chapter 14
A TINY O
Lucca Brezhnaya was in a foul temper. Not even reports of the Viceroy’s waning popularity could put her in a better frame of mind.
She’d had to discover on a broadcast feed the news that a building in the capitol—a government building—had been fired upon and
destroyed. Spending the morning reassuring the public that it was a scheduled military exercise upon a defunct facility had not put
her in a better mood.
Worst of all, the troops who had dared destroy a building within the pale of the capitol city had failed to bring to heel the brigands
who’d broken into the facility. The Chancellor paced, a fearsome creature, within the confines of her penthouse office.
What was so special about this facility that it merited being broken into not once, but twice? She’d ordered reports on the earlier
break-in, as well as information to ascertain which satellites had fallen within the purview of the antiquated facility. Impatiently, she
awaited the delivery of this information.
A gentle ping informed her at least one of the reports was available. Crossing to her desk, she glanced over two new pieces of
intelligence. One, she dismissed as irrelevant. The other informed her that the building governed satellites she’d not thought of in
over a century.
Her mouth formed a tiny O.
It was the facility that governed the Mars Containment Program satellites.
Lucca sank into the chair behind her desk.
Who wanted to know more about Mars? And for what purpose? And what had they failed to achieve upon their first visit? Whatever
it was, had they accomplished it this time? She swore aloud, calling down a detailed string of odd and unpleasant fates upon the
secures who had failed her.
Shouting for her trembling secretary, Lucca requested the names and dispositions of the criminals apprehended at the previous
break-in as well as a complete report of the follow-up to that event.
What she learned was not entirely unsatisfactory. Although the male felon had died during re-bodying at New Kelen, two females
lived. One of them was situated in Dunakeszi, at a hospital for brain injury patients.
“Dunakeszi,” she murmured. A quick search confirmed the hospital was close by. She called for her secretary again. “I want this
patient brought in for immediate interrogation.” She smiled. Lucca Brezhnaya found interrogation to be one of the more satisfying
duties associated with her position.
She glanced down at the record for the other captured female. This one, she saw, had been sent to New Timbuktu for re-education
without being re-bodied. Interestingly, there was a scientist from the satellite facility who’d been sent to New Timbuktu following the
break-in as well. The scientist had been blamed for leaking information that led to compromised security in the building. Lucca
scowled. The lack of compelling evidence against the scientist meant she probably knew nothing. The Chancellor was all too aware
of how certain of her underlings were eager to demonstrate a commitment to catching perpetrators of crimes, which resulted in
bringing to justice those who were innocent. And, more to the point, ignorant.
Lucca heard a quiet throat-clearing and looked up. She despised quiet throat-clearers. “Yes?” she barked.
“It’s the prisoner at Dunakeszi,” replied the secretary. “It would appear the prisoner has been in a coma for several weeks due to
brain injury.”
Lucca scowled. “She’s insensate? Is that what you’re telling me?”
The secretary nodded. “What shall I tell the doctor? Do you still wish to have the prisoner brought here?”
“Fool!” said Lucca. “What am I going to do with an inciter in a coma?”
The secretary blanched. “What shall I tell the doctor?”
“Bah,” muttered the Chancellor. “Tell him to continue doing … whatever it is one does in such cases. Do not bother me with such
petty concerns. Do I make myself understood?”
“Yes, Madam Chancellor,” replied the secretary. “Of course, Madam Chancellor.”
“Idiots,” sighed Lucca as the anxious subordinate scuttled out of her sight. “I’m surrounded by idiots.”
At least there was a scientist and one of the perpetrators remaining. Lucca could do with a nice, drawn-out interrogation today. She
put through the order to Red Squadron herself: Bring me Dr. Kazuko Zaifa and the inciter known as “Harpreet.”