Whereas the Republic of Tara and its affiliated and associated systems and possessions have been attacked in the most heinous of fashions, and whereas this attack was made possible through funding channeled through financial channels and procedures….
Van shook his head. Hadn’t anyone asked how restricting outbound funds had any impact on the inbound transfer of credits for such terrorist activities? Or how restricting financial flows would strengthen the economy? Or what the costs and impacts would be on Taran businesses and citizens?
He did try a search for some sort of summary, but that came up blank. Every way he worded the search referred him back to the regulations themselves. There were so many pages that he hadn’t had time to assimilate even a fraction of the regulations by the time he had to eat and get ready for his meeting. Should he have asked for a later meeting? He didn’t like that option, either, because the longer he stayed on Korkenny, the more likely the RSF would discover his presence. They might not, and they might not care, but Van didn’t really want to risk it.
At the same time, he had to wonder why Trystin had suggested the visits. The older director never suggested anything without a purpose. Trystin clearly wanted him to discover something on his own, and Van doubted it was just that IIS was losing cash flow from the Republic. He just didn’t know what it might be.
At nine-fifty, he stepped from the groundcar-hire and into the lobby of the AmalGS building on the north side of the financial district of Watford.
“Ser?” asked the receptionist at the console—flanked by an armed guard.
Van turned. “Yes?”
The receptionist stammered. “Ah…do you have an appointment?”
“I’m Senior Director Van Albert of IIS. I believe I have a ten o’clock appointment with Director Addams.”
“One moment, ser.”
Van waited.
“Ah, yes, ser. The fifth floor.”
Van took the liftshaft and stepped off on the fifth floor, only to meet another receptionist. “Van Albert.”
“Yes, ser. He’s expecting you in the conference room. That’s the open door there.”
Conference room? That was definitely not good, but Van stepped into the small conference room. Two men were waiting.
“Managing Director Addams.” Van inclined his head, not knowing who was Addams.
“Ah…yes, Director Albert. I had hoped that perhaps Director Desoll might have come.” The heavyset man in a black singlesuit with narrow maroon pinstripes smiled professionally.
“He sent me. We do have a number of planetary operations.”
“Yes…so we understand.” Addams turned to the other man in the conference room, an angular figure in dark green. “Director Albert…I’d like you to meet the Honorable Earl Roberts, the newly appointed sub-minister of economic security for Tara.”
The Honorable Earl Roberts smiled, warmly. His voice was soft, just short of sibilant, as he spoke. “A slight correction. I am the Republic sub-minister of economic security for Korkenny.”
“There is a sub-minister of economic security for each Republic planet?”
“Each system.”
“Why don’t we sit down,” suggested Addams. “Would you like tea or café?”
“No, thank you. Not at the moment.” Van surveyed the two again before turning to Roberts. “There is a new Ministry of Economic Security? When was that established?”
“Shortly after Marshal Eamon became acting prime minister, after the assassination of Prime Minister O’Kane. The emergency cabinet enacted it in order to prevent financial dislocation.”
“I must admit,” Van said, turning back to Addams, “that I’m somewhat confused. Under Republic law, a takeover requires advance notice of at least three months to all stockholders at their main place of business. Neither DIS nor AmalGS provided such notice as required by law. IIS is a principal stockholder, and its main offices received no notice, and now a government ministry is involved in ratifying such a takeover. This seems irregular.”
“Irregular times often require unconventional actions,” Roberts interjected. “You certainly do not have to convince me that the Economic Security Act was unconventional, but the assassination of the government was even more unconventional. Ideally, one would like to follow the old and well-established patterns. That is not always possible in a time of crisis, and this certainly is a time of crisis.”
“It would seem, only from what I have seen,” Van said carefully, “that however inadvertently it may have happened, this act amounts to a repudiation of long-standing rights and principles.”
“Director, you don’t have to convince me,” Roberts replied sympathetically. “I understand. I certainly do. Whether I understand is not the question, however. At times, actions are taken in the best of causes which later prove to have been unwise, and at other times, actions which seemed most unwise and unpopular when taken prove to be far wiser. And when something so tragic happens, someone must be to blame, and something must be done.” Roberts shrugged. “That is most unfortunate, but it is human nature. You understand that, I’m certain.”
“I’m still a bit bewildered, Sub-minister,” Van replied. “IIS engineered the revitalization and strengthening of AmalGS from a continental multi on the verge of bankruptcy to an economic power. I find it hard to see how an outside takeover strengthens either AmalGS or the Republic.”
“Ah, yes,” Roberts said softly, almost hissing. “Here, too, we have a problem. As you know, as you must know, representing as you do, a Coalition multilateral—pardon me, a Coalition foundation, all systems in the Arm are facing a threat from Revenant expansion, and that expansion is both economic and military. As a system with a unique culture and contribution to the Arm, we cannot afford to allow ourselves to be weakened.”
“I do understand that,” Van replied politely, “but I fear that I may have missed something that is obvious to you, but not so apparent from studying the accounts. AmalGS is in a strong financial and economic position
