Chapter 19
"President Zhukov, please let me extend New Thundera and Third Earth's sympathies to you and the entire Russian nation. The doctors are doing all they can to save President Kostoff," Lea spoke to the former Vice President. In the wake of Kostoff being unable to attend his duties, the Vice President had been promoted. Now Zhukov, Lea, and a select few were inside the Lair's main conference room.
"I thank you Princess and your people. King Lion-O also conveyed his concern when I spoke to him and President Mwende. It seems that not only are my people in debt to New Thundera and Third Earth but so is all of Mars. So let us return the favor. How may we be of assistance?" Zhukov wanted to know.
"Using the intel passed on from the Evil Chasers and from Deputy Director Pozdnyakov, we believe that it was an inside job. Have you or President Kostoff received death threats lately? Is there someone stirring up political trouble?" Lea asked.
"There is always political trouble in Russia but as of late we believe there is a man, Vladimir Rodchenko, who is trying to run for the Presidency with less than honorable intentions. You see the general election is but six months away and though Kostoff has been leading the polls, some of his major supporters have been receiving threats. My guess is that the people responsible for the earthquake machines are also behind these threats. Alexei informed me that they had found Doctor Rostov's apartment trashed before we left Mars and no one has yet been able to find the scientist. We fear that he never made it off of Mars," Zhukov sighed.
"So this Rodchenko could be behind this? Anyone know where he is?" Lea pressed.
"Oh we know where he is but any move against him will look more like a political one than a criminal one. He is well connected in Russian society," the current President shook his head.
"Good thing the Evil Chasers are on their way then. Mandora will get what we need out of him. Now that only addresses the problem of who is probably behind this. It doesn't mop up the edges so to speak," the lioness told him.
"The Evil Chasers are coming? Mop up the edges?" Zhukov gave her a nervous look.
"Mandora has jurisdiction as the related crimes have crossed interplanetary boundaries. Now as for mopping up the edges, we still need to find the people inside President Kostoff's security detail that aided in his assault and kidnapping. I'm thinking that they have some connection to the men arrested on Mars with the earthquake machines," she said.
"You're probably right. I have Deputy Director Pozdnyakov working on it along with your ThunderGuard investigation team," he replied.
"Excellent. Now how much do you know about this spat between your country and China? How does Rodchenko fit into it?" The Princess inquired.
"Rodchenko is well connected as I said. There are quite a few business men who do not like being held by their shorts by the Chinese government. What they fail to realize is that we as a country do not have enough people with technical degrees and training to aid in the manufacture of the necessary technology for the items in question and we don't have access to the material needed to produce them either. Japan would offer a fair price if the President before Kostoff hadn't insulted the Japanese President. Needless to say, things were tenuous at best before that and now they are nonexistent. Still that does not mean that there will be people who will sit idly by while we pay extravagant prices," he explained.
"Hasn't Kostoff tried to negotiate with China?" Lea wondered.
"He was trying right up until the attempt on President Chang's life," Zhukov admitted. Lea heaved a sigh when a call buzzed into the room. She picked up the phone closest to her and answered it. Soon after she thanked the caller on the other end and then said,
"I am truly sorry gentlemen. President Kostoff is dead."
To Be Continued…