Abysm (38 page)

V
ANCOUVER
EASC
H
EADQUARTERS

Major Lange maintained a steady, controlled pace as he crossed the length of the Security Bureau monitoring center, then back again.

He hadn’t banked on playing an active role in any endgame engineered by Admiral Solovy or Pamela Winslow. It was a small role, to be sure, yet still more than he’d expected. But he was the man best positioned to play it, and he would act honorably in doing so.

It was sheer dumb luck that the Logistics Director went off-site to Oslo today. Ojeda was certain to bolt for Vancouver as soon as he learned something was amiss, but as Lange understood the plan, one way or another the drama should all be over before the man arrived. He hoped events unfolded half that well.

“Confirm status of force field barriers.”

The tech officer nodded. “Confirmed active at one hundred percent power.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” He moved three meters to watch the feeds from the perimeter cams.

Funny thing about EASC being situated on an island. For thousands of years, islands had served as some of the most defensible positions in existence. Ground-based weaponry exceeded sea weaponry—and defenses—and all one needed was a decent tower to see who was coming well in advance.

Eventually the emergence of planes had lessened then all but eliminated the advantage. The advent of force fields with the strength to repel physical objects, including aircraft, had returned it.

On an ordinary day, the force fields surrounding EASC were set to MAN—monitor and notify—and any unauthorized vessel was subdued and handled by MPs as appropriate. In the event of the threat of a hostile invasion of any sort, however, the force fields possessed the capability to do far more.

Today was not an ordinary day.

“Major, we’re getting a ping from an Alliance LCS-class vessel registered to the 1
^st
NA Brigade. Vice-Admiral Jirkar is listed as in command. They are asking why the ship is being denied authorization to approach.”

“Put it live, Lieutenant.” He took a deep breath. Jirkar was known for being a very cautious and circumspect officer, but also a logical one. He would listen to reason backed by regulations. Probably.

“Vice-Admiral, this is Major Lange, Director of the EASC Security Bureau. We are currently under a security lockdown, which prevents the arrival or departure of any vessels until the lockdown is lifted. As such, I regretfully cannot allow you to land at EASC at this time.”

“Major, I’m under orders from the prime minister to assume operational command of EASC. I assure you this order supersedes any lockdown procedure and is in fact an additional response to the threat which triggered the lockdown. I order you to authorize my vessels for landing.”

“Vice-Admiral,
sir
, I’m afraid official lockdown procedures are explicit on this topic. I cannot—”

“Major, I have in my possession weapons powerful enough to break through your force fields. Now, it is not my desire to bomb EASC, but if forced to do so I can.”

Lange fought the intense urge to tromp around in circles gnashing his teeth. “Sir, respectfully, think about from where your orders originated. Think about the purpose you know is behind them. If you open this facility to the prime minister, we will be overrun. It is vital to the continued independence of the armed forces that EASC remain under its own control.”

Silence hummed for several seconds. “And if Admiral Solovy arrives to retake it instead?”

“Then its independence will remain intact.”

“Are you saying should she arrive, you will allow her entry notwithstanding the lockdown?”

Lange wanted to groan, but he merely pursed his lips.
Caught
. “She is my admiral, sir. And, again respectfully, she is yours as well.”

A far longer silence followed this time, long enough for Lange to begin to contemplate the details of his own court martial.

“EASC Security, my vessel and two others are adopting a high-altitude patrol pattern three kilometers above and outside EASC territory until such time as the particulars of the situation becomes more clear for all involved. Do not attempt to fire on us…and we will not fire on you.”

He let the air out of his lungs so quietly no one would notice he’d been holding it in. “Acknowledged and understood, Vice-Admiral. Thank you.”

38

EARTH

L
ONDON
E
ARTH
A
LLIANCE
A
SSEMBLY

T
HE
G
AMBIER
LANDED INSIDE THE SECURITY
perimeter of the Assembly grounds, on a side lawn next to the Protective and Emergency Services Office.

Winslow’s speech to the European Trade Council had been canceled at the last minute, ostensibly on account of ‘troubling’ events on Romane and elsewhere but more so because the Assembly had demanded she testify
without delay
.

Miriam preferred to play the confrontation out on Assembly grounds anyway; downtown London introduced far too many variables, many of them involving innocent bystanders. And here she expected to have Speaker Gagnon on her side, as well as Chairman Anderson, allegedly. She of necessity counted on neither of them.

Malcolm fussed over her, ensuring the ‘Veil’ cloaking shield was secure and operational. Then Caleb fussed over her, ensuring the defense shield was secure and operational.

Finally she sighed and readied her ‘stern’ voice—the one most people knew as her normal voice. “Gentleman, I appreciate the concern, but this admiral can take care of herself and her gear.”

Caleb shrugged unapologetically, but Malcolm straightened up to attention. “Yes, ma’am. Just standard team preparation and checks. Major Grenier?”

“Ready, sir.”

“What about you, Marano?”

“Good to go. Let me move out ahead. I’ll make sure no one’s set up an ambush.”

Malcolm hesitated for the briefest second before gesturing to the pilot to open the hatch. “Minister Jameson is waiting for us inside the Protective Services Office.”

Caleb clasped her on the shoulder with a warm smile. “Kick Winslow’s ass and pin it to the curb.”

She returned the smile, frankly grateful he was here. “That is more or less the plan—or the strategy, at least.”

He chuckled and stepped to the hatch, then activated his shield and vanished.

They waited, eyes scanning the seemingly empty lawn.

Marano:  Clear to the PES entrance. Join me when you’re ready.

“Noted. We’re moving in ten.” Malcolm leaned into the cockpit. “Major Berg, you know the drill.”

“Sit quiet as a mouse and hope nobody goes for a stroll and bumps into the invisible ship. Yes, sir.”

“That’s affirmative. After you, Admiral. Grenier, take rearguard.”

It was only a few steps from the
Gambier
to the door. They hurried inside and into a conference room on the left. Once the door closed behind them, they deactivated the Veils.

Jameson blinked. “Interesting tech.”

Miriam ignored the comment. “Minister. What’s your status?”

“Assembly security is under my jurisdiction. They’ll follow my orders. The only people we really need to worry about are Winslow’s personal security retinue, of which there are twelve on the premises. Six are in the Chamber currently.”

Malcolm nodded. “We’ll handle them.”

Jameson arched an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

“Are you planning to arrest her at the end of this?”

“Arrest is a very blunt word to use in what is a very delicate situation, Admiral. But the charges are prepared. If all goes well, I will inform her of their filing and provision to the Assembly Ethics Committee, and of her duty to report for official questioning by the end of the day.”

“And if all doesn’t go well, Minister?”

He grimaced. “Then I expect I’ll be resigning by the end of the day.”

Caleb stared at her, oozing discontent; she eyed him curiously. “You have concerns?”

“You should not let Winslow walk out of the building.”

Malcolm’s chest bowed up. “We don’t assassinate our leaders.”

Caleb pivoted to him. “And neither do we,
Colonel
. But you should detain her. She has vast resources, and I’m betting none of you know what most of them are.

“You need to do everything
legal
to prevent her from accessing those resources. That means a comfortable but shielded cell—an interview room will do if you can block her comms while she’s in it. Make her people come to her, where you can see them, log them and investigate them.”

“We can’t—”

Miriam interrupted. “Mr. Marano has a point, Minister. You don’t have to formally arrest her. Simply insist she accompany you to answer urgent questions, and make certain answering them takes hours. Give Speaker Gagnon time to set recall procedures in motion and win his majority if he can.”

Jameson exhaled. “I’ll try. No promises. Am I to understand you intend to use your…” he made a suspicious face “…cloaking shields to enter the Chamber in secrecy then reveal yourself? And the Speaker is expecting your arrival?”

“Correct.” The sad truth was the Assembly did not possess the political courage to move against Winslow without Miriam’s public backing. So she would provide it.

Malcolm cleared his throat. “Admiral, can I try one more time to convince you to allow Minister Jameson’s people to move on Winslow first?”

“You may not, Colonel.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He accepted the rebuke and moved on. “You obviously won’t be able to see us, but you can track our movements on a whisper, as we can yours. Minister, I’m sending you our locator signatures. When we’re in place, I’ll confirm we are a go. Then it’s your show, Admiral.”

Invisibility had a lot to commend it, especially when one spent most of one’s hours under constant scrutiny and examination. Walking in the open air, free to gaze where and how she wished? Miriam decided she could get used to this. But such frivolities, if they came, were for later.

Marano:  Clear to the entrance. Two security officers flanking the interior.

Getting through the guarded door would have been a bit of a trick, but Minister Jameson entered in full view. Once the door opened he stopped halfway in to speak to one of the officers, leaving it open long enough for the four of them to slip inside through the gap.

Miriam’s whisper showed Malcolm and Caleb falling in beside her. They moved quickly through the halls, avoiding staffers, and reached the entrance to the Chamber. Here the doors were open, as the hearing had been declared public.

Winslow’s pinched, condescending voice echoed through the cavernous room. “No, I am not going to answer any questions about planetary defensive measures. I am in constant touch with military leaders, but the details are classified.”

“What about reports you used military personnel to attempt to eliminate IDCC officials?”

Colonel Jenner:  We’re green, Admiral.

“I did no such thing. The Earth Alliance military does not assassinate politicians, no matter how deplorable they may be. Such rumors are nothing more than a smear campaign perpetrated by the IDCC. ”

Miriam stood at the top of the vast semi-circle which comprised the Chamber auditorium. She deactivated her shield. “That is a lie.”

Gasps erupted as all eyes, politician and press alike, swung to her. Winslow leapt up from the witness table, her expression painted in the vivid strokes of fury. “Security, arrest Admiral Solovy now! She is wanted on numerous charges!”

Three members of Winslow’s security detail moved toward Miriam. When they got within two meters, Malcolm de-cloaked beside her, gun drawn.

“Stand down, agents.”

One nevertheless made a move for his weapon—Caleb materialized to grapple his arms from behind. “Don’t do that.”

The Daemon clattered to the floor.

“This is an outrage! Minister Jameson, order your people to arrest her and her cohorts this instant.”

High upon the dais, Speaker Gagnon stood. “That won’t be necessary, Minister.”

Winslow swung to him. The reporters in the middle couldn’t decide which way to face, and their murmurs grew loud.

Miriam took two steps forward and motioned everyone quiet, and after a few seconds they mostly obeyed. “Please. I’m here today because it’s my duty to act. In our system, much as the Assembly is a check on the Executive and vice versa, the civilian government is a check on the military, and the military on the government.

“I’ll answer to an Armed Forces Ethics Council tribunal should any charges remain against me when the day is done, but now I’m here to ensure the overwhelming evidence of not merely corruption but outright criminal activity by the Prime Minister sees the light of day.

“She would bury it, buy it or slander its providers into ruin if she could—but she cannot bury me.”