The Coalition forces, with assistance from the spinward Argenti fleets under General Marti, had defeated the Revenant fleets and destroyed most of the ships. A joint Argenti-Coalition task force was administering the Coalition “protectorate” over the former Revenant systems.
All that, Van could understand and accept, if reluctantly. What he had trouble accepting was the joint Coalition-Argenti decision to allow the Republic of Tara, scarcely a Republic any longer, to complete its annexation of the defenseless Keltyr systems.
“Thank you,” Laren replied.
“What I don’t quite understand is why the Coalition forces allowed the Republic to annex all the Keltyr worlds.”
Laren glanced from Van to Nynca, then to Joe Sasaki, before responding. “Everything collapsed so suddenly. We were left with all the Revenant systems, and no one wanted them to rebuild in the same mold. That meant resources being spent on governing the central Revenant systems—for years to come. The Republic fleets were drawn up in good order and suggested the compromise. No one wanted to fight another series of battles, and the Argentis didn’t want the Coalition annexing the Keltyr systems, and we didn’t want the Argentis expanding there. Then there was the power vacuum problem…”
“That’s the problem that, before the Revenant defeat, neither the Republic nor the Keltyr were strong enough by themselves?”
Laren nodded.
“So some genius on the Coalition general staff decided that allowing the Republic to consolidate all the Keltyr systems would keep them occupied and build up a counterforce to the Argentis.” Van snorted. “And the Argentis agreed to it for the same reason—to keep the Coalition from becoming too strong.”
“Essentially, yes.”
“Idiots. Didn’t they see that the Republic is just a smaller version of the Revenants, except with even less ethics, and without a religious foundation?”
“I thought you didn’t care for the Revenants’ religious base,” said Joe Sasaki, his voice expressing puzzlement.
“I don’t,” Van replied. “Neither did Trystin. But, believe it or not, some systems can be even worse.” And the Republic was headed that way.
“No one else wanted to get involved,” added Laren. “Not in a major way. The Hyndjis reasserted their claims to some independent systems like Beldora and Goilhen. The Argentis did the same spinward. We did with the areas near Keshmara.”
Van nodded slowly. “We can’t change what the space forces did. Not immediately, and not directly, in any case. So we’ll have to change our focus. We’ll start with reestablishing or strengthening our offices in the newly independent systems that have been taken over by the Hyndjis or the Argentis—or by the Coalition. Once our ships are operable. That shouldn’t upset anyone in the Coalition, should it?” He looked to Nynca.
“No.”
“No,” replied Laren.
“I don’t think so,” said Sasaki.
“When will the Joyau be ready?” Van looked to Joe Sasaki.
“Not long after you will be. The External Commerce Subcommittee of the Assembly has asked that you testify on the activities of IIS two weeks from tomorrow.”
“About what?”
Sasaki shrugged. “The invitation is general. I think they want some assurance that you will remain as closely linked to the Coalition as Trystin was.”
“I don’t exactly have a choice. I’m persona non grata in the Republic. I might even be on an assassination list.”
“I wouldn’t mention that.”
“I don’t intend to.” Van looked around the room. “What else?”
“Do you want to commission a replacement vessel for the Elsin?” asked Joe.
“Yes. But we probably can’t handle that kind of credit drain immediately.” Especially not with major repairs needed for both the Joyau and the Salya, neither of which was capable of an interstellar jumpshift until Aerolis finished a great deal more work—and IIS paid a significant amount of credits. “We also don’t have anyone to command it. I can’t learn what I don’t know about Trystin’s job and find that person at the same time.”
“We could offer a commission, with construction beginning in a year,” suggested Joe.
“How long will it take to build the ship?”
“Three years…could be four.”
“How about a commission, with a modest deposit, for Aerolis to begin construction sometime between a year and eighteen months from now?”
“We could do that.”
“Then we should.” Van was acting on instinct, but with the unsettled state of the Arm, he had the feeling that he and Nynca would be hard-pressed before long.
“We’ll also need to change the credit arrangements for a number of offices, the ones in systems affected by the protectorate and settlement terms…”
A good hour passed before the meeting ended and Van returned to his office with Nynca.
Once there, she looked at Van. “You didn’t mention an assassination list before.”
“Trystin suggested I go back and look into the background of the Republic. I did.” Van went on to explain most of what he had found, including the Revenant-like coup and the transfer of command to the “dead” Commander Baile.
“No wonder you weren’t pleased with the Coalition decision. What do you think we should do?”
“For the moment, I’ll have to treat the Republic in the same way Trystin treated the Revenants. I’m certain they know I’m connected to IIS, and that would put anyone we sent there in danger. We’ll just have to manage the offices left in the Republic through communications and intermediaries—if we can. The way the Republic is trying to confiscate outside assets, it’s not a place where I’d recommend doing much business. Or trying. Not until matters settle, if they do, and until we’ve cleaned up the other messes.” Van looked at Nynca. “You’re the director of planning. What do you think?”
“You’re right. We’ll need to scope out a more detailed strategy before you testify.”
Van had almost forgotten about that. He wondered how many more duties he had that Trystin had handled. Nynca and Joe would make sure he knew. Of that, he was certain.
And…he still couldn’t help but worry about his family. But for the moment, and for at least weeks to come, there was little more that he could do. He had no ships, and commercial travel to Tara and Sulyn had been suspended—at least from the Coalition. Even if he had tried a roundabout
