"Over GalNet, certainly, but the sources of myself and many leaders across Neutral Space are more diverse than what we hear on GNN." Lou folded his hands on the table. "I've certainly been aware of the HBC's links to the League, as have some of my competitors and peers and other government officials. Now they hear things they don't like. Rigault building warships with League support. A secret League science project on Hestia, under Antoine Rigault's personal protection. By kicking over the anthill on Hestia, you've done many of us a service, whatever Vice President Rhodes says."
Tia scoffed at the name of the Coalition "Peace Union" leader. "She thinks we're CDF pawns trying to re-ignite the war."
"She would. If not for her narrowmindedness, I would probably like her a great deal. To get where she is, she's faced odds similar to those I've taken on, and she's persevered through them." Lou shook his head. "But Vice President Rhodes is not our concern. Director Rigault is."
Tia leaned forward in the chair. "He won't be if we take our planet back."
A bemused smile formed on Lou's face, much to Tia's irritation. "Another revolution? I've heard reports that the HWP and other leftist movements have rebuilt their arms caches. But certainly you must know you're out of time. Rigault is moving to have his new 'worker control system' approved for use. In two weeks' time, he'll get the National Assembly to vote on it, a vote I'm sure he'll win, and I suspect he'll put it into operation immediately."
No! We're not ready! Tia frowned at the news. "Dammit, I wanted more time."
"Do you know what the worker control system is, Lou?" Henry asked.
"I didn't until I was helpfully provided with that data packet you've been transmitting to certain parties in Neutral Space," Lou replied. His voice was harsh. "It makes for sobering reading, and it fits entirely with what the League—and Antoine Rigault—would inflict on others. I'm just as concerned about his fleet. Thankfully, his own ambition makes him weak at the moment."
"His costs," Henry suggested. "We've already discussed this among ourselves. Rigault's a huge megacorp, and they've got a lot of wealth, but they're financing the construction of four fleet cruisers that the CDF would be happy to own, and of a destroyer and frigate force to support them. Even with the League sending them raw materials, that's got to be a drain on company finances."
"The signs are there for those who know how to look," Lou said. The grin on his face seemed appreciative of Henry's answer. "I can confirm for you that yes, Rigault's finances are in critical shape. Director Rigault's cousin, Rene, is officially in charge, but while he is CEO, he lacks his cousin's vision and he knows it. Antoine is the one with the plan for the future, and he's sold Rene on it as the means to expand their wealth."
The back of Tia's neck blazed with remembered heat. "You mean he's going to make us meat-puppets and loot other worlds with his ships," she snarled.
Lou didn't react to her anger. "Yes. And if he completes his projects, he'll become untouchable short of an active military effort from the Coalition. Even Lusitania would be hard-pressed to fight Rigault's planned fleet, and he would certainly undermine Prime Minister Ascaro with economic attacks first." Lou leaned forward. "But right now, the entire company is vulnerable. If something were to provoke a panic selling of their stock, say, a successful Hestian revolution, the company's empty coffers would break them." As he spoke of revolution on Hestia, a satisfied smile broke on Lou's face.
Stocks. Of course. Always stocks with capitalists. Tia's sour thought was joined by her understanding of what Lou was getting at. But if he's right that this will bankrupt them...
Henry finished her thought aloud. "If Rigault's broke, Antoine can't complete his fleet. He certainly can't fund building the neural control devices for the League and his own use."
"Exactly. And that, Captain, is why I want to help you and Miss Nguyen." He nodded to her. "Who, I suspect, will shortly be named Chairwoman of the Hestian Workers' Party Revolutionary Committee."
What… how did he know?! Tia frowned and glanced toward Henry, who raised his eyebrows at her. There was humor in his voice when he asked, "So much for 'First Mate,' huh?"
"Sorry, Jim, I was going to tell you when it was official." After giving him what she hoped was a proper apologetic look, Tia turned her attention back to Lou. "Your sources are really good, Mister Lou. I'd almost say too good." I need to talk to the others about this. Lou should not be privy to internal party matters like this! "Yes, I've been informed that the last communication with party leadership has them preparing to name me to that post. I never sought it, nor did I want it, but I have to speak with the Party's authority in gaining allies and planning our next move."
"So I imagined. You're the best candidate for a job like that, save perhaps Ms. Khánh, given all of the recent accidents that have so tragically plagued the Hestian exile community." His voice was thick with sarcasm as he referred to said accidents.
Tia let the comment pass without responding.
"So, Chairwoman, Captain…" His eyes moved from Tia to Henry and back to Tia. There was an earnestness in them that Tia didn't dare let herself trust. "You want to bring down Antoine Rigault and overthrow the Hestian Business Council. And I'm here to help."
There it was. The most wealthy Hestian in the galaxy, the man whom she considered a traitor to his people for embracing their oppressors' system, wanted to help overthrow that system.
"What's in it for you?" Tia asked. Her voice was even thanks to her effort, but she stared at his eyes in challenge. "You're a capitalist yourself. You've got your own megacorp, with millions of laborers working so you can have your fancy interstellar yacht and your luxuries. Why would you help our revolution when it's a challenge to the system that's made you wealthy? What's in it for you? How will you profit from our labor?"
Henry let out a sigh and gave her a pleading look. But after these past fifteen and a half years, Tia knew he still didn't understand what this meant to her. Everything she learned from the time she was an adolescent told her Frank Lou was, morally-speaking, no different from Rene Rigault and all of the other megacorps leaders who exploited her people.
Lou, for his part, didn't seem to mind her words. His smile even widened at them. "Admirable, Chairwoman Nguyen. That's the kind of attitude we need to negotiate with the HBC once we've laid Rigault low."
Your boardroom charm won't work on me, dammit! "That's not an answer."
He nodded. "No, but this is. Where's my profit? Beyond destroying Rigault before their new warfleet can pose a threat to my own shipping fleet? Or stopping those neural devices, that abomination of a technology, from spreading across the galaxy? Well, let's count." He started raising fingers. "The HBC blocks every effort I make to purchase property or business on my own homeworld, since my power would challenge the social order that favors them and keeps our people down. With them gone, there are business concerns on Hestia I can make profitable, for myself and for our people. Destroying Rigault would also give me great pleasure and remove an obstacle to some of my own expansion plans on various worlds. And it would be a blow to the League of Sol to lose an ally they've sunk that much material into aiding."
Lou finished his count at three and laid his hand out on the table. "You need my wealth, as much as you hate how I got it. I need your revolution, even if it proves contrary to my long-term interests. We both need Antoine Rigault's head on a plate and the HBC's surrender of control over our homeworld. So I offer you the wealth you need, and accept the risks that go with your victory or defeat, and all I ask is a chance to do business with my own people while observing Hestian laws. I will further pledge, in writing, to continue to provide fair living wages to all Hestian workers in my employ, and that I will never pay in company scrip but always in acknowledged payable currency."
The response she almost shouted was That's not enough! She wanted more. She wanted him to start paying all of his workers a fair proportion of his company's massive profits, even if it cost him his fortune. She wanted him to stop perpetu
ating an economic system that she despised. She wanted him to sell this damn resort ship and give the proceeds to feed the hungry and house the homeless. She wanted him to stop being a megacorp-owning capitalist, because that was the only way she could sit here and not feel like she was betraying the comrades who died trying to end their world's suffering.
But she couldn't. She knew she couldn't. That very same wealth, as much as she hated where it came from, was something she needed, if she was going to save her people from suffering what she'd gone through. She forced her body to relax and, after a few seconds, found her voice. "I find those terms acceptable, Mister Lou. And I will hold you to them."
He nodded, damn him. "As a proud Hestian, I would be disappointed by anything less, Chairwoman. Where should we begin?"
"The Sisters," Tia answered. "I'm in negotiation to hire the Little Sisters of Divine Recompense to join our forces. Mother Superior Sarno is in San Tomas Correlo, and she's considering my offer. Being able to purchase the equipment she thinks we'll need, and to pay their expenses up front, should be enough to convince her."
"Give me her link code, and I'll make arrangements," Lou promised. "Armaments will be easy. The Coalition's selling off a lot of their war stocks to fund their planetary reconstruction programs. I'll arrange the purchases and have them ready for you and your allies before we begin. The HSF will think they're fighting the Terran Coalition Marine Corps."
And we'll need it, Tia thought.
Now Henry spoke. "We're going to need a new ship to replace the Wolf, and execute a plan we're considering to deal with Rigault's cruisers. There's a ship dealer, Ramon Mendoza, who has a pristine Auber-Eisenburg V he won't let go for less than sixty-five million. We can cover part of the cost, but we'll need more."
"Pay him twenty-five and I'll cover the rest," Lou answered. "The ship will be kept in your name as well. When this is over, I imagine a ship that size will keep you in business for years."
Tia allowed herself a small smile. Whatever her future on a free Hestia, she wanted Jim and the others to keep flying.
Henry nodded and continued. "That brings me to our plan for those Rigault cruisers. We're considering sabotage if necessary, but with the right manpower, we might be able to steal them for our own use," he said. "But we'll need crews."
"I'll get some for you."
Tia and Henry exchanged glances. The glance came with the obvious thought in both their minds.
We might actually be able to pull this off now.
"I think our chances of mutual success are increasing already." Lou clearly guessed what they were thinking. "While we gather forces, I'll remain with the Vesta. I'd like invitations to any further strategy meetings, of course."
"Of course," Tia conceded.
"If you'd like a meal before you go, feel free to talk to Ninh. Otherwise, I'd better get started on those calls." Lou stood. "When this is over, I look forward to the parade in Thyssenbourg."
"I'll make sure you're there. As for a meal, I'm going to dine with my comrades on the Majha. Thank you for the offer."
"The same with me, Mister Lou," Henry said.
Lou nodded at them. "Of course. Ninh will show you back to the transport tube, then."
They went to the doors and found the liveried servant waiting on the other side. After the doors closed, Tia gave him an appraising look. "Why do you dress up like that for Lou?"
"Because he pays me well, and he bought my family a new home on Cochin to give us independence," Ninh replied. "What more could I ask for?"
She almost provided an answer but stopped herself. I have more important things to think about, she reminded herself.
36
A week over San Salvador passed. With Lou bankrolling everything, the Majha remained in orbit beside the Vesta. Again the transfer tubes of the two ships locked together to permit travel between them.
Now Ninh was escorting a far larger group. Henry and Tia came as before, joined by Linh, Yanik, Kaiya, Major Wu, Quan, and a couple of the other Hestians, and most importantly, Mother Superior Sarno herself. Her reaction to the ostentatious wealth was more restrained than that of the Hestians, although she did frown at it regardless.
Unlike before, the pool deck was cleared, the pool itself covered by the deck, and a massive holotank stood in the middle of the deck surrounded by tables with chairs. Lou stood ready with two people of about thirty-five to forty years of age. They were dressed in business attire like he was. "Gentlemen, ladies, welcome," he said. "This is my son Ramon and my daughter Mei-Ling. They will be functioning as my staff for this meeting."
Henry thought he recognized them from the prior week, overseeing the children in the pool. He was not surprised that Lou had family, although he had no idea they worked that closely with him.
Everyone took seats save for Ramon Lou. He took up a spot at the controls of the holotank. The display shifted to show a great likeness of Hestia, each major city labeled in red. Thyssenbourg was listed as "Wen Hao" in large red letters, under the name that Henry knew was used. The same was true for Schneiderbourg, Kruppberg, and a number of other cities apparently renamed by the megacorps over the generations.
"So we should get to business," said Lou. "We have one week before Antoine Rigault begins putting control devices onto the spines of every Hestian he can reach. It can only be the beginning of his plans." He nodded to his son. With a touch of Ramon's hand, the display zoomed out from Hestia for the moment, enough to show the planet's moon and a marker showing a space station. "The Rigault Lunar Station was built to process ore mined from Hestia's moon. Now the data we have says it is fitting out the flag cruisers for Antoine Rigault's new fleet."
"Those ships will be the most powerful vessels in Neutral Space once they're active," Henry said to the assembled. "The only ships that generate more power than these things are the Lion of Judah and the Coalition's growing force of antimatter-powered ships."
"Very impressive, but also disconcerting." Sarno's expression was dour. "The Order has some warships, but none of cruiser size. They are older CDF destroyers and frigates. We would stand no chance against such vessels. Are there allies who can help?"
Henry exchanged a nod with Tia and Linh before nodding. "We believe so. I've put out word to sympathetic worlds and groups, but some of them are quite a long way off from here. There's no guarantee they'll be here in time. Maybe Mad Jack Dulaney's fleet from Trinidad, at least, but he'll have to gather his ships up first. We might also see the Tokarevs show up with some of their privateers out of Cyrilgrad."
"'Mights' and 'maybes' are not the same thing as a solid commitment," Kaiya remarked, unimpressed.
"Given we won't be getting any CDF help, it's the best I can do," Henry replied. "And it's why I want to seize those cruisers instead of leaving them in our rear."
"That would require getting a rather substantial force aboard the station," Shahkrit pointed out. "We've never managed to get any of ours assigned there. Director Rigault only allows offworld labor. We can't promise support."
"They take shipments of ore, right?" Tia's question was answered by a nod. "Then let's take that new ship in. The Venture Star, right?"
"That's the name on the registration, yes," Henry noted.
She nodded and continued, "The Venture Star's an Auber-Eisenburg Mark V. She's got eight holds we can hide boarding parties in. We pretend to be bringing in an ore shipment and take the station once we're docked."
"It might not be so easy." Lou leaned forward in his seat. "Rigault will be protecting that station heavily, including the best sensors he has. The moment they realize the life readings are too high, the station's emplacements will blow you to pieces. They'll fire anyway if they detect null zones consistent with sensor-shielded areas."
"As important as this point is, I would like to table it for the moment." Sarno's attention swung to Tia and her group. "Chairwoman Nguyen, do you have a better idea of your forces' condition?"
"Our cadres are ready to act once they
get the signal," she answered. "They'll hit in a coordinated strike in multiple cities and aim for enemy forces and communication infrastructure. Thyssenbourg itself is a different matter since the HSF keeps its top troops there. The local cadre might tie them up briefly, but they'll be overwhelmed without heavy support."
"That support, they will receive," Sarno said matter-of-factly. "I'm mobilizing most of my order, including our heavy equipment, for the purpose of this campaign. We will attempt non-lethal measures at first, but if they are clearly insufficient, we'll give the order for lethal force."
"Would you waste our lives as well as your own?" Quan asked. "Whatever your dogmas are, the HSF won't have a single qualm about killing you. All you'll be doing is wasting our first shots and putting our lives on the line as well. All to save those collaborators and their offworld bosses."
"All to preserve life, young man," Sarno said. "There is no higher calling."
"Our liberation is!"
Not a soul in the room missed the obvious ramifications of the argument continuing. Henry considered speaking, but Linh acted first. "Quan, these people are willing to die to save Hestians from the neural control device." She brought her metal limb up and laid the hand on his arm. "That is what matters. Sit down and stop disrupting the meeting."
Quan acquiesced, but the smoldering look in his eyes made it clear he wasn't satisfied by the answer.
Henry moved the conversation forward. "What's the status of those arms purchases?"
"I have ships delivering the desired surplus from the Coalition starting over these next few days," Lou replied. "Assault rifles, powered armor, even vehicles and artillery pieces. The Sisters won't be able to use it all, I imagine, so I've put out my own recruiting call. My Hestian workforce includes veterans of mercenary units and security forces, and I've hired a couple of smaller outfits to fill out our numbers."
"And the cruiser crew situation?"
"If you can get us there, I'll have enough people to ensure you get at least a skeleton crew on each ship," Lou promised. "That includes a few CDF veterans."
Breach of Trust: Breach of Faith Book Four Page 29