He was getting the impression that it was going to take all the time he had and more to get a feel for Islyn, as well as the feeling that he wasn’t going to like what he found. But he went back to his scanning.
SE Whip Dies in Groundcar Malfunction…
Thousands Flee Cairen Volcano…
Guard Mobilized for Cairen…
Christos Revivos vies with Revealed…
Van called up that one, but it was a short article noting that among deists the two fastest growing religions were the Community of the Revealed and Christos Revivos. Van stiffened at the last line: “…overall, the percentage of deists on Islyn has increased from 29% to 55% over the past five years, with only a moderate slowing in growth…”
Why, suddenly, was there an increase in old-style religion? The uncertainty of the times? Its simplistic appeal? Van couldn’t say he knew. Finally, he went back to scanning headlines.
Miniature Steeds Woo Crowds…
Sermons Exempt from Anti-Hate Laws…
That one was predictable, and depressing.
“Deep Ocean Catch Down…
“Santorinae Nova No Threat…
Van went through almost a hundred headlines before another one caught his eye.
“IF Praises Equalization Act…
What was the equalization act? Van kept searching until he came to a paragraph that made some sense.
…rationale for the Economic Equalization Act. Out-system multilaterals have come to control all the major avenues of commerce on Sandurst, skimming off profits and weakening Islyn. By requiring local divestiture, the Quorum has returned control of our economic destiny to our own people…
But what was local divestiture? He was afraid he had a good idea, and keyed in a search on the Equalization Act. There were twenty stories about the act—and not a single one said more than what he’d already found. The IF supported it, and the SE opposed it, and there was a great debate on what the effect would be, whether it would isolate Islyn or whether it would revitalize the planetary economy, but there wasn’t a single story that explained the terms of the act.
Feeling short on time, Van abandoned the Equalization Act and pressed on through the headlines and associated stories. Normally, he would have gone to the local IIS office, where he would have received a meaningful synopsis and analyses, but the Islyn office had been open less than ten years. The last report was over a year old—and that indicated none of the problems that were appearing in the more recent media reports.
“Commander?” Eri appeared in the stateroom doorway.
Van checked the time. Had three hours already passed? “Is Director Rezi here?”
“He is at the lock. He keeps looking over his shoulder.”
Van pulsed the lock open even before he left the stateroom.
Rezi was still looking at the lock when Van stood there on the ship side.
“Director Rezi…I’m sorry. I was tied up in some research, and the time got away from me. Do come aboard.”
Rezi looked at Van, as if comparing his presence to a mental image, then smiled. “I am certain you are busy, and I appreciate your making time for me.”
“That’s what we’re here for.” Van stepped back and let Rezi board the Joyau, immediately closing the ship lock behind the Islyn. “We’ll have to use my stateroom. We don’t have a conference room per se.”
Rezi glanced toward the cockpit, then toward Eri, who had donned a holstered stunner, Van noted. “You are like…Director Desoll? Your own pilot?”
“That’s correct. All senior directors are.” Van motioned for Rezi to enter the stateroom.
“You were a Coalition officer?”
“No. I was a Taran RSF commodore. Please sit down.” Van took the console chair, facing Rezi in the anchored easy chair.
“I assume your ship is screened, Director Van?”
“Very tightly. Are things that bad?”
“Not yet, but they will be.”
“Why? How?”
“I apologize, Director Van. I do apologize.” Rezi produced two datacards from the narrow pack at his belt, half-standing to lean forward and set them on the flat space beside the console. “The first card has the authorizations and the transaction codes. I’ve transferred all IIS assets and arranged for all retainers, so long as possible, to be paid to and routed through the Bank of Raipur. That’s because the IF is about to push through a freeze on all funds transfers out of Islyn through Coalition or Argenti institutions. They already prohibited transfers from institutions associated with non-major systems—”
“Only Hyndji and Revenant institutions will be able to make those transfers?”
“That is correct.”
Van nodded. “And what about candidates for your position? That was a blind?”
“Exactly. Under the Economic Equalization Act, the majority interests of all out-system enterprises will have to be sold to Islynan citizens by the end of the calendar year. The local employees or directors automatically assume control of such entities unless other arrangements are made by that time. I arranged to purchase fifty-five percent of the local IIS office, rather than assuming control, because that way I can transfer funds for that purchase, and I can still rebate a proportionate share of earnings after expenses. The IF will not allow that to continue for too long, a year, two at the most.” Rezi shrugged. “I am only returning what is yours, and I will send the retainers and royalties as I can for as long as I can. That is the best that I can do. You will be able to verify that.”
“Who’s behind this? Really?” Van snapped out the question, hoping to catch Rezi off-guard enough to get a subvocalized response.
Revenants “The IF Party. They have spent five years working to pass the Equalization Act. I believe they are receiving funds and technical support from several Revenant multilaterals. You know AdVer; it has been an IIS client. They have served notice that they are severing the agreement with IIS because they have been purchased, and the new ownership feels that such an arrangement will no longer be beneficial.”
“The new ownership?”
“KLS. It is a Revenant multilateral headquartered in Braha.”
“What about MT?”
“Nothing so far.
