Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [199]
One hundred and twenty-one
Chairman Basil Wenceslas
No matter how meticulous he was, Basil never succeeded in predicting all the ways that people would rebuff him. In cracking down on the illegal disseminators of Peter's stupid condemnation, he had arrested seventeen ringleaders already. He issued statements along with manufactured proof to refute the childish lies and accusations. But soon another group picked up and distributed the declaration and Patrick Fitzpatrick's confession. The malcontents began to add horrific images from Usk and - more maddening than anything else! -they doctored and falsified the files so that Basil's actions seemed like a bad thing. He didn't find that amusing whatsoever.
Now Basil had heard - from an independent trader proudly crowing news as he rushed to Earth - the dramatic announcement of an alliance between Mage-Imperator Jora'h and King Peter. With that single statement, the Ildiran leader had made the abortive Confederation seem more legitimate than ever. Basil saw red for five full minutes and was not sure what he did or said during that time. He knew only that when he came back to himself, his temples were throbbing, and his skull felt as if it might split.
He blinked his eyes and saw Deputy Cain sitting across from him in his office, wisely saying nothing. Basil waited for the deputy to say something about his shocking outburst. He almost wanted the pale man to question him or make a comment, just so he could explode again. But Cain remained silent and patient, as if Basil had merely sneezed and needed a moment to recover himself.
The Chairman took a deep breath and realized that his throat felt raw. He wondered what he had shouted. He honestly couldn't remember. Now his voice rasped as he spoke. 'Send in Admiral--' He paused, his brow furrowed. 'Which admirals can I still rely on?'
'Admirals Pike and San Luis were dispatched to two more breakaway colonies. Admiral Willis is on Rhejak. Admiral Diente, however, is easily recalled from the asteroid-belt shipyards.'
'Bring him back then, without any fanfare.'
Cain was obviously struggling to react normally after the outburst he must have witnessed. 'What do you have in mind, sir?'
Basil listened carefully, trying to find any implied criticism in the deputy's voice. He trusted Eldred Cain less and less. So few people he could rely upon! Not even Sarein, though he had done his best to maintain a hold on her. He couldn't imagine how he had ever found the skinny Theron woman attractive. Now she seemed clingy, frightened, even shrill. The last time they had made love, he had lain awake afterward, worried that she might slip a dagger into his back during the night.
'Mr Chairman?'
Basil's nostrils flared as he came back to the important matter at hand. 'It's the Mage-Imperator, Mr Cain. Instead of coming to me, the Chairman oj the Terran Hanseatic League, he went to Peter on his “embassy to humanity”. He chose Theroc, not Earth. That is an insult we cannot ignore. We must demonstrate to the Ildiran Empire that we are the true government. With the Mage-Imperator's support we can consolidate the Hansa again , and make it strong.'
'Mr Chairman, Ildirans don't understand human politics. The Mage-Imperator probably isn't aware of how our circles of power '“ have changed, and was simply misinformed. I doubt he meant any slight.'
'Then we shall inform him properly. We'll give him a chance to apologize for his lack of foresight. I intend to make him our guest here on Earth. We'll find special quarters for him.'
Cain began to rise from his chair, but seemed to think better of it. 'What are you saying? How will you get the Mage-Imperator to come here?'
'We will invite him - by military force if necessary. According to reports, he is travelling with only a single warliner. As soon as he leaves Theroc, we can escort his ship to Earth.