{"id":258,"date":"2012-10-07T00:00:35","date_gmt":"2012-10-07T04:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=258"},"modified":"2012-10-27T11:45:03","modified_gmt":"2012-10-27T15:45:03","slug":"chapter-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=258","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Forty"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

That was the day that everything started to change.<\/h3>\n

— Kara Grace-Forester, member of the Rose Council (5245-5250)<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

20 Novem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the sudden silence reigning over the Council\u2019s chambers, Adam Windsor\u2019s comm began to trill loudly, insistently.\u00a0 He shoved a hand into his pocket to retrieve it, keenly aware of how sharply all eyes had turned to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy apologies,\u201d he murmured as he fumbled out the comm., still half numb from Scarelli\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, Marshal Windsor,\u201d Sergei said, traces of irony in his voice, in his smile.\u00a0 \u201cI doubt one more interruption could disrupt our proceedings further than they\u2019ve already been disturbed.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019d think that,<\/em> Adam thought as he stared at his comm..\u00a0 Chase\u2019s code.<\/em>\u00a0 He stood up.\u00a0 \u201cPardon me for a moment.\u00a0 Matter of defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we under attack?\u201d\u00a0 Amelda asked as Adam made his way to the stone steps and then crossed toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Consul,\u201d Adam assured her as he shoulder the doors open.\u00a0 \u201cBut it\u2019s a matter of defense nonetheless.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was cool and quiet in the corridor.\u00a0 He let the doors thud closed behind him and wandered partway down the hall, his comm. Still trilling in his hand.<\/p>\n

He subvocalized a command and then spoke.\u00a0 \u201cWindsor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have twenty minutes to get me landing vectors,\u201d Alana said at the other end of the line.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re an hour out, but I need to adjust course for landing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll have them,\u201d Adam said, heart starting to beat a little faster.\u00a0 With Scarelli\u2019s announcement throwing down a proverbial gauntlet, the proof Operation: Quebec was carriny became that much more critical, that much more important.\u00a0 If they have what she said they have, D\u2019Arcy won\u2019t have a choice in the matter.\u00a0 He\u2019ll have to believe.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hell, the whole Commonwealth will have to believe.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>And the cycle would start all over again.<\/p>\n

He shivered.<\/p>\n

Gods and monsters, I hope not.\u00a0 The last thing the galaxy needs is another Frederick Rose.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe also need a medical team on standby on landing.\u00a0 Doctor V, if it can be done.\u201d\u00a0 She paused.\u00a0 Adam could hear Ezra Grace\u2019s voice in the background.\u00a0 \u201cCorrection,\u201d Alana said, voice dry.\u00a0 \u201cIf you can\u2019t get her, you\u2019re going to have to debrief Ezra en route to his clinic because Brendan needs work as soon as we land.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s heart froze for a moment and he found himself swallowing against the sudden sickness that bubbled up in his throat.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s that bad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice got quiet, as if she didn\u2019t want Ezra to overhear.\u00a0 \u201cBad enough, Marshal.\u00a0 He stabbed his implant and then piloted us through a nasty storm on extraction from Anduril.\u00a0 Collapsed after that.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Ezra\u2019s sure what\u2019s actually going on or how serious everything really is.\u00a0 I really don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

He frowned, suddenly aware that he was pacing up and down the corridor.\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d he said, \u201cI guess we don\u2019t have a choice.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have to make sure he\u2019s got Vilenauva if he needs her and keep his debrief as short as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe really didn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014see anything?\u00a0 Except that he saw the Whispers die, same as you did.\u201d\u00a0 Adam shook his head, though Alana couldn\u2019t see it.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll need to talk to him.\u00a0 I have to get off the comm.\u00a0 I\u2019m wasting time.\u00a0 You need those vectors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u00a0 As soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019ll get them as soon as I have them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, sir.\u00a0 Chase out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comm. Went dead.\u00a0 For all his talk of haste, Adam stood there for a long moment, staring at nothing.<\/p>\n

He was already dreading telling Lindsay the news.<\/p>\n

We have to get them out of this meeting.\u00a0 Me, the other Marshals, Linny-pie, Rachel\u2026<\/em>\u00a0 He exhaled quietly, rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.<\/p>\n

Easier said than done.\u00a0 What kind of excuse am I going to come up with this time?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matter of defense?\u00a0 D\u2019Arcy will want to know what\u2019s going on.\u00a0 They all will.<\/em>\u00a0 He smiled grimly.\u00a0 Need to know.\u00a0 And you don\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n

He turned and walked back inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cForgive me,\u201d he said as he strode through the doors and onto the Council floor.\u00a0 \u201cBut I\u2019m afraid that the situation at hand is a touch more complex than I\u2019m able to handle without the input of my fellow Marshals.\u00a0 With the Speaker\u2019s permission, might we suspend this meeting and reconvene at a later time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs everything all right?\u201d\u00a0 Jensen Moore asked, head tilted slightly to one side.<\/p>\n

Damn, but the man actually sounds concerned.\u00a0 I wonder if it\u2019s because it could be his own safety at stake or if he\u2019s genuinely concerned by what\u2019s going on.<\/em>\u00a0 Adam nodded.\u00a0 \u201cEverything\u2019s fine, it\u2019s just a logistical situation that requires more input than simply my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sergei cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cSince this meeting has already been disrupted twice after turning into a complete fiasco, I see no reason why we shouldn\u2019t adjourn and reconvene tomorrow.\u00a0 Is the Council agreeable?\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the council was, in fact, agreeable, but D\u2019Arcy Morgause had the temerity to stand up.\u00a0 \u201cWe weren\u2019t done with our presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, in fact, you were,\u201d Sergei said quietly, all the while shooting the spymaster a look that could melt steel.\u00a0 \u201cWe may resume our discussion of whatever incident might have taken place beyond the boundaries of this system that had a major impact on the stability of the Commonwealth and the homosphere as a whole at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n

D\u2019Arcy turned a cold glare toward Adam, who smothered a smirk before it could bloom.<\/p>\n

I made an enemy today\u2014or made a man who was already my enemy even more so.<\/em><\/p>\n

He found he really didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

He beckoned to Lindsay even as he headed back toward Daci and Aidan.\u00a0 He leaned across the curved table toward them, voice low.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan nodded and stood from his seat, coming down the steps toward the floor.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll secure a landing zone and advise you as soon as I\u2019ve got the location.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake it close to Dr. Grace\u2019s clinic if you can,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n

A hand fell on his shoulder and he turned, expecting Rachel until he realized that he could sense her on the other side of the room, with Lindsay.<\/p>\n

Kara Grace-Forester stood behind him, her expression caught somewhere between stern and grim.\u00a0 \u201cMarshal,\u201d she said quietly, \u201cis my brother alive?\u201d<\/p>\n

His mouth went dry, but he nodded.\u00a0 Bloody hell.\u00a0 I should have known she\u2019d pick up on something like this.\u00a0 But how?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIs he in one piece?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded again.\u00a0 \u201cHe is, to the best of my knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kara nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u00a0 Will he be after he lands?\u201d<\/p>\n

He almost choked on a laugh that tried to bubble up in his throat.\u00a0 At the table next to Daci, he heard Frederick do just that.\u00a0 \u201cI certainly hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell Marshal Church that he can set a perimeter at Halo Ridge.\u00a0 The field should still be in okay shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam arched a brow at her.\u00a0 \u201cHalo Ridge?\u201d\u00a0 I didn\u2019t realize Zephaniah kept a landing field up at the old house.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Kara shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cDad liked it when Mom could just land by the house instead of going somewhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded and glanced at Daci.\u00a0 \u201cCould you get on the horn and tell Aidan?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as you promise me explanations for other things<\/em> later,\u201d Daci said, giving him a look that promised the discussion they were going to have about Frederick\u2019s presence at the meeting wasn\u2019t going to be a pleasant one at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn my honor,\u201d Adam said, then turned away again, back toward Kara.\u00a0 \u201cI imagine you and Gabriel will be meeting him up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll send Gabe up to unlock everything,\u201d Kara said.\u00a0 \u201cEzra can get started with whatever he\u2019s got to do at the big house.\u00a0 We ought to have enough for him to work with up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds like it\u2019ll work,\u201d Adam said, then frowned to himself.\u00a0 \u201cCould you do something for me on your way up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDepends on what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRound up Vilenauva and bring her and her kit up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kara arched a brow and Adam shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll explain when we meet you.\u00a0 Get going before folks start wondering what the hell we\u2019re talking about.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Daci and Frederick.\u00a0 \u201cThe two of you come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daci just shook her head as she came around the table to join him, already getting on the comm.\u00a0 \u201cYou realize we\u2019re going to have that long talk in the skimmer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam said, suddenly feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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