Vertigo: Aurora Rising Book Two by G. S. Jennsen Read Free Book Online
Authors: G. S. Jennsen
patriotism and outrage ran strongest, merely stating that a Senecan spy had been on the grounds in the week preceding the bombing was enough to convict in the court of public opinion.
The lack of actual hard evidence was the only thing keeping her in her job for now, so she welcomed the small favor.
Walking brusquely into the temporary EASC Operations offices, she was pleased to note Lange had done her the additional courtesy of not arriving early. She acknowledged her secretary then slipped into her office and allowed the door to shut behind her for the briefest moment of solitude.
Such moments had been near to nonexistent of late. Between managing the messy details of the Senecan conflict, struggling to draw the attention of the right people to the potential alien conflict, handling the sheer logistics of relocating the entirety of what remained of EASC Operations into a far smaller building while filling the significant vacancies, and dealing with the bombing investigation, she had hardly slept. Which was for the best; she had learned twenty-three years ago working instead of sleeping was a passable way to avoid dwelling on more personal concerns. Concerns which threatened to crush her spirit if dwelled upon.
Like where in the name of all that was holy—and many things that were not—her daughter might be.
She stood at her desk studying an update on the repairs to the Forward Naval Base on Arcadia when Major Lange entered three minutes later, so she had no need to stand to greet him as he saluted her. A subtle denial of added power to him, power he’d never realize he had lost. “Major, thank you for coming by.”
“Of course, Admiral. I understand you’re extremely busy with this unfortunate war.”
She kept the surprise off her face. She wouldn’t have expected him to view the war as ‘unfortunate,’ but there was no pretense in his ice-blue eyes. “It is unfortunate, and I regrettably am busy with it. So let’s dispense with the pleasantries. You have lingering questions regarding the bombing and my daughter’s alleged involvement in it.”
His nod was a curt motion. Given what she knew of him, he likely appreciated her directness. “I do, ma’am.”
She gestured for him to sit. “Very well. Ask your questions.”
ROMANE
I NDEPENDENT C OLONY
----
The government transport banked up and away from the soaring towers and cool lavender horizon decorated by the long evening light of Romane’s second sun.
As they entered the atmosphere corridor Marcus Aguirre initiated a livecomm with Prime Minister Barrera. The man took several seconds to look up from a small screen in his hand, and wore a preoccupied visage when he did. “Marcus. How did things go?”
He gave Barrera a troubled grimace. “Not as well as I’d hoped, I’m afraid. Governor Ledesme staked out the moral high ground of peace-loving independence and refused to declare Romane support for the Alliance in the war. She appears to presume the benefits of retaining Federation trade will outweigh the cost of losing Alliance support.”
“Hmm. Unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected. You judge her position to be inflexible?”
“Quite. To be frank, she exhibited overconfidence bordering on arrogance. She overestimates her power.”
“How do you suggest we move forward?”
He made a show of considering the question. “I think perhaps we allow her to discover what it costs to lose them both. We can justify a blockade of the major trade routes along the southern Federation border. It’s a smart strategic move in any event, and will conveniently cut off most Senecan trade to Romane. Publicly we express regret for any disruption it causes Romane and other colonies. Privately we exert pressure on large Alliance corporations to cease doing business with Romane-based interests.”
“You think she’ll fold?”
“No question. Within weeks I expect, if not sooner. Trade fuels Romane, and in its absence her high-minded
The lack of actual hard evidence was the only thing keeping her in her job for now, so she welcomed the small favor.
Walking brusquely into the temporary EASC Operations offices, she was pleased to note Lange had done her the additional courtesy of not arriving early. She acknowledged her secretary then slipped into her office and allowed the door to shut behind her for the briefest moment of solitude.
Such moments had been near to nonexistent of late. Between managing the messy details of the Senecan conflict, struggling to draw the attention of the right people to the potential alien conflict, handling the sheer logistics of relocating the entirety of what remained of EASC Operations into a far smaller building while filling the significant vacancies, and dealing with the bombing investigation, she had hardly slept. Which was for the best; she had learned twenty-three years ago working instead of sleeping was a passable way to avoid dwelling on more personal concerns. Concerns which threatened to crush her spirit if dwelled upon.
Like where in the name of all that was holy—and many things that were not—her daughter might be.
She stood at her desk studying an update on the repairs to the Forward Naval Base on Arcadia when Major Lange entered three minutes later, so she had no need to stand to greet him as he saluted her. A subtle denial of added power to him, power he’d never realize he had lost. “Major, thank you for coming by.”
“Of course, Admiral. I understand you’re extremely busy with this unfortunate war.”
She kept the surprise off her face. She wouldn’t have expected him to view the war as ‘unfortunate,’ but there was no pretense in his ice-blue eyes. “It is unfortunate, and I regrettably am busy with it. So let’s dispense with the pleasantries. You have lingering questions regarding the bombing and my daughter’s alleged involvement in it.”
His nod was a curt motion. Given what she knew of him, he likely appreciated her directness. “I do, ma’am.”
She gestured for him to sit. “Very well. Ask your questions.”
ROMANE
I NDEPENDENT C OLONY
----
The government transport banked up and away from the soaring towers and cool lavender horizon decorated by the long evening light of Romane’s second sun.
As they entered the atmosphere corridor Marcus Aguirre initiated a livecomm with Prime Minister Barrera. The man took several seconds to look up from a small screen in his hand, and wore a preoccupied visage when he did. “Marcus. How did things go?”
He gave Barrera a troubled grimace. “Not as well as I’d hoped, I’m afraid. Governor Ledesme staked out the moral high ground of peace-loving independence and refused to declare Romane support for the Alliance in the war. She appears to presume the benefits of retaining Federation trade will outweigh the cost of losing Alliance support.”
“Hmm. Unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected. You judge her position to be inflexible?”
“Quite. To be frank, she exhibited overconfidence bordering on arrogance. She overestimates her power.”
“How do you suggest we move forward?”
He made a show of considering the question. “I think perhaps we allow her to discover what it costs to lose them both. We can justify a blockade of the major trade routes along the southern Federation border. It’s a smart strategic move in any event, and will conveniently cut off most Senecan trade to Romane. Publicly we express regret for any disruption it causes Romane and other colonies. Privately we exert pressure on large Alliance corporations to cease doing business with Romane-based interests.”
“You think she’ll fold?”
“No question. Within weeks I expect, if not sooner. Trade fuels Romane, and in its absence her high-minded