Yvonne said." Master, you should look at document 9403.32. It is associated with the Kermac Spy on Corri-Door."
Schwartz security knew about the Kermac using the sect of the whispering Spirit to infiltrate the Union for quite a while, ever since the Kermac replaced a SII employee sixty five years ago. SII Security kept tabs on all of them. The Employee for example was allowed to send selected information home. It was much better to control a known spy than exposing him and then trying to find who or whatever replaced him.
The Kermac spy on Corri-Door was more or less a sleeper, doing very little intelligence work and basically sending information to the Kermac, they could have gained by an extensive GalNet investigation. This time however his handler, a human woman on Pluribus had contacted him while the Kermac delegation was there and with specific instructions to sabotage an execution that was about to take place. Rex knew of course about the implications and the political reasons why this particular execution had to take place without any complications. It was quite bold of the Kermac to order such a subversive attack on a Union planet. If the sabotage was successful and the Union identified who ordered it, could easily escalate to war again. While Rex would not mind if the last war against the Kermac finally broke out. He had no doubt the Union would succeed and he would commit his fleet and secret military might into the fray virtually guaranteeing victory, but the Nul would most likely not stay idle. The Free Space civilizations and especially the Kartanian and the Togar would also fight to maintain their interests. Still he was certain the Union would be victorious but at a serious cost. He knew about the Call the Kermac made or were about to make and the Union would then need all its strength. Rex knew who it was who would answer the call.
He found it was better to chip away the Kermac power, thrall by thrall, deal with the Shiss first and make sure they are no longer a factor, and then maybe in 30-50 years wipe those white skinned meddlers out in one decisive hit. Unite the Galaxy under one rule and then it would be time for the Master to return and he would become the Emperor of the Union and then face what the Kermac had called!"
He did not want to reveal his source of information of course. "Do we have someone who can make it to Corri-Door on time and deal with Lox Marshall before he can do something?"
Yvonne who was permanently connected not only to GalNet and GalCom but to the secret Comm-Channels of SII immediately answered."I have contacted a reliable asset, but there is 56 percent chance he will not make it in time."
"Monitor the situation and if the chance rises over 75 percent, leak the report to Union Intel but make sure it is done so SII is not implicated."
"Yes, Master!"
Chapter 13: The Call
Lox Marshall
He had visited the Prison and convinced the one of the administration assistants working there that the indoor plants needed checking again. This was an easy and little psionic suggestion, and all that was needed, as he was the regular official contractor.
He could not visit the actual prison tract, but that was not needed. The prison guards were psionic shielded anyway, especially as there was a Psi talent in the cells at the moment. He watered the indoor trees in the attached offices and glanced at the field screens monitoring the prisoners, as all he needed was visual contact. The woman was his target and he planted a new wish in her mind. She wanted to hold flowers when she was executed. It was a harmless suggestion. That she would ask for Saran Lulus would guarantee they called him.
Adam Smith
He had actually burned out the drive of his small but very fast Cobra Race ship, the damage was considerable to the brand new ship he just had purchased 8 hours ago, nevertheless he had made it to Corri-Door with 3 hours to spare before the execution was to take place. He had virtually unlimited funds to complete his mission and all available data on Lox Marshall in his data brain. His left eyeball was actually a precision laser emitter and with it he could drill a fine and deadly hole in his mark without anyone noticing him doing it, but he had to find his mark first. His papers identified him as John Adams of Luna, and his CIT was no forgery but the real thing. Easily obtainable for a SII Black Ops enforcer, while the Citizen CIT implantation machines were made by the government, they used parts manufactured by SII- Biotronics Division.
He found tunnel 10 and the business easily enough. After torturing the pretty Office assistant with a Neuro active Poly scanner that was a crude Positronic alternative to a natural telepath, almost as good just not very gentle and not legal. But he only found that she indeed knew her boss had left, but she did not know where he went. So she had told the truth from the start. John shrugged, for that kind of bonus he would gladly kill his own mother, bless her heart. He had sprayed the body with a neat bio dissolver. While he was on his way down town, her body would dissolve, bones and all. In about ten minutes all evidence would be gone. However finding Lox was not that easy, even this early in the morning there was lots of foot traffic and there was the possibility Lox had disguised himself. He used his PDD to send a short-burst message. The chances to find Lox in time had just climbed well past the 75 percent chance.
Hoods
When the alarm woke me I was surprised I had found sleep in the first place. Visiting the prisoners facing certain death had affected me more than I thought. I remembered images of a fading dream about Tyr and Egill accusing me of judging and killing without remorse. Dawn had assured me yesterday that it was her who would throw the switch. Still I had to be there. It was so she told me, the assistants task to put the blindfolding hoods over the delinquents faces and it would be me who would see their faces last.
I had a long cold shower and after putting on the executioners uniform, and girded the chain sword instead of the blaster. I simply did not want to use a weapon I had never tried before. I stepped out the small hotel room close to the Police department. The corridor was guarded by two police officers who acknowledged me with a nod. Their faces clearly showed, fear and disgust as they looked silently at me. Dawn appeared moments later from her room and said." We still have time for breakfast; you are ready a little early."
"I don't think I can eat now!"
Her voice became softer." Doing what we have to do is easier on a stomach that has something to do, trust me."
We went together to her temporary office were breakfast was already served on a small table. Here behind closed doors she removed her hood and poured me a mug of coffee. "I cannot express how thankful I am that you are here. Even after all this time I don't really get used to it and the main reason for the Assistant is moral support you know. So I am not totally alone when I have to do my work."
I had no real response for that. I felt friendship and sympathy for Dawn, but not enough to make me feel less guilty. So I took the cup watched her eating with purpose and eagerness in her moves and said." What will I have to do afterwards?"
"We both will take a break of two hours and then you can talk to a psych Support if you like. Some executioners do. I fill out the final paper work and we are done."
"So it means I still might make it to the Academy in time?"
"It is not up to me but to the Chief Justice and I guess your admiral, but I could not see any reason to keep you any longer, unless of course you change your mind and want to pursue a career in the Justice or Correction department."
"Sorry Dawn, but that is not me. I rather go back to Nilfeheim and scrub Nubhir skins."
She finished her breakfast and then, before she put her hood back on she said." It is not uncommon that you might feel the need to throw up. If possible do not lift the hood doing it."
I made a sour face and put on the hood" I keep that in mind, even though the thing has the perfect shape to catch it."
She actually found that funny and laughed while we left the room and went to the waiting flyer.
Lox
Lox lingered by the flower and souvenir stand, he had delivered flowers to it just the day before. The man running it, was an actually a friend of his e
ven though they were officially competitors. Ill Dum Kau of Terran descent was a florist and had ordered extra stock with Lox to give him a share on the expected business. Ill came out of his store holding a PDD and asked." Do you have any Pink Lulu Roses left?"
Lox feigned surprise." Yes as a matter of fact I do have some."
"One of the delinquents, a woman from Corri-Gas wanted to hold a bunch while she gets hanged and they granted her this wish. I don't have any pink ones left and no one answers the PDD in your shop!".
He was lucky and got a cab right away. He wondered why Liona would not answer calls, she was usually so dependable. If she went to the hanging without asking he would fire her!
He found the door to the shop unlocked and a strange sickening sweet smell hung in the air, but he had little time to be curious about smells. Only at the edge of his conscious he noticed the almost perfectly human shaped wet looking shadow on the floor behind the counter that slowly disappeared. The Kermac spy was way to agitated to really notice. He took a big bunch of Lulus out of the stasis storage and another mini beamer from a hidden compartment in his and rushed back.
John
It was almost hopeless to find Lox in all this! He would probably sit somewhere aiming a long range beamer at the scaffold. John Adams would have loved to complete the mission. The bonus was astronomic; still all the money could not help him find Lox now.
Lox
Lox approached the barrier and one of the beefy police officers in full armor was actually a neighbor of his who lived in a house just 3 tunnel recesses down from his in Tunnel recess Dwelling in tunnel 9. He had often talked to that police officer since he took great pride in his little front lawn and not only was a regular customer but also asked Lox for plant and flower advice. The cop's name was Trevor Burke. Lox was certain he would not even need Psionic suggestions here, not that he would want to try. The suit was not a new model but could still have Psi shielding.
Burke looked impressive in the massive blue battle armor holding a shock baton in the right hand. He had his helmet visor open and the baton was deactivated. Despite the crowds the Police seemed relaxed and it was clear they did not expect any trouble. There actually were eight protesters with signs and they were heckled by the crowd and posed no security problem. Trevor raised the huge hand of the battle armor." Oh good morning Mr. Marshall! Say what pretty pink flowers! What are those?"
"Good morning Mr. Burke. These are Lulu Roses from Sares. I am supposed to deliver these to the female delinquent."
Burke looked at his helmet read out and said." Yes that is confirmed. Burke opened the gate and said." My wife loves all things pink. Would they grow under Tunnel light?"
Lox could not believe he just made it inside the barrier with weapons. The spy in him laughed at the lax security and the stupid police man, but his Lox Marshall identity had become way more than just a disguise and a cover. He begun to think like a Union citizen and he felt sorry for betraying the police man who was a good neighbor and invited him to BBQ's more than once. He could have become friends with the officer. Marshall was after all well respected and had a solid clientele who would never order anything plant related from GalNet and always come to him. He answered with a guilty consciousness. "I don't think they would, they are expensive for a reason and grow only on Sares Planets as far as I know."
Burke tried to shrug inside the armor and pointed with his chin towards a black limo landing on the other side of the scaffold. "There they come, the slaughterers. It can't be long now and the circus will start."
Hoods
Our flyer landed before the scaffold in the now crowded park and Dawn said. "You know everything you have to do, right?"
"Yes I think I got it. After the guards have placed the prisoners I go down the line and place the hoods over their heads. You go after me and set the noose. Then I proceed to the other end and you go down to the panel and press the button after the Chief Justice has made his final speech. I then throw up preferably inside the dress. You wait till they are dead, release their bodies and we can go."
She nodded "Yes that is it. Are you ready?"
"I don't think I have a choice, so yes I am."
We left the flyer and I followed her through a gate in the barrier opened by a police man and up the stairs of the scaffold. From up there I could see that the park and the surrounding buildings were full of people both human and not. I had never seen so many people in one place and they all stared at me at least so it appeared to me. I wondered why so many would get up so early to see someone die, especially disturbing were the media crowd. Between two buildings in the distance a big field screen flickered into existence and showed a close up of the scaffold and us.
Lox
Lox watched the dark red robed executioners getting out of the limo. He said to Burke." Those are women!"
"They must have ice in their veins. I could not do it. I don't think I could kill anyone in cold blood like this!"
Both Executioners walked close by and the Kermac spy could only see their eyes for a moment before they mounted the stairs. He shivered involuntarily and actually for the first time in his life prayed and hoped there was a Whispering Spirit. Then he said." You are a police man. You carry a gun!"
"I never raised my blaster against anyone in anger. I am a police man, not a soldier. I don't mind using my fists, the shock baton or restraining fields and that's all we ever have to do here on Corri-Door. That poison murderess is the first capital crime we had in years and in the entire system and she didn't resist arrest. Oh I am all for capital punishment don't get me wrong! There are over 7 Million permanent residents living in this system and lots of traffic coming through and we have very little capital crimes, so the idea behind it seems to work fine. I think that Saresii mind bender sure earned it and I have no patience for Califerm dealers but I am not so sure the Dai deserve it." He holstered his Shock baton and whispered." I just think they should do it in a little chamber away from this entire county fair atmosphere. I know they voted it in and even my lovely peaceful wife has voted for it and she had herself a spot reserved right over there on Peerson's Roof. I bet she and her friends sitting up there right now waiting for the hanging."
Hoods
Now a dark blue police van with hover bike escort and a platoon of marines in destroyer suits behind it, landed. It was the prisoners. Police men and robots dragged twenty shackled individuals up the steps.
The Califerm thief struggled against the police men's grip, the woman's feet collapsed as she went up the stairs. The Crowd had hollered obscenities at the Dai but now, except for the murmured comments of the news casters. I noticed a civilian holding a big bunch of flowers right next to a police officer in crowd control gear talking to each other and Dawn said." That is just a local flower dealer. The woman requested flowers in the last minute and I allowed it."
Interlude: Chief Justice
Chief Justice V'Thensnhk like almost everyone else in the Justice General Building on Pluribus was glued before the big field screen watching the events unfolding on Corri-Door. He was Klack but despite the great biological differences to humans, he had a very similar range of feelings. He regretted the fact to deputize and draft such a young human, he know it was actually quite unfair and unjust. He always wanted to be a real Judge, unbiased or influenced by anything but the law. He didn't like to be pressured by the Union Department of State, but it was done. It seemed the young human worked well together with their best but sometimes difficult Chief executioner who always wanted everything perfect.
His PDD glared red and he immediately answered this Priority One call. It came from the State department and it was the representative of the Ult who currently held the chair of this ministry." We just have received credible intelligence that one or more Kermac Agents will try to sabotage the Execution. Can you delay the Execution and get everyone to safety? We are trying to get assets to deal with this to Corri-Door within two three hours."
"First you use every politi
cal trick in the book to speed things up and now you want it delayed? Have you looked at the broadcast lately? It will be over in an hour or so. There is police and they should be able to handle any Terrorists. I will tell them to be on the look out! Why don't you go over to the Kermac who are still here on Pluribus and tell them to call back their assassins? You can tell them that the Justice Department will not stand idle and arrest them if they commit crimes on Union ground. Ordering a murder is certainly a hanging offense!"
"They are under diplomatic immunity and we don't have official proof they did anything anyway. This is a matter of state and not Justice Department!"
The Klack got angry." All of a sudden it is a matter of state? " The Ant being whistled in highest agitation. "The rule of law applies to anyone and everything and no one is excluded. Union constitution does not acknowledge political motivations. There is no law on the books that allows foreign nationals to commit crimes. It is the very reason we are able to prosecute and hang the Dai! I am the first who will call this execution off if you can show me Diplomatic Immunity is anywhere in our law books. I will personally call for a mistrial and let the Dai go if you insist on diplomatic Immunity!" The Judge was not done and his antennae wiggled furious. "I won't be bullied anymore. If you have a political problem address the assembly and if the Assembly decides to act and they make a law, then we of the Justice Department will enforce it. We are the Union we are not Kermac or whatever prim civ you like us to be!"
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 232