Star Swords Medical Center
New Belfast
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
23 June 3055
“Any luck?” asked Lisa as Dr. Jefferson finished putting the cast on her arm. Several hours had passed since her encounter with O’Malley and his goons. Joshua had just entered the infirmary after spending his time coordinating the search.
Joshua shook his head, the sad look on his face telling more than his gesture. “He can’t get off the planet. I’ve sealed every spaceport until he’s found.”
“That can’t be making you very popular with the civilian population.” said Jefferson, a tone of warning in his voice.
“What does that matter?” snarled Lisa. “My son is gone. I don’t know where he is and I’m scared to death.”
“We both are.” Said Joshua, taking Lisa in hand. “We’ll find him. O’Malley won’t hurt him, of that I’m convinced.”
“No, he was after his brother’s heir. That’s why he went to all the trouble of coming here.”
“Not to change the subject, but Kommandant Laidir is recovering nicely.” Said Jefferson.
“I’d almost forgotten about Gwen.” Said Joshua.
“She would have fought to stop him, if he hadn’t gunned her down.” Said Lisa with a feeling of gratitude.
“I know.” Said Joshua softly.
The intercom signaled and Jefferson answered it. “General, it’s for you. It’s Hauptmann Smith.”
“What is it, Ryan?”
“Reporting in. No luck finding O’Malley. If you want my guess, he’s going to hole up until we lift the launch ban.”
“You’re probably right. What do you recommend?”
“Declare martial law in MacLeod City and have us search the whole damn city.”
“It’s a city of 3 million people. That would take forever. I can’t justify that level of action. Not even for this.”
“I understand. There’s another option.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“There’s only two spaceports on planet. Dublin and here. Keep Dublin closed and open MacLeod City. We can screen anyone trying to leave the planet via one spaceport.”
“Good idea. Before you open the spaceport though, I want every dropship on that tarmac swept. If their captains complain, shoot them.”
“Understood. Smith out.” Said Ryan quickly. Joshua wondered for a moment if he’d been serious about the “shoot them” part, and if Ryan had taken him so.
Star Swords Command Center
New Belfast
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
25 June 3055
Two days of searching and screening with no luck. O’Malley had covered his tracks well and Joshua and Lisa were on the verge of giving up.
The day of Daniel abduction was a day of mourning throughout the Federated Commonwealth, as the grieving nation laid Melissa Steiner to rest. With the two day delay in transmission between New Belfast and Tharkad, the funeral was just now being televised in MacLeod City.
Watching a funeral was hardly something that would have lifted Joshua’s spirits at that point. “Victor’s not there.” said Joshua with a worried tone. “What the hell were you thinking, Victor? Some glorified Clan pirate is not worth missing the funeral of your mother.”
Gwen entered Joshua’s office, her arm in a sling. “No word, but you already know that.”
“We know where he’s going.” Said Joshua.
“We do. Back home. To Northwind.”
“Then you and Lisa have two tasks now. Find my son.”
“You’re sending us both?”
“I am.”
“This arrived for you from ComStar. It’s urgent. More word from Victor.”
Joshua turned off the funeral and played the message. “Hello, Joshua.” Said Prince Victor. “I’m transmitting this from the zenith point at Donegal. I’m en-route now to Tharkad. I intend to only be there briefly to pay my respects. The rebellion known as the Conspiracy will not stand for much longer and this message is a follow up to the orders I sent you a few days ago. I wanted to fill you in further as to our plans. Aside from your four mech battalions, I plan to bring my 10th Lyran Guard and the Kurita Genyosha. With Lord Takashi dead to a bomb similar to the one that claimed my mother, their honor demanded nothing less.”
“Kurita units on-world will complicate Bairn’s plan to keep the Highlanders out of the fight.” Said Joshua aloud.
“In addition, I would like the Dark Rangers as well. They’ve been contracted and will be arriving on New Belfast shortly. I intend to have a command circuit between New Belfast and our staging area on Errai established by the second week of July. I trust you will be ready to depart by then. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pull off what I’m calling Operation: Guillotine and bring the war to and end. Victor out.”
Star Swords Command Center
New Belfast
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
26 June 3055
Joshua finished watching Logan's response to Victor's summons. It would take the Rangers only two weeks to pack up and get to New Belfast. He had also received word that a Star Lord class jumpship had materialized at the Nadir point of New Belfast's sun. Victor was putting all his pieces into place.
Lisa was leaning against the bookshelf beside the vidplayer. She had the same sad look she'd had for the last three days. A rapid knock came at the door. "Enter!" barked Joshua.
Gwen came in. “It’s soon time.”
Lisa nodded. “I know.” She looked at Gwen’s sling. “Boy, aren’t we a sorry lot?”
Gwen nodded, noting Lisa’s own bandages. “Indeed.”
“It’s at least a month journey to Northwind via the route we’ve set up.” Said Joshua. “Your convalescence can continue en route.”
“So, it’s come to this then. We track him back to his lair.”
“We know that’s where he’s gone. I don’t know how he got off world, but certain that he has. But Northwind is his destination, of that there can be no doubt.”
Lisa reached up to put in her renkesu ring. She had stopped wearing it a long time ago, and the piercing had healed over. But she had redone it for the mission. “So Justice must re-emerge to take back what belongs to Lisa.”
Joshua nodded. “Bring back our son.”
“This time I finish what I wanted to do before as Justice.” Said Lisa. “O’Malley will not stop us, because I'm going to kill him."
“Daniel is priority.” emphasized Joshua. “This is not about revenge.”
“You’re right. It isn’t.” Said Lisa grimly. “But he’ll try again. O’Malley will try again and again if we don’t bury him for good this time. Just like Pryde, he’ll keep coming back. Daniel will never be safe as long as Richard O’Malley lives. None of us will.”
“She’s right.” Said Gwen. “You know this, Joshua. O’Malley must die.”
Joshua nodded. “So be it.”
"Alright, when do we leave?" Asked Lisa.
“Tonight.”
Jumpship Schwartzmeister
Location Unknown
26 June 3055
Agent Antoine Anderson walked onto the bridge of the jumpship, magnetic boots holding him securely to the floor in the zero-G. The petite female figure in the center of the bridge did not turn when he entered, but he knew who it was.
“Duchess, to what do I owe this honor? Last I could tell, you were on Tharkad at the funeral.”
The Duchess turned, slowly only because of her own magnetic boots. “I was, but command circuit managed to get me here only slightly behind news transmissions of the ceremony. You’re an important part of the plan, Agent Anderson. It wouldn’t do to lose you now.”
“O’Malley escaped.” Reported Anderson.
“His personal vendetta with the Star Swords is no concern of mine.” Said the Duchess. “Phase One of the plan is coming to a close and Richard O’Malley is proving a dangerous liability.”
“But a useful one. The abduction of the Messer boy will certainly bring a demand from General Messer to join the fight, if Victor hasn’t ordered them aboard already.”
“As I said, his personal matters are of no concern. What is of concern is the simple fact that O’Malley knows too much. His inquisitiveness has allowed him access to the later phases of the plan. He is not meant to know these things. That makes him dangerous.”
“That might explain why he struck at New Belfast now. He knows his days are numbered.” Antoine paused. “Give the boy to his father and his family before it’s too late.”
“Perhaps.”
“It still serves our purposes, Duchess. Messer will kill O’Malley and clean up our mess for us. Just as Victor will eliminate the others not involved with Phase Two.”
“True. If my plan is to succeed, I must ensure that the Conspiracy remains totally devoted to me alone, and not to my puppet. By getting Prince Victor to do the job for me, it keeps my role in this secret. If I sent one of you to do it, DMI and LIC would immediately suspect another hand at work. If phase two is to succeed, I must remain undiscovered by the enemy.”
“When is phase two to begin then?”
“I do not know yet. Victor’s action may clean house for me, but it will throw the organization into chaos. It will be a short time before I can contain that chaos. But Victor doesn’t suspect a thing. He doesn’t know just how deep this Conspiracy truly goes. And by the time he does, his throne will be mine.”
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