There are already crocuses under the yew tree, signalling the start of spring. Janek sips her tea – Earl Grey, lemon – and tries to keep her cool. Things are moving at once too slowly and too quickly. The president’s patience is thinning faster than the firestorm engulfed the Ithaka eight years ago. Meanwhile, the prison conglomeration want their workers working. Her plans to bring the rebellion to heel are foundering. Every day that passes without her delivering the heads of the key players is another chance for the president to name an alternative successor. If he does that, there’s more than just her political career on the line. Heads will roll, literally and figuratively. And if Janek is facing the gallows, then Harveen will be swinging right there next to her.
If she can’t kill off Crossland and the Lalls soon, she may need to take more drastic action, even if it’s against the express wishes of the president. But the destruction of the camp and its resources will mean a loss of profit for the prison conglomeration. After populating their prison factories with the Federated States’ criminals for years, the conglomeration has their sight set on a jackpot. Hundreds of new workers all at once. Stokes and his cronies already have the president in a chokehold. Handing him donations with one hand, selling him munitions for the war effort with the other. That’s where the real power in this country lies.
To top it off, there are those among the ruling elite who believe the ship people should be well treated and who hold General Lall up as a symbol of good. That element must be appeased and coddled, assured that the government are the righteous characters in this story. The need to hold on to their approval is one reason why Janek can’t just shoot Lall in the street.
Not for the first time, Janek curses the fact that the Arcadia landed so close to the city. A few miles to the north and it would have been safely out of sight, out of mind. She could have had this all wrapped up in a matter of days.
Behind her, the French doors to the Statehouse open and close, and footsteps bring someone to the table. Janek looks up to find Harveen and a fresh-faced kid who can’t be more than seventeen.
‘My mood depends on whether you’re bringing good or bad news,’ Janek says, placing her teacup carefully on to the saucer.
‘This is Alex Hudson, ma’am. He’s one of the agents we recruited after the grounding of the Arcadia.’
The boy steps forward and gives a tidy bow.
‘You don’t look like a ship kid.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you, ma’am,’ he says, smiling.
‘Aren’t you charming? Tell me some good news, Mr Hudson.’
The boy glances at Harveen, who nods her assent.
‘After Esther Crossland and Nik Lall crashed the Arcadia, I was given the opportunity to serve the Federated States, and for that I will be eternally grateful –’
‘I don’t need your life story, Mr Hudson.’
‘Yes, ma’am. I was close to Esther Crossland and Harriet Weston aboard the Arcadia.’
‘Close how?’
‘Mr Hudson was on the medical-track training programme. Esther Crossland was his classmate. Corporal Harriet Weston was his trainer,’ Harveen says.
‘I’ve been using my knowledge of them to guide the search.’
‘He’s been running a number of agents within the camp with the aim of locating the fugitives without the need to launch a large-scale military operation.’
‘Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?’ Janek says.
‘There are a number of operations being carried out, Admiral, and frequent dead ends. We don’t need to brief you unless one of them bears fruit.’
This is true. Janek can’t and shouldn’t be briefed on the details of every operation being undertaken. It would be unnecessary and taxing. However, the thought of Harveen overseeing operations that she has no knowledge of gives Janek a faint prickle of uncertainty. Has she given this woman too much freedom? What other missions are being undertaken in Janek’s name she has no knowledge of?
‘I assume that your presence here means there’s been a development.’
‘As of this morning, we have located both Esther Crossland and Harriet Weston,’ Alex says with another winning smile. The kind of smile any Federated States mother would be proud to see on her son.
Janek’s surprise must be evident from her expression because both Harveen and the boy grin. ‘Well, Mr Hudson, that is good news! And some impressive work, I must say.’ Janek stands and shakes Hudson’s hand.
‘Thank you, ma’am.’
‘Harveen, make arrangements for me to go to the White House right away. No point sitting on good news. The president will be delighted that we have not one, but two of the Federated States’ most wanted in custody.’
This is exceptional. Her past failures will be forgotten. She’ll be back on the presidential track. More importantly, her life will be safe, and all she’ll need to do is wait for the current occupant of the White House to keel over – whether his death is a natural one is something she will need to consider.
‘Actually, that’s why I’ve brought Mr Hudson here. His operation is ongoing.’
Janek sags under a sudden heaviness. Of course it is. She was so close. ‘How so?’ she says, retaking her seat at the table.
‘May I speak freely, Admiral?’
‘I think you’d better, young man.’
‘I’ve been informed that your task is to retrieve the fugitives, and in addition neutralize General Lall, who has become the figurehead of the rebellion. But that you are restricted from taking direct action against the general.’
‘That’s correct.’
‘And – pardon my bluntness – your attempts at neutralizing her have failed.’
‘We have sent a number of assassins from within the camp to take her out. By all accounts, some have come close.’
‘From the start of my mission, I’ve wanted to take control of the rebellion from the inside. To turn them against one another and use their own strength to destroy them. My plan puts someone inside rebel HQ. Right into the heart of their operation.’
‘You had the location of the fugitives, yet you didn’t arrest them?’
‘I gave them the means to kill General Lall. And I gave them incentive enough to pull the trigger.’
‘This is quite the gamble, Mr Hudson. They could slip through our fingers.’
‘It is a gamble, ma’am, but one that I’m confident has paid off. Just fifteen minutes ago, I had surveillance-bot confirmation that both Esther Crossland and Harriet Weston have entered rebellion HQ.’
Alex places a digiscreen on the table in front of Janek and taps the screen so that a video plays. It shows bot footage of Harriet Weston entering a plain metal door. Hudson flicks the screen and another video rolls, this time showing Esther Crossland.
‘Wait, who’s that with her?’
‘That is Nikhil Lall,’ Hudson says.
His voice drips with pride. He’s enjoying the slow reveal. He’s enjoying his own success, but also that he’s bringing welcome news to Janek. This teenager might be an extremely useful asset.
Janek grips the arms of her chair. ‘He survived the attack. We failed. Again.’ She glances at Harveen, who drops her eyes. ‘Mr Hudson, are you telling me that in one afternoon you’ve located the top three most-wanted fugitives in the Federated States, and you’ve put in place a plan to remove General Lall from her position of influence?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘This kid might give you a run for your money, Harveen.’ Harveen’s cheeks redden, either in humiliation at having failed again, or anger that this teenager is showing her up. ‘Do you have any other revelations for me, Mr Hudson?’
‘I’m pleased to report that our surveillance picked up at least one shot being fired inside HQ.’
Janek gets out of her chair. ‘Let’s not count our chickens, Harveen, but I think Mr Hudson might have solved a number of our problems.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ Harveen says.
‘You certainly are impressive, Mr Hudson. Especially for someone who grew up in less-than-ideal circumstances. And you can take that as a compliment.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’
Janek turns to Harveen. ‘Set up a call with General Lall. Let’s see if she’s still standing. Mr Hudson here is going to take tea with me.’
As Harveen leaves, Janek pours a second cup of tea and adds sugar without asking Hudson how he takes it.
‘May I ask what your plans for Nik Lall are, Admiral?’
‘That’s very forward, Mr Hudson, but I think you’ve earned it. My hope is that Nikhil Lall will become a valuable asset. General Lall has always been prickly, but I sense Nikhil isn’t bound by the same sense of duty as his mother. If I can bring him under control, he’ll lead the camp in whichever direction I demand.’
‘A puppet leader.’
‘Exactly. Now, tell me, Mr Hudson, what do you want?’
‘Ma’am?’
‘Out of life.’
‘I just want to serve the country that has given me so many opportunities.’
‘No. That’s how you’re going to get what you want. But what’s the thing? What keeps you trying?’
He looks at the flowers nestling among the exposed roots of the yew tree. ‘I want power. A lot of power. I want to be so strong people will be terrified to disobey me.’
Janek considers the boy, the neat, wholesome, healthy features of a patriot.
‘That can be arranged.’