Chapter 37

 

Tayvis paused in the doorway. Will Smythe bent over his desk, working diligently through the stacks of paper dominating the spacious office. The government of the Federation seemed to run on stacks of paper. The security was lousy, though. Tayvis had walked right in. No one stopped to question him. It was partly in the attitude, he thought. Act as if you belonged and most people assumed you did.

He knocked on the doorframe.

Will looked up. He grinned when he saw who was in his doorway. "Come on in. Close the door behind you. I'll be done in just a moment."

Tayvis shut the door and spent a few minutes removing paper from a chair so he could sit.

Will typed rapidly, bent over the keypad in total concentration. He hit a final button and leaned back with a sigh. "That should deal with that situation. What can I do for you?"

"Hire me as your security consultant," Tayvis answered. "I walked right in without a single question."

Will's grin grew broader. "You never would have made it past the front door if you weren't already on file here." He punched a few buttons and turned the screen so Tayvis could see. "You were registered as entering twelve minutes ago. Your id checked out, so no alarms sounded."

"I sit corrected. I didn't realize you had anything that sophisticated."

"We've been making all sorts of improvements. You'd be amazed at the tech hidden out here where the Empire never bothered to look. I'd tell you about some of it, but it's classified and unfortunately, you don't have clearance here. You're still listed as a citizen of the Empire."

"But you've got me on file and you let me walk right in."

"More than half of our staff, and almost all of our trading fleet hold dual citizenship. The Empire is the one with the border issues. Speaking of which, hold on a moment."

He turned his screen back around and typed rapidly with one hand.

"Problems?" Tayvis asked.

"Possibly," Will said. He stopped typing. "Do you want to tell me why you stopped by? I doubt it's just a social call."

"It's not. I've been sent on behalf of most of the Patrol, but not by the High Command. It's a very long story."

"And the accommodations on the ship were lacking," Will said, glancing at the wrinkled outfit Tayvis wore. "They usually are lately, but we're working on it. It would be nice if some of the expensive cruise liners would defect to our side, but so far they haven't. Our shipyards aren't quite ready for production yet. We've worked out a deal with Trythia for some of their technology. Their democracy is working out quite well. So far."

"I've got more than I came for already," Tayvis said.

Will leaned back in his chair and waited, his feet dangling. He laced his fingers together and rested them across his lap. Tayvis got the hint.

"There have been rumors and reports of attacks on Federation ships. The Patrol isn't responsible."

"Just like we aren't responsible for Patrol ships that have been shot up. That was easy. Or was there more?"

"Trade negotiations," Tayvis said.

"I see," Will answered with a frown. "That's going to be a lot trickier. We're in the middle of some very sensitive negotiations ourselves."

"With the Empire?"

"Are you kidding? The Empire still hasn't recognized us as an official country. Roland gets upset about it, so if you see him, don't mention it."

"I'll remember that. Am I likely to meet him?"

Will shook his head. "Not unless you stick around for more than a couple of weeks. Roland is off making more contacts and creating more paperwork for me."

Silence fell for a long moment.

"Why are you really here, Tayvis?"

Tayvis shrugged. "It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"And the news sheets have nothing to do with your decision."

"I haven't read them in months."

"You're both being stupid again."

"She's marrying Vance, and there isn't anything I can do about it."

"Have you even tried?"

"My personal life is none of your business."

"Right. You're here on official business only. What authority has the Emperor given you?"

"I don't have official permission to negotiate anything."

"Then you're wasting my time." Will's feet hit the floor with a thud. He started shuffling stacks of paper around his desk.

"Do you really want a shooting match with the Empire?"

Will slammed a handful of papers onto a stack. They slid off onto the floor. He frowned down at them. "No one wants a war."

"Admiral Flanigan does. And Fleet Commander Theodys. I don't know if the Emperor knows anything about it."

"Judging from the lack of news about the Federation in their news sheets, I doubt they even know that they're supposedly at war with us already."

"They'll know when the food shortages hit, which should be within a month. Unless we can work something out."

"Tayvis, I can't help you with this. Not right now."

"Who are you negotiating with?"

"I shouldn't tell you, since you're technically the enemy." Will rubbed his forehead wearily. "But I trust you to keep a secret, if anyone can. The Guild of Independent Traders is disbanded everywhere except the Inner Worlds and even there it is so corrupt that it doesn't do anyone any good. Piracy is rampant. Hiring a ship to haul cargo for you is risky at best. Even in the Federation. No one knows who to trust."

"It isn't as bad as you think. Most merchants are basically honest."

"And most of them are in a bind. Either for cash or cargo or protection from the other pirates. You were lucky to arrive here. I'm guessing you bought passage on a freighter to get across the border."

"I'm not that stupid, Will."

"You want to explain how you got here then? Is there a new Patrol ship out there waiting for my permission to join the Federation strike force?"

"Wouldn't it be nice? Actually there are at least a dozen cruisers that would switch sides in a heartbeat if they thought it would do any good."

"I can find out soon enough but it would be easier if you just told me."

"I came on a freighter. I wasn't concerned for my personal safety. I chose someone I knew I could trust."

"The Gypsy connection, I wasn't aware you had any."

"It's all in who you know."

"Which is why I shouldn't be talking to you right now. But I am. We're setting up the Gypsy Council to act as the regulating body for all trade within the Federation."

"And by default most of the Empire."

Will grinned.

"What deal can we work out?" Tayvis asked.

"Goods are still crossing the border. We'll send what food we can, but there aren't any guarantees."

"I'm not asking for guarantees."

"So we understand each other."

"Blackthorne is behind the raids. They've got support from within the Empire, but we don't know who beyond Theodys and Flanigan."

"The rumor I heard was that Blackthorne was destroyed."

"They were."

"That statement begs an explanation."

"Dace shot most of them. It wasn't one of her better days. But Blackthorne is still out there. They've got classified Patrol information. They've got suppliers inside the Empire for their weapon systems and engines. Their ships are Patrol cruisers with a modified layout. They have to be stopped."

"And that's the real reason you're here."

"Lowell's got some kind of organization built. Mostly merchants, though. There are a handful of Patrol ships, but nothing like we're going to need. Instead of shooting at each other, we need to find the pirates and shoot at them."

"That sounds reasonable. How were you thinking of coordinating our information? Are you planning on flying back and forth?"

"If I need to. But we can use merchants to pass information reliably. They already have their own safeguards in place. They have access to lots of inside information, courtesy of Lowell. How else do you think they get across the border and avoid the Patrol?"

"I have a suggestion for you. As of last week, Cygnus Sector is now Cygnus Province, under Federation jurisdiction. The entire sector voted and chose to secede from the Empire. They brought the entire Patrol Fleet with them. Go talk to Sector Chief Querran. I hear she's itching for a good fight."

"The whole sector fleet?"

"The entire fleet, from what I understand. What would that be? Six full battle groups, plus all the support cruisers and couriers and everything else. That should be enough to wipe out an entire series of planets. Let me know when and where and I'll send everything I can spare to help."

"That's what I call negotiating."

"Do you have somewhere to stay?" Will asked. "Because the city isn't really equipped with decent hotels yet. I've got a spare room if you're interested. It will take at least a day or two to find you another ship headed the right direction."

"I'd appreciate that, on one condition," Tayvis said.

"What?" Will stood up, shutting down his screen and gathering stray pieces of paper into neat piles.

"Leave my personal life out of it."

"But that leaves us with nothing to talk about."

"You tell me about the Federation and I'll tell you about the Empire."

"Sounds like work." Will made a face.

"I don't want to talk over old times with you. No offense, but Dadilan and Trythia weren't exactly vacations."

"How about local cuisine? Or is food a bad topic?"

"Food sounds good. I'm starving."

"Then let's go. It's a bit early, but I've been working too many hours as it is."

Tayvis stood, waiting to let Will lead the way.

Will stopped with his hand on the doorknob. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me what happened? All I've heard about Dace comes from the gossip columns. I never know what's true and what isn't."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"No, you're going to run away and hide." Will opened the door. "I still think you're misjudging her."

"It's my life, Will."

"And you have every right to screw it up."

"Forget dinner. I'll just go find myself a ship."

"I'm sorry," Will said, raising his hands. "We can talk business, if that's really what you want."

"How about you tell me how you ended up running a government for Roland?"

"Didn't I tell you that story before?"

"Probably, but I wasn't listening."

"Just for that, you're buying dinner."

"What currency are you using?"

"They're usually short on help, so most of them will accept dishwashing in payment for a meal."

"Barter can be such fun," Tayvis said as he followed Will out of the office.

"We're still building an economy from scratch. Hey, Liesl, I'm leaving early," Will said to a secretary.

"It's about time," she said, eying Tayvis speculatively. "Your date for the evening?"

"Yes," Will said.

She rolled her eyes and went back to her work.

It was evening outside the building. The city had a new feeling to it, most of it had been built within the last five years. It hummed with activity. Ships lifted and landed constantly. People bustled past. The walks were crowded. There were few groundcars in evidence, and even fewer flitters. Tayvis walked behind Will.

The crowds thinned as they got further from the government offices. Will kept walking, leading the way out of the city and into an area of older buildings. Few were more than two stories tall. Most looked like houses.

Tayvis moved up beside Will, matching his stride.

"It isn't much farther," Will said. "Nice little place. Very private. The food's not bad either."

"What do you want to tell me that you didn't feel safe telling me in your office?"

"Did anyone tell you that you can be too perceptive? Or are you psychic?"

Tayvis walked in silence, waiting.

"I really do have a file on you," Will said. "But only because you're connected to a lot of other people we're interested in. Lowell, Dace, Jasyn and the crew of the Phoenix Rising, and a lot of Patrol officers, both currently serving with honor and those wanted for desertion. Roland has a personal interest in you. His favorite story is the one about Dace burning down the monastery."

"It isn't yours?" Tayvis asked. "You were there."

"I thought you should know, Tayvis."

"Know what? That you keep track of me for Roland?"

"That our whole scheme with the Gypsy Council depends on Jasyn's standing with them. I set her up to lead their council. We need her to set the standards for the trade organization."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't want you interfering. She was dead set on getting to Linas-Drias to straighten Dace out. I managed to derail her at Tebros. She won't have time for anything else for some time. I'm sorry, Tayvis. I had to do it."

"Why apologize to me? Jasyn is one of the few people I trust to set things up right."

"She's a bit impulsive, but she has good instincts about people." He turned into a shaded walk. "Tell me what Admiral Flanigan thinks he's accomplishing by confiscating ships."

"As far as I can tell, he's trying to strangle trade. None of the ships are good for anything other than target practice if he wants to field them. He's got most of the Patrol upset over his orders. And he's got the merchants running scared."

"And driving them into organizing against him. Are you sure he's the villain here? He's managed to strengthen our position enormously."

"Flanigan is too stupid to think things through that far. He's convinced the merchants are stupid. I doubt he anticipated the Patrol reaction. He expects them to follow orders, just as he would."

Will opened the door. The building was a converted house. There were tables and chairs set in various rooms in such a way to encourage private conversations. The staff knew Will. They were seated in a back room more private than the rest.

"What I can't figure out," Will said after they were served, "is what destroying the Empire will accomplish. Besides creating massive anarchy through the entire quadrant."

"Maybe that's their goal," Tayvis suggested. "Create a power vacuum so you can move in and fill it."

"They could do that easily enough, if their goal was to sit on the Council of Worlds. Or they could buy up enough businesses and run entire sectors that way. No, it doesn't make sense."

"But why is the Federation worried? You have more worlds, including the ag worlds."

"Because if the Empire falls, so do we," Will said quietly. "Civilization will disintegrate back to primitive levels. We need another decade, at least, before the Federation could manage without the resources of the Empire."

"Not to mention all the people who would die in the chaos," Tayvis said.

"That's the heart of the issue, the innocent people caught in the middle. People don't like change if it comes too quickly. We still need the Empire and the Emperor to keep things stable." He poked at his food with his fork. "Enough depressing thoughts for tonight. What do you think of our capital?"

"It's new," Tayvis hedged.

Will laughed. "All right, I get the point. What do you want to talk about?"

"Tell me everything you've heard about Cygnus Sector. The last time I was there, the only time, in fact, I was doing a population count of carnivores on Burundia. I ended up getting demoted and kicked out of Planetary Survey over it."

"That sounds like a good story."

"It isn't. Forget I mentioned it."

"What do you want to know about Cygnus?" Will let the matter slide. From the look in Tayvis' eyes, that story had to involve Dace. Will would bet good money that most of Tayvis' stories anymore featured her. It left few topics for them to talk about.

Tayvis didn't answer. He frowned at his plate. Will leaned forward, sensing something important.

"It can't be that easy," Tayvis muttered.

"What?"

Tayvis looked up. "The crime syndicates are behind it."

"We already know that."

"But I know how. And I know where. What I don't know is who or why. "

Will waited but Tayvis didn't say anything else.

"They aren't in Cygnus Sector, not anymore. They've moved somewhere closer to Linas-Drias where they have access to everything. Do you have a ship I can use?"

"Now? We haven't had dessert yet."

"We're running out of time."

"You can't have a ship until you explain yourself."

"Cygnus was the key before, except they drew attention to themselves by kidnapping Dace." He held up his hand to stop Will's questions. "I'll get you the reports if you want them, but not now. Later."

"So what's important about Cygnus?"

"They were setting up a merger, the crime syndicates and the sector government. They aren't planning on destroying the Empire, they want to take it over. They will if we can't stop them. Tell me, Will, how do you change traditions and laws that have been in place for centuries?"

"Very slowly."

"Exactly. They don't want to wait so they're forcing the issue. How many people sit on the Council of Worlds?"

"At least two hundred, as far as I know."

"Less now, but still too many. So they find a way to destroy the Council. And in the chaos, they step in to restore order. And in the process—"

"They take over and change things, in the name of keeping order. But what about the Emperor?"

"They replace him with someone who will take their orders," Tayvis said. "They don't need to destroy the Empire to take over. They just need a crisis sufficiently large. Although I don't think they were planning on the Federation and Roland."

"I don't think anyone was planning on Roland." Will pushed a bite of salad across his plate. "It makes sense except I can't see Governor Hesson dealing with the syndicates. She would never do that and Sector Chief Querran wouldn't let her if she tried."

"Not them, no, but the business owners are the real leaders in that sector. Some of them would do anything for a profit."

"How do we know they haven't already sold out to the syndicates then? This makes life even more complicated."

"Then help me get to Cygnus. I'll talk to the Gypsies there. If anyone has a clue about corruption in trade, it will be them."

Will nodded his agreement. "I'll do what I can to give you support. I think I know just the ship for you. Shall we go?"

"Sooner is better than too late."

Will led the way out of the restaurant. Tayvis followed him impatiently. It made sense, finally. It had almost taken him too long to figure it out. He had to move quickly if he wanted to stop them. At least with Will he didn't have to convince him to help. Will was already convinced of the danger.

They were at the spaceport as fast as Will could walk. The guards on the gates recognized him and let them through without stopping them.

"You need your luggage or anything?" Will asked.

"I left it in a locker. I wasn't sure what kind of welcome I'd get."

They detoured long enough to fetch his single bag.

Will walked quickly across the landing field, headed for a ship not far from the gate. The hatch was open, spilling light onto the plascrete field. The man standing at the foot of the ramp was vaguely familiar. The ship was a Patrol courier, fast, and lightly armed. The side had a patch of new silver paint where the Patrol logo used to be.

"Captain," Will called.

The man turned and Tayvis recognized him. He stiffened at the sight of Tayvis.

"Commander Tayvis," he said formally.

"Not for quite some time," Tayvis answered. "Captain Suweya, it's good to see you."

"What's going on here, if I may ask, Premier Smythe?" Suweya asked Will.

"I see you know each other," Will said. "That makes things simpler. Tayvis needs to get to Cygnus as soon as possible. I'm sure you can accommodate him."

"Do I get any explanation why I'm helping a known spy for the Empire?" Suweya asked.

"Do I dare ask how you ended up in the Federation?" Tayvis asked pointedly.

"Just pretend he's working for me," Will told Suweya. "It's close enough to the truth."

"As long as he doesn't pretend to be crew," Suweya said. "The last time it about caused a mutiny."

"I apologized, as much as you let me."

Suweya extended his hand. "Welcome aboard. Do you have any preference on what I should call you?"

"Tayvis is fine. I'm a private citizen now."

Suweya glanced at Will then back at Tayvis. "Welcome aboard, Tayvis. We can lift within an hour if we get priority clearance."

"Consider it done," Will said. "And good luck, Tayvis."

"Thanks. I think I'm going to need it."