“Might I ask why, and how long this might be expected to continue?”
Yoriki shrugged tiredly. “The Revs smashed the local culture, then sent in waves of their most fervent believers. They’re still a minority, but they control all the local institutions. We aren’t about to risk Coalition forces. So we’ll just keep the place isolated until they adopt the political changes the Coalition requires. We’ve also grounded all air transport until that happens.” Her smile was simultaneously wry and cold.
“What political changes?”
“The restoration of the open representative democracy, the abolition of required polygamy…the physical destruction of all reeducation centers…and the return of all commercial establishments to their original owners or heirs. In addition, any religion must permit open access to all buildings and establishments.”
“I take it that these changes are being resisted.”
“You might say that.”
“I’m certainly not opposing your requirements and actions, and neither is IIS. In fact, I would think that IIS could be of great assistance—”
“I understand that. I’m very sorry, Director Albert. The Service knows how much you and IIS have done to support us, and you’ve been most supportive of the Coalition, but you must understand that if we broke the embargo for you…” Yoriki shrugged.
“I understand. I appreciate your explanation.” Van paused. “Is this the policy for most of the systems recently annexed by the Revenants?”
“We’re taking it on a case-by-case basis. If there’s a change, a real change, we’re just monitoring. But on the older planets, this is pretty much standard. They just don’t get it.”
And they probably won’t for a long time, Van reflected. “Thank you. I do appreciate the explanation.”
“My pleasure, ser. And thank you for all you’ve done.”
The holo projection blanked.
Van leaned back in the chair. After a time, he searched to see if the station had access to planetside comm channels. Since it did, he began to scan them, seeking out the media news outlets and stories.
…joint enforcement effort of the Argenti-Coalition forces again refused to lift the ban on air transport anywhere on Angslan. High Bishop Truman yesterday denounced the ban as genocidal and inhumane, citing the death of fifteen-year-old Elton Christensen as an example. Christensen died before ground transportation could reach him and take him to the trauma center in Ingelar…
…In his capacity as minister of public health, Bishop Hansen offered statistics showing that over five hundred people have died needlessly as a result of the embargo…
…the first president of the Angslan Quorum rallied his congregation in Susseks…part of his speech…excerpted and broadcast continentwide…“What did we ever do? We have worshipped God in our own way. We have taken care of the sick…and all we have ever required is that those who partake of the goods God has provided follow his commandments and give him thanks and share that bounty with others. Is that so much to ask, for we owe all to God…”
Van thought about the reeducation centers on Samarra, and presumably those on Angslan. Somehow he had trouble with a culture that believed in destroying the lives of people who didn’t agree with a given theological view. But was the Republic any different? The true “beliefs” of the Republic were more political; but the means were the same, if directed so far more at individuals than at whole planetary populations.
He called up another news story. He’d record and study what he could, but, from what he had already seen, it would be a long, long time before there would be an IIS office on Angslan.
Chapter 87
Once out of jump, and on the outskirts of the Islyn system, Van headed the Joyau in-system before checking the coordinates with the system comparator. He’d gotten almost as close as possible.
“Short trip in,” he said to Alya.
“That would be nice.”
“For a change, you mean?” Van teased.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You thought it,” he countered.
On the inbound trip, Van reviewed the records of the principal clients, as well as the recent revenue transfers. Camryn Rezi had done exactly as he promised. Now the question was how to handle someone who had had the majority share of ownership of the planetary office. It would have been easier to let matters alone, but he either had to ratify the arrangement, obtain a modification, or pull IIS out. He couldn’t just let the problem sit. Letting things fester just made them worse. He was seeing that firsthand with the Revenant problem.
As the Joyau continued in-system, he kept checking the net, the EDIs, and the far-screen monitors—which showed a Hyndji ship, and one Argenti battle cruiser, in addition to the handful of Islyn Defense Forces ships—three corvettes and two frigates. As he took in the Argenti battle cruiser, he smiled. The good general Marti had wasted no time in sending a reminder to the Islyn Quorum that Revenant power had waned in the Arm.
When he could study no more, he left Alya in the cockpit, set the alarms, and tried to take a nap, hoping he would sleep soundly. He was getting quite the repertoire of nightmares, what with those about the Regneri or the Fergus—more infrequently—and the newest two.
He was tired enough that he woke abruptly with the alarm. Unidentified object…
He shook himself and walked to the cockpit, more to clear his head.
“It’s just debris, I think, ser,” Alya offered.
Van settled into the command couch, checking the monitors, and altering course slightly to give a wider berth to the asteroid ahead, before studying the EDI and the system plot. The only out-system ships remained the Argenti battle cruiser and the Hyndji ship.
Then he leaned back and called up the recommendations prepared by Laren’s staff once more. He hoped Camryn Rezi was still as cooperative as before—and would be interested.
Hours later, as the Joyau neared the approach to Sandurst, he squared himself in the command couch and began the contact with orbit control. Sandurst orbit control, Coalition ship Joyau, requesting approach
