“I have been building a power base for Lancia’s future. The Worlds of the Lesser Gods recently fell out with Redmond over mineral rights on Satan’s Gate. They came to us, for Lancia has the only other known supply of pelagatite.”
“Which was mined out two centuries ago. Not to mention that it’s beneath Settlement City, and you gave that to Sattur Dow years ago.”
Yu waved dismissively. “I have offered Sattur something in return.”
Access to the line ships through his new wife.
“Maybe so,” Michelle countered. “How will the Factor feel when he realizes you have duped him? One worked-out mine is not enough to create an alliance.”
Yu smiled. “The mine was only the start of negotiations, Daughter, and the Factor has evinced a certain… interest in my bait.”
“Which is?”
The New Alliance would certainly be interested in the Worlds of the Lesser Gods, for while they were small, politically, they shared space close to Redmond. Having access to ten worlds in the same sector would make it easier to strike at the enemy.
“Tell me, Daughter, would not a bloc of ten votes—twenty votes—be to our advantage?”
“Of course it would. If we could be sure the Worlds of the Lesser Gods would vote for us. They are known to be unfriendly to Lancia. What bait did you use to get them to agree?”
“A close binding of our worlds. You, Daughter, will marry the Factor of the Lesser Gods.”
Michelle laughed. She was the only person who would have dared. “Maybe.” She stood up. “I will investigate the Worlds of the Lesser Gods and take your news back to the New Alliance so they can prepare for their request for membership.”
He walked with her to the door. “And Daughter, beware of who you take advice from. When I say something is to happen, I expect it to happen.”
Michelle glanced back. “I hear you, Father. Loud and clear.”
Vega had a replacement guard ready when Michelle left the throne room.
The team followed Michelle while Radko waited with Vega.
“Turns out Martinsson’s allergic to his own world,” Vega said. “Or the pollution in it, anyway. He hasn’t been back here since Sattur Dow extended his factory at Settlement City. Airborne particulates.”
Like any world, Lancia had minimum clean-air requirements, but those requirements were specific, and easy to get around if you had the money or power to buy exemptions.
Vega scowled in the direction of Settlement City. “So let’s hear how bad it is.”
Radko was strongly aware of Commodore Bach at his desk. These rooms, used exclusively by the guards working for the Emperor’s household, were as secure as the Lancastrian Princess, but after what she’d heard, Radko thought that anything she told Vega would go right back to the Emperor.
“I left my kit at the barracks, ma’am. I’ll need to collect it if I’m to leave now.”
Vega nodded and walked with Radko. One thing about Vega. She picked up messages very quickly.
They were both silent until they were in the aircar taking them over to the barracks.
“What happened at Confluence Station?” Radko asked, for that was safe talk. Anyone would want to know about it. “I hear it was attacked.”
Vega’s eyebrows rose. Radko didn’t have to guess what she was thinking. If she hadn’t known about Confluence Station, how could she have done anything stupid?
“It’s all over the vids. Galactic News and Blue Sky Media filmed it for us.”
“I haven’t seen the vids.”
“I’m surprised.” Vega folded her hands in her lap. “Confluence Station was attacked by an armed ship disguised as a freighter. It did a lot of damage.”
“And Ean?”
Vega’s tone turned dry. “The linesmen are safe. Before the freighter could destroy it, the station switched places with the Eleven, leaving the two ships to battle it out.”
No one listening would have understood what Vega had told her in those short sentences. They hadn’t known before today that two ships—or a ship and a station—could switch places. Ean was the only person who could have done it.
“There is some conjecture in the media as to whether the Eleven destroyed the freighter or whether it jumped,” Vega said. “And the captain of the freighter hasn’t come forward to say, one way or the other. I’m sure you will make up your own mind when you see the vids.”
Judging from the grim way Vega smiled, the freighter had been destroyed.
The aircar landed.
“Thank you for taking the time to inform me, ma’am,” Radko said, as they stepped out onto the tarmac.
The aircar lifted on auto and whisked itself away.
It was safe to talk now, but Radko kept her voice low. “Did you see Michelle’s audience with her father?”
“I did.”
“Did you see my audience, earlier?”
“No.”
She wouldn’t have had a reason to.
“Sattur Dow was there. I think he wants access to the alien ships.” Radko reported the whole conversation as precisely as she could, including her own pending marriage. “Not only that, I traveled to Baoshan in an aircar with Tiana Chen and Ethan Saylor. They’re connected with Sattur Dow. Saylor let slip that they believe they’ll have access to Lambert soon.”
“That’s worrying. Especially in light of the later meeting.”
They walked together in silence around the parade ground at the barracks. “Your kit is at the palace,” Vega said, eventually. “Let’s hope Bach doesn’t realize.”
There was no excuse for clumsiness like that. “Sorry, ma’am.”
Vega waved that away. “Emperor Yu does not like people who defy him. He’s just as likely to change his mind and call you in for an accounting, no matter what Dow says.”
An accounting like that only ended one way. With the accountee being wheeled out dead.
“If you stay on the Lancastrian Princess, he can call you in at any time. Even if he doesn’t, you become Dow’s access to the alien ships because they have plans, and you’re important to them.”
She’d expected it, but a slow hatred started to burn against the two men who would destroy her life.
“You could always transfer me.” Her voice wasn’t as steady as she wanted it to be.
“We could. But why break up a good team? We’ll send you away temporarily, for your own safety, until we work out what the plan is and find a way to circumvent it.” Vega smiled, albeit grimly. “Let’s hope Dow has overreached himself this time, and we can take him down for it.”
That was almost treasonous talk. Radko glanced around, instinctively taking in who might have been listening to them. No one.
“Lambert won’t take it well. Especially if he knows you don’t want to go.” Vega looked at her. “Unless you do want to go, that is.”
“No, ma’am.” It came out more fervently than she’d planned.
Another grim smile. “Lambert will do fine without you.” Then Vega amended that to, “Well enough, anyway. Personally, I’d prefer you there to handle him, but under the circumstances—”
“He doesn’t need handling, he needs understanding.”
“He’s like an out-of-control weapon. You never know whether the recoil will kill you.”
“But it’s more likely to turn around and hit the enemy,” Radko said.
“So far. But don’t worry, I’ll keep him safe until you get back. Inasmuch as I can because we all know Lambert.”
The brusque words relieved Radko, for she had wondered if she would be allowed to return. “How long?”
“As long as it takes. We’d best get you off now. Make it look as if you were already assigned, rather than us bundling you off in a hurry.”