“No Revenant or Coalition institutions?”
“No significant change from previous years,” replied Myller.
“Do you have any idea where those transfers are coming from?”
“We can’t link them absolutely, but according to immigration figures, there’s been a significant increase in immigrants from Denaria, Kylera, Islyn, Drakka, and Constantia. The absolute numbers aren’t that large, of course.”
Van understood that. Only the truly affluent could afford interstellar transport, when personal passage for a single individual generally ran the equivalent of the average worker’s annual income—and that didn’t include the inbound bond that most systems required for immigrants. “And what would you do if you were one of those affluent immigrants?”
“I’d use those credits to buy whatever I thought would be a producing asset. If you buy annuities or pure financial instruments, the returns will be down. Probably, I’d go for those with a higher ROI.”
Van nodded. “You don’t really need me here for that. You know what to do.”
“In economic and investment strategy, that’s probably true. But Korvel’s never seen this kind of credit inflow.”
“It will probably create social changes,” Van hazarded. “I’d guess that local crime will increase, in some areas, anyway. Borderline businesses will stay afloat longer than they would otherwise. Government social programs will be increased for as long as five years, and then tax revenues will drop off. There will be political unrest when that happens. I couldn’t say that for sure, but I’d look at the formulator sectors that would be most affected in one way or another…”
Van and Myller talked for another hour, before spending the rest of the afternoon laying out a more detailed strategy outline and a series of progress reports that Myller would send to IIS Cambria.
When Van left Korvel on the magshuttle back up to orbit control, he just hoped he’d caught everything and that he’d pointed Myller and the Korvelian IIS office in the right direction. He also needed to check out the systems that had been the source of the immigrants and, presumably, the flow of funds. Since he had planned to go to Islyn in any case, he’d also look to see what might be causing a fund outflow. He had the feeling that either he’d have trouble pinpointing the problem or that it would be so obvious that he’d almost wish he hadn’t found out.
Chapter 52
Van checked the coordinates with the Islyn system comparator once he had the Joyau headed in-system. He had improved considerably at getting the ship closer to the edge of destination systems. That was a technique that hadn’t mattered as much with a warship, but did much more with the Joyau, since jump exits closer to the system reduced both costs and transit times.
Inbound, he sat in the command seat and called up the records on the IIS office on Islyn. Principal clients were AdVer, the local and second-line creative advertising multi; MT, a microtronics formulator; and Xcil, the energy generation and distribution system on the second most populous continent. The local office also had developed a good dozen smaller clients. There was nothing to suggest trouble in the IIS client and operating files. That didn’t mean trouble hadn’t developed, only that it hadn’t been visible before.
Van had an idea that the problem was Revenant-based. After he’d finished with Sherren Myller and returned to the Joyau, he’d checked over the systems she had mentioned. Like Islyn, Denaria, Kyleria, and Constantia were all systems reachable by relatively short direct jumps from either Colsiti or Riks—both Revenant systems. But until he got to Islyn, that was just speculation.
Next came the files on Islyn, files far better than the RSF data files. Trystin either knew, or had ways of finding out, matters that the RSF didn’t suspect. Or that they didn’t want their commanders to know, which was also likely.
Islyn system, single inhabited planet [Sandurst]. Tellurian type. 1.03 gee. Stand-atmos. pressure at SL, 1.2 T; O2 content .18; four continents…
Space defense system is rudimentary…three corvettes [equiv. Coalition Moore class] and four in-system patrollers…one orbit control station and one out-system base…
Political system—unified multiparty proportional representation in a unicameral assembly [Quorum] without staggered terms…
Cultural—polyglot agglutination, no strong religious or political dominance in colonization and early development, planet originally discovered and used as Tellurian-style base for long-line observations of Nebula 6AXV-2001, neutron star/black hole interactions, space-time dimensional twists…later colonization by Prime-One group…colonizer failed…Hyndji emergency support, in return for colonization by Dzin dissidents…
Although Van wasn’t the political expert Trystin was, Van could already see the structural problems with the Islyn system.
…domestic unrest resulted in Wars of Assimilation [1040–1093 S.E.]…final political restructuring under Rehmad Dersai and Islyn First [IF] party. Principal opposition Social Equality [SE] party. IF has maintained an open trade and tech-transfer policy, resulting in competing efforts by the Hyndji Commonality, the Revenants, and the Argentis…IF has recently exhibited a stronger preference for Revenant-compatible technology and systems in government procurement…
Van continued to study the information on Islyn, periodically checking the net, the EDIs, and the far-screen monitors—which showed no ships except for the Islyn defense forces and two commercial vessels in stand-down off Sandurst, presumably locked in at orbit control.
When he could study no more, he left Eri in the cockpit, set the alarms, and tried to take a nap. He was restless, and somehow, before long, he was back in the cockpit, but not the same cockpit.
Van glanced toward the older commander as Baile reached forward, his index finger poised over the large red jump button.
“Don’t!” Van exclaimed.
“It’s perfectly normal.” For a moment Baile’s face was that of a far younger officer—fair, blond, and oh-so-infallible.
Van opened his mouth to explain that the jump wasn’t normal. Instead, Baile looked away and depressed the jump button.
“No!” Van exclaimed—too late.
Black became white, and white black—and then brilliant red, pain red, swirled through the cockpit, sheer agonizing pain.
Van jolted upright in his bunk. Sweat poured down
