Chapter 9

"I'm positive it was him."

James Howell leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. Underneath a furrowed brow, his eyes darted to Maya. "Look, we're all a bit frazzled by the tempo shift of the past few days." He pivoted in his chair to face Caitrin. "Did you see his face?"

Caitrin shifted uneasily on her feet, exchanging a quick glance with Maya. Her roommate's eyes longed for confirmation. Caitrin scratched the back of her neck. "I didn't get a very good look from where I was, Sir." Maya let out the slightest sign, almost undetectable, and Caitrin closed her eyes. "But I do not doubt Maya's claim."

Howell raised an eyebrow. "Even though you were there, you can't confirm it?"

The medium-sized anteroom reserved for the Head of Security was quiet for a few drawn-out seconds before Howell stood and walked over to a table covered with a variety of alcoholic drinks, ranging from simple ale to the really hard stuff. He grabbed a small glass and began examining his choices, reading the labels in an untrained manner. "So what would you suggest we do, Barros?"

Maya opened her hands. "We have to do something, Sir. Anything. Call off the meeting, schedule it for another time or place, it doesn't matter. Yunker has something planned, and if we don't find out what this is, a lot of innocent people could get hurt."

"Or the Ambassador could be in danger," Caitrin offered.

Howell finally came to a small flask and wafted a quick sniff. He shrugged and filled his glass an eighth full. He swirled the dark liquid around and raised his glass. "Those are valid points, but I'm afraid diplomatic immunity is an unsavory beast." He took a quick sip and coughed through the swallow. He clutched the edge of the table and set the glass down.

"Are you okay, Sir?" Caitrin asked, eyeing him carefully. Now that Caitrin thought about it, she had never seen this sort of body language from her commander. He was all fragile and disconnected.

He coughed several more times, cleared his throat, and straightened up. "I'm fine." Howell shook his head. "There's little to do, anyway. The meeting is in the heart of the Palace, free from any prying eyes or even the Press. We're going to need everyone we have available to safeguard our . . . assets." He took a smaller sip from his glass and only coughed once.

Maya snorted. "Isn't it a little early to start drinking, Sir?"

Howell glanced at his wristwatch and shrugged. "Forty years is much too late, in my opinion." He scratched the red hair around his left ear and collapsed back in the chair he had previously vacated. He set his glass on the flattened right arm of the chair and leaned forward. "Look, I don't trust Yunker or Thorin, but my job is to keep them from harm and keep my people safe." He sighed and lowered his head, revealing a bald spot that was usually hidden underneath his cap. "If either one of them is planning something felonious tomorrow, then we'll just have to keep a close eye on them."

"What if that's not enough?" Maya murmured.

He looked up with weariness in his eyes. "Then safeguard what you can."

Both women left their commanding officer to his further examinations of alcohol and managed to distract themselves with an early lunch. They wandered the halls of the Palace for a while till the warmth of the local, overhead star, Sigur, beckoned them outside. But their dark mood seemed to follow them, as gray clouds quickly formed to block the sunlight.

Caitrin sat on the steps of the Central Garden fountain and picked at some loose stone fragments in a crack. It was midday and most of the Guest Wing's occupants were eating in the dining hall inside. Caitrin looked up from her fidgeting and noticed only a handful of people spread out on benches in the wide-open area. None seemed to be paying Caitrin or Maya any attention, allowing a certain level of privacy for the roommates. The overcast sky looked as if it would start raining any second, but Caitrin knew it would hold off for a few hours. After all, you could set your watch to the weather here.

Maya flicked another coin into the multi-tiered fountain and sighed. "I can't stand it, Taryn."

Caitrin turned her torso around, eliciting a crack from a few lumbar. "The waiting or our predicament?"

"Yeah." Maya pocketed the remaining coins and lowered herself next to Caitrin. "We don't know what Yunker is planning, but we know when."

"Well, let's go through some options." Caitrin started ticking points off on her fingers. "Yunker was speaking with a member of the Loyalists."

Maya nodded. "That we are sure of."

"Second, Thorin's relative most likely wants another shot at the Admin," she said. "And we know Thorin and Yunker have a knack for disruption."

"You've got that right," Maya muttered, then shook her head. "But Howell's right; the meeting is taking place at a secure location, so what can the Loyalists actually do?"

Caitrin sighed. "I don't know." She returned to the cracked surface of the steps, prodding another pebble loose. "The most they could do is what, protest?"

"I guess so, but it seems like there's something big going to happen."

"Like a riot?"

Maya nodded. "That would sway in the Ambassador's favor. Any sign of instability would benefit his arguments." She stood and started pacing back and forth on the lowest step. "Taryn, I just want to get this over with and go home."

"Well, either the political talks are successful or we convince Captain Abbott we need to leave."

"That will be nothing short of a miracle on both accounts."

Caitrin rolled the gray pebble in her hand. "But we still have our duties to the STSD, so aside from snooping around in our off-time, we have little we could do."

Maya stopped her pacing and gave Caitrin a predatory smile. "What kind of snooping do you have in mind?"

She abruptly stood and walked down to stand with Maya, seeing if anyone was within earshot. She leaned in slightly, conspiratorially. "Maya, we are on thin ice as it is. We were lucky Howell didn't reprimand us for venturing out into the city last night."

Maya pulled her head back, a frown forming on her face. "If it wasn't for us, we wouldn't even know Yunker's plan."

"But that's just it. We don't know his plan."

"So we do nothing?"

"We--" Caitrin sighed and felt a knot beginning to form in her neck. Every point they brought up ended in the same circular pattern that led to a stalemate. "We just have to be ready for anything."

Maya hissed through her teeth. "Yeah, we'll have to watch Yunker the entire time."

Caitrin nodded slowly. "We don't have much of a choice."

The next day was a whirlwind of activity. Caitrin had woken up early to go running in the cool morning mist and returned to find Maya still asleep. They both got ready, donning on their uniforms, and regrouped with Howell and the other security officers in the Palace Dining Hall.

"We have reason to believe there might be some trouble that will stir up over this meeting," Howell informed. He had cleaned himself up well, looking every bit the poster image of a Skyline Transport Security Detail officer. "Being under the jurisdiction of Milanó, this will be a joint operation with the Andvarians. You have your assignments, so get to it."

The group began to dissolve, and some officers mumbled to each other about his duties or lack there of. Caitrin closed the distance to Howell, who was speaking with a Palace Security officer in low tones. He glanced up and nodded to her. "Sir, is there a reason the meeting has been switched to the Central Garden?"

The Andvarian's chin came up and answered for Howell. "It was deemed prudent by the People's Representatives to show the world that Administrator Mahlon welcomes alternative views." He gave a tight-lipped smile. "The journalists are also allowed to be present."

Caitrin's mouth hung open. "And they didn't think of the security risks involved?"

Howell quickly stepped between them and grabbed Caitrin's elbow. "The Ambassador has agreed to these terms, Officer Collin. I suggest you keep your comments to yourself." His brow furrowed and he gave the most abbreviated shake of his head, telling Caitrin to drop the issue.

Howell may not like the situation any more than I may, but he has to follow orders. She sighed. Yes, Sir." Caitrin saluted and turned on her left heel to head out of the dining hall. She caught sight of Maya leaning against the stone wall of the main corridor with her arms folded across her chest. Caitrin raised her hands and shook her head.

Maya frowned. "Howell didn't tell you why the meeting location was changed?"

"That Andvarian said the Senate declared the meeting 'open to scrutiny', in a way." She took a spot next to Maya along the wall. "Howell did say Thorin is going along with it."

Maya's expression deepened. "What's your assignment? Cause mine is monitoring the journalists after Palace Security is done screening them. I'll stay close enough to monitor the Ambassador."

Caitrin shrugged. "Actually, I'm kind of surprised. I'll be shadowing Yunker."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She looked over Caitrin's shoulder then leaned in to whisper. "You make sure he doesn't try anything funny."

She gave a week smile. "I'll do my best."

"Good." Maya squeezed Caitrin's right arm. "You be careful."

"You too." Caitrin paused for a moment, sensing Maya was holding something back, but her roommate merely nodded once and moved past her. As Caitrin watched Maya leave, she frowned. Is she hiding something from me? She felt someone's eyes on her and she quickly spun around. Standing in the doorway of the dining hall, Caitrin caught Kinnison in a half-turn. Fed up with the apprehension she held towards the ex-marine, she marched up to him.

He was a quick study. He stiffened and got the first word in. "Officer Collin, how are you?"

Caitrin pointed a finger at him, but kept her voice quiet. "Don't be coy with me, Kinnison. I saw you staring at us."

He nodded and kept his features totally passive. "I heard you two were the ones to tip off Howell of the impending trouble at the meeting."

She narrowed her eyes. "How did you hear about that?"

He shrugged mechanically. "People talk; I tend to keep my ears open." He held up a hand to forestall a comment from Caitrin. "Look, I, for one, believe you. I don't like what Yunker pulled back on Emissary anymore than you. He's got enough suspiciousness about him that the orbital platforms could pick him up on radar."

"Yeah," Caitrin said. "I'll be his personal shield today."

He raised his eyebrows a centimeter, if that. "That's fitting." Kinnison sighed. "I've been assigned to reinforce the Palace barrier at the main entrance. Should be loads of fun."

"I'd keep my eye on any Loyalists in the crowd."

"Thanks." He clicked his heels and left.

She watched him leave, noting his precision-like amble contrasting with her feeling of anxiety. Caitrin shivered at the weariness that washed over her. Just make it through today, then you can start worrying about something else. She shrugged at her own thoughts. There's always something to worry about.

Neil Yunker looked unequivocally calm as Caitrin escorted him from his private chambers that was placed next to Thorin's. Their footsteps echoed off the tiled floor as they walked alone without exchanging a single word. The silence didn't last long. Slowly, the thrum of the gathered media crowd rose to replace the thumping of boots as they neared the garden.

Yunker looked over to Caitrin and smiled. "Showtime." He picked up his pace and raised his hands to greet the media frenzy. He stopped a meter short of the roped off area the Press was situated behind. A knot of camera operators and finely-groom anchors wielding recording comms and security badges turned their attention to the Ambassador's aide. Yunker lowered his hands and pointed to one female journalist. "Yes, you."

"Does the Colonial Administration Authority have any chance of reaching a compromise with Administrator Mahlon?" the blond woman asked.

Caitrin panned the crowd, searching for anything out of the ordinary. She frowned when nothing stood out. Being a Military Police Officer most of her adult life had taught her a few things about crowd control, but with the heightened awareness needed to spot a suspicious Loyalist, she found the quick scan unfruitful.

"Ambassador Thorin is aware of the strength Andvarians have, and he admires it. The CAA is looking forward to working with the Sigur System once again." He bowed his head and started walking towards the assembled desks and podium. He waved away more questions from the journalist and started conversing with some lavishly dressed local official.

Probably a Mayor or something. Caitrin remained at Yunker's side, eyeing him and those he greeted with a cautious gaze. Whatever Yunker had planned she still had to keep him from harm. As much as I'd rather seem him tossed down a drainage ditch, I don't want him dead.

"Neil Yunker, aide to Ambassador Herod Thorin," Yunker said, shaking the hand of the politician.

The older man, whose sunken features reminded Caitrin of a cadaver, smiled. "Delighted. I am Governor Randolph Alizie of the State of Jannis." He motioned with his free hand to encompass the crowd. "Quite the reverse of the meeting that was planned, wouldn't you say?"

Yunker patted his left hand over their embraced right hands. "I assure you, it is for the best. Transparency in any government is welcomed by the people, is it not?"

Alizie's eyes brightened, and Caitrin could finally see some life flood into the Governor's face. "Oh yes, of course. Pleasure to meet you."

"And you."

Caitrin followed Yunker around as he dispensed with his pleasantries for another 15 minutes. She did get sight of Maya, but her roommate was too busy with crowd control to acknowledge Caitrin's presence. If anything, Maya looked flustered beyond her normal range.

Once finding his seat, Caitrin stood behind Yunker who was placed at the end of the small CAA table. He poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher and took a long drink. The day's weather was turning out to be quite pleasant, but anyone swathed in the layers of ceremonial garb that Yunker and the other politicians wore would have been a little cooked, for certain.

The Ambassador's arrival into the garden was nothing short of the pomp and circumstance Caitrin had expected. An announcement was made and people began to clap even before he was visible. As Thorin walked in waving and smiling, the multiple flashpanels briefly illuminated his face in a white light, making him look like a ghost during the strobe effect. He graciously, if not artificially, took his seat at the head of the table, and the two STSD security guards that flanked him during his entrance took a similar parade-rest stance to Caitrin's left. Thorin and Yunker exchanged words briefly then stood up when a fanfare blared over the sound system.

The large double doors of the main portico parted and Naomi Mahlon exited in the most extravagant of entrances yet. She wore a deep red gown, almost crimson, complete with a head covering that reminded Caitrin of the type true nobility would wear. Mahlon wore her long hair down, accentuating her slender frame. Her smile, while not showing any teeth, brought a cheer from the two large tables designated for the Regional Governors and the People's Representatives. A half dozen individuals escorted her, ranging from security to aides and ensigns.

Caitrin tore her eyes away from the Administrator to focus on the Andvarian politicians. Almost all wore a grin that stretch from ear to ear, a certain pride brimming over to match their ovation. But a handful of Representatives were standing with their arms folded in mute protest. She cataloged that fact away for further use when she would need it.

Mahlon slowly made her way to the large, wooden podium, and offered handshakes and bows to all in her route. Caitrin had to take several steps back when the Administrator walked past, greeting Thorin like they had never met before. More cameras flashed and the applause subsided with the lowering of Mahlon's hands. On both sides of the dais, the government members took their seats.

"Citizens of Andvari, I offer you a chance to see the transparency you and your families have longed for. We are . . . "

Caitrin immediately began to tune her out as she again searched the faces of those gathered for any signs of overt discontent. Those same Representatives who didn't clap for Mahlon sat with their cheerless expressions, but they didn't seem fuming. I wonder if their constituents feel the same way. A click over the comm brought her hand up to adjust the volume of her earpiece. She bent her head down slightly at an angle. "Collin, here."

"Taryn? It's me, Maya. See anything yet?"

She frowned and looked over Yunker's head to spot Maya at the corner of the roped off Press area. Maya was doing her best to be discreet, but with the crowd hanging on every word the Administrator spoke, it didn't look good for the security team to be chatting away. "No," she whispered. "Maya we can't talk now." The STSD guard beside her cleared his throat in disgust. Caitrin sighed. "We'll talk later." She clicked off her comm and straightened back up.

Across the way, Maya's shoulders slumped in defeat. She nodded slowly, a sign of accommodation.

Caitrin wanted to apologize, but she was no doubt in some camera's frame. The last thing she needed was to be reprimanded for talking openly while the politicians had the floor. Lost in her thoughts once again, she started to hear a distant roar. Puzzled, she strained her ears. It sounded like muffled static or a distorted recording of water rushing over a brook. It became so loud Mahlon halted her speech and looked up as if expecting the answer to her unspoken question to fall from the sky.

The comm clicked. "This is Kinnison. We have a situation here."

Howell's voice came back, sounding tiny but clear in Caitrin's ear. "Report."

Kinnison's reply was lost in a wash of static.

Yunker rose from his chair and placed a hand on Thorin's shoulder. "I'll go speak with the crowd to calm them down." The Ambassador frowned for a moment then nodded. Yunker turned to Caitrin and motioned for her to lead the way. "Shall we?" he asked with suspicious calm.

Caitrin shook her head adamantly, but the cold stare Yunker gave her told her this was not a request. She worked her jaw for a few seconds. "Yes, Mr. Yunker."

As they marched out towards the Palace's main entrance, Howell continued to try and reach Kinnison on the comm. "Kinnison, please respond."

She picked up her pace and was pleased to see Yunker stayed with her. A few extra guards from the STSD and Palace Security ran past with concerned looks on their faces. She exited the main corridor and stepped into the large foyer that connected with half a dozen hallways and rooms, along with the main entrance. The huge front doors were open to reveal the source of the noise.

Several hundred, if not a thousand, Andvarians crowded the Palace driveway with even more spilling out into the front lawn. Most were shouting "Loyalist" and holding signs that were pro-UNSC, but there was also a faction protesting the protesters. Those individuals looked much the same, but held their attention on the anti-Andvari government protesters. None were wearing the white robes she was expecting. Caitrin caught Kinnison shoving back some eager middle-age woman with his shockstick unpowered. The guard with the UNSC tattoos on his neck appeared calm, despite holding the crowd at bay, but Caitrin saw worry in his eyes when Kinnison looked back to the relief he so desperately needed.

He motioned with his head for her to look up, and Caitrin did. Someone, most likely an independent broadcast company, had chosen to erect a giant two-dimensional screen right on the western lawn, projecting the meeting in real-time. At the moment, the only thing on the screen was the Andvari government crest: A three-headed avian with two pairs of wings and four legs, each leg grasping a different object, surrounded by a circle of stars.

Kinnison cleared his throat. "Something must be jamming us," he told Caitrin.

Behind her, Caitrin felt Yunker step up and rest a hand on her shoulder. He moved to stand beside her in the doorway and raised his hands. She swore under her breath and tried to press him back, but he held his ground. "People of Andvari," he bellowed, "I ask for calm."

Remarkably, the crowd, at least those siding with the Loyalist, began to cheer for Yunker. A new chant began resounding through the chaos. "Thorin! Thorin!" they yelled in one accord.

Caitrin turned around to speak loudly into Yunker's left ear. "This is not a good idea. We need to get you back inside to someplace safe."

Yunker's face soured, and anger seeped into his words. "You don't understand these people." He raised his head, a smile returning to his face. "I do," he said to Caitrin out of the side of his grin.

More Palace security guards streamed out from the foyer to reinforce the human barrier, finally freeing Kinnison from fending for ground. He walked backwards towards Caitrin, all the while keeping his eye on the mob. "Something's wrong here," he commented to her. "Very wrong."

The scene in the alleyway flashed before Caitrin's eyes. 'Rest assured we will be prepared to act when you give the signal.' Caitrin tensed and grabbed Kinnison's arm. "We need to get him out of here, now."

Kinnison nodded and both of them turned around to escort Yunker back inside.

However when the Ambassador's aide lowered his hands, the crowd noise diminished to a low hum. "Rest assured, Ambassador Thorin will see this through to the end." He slowly nodded twice.

A lone voice shouted from the crowd, "Freedom for Andvari! Freedom from oppression!"

Spinning her head around, Caitrin saw the young, rebellious-looking youth reel back his arm with an unknown object in his hand. "Look out!" Caitrin shouted.

But it was too late. The stone crossed the distance to the back of Kinnison's head in half a second, striking him just behind the right ear. The stone smashed his comm unit and the ex-marine fell to the ground. He staggered to support his weight, clutching his bleeding skull.

"No! You must not do this!" Yunker cried.

From elsewhere in the mass of people, another rock took flight, this time coming straight for Caitrin. She ducked just in time to avoid being hit, and grabbed a handful of Yunker's tunic. "Go, go!" she ordered over the swelling roar of the crowd.

Without question, Yunker dove through the row of Palace security that lined the doorway, soiling his pristine robes on the entryway mats. Shielding her head with her hands, Caitrin followed, landing beside him on the floor. She pushed him aside, and he backpedaled into the safety of the stone walls. "Stay there!" she told him.

Caitrin hunched over and went back outside to find Kinnison. He was crawling on the ground, weaving a path to her between the baton-waving guards' legs. His eyes were defocused and blood dripped from his chin. She took his hand. "C'mon!"

He nodded absently, and held on through the maze. He groped for balance, but found nothing to help support his weight. Caitrin reached around his shoulder and hauled him to his feet, smearing blood on her uniform. She somehow managed to get to the doorway and lower him to the ground beside Yunker without further incident.

She risked a quick look back outside and was taken aback at what she saw. The crowd was no longer shouting towards the Palace, but at each other. Fist flew and punches landed. Still more stones flew through the air to strike at the security team, but the darkly uniformed Palace guards activated a type of riot shield Caitrin had never seen before. A soft pink glow flashed to life in an oval shape that covered them from head to toe. They fanned out with shocksticks humming, ready to quell those unlucky enough to get in the way. Those protesters closest to the main entrance collapsed in a heap when the voltage from the shocksticks hit them. The rest of the crowd got the message and began dispersing, stumbling over one another. No longer where the two groups fighting each other, but both were looking to avoid a beating or a painful stun.

A sound like ice falling off branches surpassed the roar of the mob, and Caitrin ducked back inside to see a window high up in the foyer shatter from a barrage of stones. The glass rained down off to her right, a good dozen meters from where Kinnison and Yunker lay, but larger pieces struck the ground and ricocheted up at odd angles. Caitrin spun around to avoid the shards but felt the sharp stings on her legs and back. Fortunately for Kinnison and Yunker, her body shielded both men that were sprawled out on the foyer floor.

She cringed and cursed through the pain. Her legs gave out and she fell onto the floormat before a dazed Kinnison. She closed her eyes and yelled.

"Hold on, Collin!"

Caitrin blinked back newly formed tears and looked up to see James Howell's face. More windows shattered as he pulled both Caitrin and Kinnison up to a hobbling march to safety. Caitrin felt the pain pulsing from her legs and lower back, but she was able to grit her teeth through the half-walk.

Howell finally lower her to the ground inside the main corridor where trauma teams ran to examine the injured. They took Caitrin by the arms, carefully supporting her weight, and rested her on a gurney.

Lying on her side with her eyes closed, an old adage Morcant used to say came to Caitrin's mind: "War is long moments of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror." She internally snorted. If that isn't the story of the past weeks, I don't know what is.

As if confirming her thoughts, the sound and vibrations of a distant explosion reached her and rattled Caitrin to the core. I doubt there will be "long moments of boredom" anymore.