Chapter 50: Fallout
Location: Castle Acorn
Three hours later…
Harvey Who hurried through the halls of the palace, a task made difficult considering his mobility issues. Larry Lynx followed behind him, still unsure why he had been requested to accompany him. As the pair reached the doors to the Council Chambers, they were immediately halted by a member of the Royal Guard.
"I'm sorry, Director, but council is in session."
"Step aside, Guardsman," he ordered, "This cannot wait."
The guardsman hesitated, unsure if they should do so or continue to stand their ground.
"This is important. I wouldn't have come all this way for a social visit."
"Err…of course. Right this way, Director."
Pushing open the doors, the Guardsman gestured the pair into the Council Chambers. A curved table dominated the chamber, the Kingdom of Acorn's flag draped over the front of it. Larry immediately averted his blue eyes away from his former comrades, overtaken by a feeling of shame.
"Director Who, we are currently in session," Hamlin Pig stated, making it so that his annoyance was obvious.
"Your Majesty, we've got a situation," Harvey reported.
The Director purposely ignored Councillor Hamlin, preferring to instead appeal to the King directly. King Maximillian studied the Owl, whose warnings he had routinely ignored, much to the kingdom's determent. After retaking the city, he had endeavored to heed the advice of his advisors more regularly.
"Very well, my friend. What seems to be the problem?"
"The Intelligence Division has intercepted information coming from our counterparts in the United Federation," he reported, "It appears that members of C.L.I.P. were successful in patching themselves into the Terran Republic's communication network."
"I'm unfamiliar," Isabella Mongoose stated, "What exactly is C.L.I.P.?"
"It's stands for the Convert Lateral International Program. They do the dirty work that G.U.N. can't be publicly involved in."
"Of course they do," Sir Charles Hedgehog scoffed, crossing his arms.
It was no secret as to the role that G.U.N. had played during the government shutdown of Space Colony Ark, or the massacre that had ensued. The incident had been covered up, exposed five decades later in an investigation conducted by journalist Scarlet Garcia.
"What was the nature of his information?" Penelope Platypus inquired.
"There was some sort of incident that occurred at the National Assembly, although I have been unable to independently verify," he answered.
"Which was?" Hamlin asked, growing irritated.
"It would appear, that following her speech, her Royal Highness…shot the Prime Minister."
"WHAT!?" Maximillian cried, "You're sure of this?"
"No. As I've said: I have been unable to independently verify. Nor have I been able to contact Agent St. John or the Freedom Fighters."
"What about NICOLE?" Dylan Porcupine asked, "Have you not tried her?"
It was an obvious answer, but one that Director Who decided against chastising the young man for.
"No. But if what we're hearing is in fact true, then we're in for it."
"Why would the Princess do such a thing?" Rosemary Prower questioned, unable to quell the growing concern for her son's wellbeing.
"My theory is that it has something to do with her recent abduction," he replied, "We know very little about what happened."
"She claimed that her kidnappers sought to prevent her from speaking before the United Assembly," Isabella stated.
"And how much do you trust her at her word?"
"What are you implying, Harvey?" Maximillian questioned, not appreciating the implication.
"We know virtually nothing about the Terran Republic, it's entirely possible that they possess some sort of brain washing procedure."
The Councillors immediately fell silent, preferring to believe that the Princess hadn't been acting of her own free will. Whatever the reason might be, the Council of Acorn knew that a storm was on the horizon.
"We'll need to debate a response," Rosemary stated, "If the kingdom is to avoid a military conflict."
Taking the hint, Harvey immediately departed from the Council Chamber followed closely behind by Larry. Once they were a good distance away, the Director promptly turned to face his newest agent.
"Agent Lynx, I believe I've got an assignment for you."
"Really, sir?" Larry questioned, unsure that he was prepared.
"I'm dispatching you to the Terran Republic, we need to know what actually occurred."
"We're not staging a rescue?"
"We can't. If we want to avoid a war, we can't help them."
The Lynx immediately frowned, not because his disagreed with the Director, but because he was right. Staging a rescue, helping Sonic and the others, it would only serve to enforce the notion that it had been their intention all along.
"B-but am I really the right agent for the job?"
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world."
Not possessing the Director's faith, Larry could only hope that he wouldn't fail in his debut mission.
"I-I understand, sir."
"Excellent. We'll visit Professor Caninestein and see if he's got your field equipment assembled."
"But how will I get to the Terran Republic?"
"We'll need the Warp Ring in the Chaotix's possession."
Following the Enerjak Incident, many of Dr. Finitevus' Warp Rings had been confiscated by Knuckles. Since travelling to Angel Island was out of the question, the Chaotix was the logical alternative.