17

Jace Hawken felt a hand on his shoulder, and then the lights in the chief of staff’s office came on. He rubbed his eyes, squinting against the sudden brightness, and rolled over on the couch. His suit jacket slid off onto the floor – it had been serving as a makeshift blanket.

“Sorry to wake you, sir,” he heard a young patrolman say.

“I’m up,” Hawken grunted, blinking. He took a mug of coffee from the patrolman, and sipped at it, gratefully.

“Did Beauceron and his team arrive at Jokuan already?” he asked, yawning.

“I don’t know, sir,” the patrolman said. “General Childers just told me to come get you, sir. Senator Foss is in the war room.”

Hawken felt himself come fully awake. “What?” he asked, standing suddenly. “Foss is alive? Did they find any other survivors at the blast site?”

“No, sir,” the patrolman said. “Senator Foss wasn’t at the Senate Chamber when the attack occurred.”

“Well where the hell was he?” Hawken asked.

“I don’t know, sir. He’s back now, though, and he’s called another emergency meeting.”

“Fuck me,” Hawken swore. “Of all the senators that could have survived ….” He looked at the patrolman self-consciously. “You didn’t hear me say that.”

The police officer grinned. “No, sir.”

Hawken set the coffee down and hurried down the hall, pushing open the door to the conference room. Foss stood at the head of the table, and the rest of the emergency council sat, bleary-eyed, around the room. They turned to look at Hawken as he entered.

Foss eyed Hawken haughtily. “Mr. Hawken,” he said, inclining his head slightly.

“Senator,” Hawken replied warily. “I’m relieved to see you safe, sir.”

“Thank you. This committee was just briefing me on what has transpired here since the attack.”

Hawken nodded. “It’s been a busy day. But we think we have a plan that—”

“I’m sure General Childers can bring me up to speed,” Foss cut in. “I was just about to share with the committee what progress I’ve been able to make in my negotiations with the Jokuans.”

“With the …?” Hawken frowned. “You’ve been negotiating with General Yo-Tsai?”

“Of course,” Foss said. “Why do you think I wasn’t at the State of the Federacy Address with my unfortunate peers? The Intelligence Committee tasked me with contacting General Yo-Tsai. I was on Jokuan during the attack, doing everything in my power to prevent it. But alas, Yo-Tsai’s plan was already in motion. We may yet be able to negotiate a truce, though.”

“A truce?” Hawken asked. “But we have agents heading to Tarkis now to try to stall the invasion.”

Foss arched an eyebrow at him. “Is that so? Well, I’ll deal with that issue in due time.”

“You’ll deal with it,” Hawken repeated. “You’re aware that this committee charged me with leading the Federacy?”

“And I thank you for your leadership during the government’s hour of need. But your services are no longer required, now that I’m here.”

Hawken’s eyes narrowed. “You’re dismissing me?”

“No, I’m arresting you,” Foss said. He gestured at General Childers. “See to it, General.”

“You’re arresting me?” Hawken asked, incredulous. “Foss, we’re at war! This is no time for petty power struggles!”

“I am fully aware of the urgency of the situation. That’s precisely why we need experience at the helm right now, young man,” Foss said.

General Childers stood reluctantly, and pointed at the patrolman who had woken Hawken. The district attorney felt the officer take hold of his hands, and pull them behind his back.

“I’m sorry about this, sir,” General Childers told Hawken.

“On what grounds are you arresting me?” Hawken asked, keeping his eyes locked on Foss.

“Treason,” Foss said.

Hawken snorted. “That’s absurd.”

“Is it?” Foss asked. “Where were you when the attack occurred, Mr. Hawken?”

“At the Senate Chamber,” Hawken said.

“And what were you doing there?” Foss asked.

“Arresting your subordinate,” Hawken shot back. “For conspiracy to commit murder.”

“Conspiracy, eh?” Foss observed. “That’s a telling choice of words, considering your involvement with the conspiracy to attack the Federacy.”

“What? I had nothing to do with the attack,” Hawken protested. “I nearly died in it myself.”

“Nearly,” Foss agreed. “And yet, somehow, you did survive. In rather extraordinary fashion, I might point out. And until I came back, you found yourself the senior-most surviving official in Anchorpoint. What an interesting coincidence.”

“Circumstantial evidence, all of it,” Hawken argued. “Any competent judge would laugh you out of the courtroom.”

“Perhaps,” Foss said. “But it’s quite compelling evidence when you consider that the Jokuans have named you as an accomplice in their plans. I heard it from General Yo-Tsai himself.”

The room went silent, and Hawken felt a shiver of fear run down his back.

“That’s a lie,” Hawken said. “And you know it.”

“Take him away, please, officer,” Foss said, addressing the patrolman. “This traitor has done enough damage to the Federacy, I think.”