Red Star Sheriff

by Timothy Purvis

  “But, why? You’ve yet to explain why this… waverider… and its engine is so important! Sure, it can fly,” Calgary paced looking worried, “but what’s the significance of this… what was it again?”

  “Gravitic core,” the girl responded. “It’s an engine of sorts. Rather than propulsion being driven by nuclear energy or chemical mixtures, it manipulates gravity to generate force.”

  At this, Elien’s eyebrows went up slightly. The significance now very clear.

  “And? Why is that so worthy of all this effort?” Pritchard asked his arms folded into the sleeves of his robe.

  Such short-sighted fools! It’s right in front of you!

  Weiss sighed and frowned. “Imagine a whole fleet equipped with this sort of technology. In the simplest terms, it creates a bubble around the vessel in question. This bubble generates gravity inside of itself, isolating the vehicle’s mass from the gravitational field beyond its perimeter. Theoretically, there’d be no limit to forward thrust. They could reach Alpha Centauri in a matter of hours…” then he paused and let his eyes stare at Calgary and Pritchard, “Hinon in seconds. Even coming past the patrolling HDF. They wouldn’t even know they were there until being fired upon.”

  “Thought you didn’t think the Union was after it?” the girl smiled at him innocently.

  “I still don’t, But Berricks does have the Eighth Fleet out in the Pheyton Range.”

  “Ah, right,” she smirked.

  “You’re really suggesting…” Pritchard began.

  Calgary looked to him, “Invasion. If they’re here again like this, there can be no other reason. If they get their hands on this technology…” Elien frowned as Calgary turned to Wilson. “You have to destroy it! The waverider and the book!”

  Before the now angry looking girl could respond, Pritchard threw up his hands. “Are you nuts!? If she gives us this technology, we’ll have the advantage!” He turned to look at her. “Will you give it to us?”

  “Well, I…” she started.

  Elien growled. “This is preposterous! The Union attacking us? If she actually has this journal, and there is a mockup of technological demonstration,” he thought fast, “then, what, better trade routes? Greater efforts at colonization? Listen to yourselves! This young lady and Mr. Weiss have even made it clear we could colonize other solar systems now! If it’s real, of course. Shut up, Pritchard!” Pritchard shut his mouth before he could speak. “You know what shape Hinon is in. Perhaps, Ms. Wilson, you should patent the technology and market it. That’ll solve your problem astoundingly quick, wouldn’t it? I tell you what, I’d like to see this ‘waverider’ with my own eyes. Where is it at currently?”

  “We have it locked up in the Stanton Industries docks.”

  “Excellent. We should meet there tomorrow afternoon. Which bay are we meeting at?” Elien smiled a bright, toothy grin.

  “Now wait just a minute,” Calgary slapped his palms on the back of a chair. “You’re being awfully dismissive, Elien! You believe this technology exists, but won’t recognize that we’re still technically at war with the Union! We can’t let this technology fall into enemy hands!”

  “Enemy…!?” Elien scoffed.

  “Yes. And we need to bring this before the Council. Today. Inform them of the Union presence in the Wastelands.” Pritchard scratched his chin.

  Calgary nodded. “Absolutely. We need to bring up censure in session as well. Buy us time to strengthen our defenses.”

  “You’re basing all of this on mindless speculation!” Elien scowled.

  “It probably won’t be a serious issue just yet,” Weiss said. “It’ll take months, maybe even years, to replicate the gravitic core. I’m certain I could do it, of course. But, Aidele, maybe Senator Sonoros is right. Marketing it through the trade industries would ensure no one had the sole rights to the technology.”

  “Or…” the girl started as Elien felt delighted. “We could destroy it and the book.”

  “Aidele… this was for your mother… Your father made them…” Weiss spoke softly.

  “I know… but the consequences…” Wilson said staring at the table. Elien had an alarm singing through his skull.

  “It’s a conversation for another time,” Calgary said walking up the tableside. “Right now, we have reason to believe the Union is transporting military personnel and equipment through the Wastelands. This means we must gather our caucus and call for an investigation. In so doing, we’ll call for censure if these events are demonstrated to be directed by the Union. That’ll at least give us the time we need to figure out the next step.”

  Wilson and Weiss seemed relieved. Lester was uncharacteristically quiet. This was getting out of control fast and Elien was feeling panic as well.

  “How do we even know Union troops are in the Wastelands? Are… manipulating some sort of uprising, huh? With no evidence, the Council will just wave you away!”

  “Maybe. But we have to try given these circumstances.” Pritchard walked forward offering a grave smile.

  “If you and Calgary want to make fools of yourselves, then by all means, do so!” Elien straightened his back. “But, count me out! I will not be a part of this farce!”

  Elien turned on his heels and marched out of the room. He huffed down the corridor, sweat beading down his brow. He’d just have to get ahold of the waverider instead. Forget the journal. The gravitic core can be backwards engineered by Union scientists. Karrus! I’ll talk to Karrus! Forget the assassin. For now… Karrus has venture-holdings in Stanton Industries. He can find a way to find out which bay it’s in and how to retrieve it. Right now, I’ve got twenty minutes to put together a bloc to put this endeavor away before it bites me in the ass. Again!

  He quickened his pace and walked into the executive lounge to find Caranth and Prissley. Both diehard Chuhukon senators with a bent towards isolationism. If they even thought a hint of this proposed censure would come back on Hinon, they’d oppose it in a heartbeat.

  AIDELE WATCHED CLOSELY, irritation growing as they viewed the proceedings from her balcony box on a floor high above the chamber floors. They had a phenomenal view of all the Chuhukon congress. The dais where the consulars sat was raised up in the middle of the bottom floor. On that dais, thirteen consulars sat looking outward on desks that were lined around in a circle. Around them, and encircling the dais, were the senatorial stands where rows of seating and enclosed circular desks ringed up the rising stadium-like interior. Rising higher still, were the stands for other governing officials come to witness the daily operation of the Council. Many were merely bureaucrats or officers of governor administrations planetwide.

  As amazing as it was to witness government infighting in action, she was bored out of her mind. And frustrated. Fifteen senators led by Elien Sonoros were arguing against any move on the Union, viewing it as just more Wastelands propaganda. She hadn’t known what to make of the man in the meeting chamber, but now she hated him more than she thought she could. After all, she’d had to deal with Kern Michaels after he murdered her father. But at least Michaels had been honest about who he was. Sonoros was as vicious as a shielded viper and just as slippery. His mannerisms displayed everything about him with just two sessions of hearing him speak.

  Grandfather sighed and leaned back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Goddamn Sonoros. I always knew he was spineless. But to turn his back on Hinon like this… I just don’t know.”

  “Well, at least he only convinced fourteen senators to join him. That’s not bad, is it?” Aidele asked fearing the answer.

  “All he has to do is flip ten more senators and the censure is dead. It requires two-thirds vote for the Council to act on it. True, the Council could overrule the vote. If they were convinced it was an imminent threat. Right now, I’m not even sure an investigation is going to happen.”

  “Can’t they just ask for an investigation and leave the censure for later?”

  “That might’ve worked in the past. But modern
policy of censure includes a clause that probable cause has to be brought forward. If that’s achieved, whoever or whatever organization involved is prohibited from engaging in further action until verification of accused act has been provided.”

  “That seems needlessly complicated.”

  “That’s government for you.”

  After watching the proceedings for two-and-a-half hours, the vote was finally held. Out of sixty-four senators representing the domains, thirty-three voted against censure and a recommendation was made to dismiss the charges as little more than standard Wastelands violence. After a brief deliberation, the Council unanimously concurred. Just like that, the Union was given free rein to operate with impunity.

  “Un-fucking-believable…” Aidele muttered.

  Grandfather patted her leg and stood up to leave. Durante, who had been silent this whole time, only forced half a smile and followed after him. Aidele stood up and glared down at the senators breaking for the day. The consulars were filing down a stairwell at one end of the dais. She clenched her fists and turned to leave.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN: WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

  AMELIA ELIZABETH LYNCH sat at her desk typing up a report for Senator Sonoros. The job was enjoyable enough, but the man was insufferable. He was one of the ruling class of Hinon, the Chuhukons. Once they’d been members of the First Nations Remnants, before several tribes decided to leave an increasingly chaotic Earth to start life anew on Mars. Then they rebelled against the Union some years ago. It wasn’t something she ever thought about much. She’d known a lot of good respectful Chuhukons over the years. But whenever she had to deal with Sonoros she suddenly wished to never see another one again.

  Every week, Amelia inevitably thought, ‘This is the week I go to HR and request a reassignment.’ And every week she got home to flop on the couch with the thought, ‘Screw it, I’ll ask tomorrow.’

  It was starting to look like another one of those weeks.

  The day was almost over she noted glancing at the time projected a few inches above the corner of her desktop. Ten till six. And the senator wasn’t back from session yet.

  Son-of-a-bitch better not be late again. Acts like nobody else has anything to do and everybody is supposed to kiss his ass. She came to the end of the report and sighed with relief. Unless Sonoros came in with some sort of emergency filing, she could leave. When he signed off on the report, of course. A low growl formed in her throat as she looked to the timepiece again. The number switched over to nine till six. Maybe I’ll just leave it on his desk. He can yell at me tomorrow.

  However, she sat and waited. When the clock hit six, she got up and put the tablet on the desk in his office. In the silence, and the view of a sinking sun out the long, curved window, she stood transfixed in the quiet serenity. The office was on the ninety-seventh floor of the high-rise building, and she could see across the breadth of this section of town. Not every skyscraper was so tall. In fact, many were short with the same domed tops as this one. And in this light, with the warm reds mixing with the soft reflected yellows, all the city was basked in a copper glow. Even her own cream brown skin had taken on a light reddish tint.

  Amelia turned from the view to take in the office. There were only the two rooms really. The senator’s office proper, and the lounging area beyond with reception off to the left side of the entrance coming in within what could be called an alcove as it had a shallow wall of sorts ringing both sides of the place. Dividing the rooms was a long wall that wasn’t whole but rather had portions of it that were wide windows of nothing. Eyeholes out onto the lounge. One wide one was to the right of the office door as one would enter. To the door’s left, upon entering, was a smaller, narrower window that rose up to the ceiling. Both could be ‘closed-off’ by means of a generated plasma shield. This could be utilized when Sonoros wanted some privacy when talking to a client (or yelling at her when in one of his moods).

  Right now, shadows cast through those windows and onto the lounge and the furniture there as well as her desk. The lighting was low as she’d turned it down so as to spare the headache that had been gnawing at her head all day. Deeper shadows of the singular chairs sporadically placed around the room (there were six in all) cowered along the floor. In Sonoros’ part of the office, there was a thick oak desk in the center with one hardbacked padded chair. Both had ornate designs that one might find on old furniture in antiquity. These cast fewer, lighter shadows due to the two standing lamps on either side of the forward section in the corners where the walls met. The window behind her was at a steep angle as they were near the peak of the building’s dome. She could even see the curved surface of the outer dome rolling downwards to the edge that flowed around the cylindrical complex known as the Senatorial Advocacy Building.

  The only other bit of decoration in this side of the office was a plastic ficus in the far corner near the window. Sonoros wasn’t big on decorative offerings. So, she’d only been able to hang a few paintings out in the lounge. She had to explain to him once it was for his clients. While he didn’t like it, he allowed it and she figured that was good enough.

  Alright, enough smelling the roses. Time to get outta her before I end up dreaming about this damn place. Again. Amelia left Sonoros’ office and headed to her desk to grab her purse, and then walked to the front door. Light sensors to both rooms were located on a panel by the door midway up the wall. She reached for it and saw the indicators flash into the air before it. Her fingers were nearly there when the door slid open and there stood Sonoros. The old, graying bastard himself. His hair hung down to his buttocks in its usual braided way. She forced a smile.

  “Senator Sonoros, it’s good to run into you before leaving for the night.”

  He marched past her almost bowling her over and looked around the office. “Did you finish the Carver report, Ms. Lynch?”

  “Yes, sir. I left it on your desk to sign when you got in. I wasn’t sure if you’d be returning tonight or not.”

  “Nonsense,” he said walking back to his office. Amelia followed. “I’ll review it now. You should have pinged my comscan.”

  “I know how you don’t like to be disturbed in meetings, sir.” She clasped her purse before her with both hands trying not to be snide. “Besides, I didn’t think it was so important as to require your immediate attention.”

  He waved his hand dismissively as he scanned through the report. “Yes. Yes. Everything appears to be in order. I’ll sign it and put it back on your desk for filing. Go, if you’re in such a hurry. Spirits only know what you people do when you’re not doing your job!”

  Amelia inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly. Don’t lose your job… Don’t lose your job…

  “Was there something else you wanted, Ms. Lynch? I have things to do.”

  “I… just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything else you needed… sir.”

  He sat down with a scowl and didn’t look at her. “No, there isn’t. You may go.”

  Amelia did her best not to grumble a retort, bit her tongue, and headed back to leave. Though, she had to admit, he was in a better mood than typical. Must have his mind on something. She frowned. Tomorrow… I’m going to ask about that reassignment.

  Her hand reached towards the sensor panel again when the door slid back open. A tall man in a black dress suit and undervest stood there wearing glasses and a pleasant smile.

  “Ms. Lynch! Fancy meeting you here!” He looked down at her in a way that made her nervous, looking and sounding friendly enough, but with a demeanor that suggested anything but. “Leaving for the night, then? Good. I wish you a pleasant evening.”

  “Uh… yeah,” was all she could get out before he stepped lithely by her and into the office. It dawned on her that he used her last name then and she was pretty sure she’d never seen him before. And she wasn’t wearing a nametag. She found herself rushing back to get ahead of him. “I’m sorry, sir. The senator’s office is closed for the night. If you’d like to make an appointment, you c
an come back in the morning to do so. Or call.”

  The man stopped in his tracks and stared down at her as she raised a hand, palm out toward him. He had a good foot on her height wise, and she wasn’t sure what to do should he refuse to leave. He cocked an eyebrow.

  “Young lady, you and I have nothing to discuss. At least, not yet. Perhaps at some future point should things go sour. But, for now, you should go home.”

  Sweat beaded her forehead and one stream threatened to flow into her eye. There was a certainty now the man wasn’t there to talk. To her or the senator. And if that were the case, she was all that stood between him and Sonoros. There’s the Crighton in my purse… will it come to that? Movement came from Sonoros’ office.

  “What the devil is going on out there!?” Sonoros bellowed and came to the door of his office. Once there, he froze. “Is there something I can help you with? Ms. Lynch! What are you doing!? Was there a meeting you forgot to schedule!?”

  “Oh yes, senator. There was a meeting scheduled. Only, poor Ms. Lynch didn’t know about it. You see, my name is Mr. Nielson. I’m here on behalf of General Berricks.”

  “B, Berricks?” Sonoros took a step back. “Does that mean… a decision has been made?”

  Sonoros swallowed visibly, worrying Amelia. Nielson smiled.

  “Indeed. I’m afraid the general told me that your offer has been soundly rejected. And your services are no longer required.” He looked down to Amelia. “Are you not going home?”

  She stood back. “I’ve asked you to leave politely. If you won’t go now, I’ll be forced to call security.”

  He ‘tsked’ several times and reached into his suit jacket. “Such a pity. Well, I suppose one brat left will still be leverage enough. But, first thing’s first.”

  Nielson pulled out a long pistol. She recognized it as a Titan V Peacemaker, and it had a silencer on its muzzle. It was the type of gun favored by assassins throughout the Sol system. The recognition was all she had time for as he backhanded her with his left hand sending her sprawling to the floor as he took aim at Sonoros. Three rapid poofs echoed out as the senator flung himself behind the divider wall, all three shots ringing where he’d just been a split second before.