Chapter 92 - The Ruse on the Traitor
"What are you seeing on the newswires?" Ellis LaPorte asked one of his cohorts, "Anything about Massimaferro’s condition?"
"Word of his death just came through, Colonel," the young man said, "They are currently listing it as a heart attack."
"Nothing about that Medico?" LaPorte asked, "What was his name? Coblein?"
"Nothing sir," the young man confirmed, "The word is that they’ve chosen a new Mullinix and both of them are on their way back to Mullinix Centre to go through the necessary ceremonies."
"Either Coblein did nothing or he did too much," a small man with dark glasses said on the couch, "Either way, the dynamic has changed up there."
"That’s ok, General Jagards," LaPorte said, "The timing is right. How soon can you have your people come in?"
"I’ve got them starting," the man with the glasses said, "Facie sent me in to make sure that your side was going as good as you thought."
"Insegniferro is due to call any moment," LaPorte said, "You can listen in if you remain quiet."
"I’d like that," the small man nodded, "Should be interesting."
"Colonel," the operator said, "Insegniferro is on the line."
"Thank you," LaPorte said, "Shall we General?"
General Jagards nodded and walked over to the room with LaPorte. LaPorte made enough noise going in that any noise Jagards made was lost in the shuffle. LaPorte greeted Insegniferro warmly, letting the Mullinix take the conversation.
"I heard about Massimaferro," LaPorte said, "Any word on what happened?"
"Looks like a heart attack," Insegniferro said, playing the role like a good actor, "He went down a few days ago, that’s why Medo was taking session."
"That’s not good," LaPorte said, "Is Medoferro ready?"
"He has to be," Insegniferro said, "Have you found Paulus yet?"
"I’ve got people scouring between here and Taliaferro Village," LaPorte said, his first honest words to the Mullinix in days, "No sign of him or his bodyguard."
"Having him gone is hurting us," Insegniferro said, "We’re stretched really thin, Ellis. How does the border look today?"
"I thought you didn’t trust my judgment," LaPorte said, testing the waters before answering, "You were really going off on me last time we talked, sir."
"I was edgy," Insegniferro said, "I knew Massimaferro was sick then and was pissed off about Stack’s betrayal. We’re still looking for that son of a bitch too."
"I understand," LaPorte said, breathing a little sigh of relief, "The border looks pretty calm. I’ve got my people trained pretty well and they’re watching it like hawks. There haven’t been any real raids in the past couple days since we demolished the last one."
"Good," Insegniferro agreed, doing his best to sound distracted, "It sounds like you have things under control. Let me know immediately if you find him."
"We will," LaPorte said, "I’ll have my reports in by the end of the week."
"That’s fine," Insegniferro said, "We’ll have our hands full getting the funeral done and Trinaferro in place. She’s still a bit bewildered by the fact she was chosen, so there’s no hurry."
"Good luck, sir," LaPorte said, "If you need anything out of me, let me know."
"Keep up the good work, Ellis," Insegniferro said, trying really hard not to spit as he said it, "I’ve got to go oversee preparations for the funeral."
"Of course," LaPorte said, "I’ll talk to you tomorrow."
"Yes," Insegniferro agreed, "I’m sure you will."
The line went dead and the two men walked out of the room before they started talking. General Jagards nodded and sat back down in the easy chair that he’d been using while he was there. LaPorte went back behind his large desk and looked across at the other man.
"Sounds like you have them all hoodwinked," Jagards nodded, "I think we can agree on the terms now. When do you want to start the transfer?"
"Tomorrow Morning at dawn," LaPorte said, "My people will create the panic that will allow yours to come over the border. The Mullinix government will be paralyzed for at least a couple days, especially with an inexperienced Mullinix."
"Be ready," Jagards instructed him, "If this goes badly, it will be both our heads on the block."
"I’ve been ready for years," LaPorte boasted, "The timing is now right for me to come into my own."
"It is indeed," The Mavelan General nodded, though he wasn’t so sure, "We shall see tomorrow."
He nodded his head in a typically Mavelan way and walked out the door. He’d seen enough and had plans to make of his own in order to ensure that this takeover happened as easily as possible. Ellis LaPorte watched and poured himself a drink. Holding it up he made a toast to himself.
"To you, Governor LaPorte," the traitorous Colonel said before drinking, "May the Mullinix rot in hell."
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 96