Mechwarrior - Dark Age 03 - The Ruins of Power by The Ruins of Power

Author:The Ruins of Power [Power, The Ruins of]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-04-12T23:04:25+00:00

“The evidence goes against your, umm, feelings,” Lady Elora said in her soft voice. The words cut like a knife with a serrated blade. “There were his fingerprints on the AgroMech controls. No one else’s were there.”

“No one’s?” asked Austin. “Not even a tech? Isn’t that strange? It takes a team of trained technicians to field a ’Mech. And a pilot would wear gloves.”

“I misspoke,” Elora said. “I’m sure there were other fingerprints—Leclerc’s techs. There were only the captain’s prints on the controls. Perhaps he touched them without gloves on. I know you thought he was your friend and this must shake certain beliefs, but there is more evidence.”

“What?” asked Austin.

“Witnesses seeing him preparing the refitted AgroMech,” the Legate said. “We are interrogating them now.”

“You have the investigation well in hand,” Sergio cut in, again glaring at Austin to keep him silent. “Keep us informed, Legate.”

“The Ministry of Information is doing as much as possible, also, Baron,” Elora said. “Captain Leclerc’s likeness is included on every newscast, along with details of why citizens should turn him over to military police.”

“Not the civil authorities?” asked Austin.

“Or civil authorities, though everyone anticipates arresting Manfred Leclerc will be dangerous and better handled by military action.”

Lady Elora’s emerald green eyes danced with merriment. Austin saw that she considered this meeting to have gone her way and herself to have won.

“I’m sure everyone is doing their duty as they see it,” Sergio said. “Forward any report to me markedEYES ONLY , if you will, Legate.”

“Consider it done, my lord.” Tortorelli turned and followed Lady Elora from the office. Austin closed the doors behind them.

“There’s no proof,” Austin said angrily. “They’re making it up. Elora is making it all up!”

“This is the last time I’m going to say this, Austin. Don’t butt in. Let this play out. You don’t have all the facts.”

“Yes, sir,” Austin said, having no intention of ignoring a friend in danger. Manfred Leclerc was a decent man. Austin had to help straighten this out—and find out what intrigue his father was involved in. He had the uneasy feeling that Sergio knew more about Hanna’s and Dale’s deaths than he was letting on.

He quickly left the office, closing the doors behind him. Tortorelli and Elora had already vanished. Austin considered following the Minister, then knew it would do him no good to spy on her. She was the expert at such things. Whatever he saw or overheard would be exactly what Elora wanted him to know.

“Damn her,” Austin exclaimed. Office workers turned at his outburst. He smiled weakly and waved them back to work. She was the master spy, always rooting about for news. She might have had him followed to the ’Mech factory, or she might have known earlier of his visit, since it had hardly been a state secret. He took a deep, settling breath.

Austin had to find Manfred Leclerc before Elora whipped up a vigilante mob, and knew only one place to begin his search.

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