"Mule…"
Summary: My AU version of the Asimov tale from his collection of Foundation and Second Foundation tales.
Even as civil war threatens the mighty but flawed Foundation, the Galaxy's greatest power since the Fall of the great Galactic Empire, its road to eventual triumph as the reuniting force in the Galaxy yet (supposedly) guaranteed by the quasi-mystical Seldon Plan, a mysterious warlord of a new and rapidly rising power is maneuvering to seize domination of the Galaxy in defiance of Seldon.
Part IV…
"Hanis Marti, Previa Prime, Dookol City, on business." Captain Pritcher offered his id disk to the Kalganian customs officer.
"Just a minute. We've had orders to intensify reviews due to the war situation." The officer noted.
"Sure." Nod. "I'd heard Calthonia was taken."
"They agreed to join the Union, not much trouble there." The officer shrugged, eyeing his compad. "The Foundation may be a bit tougher."
"The Foundation?" Pritcher gave a brief whistle. "That's a tough nut. Are those bastards not happy with your spreading out a bit?"
"They decided to show our Sovereign disrespect." Frown. "But they may find Kalgan a tougher nut than some of the systems they've walked over."
"About time those folks got a poke in the nose." Pritcher nodded, with grin.
"Ok, your id's clear." The officer looked up. "I see you're offering some high tech, you might want to head over to Military Procurement, on Rampos Five Boulevard, the tall white stone building. You'll be very popular, especially right now."
"Thanks." Pritcher beamed, nodding as he scooped up his disk and replaced it on his tunic. "I appreciate it. I'll do that soon as I check in to my hotel."
He stepped on a platform which moved quickly along the hallway of the Custom and Trade Center, several holograms popping up as his platform moved, two urging the citizens of Kalgan to stand firm against the arrogant Foundation, another offering general news, yet another rather blandly offering a weather report and urging visitors to enjoy the splendid offerings of Kalgan's many scenic locations.
Certainly not a people in shock or panic at the news of facing a foe ten or more times larger.
Hmmn, he considered his options. Best for now, given none of the handful of Foundation agents previously planted to observe things here had responded to his in-space, randomized general alert transmission, to just do exactly as he'd told the officer and check into the hotel he booked.
Considering his next bed might be a prison cell either here or back home or a shallow grave, he might as well enjoy a good night's sleep in a decent bed, he ruefully reflected.
But it was disturbing none of the six planted had responded. Certainly the heightened war situation might be causing some trouble but at least a quick random signal to acknowledge his alert.
Well, at least the signal was untraceable by all methods known. If some or all had been captured they couldn't reveal more than the fact someone had sent an alert from somewhere as far as he was concerned.
The platform let him and several others off at the entrance and he stepped out, pulling his compad. The local channels offered a variety of holoshows and news, he selected News of the Union…Prominent story being the kidnapping of a minor court performer, one Magnifica Gigantica, entertainer to the Sovereign and First Citizen by agents of the Foundation. A rather blurred photo of the lady in question in some sort of bizarre costume, apparently performing for a group of officers, followed by a grim official type denouncing the act as a gross insult by a domineering and oppressive power, now, given the Foundation government's refusal to apologize or return the victim, to be avenged by war. Already, the announcer noted, Kalganian forces had liberated the crucial Sagosian system on the border, whose government had eagerly…
Pritcher turned the compad off with a frown… Clearly the Mule had been planning an attack and used this "kidnapping" as a provocation. But to so quickly capture Sagosa, if true? The Kalganians would be right on the Foundation frontier…
Not exactly what he and other members of the Opposition had hoped for in approving the sending of the Dartells to Kalgan. The hoped-for unofficial initial contact that could lead to negotiations had quite jumped the rails. He reactivated the compad and checked directions to his hotel, an easy walk.
Much to his surprise, there were no signs of a heightened security or even much war fever in the streets. No one seemed glued to war news or particularly concerned though he did note the occasional soldier and officer in the black and silver of the Union military. And oddly, not much trace of the so-called "First Citizen", the Mule himself. No statues, no posters, no holofigures…Simply the bare and rare mention of the title or "Our Sovereign" on the news.
True enough he'd only ruled for on Kalgan for a couple of months, but all the more strange, particularly for a ruler making such a gamble as to attack a Galactic superpower, respected and often, feared, by most of the remaining states of the Galaxy.
He entered the hotel and found it busy but not remarkably so…And apparently still full of the usual tourist crowd. The usual somewhat disconcertingly eager and officious service by a staff who seemed desperately eager to please, something he'd noted from his landing in the capital. The young woman at reservations accepting his paypass, seeming to have her life hinging on providing him with proper service, her smile perhaps the warmest and most sincere he'd ever seen. Her fervent hope that he have a wonderful stay almost frighteningly intense.
He reached his room and setting his luggage, a small compressive back pack that expanded on touch, on the bed, considered his options. However casual the general attitude might seem, the Kalganians were no slouches in intel, it seemed clear. Any attempt, even at Foundation-tech shielded transmissions, might be detected, especially if he tried to reach any of the imbedded agents, some or all very likely already captured. Best to simply go about his business…And perhaps see what could be gleaned in the streets. He pulled out his compad and searched for the Kalganian Military Procurement office.
No doubt that customs officer had passed on his info to them…He'd not dropped that hint without reason. And no bribe had been sought, interesting. The last time Pritcher had been to Kalgan, as a young intel officer, scouting systems of reasonable interest, there'd been no office or official who'd not expected one. But, after all, Kalgan had then been a pleasure palace, not the center of a war machine.
"Yes, hello." He smiled at the figure of a young female officer regarding him calmly on screen. "Hanis Marti, of Previa. I'm a tech trader and was told I'd do well to contact the Procurement office."
"Yes. Id and trade pass?" she asked. He submitted both by plugging them into the compad.
"Fine. What is it you have to sell?" she eyed him.
"Some refinements on blasters, a new shield modulator for preventing penetration…I understand with a major war on, you're looking for the best." He smiled.
"You have copyrights? Can you submit your specs now?"
"Yes, to both." He nodded. Pressing several pads on the compad. The officer narrowing eyes as she read her screen.
"All right. Come in at ten tomorrow. Building 5, suite A. Ask for Captain Lena Marv, that's me."
"Thanks. Captain." He smiled. "See you tomorrow." She nodded and her image vanished.
Well, no grass allowed to grow there, however relaxed the general atmosphere, he reflected.
His pad lit up. Blue. Secure channel. Hmmn, he frowned.
"I4H7." A voice hissed. "I can't show myself. Don't reply, they may trace. I've had no word on others for three weeks. Presume captured. Situation critical, listen…There's something strange going on here. The people are too committed, you can't get a wedge in. I don't understand it. I recommend you get off Kalgan asap. Too dangerous. Try…" the light went out.
Pritcher eyed compad.
Herve, a good man, if the id sign wasn't faked, it must be serious. He pressed a button and the compad disintegrated.
Time to go, he reflected, a wry look at his rather comfortable bed. Might have been nice to spend the night, but he'd likely wake up at Kalganian intelligence even if Herve weren't compromised.
He pressed a tab on the backpack and it recompressed. Pulling out another compad, he scanned for any signs of approach or surveillance in and outside the room. Nothing. He put the new compad in his trousers' pocket and left swiftly, smiling to a fellow in casual clothes in the elevator and passed quickly out of the hotel.
Well, time to find another hotel. He pulled his compad. And use the back up id.
Though, risky as it might be, Hanis Marti does have an appointment in the morning. Wouldn't do to miss it or flee Kalgan too quickly. And Captain Merv might spill something useful, if she didn't arrest him on the spot.
He booked a room in a second hotel, fortunately not too far, and still available, using the id of Javis Gilese, tourist from Reban…The compad quickly extrapolating the proper id docs from the customs database he'd hacked on his arrival. So far, undetected, as best he could tell.
Still…Best not to get too confident that Foundation tech would always provide an edge. Clearly the Mule and his "Union of Worlds" was making great strides, astonishingly so, in catching up with Terminus.
Strolling casually, he pulled up the earlier story…Magnifica Gigantica, eh? He smiled at the image. Hard to believe a fellow like Torie Dartell managed to run from the Kalgan military and trigger a major war…Not that the kid wasn't brave enough, just hardly a professional. Though perhaps, as he'd himself suggested when the idea of such a method of contact was proposed at a meeting, an idea put forward by the Traders, that strange mix of prudence and wildness, that was the problem. And his wife, that little friend of Eb Mis who used to speak up at meetings…Bay, was it? What had they gone and got themselves into?
Interesting taste, for a warlord, the Mule has, he regarded the image again
But perhaps she is just an entertainer or even clown. Though in her way, as lightening rod, the most important person in the Galaxy right now.
…