NEW EXETER SPACEPORT
EMPORIA
FEDERATED SUNS
8 APRIL 3150
0125 HOURS
Once again, Yoshizawa debated the difficulty of getting back into his ’Mech’s command couch against the merits of not hanging sideways out of his seat. It was bad enough that his ’Mech had fallen and he’d briefly lost consciousness. It was insult added to injury that the exit hatch had jammed in its frame. Before he’d be able to right himself, he had to wait until the engineering crew could cut his ’Mech’s legs free from the entangling chains. Once that happened, he would still have to wait in his repair cradle while the crew pried his cockpit open.
What did I do in a past life to deserve this? he wondered. It had to have been blasphemy of the worst kind for the gods to plague me so.
Despite this, he did not ask for a time estimate again. If his ground force was correct, it would only be a couple more minutes. If they were incorrect, they would pay. For now, he had to appear unflappable and unconcerned by what had just happened. Still, he could not come up with any explanation that was not an excuse. The truth was that he’d underestimated the Emporians’ desire to remain with the Federated Suns, and he’d accepted bad advice from his council—especially where the Ritza Academy was concerned.
He knew the moment the chain binding the ’Mech’s legs broke because he felt the clank all the way in his cockpit. Thumbing the comms, he said. “Ground crew, stand clear until the Hatamoto-Suna is back in its cradle.”
“Yes, Tai-sa!”
Yoshizawa didn’t know who answered and didn’t care. He stood the huge assault ’Mech in a single smooth motion, reveling in the sense of being upright once more. He backed the machine into its cradle and settled it in place. He did not have to order the exit hatch to be repaired or removed. As soon as the ’Mech stopped moving, the ground crew got right to work on it. That was a point in their favor.
Five minutes later, the hatch opened. Only one person waited for him at the top of the scaffolding. Much to his surprise, it was not Fume, but Sho-sa Ona Nanba. He wondered if she’d drawn the short straw or if she was here by choice.
The infantry sho-sa bowed and awaited his word.
“Where is Chu-sa Aoki?”
If the question irritated Ona, she did not show it. “Fume sends her apologies, but she thought it best to recall the two lances of ’Mechs from the field. She’s leaving one lance split between the other two spaceports. She also wanted to look in on Chu-i Amago, who was still alive when she was pulled from the Venom. The woman was badly injured in the ’Mech’s collapse, and did not have long to live.”
Yoshizawa nodded. “Appropriate. What are the rest of my council members doing?”
“Sho-sa Kusunoki is dealing with reports from an attack on New Exeter. It appears tonight was a coordinated effort. Though it’s not immediately clear if one attack was a distraction for the other or if there was something else at play in the capital.”
Neither of them moved from the scaffold. This was as private a place as either of them could wish for, and Yoshizawa wanted information more than he wanted to descend the scaffold stairs. “What of Chu-sa Yuuki?” He wanted to question both him and Akimoro over the recommendation to have all ’Mech lances out on patrol.
“I regret to inform you, Tai-sa, that Yuuki is dead.”
Yoshizawa looked at her. It was not a joke. He clenched his teeth and waited for her to go on.
“He and his squad of Kishi successfully took down a Watchman and killed the pilot. I believe Yuuki made the killing blow. However, he and every other squad member on site were killed in the subsequent battle with the ’Mechs.” Her tone was neutral. She neither praised nor condemned the commandos.
“Unexpected.” And foolhardy, he thought. Perhaps Joji was attempting to make up for his mistake of insisting that the ’Mechs could be better used elsewhere. Perhaps he realized his arrogance and pride in his elite forces…
Ona interrupted his thoughts. “Sho-sa Trevon Fleetwood is next in line to take over our battle-armor forces. He is waiting on the bay floor for your pleasure.”
Yoshizawa looked for the major and found him standing at ease at the bottom of the scaffold. As he watched the man with iron hair, a heishi ran up to him, reported in, received orders, and left. “Fleetwood. He sought us out?”
She nodded. “I have his file here. He’s ambitious and works hard. He chose the Seventh because once you join, you have no past.” Ona’s glance from the noteputer to her tai-sa under veiled lashes spoke volumes of her approval.
“I’ll review it later. For now, he will remain a sho-sa under your command. How he performs over the rest of the Emporia campaign will determine if he deserves a promotion.”
“Yes, Tai-sa.”
He descended down the metal stairs, neither stomping nor hiding his steps. They rang out to the ground crew below. A couple of them glanced up, then continued working more diligently. “What of Nagaaki?”
“Ah, yes. He has other things he’s focused on. The first is cataloging everything he knows about the force that attacked the spaceport.”
“The force. You mean the academy cadets?”
“Yes. The Ritza Academy,” she confirmed.
“I want all the intel we have on the academy. I want every bit of it—its layout, who is in charge, and who we still have captive, and who might know about it. As well as what we learned from this attack. This insult will not go unacknowledged.” He ground his teeth. “Did we take any of the attackers alive to be questioned?”
Ona shook her head. “However, a couple of escaping prisoners who appeared dead are not. They’ve been taken to medical.” She watched him from the side. “I thought it best to not only heal them so they could be questioned, but so they can be used in a future lesson.”
“Very good. I’ll want their names and positions in a report as soon as you can.” He stopped on the landing before the final set of stairs. “And you? What are you doing besides reporting in?”
“Gathering a complete list of casualties. Inventorying our collected resources. I also sent several platoons to repair the damage so we can continue to use the spaceport.” She glanced at Sho-sa Fleetwood. “I’ll get the same from the commando squads.”
Before she could say more, a merchant DropShip lifted off. The roar of its engines blocked out all conversation until it was well into the atmosphere. When it was quiet enough to be heard again, Ona continued. “Despite some of the specific damage the cadets did to the spaceport—cutting sensors and communications—we’ve already found workarounds to allow commerce to continue. Do you want any changes to that?”
Yoshizawa hated the way she kept using the word “cadets.” He shook his head. “Not as of now. I will make a final decision after I’ve read all the intel reports.”
They descended the final set of stairs to the bay floor. Sho-sa Fleetwood greeted them then waited.
Ona addressed him. “You will lead our battle-armor squads on a provisional basis. For the meantime, you will answer to me. I want personnel and resource reports along with plans for the future. Sho-sa Fleetwood, this is your proving ground. We have high hopes for you.”
“Yes, Sho-sa. Thank you, Tai-sa.” The older man stood tall. “I have a report from New Exeter.”
Both Yoshizawa and Ona gazed at him.
“The attack was against the NEC building only. The perpetrators are barricaded within the building. We could destroy the building and the attackers. However, as the facilities were used to address the planet, we wanted to know if you need the building preserved. It will take longer to get to the perpetrators, but…?”
Sho-sa Fleetwood addressed Ona. His words were directed to Yoshizawa. Ona answered him, “Take them alive. Preserve the building and its facilities. We will have use for them in the future. The sooner, the better.” She glanced at Yoshizawa, who nodded his approval.
“Yes, Sho-sa.” He paused, waiting for either of his superiors to question him further.
“I expect great things from you, Sho-sa,” Yoshizawa said. “Dismissed.”
Trevon Fleetwood bowed and left at a run.
Ona and Yoshizawa walked through the DropShip toward his quarters. She fidgeted with the noteputer, turning it over and over. He glanced at her. “Do you need something?”
“With respect, Tai-sa, I believe we need to rethink the long plan for this particular planet. It may not be what you need for your campaign.”
They stopped at the door to his suite. “Perhaps. Do you have an alternate suggestion?”
“Not yet. I’ve begun to work on it, based on the reports coming in.”
Yoshizawa nodded. “Show me when it’s ready.”
Ona hesitated, then said, “Dai-i Yoshida is within. I recommend that while you hear whatever she has to say, you get some rest and deal with the fallout of tonight with a clear mind.”
He frowned. While Sumi being in his quarters was not a surprise—she hadn’t left for Draconis Combine territory yet—Ona appeared to be referring to something he had not yet discovered. It concerned him. He wanted to ask questions, but he was also exhausted. Sumi would probably tell him in either case. He nodded at Ona, then entered his quarters.
“Aren’t you a sight?” Sumi asked from her place on the couch. “At least now, people can assume your bruises came from battle.”
Yoshizawa sighed. He could get annoyed or angry at her needling, but he was too tired for that. “Don’t start. Say what you have to say and leave. Please. I need to sleep. I need a clear head to deal with what’s happened.”
“Have they told you everything?”
Normally, for a question like that, Sumi would’ve asked it in a coquettish, teasing voice designed to make him dig for the answer. This time, it was straightforward and serious. Yoshizawa eyed her. “I’m aware of Joji’s death.”
Her eyebrows went up, startled. “Joji Yuuki died?”
He nodded, surprised she didn’t know. Whatever she was sitting on, it couldn’t be worse than the death of one of his personal advisors. Could it?
“I’ll add that to my report. I meant what happened in New Exeter.”
“There was an attack on the communications building.”
Sumi shook her head. She stood. “They didn’t tell you? Cowards. I don’t blame them though.”
He saw the noteputer in her hands. “What’s happened?”
“It wasn’t an attack to destroy the building. It was one to use it.” She walked over and handed him the noteputer. “I’m sorry I’m the one to inform you of this.” She kissed him on the cheek and left without permission.
Too stunned at her odd behavior to do more than lock the door behind her, he looked at the noteputer with a queasy stomach. This was bad. Whatever it was, it was bad enough that Ona didn’t mention it. With her knowledge of everything else going on within the Seventh, she had to have known of this and still chose not to mention it.
In a moment of weakness, he put the noteputer on the low table and walked to his bar. He poured himself plum wine and drained the glass without tasting anything more than the sensations of cold and sweet. He poured himself another glass then held it, untouched.
Don’t be afraid, he counseled himself. Whatever it is, you will deal with it. Remember your plan. Remember what you want for the Seventh and for your people.
Yoshizawa sat down, put his glass on the table, and looked at the noteputer. It had three files: one video, one audio, and one text. The text file was called read me first. The audio and video files appeared to be time-stamped for just after 0100 this morning.
He opened the text file.
these two messages were sent out over the emporia emergency broadcast system. first in audio, including text-to-speech, then in video.
—sumi
Heart sinking, Yoshizawa opened the text-to-speech audio file and listened as he read the words that streamed below them. Without a visible reaction, he turned to the video file and let it play out. He felt nothing on the surface. The kind of nothing that masked a formless rage so great it needed time to sort itself out.
Yoshizawa froze the video recording and stared at Sergeant Major Vale Auger. the man looked like he’d been in several fights. If it was true, if only one man had taken the New Exeter Communications building, he’d earned what was coming to him—as did every other soldier assigned to guard the one building in the heart of a quelled city. Such inadequacy could not be forgiven. Such humiliation was only redeemed in death. And there would be death. So much more than he’d originally planned for.
“‘Children and cadets have defeated the enemy.’” Yoshizawa repeated aloud the most humiliating sentence of the entire message. It was as if this Vale Auger had seen into the heart of his secret fear, and put it on display for the entire universe to mock.
He hurled the noteputer across the room. It crashed against the wall and splintered the tablet’s screen. It wasn’t enough. He raged, smashing the full glass of plum wine against the low table before throwing the table against the far wall, flipping it in the process.
No. This will not be another Sakhara V. My name will not go down as an infamous footnote of failure. I will conquer Emporia if I have to do it the old way, and kill every man, woman, and child on this planet.