Breach of Peace

by Daniel Gibbs

"Jules," he said. "They're arresting Jules."

  The taxi dropped the two off down the road from the mission. The driver refused to go the whole way the moment he saw the black helicars in front of the old church. Henry and Felix rushed up as quickly as they could. The vehicles were mostly unmarked, except for one emblazoned with the seal of the Republic Security Service.

  Most of the vandalism was gone, cleaned up by hard work the previous day, but now the mission was crawling with people in dark uniforms searching every corner, every nook, and cranny. Each had a police insignia on them. Two of them were standing around Jules, now handcuffed and sitting quietly in a pew.

  One of the uniformed men at the door stopped the two from advancing further. "You must leave," he said. "This institution is being searched for anti-constitutional materials."

  "The only things you'll find here are hymnals and Bibles," Felix said. "What's going on?"

  "We ask the questions," another of the dark-suited men said. He approached and flashed a holographic ID, identifying him as Inspector João Travada of the Security Service. "What is your connection to this place?"

  Henry now suspected coming here was going to get them into trouble, too, but he couldn't abandon Jules, and Felix certainly wouldn't. "Reverend Rothbard is my brother," Felix said.

  "I see. Then we will have to take you in for interrogation as well."

  "He's a member of my crew, and we work for Minister Vitorino," Henry said, hoping that might give pause.

  It didn't. The only response was a small smile. "I see. This does little to help you. We do not answer to that corrupt man. We answer to Minister Caetano, and she personally ordered this raid. We have actionable intelligence that Faith Outreach Mission is part of an anti-constitution organization in league with the Coalition Intelligence Service."

  "That's bullcrap!" Felix shouted. "You're just picking on him because—"

  Henry grabbed him. "Felix, not another word," he barked.

  Felix gave him a fierce, frightened glance but said nothing. More and more of the uniformed people were starting to gather around them. A number had pulled their firearms from holsters.

  "You are careful," Travada observed. "And working for Vitorino, I assume you are James Henry of the Shadow Wolf?"

  Henry was not gratified at the idea that the Lusitanian Security Service had any interest in him, even if it was a distinct possibility given his link to Vitorino. Since there was no point in denying it, he nodded. "I am."

  "We have questions for you, Captain," Travada said. "In connection with our investigations into the Minister's business dealings, and now, it seems, your personal connection to a possible enemy of the state." He made a gesture, and two suited men approached them from behind while others lifted firearms to ready positions. "We are now taking you into custody. Hand over your weapons, and you will receive them back, should we release you."

  For a moment, Henry thought Felix might fight. He had little respect for any of the more authoritative governments in neutral space, and a fierce belief in natural rights. But after exchanging a glance, both pulled their weapons carefully from their holsters—Henry's from the hip, Felix's at the small of the back—and gripped the barrels to offer them to their captors.

  "Wise men." Travada nodded and smiled. "I assure you, if you are innocent, we have no intention of holding you. The same goes for your brother. Now, if you will please follow me."

  The individual sleeping quarters for the mission were sparsely furnished, given how many were empty for want of permanent personnel. Henry was separated from Felix and assigned to one under guard. Their commlinks were taken as well, to be held by their guards.

  Something about the situation didn't feel right. Granted, a lot didn't, but beyond the fact that Lusitania's semi-authoritarian government now had them in custody—their behavior was off. By reputation, Henry imagined the RSS would have at least carted them away wordlessly, not held them in place. On top of that, they were far more polite than usual toward suspected "enemies of the state" or "foreign operatives."

  What is going on? Henry stared out the window at the barrio when he heard the door open. He turned and watched two armed, suited men enter. They flanked the entrance and waited.

  The third figure to come in was a woman of striking appearance, some would even say beauty, with a slight brown complexion and dark hair. Her blue eyes glistened, fierce, cold, and utterly impersonal. She wore a business suit with trousers, the color being a deep green that matched the green on the Lusitanian tricolor flag pins she wore on her lapels.

  Behind her was a man in a similar business dress with the same pins on his lapels, right about his thirties in age, carrying a digital tablet of his own.

  Henry almost did a double-take. It was Minister Cristina Caetano herself.

  "James Alfred Henry," she said, her Portuguese accent thick and rich. "Formerly Lieutenant Colonel James Henry, Coalition Defense Force. You know who I am. This is my chief of staff, João Carvalho." She motioned to the man accompanying her.

  Henry nodded in recognition of the greeting. "Hello, and the rank is major," he corrected quietly.

  "Only due to the terms of your discharge," she said. "Which, let us be honest, Colonel, was not deserved." She pulled up one of the table chairs and sat in it. Her hand motioned toward another. "We have something to discuss."

  Henry sighed quietly as he considered the gesture, and decided accepting it was safer. He went to another chair and sat, feeling very much like a man lowered into a shark tank inside of a cage that was more rust than metal. "I pled guilty," he reminded her. "I'm responsible for the testing failure on the Laffey."

  "You did. There are many reasons why a man in your position would have." Caetano folded her hands together. Her blue eyes bore down on him with the intensity of a laser, scrutinizing Henry extensively. "Threats against friends and comrades. Perhaps another form of blackmail. Or appeal to patriotism, I suppose, to protect the honor of the Coalition Defense Force at the expense of your own."

  All of the above. Henry shifted in the chair. "I'm afraid I can't talk about it," he said aloud, knowing his expression was giving something away. "And I have to admit, there's not much left in me in terms of patriotism, really."

  "I would expect not. Patriotism must be earned. The State must provide for the Nation to prove itself worthy of their loyalty. It must defend them, their honor, their lives. The Coalition failed you as it has failed so many others."

  "Can't deny that," Henry said. "But still good people in it. Good people everywhere."

  "So there are," Caetano conceded. "Do you see yourself as one of them, Colonel?"

  "That's 'Captain,' not Colonel, Madame Minister," Henry corrected. When Caetano didn't react with hostility, he shook his head. "And no, not really. If I were good, well, I wouldn't be where I am today, I can say that." An unkind thought came to him. I'd be imprisoned on Lambert's Lament, spending thirty-hour days mining ore.

  "I see. Interesting. You regret whatever your arrangement with your superiors was. You do see yourself as dishonored and degraded." Caetano nodded at him in understanding. "I myself see value in occasional pragmatism, but I admit, I can sympathize with such. Compromise can so often lead to letting others undermine what is right. What is needed." Caetano smiled at him. "I wish you were a Lusitanian, Captain."

  "I'm not, and honestly, I'm not sure I like judging people by where they came from."

  "Given the files on your crew, I would think not." Caetano brought up a digital pad. "Your First Mate is a failed Socialist revolutionary. Your Second Mate, a Saurian draft dodger. A couple of League defectors and your friend Felix Rothbard is a fellow cashiered CDF officer… yes, you have quite the crew, don't you? Including some who still have prices on their heads." Caetano gave him a thoughtful look. "Indeed, I could attain quite a lot of favor in Thyssenbourg and Rand if I were to turn Tia Nguyen over to the Hestian government—"

  Despite everything, Henry reacted with anger, jumping from his seat. "They'
re good people, and they don't deserve that!"

  Henry's outburst prompted Caetano's guards to pull weapons. Even Carvalho stood, as if ready to defend Caetano from physical attack. She held a hand up, still smiling and thoughtful. "You are loyal to your people, Captain. Very loyal."

  "They're all my crew. Hand-picked." Henry glared into those cold blue eyes and remained standing, not allowing Caetano's guards to intimidate him. "Damn right, I'm loyal, and they deserve better than they got."

  "Just as you deserved better," Caetano observed. "Well, I cannot help but respect your protection of those under your charge, Captain Henry. But I must also do what I must to protect my people. My entire world."

  "Does that include letting your followers ransack a church?" Henry asked heatedly.

  Caetano shrugged. "An excess of patriotic passion. It cannot be controlled. Merely channeled." She leaned forward. "Now sit down and let us get to business, yes? I have decided I can work with you."

  However much he didn't want to work with her, Henry had a feeling he wouldn't be allowed to say no. Usually, you didn't say no to people who had a gun to your best friend's head or threatened to sell your second-in-command to people who would humiliate and kill her. He obeyed the request to sit and said, "I can't imagine I have a choice."

  "Of course you do," Caetano said. "Just as I have a choice on whether or not to charge your childhood friend and his brother with sedition and anti-constitutional activity."

  "Exactly my point." Henry forced any ill grace from his voice. Felix and Jules were counting on him. "So, what do you have in mind?"

  There was just a tiny bit of satisfaction on Caetano's face. It was the satisfaction one had toward judging a situation right. "You are aware of the loss of many ships over the last several months?"

  "I am."

  "One of the most recent ships to disappear is the Kensington Star from New Cornwall," she explained. "Owned by Patterson & Yarborough. You've heard of them?"

  "I have. Roughly. Another of the interstellar transport firms that operate throughout Spinward Sagittarius."

  "The word is they have a witness from the ship. One that escaped following its capture." Caetano's stare was growing fierce now. "These disappearances have done damage to our economy. They must be stopped. I must know if there is truly a survivor from the Kensington Star, and meet with them to determine the source of these attacks."

  "And you want me to pick up the alleged survivor?"

  "I do." Caetano folded her hands together. "Her name is Karla Lupa. According to the report, she is in Sektatsh on Harron."

  Things fell into place for Henry. "Vitorino has business interests there. You think I'll be taking a cargo there to cover for the trip?"

  "I am aware of the nature of his businesses, so yes, you will. I suspect he will give you the order now to get you offworld, since it seems I am interested in you and he will want time to take measures to protect you." She held her hands together in her lap. "I want you to find this survivor. I am prepared to pay you handsomely for the chance to speak directly to her, should you judge her authentic, or for you to provide proof that she is a fraud. Either way, I must know." Caetano raised her hand to cut off Henry before he could speak, as if already sure of what he would say. "Additionally, I will ensure the party newspaper retracts the claims against the Faith Mission Outreach and provide full official protection for your friend's church." She gestured to Carvalho.

  He wordlessly offered Henry the digital reader he was holding. Henry took it and read the display. It was an official order clearing Jules and Felix. It also clarified the extent of his financial compensation if he brought an authentic Kensington Star survivor to Lusitania for her to interview or the proof there was none. It was quite a lot of money for possible passenger transport.

  Caetano smiled thinly. "Of course, you must say nothing of this to Minister Vitorino."

  "Very kind of you," Henry said. It was, to the extent that she was putting him in her debt, and he didn't like that. "Although Vitorino's going to be suspicious."

  "I will keep up appearances of an investigation," she said. "As things stand, he is already calling my people and insisting on your release, so I will play the magnanimous comrade to my fellow Cabinet Minister with forced grace, as he would expect. Our deal will be off, by the way, should you alert him as to your mission on my behalf."

  Henry acknowledged the point—and the threat—with a nod. He still didn't like getting caught up with Caetano, not to mention possibly being caught between her and Vitorino, but he knew he had no choice if he wanted to protect Felix and Jules.

  And Tia and the others, when it came down to it. He fully believed Caetano would be just as thorough and vicious with them as she would be with the Rothbard brothers.

  With some remaining trepidation, he offered his hand. "Minister Caetano, you have a deal."

  Caetano took his hand and shook it. "Excellent." She looked up to her men and started speaking in clipped Portuguese. "Inform the inspector to release the prisoners and withdraw all personnel from the premises. The Mission will remain under observation only."

  "Yes, Madame Minister," one said, stepping out to do so.

  "I look forward to your success, Captain," Caetano said, switching back to English. "And should you succeed, you may find that in the coming future, my gratitude will be far more valuable than Duarte Vitorino's."

  "Yeah," Henry said, considering how things were going on Lusitania. "I think it will be."

  And I'm going to hate it even more.

  13

  The last of Caetano's people left shortly after she did. Carvalho quietly passed a data disk to Henry before leaving, murmuring, "From the Minister," as he did.

  Jules saw them out through the newly-repaired front door and turned back. The mess wasn't quite as bad as it'd been after the ransacking, but it was clear he was looking at another cleanup job.

  "You go ahead and stay," Henry said to Felix. He held up his commlink. "Vitorino wants to see me ASAP."

  "As late as it is, probably not at his office."

  "No. At the spaceport. He's got a cargo for us."

  "He did help us with Caetano, at least? He got us released?" When Felix saw Henry's resigned expression, he sighed. "He didn't."

  "I'll explain when we're back on the Shadow Wolf, Felix." Henry gestured around the church. "It's… well," He gave Felix a pleading look to not carry on.

  Felix narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He turned to his brother. "Jules, whatever's going on, I don't suppose I can talk you into laying low?"

  "I have a service in two days," Jules said, "and the soup kitchen hasn't been open all day."

  "Right. Although I don't suppose you've got any staff to help?"

  "Probably fewer than I had yesterday." Jules shrugged. "I don't blame them. The PdDN are scary people, as are the security services. They appreciate what I do, but they have families to think of."

  "I'd stay and help—"

  "Go on, big brother," Jules insisted, grinning with that benevolent, annoying grin he had. "I'll survive. And my people may come back when they see I haven't been taken."

  Felix gave Henry a pointed look. All Henry could do was shake his head and chuckle. "That Rothbard stubbornness always wins," Henry said. "Even against itself. We should get going, Minister Vitorino's got limits to his patience."

  "Right." Felix was right on Henry's heels as they departed the mission.

  Before the door shut, Jules bowed his head. "Godspeed," he said, just loudly enough that they heard him.

  They returned to the spaceport in another taxi. The driver, a local girl named Zia, left both reasonably convinced they wouldn't live to see their ship again, but since her driving was from Henry's explicit instructions to get them to the spaceport immediately, he felt obligated to give the full tip he'd intended, even if he was still getting the color back in his cheeks.

  Hangar D8 had a couple of cargo trucks up to the dock loading platform. Vidia and Brigitte were goin
g back and forth with their anti-grav pallet jacks, ferrying cargo into the holds of the Shadow Wolf. Yanik was observing. "Minister Vitorino is taking a private call in the hangar office. He awaits your presence," he informed Henry and Felix on their approach. "And another potential client is in the ship galley waiting to see you."

  A headache threatened to strike Henry. Balancing Caetano and Vitorino was bad enough, but a third client? He was already determined to say "no," regardless of the financial reward offered. Knowing my luck, it's Lou wanting another run like the Yan'katar job.

  Without asking, Felix said, "I'll go get a jack too. The sooner we get this loaded, the sooner we get this over with."

  The hangar office wasn’t meant for a single user, but whoever happened to be renting the hangar. It thus lacked the kind of personal touch Henry's office on the ship had, with basic furnishings, a simple public commlink connection, and workspace. Vitorino was on his commlink when Henry approached. "...and I am not to be pushed around on this," he was saying, his voice heated. "I am a member of the Cabinet too, and my party has the most seats." Whatever the response on the other end, his reaction was a cruel little chuckle. "Your read on the political situation is astute, but do not think you are immune to attack, Minister. Keep your tread with the rest of the government, or you may find that you have more than enough enemies to block you. Now I have business to attend to, so good night." He tapped the commlink to kill the call and turned to Henry. "There you are, Captain. State Security did not mistreat you?"

  "Not me," he said. "Outside of the wrongful arrest. Reverend Julian Rothbard does have to clean up his mission again, though."

  A frustrated sigh came from Vitorino. "I sometimes wish to Heaven Caetano was just a brute. The woman's political instincts are sharp. She understands the frustrations of our people and how to direct them."

  "That’s never a good combination," Henry said. He kept a straight face when he added, "Thank you for helping to spring us, by the way."