When Diplomacy Fails…

CHAPTER 15

Alex knew this was a goat rope. All he could do was keep roping.

He entered their quarters, which were covered by two of Cady’s people.

Marlin said, “You’re secure inside, sir.”

“Thanks. Outside?”

Roger Edge said, “Nothing that we can discern.”

Jason said, “I’ll check,” as he unshouldered his coat, slipped arms through his harness, cleared his pistol before reaching the door to his quarters, and tossed the whole ensemble on the bed.

Alex likewise took his coat off, unsnapped the armor, and said, “Elke, I’ll want whatever feeds you have. In an hour.”

It could be done faster, but they all needed to hydrate after a sweaty ride, standing for hours in a hall and a flight back. Then they needed bathroom breaks, to reconstitute gear, and save files, make notes, debrief themselves. There were several reasons they got paid as well as they did, and the long hours were part of it.

Jason reported secure. Everyone summarized their notes.

“Elke, what do you have for us?”

“She’s angry,” Elke said. “Just as she told us, she thinks it will be seen as weak. Here.”

She started a playback from a video feed in Highland’s quarters. It wasn’t good video, but even the BuState intel people hadn’t found the devices. Nor was he sure what Elke used. If found, he’d deny it, she’d get “counseled,” the lawyers would apologize, and they’d go right back to doing what they’d been doing.

Highland said, “Cruk is going to be the cause of my breakdown. Or rather, his handlers are. That retarded African buffoon is beyond a puppet.” She strode around, distorted slightly from the correction algorithm on the near spherical lens. She had a glass of something, half-drained already, and her biometrics seemed to indicate some sort of tranquilizer.

JessieM sat on the couch, looking a bit tense but unafraid. She said, “It hasn’t affected you negatively yet. They’re reporting that the unrest caused the entire conference to divert to air.”

“Yes, so I personally am okay, but BuState look like bumbling idiots. That’s why we got rid of leMieure. I can’t be seen in any comparison to him.”

“Of course not. But you present better. Your intro went over well, and your followup release says you regret that further progress couldn’t be made through intransigence and the stress of the civil unrest. I noted the unrest was due to economic and societal inequality, and that you wanted peace for all groups to pursue their joint destiny.”

Interesting. JessieM wasn’t just a lackey. That was a pretty well-phrased release, done on the fly. He looked at the others, they looked back and nodded. It was understood.

“Good. I need to distance myself from Ripple Creek before they take a fall.”

“I’ve been churping that you would rather have BuState security. This change is due to the administration.”

“We can’t blame them! They’ll come back on us.”

“I haven’t. It’s stated as due to necessity, and I blamed the Liberty Party for refusing to accede to a reasonable budget, thus forcing this on us.”

“Good. We’re all friends here, and I greatly respect our faithless and fearful leader. Once we’ve cleared decks and are ready for the caucus, then we’ll pile on.”

“He’s going to expect that.”

“Of course. The trick is not to come across as too competent. If he has to throw resources at it, he looks like a bully. Passive aggressive strategy.”

“Ma’am, should we be discussing this out loud?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s fine. Mr. Gillette swept this place right before we came in. Didn’t you get the churp?”

“I did not.” JessieM looked somewhat nonplussed at being left out of that discussion.

“Yes, he’s got us covered.”

That was interesting, Alex thought. Had he done a half-assed job? A good job, but not good enough? Or was he a mole for someone?

“Elke, are you sure no one else has a feed from there?”

“I am.”

Jason said, “So am I. Aerospace Force was able to check on Bishwanath as a colonial power. BuState has made it very clear they won’t allow outside agencies, and I’ve checked. If the military got anything, it would mean someone’s neck. So if someone is even trying, it’s without permission and a hostile act. Then they’d have to go through Cady to do so. Nor did we find anything. Probability, then, is very low.”

“Understood, but low is not zero.”

“Of course. All a matter of odds.”

They stopped as Highland said, “… will need to get moving on Ripple Creek. They are going to save me, just not the way those bloodthirsty retards imagine.”

Very interesting, and unnerving. If she’d toss out the R word, and planned to take them down, then this was very interesting.

“I’m glad she underestimates us.”

Aramis said, “I know the military does. We’re deemed second raters. Hell, I used to think so, until that first mission. I suppose civilians have even less grasp of what we do.”

“She’s been around the track, though. She should know better.”

Shaman said, “BuState security are very much expected to take fire, and to not hurt bystanders. It’s not hard to do that among a largely disarmed population that isn’t minded to cause major violence. We come in when there is major violence in the paradigm. Then, she’s been shuffled out here for a reason.”

“So, is this possibly a deliberate assassination attempt?”

“Setup, perhaps. It could be a combination of things. Comply with letter of the law regarding security. Arrange to embarrass each of us-Ripple Creek and Highland, and take out either one if opportunity presents.”

Alex felt a chill.

“Yes, that does fit. Not only does everyone in the equation hate her, they also hate us.”

Bart said, “And now we know.”

“Indeed. Well, our tasking is to keep her alive. I am not bothered at the concept of pissing her off to do so. Whether she gets elected or not is not our concern. I would enjoy aggravating whoever comes after her. And if we confirm who’s after us, we do as we need to.”

Elke smiled that warm, creepy smile and said, “I love you at times like this.”

“Yes, well, let’s see what message she sends, if we can.”

The next morning, it was necessary to sit in conference with Ms. Highland, Mr. Gillette and Captain Das to discuss threats. Das came up to see Alex first.

“Are you ready, Agent Marlow?”

“I am,” he agreed. “I’m eager to swap intel.”

“Same here, though it often seems we provide them more than they do us.”

Alex took that as a suggestion that Das wanted more from him, too.

“It can seem that way, though circumstances do change.”

“Certainly. Some agencies like to receive more than they give, especially at budget time.”

Yes, that was a hint that Das didn’t trust Gillette either.

Das continued, “Though of course, the military’s relationship with BuState is quite solid.”

But not Ripple Creek’s. Yes, they were always an outsider, to everyone. Alex knew that.

“We’ll make it work,” he said.

When they entered Highland’s office, she fairly cooed.

“Captain Das, so good to see you.”

Was she trying to score with him? Enjoying the view? Genuinely pleased? Or trying to frazzle Alex? Who knew? It might be relevant later, so he filed it.

Gillette said, “Captain Das, Agent Marlow, how are you this morning?”

Ah, pleasantries. They didn’t really want to know, so Alex said, “Good enough,” and left it at that.

JessieM was an accomplished press flak, but her duties apparently included coffee. He accepted a cup, though he wasn’t likely to drink it. He was also quite wary of her presence. She was not cleared, that he knew of, but was a personally hired shill, and he knew she couldn’t be trusted with any modicum of privacy.

As they sat, he looked at Gillette, who gave the barest nod of acknowledgment. So, no one trusted Highland, but he couldn’t officially say anything about his boss.

Highland sat down and said, “I wanted to say I do understand the necessities of flying yesterday, and bear no hard feelings.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” he said simply. If she wanted to accept an apology he hadn’t made and wasn’t going to, fine. As long as the bank transfer cleared.

Das said, “While the situation was unfortunate, we hoped it would offer an opportunity to identify either individuals of interest, or refine our understanding of groups.”

“And what did you find?” Gillette asked.

“Not much that is conclusive, but we are building a database. Eventually it will yield results.”

Unspoken was whether or not he’d share those results with BuState, contractors, or even his own people. Sometimes, intel served best by not being released.

Gillette asked, “There’s nothing you can share at this point?”

Das spread his hands and said, “We have identified two groups friendly to Ms Highland who may have, through an excess of enthusiasm, presented so as to alarm others.

Highland said, “Ah, the Mtali Women’s Conference and the Justice League.”

“You’re familiar with them?” Alex asked.

“Of course!” she said, cheerfully. “Such enthusiasm. They’re creating a future for us.”

Gillette’s expression indicated he didn’t appreciate being blindsided by his own superior. Alex made a note to see if Elke had any other conversations of interest.

“Well, that’s good to know,” he said. Can you suggest they limit their enthusiasm out of respect for you, to help things move more swiftly? You can arrange a personal meeting with them later.” He intended such a meeting never take place, and he’d juggle schedule and create threats as needed to ensure that.

“I can try,” she said, shrugging slightly. “But these are a simple people.”

What a condescending bitch. Worse, she seemed to delight in “simple people” as her support. She must assume most people were “simple.” Beyond that, many of them seemed proud of the fact.

He brought his attention back to security. There were still items of note.

Gillette said, “I do note there are ongoing discussions between you and Mr. Blanding. My concern is that his communications may not be secure.”

“That’s ridiculous!” she snapped. “He’s been a confidant and trusted friend for decades. You may remember he formerly had your job, among others.”

“I am not questioning his loyalty, ma’am,” Gillette said with a tone that Alex interpreted to mean he certainly was. “But his phone and feeds are no longer subject to shielding through our system. They could be hacked from outside.”

“He’s very knowledgeable. He’d never let that happen.”

“Knowingly, no, but some of the modern techniques are very discreet. I stress constantly over your own quarters here, in case someone is pulling conversations and other data.”

“You assured me they aren’t.”

“That I’m aware of, they aren’t. That doesn’t mean they can’t.”

Thanks for that confirmation, Alex thought.

“I need his counsel. This is a critical time, and will continue to be so for the rest of the election cycle.”

“Of course. I only suggest you be careful what issues you phrase.”

Well, this had easily turned to protecting her campaign rather than herself. Still, if she paid attention, it would help.

Das apparently took a cue to keep her busy and not argumentative.

“Ripple Creek furnished us with their video and EM records. We are searching it for evidence. So far, there were at least three encrypted networks operating in that area. One was for your supporters. Regretfully, some of them were well intentioned, but seem unclear of where the line should be drawn. They actively agitated for action against your opponents.”

“While regrettable, that’s entirely understandable, given the cruel and false accusations leveled at me, along with threats and actual violence.”

Really, was she unable to not make a campaign speech? No one here cared, all knew the score, and this was about a real issue. She seemed to think talking could fix anything.

Das ignored it and continued, “Well, we’re still trying to crack the other two networks. The encryption was good. Very good. Good enough military experts are fighting with it. This suggests your opposition has serious resources.”

She came out of politician long enough to be bitch. “It’s taken you this long to figure that out?”

“We are determining details, ma’am. The method of encryption should lead to a source, and from there we can learn who is involved.”

“Very well. Inform me at once. The voters must know this.”

Das apparently didn’t know how to refuse without risking her ire. Alex stepped up.

“I will also be using that information to determine best routes and appearances for you, ma’am. My job is to ensure your safety during high-visibility appearances.”

“Yes, with safety that is very high visibility, and excessive,” she snarled.

“Ma’am, you instigated events to create an impression, and neglected to tell us-” The expressions of the others indicated they hadn’t known that.

“I did not! I-”

He cut her off with a steady, firm voice. “Had we known, we’d have helped you arrange it so we wouldn’t respond in a fashion meant to hurt people. I’d have advised against it entirely. You may have now created the meme that it would be clever, amusing or some kind of score to attack you. Now we have to deal with it. My agents respond as the threat appears. If someone tries to look lethal, we respond accordingly. If we don’t, you wind up dead sooner or later and we get the blame. You can have our security, or arrange your own.”

He hadn’t intended to tell her off, but the woman was beyond irritating.

“Yes, your job, your company comes first.” Her tone was belittling.

“Word indeed,” he said. “They do.”

Everyone looked at each other, embarrassed, though she’d apparently forgotten her rising argument with Das.

“I see there is nothing further to accomplish here. Good day,” she said and rose.

Alex realized the other two now considered him a hindrance. He’d had that intel, and not shared it.

He shrugged, nodded and stood himself.

Elke found it amusing to listen in that morning.

Highland was cursing up a storm to JessieM and the walls.

“Those mercenary assholes! That loose-lipped bastard, telling everyone we staged an attack. They can’t be trusted with anything.”

JessieM sounded timid as she said, “It’s always best to keep information inside, ma’am.”

Yes, Highland had told them of the fact herself. She seemed to have missed that. Interesting that she didn’t trust her own intel people, or the military’s. What a terrible world she lived in.

Highland said, “Well, we’re safe here. Das admitted he can’t spy on us, and Gillette said he detected nothing. As long as our phones are off, we’re okay.”

That was amusing, and even more so as her monitors picked up two phones handshaking the nodes and logging out. They’d both had active systems.

So, Elke must assume someone else with similar gear was monitoring Highland, too. It wasn’t certain, but it was eminently possible. That was the nature of their world. Still, their principal assumed she had secrecy. It was a good thing she didn’t know about Shaman’s monitors, also.

JessieM said, “Ma’am, you present well. You are still perceived as strong, courageous and honest in the face of adversity.”

“Hmmph. And what is being said about my security detail?”

“You’re seen as a victim of the administration, with them as its contract muscle.”

“Close enough to the truth. You say it’s reading well?”

“Quite. Even the Neo-Stalinists are sympathetic. They’re talking it against Cruk.”

“Interesting. Then we need to keep playing that. There are just so many issues here. Showing position over him is as important as the opposition proper.”

“Yes. They’re all opposition.”

“Exactly. I can have no friends.”

“You do have me, ma’am.”

“Of course. You’re trusted and paid, and so is Erickson.”

If Elke recalled correctly, Erickson was her campaign manager on Earth. She had quite a small personal staff, considering all things.

Jessie sounded timid when she said, “What about paying Ripple Creek a bonus?”

“What?”

A bit more firmly, she said, “You could offer a bonus for their support so far. That might swing them more your way, and amenable to promotion.”

“No. They’d let it leak eventually, and then I’d be the one contracting mercenaries. That has to be played right, too.”

“I understand. It was a thought.”

“Not a bad one, but not right for this circumstance. But I’ll call Mogreb.”

Elke perked up at that. Mogreb… oh… kurva drat.

Mogreb was a Serbian thug disguised as a lawyer, who’d been Highland’s employer before she went into politics. Interestingly, it seemed she’d taught him more than she’d learned from him.

Still, he was an ugly man. Intimidation and coercion were typical of him, though never proven in court. He’d been on her payroll early on, handling interventions for constituents in her district. If she took an interest in a case, Mogreb showed up to “express concern.” Most of the time, the problem then resolved amicably.

Certainly it saved court costs. It was also certainly unfair.

So he was either still on payroll, or was a consultant. So why call him? And where was he?

“Zoltan, hello again.”

He was on planet, then, if she spoke to him directly.

“Did you see the broadcast? Yes, Ms. Landinger’s comments were rather unkind.”

They spoke for several minutes, but Elke gained all she needed from that opening. Highland wasn’t happy with the press, and was arranging for muscles to mix it up. That was useful to know, and the team would need to be prepared for that if she ever went nasty. More than she already was.

When she briefed Alex and rolled the file for him, he nodded.

“For two reasons we can’t get involved. First, it’s none of our business what she does to others, except as it affects potential threats. Also, we can’t let her know we have that feed.”

“She also might escalate against us,” Elke added.

“Yes. Still, I’d like to find a way to dissuade her.”

“Without mentioning it?”

“It was an encrypted signal, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Can someone ‘discover’ the signal and report it to us as a security issue? Meaning to Cady’s people?”

“Everyone knows she has secure and personal communication.”

“Yes, but can we pretend we didn’t know? Then hint contents to encourage her to shut up?”

She flared her eyes slightly. “Probably not. I’ll think on it.”

Highland had what she needed. Keeping it discreet across light years had taken money, patience, effort, and a good rapport with people who could read between the lines.

Huble was good at that. It had cost money, though. The question was if the payoff would be worth it.

The newsload should be coming through this system any time now. There was the lightspeed delay from Earth, the wait for a ship to carry the signal through, for it to clear UN BuSec at this end, which should be a formality but could take time. More lightspeed delay. It should be now, dammit.

She sighed and poured a champagne and vodka cooler. It would happen.

There.

Oh, that was brilliantly done, she thought, feeling a rush that was almost naughty. It was even more spiteful than she’d hoped for. She brought the volume up so as to catch all the details.

— essman Hunter’s wife. According to the release, she caught him in an ‘inappropriate embrace’ with a junior staffer. She reiterates her belief in his campaign, and vows to stand by him despite this personal trouble.”

The payoff would come shortly, because Amelia Hunter had made no such statement. They’d be days sorting it out, and Highland would have time to regain points.

But it got better. So much better.

“The staffer was not identified, but came forward as Angela Soruto. Ms. Soruto asked for Whistleblower protection, and CNNBC News is discussing the release of further details from her.”

Had he really been nailing the little whore? Or was she an opportunistic bitch making up stories to cash in?

Either way, that was a one-two punch to the guts of that condescending cunt Amelia. This, right after Huble’s operatives had promised she’d ride out the trouble. She was a spoiled, frigid, diamond-digging cunt, and this should wreck her to more sleeping pills and sedatives. In two weeks, they could claim that was an ongoing problem, and that should be the end of that campaign.

It was back down to her and Cruk.

Damon Huble appreciated Highland’s employ. She paid promptly from her not insubstantial personal accounts, her campaign funds from her legion of jabbering idiots, and occasionally, from money shifted from her position accounts. She always repaid that promptly, which would help in any kind of political dispute, but he had warned her once that it was illegal to pierce that veil, regardless of repayment. Official funds were official. He’d warned her. Once. Highland didn’t like being told things she didn’t want to hear, regardless of legality, but for several reasons he needed to cover his own ass. No campaign or administration lasted forever, and any number of suits and charges were possible. Any smart staffer covered all angles.

Really, it was a delight to perform these tasks for her. They were a challenge, a puzzle, and their resolution always satisfying. They were more satisfying the more artistic the result. He was especially proud of this one.

She’d covered all costs from a discreet, completely legal account filled with donations from her special fans. He’d kept it thirty percent under his original estimate to her, fifteen percent under his own private estimate. The payments were all tagged for perfectly legal processes and promotions to three companies neither of them owned. They had total deniability of any impropriety.

In addition, he’d been able to tell another client that he’d accomplished their task at the same time, and pocketed only a consultancy fee, no operations costs. Completely legal, and they were more than happy to make that payment by anonymous transfer through Sealand, Ceres and Breakout Station Bank in the Grainnean system into his anonymous account groundside.

Politics was the one game where every player wanted to leverage every other player. And if he could use the funds of an inevitable loser-Highland-to support the campaign of a certain winner-Cruk, the Secretary General, then so much the better for all involved. Except for Highland, of course, once the campaign folded. Or if not, once the legal charges started.

But he had warned her. Once.

Hepgard would be very happy. No doubt the bonus he was paying would also be reflected in Hepgard’s own account. There was plenty to go around. On Earth, he was sure the SecGen benefited, but wasn’t going to ask. The end result was to soften up Highland so he could get that position. It would probably be a decade, but he’d get the appointment. And if she did win, she might appoint him anyway, with plenty of dirt to use on her in return. Thuggery on Mtali, dishonesty with government money in her campaign. A good start, but it would take more.

Franklin Lezt sat in another hotel, awaiting Hepgard for followup. He’d had two stiff grape vodkas already. He really wasn’t sure if the man got it.

He watched the scrolling news feed. It was almost at that critical point, and that meant playing the trump.

A knock on the door indicated Hepgard, and he buzzed the man in, set the interference and did not offer him a drink.

“So now she’s at twenty-eight percent and climbing,” he said at once.

Hepgard said, “That’s just reaction to Hunter being effectively quashed.” He looked around for a seat for himself. There wasn’t one, on purpose. He sat on the bed instead.

Lezt said, “Yes, but she keeps climbing.” He gripped his drink and the arm of the chair.

“Guy, my techniques are proven. She’s just molecularly coated against shit.”

“It seems like it.” He wanted to be angry, but Hepgard was right. It should be working. Just nothing stuck to her. That little twitch personal she had, JessieM, was both a brilliant spinster and very popular. How could anyone hate a college girl turned promoter, who had no perversions, drinking problems, whatever? It seemed her only purpose in life was to ping inane messages around the nodes, and she was brilliant at it, and now getting paid.

He said, “The first thing is, do not touch JessieM. No matter what. She’s a favorite pet and it will only be seen negatively.”

Hepgard nodded. “Agreed. Do you have something specific in mind for the other?”

“It’s time she made a personal sacrifice for her party.”

“Guy…” Hepgard stopped.

“Yes, that’s what we’re down to. She cannot break thirty percent!”

“What is it with you and that number?”

The man didn’t know, and he’d have to be told. Lezt took another heavy swallow, winced and looked up. “At thirty-two percent, it’s established by the election commission that she can have Special Service security freely as a campaigner. She’d only have to pay transport costs for her own people. No Ripple Creek, still with BuState security, free military resources on request, all government. If she goes down for anything in front of the SecGen’s personal guard, he takes the hit.”

“I thought that didn’t take effect until ninety days out?”

“That’s for anyone over five percent. It’s twenty percent at a hundred and twenty days, thirty-two percent at one eighty, which is next week.”

“You don’t want much, do you?” Hepgard was wide-eyed at the implied but not directly stated subject of assassination.

“My boss has agreed to the same elements used for that… apprehension.”

Hepgard snorted. “Which doesn’t seem to have worked. They didn’t kill the man, and he’s back at work. Highland benefitted by ignoring it. They’ve demanded more money and got it.”

“In this case they’ll be available to encourage her into an area where some very bad people will be outraged at civil society and very violent. So sad, but she tried so hard, let us remember her as we move on. Your job is to find that location, prep it, ensure everyone is in the right state of mind, and let me know. Keep in mind there’s about twenty-six hours of delay round trip.”

“And you want this in a week?” Hepgard looked very unsure. That was a nice score, but he better get sure in a hurry.

“I do. Why are you still here?”

Hepgard turned and walked to the door. As he closed it behind himself, Lezt heard him mutter, “Fucker.”

And Franklin Lezt had just enough of a recording to ensure that any claims against him would take down the SecGen, as well as BuInt.