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.”
15
INCALCULABLE DEBT
Exactly twelve weeks after she had addressed the citizens of Mars Colonial following the disastrous Rations Storage fire, the Secretary General stood once more upon a dais in the Crystal Pavilion overlooking thousands.
A hush had settled upon the crowd as soon as Mei Lo approached the podium. Looking about, Jessamyn saw repeated upon foreheads the three blue markings she’d seen when she’d arrived home. Crusty had explained them to her: the blue tear shapes were a gesture of mourning for the three lost raiders.
“Tears’re mighty precious on our world,” Crusty had remarked in approval.
Jessamyn noticed Mei Lo’s forehead remained clear of the marks of mourning. Jess hoped this was a sign that the Secretary did not regard the Mars Raiders as gone beyond recall. Any doubts as to the strength of the Secretary’s hopes were cleared away during her remarks at the podium.
“Citizens of Mars Colonial, my friends and my inspiration, I come before you today not to bury our brave lost Mars Raiders. Rather, I stand here today in order to speak in their praise, to share with you today a few of my own memories and observations of these three