EMPEROR MENGSK
Nova and Mal Kelerchian took the call via the holoprojector in the comm room. When they heard who was on the call, the marines in the room cleared out as if a hydralisk were breathing down their necks, closing the door behind them.
Once they were alone and the place was secure, Kelerchian connected with the palace at Augustgrad. A moment later the holo glowed blue-green above the projector base, and the imposing form of Emperor Arcturus Mengsk flickered into view, his shaggy mane of hair and well-trimmed beard looking particularly fierce in the dim light of the comm room.
Mengsk was a study in contradictions, and either adored or despised, depending upon whom you asked. He was both a brutal warlord and a well-spoken head of state, equally at home on the battlefield as he was surrounded by palace excess. Having seized power from the Confederacy of Man, Mengsk had founded the Terran Dominion and ruled with an iron fist. His was a brilliant political mind. And no matter how anyone felt about him, when in his presence, there were few men who could remain immune to his charms.
“The wrangler and his ghost,” Mengsk said, his holographic image smiling at them. “I had a full report from Colonel Hauler on your activities. I must say the irony is not lost on me—the ghost who was rescued as a girl long ago must rescue the wrangler who recruited her. It smacks of a kind of order in the universe we’re not capable of understanding, a higher connection, perhaps. Agent Kelerchian, am I to understand that you were not successful in discovering the whereabouts of the missing ghost before you were … overcome?”
“No sign of her, Your Imperial Majesty.” Just the slightest emphasis on that last word, Nova noted, making Mal Kelerchian’s feelings for Mengsk quite clear. For a moment she thought she saw a shadow pass across the emperor’s face, but then he chuckled.
“That’s what I like about you, Agent Kelerchian. You don’t bother to hide your feelings from anyone. And that’s why I feel I can trust you. Are you two alone? I have a matter to discuss of up-most importance.”
“Yes, sir,” Nova said. She was still trying to figure out why Mengsk himself had requested a private audience with them. If he wanted to dress them down, he would have taken a far different approach. Ghostmaster Celsus normally would have briefed her on a new directive, but she hadn’t heard anything since she’d been assigned to the rescue mission on Altara. Hauler clearly didn’t have any inside information either.
And there was something else. At first glance the emperor seemed to be carrying his usual swagger, but even through the holo she could see new lines of strain etched around his eyes and mouth, and there was a tension about him that was unusual. Normally even in the heat of battle, Mengsk remained cool and assured. Now, he seemed just the slightest bit frayed around the edges.
Perhaps she was imagining things.
(trouble)
Kelerchian glanced at her. Clearly he had noticed too.
“Before we go any further, I’d like to have a full report on what you found on Altara.”
Kelerchian went first, describing everything that had occurred from the moment he had begun his investigation until the explosion. “That refinery was operational,” he said, “and well armed. But I didn’t find a damned thing that would point to a UED presence. Nobody in Oasis had a clue what I was talking about. A terrorist cell like that, the remains of an enemy force that far from home—” He shrugged. “They would have needed supplies. Somebody in town would have known something.”
“I see.” Mengsk didn’t appear to be surprised. “Anything else?”
“It felt like a setup,” the wrangler said. “They were waiting for me. The more I think about it, the more it feels like that whole place was rigged. The refinery core would have had to take some serious hits from our cross fire to melt down like that, and even then, it’s doubtful the explosion would have been that intense. I ran a sim through my computer, and it modeled a very different debris pattern.”
“Why would they blow up their own refinery?” Nova asked. “Is there anyone who would want you dead?”
“Plenty of people,” Kelerchian said. “But I can’t imagine them going to this much trouble.”
“I don’t believe you were the target,” Mengsk said. “Agent X52735N was lured there on purpose.”
“How is that possible?” Nova asked. “Her orders came through the ghostmaster directly from you.”
“I’m not sure. I can tell you one thing for certain: I never gave that order. There was never any report of a UED terrorist cell on Altara, and I did not send a ghost there to investigate.”
Nova and Kelerchian glanced at each other in shock. “Are you saying there’s some kind of enemy operative at work here inside your administration?”
“Impossible. And yet someone intercepted official Dominion transmissions at the highest level of security. Let me go back for a moment. I’m sure you’ve both heard of the string of terrorist attacks on Dominion strongholds recently.”
“I have,” Kelerchian said. “But they didn’t seem particularly important. UNN did a report on one the other day. A failed attempt, according to Lockwell.”
“Mmmm. The truth is a bit more … complicated.”
(the truth shall set you free)
Nova sent another glance Kelerchian’s way, but he refused to look at her. “I’d heard differently,” she said. “A series of very well-organized and strategic attacks by unknown and extremely dangerous special forces. Super-assassins, some people have said. Some have even mentioned psionic-type abilities.”
Mengsk nodded. “You’re well informed, which isn’t surprising, considering that you read minds. The truth is, several important military and trade targets have been … disabled over the past few months. We’ve lost a few key leaders, and supply chains have been disrupted. Those who survive—and there have not been many—appear to be brain-panned. But one raved about ruthless, black-clad warriors who appear and then vanish into thin air.”
(like ghosts)
“This is a reliable source?” Kelerchian said.
“Before the incident in question. But our tests indicate those who live have endured something like neural resocialization, only the procedure seems to be far more barbaric.” Mengsk shook his head. “I abhor such things, as you know. The tools the Dominion uses—sparingly—have been well tested and are closely controlled. Resoc is quite delicate. It’s not something you do with a kit you built in your father’s basement.”
Mal Kelerchian was familiar with resoc techniques, and Nova could feel his opinion on Dominion activities with them quite clearly. Before he said something he might regret, she stepped in quickly. “You think these assassins are related to our missing ghost.”
“Several of the disappearances are linked to these attacks, yes, and this latest could be another example. If the missing ghost was lured to Altara, perhaps she was meant to be recruited. And the anecdotal evidence of psionic abilities, while admittedly fairly thin, would seem to reinforce the theory. It does not appear to be UED, despite UNN reports to the contrary. The attackers are able to relocate and regroup quickly, and my sources have picked up chatter about an advanced and powerful space station operating somewhere, but my scans for such a station have picked up nothing but empty space.”
Kelerchian shrugged. “The UED usually lies low, so you’re probably right about this not being their handiwork. The force I ran into on Altara was definitely well trained, but I didn’t see any superpsionic assassins running around. Then again, if they were invisible, I guess I wouldn’t, huh?”
Mengsk smiled, but his eyes held little warmth. “Michael Liberty, the former reporter, has picked up on the story and is trying to spread it through pirated holo broadcasts. So far he’s just sniffing around the edges of the terrorist angle, and we’ve kept him fairly well contained by blocking what we can. But it’s only a matter of time before he uncovers the real story and reaches an audience large enough to make an impact on morale. I must say I’m very disappointed in him. We were friends, once. Allies.” He shook his head. “He feels I betrayed him. I always thought him to be a patriot, aware of the greater good.”
“Maybe he has good reason to feel betrayed,” Kelerchian said.
“Watch your tongue,” Mengsk snapped. “Whatever may or may not have happened is ancient history now. We must focus on the future in order to move forward.”
“So what do you need from us?” Nova asked, cutting in before the wrangler could dig himself a deeper hole.
“This situation requires immediate action. Due to its sensitive nature, I cannot trust my regular channels to carry it through. As I’ve said, they may have been compromised. And you can imagine what might happen to the Dominion if word got out that our ghost forces, the highest level of defense and the most efficient warriors the sector has ever seen, are disappearing. And now that Michael is involved …”
He turned his gaze on each of them. “You two are the best we have. I need your help. I’m giving both of you the highest priority mission, one that you’ll need to use every bit of your considerable talents to complete. Find our missing ghosts, and find these terrorists—and learn what their next steps will be. Put an end to this rebellion. Colonel Hauler and the Palatine will provide support, and you will have the entire power of the Dominion and the Psi-Ops Division behind you.”
Nova nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Mengsk’s eyes seemed to bore into her skull. “Find them, Agent X41822N. Find them and bring them home.”
He switched off and the holo blinked out. Nova and Kelerchian were left in the darkness. Neither one of them spoke for a moment, the impact of what the emperor had said still hanging in the air.
Finally Kelerchian grunted. “Well, ain’t that something?” he said. “Mengsk ain’t the biggest fan of ghosts, you might remember—doesn’t trust ’em far as he can throw ’em—and yet here we are. Who would have thought I’d screw up one mission badly enough to be given an even bigger one? I’m going to keep myself in business this way.” He went for the door. “Let’s see if Hauler’s made that coffee. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to need it.”