6
Saving the Nanomites
Lorin had been told not to activate her worldwide web of Loyalist cells until told to do so by the new Chancellor, but it was an order she could not obey. If Captain Lanzia were able to make contact with the nanomites she knew just warning them would not be enough. They would need help in relocating to safe havens where the TGA couldn’t murder them. This would necessitate activation of the cells she and her father had so carefully cultivated all over Tarizon. She pondered what the Chancellor would do to her when he found out she’d disobeyed his orders. Her GC beeped and she picked it up.
“S1 here.”
“R1 reporting.”
“Were you able to warn them?” Lorin asked.
“Affirmative. We’re in the process of relocating them to a safe location.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I was so worried you wouldn’t be able to communicate with them.”
“I’ve warned them and they’ve passed on the warning to all the other swarms, but they’ll need help relocating.”
“Yes. I know. I’m about to pass the word down to our cells.”
“Good. They’re scared and I promised them we’d protect them.”
“There’s just one problem,” Lorin said hesitantly.
“What?”
“The new Chancellor isn’t on board with using my father’s network yet.”
“You’re kidding?”
“He’s had twelve hours to consider it and has done nothing.”
“We don’t have time to wait!” Leek said angrily.
“I know. The nanomites will be dead by the time he gets around to doing anything.”
“But, if you disobey him they’ll kick you out of the government, if they don’t lock you up and try you for treason,” Leek said thoughtfully.
She sighed. “I know, but we must do something.”
“Let me activate the network. You can disavow any knowledge of it. I’ll just say it was an emergency and the Chancellor had told me to use the network if I ever needed it. They won’t dare challenge the Liberator, right?”
Lorin laughed. “You’re getting the hang of the political game, aren’t you?”
“Well. I’ve had a good teacher.”
“Okay. Where are you now?” she asked.
“At the Cathedral. His holiness has lent me his office.”
“Good. There are four global cell leaders you’ll need to contact. They will pass your information on down through the network.”
“Good. I’ll need the location of each farm so I can have them start looking for safe havens. As they find them they can report the location to me and we can coordinate transport. It’s going to be a monumental job relocating thousands of farms.”
“Is it safe for you to stay in Rhule? Now that you’ve relocated the swarms, they’ll be looking for you.”
“No. I can’t stay here. Tam and Red are coming to take us up in the mountains. We’re going to try to reorganize what’s left of the 3rd Army.”
“But how will you communicate with the nanomites from the mountains?”
“I’m going to take a hundred swarms with me to our headquarters. They’re going to help us construct a new 3rd Army headquarters.”
“Excellent. It may become the new Loyalist headquarters if Rigimol is taken.”
“Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
“What should I do now?” Lorin asked. “They may not believe that you had the contact information for the cell leaders. They may arrest me.”
“You’re right. You should come to the mountains too. Come right away, but don’t tell anyone that you’re leaving or where you’re going.”
“I’ve got my father’s funeral tomorrow.”
“Right. Leave right after the funeral.”
“But how will I get there?”
“Tell General Zitor to arrange it. Tell him I requested your assistance. I’ll contact him with a location to take you and then I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?”
“Yes. My father once told me that if you wanted something kept secret, don’t tell anyone about it.”
Lorin chuckled. “Smart man.”
“Yes, he is. So, I don’t dare let anyone know the location of our new headquarters. I trust General Zitor but I don’t want to put him in a position that might compromise him.”
“Okay. We better get started. Get a cable and plug it into the computer. I’ll send you the contact information along with the location of each of the farms. Do you have anyone to help you?”
“There’s an old man here who helped me with the relocation and I’m hoping Tam and Red will be here soon. Either way we’ll get it done.”
“Good. I’m sending the data now. Call me if there is anything else I can do.”
“Affirmative,” Leek said plugging in the cable and watching the printer come to life.
Lorin hung up and breathed a sign of relief. She was surprised but grateful that Captain Lanzia had agreed to activate her father’s cells. At every turn Peter Turner had shocked and amazed her. When they first met she was unimpressed by this teenager from Earth. He seemed so unlikely to be able to lead the Loyalist movement, but now she was convinced he was the one described in the Prophecy. She just had to make sure he got all the support he needed to pull it off.
There was a knock on the door. She got up and looked out through the peephole. It was General Zitor. She opened the door and let him in.
“Well, you’re not going to like this.”
“Why, what happened?”
“Chancellor Mammett has been told that nothing can be done to protect the nanomites. His military advisors have told him he needs to focus on defending Rigimol. Apparently in just a few days there is going to be a great battle on the Khor River. He’s been told if we lose that battle the war will be over.”
“I figured as much,” Lorin spat.
“They’ve also tabled activation of your cells. They want you to give them a complete list of all participants along with any information you have on them.”
“He’s crazy. If a list like that were to get in the wrong hands everyone on it could end up dead.”
“I agree. But you’ve been ordered to turn it over.”
“I can’t do it. I don’t have the list anymore. I destroyed it after I sent it to Captain Lanzia. He’s in process of activating the cells right now to get help in protecting the nanomites.”
“What! The Chancellor is going to be very angry about that.”
“I know, but he insisted I give it to him.”
The general smiled. “So, what will you do now?”
“Captain Lanzia wants me to join him. He’s trying to reorganize the 3rd Army. He’s going to contact you soon with a pickup point where you can take me.”
“A pickup point? Can’t you be taken directly to the base?”
“No. He doesn’t want anyone to know where the base is located. He thinks the TGA is monitoring our communications.”
It was a lie, but Lorin didn’t want General Zitor to think Captain Lanzia didn’t trust him. Her mind started to race thinking of all the things she needed to do before she left for Tributon. She had a strong base of support in the new Loyalist government. After all, she’d only lost the election to become the new Chancellor by a few votes. She didn’t want to lose what support she had, so she’d need someone to keep her supporters solidly behind her. She thought of Senator Marcuzzi. He’d been one of her father’s friends for many cycles and she trusted him implicitly.
“General, Senator Marcuzzi doesn’t think our new chancellor will be much of a match for Videl Lai.”
“He’s not the only one,” the general snorted.
“If he’s right, there may be an opportunity to bring a no-confidence vote. If that happens we’ll need to be ready.”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“So, I’d like you and Senator Mar
cuzzi to keep my supporters together while I’m gone. I’ll keep both of you fully informed as to what Captain Lanzia is doing and you can pass it on to those you can trust to keep it confidential.”
“That will be a bit dangerous but, you’re right, a most critical line of communication in case future opportunities materialize.”
“Good then. Will you talk to Senator Marcuzzi for me? I doubt I’ll be able to speak to him before I leave.”
“Yes, of course.”
She smiled, took a deep breath, and said, “Well then. I guess I better get packed. I’d like to leave right after the funeral. I think I’m safe until then.”
“True. I doubt the Chancellor would be so bold as to arrest you during your father’s funeral even if he finds out what you’ve done.”
“Thank you, General, for all your help. You’ve been a good friend.”
“It’s been my pleasure to know your father for so many cycles. I hope our relationship will be as long and as strong.”
“I’m sure it will. Good luck at Khor. May God and Sandee be with you!”
General Zitor left feeling relieved that Captain Lanzia was asserting himself and that he’d have the capable assistance of Lorin Boskie, but he was in a delicate position as General of the 2nd Loyalist Army. He had a duty and an oath of loyalty to the new Loyalist Chancellor, no matter how pathetic a leader he might turn out to be. If he failed to pass on any information he received about Captain Lanzia’s activities, it would be a breach of that duty and he could be held accountable. Of course, his army was loyal to him. That had been demonstrated when he opted to join with the Loyalist movement. His men had stood by him even though they were considered traitors by Central Authority and the TGA. But would they stand behind him if he were accused of treason by the new Loyalist government? That would be confusing to his officers and soldiers. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
The next morning thousands of mourners arrived at the Cingellic Cathedral located in northwest Shini. It was one of the largest and most ornate churches in Lemaine Shane. Lorin was still reeling from her father’s death, but her mind was too preoccupied with her imminent departure to Tributon, Jake’s whereabouts, and the nanomite situation to properly grieve. She felt so alone. Her mother had died when she was quite young and she had no siblings, grandparents, uncles, or nieces. Of course, she and her father had many friends, but they were not family. She wished the funeral were over so she could get on her way, but there was an endless line of mourners waiting to give their condolences and she could scarcely afford to be discourteous.
Lorin smiled at the man who stepped before her. They embraced. “Your father was a great man. It was a privilege to serve with him,” Councilor Shilline said. He was a member of the Council of Interpreters and served with her father for many cycles.
“Thank you,” Lorin said. “My father thought highly of you as well.” As he stepped aside, the next mourner came into view. It was Chancellor Mammett.
“Ah. . . . Chancellor. It was so nice of you to come,” she said nervously. “With the army about to engage the TGA, I didn’t expect you to make it.”
He stared at her for an awkward moment and then cleared his throat. “Well, I wanted to speak with you and I was afraid this might be my last chance.”
Lorin’s stomach twisted. She wondered if he could have already discovered her plans. She looked at the long line of mourners behind the Chancellor. “Well, Mr. Chancellor. I don’t think I’ll be done here for hours.”
“I don’t need but a minute of your time. I’ll be brief,” he said coldly.
“What’s on your mind, then?”
“I knew your father well. He was a stubborn man and once he got his mind set on something there was no stopping him. I see the same qualities in you, so I assume you’re going to try to get what you want whether I approve or not.”
A rush of anger welled up in Lorin, but she bit her tongue. “Are you accusing me of something, Chancellor?”
“Nothing yet, but I just wanted you to know I’ll be watching you closely and I will not tolerate anyone undermining my authority.”
“Don’t worry about me, Mr. Chancellor. I’d worry about Videl Lai and the TGA. They’re the ones with two million troops about to cross our borders.”
The Chancellor drew in a deep breath and was about to reply when an aide rushed up and whispered something into his ear. He glanced at her one last time and then rushed out of the hall with his aide. Lorin closed her eyes for a moment while she composed herself and then shook the next mourner’s hand. Quite a while later she saw General Zitor at the end of the line. When he finally got to her he told her it was time to leave.
“The TGA have crossed the Khor River. I’ve got to go to the front. You can come along and after my pilot drops me off he’ll take you to the rendevous point.”
She nodded. “Good. Let’s get out of here.”
General Zitor took her out a back entrance where a PTV was waiting. Soon they were on their way to the transport station. Lorin thought of Jake. She hadn’t heard from him for two days. That was unusual as they normally talked daily. He had gone to Rini to help out the 3rd Army which was short on pilots. She knew he had gotten there safely because they had talked by GC. But after the battle she hadn’t been able to reach him.
“You haven’t heard from Jake, have you?” she asked.
General Zitor frowned. “No. I’m sorry, Lorin. I’ve put out the word for everyone to keep an eye out for him, though.”
“Good. Thank you. Did any of the pilots from Rini make it back?”
“Some did, but they went right back out to help defend Rizi. It’s a good thing Jake wasn’t with them. They were ambushed before they got close to the battlefront. Only a handful made it back alive.”
“What about his E-box? If he’d crashed wouldn’t you be getting a message from it?”
“Yes, it could be emitting a signal, but unless someone is searching for him it wouldn’t matter. Right now we only have a handful of fighters and those must stay back to guard Shini. I’m afraid Jake’s on his own unless Captain Lanzia can put together a search party.”
“I plan on asking him to,” Lorin said softly. She wiped a tear from her eyes. “I hope he will.”
“Well, if anyone should sympathize with your situation, it should be Captain Lanzia. Has there been any word about Lucinda and the baby?”
“Nothing new. She’s being held at the Chancellor’s Mansion, so a rescue attempt is out of the question.”
“Right.”
“Did you get a chance to talk to Senator Marcuzzi?”
“Yes, he’s on board. Feel free to call either of us if you have news or need our consultation.”
Lorin felt the plane start to descend. She could see the anxiety on General Zitor’s face as he looked out over the countryside beneath them that would soon be the scene of unimaginable horrors. She was glad she’d be far away when it happened. The plane hit the ground hard and skidded to a stop. General Zitor stood up, grabbed his carry-on luggage, and nodded to Lorin.
“The pilot will take you to Gallion where you’re to rendevous with Captain Lanzia.”
“He’s going to personally pick me up?”
“Yes, all of his pilots are busy disrupting the TGA’s supply lines. Gallion is far enough away from tomorrow’s battleground that neither of you should be in danger.”
“I’ve haven’t been to Gallion since I was a child, so I don’t remember much about it. It’s a seaport, isn’t it?”
“Yes, there’s a big naval air station there too, but it should be quiet tomorrow with the battle going on in Tributon.”
“Good luck, General. My prayers will be with you.”
The general smiled and left the plane. After they’d refueled they took off again heading west over the Doral Mountains. Lorin couldn’t help but think of General Zitor’s comment that even if Jake’s E-box were broadcasting a signal nobody would pick it up because nobody was looking for him. She worried
that he might be lying injured somewhere hoping to be rescued before he bled to death. She knew if the TGA found him first they’d finish him off. She remembered how Leek had rescued her and General Zitor when their plane had been hijacked by one of Videl’s spies. He’d been able to find them by searching for the plane’s E-box transmission. Perhaps he’d do the same for Jake. She prayed she could convince him to try.