[In hushed tones.]
“Look. I need you to trust me. I'll represent us in the meeting. You need to be on hand in case the revolutionaries try anything.”
“I've been in this from the beginning. You can't shut me out of my own movement, Alethea.”
“I'm not trying to. We need representatives outside. If people do anything to destabilise the city, you can step in and be the hero. Give us some credibility. The meeting's just for show anyway. This Council isn't intending to give us anything.”
“Okay. Alright. Are you sure there isn't something I should know?”
“Just. A feeling.”
“Okay.”
-A recording from a bugged room in the meeting halls of the Short List in 678PE.
-
[VERITAS]: Virtuoso come in. I am seeking redemption. Repeat, I am seeking Redemption.
[VIRTUOSO]: Shit Veritas- yeah, we're here- we're here- did you get the location of you know, the Thing?
[VERITAS]: Confirmed. I've got the location, yeah. I've got the coordinates. Is the virus ready?
[VIRTUOSO]: Yeah, we are ready and rearing to go. Just point us in the right direction.
[VERITAS]: Good; sooner we get rid of the better.
[VIRTUOSO]: And the sooner we can return in a haze of glory and reputation and all that. Sending coordinates now?
[VERITAS]: I'm not sure this line is secure, if I'm honest. Weird activity. I'll radio back.
[The line clicks dead.]
-Extract from encrypted EIS files dated 678PE.
-
“The New Elysian Intelligence Service was founded in 681PE by the newly established Parliament, and was run by Verity Krure, who is widely regarded as being the brightest technological mind of her generation. Her dedication to ridding the Civil Service of corruption is believed by most historians to be the primary reason the Institution survived the take over in 678PE. With the NEIS, she was responsible for the imprisonment of hundreds of corrupt officials across the Empire, on charges on blackmail, bribery, extortion, fraud, and numerous other so called 'white collar' crimes.”
Extract from 'Government and Politics', Chapter 7: The Reform of the Civil Service.
-
“Despite reports of her death, Lorelei Wildner was reported to be seen giving a speech at the site of the riot. The individual in question has since been brought in and identified by victims of the b-Exagora incident as not the original Wildner. The riot was disbanded quickly and those responsible brought in for questioning. Most gave nonsensical interviews, citing 'the monstrous will' as their reasoning. Recommend psychological evaluation.
“It is likely that the group responsible for the riots are still active but have gone to ground temporarily. We are sweeping the city for further disturbances.”
NEIS report on a border world incident.
Alethea sits at her desk, radio set up. Aanya was in touch with Alethea a few days ago; since the obviously fixed election and Harper's mission to Elysiun to destroy the factory that produced the planet-killer, now is the perfect time for an assassination.
“The time is here,” Aanya says. “The Council have been falsely elected and everyone knows that. The reformists aren't being listened to, and they're going to take more reactionary measures over the next few months.”
Imogen nods shortly, “We need to assassinate the Council.”
Harper's eyes widen. “Finally. Okay so I have been working on this plan for like years; so we get the poison, we get fake IDs right-”
Alethea interjects, “I was thinking something different. The assassination of the Council needs to be absolutely separated from the Reformist Movement, or we'll lose all credibility. The political climate at the moment… Well they'll blame us and they'll be even more reactionary as a result.”
“You're right,” Aanya agrees slowly.
“Right. So… What if instead of sneaking in and doing it all quietly, we push for a meeting between the Reformist group and the Council, and you… Blow it up.”
There is nothing but radio silence for a few seconds afterwards.
Harper is first to speak. “So like… we'll be blowing up our allies? I'm not so sure-”
Alethea cuts in, “No, no, this is the thing, I can plant people. I'll use it to fake my own death and a few others in the movement will work with me. An explosion's perfect because no one will expect there to be bodies.”
“Alethea's right. This way we ensure which way the reaction swings,” Aanya says.
“It'll be higher risk.” Imogen glances at Aanya.
The corner of Aanya's lip quirks up. “You're not adverse to danger,” she comments.
“Imogen is right, my way we all slip away before anyone notices anything's wrong.” Harper worries at their lower lip.
“This way's no different!” Alethea argues. “You come in as cleaners, plant the bomb, and leave.”
“Alright. The place will be swept before the meeting.” Imogen starts to roll out plans of the Council building and takes out a pencil. “Between us though,”
“We should be able to make something undetectable,” Aanya finishes.
Harper mutters something about a room under their breath and then leans forward to look over the plans. “Okay so we're doing this.”
-
They set the plan. Alethea arranges it with a few trusted Reformists willing to lose their identity, and most importantly, she keeps Nicholas out of it. She helps Imogen, Aanya, and Harper get places amongst the staff serving the Council chambers. And Aanya radios her to tell her when the trap is set and she makes her own plans to sneak out just after the thing does off.
Alethea radios the instant she's out the room and the sound that follows is planet shattering. She's blown down by the force; she needed to be out of the room but not long enough for anyone to know she was out. In the chaos, she performs a quick change and slips out of there.
In just a few hours Alethea hears the announcements. A list of names, every Council member, a few of her friends who went their separate ways, and finally,
“Alethea Rucker is also reported to be dead….”
Now. Time to get to get a new identity.