by Andrew Mack
Chairman Hassara added as he walked around his desk. “Likely. I have some other news.”
Tempest just looked at him as the Chairman walked entirely around, and got face-to-face with his daughter. “I got a message from your brother about the talks on Avola with the Valmay Group. It looks like military action may be a forgone conclusion.”
Tempest then glared at her father. “I knew sending Argo would be a mistake. I am sure he did nothing but piss them off.”
The Chairman put his hands on the shoulders of his daughter. “Tempest, your brother is perfectly capable of handling the situation. I sent him for a reason. He has assured me that he has a plan to, as he put it, ‘gift wrap’ the situation for you.”
Tempest then asked, “Should I brief the Ambassadors about Avola as well?”
Chairman Hassara thought for a moment. He dropped his hands. “No, let’s trust your brother and give him a little time. He knows what he is doing.”
Belinea 4.9
Avola
Lowell Province, Majavkee Security Headquarters
Lord Argo was not happy, looking at the hologram map of Bosa Province of Avola. It included the AuFa garrisons, Majavkee Security strongholds, and the areas the Valmay group held. He was standing in the room with four Majakee Security Officers, led by Chief Chamberlain, and four AuFa officers, led by Admiral Holland. The AuFa Admiral had just given his idea for an attack. Three SS officers were flanked behind Argo and Lord Evander of the Majavkee.
Argo looked at the Admiral. “Admiral. You guys have had six months to find the Valmay Group base, not where it might be.”
The Admiral was convinced. “Lord Argo, with all due respect. We have it pinned down to this particular area, but we need visual confirmation. We are incapable of taking satellite confirmation because of the atmosphere.”
Majavkee Lord Evander interjected. “If I may Lord Argo, the Admiral is right. If we head out with a large enough force, the Valmay would be reluctant to engage.”
Argo shook his head and said, “Listen, it only took nine of them to take out your garrison, Admiral Holland. And that bitch Kaya would take on one of your Battle Cruisers by herself. So do not talk to me about being reluctant to engage.”
Captain Leahy walked into the room from the rear. He could hear the discussion at the table as he wiggled through the other SS soldiers to stand behind Argo. He whispered, “My Lord, a word in private, please.”
Argo looked at him and then said, “Gentlemen, come up with a fucking plan that finds this base without us losing a battalion of soldiers.”
Argo turned and walked out of the room with Leahy. They went through a pair of doors and began walking down a corridor. “My Lord, I believe I may have a solution.”
Argo was not in the mood for bullshit. “Leahy, please tell me it does not involve us flying out there and finding it ourselves?”
They continued walking. “My Lord, we have been doing surveillance on the Valmay Group for quite some time, and are pretty confident the location is in a mountainside of Bosa. But the lack of a visual and the sandstorms, we were reluctant to attack because casualties would be high.”
Argo replied, “Tell me something I do not know Leahy. What is your solution?”
Leahy stopped in front of a door. “Well, I am still not sure how we provide your sister with ammunition for the Council, but I believe we have a way for the Valmay to show us where their base is.”
Argo tilted his head in curiosity. The two walked into the interrogation room, where Donovan was sitting in a chair, flanked by two SS officers with rifles. Donovan looked up and was petrified at the sight of Lord Argo. Most people were.
Leahy continued. “Lord Argo, may I present Donovan, who has been a naughty boy.”
Donovan pleaded, “My Lord, I ….”
But Captain Leahy cut him off. “Silent. Do not speak unless asked.”
Argo stared at Donovan for a few seconds, not exactly sure how this would help him. Leahy continued. “Donovan here is a miner in the Lowell Region for Lord Evander of the Majavkee. Apparently, that is his side hustle because his main job is traitor.”
Donovan pleaded again. “My Lord, I had no idea….”
But Leahy cut him off again, slapping him with the back of his hand. He yelled, “Silent!”
Argo was mildly amused, but still not connecting the dots. Leahy then continued. “Let’s take a listen to some of our audio.”
Leahy pushed a button on the screen table off to the side. The audio was Donovan, apparently talking to someone in his mining group. “My cousin, Octavious, he’s the leader of the Valmay Group. They still have old soldiers of the Red Ring Rise, and they will overtake the Majavkee Lords. All we have to do is provide him information on the Vait we are mining. He and my cousin Kaya will steal it, and then sell it for fair value.”
Argo was now very intrigued. He asked Donovan, “Your cousin is Octavious Killian?”
Donovan was crying now. “My Lord, I never meant to hurt anyone. The Majavkee Lords are working us to death, and they don’t pay us fairly.”
Argo smiled now as he continued. “But I bet your cousin is giving you plenty for that stolen Vait, at the cost of dead AuFa soldiers, huh?”
Leahy was standing behind Donovan now. Argo was staring Donovan down, who was still in tears. “My Lord, we did not know. Octavious betrayed us. He offered food and protection for our information. He never gave us anything else, I swear.”
Argo looked at Leahy, who returned the glance. Argo continued, “Bullshit. Surely he gave you something. A little extra in your pocket so you can go fuck some whores at your leisure?”
Donovan, crying so hard, was barely audible. “I swear my Lord, nothing. He vowed to return things the old way. We were desperate.”
Argo looked back at Leahy, who just shrugged his shoulders. Argo then asked, “Your cousin did not tell you about our little peace offer?”
Donovan began to settle down a little bit. He finally got out, “No, my Lord.”
Argo then half-smiled. “Settle down Donovan. We are here to help. It appears you are not the only person your cousins betrayed.”
Donovan stopped sobbing and took a deep breath before responding, “My Lord…?”
Argo grabbed Donovan’s chin, holding it up to look him directly in the eye. “We offered your cousin wealth, to give to you. But apparently, he and his sister have their own agenda, and it doesn’t involve you or any of your mining friends. If it is wealth you want Donovan, we can provide you with that. We will give you the same offer we gave him.”
Argo smiled, as did Leahy. Donovan just looked confused as ever. Maybe they would not kill him.
Belinea 4.10
Avola
Lowell Province
Sterling walked into his house. It had been a rough day. His wife Felicia, walked up to him and handed him their child Nix, who was almost two years old. Barely having time to put his equipment down, Felicia began talking. “Hey. So glad you are home. I still have to wrap the presents for the Quill offerings.”
Sterling sat down with his Nix, who was smiling at him. He said, “Alright.”
Felicia continued. “I went a little bit over with the gifts, but you told me you should be getting your bonus soon. Certainly, nobody deserves it more than Quillisar Balerra and her orphaned children.”
Sterling took a deep breath and slightly rolled his eyes. His son grabbed his face and smiled.
Sterling softly said, “Yeah, about that.”
Felicia sounded excited as she said, “Did you get it today?”
Sterling took another deep breath. He looked at her and said, “There will be no bonus, Felicia.”
Felicia sat down next to him, disheartened. “Why? I thought you said you were up from last year. They promised.”
Sterling looked at her and said, “We were. But costs h
ave gone up, so the bonus was smaller. They only gave it to me, so I gave equal portions to the crew.”
Felicia put her hands in her face. “Sterling, no. Why?”
Sterling responded, “Because it was the right thing to do.”
After a moment, Felicia responded. “The Majavkee have promised you so much, but it’s all the same. More work and less pay. When are they going to come through?”
Sterling whispered, not looking at Nix. “I do not know, Felicia. But what choice do we have?”
Felicia got up, still miffed as she walked to the kitchen area. She said, “What am I going to tell Quillisar Balerra?”
Sterling answered, “Keep the offering gifts. Those children need it more.”
Felicia just looked at him and said, “And how do we pay our bills, Sterling?”
Sterling held his son tight and said, “I will work some extra shifts on my day off if I have to. I will figure out a way, I have faith. The energy is in all of us.”
Felicia whispered with a lump in her throat. “The energy is in all of us.”
Belinea 4.11
Avola, Bosa Province
Octavious and Kaya were sitting in a private strategy room. Octavious had a drink in his hand. He was pacing around a 3-D image that also had a map of their entire Avola area. Kaya was across from him on the other side of the table. After a moment of silence, Kaya finally spoke. “We can move these troops over here to offer cover, but then this mining area becomes very exposed. We would be removing all of their protection.”
An officer knocked and quickly walked in. Holding a tablet, he showed it to Octavious. “Communication intercept, sir. Two in fact, but the same message. The Aufa, by direction of Lord Argo, is directing the Majavkee Lords Bialos and Barrett to round up all mined Vait, and transport it to Processing Center Six in the Lowell Province by 9:00 AM. Payment in full, and signed by Lord Argo himself.”
Octavious looked at the tablet again, making sure he read it correctly. “Both at the same time? What about the other Lords?”
The Officer replied. “Not sure, sir. These came from our internal sources in the mining centers. We found it odd that it was the same message. That’s a lot of Vait to process at one time and remove from the planet.”
Kaya kept looking at the map. After yet another pause in which Octavious said nothing, but instead pondered, the other officer walked out of the room. Kaya continued, “You are gonna have to give up something, somewhere, if you want to fortify our forces here.”
Octavious kept looking from the other side of the 3-D map. After a small pause, he replied, “They know we are reeling, trying to fortify our position. Yet, Argo is removing all the Vait from two Lords at once, maybe more. Why?”
Kaya looked puzzled as well, but for a different reason. “ I do not know, but I am more concerned about the initial report we got. The AuFa sending two attack force squadrons here and here (pointing) can only mean they wish to take back the Garrison at Mining Sector 14 at the very least. If I was going to attack us here, it is exactly what I would do first.”
Octavious took a sip of his liquor and sighed. Taking his eyes off the map, he ran his hand through his hair. “I almost think we should have taken the deal, Kaya.”
Kaya was angry at such a notion. “Fuck no, Octavious. They would have never held up to their end of the bargain. Besides, we will not be bought.”
Octavious shook his head. “It’s not bought if we give it back to the people Kaya. Us, the soldiers, Ambassador Syren, we have strong convictions about defending our home at any cost. But there are others, the one’s mining, that see it differently. They might want something more.”
Kaya countered. “Do not believe that talk Octavious. That is greed.”
Octavious replied, “Greed for wanting to be rewarded for honest work? For wanting a better life for your family? We do not have children, Kaya. Just because we do not share those convictions does not make them wrong.”
Kaya slammed her fist down. “Damnit Octavious, enough! It does not matter what they offer. There is no way we can trust Argo and the Council, you said so yourself. The removal of the Majavkee Lords is our only way of negotiating peace. We get rid of them, we take back our planet. That’s how we win.”
Octavious then looked right at her and said, “At what cost Kaya? Maybe the first step is taking that money and empowering the poor. A bidding war for their labor cripples the Majavkee financially. Not everything is won with the sword sister.”
Kaya looked at her brother in the eyes. “You are not dealing with wise, rational men Octavious. They are ruthless. They do not care about our families, let alone our planet. I will die fighting tyranny before I concede the democracy they want to take from us.”
There was a buzz at the door. The same officer walked in again and gave a sealed message to Kaya. She saluted and walked back out the door. Kaya broke the seal on the note and read it. “It’s from Donovan.”
Octavious now looked up. “What does it say?”
Kaya began summarizing the note. “There is a huge Vait transfer at midnight, sending all of their Vait to Processing Center Six. The Majavkee Lords Evander and Nickell have been ordered by Argo Hassara to get all mined Vait off the surface immediately, so they can process it’s return to Belinea. They will be loading eight transport ships throughout the night so they can leave by 09:00 tomorrow morning. Same as the message you just got. He included a pass code for the transports also.”
Octavious began thinking out loud. That’s four out of the eight Lords, at least. And the other four may be ordered as well. It does not make sense.”
Kaya thought as she answered it without knowing. “Unless you planned a massive attack and were unsure of the retaliation? You would need to make sure the Vait was safe.”
Octavious then said, “Of course. They are planning a wide-ranged, encompassing attack.”
Another officer buzzed and walked into the room. As she was walking up to Octavious, he continued to talk. “That’s why Argo Hassara is here. They were never going to negotiate peacefully. He is here to eliminate the problem: us. “
Octavious read the note the officer handed to him. He then hit a few spots on the screen until a couple of spots began blinking. Kaya was still slightly confused. “ I do not understand the connection?”
But Octavious continued. “Privately they secure a major shipment of Vait, and reward the Majavkee Lords for it. It buys them time. Working together though, maybe they tell the Council differently, that the Vait supply chain is compromised because of us, the Valmay Group. If they get the support of the Council, they will bomb this whole area and worry about the consequences later.”
Kaya was still confused. “Then why not attack now and just get it over with?”
Octavious replied quickly. “You said so yourself, the fear of us retaliating. They need to get the Vait off the planet before they attack us. (Pointing to the screen) That’s why I just got this recon message about the AuFa Attack Group seen repositioning to eventually take back the Garrison at Mining Sector 14 in the Lowell Province. We took that out so the AuFa wouldn’t have a base in close proximity to ours. As soon as they get the Vait off, they are going to attack us from there.”
Kaya now understood. “So, what do you want to do?”
Octavious took his eyes off the board and looked at her. “We have no choice. We attack, now.”
Kaya was astounded. “What? Attack?”
Octavious, pointing at Processing Center Six, said, “The Processing Center.”
Kaya looked down at the board, then back at him. “You want to steal the Vait?”
Octavious nodded. Then added, “All of it. That’s how we hurt them.”
Kaya shook her head. “It’s risky. That center is deep in their territory. Stealing eight transports, that is going to take some planning. And power. We will likely need every ship we got.
That will also leave our base completely vulnerable to an attack.”
Octavious whispered. “They do not expect us to attack, so we have the advantage of surprise. And the Vait is our hostage because they will not bomb anything until it is safely off the planet.”
Kaya then looked at the board again. She said, “How much time do we have?”
Octavious half-smiled. Looking at the clock in the corner of the screen, he said. “If Donovan is correct, transports leave in about 18 hours.”
Kaya looked up at her brother and said, “Get me, my crew.”
Belinea 4.12
Belinea, the Capitol
Ambassador Yi was reading a message on his tablet in his private quarters, alone.
Ambassador Yi,
It is with great sorrow and condolences that I must inform you that Ambassador Bird’s transport ship has been destroyed, killing all on board. The only details I can provide is there was an explosion at the Space Port at Torsalli, and we believe Taz was involved. I will be giving a briefing to the Ambassadors on the Council Committee for AuFa Affairs at 12:30 hours, where I hope to have more information at that time.
Tempest Hassara
Defense Director of the AuFa
The Ambassador re-read the message to make sure he read it correctly. He quickly began typing.
Confirmed report of Ambassador Bird’s ship explosion. Confirm death? Mission Status?
Yi
He then ended his message and spoke clearly into the tablet. “Code Clearance Li Jie Yi.”
Belinea 4.13
Avola
AuFa Flannigard Base, Medical Wing
Captain Leahy walked into the Medical Wing and to the front desk. He found an assistant, who stood up as soon as he walked in. “How can I help you, sir?”
Captain Leahy politely stopped and responded. “I am looking for Captain Walker?”
A portly man had turned around from behind the desk and walked straight up to Captain Leahy, directly next to the assistant. “I am Doctor Walker.”