by Sam Schall
Then there were the thrice-damned Callusians. They refused to follow his recommendations of moving slowly and not directly confronting Fuercon. That was bad enough. But the use of the biotoxin on Shennong had rallied even the most hesitant of Fuercon’s allies behind the battle flag.
And Midlothian was caught right in the middle.
Damn it, how had it all gone so wrong so quickly?
The former Intelligence Czar moved to the rickety desk across the room. The expensive and secure data unit sitting there was in direct conflict with the rest of the room. The flophouse he currently lived in was the perfect hiding place. The other occupants kept them heads down and their eyes and ears closed. No one who knew him before he disappeared would ever consider the possibility of him living in such squalor. All he had to do was survive a little bit longer. Then he’d be able to return to the life he’d left behind.
Assuming the Callusians and the Fuerconese didn’t ruin his plans any more than they already had.
And that now seemed like it might be a very real possibility.
At least it was if he were to believe Santos Reyes.
Perhaps he should have left the system when he had the chance. He’d certainly left enough clues behind to make it seem like he had. But he couldn’t walk away from everything he’d worked so hard to build over the years. More than that, if he left the system, he placed himself in a position where he couldn’t monitor what happened and couldn’t apply pressure where needed to continue his mission.
He once again produced his comm and punched in a code. Then he waited, knowing the person on the other end would answer only if it was safe to do so.
“Yes?” a woman’s voice said a few moments later. As with all their previous contacts, there was no video. It protected them both by revealing nothing about where either of them happened to be during the calls.
“Reyes commed. Is the situation as bad as he said?”
Silence. Watchman waited, picturing the woman as she decided how to respond.
“It’s not good.” Another pause. “The pressure is on to reveal anything and everything the Bureau knows, either collectively or individually, about a certain person’s whereabouts and activities. Vreman is doing his best to hold out but the Fuerconese hold all the cards right now. He won’t risk them withdrawing their military support. Not after seeing what the biotoxin can do.”
“I assume you are doing all you can to keep the situation in hand.”
“Of course. I know who really holds the power here.”
He allowed himself a small smile. She did know. Just as she knew what would happen if the information he had on her should find its way into certain people’s hands. The best she could hope for was prison. In reality, she’d be lucky to escape with her life. Certain parts of their society didn’t take kindly to having their secrets revealed and he would make very certain all trace of betrayal led directly to her.
“How much time do we have?”
“A day, two at most.”
Which meant he needed to act fast if he was to stay one step ahead of the Fuerconese.
“All right. You’ve done well.”
With that, he ended the comm. Where Reyes tended to overreact and panic, she kept her head. That’s what made her such a good tool. Their relationship began years earlier when he discovered some of her clandestine activities and used them to get her cooperation on certain matters before the Bureau. Now she was as close to an ally as he had. Not that he trusted her to keep his secrets without the sword he held over her. Even so, they had formed a relationship that worked for both of them.
That left him with Vreman to consider. The man’s dedication to Midlothian couldn’t be questioned. Unfortunately, he lacked the backbone necessary to push their system into the leadership position it deserved. Steps needed to be taken to prevent him from caving in to the Fuerconese and setting back everything Watchman and the others accomplished.
An hour later, an elderly man dressed in clothes that had seen their better day long ago shuffled through the mass of pedestrians making their way toward the government complex in the center of town. A few feet ahead of him, his target waited at the curb. A member of the security service stood nearby. The agent said something and Jensen Vreman nodded. Then he stepped forward, the crowd surging into the intersection with him.
Watchman slipped between the men and women making their way to their offices. Many of them knew him but none recognized him. Instead, they saw a feeble old man who presented a danger to no one. How little they knew and how foolish they were. Especially Vreman.
“Easy, Chairman,” he whispered as he stepped up next to the man. “Listen closely. You know what I’m capable of. Unless you want something to happen to that lovely wife of yours or your equally lovely daughter, you will not sell out to Fuercon. You will send them off with what you’ve already turned over to them. As far as you’re concerned, I left the system weeks ago and you have no idea where I went. As far as you know, I’m dead and you hope I stay that way.”
He slipped back into the mass of humanity streaming down the street and was gone before Vreman turned, fear draining the blood from the man’s face.
Hopefully, that would be enough to keep him safe until the Fuerconese left the system. It had to be. Vreman and the others knew he wouldn’t hesitate to let the streets run red with the blood of his enemies. Now it was time to get to safety.
And the waiting game continued.
14
The moment he entered the conference room, Secretary of State Marc Nelms knew something had changed. In his previous discussions with the Administrative Bureau or its representatives, he’d learned who objected to doing anything Fuercon asked, no matter how reasonable or how badly Midlothian needed the continued protection of Fuercon and her allies. Not once during those sessions had he seen Jensen Vreman be anything but open to discussion. Yet, this morning, the man sat at the head of the conference table, his expression set in stone.
Without breaking stride, Nelms signaled his companions to be wary. Not that their Midlothian counterparts realized it. After all, who would be suspicious of him reaching up to scratch his chin? To their credit, none of those accompanying him visibly reacted. Even so, he all but felt Ashlyn Shaw tensing behind him.
He stopped at the far end of the conference table, standing behind the chair he’d occupied every other time he’d been planetside. Ambassador Morgan Izaguirre took his place to Nelms’ right. This time, instead of assuming her place by the doorway or at the table, Colonel Shaw moved to stand behind and slightly to the left of his chair. Nelms bent his head to hide his smile as several of those gathered stiffened in response. Obviously, they didn’t appreciate having an armed and armored Marine so close.
Too bad. They were about to learn the time for games was over.
“Mr. Secretary, I must object to the colonel’s presence and to your obvious attempt to intimidate this body into doing as you wish,” Vreman said.
For a moment, Nelms remained silent. Then he pushed his chair back and stood. Izaguirre immediately followed suit. While he hadn’t expected the Midlothians to escalate the situation so quickly, he’d been prepared for the possibility.
“I assure you, Chairman, this is not an attempt at intimidation. If it were, you’d know it.” He tried hard not to smile when Shaw chuckled almost evilly. Even though he didn’t turn, he imagined she was lightly caressing the sidearm at her right thigh, driving home his point for him. “I came bearing a warning, not about what my government might do if you continue to drag your feet and refuse to fulfill the agreements and treaties you signed with Fuercon and our other allies. Instead, I came with a warning about recent activity by our common enemy. However, since you aren’t interested in hearing what I have to say, I will take my leave and instruct Admiral Tremayne to finish evacuating our personnel and their dependents to her ships. It is obvious these negotiations have broken down. Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I assure you we will be out of your system within the
next twelve hours.”
He stepped away from the table. As he did, he nodded once and Colonel Shaw moved to the right, letting him pass. Then she fell in behind him and Izaguirre. He knew without looking, she walked backward toward the door, never taking her attention from the Bureau members. It was a carefully choreographed move, one they’d discussed on the shuttle after they left the Atlantis Rising.
Voices murmured behind them. Some concerned, others affronted. All surprised he’d walked away from the table.
“Wait!” Vreman said.
Nelms stopped and turned. “Yes?”
“What warning?”
“Does this mean the Bureau will live up to its agreements with Fuercon?” Izaguirre asked. “We have no desire to continue with the one-way relationship our systems have enjoyed these last years.” His disgust with the Bureau and its members hung thick in the air.
“We have done all you asked,” Bethany Waal said. “It is your government that continues to make ever-increasing impossible demands.”
“Then the answer to my question is no.” Nelms shook his head, his expression cold. “I will tell you this. Your former allies, the Callusians, have struck at least twice more since the attack on Shennong. Each attack brings them closer to this system. I would suggest warning your citizens so they have time to either put their affairs in order or hopefully get out of the system before it is too late.” He glanced at Shaw. “Colonel, please inform the admiral we are on our way back and it is my recommendation we leave the system as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir.” She reached up and lightly tapped her earbud, activating her comm.
“Wait!” Everyone in the room heard the panic in Vreman’s voice this time. “You can’t pull out now.”
“Begging the Chairman’s pardon, but that is exactly what we can do,” Shaw said. For the first time since their arrival, she stepped forward, making herself part of the discussion.
“For those who don’t recognize her, let me introduce Colonel Ashlyn Shaw, commanding officer of Tenth Division Seventh Regiment Fuerconese Marine Corps. Colonel Shaw and her command are often on the leading edges of our battle against the Callusians. In fact, the colonel and members of her command returned from Shennong not long before being tasked with this mission. This is just part of the assistance you have refused for your system. This is the help you have refused by continuing to impede our attempts to locate and arrest Alexander Watchman. This is the help you do not have the right to demand now, when you fear for your cowardly lives.” Nelms spoke coldly.
“B-but,” Waal stammered.
“What do you want?” Vreman slumped in his chair, defeated.
“Exactly what you agreed to give us—Alexander Watchman.”
“You’d hold our system hostage just so you can get your revenge on one man?” Santos Reyes demanded.
Nelms’ upper lip curled in disgust. “If we wanted revenge, we would have pulled our forces out of the system long ago. What we want is justice. What we require is knowledge of just how far this conspiracy runs. Fuercon and her allies, those who have fought the enemy at our side, have lost millions of lives in this war. Many of those can be laid directly at the feet of Watchman and every person who aided him or turned a blind eye to what he was doing.
“Midlothian claims to be our ally. It’s time to prove it.” He glanced around the table. “You have one hour to make up your minds. While you do, I will make sure our efforts to get our people to safety continue. Good day.”
Nelms once again turned. Ignoring the pleas for him to stay, to negotiate some more, he left the room, Shaw and Izaguirre on his heels.
“We will wait at the embassy,” he said as they stepped into their waiting transport a few minutes later. “Colonel, I trust you’ve improved security there in ways you’ve not told us about.”
Ash nodded once. One of the first things she did when they arrived in-system was dispatch teams to improve security in and around the embassy.
“Then put it all in effect. Let’s not take any chances.”
“Already done, sir.”
“Thank you.” He blew out a breath and ran a hand over his face. “I don’t want to leave this system unprotected. Not only am I unwilling to sacrifice the citizens who had nothing to do with the machinations of some of those in government, but it would be a PR nightmare for the allies if we did. But that doesn’t mean I have any qualms about putting the fear of God in the Bureau. Nor will I disobey orders and keep our ships and our people here if the government continues to negotiate in bad faith.”
“We know that, Marc,” Izaguirre said. “Believe me, I understand why you’ve taken this stance. The Bureau has had too much unchecked power for much too long and Watchman was the worst of them. I doubt there’s a member sitting on it who isn’t either in his pocket or one of his victims. They’d rather turn their backs on the system than risk having their secrets come out.”
“Your thoughts, Colonel?” Nelms asked as the transport pulled through the embassy gates.
“Essential diplomatic personnel are to move to the safe rooms, sir. All others are to continue being evacced. I want you on a shuttle that is primed for lift off.” She shook her head when he started to interrupt. “Secretary Nelms, my orders are clear and they come from Admiral Tremayne, General Okafor and the President. I am to keep you safe. That means you will transport back to the fleet if Vreman is one second late in responding to your deadline.”
He didn’t like it but she was right. Just not for the reasons she thought. He had to prove to the Midlothians that he wasn’t running a bluff with them.
“How about a compromise, Colonel?” He smiled slightly when she narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “No shuttle but we will go to the safe room. However, we will move to the shuttle ten minutes before time runs out for Vreman. Will that work?”
She didn’t like it and made no attempt to hide it. But, instead of arguing, she nodded once. “Your word that both of you will go to the shuttle the moment I tell you to without argument or delay.” She pinned both he and Izaguirre with a firm look.
“You have our word,” Nelms said and Izaguirre nodded in agreement.
He hoped it didn’t come to that. He didn’t want the deaths of Midlothian innocents weighing on him the rest of his life.
Vreman threw his glass across the room. The sound of it shattering against the far wall cut through the sounds of raised voices. Heads turned in his direct as silence fell. At the same time, he cursed loudly enough for everyone to hear. He didn’t care if they knew he was furious. They’d wasted invaluable time arguing amongst themselves after Nelms left. Each minute wasted was one minute closer to their doom.
“Shut the fuck up.” He ground out the words as he took a mental roll call. He fought the urge to curse again as he realized Reyes was no longer present. Sometime after Nelms left, the man had slipped out.
Probably running in hopes of saving his sorry skin.
“Sit down.”
“We can’t give in to them,” Omar Ubacke said from his place down the table.
Vreman looked at the Finance Minister and frowned. He’d known the man was in Watchman’s hip pocket. He had to be. There was no other way the former Intelligence Czar could have paid for all his “little projects”. The fact they were all, to one degree or another, in Watchman’s pocket didn’t matter. Not now. Not when they needed to find a way to save themselves and the system.
“I assume you have a way out of the system then, Ubacke.” He sneered at the man as Ubacke paled and shook his head. “It is fair to say we all would prefer it if Alexander Watchman was never found and never heard from again.”
Heads nodded.
“However, ask yourselves this: are you willing to sacrifice everything—your lives, the lives of your loved ones and the lives of everyone in the system—to keep your secrets from coming out?”
No one spoke. More than a few of those gathered looked down, guilt radiating off them. He understood. But this went beyond the te
n of them in the room. They’d made their play for power and it had been a good game while it lasted. All they could do now was comply with the Fuerconese demands and pray they somehow managed to claw their way out of the morass when the war was over.
Besides, if he played this right, he’d be able to pass the blame on betraying Watchman off on the other members of the Bureau and keep the man off his back. That would be a win-win situation.
“We still control the media. Even if Fuercon and her allies reveal anything they learn from Watchman or his files, we can deny it. It will be the word of a traitor against us. The public will believe us but only if we do everything possible to keep them safe from the Callusians.”
One by one, heads nodded.
“Are we agreed then? We send word to Nelms that we will do what he asks and we follow through with that agreement.”
He waited until everyone agreed. “Bethany, send the message and pray we aren’t too late.”
She stood and moved across the room to do as he said.
“Now, does anyone know where Reyes disappeared to?”
More head shakes and a few furtive looks. Well, he’d deal with them later, after this crisis. For now, he punched a code into his comm. A moment later, the door opened and Major Rudolph stepped inside.
“Major, send teams out to locate and arrest Santos Reyes on charges of treason and aiding and abetting the enemy. He is to be brought here as soon as you have him in custody.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And inform your people that they are to share all information they have gathered in their investigation into the activities of Alexander Watchmen with the Fuerconese. That includes allowing them full access to all of Watchman’s former holdings and files.”
“Understood, Chairman.”