The Ashes of Worlds - Kevin J. Anderson [132]
“You can bet none of that was broadcast on any official Hansa channels,” Zhett said.
“We have plenty of demonstrable proof of illegal activities. It’s about time we share some of that proof with people on Earth — maybe link up with Freedom’s Sword and help them overthrow the Chairman.” Patrick set his jaw, imagining how his grandmother might have said the words. “I’m going to Earth, and I’m not going to come back until I’ve brought down Chairman Wenceslas.”
Del Kellum could deny nothing to his daughter or his son-in-law. Son-in-law! Patrick still hadn’t entirely wrapped his mind around that concept.
They gathered on the lower landing deck where cargo escorts, supply ships, and small inspection pods came and went. The breezes that filtered through the atmosphere-containment fields had an especially sour tang today, a chemical smell that indicated a new plume of gases bubbling up from below.
“All the resources of clan Kellum are at your disposal. It’s time to teach the Big Goose a lesson or two, by damn. By now the Chairman’s managed to piss off ninety percent of the population in the Spiral Arm.”
Patrick said, “It’s a critical mass. There’s got to be an explosion soon.”
“Just be careful. I’m way too busy to plan another couple of funerals.” Kellum turned away, but not before Patrick saw the man’s anxious expression. At the beginning of the war, the hydrogues had killed his fiancée and partner, Shareen Pasternak, and many years before that, Zhett’s mother had also been killed in an accident. “Do what your Guiding Star says, my sweet.”
“Don’t worry,” Zhett said, kissing her father’s bearded cheek. “If I can handle Fitzie, the rest of Earth should be no problem.”
* * *
92
Deputy Chairman Eldred Cain
When the battered remnants of General Lanyan’s assault force returned from Pym, the acting commander explained how the Klikiss had defeated them. Conrad Brindle finished his report in Basil’s Hansa office, while Deputy Cain diligently took notes.
Brindle pulled no punches. His clipped tone clearly expressed his disapproval as he laid the blame squarely on Lanyan for instigating the debacle. “There was no need for this to have happened — none whatsoever. The Confederation ships willingly offered their assistance. If we had joined forces, we could have annihilated the breedex.”
“Instead, the General failed to complete either task,” Basil growled. “He turned one sure victory into two total failures.”
Brindle remained ramrod straight. “Yes, Mr. Chairman. Because of him, the EDF lost three Mantas, the Thunder Child, and a great many soldiers, including General Lanyan himself.”
“And the Confederation military remains unscathed. That idiot probably thought he was going to impress me.”
Cain finished with his notes, and kept his silence. He did not ask whether the assault had been a good idea in the first place, any more than the naïve plan to send Admiral Diente with an ancient translating device had been. While the Chairman searched doggedly for conspirators, Deputy Cain had attempted to be quieter and more unobtrusive than ever.
The Chairman had called up an intricate expanded grid of the command structure of the Earth Defense Forces. Many boxes in the upper tier remained empty, whole ranks decimated after the black robots’ original turnabout. Now the top rank of General was also vacant.
Basil stared at the display. “Pike and San Luis are our only remaining grid admirals, and I’m not overly impressed with either of them.” He barely paused before making an impulsive decision. “Brindle, you’ve demonstrated your capabilities and your loyalty — several times, in fact. I’m making you the new commander of the Earth