Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 16

"Yes, the Admiral is another likely candidate, but Lomax seems to have gained the most in the least time." He pressed one of his fingers to the center of his forehead, the Daphne equivalent to a frown.

"Of course, it's too soon to be sure. We dont know what the disposition will be a day from now."

Jessine stared at the display. "No, we don't."

"If it is Lomax," said Kitchley, "then he will have to sh.o.r.e up his claim quickly. That would require that he ally himself with you or your step-daughter."

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"You mean marry me or Tira," said Jessine more bluntly. "A statement of endors.e.m.e.nt wouldn't be enough for him." A shudder of dis- taste rippled through her. "He would need something more... binding."

In the momentary lull of their conversation, the voice of a soldier could be heard: "Unit 44, to 6 North, unit 44, go to 6 North. Reinforce against Cernian invaders."

"Unit 44, roger, wilco."

Kitchley regarded Jessine. "Yes, marriage, to you or lira." He hesitated. "Or he could dispose ofWiley and claim his position. And then there is the Haiken Maru. They have influence enough to make the lad a puppet; Wiley is not prepared to resist such pressures."

Dispose of? Jessine looked sharply at Kitchley.

Had Cowpers death caused this callousness, or had it always been there?

"I'm afraid you're right," she said slowly.

"Even if he were popular, he isn't very strong- willed." She reviewed what she knew of her husband's wild son. He was popular, sometimes even quite charming, but his cronies took joy in antagonizing die alien population. He just hadn't exhibited very good judgment. "He couldn't hold the Secretariat on his own." She looked at the display. "Where is Wiley? Have you found him?"

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"No, we haven't," admitted Kitchley, his embarra.s.sment obvious. "We are a.s.suming that is an indication he is still alive, somewhere."

"Will they keep looking for him?" asked Jessine as they moved,

"Of course," replied Kitchley. "He is the heir."

"Lomax or Sclerida. there isn't much to choose between them for Wdey," said Jessine slowly.

"I fear not," said Kitchley. "I haven't located Admiral Sclerida, either. A man of his great abili- ties - "

"And ruthlessness," added Jessine.

"Yes, ruthlessness, certainly," said Kitchley.

"Sclerida may lack Senatorial status, but he had the good sense to marry a Chaney, which improves his lot and makes his children serious candidates for the High Secretariat." He tapped his fingers on the armrest. "Despite the scandal his children might well be his access to the office he seeks. With Chaney prestige - his brother- in-law still supports him - who knows what he might achieve."

Jessine nodded. "He's been putting pressure on die High Secretary for some time now, want- ing to arrange a marriage between his son Dov and lira. It would be perfect for his plans. Cow- per and I discussed it..." Her voice trailed off.

Cowper had wanted her perspective since she

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was so close to Tira's age. Jessine tried to remem- ber if she'd really considered Tira's feelings during those talks.

"I'm going to miss him," she said to Kitchley.

"He was a very decent man. He treated me well and he did his job the best he knew how."

"I had great esteem for him," said Kitchley.

For the next several seconds he concentrated on a pitched confrontation in the lower storage depths. A group of Marines was attempting to cart off large canisters of some unknown sub- stance while Treasury soldiers pinned them down. "If the Admiral should ever persuade lira to many Dov Sclerida, it could lead to a number of unpleasant developments."

"There we agree," said Jessine with feeling. "But I doubt Tira would see it that -way." She pointed out the North Reception lobby monitor, which showed a disordered group of Security soldiers had just broken through a German barricade.

Kitchley used his palace communications over-ride to warn all the combatants that if they did not evacuate the area, explosives concealed in the floor would be triggered, killing all in the lobby. As he watched the soldiers scatter in all di- rections, he said, "There is no change of heart there."

"No," said Jessine heavily. "She still calls me

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harlot. She refuses to believe that her father isn't ... wasn't jealous, that our marriage was a diplo- matic convenience. And once she found out about DamienVer, well..."

"She's not a foolish girl generally," said Kitchley. doing his best to be rea.s.suring. "In time she will come to understand -"

"I doubt it," said Jessine, feeling strangely desolate. "Given what has happened. Her father is a martyr, and I'm sure Tira a.s.sumes I was the one who betrayed him."

Kitchley's attention returned to the monitors.

As he had warned, he picked up a small trigger unit and pressed it into action: on the display one of the holograms showed an eruption of stone and glastic as a dozen uniformed bodies were hurled from the landing arms outside the Amba.s.sadorial entrance.

"Good!" Jessine approved as she watched the display.

"Necessary," corrected Kitchley. "If I were not loyal to the Pact, I would not be able to send men to their deaths in this way. We must have a true succession, or the Pact will become mean- ingless, and everything that we have struggled so hard to achieve will be lost."

Jessine regarded him in surprise. "I didn't. . .

you've never said you were a... a patriot before."

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"Because I am an alien, you expect me to despise the Pact? Why? Before the Pact there were more abuses and they were worse. With the Pact there is a little hope that the time will come when the abuses will end. For that I am willing to do battle." He stopped suddenly. "That is why I am determined to do everything in my power to protect the succession."

Jessine tilted her seat back, stared at the ceil- ing a moment before dosing her eyes.

"None of us could hold the Secretariat," she said. "Not Wiley, not me, not lira. And yet any one of us could take it for one of these mad fac- tions."

"It's Wiley's seat, Madame. We must find a way for him to hold it Perhaps the KonaTatsu..."

Jessine gave him a look. "We must find him first. And the Kona Tatsu... I don't know any- more what the KonaTatsu wants." She squeezed her eyes tight. Was it the Kona Tatsu or Damien Ver who had sent those APC's? Or had Varrick lied and it was someone else altogether?