Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 33

"Damien," she said, gesturing at the screen.

"Has anyone told the Haiken Maru that they're out of the game?"

Ver glanced at the screen. "Fools. They've got to know they've lost. Their primary puppet is dead and ninety-six percent of their top staff are under arrest.

"Ninety-six percent?" Jessine wasn't sure if she was shocked or not.

Ver nodded. "We'll get the others. It's just a

matter of time."

Jessine nodded, watching the blips on the screen. They were definitely in pursuit, and gaining, "Who killed Lomax?"

"Unclear as yet. There were a lot of messily dead Germans on the scene. Maybe their con- tract expired. In any case, that's one faction

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down. Sclerida's men have lost a number of bat- tles to loyal Naval forces. He's not going to win."

The blips for the four aircars behind them kept growing closer on the rear screen. She indi- cated their pursuers. "I thought you said that things are under control."

"I did," he said. "And they are."

"Un-huh," said Jessine with a significant glance toward the rear.

"I meant it," Ver said with determination. "But the matter isn't ended yet, and there might be a few more difficulties before this is over."

"A few more difficulties like being shot out of the sky," she said bluntly.

"That would be one," he agreed. "And I dont want that to happen." He saw the communica- tions scanner come alight and he studied the jumble displayed there, his AID automatically translating the code. "Until a few hours ago, very few people knew what was actually going on.

There's been an emergency block on news, and the military reports are often misleading. Our biggest trouble is confusion. I've been relying on the Kona Tatsu agents in the military services to help rectify this."

"And support the Kona Tatsu position," said Jessine.

"Naturally; that's their job," said Ver without

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apology. He shoved a lever to increase the strength of their s.h.i.+elds.

Two seconds later a pair of missiles swept by, deflected just in time. Two seconds after that the warheads burst in Horizon Park, setting a stretch of conifer forest ablaze. Ver banked the aircar toward one of the small support villages at the edge of Horizon Park. "I'm scanning these places for Rainbow Dawn transmitters. The/re going to need to be isolated."

Jessine could not keep from shuddering.

"Rainbow Dawn," she repeated.

"Kitchley got away with it for several years, but once they became really active, he should have known we'd find him out." He dropped a little lower over the village, watching the display on the right side of the control panel. "Using his own estate was a foolish thing to do. He should have realized that would give him away."

"Kitchley?" Jessine said indignantly. "He was never their leader. Kitchley was killed by Rainbow Dawn. I saw them do it. The one in charge is Ereley. He told me about what they were trying to do." She felt a twinge of grief for her Daphnean friend who had been so loyal to her, and had been murdered for his

loyalty.

"What are you saying?" Ver demanded as he

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checked the screens in front of him. "It wasn't Kitchley? You mean he was set up?"

"Yes," said Jessine. "Absolutely. He was the Rainbow Dawn sacrificial goat. If they get any power in a few months they'll probably convey an official martyrdom on Kitchley. Ereley is ...

or was the head. He's made arrangements with Governor Windsor and Anson Merikur to change the government, with Rainbow Dawn providing the support."

"Instead of the Kona Tatsu?" Ver asked with a wicked chuckle.

"Instead of Haiken Maru, I suspect," she cor- rected him, stretching as much as the harness would allow to tiy to ease the hurt in her muscles. She was gang to need a long ma.s.sage and half a dozen ther- apy baths before she would be free of the ache.

Ver nodded. "Or a combination of the two.

For all their claims of equality, it's apparent that Rainbow Dawn has several cla.s.ses of equality in their reform schemes." He swung the aircar to port, feeling it wallow as it responded.

"Is this vehicle going to make it?" Jessine asked.

"I think so," he answered cautiously. "It will get us back to the Secretariat Palace."

She blanched. "Why would we want to go back there?"

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"Because thats where we have the command bunkers and where the most communication equipment is. Right now communication is the most important weapon we possess. That's why we're winning and the others are losing."

"Including Admiral Sclerida?" Jessine inquired with false sweetness.

"Jessine, I've said so. If we can keep his forces in confusion, he will continue to lose." He lev- eled off again, and checked the proximity of their pursuers. 'That's the focus of what the Kona Tatsu is doing with the Navy right now."

"But he might still pull it off," said Jessine.

"He might," Ver allowed. "If he is able to cap- ture and keep either you or T^ra. If either of you were forced to marry him, or Tira. was forced to marry Dov, his claim to the succession would be upheld." He frowned at the latest coded display.

"Scratch that last option," he said as his implant translated the latest information.

"What is it?" Jessine asked.

"We've just found the wreckage of a Logistics vessel in the city. It's full of dead Navy personnel and Dov Sclerida." He watched the display. "We have genescan confirmation. Dov Sclerida is dead." He shook his head. "Poor Idd- He didn't deserve -"

"He didn't deserve any of his life. Admiral

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Sclerida only wanted kids so he'd have p.a.w.ns for the game," Jessine said cynically. "I remember one got away from him."

'The Chaney lad- His mother saw to that, sen- sible woman that she was," said Ver with evident approval. "I've never met him, but his files are very satisfactory."

He tried another maneuver, straining the s.h.i.+ps power to the maximum.