There were eyes on her, Breeze knew, but she studiously ignored them. At least in the VIP lounge of the Longreach skyport, the clientele had enough courtesy to leave her alone.
She kept at least some staff around her at all times now, just to act as blockers from the public. This entire trip to Triton had been a marathon effort of making herself accessible enough to the media to satisfy the public’s demand for drama, while keeping enough distance to retain an air of tragic mystique.
After much discussion with Vijay’s PR staff she’d finally decided to speak at her husband’s funeral, but amid all the genuine outpouring of grief from his family and long-time friends, she knew her own words had sounded stilted. The PR team framed it as a brave attempt by the devastated widow, but she knew she could do better.
The real problem, she considered as she glanced around at her fellow wealthy passengers, was figuring out exactly what her next move should be. Did she use her newfound celebrity to make the jump into media, or did she slip quietly into the background as a senior advisor to one of the big firms?
To be honest, she’d genuinely liked Vijay, and there were times when real tears did take her. Maybe she just needed a bit more time to figure things out. Whenever one door closed, she knew, another would open—and until she saw her opportunity, she had to be very careful what she said and did in public.
At least she was back on Earth. The trip out to Triton had been too long, and that dark world with its grim people had been a lot to take. She looked forward to hitting the beach tomorrow, and working on her tan under the real heat of Sol’s direct rays.
Her assistant Susie rose from the chair beside her, and after a moment moved into Breeze’s view and crouched down.
“Ma’am, there are some gentlemen who wish to speak to you.”
Susie knew better than to let just anyone break through the wall of silence, and Breeze lifted her gaze. Standing politely at the edge of her private circle of chairs were two men she recognized well—Admiral Eric Chandler and Brigadier Sasha Korolev. With a sudden, genuine rush of warmth she rose and embraced Chandler in a light hug, then offered Korolev the standard cheek kisses.
“Admiral, Brigadier—what a nice surprise. Please join me.”
She retook her chair as the two senior officers seated themselves across from her. They were an odd pair—Chandler with his rugged good looks and easy charisma, Korolev with his plain, unassuming features—but she wasn’t terribly surprised to see them together. They’d both risen to prominence at the beginning of the war, when their respective commanders were killed in a surprise attack, and together they’d assumed command of Expeditionary Force 15.
Chandler had been the public face of the attack on Centauria, and over the past two years he had become a frequent spokesperson for the Astral Force. Korolev had shunned the spotlight, but Breeze knew he’d been anything but idle and, last she’d heard, he was heading up Special Forces. Susie had definitely got this one right.
These men were people worth talking to.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your husband, Breeze,” Chandler said. “He was a good man.”
“Thank you,” she replied carefully. “It’s been hard, but I’m not going to be defeated by it. I assume”—she turned her eyes to Korolev—“something’s being done about it?”
“We know who the attacker was,” Korolev said with a reassuring nod. “It’s being taken care of.”
“Good.”
“Are you heading home?” Chandler asked. “Maybe taking a bit of a break?”
“Yes. I think a few weeks on the Mediterranean will help a lot. Where are you traveling?”
“I’m headed topside,” Chandler said with a gesture toward the ceiling, and ultimately toward Astral Base One orbiting high above them. “But I heard Sasha was passing through, so I came over to the skyport to meet. Running into you is a pleasant bonus.”
“Secret discussions, no doubt?”
“Very interesting discussions, actually.” He glanced at Korolev. “For the first time in a while, I’m actually really optimistic.”
“Oh? I could use a bit of good news right now.”
Korolev held up a hand to pause the conversation, nodding silently toward Breeze’s assistant.
“Susie,” Breeze said, “would you give us a minute, please?” The younger woman promptly rose from her chair and moved a discreet distance away.
“We have a new military plan,” Chandler said quietly, leaning in. “I can’t discuss details here, but… Well, I’m optimistic. Sasha and I have been working on the details for quite a while, and the tactics are sound.”
“We just worry,” Korolev interjected, “that the political will won’t be there.”
“It’s a bold plan,” Chandler continued, “and it will change the war. But I agree, it needs full political support.”
Both men stared at her expectantly.
“I wish I could help you,” she said carefully. “Any new strategy created by you two is bound to be brilliant, but I’m not sure what I can do.”
“Your influence among your husband’s colleagues is greater than you might think,” Chandler said with an admiring smile. “Or did Thomas Kane just earn that second DCM on his own?”
Breeze stiffened, wondering how her subtle words of influence had reached Chandler’s ears. But then she remembered that seated next to him, with a bland, innocent expression, was the commander of Astral Special Forces. She allowed herself a confident smile.
“Thomas deserves any accolade offered him—I just gave a nudge in his direction.”
“He deserves more than you know. Why do you think I’m heading into space? I have a ride waiting to Astral Base Five to welcome our new hero home.”
So Thomas’s career was back on track.
Good, that will keep him happy… and silent.
“How wonderful—please give him my best.” She watched both men, judging their reactions to her next comment. “But I’m still not sure how I can help you with your new strategy. Especially if I don’t even know what it is.”
“As you know, we’d never discuss top-secret information with a private citizen,” Korolev said. “Not even one with close connections to the government, and a prior career in Astral Intelligence.”
“No, of course not,” she said, “and in the wake of this tragedy, I’m not sure what my own future holds. There are many… possibilities, but who can say what the best one is.”
She waited expectantly.
“Have you considered,” Chandler said, “running for Vijay’s seat in Parliament?”
A surprised laugh escaped her, dying as she saw the lack of amusement on the admiral’s face. The notion was absurd. It took years to gather the sort of resources required to fight an election to Parliament.
“I’m flattered, Eric,” she said, “but that by-election is going to be announced in a few days, and I’m not even an official member of a political party. Plus my husband is barely cold in his grave—what would the optics be?”
“They would be of justice,” Chandler said. “They would be of strength. Our enemies strike us at the heart, but we rise up from our sorrow and stand resolute. As a veteran yourself, you would represent every one of us who risks everything for the good of Terra.”
Breeze felt her mind racing. It was an insane idea. Or, perhaps, it was just an audacious idea. But still…
“No independent has ever won a seat in Parliament,” she said. “I’d need the support of one of the parties.”
“Knowing the high regard in which the Minister of Defense holds you,” Chandler said, “I think Vijay’s party would back you.”
That might be true, she thought. She hadn’t yet disbanded Vijay’s political staff, as they’d been required to guide her through the chaos of the funeral process. The staff was topnotch, and they’d already spent months building her public profile. But could her image as glamorous wife be transformed in a few short weeks to serious political contender?
“I’d need a lot of help,” she said. “Building a successful campaign so quickly would take a miracle.”
“Miracles have been known to happen,” Korolev said with quiet resolve.
She sat back in her chair, considering the idea. Losing Vijay had seemed at the time to be the death knell for her budding political career, but as one door closed…
“We need a strong voice inside Parliament, to support us with our new plan,” Chandler said. “And we want that voice to be you.”
“I’d like some time to think about it.”
“Of course,” he said. “I’m heading out for a few days, but Sasha will be nearby.”
“I can call on you in two days,” Korolev offered.
“No doubt you already know the address.”
His expression was neutral, but he smiled slightly.
She returned the smile, and began to consider how best to make her public announcement. True power beckoned, and all she had to do was answer.