Kevin Anderson - The Ashes of Worlds

They were gone, free — leaving the newborn faeros weak and disconnected.

Elementally eviscerated, the new fireballs could not retain their integrity, and they sparkled off into bright, transient lights. The thunderheads of knotted fire overhead had broken up, scattering and fading.

The mad Designate let out a wordless roar, not of defeat but of defiance, and an invisible wind seemed to blast at him. Struggling against it, his face drawn into a grimace with the effort, he staggered two steps backward. The flames that comprised his body whipped and crackled. He clenched his glowing fists at his sides and raised them in the air.

And as he came toward Jora’h, the faeros incarnate obviously had nothing to lose.

155

King Peter

The mysterious withdrawal of the Klikiss swarmships seemed nothing short of a miracle. And now the Chairman was on his way here.

Peter had never relished the power for its own sake, but the throne was his again — by right. The people of Earth trusted him, and he had worked hard to become the leader they needed. Now that he was back in the Whisper Palace, Peter felt he finally belonged there.

The people deserved better than Basil Wenceslas.

OX had returned from the communications center with Patrick and Zhett, pleased that Freedom’s Sword was helping to spread the announcements about the changeover of power. The ever-swelling demonstrations had turned into celebrations, overwhelming any resistance. Most of the Hansa guards had quietly melted away from their posts, changing out of their uniforms before they could be targeted by the crowds.

No matter what he believed, Chairman Basil Wenceslas was no longer relevant to the government of humanity.

But there were still some holdouts. Peter tried to contact General Conrad Brindle, as did Admiral Willis and Robb Brindle, but the man refused to respond, refused to turn his loyalty from the EDF. The commander had always been skeptical of the Confederation, but now with most of his fleet destroyed by black robot sabotage, he had very few straws left to clutch.

The Teacher compy stood supportively beside the throne, and Deputy Cain waited with a very downcast Rory, who looked miserable despite Peter’s assurances.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Peter said. “Call Admiral Willis and ask her to escort Queen Estarra to the Whisper Palace. Deputy Cain, I’d like you to work with Ambassador Sarein to effect the transfer of the Hansa government into the Confederation — you two have done well to get us this far. We’ve got to return to a steady course to reassure the people. I want to communicate that the worst is over.”

Cain nodded. “I would be honored. It’s time for a smooth transition.”

“And bring Trade Minister Kett here. She’ll enjoy being able to operate openly for a change. A lot of merchants will love to have open markets again.”

OX baldly stated the largest problem they would face. “I suggest that you order Chairman Wenceslas immediately detained. It would be best to eliminate any potential confusion.“

“The compy’s right,” Fitzpatrick said. “Even if he has no power, Wenceslas can be a pain in the ass.”

Suddenly, the dozen soldiers Willis had left as Peter’s personal guard raised their weapons at the doorway. Rory slumped down, as if trying to hide.

“I call foryour arrest, Peter.” Chairman Basil Wenceslas pushed his way past the guards and entered the throne room, accompanied by five ruffled-looking members of the cleanup crew, whom he had freed from the temporary holding room where Admiral Willis had kept them. Colonel Andez was among them, once again sporting a sidearm. “Colonel, take him into custody.”

Andez, looking embarrassed at having been knocked out and disarmed, ordered her team forward. However, since she and her four companions were heavily outnumbered by the Confederation guards, Peter didn’t know what she expected to accomplish. His soldiers were ready to shoot to protect him, but he motioned for them to hold their fire. There was no need.

The Chairman strode forward, blind to all the weapons raised against him, and Peter leaned forward on the throne, unperturbed. “Are these all the supporters you have left on Earth, Basil? Five people?”

Basil blithely refused to see. “My forces are preoccupied with the madness you initiated in the streets while I was saving humanity from the Klikiss. I’ve alerted all the security troops in the Whisper Palace. More guards are coming down the halls. We will take care of everything here and now.”

Peter doubted the Chairman would find any support in the whole city, but Basil seemed convinced.

Acting on his own, Deputy Cain touched a security pad on the wall. Thick doors slammed down across the entrance arches with loud crashes of metal. Blast shields covered the small stained-glass windows, and heavy grates blocked access to the ventilation ducts. All weak areas, all vulnerable entry points were locked down. “I took the liberty of activating the security systems. The throne room is now secure.”

Peter nodded. Even if the Chairman did manage to rout out any loyal followers, they were now locked outside. Andez and her few companions looked uneasily at the Chairman, perhaps wondering if he could remedy their weak position.

Basil directed his building, frustrated anger at Rory, but when the young man flinched, he turned away in disgust.

Patrick Fitzpatrick made a rude noise. “I’m sorry Admiral Willis didn’t just blast your ship away. Isn’t that your approved method of problem solving, after all?”

“Maureen Fitzpatrick was executed for intent to commit treason.” Basil sounded dismissive, impatient.

“I can hear my grandmother’s ghost laughing at you,” Patrick snapped.

Finally, Basil skewered Deputy Cain with a glare, looking for someone to blame. “Youallowed this to happen.”

“More precisely, sir, I arranged it. You gave me no choice.”

Peter did not budge from the ornate throne, looking coolly at the Chairman. “Basil, you are relieved of your duties as Chairman, and now you will officially resign.”

“I will do no such thing.”

“Onceyou resign,” Peter ignored the interruption, “the Terran Hanseatic League will be dissolved, and the Earth-based government will be included in the Confederation. Then we can begin the long process of repairing the damage you’ve done over the years.”

Though Basil was furious, his expression remained carefully neutral. He turned to Andez. “Colonel, I instructed you to arrest Peter. Drag him down from the throne by force, if necessary. Throw all of these people into the lower prison levels, where they will await courts-martial. I’m not inclined to be merciful.”

Unable to believe Basil’s blatantly irrational orders, considering the position he was in, Willis’s soldiers looked to Peter for guidance. “Hold!” he said. He could only hope that Andez and her guards weren’t mad enough to open fire.

Andez gestured helplessly at the standoff, and the weapons pointed toward them. She blinked. “Exactly how. are we to do that, Mr. Chairman?”

From where he stood beside the throne, OX said, as if giving a lecture to a novice prince candidate, “Basil, the conclusion is inescapable. It is only logical to admit defeat.” He added pointedly, “It would be the most efficient solution to this problem. As Chairman, you should appreciate that.”

Peter rose from the throne. “There’s nothing you can do. The whole population of Earth blames you, Basil, and you can’t use me — or Rory — as a scapegoat anymore. You’re done.”

The Chairman seemed pathologically unable to grasp that he no longer controlled the situation. He ripped the small personal communicator from his waist and activated a direct line to his EDF ships. “General Brindle, this is a direct order! Access the guillotine codes for the ships Admiral Willis took from the EDF and shut down the Confederation’s space navy. Hamstring them.”