother, and a few others," the baron stated.
"Well, I can safely say I wasn't behind the attack on my son nor my wife," the emperor said. Suddenly the implications of the attack began to come to him. One, it could have been his wife since the attack had obviously failed. It could have been a Machiavellian plot to give his youngest son sympathy. Or, it could have been his mother.
Slowly he nodded ever so slightly as that conclusion drew additional weight. Yes, indeed. His mother was known for pruning the family tree of undesirable limbs. He'd have to do some judicious probing to be sure though. It could have been a test of her grandson too. Or it could have really been a rival family. If they took out his heirs, then he would be vulnerable.
He frowned pensively over that thought. If he had no heirs, one of the other families might make a play on him and his position. He was … vulnerable due to the war. He hated to admit that, but it was true. Any one of the ruling families could be playing the long game, picking off his heirs as opportunities arose. Once they were gone, they could take him out and then power would fall to one of them.
He grimaced mentally. It could be that scenario. Or, it could be internal politics. Either way he needed to check his security once more. Not just his own security but also that of his children.
"Okay, keep on it," he said. "Keep me posted on where your investigation leads," he ordered.
"Yes, sire."
-~~~///^\~~~-
Jezebel met with Khali while getting her hair done at her salon. It was a rare honor for people to be invited into her presence while she was getting a makeover, the Dowager Empress preferred to maintain an impeccable public profile.
The Dowager Empress studied her youngest granddaughter and then sent the staff to the back room for a moment. "Come here, sit with me a moment, dearie," she said, indicating the chair beside her. Once her granddaughter had taken a seat, she smiled indulgently. "I hear you are quite the little schemer, young lady."
"What, Grams? Whatever do you mean?" the girl asked, giggling. She was nervous. No doubt her grandmother had sensors monitoring her vital signs. There was just the right note of approval in the woman's voice to make her believe Grams approved though.
"Oh, you can't fool me," the old woman said, pretending to be soft and playful. "I know you are coming into your own as a woman, especially a Ramichov woman."
"Maybe a little," Khali said, twirling a finger in her hair.
"How goes the investing?" her grandmother asked, placing her hands on her knees.
"Well, I had a few issues and a setback but I think I can recoup my losses. You were right; it is a learning process," Khali said. "And, sometimes even a loss is a gain in other ways you don't expect," she said with a mild smile. That was true enough; Kevin was leaning on her more than ever.
Her grandmother smiled as well as she laid back in the chair. "I have faith in you granddaughter. I know you will succeed as long as you temper your enthusiasm and don't let it get the best of you." She indicated her staff could return. "Do be a good lass and give my granddaughter a light trim. She needs to look her best," the woman said.
"Thank you, Grandmother," Khali said, pretending to simper a little in pleasure while she hid her annoyance. As if she needed a trim!
-~~~///^\~~~-
Piotr toured the central yard and then paused. His favorite haunt was always the capital ships and for obvious reasons. There was so much strength and power wrapped up in those ancient hulls.
But some weren't so ancient. Some were new, but the process of building them had slowed or even stalled.
His bitter eyes fell on several. Conquer he was particularly bitter over. The choice of name alone hit a nerve given the shifting tides of war.
Emperor's Fist was a grand name as was the Supremacy, Ultimatum, Malevolence, Harbinger, and Expedient. But they had only a few other capital ships laid down after that. He used his fingertips to move the drone to the next slip. Ravager and Eclipse were barely a si
ngle grand block each. They had been stalled. When the pirate lords had been briefed on the recent battles, they'd insisted on backing the Admiralty's shifting priorities to carriers.
His lips twisted in an angry snarl. Rico was right but the minor betrayal still bothered him.
He moved over to some of the other ships. Baldric was there as was Terminus, Scythe, and Arkangel. But then another slip had been preempted from building to repairs and refits. That bothered him, especially when he noted that it was a Guardsman class destroyer. A tin can was holding up a slip meant for a capital ship? He intended to have words with his admirals over that!
She wasn't alone in the slip though; three other ships were there. He could make out the lettering on the bow of one, Kopis. The other was Jambiya. Both were half torn down.
His lip curled in disgust. There were Gather ships in the slips downstream too, all cruisers. Red Tide, Asskicker, Bastido, Hot and Spicy, Spiked Drink—they made him sick and disgusted. What were his people doing? Those ships were old! Old and unreliable!
His fists clenched and unclenched.
He turned his attention to a couple of other ships. He typed in an inquiry, and the drone feed cut and then a new one cut in.
A Star Hopper class yacht was nearby; she was being used to transport people apparently. She should be used as a courier but she might have hyperdrive issues. He wasn't sure, nor did he care.
He did care about Obedience, Devastator, and Perilous in the boneyard. Those three ships should be in the slips, not the pathetic cruisers and destroyers! They should be the ships his people should be rebuilding!
His fist clenched and then tapped the armrest once.
Apparently, there was some work going on with a Forager class mining ship. Again, his people had their priorities mixed up. No wonder they were losing the war for him!
He went back to Conquer. The ship's name no longer fit. He chose another one, Defiance. He tried it out in his head and then selected another ship and renamed it Vengeance.
Each of the prior names of new construction had been chosen ages ago, some by him. He knew it and resented it. They were just names now though, so he could change it. Let his people figure out the paperwork later.