The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension

by Rodney Mountain

  Chapter 94 - Planning

  "You’re looking better than the last time I saw you," Paulus said to Rav Suvorov as he greeted the younger man, "Cut back on the drinking some, Suvorov?"

  "Yeah," Suvorov nodded, "I’ve been clean for a week now. Still have the urges, but every time I have thought about it in the last few days either Medoferro or Stacy has given me a harsh look. You don’t mess with those two."

  "Welcome back, Rav," Insegniferro said, "That was a quick trip."

  "Medoferro was insistent that I arrive as soon as possible," Suvorov told them, "I ate a quick meal and started off on a speed run, changing horses in Polonion."

  "He’s getting better at giving orders," Insegniferro agreed, "I still have some reservations about his plan, but I can’t come up with anything better."

  "I’ve noticed the change in him," Paulus nodded, "Looks like you chose well with him."

  "Her too," Suvorov said, "I think we’ve got one hell of a good pair of Mullinix."

  "I agree," Insegniferro nodded, "I just wish that it was Massimaferro dealing with it and not me. He was better on the tactics end."

  "We’ll have to make do," Paulus said, "I just can’t believe that it’s happened like this. I can’t believe we dropped the ball this badly down in Cirrus. How the hell did we let that happen, Iggy?"

  "Too many problems, not enough time," Insegniferro said, "The same way every great mess is created."

  "Now’s not the time to worry about it," Suvorov shrugged, "Let’s go get some recruits."

  "I think this is going to be the iffy part of Medoferro’s plan," Paulus said, "I saw the apathy and distaste for the empire that serving in Cirrus produced. How do you plan on countering that?"

  "I take it Medoferro has given you some instructions on that too," Insegniferro said to Suvorov, "Because he didn’t go over that part."

  "Trust me," Suvorov said, "I know just where to go, but I need someone there to be official with it."

  "You sure you are ready?" Paulus asked him, "You’ve been here ten minutes."

  "I want to get this started," Suvorov said, "This could be an interesting process, but a dangerous one. Where’s Tolando?"

  "LaPorte’s people killed him," Paulus told the younger guard, "Just before he jailed me."

  "Son of a bitch," Suvorov said, shaking his head, "Well it’s time to win one for the good guys."

  "Absolutely right," Paulus smiled, "I’m all for it."

  "Where are you going to go?" Insegniferro asked him, "I want to know what you’re going to do before you do it?"

  "There are two pubs in South Mullinix," Suvorov told them, "Both are common hangouts for burnouts from the Cirrus area. A lot of them spend a lot of time thinking about ways to get back at LaPorte and the government in general."

  "And you want to use these people?" Paulus asked incredulously.

  "Yes," Suvorov nodded, "It’ll be hard to find people more motivated to want to go down and kick Colonel LaPorte’s ass right over the Mavelan border. Especially when Medoferro gets up there and lays out what that traitor has done."

  "How do you propose to get them to listen?" Insegniferro asked, "I take it you have an idea."

  "I do," Suvorov said, "But it’s going to take a bit of coin."

  "How much coin?" Paulus asked him, "And for what purpose?"

  "If I buy a couple rounds of drinks," Suvorov grinned, "They’ll be inclined to listen to me a little more friendly like. That’s the culture of those pubs."

  "I haven’t been to a pub since I was a teenager," Insegniferro said, "But we can spare the coin for it."

  "So who is going with us?" Paulus asked him, "Seeing as Tolando is not with us anymore?"

  "We’ll be all right," Suvorov said, "Let’s go get this over with."

  "See the treasury for the coin," Insegniferro said, "I’m going to see to the final preparations for tonight."

  "Let’s go, Paulus," Suvorov said, "We have people to convert."