The Slip: The Complete First Season

by Herschel K. Stroganoff

  “A campaign against an enemy whose network extends from Mercury to the far reaches of the Kuiper Belt will require a sustained commitment. The cooperation of all our citizens will make this process much easier to achieve the stability and security which is so crucial to our way of life.

  “We have no ambition except to remove the threat of the Purdah and take back control of our Union once and for all.

  “These decisions have been made reluctantly, yet our purpose is sure.”

  Takeshi paused - a dramatic gesture, Akira thought.

  “United Solar and its Affiliates will not live at the mercy of a terrorist network that threatens our citizens, our Union, our way of life.

  “My fellow citizens, the dangers to our Union will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. Justice will be done. There will be no questions. Thank you.”

  Akira watched as Takeshi left the briefing room flanked by guards. She stared for several minutes, making no effort to move out of the way when the other reporters filed past her. She could not comprehend what she had just heard - for the first time in her career as a reporter, she was shocked.

  Muedin Boardroom, Muedin Headquarters, Lunar

  Inge glared at Tshilidzi. The Investigator had just scraped the legs of a seat from under her boardroom table without even asking permission.

  “Please sit,” said Tshilidzi. “This could take awhile.”

  Inge poured a fruit water from a jug into a glass then took a seat opposite Tshilidzi. She met his gaze unblinking as she tapped the surface of the oval table with her fingers.

  “As you're aware,” he said. “I'm currently investigating the deaths of twenty-three members of the Yao family and the presumed deaths of two more. I'd just like to say how much I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me.”

  Inge sipped her drink then turned the glass in her hand, watching the pink liquid as it swirled. “I have been busy,” she said, placing the glass down.

  “You were very difficult to get hold of,” he said. “I'm very sorry I had to force your hand on this meeting.”

  “As I say, I've been very busy.” Inge felt his probing gaze, but refused to turn away.

  “Can you tell me what you were doing on the sixth day of last month?”

  Inge shook her head. “I don't know what I was doing on an exact day so long ago.”

  “It was the day of the Yao deaths - you're a Representative, that must have been a significant day.”

  She sipped her drink and rose to her feet. “I'm not sure what this has to do with anything,” she said.

  “Please be seated, Madam Tomas. I need your full cooperation,” Tshilidzi said with a firm voice.

  “I prefer to stand. My back has been aching.”

  Tshilidzi raised his hands. “Okay. If you need to stand, you can do that.”

  “Actually, I'll sit.” Inge scraped her chair along the floor as she sat back down.

  Tshilidzi raised his eyebrows. “Are you happy to continue?”

  “Please. Go on,” she said, her voice taking on tone that was part amiable and part commanding.

  “The day of the Yao deaths.”

  “I was here, doing vital work for the Muedin. It wouldn't be proper for me to tell you what I was working on - Affiliate privilege, you know. I heard about a death on the casino platform at first. Then the next day we were summoned to the Assembly.”

  “That would be on the seventh?”

  “When I last checked seven did come after six,” Inge said, her voice brimming with sarcasm.

  “Right.” Tshilidzi wrote on his notes.

  Inge was pleased - she could tell she was getting under his skin.

  “This would be the meeting where Secretary Ozu made his first appearance at the Assembly to push through a motion you put forward?”

  “Is that a question?”

  “More an observation,” said Tshilidzi.

  “I thought I was summoned by the Judiciary for you to ask me questions - sorry, what did you say your name was again?”

  “Investigator Tshilidzi Dumi.”

  “Silly Dummy, that's right. Mister Dummy—”

  “Dumi,” Tshilidzi knitted his brow.

  “Mister Dumi,” Inge shrugged. “ I really don't have time to listen to your musings and observations. Unless you have any genuine questions you need me to answer, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I've been incredibly cooperative, but this is completely unworkable.”

  “Madam Tomas, please,” Tshilidzi's tone was tinged with anger.

  Inge smiled then gestured with her hand for Tshilidzi to continue.

  “Did you have any prior knowledge of the Yao deaths?”

  “No.”

  “We you involved in a conspiracy to murder the Yaos?”

  Inge grimaced. “Absolutely not. This line of questioning is—” Inge cut her sentence short as Tshilidzi raised a silencing hand.

  “To the best of your knowledge, was Takeshi Ozu involved in a conspiracy?”

  “No.”

  “When did you plan your motion on weapons?”

  Inge pursed her lips. She sipped her drink, then scratched behind her neck.

  “When did you plan your motion on weapons?” he repeated.

  “I wouldn't call it so much a plan,” Inge said, squirming.

  “When did you plan your motion on weapons?”

  “That is privileged information,” she said.

  “When did you plan your motion on weapons?” Tshilidzi slammed a fist on the table.

  “Years ago,” she spat. “We've had the motion waiting for the right moment.”

  “Now we're getting somewhere. Thank you, Madam Tomas,” Tshilidzi, leaned back taking on a relaxed demeanour. “You say you had nothing to do with the Yao deaths, so this was what? Opportunism?”

  Inga wrinkled her nose. “I wouldn't use that word, you make it sound so grubby. We saw an opportunity and we took advantage. Anyone would have done that same.”

  Tshilidzi shook his head. “A family dies and the first thing you think about is how you can use it to further your interests.”

  “It wasn't the first thing I thought,” Inge said. “Of course I felt sad for them, but let's be honest - no one is going to mourn the loss of the Yao.”

  “So let me get this straight, because maybe I am a dummy, like you say. You pushed for a vote on a motion you knew would have been blocked by the Yao. Then the Secretary just turns up to offer his backing? Do you see why this doesn't make sense to me?”

  Inge gave a half smile. “The Secretary supported our plans, and when we knew about the deaths, we asked him to force the issue to the Assembly. Everything we've done is completely above board, perfectly legal.”

  “Do you not see how the connection between these two events is suspicious to say the least?” said Tshilidzi.

  “Causality is not the same as correlation. I thought you were an Investigator.”

  Tshilidzi sucked his teeth. “That'll be all. You've been most helpful, Madam Tomas.”

  United Solar Assembly, Insularum 1, Lunar

  Akira glanced along the row of empty Yao seats, standing like grim headstones near the front of the Chamber. She recognised the usual faces as they took their seats: the Representatives from the eight provinces; Affiliate officers; the holders of some of the most important licenses across the Union.

  She had seen many changes over the previous weeks, but she found it comforting to see some things still remained the same - that amid the chaos, there was still stability.

  Lunar Secretary Takeshi Ozu took his place next to Hayao Kurosowa's empty seat.

  Akira pushed her glasses up her nose as Chair Akash Tagore entered, flanked as ever by a pair of guards as he took a seat at the raised platform facing the Chamber..

  “Please be seated,” Akash said. “We have a lot of things on the agenda today. Firstly, if Secretary Ozu could provide a stat
ement to the Assembly on the civil unrest around Venus.”

  Akira picked up her notepad as Takeshi stood. “Thank you Chair,” he said, bowing his head. “Representatives, as you are no doubt aware, we have received reports of disorder around the inner provinces, perhaps most notably on Venus's V2, V4 and V5 orbiters. We have also recently received distress calls from Titan calling for assistance. We believe these have been fuelled by a rogue Purdah agents working to disrupt our way of life. But rest assured that Molotok ships have already liaised with the stricken orbiters and extracted any Affiliates as a top priority.”

  Takeshi returned to his seat and waited for other members to respond. Akira had reported on Assembly meetings for over thirty years and was surprised when nobody else stood to make a response. “This is weird,” she muttered, leaning to a reporter sat next to her. “They're usually clamouring to get a word in.”

  Akash's face turned into a bemused frown. “Okay,” Akash said. “Second on the list. Would Secretary Ozu care to provide an update for the Assembly on the influx of refugees to Lunar?”

  Takeshi rose again and turned a warm smile to the Assembly. Akira started when for a second she caught him staring at her.

  “As Representatives will be aware,” he said. “A number of refugees have made their way to Lunar as a result of the crisis. We are dealing with this migrant problem as best we can.

  “Luckily, many of the refugees came from V5 - no doubt those citizens will have the resources to settle quickly without burdening the Union. It is those from V4 that are currently being held on L2, and it will remain that way until we can be sure that no Purdah agents have infiltrated the refugee ships.”

  Takeshi returned to his seat. There was a long silent pause before Akash cleared his throat. “You're all very quiet today,” he said with a joking tone. A few nervous laughs rang loud around the Assembly. Akira could feel the tension buzzing in the air. This was an Assembly sitting in fear.

  “Third on the agenda,” Akash said with a small shrug of his shoulders. “If Secretary Ozu could update the Assembly on the economic crisis.”

  Takeshi stood again and wore a grave expression. “The callous terrorist atrocity carried out by the Purdah has placed our Union on the brink—”

  Akira pushed her glasses up her nose as Akash banged his gavel. “Secretary Ozu, there is an ongoing investigation into the deaths of the Yao. If you could refrain from making any statements that could prejudice that investigation.”

  “My apologies Chair,” Takeshi said with a curt bow. “The facts are simple. All production controlled by the Yao has ceased and will continue to be on hold until such time as the final two bodies can be located. We are in an unacceptable bind and steps are being taken to work through some of the ridiculous legal blocks that are damaging our Union.

  “We've already seen some of the problems around Mercury and Venus, and I am concerned that the unrest will only spread. Indeed, the wife of former Vice Secretary Hayao Kurosawa was recently arrested for treason and now at large after escaping the Judiciary.”

  Akira sat up, shocked. She bit her lip and removed her glasses.

  Inge Tomas raised a hand. “I was unaware that Madam Kurosawa had been arrested Secretary,” said Inge, rising to her feet. “You say she's escaped from the Judiciary? Well, I believe I saw her. She was dressed like a maintenance worker - I assumed it was because of the shame she felt about her traitor husband.”

  Takeshi raised an eyebrow. “Really? Go on.”

  “She took off quite abruptly, but she got off around one of the Insularum stops - maybe at dome four or five.”

  “I will make sure to notify Molotok,” said Takeshi. “You have been a great help as ever Madam Tomas.”

  Takeshi turned his attention back to the Assembly as Inge returned to her seat. “This is why I will be using my executive powers at this time to introduce heightened security across the Union,” Takeshi continued.

  “I will be instructing Molotok to patrol our streets and protect our platforms from the Purdah. I will order that all citizens - excluding United Solar Affiliates - be subject to evening curfews. Molotok members will be armed and given the right to search and question citizens if they find reason to be suspicious. This is an unwanted, but necessary precaution - I think you'll all agree.”

  Akira shook her head as she felt the silence of the Assembly. Clenching her jaw.

  Wynn Efans stood to speak. “Chair, it seems to me that the power of this Assembly is completely undermined by Secretary Ozu's executive powers,” he said.

  “These are extraordinary times Representative Efans,” Takeshi growled. “One might think you were sympathetic to the Purdah.”

  “With respect, not everything is a clear-cut as you make it to be Mister Secretary.” Wynn turned to Akash. “Chair, if I could please call for a vote on the Secretary's motion.”

  Akash looked down at Wynn and frowned. “No motion has been put forward Representative Efans.”

  “Well, can I put it forward then?”

  “I'm afraid that's impossible. The constitution dictates—”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Wynn's face curled into a grimace as he turned to the other Representatives. “You all sit there. You are all afraid of what this man will do if you dare to challenge him. This is not the time to impose what the Secretary is suggesting - can't you see that?”

  “Mister Efans,” shouted Akash as he banged his gavel.

  “We have our laws, we have our constitution, but they are wrong - we need to change—” Wynn's words were lost over the noise.

  “You have been warned many times in previous sessions Mister Efans. The law is the law, now please be seated or remove yourself from this Assembly.”

  “What Assembly? We don't have an Assembly anymore - we have the whims of one man.”

  Akira smiled as Wynn stormed out of the Chamber.

  “He's trouble, that one,” Takeshi said with a flippant shrug.

  Tshilidzi’s Personal Office, Judiciary, Insularum 1, Lunar

  Tshilidzi's dark eyes stung from the days of reading, collating and examining the evidence - he thought the entire investigation was hopeless.

  His chair creaked as he leaned back. He wondered what else could connect the murders. TA calculated and coordinated attack killed the Yaos - that's all he knew for certain. As to who committed these deaths, he still had nothing concrete.

  Everyone had theories based on prejudice, hearsay and assumption - but there was no reliable evidence to add weight to these claims. Many of the theories were plausible; some convincing; others stretched credulity to its limits, with paranoid conspiracies being touted by otherwise reliable Representatives.

  Muedin and Aghoro were of the view the Purdah killed the Yao. They believed the Purdah wanted to take over Yao interests or create a power vacuum with the Assembly.

  The Boeki suggested the Secretary may have ordered the deaths. Their reasoning was unclear and instantiated.

  Other Assembly members suggested disgruntled Yao workers across the Solar System worked together to enact revenge on their masters. This was far-fetched, requiring more resources and coordination than feasible.

  Another theory suggested the machines themselves were defective, and something went wrong at that particular moment because of an error in the model of the drone. Tshilidzi entertained this idea briefly but concluded the Yao had constructed thousands of identical drones across the Solar System and the error - if it can be called an error - only occurred at a particular moment in the presence of a Yao family member. Tshilidzi rejected this theory.

  The investigation rested on the mining drones.

  Tshilidzi cross-referenced the serial numbers with United Solar's database, but found the drones were of three different designs and manufactured local to the murders. This raised more questions than it answers. He knew the Yao set up factories wherever they mined and produced their drones in the vicinity of the work site, often recycling or jettisoning the machines once the mine was no l
onger productive.

  The drones must have been programmed remotely - but by whom?

  Tshilidzi sighed, he could see a pattern emerging. He was on the verge of a breakthrough, but the facts didn't add up.

  Gustav's Bar, Insularum 3, Lunar

  Akira sipped at her bitter cider as Wynn's hands trembled. “What's going on?” she asked.

  Wynn sighed. “I've found something out that's pretty bad,” he said..

  Akira licked her lips. “What is it?”

  “It's about V5,” Wynn leaned forward as he whispered. “You know how Ozu sent a rescue mission?”

  Akira raised a shoulder in a half shrug. “They're back, I know.” She lifted the drink to her mouth.

  “They sent the Molotok in to deal with the residents,” he said with a dark expression.

  Akira placed her drink down and frowned. “I don't understand. I thought they were basically hired thugs.”

  “Exactly,” he said. “But this is where it gets bad. I know someone who was on V5. He reckons they only rescued Affiliates.”

  Akira laughed. “That's not a story,” she said. “Of course that's what they did - it's what they always do. If they went and rescued—”

  “Listen,” Wynn said, grabbing her hand. “Let me explain. My friend said the Molotok killed anyone that wasn't an Affiliate.”

  Akira raised her eyebrows.

  “He said it was a massacre. Innocent people—” Wynn shook his head.

  “How do you know this is true?”

  “I trust the person who told me. He's got no reason to lie.”

  “Didn't one of your guys get killed on there?”

  “Ifan Walbeoff. He was a good man. That had nothing to do with the Molotok though. He got stabbed by some kid. Muedin wouldn't help him unless he paid up-front - so he bled out on their doorstep.”

  “That's awful,” Akira said. “I didn't know.”

  The pair sat in silence for a long moment.

  “Ooh, I've got something for you.” Akira reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper.