Assumption of risk by Michael A. Stackpole

Author:Michael A. Stackpole [Stackpole, Michael A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780451452832
Publisher: Penguin Group (Canada)
Published: 1993-09-22T04:00:00+00:00

19

Solaris City, Solaris VII

Tamarind March, Federated Commonwealth

8 April 3056

Duke Ryan Steiner sat back in his office and laughed aloud as David Hanau finished an anxious explanation of what Prince Victor had done within the Isle of Skye. "Brilliant, Victor, brilliant. Well played."

Hanau looked confused. "My lord, his efforts have essentially frozen the rebellion and left only one Skye unit in mutiny. He has blunted your efforts. II Pompiere is ready to act, to intervene, but the federalization of the planetary militias means we could have citizens of Skye fighting citizens of Skye."

Ryan held out his hands and pressed them gently downward as if he could physically lower Hanau's alarm. "II Pompiere is to do nothing at this time." They had chosen an Italian code name for Richard Steiner because of the duke's desire to honor an old Skye family's quirky insistence on using that tongue in polite company. Ryan had chosen the name "Fireman" because of Richard's ability to handle a crisis.

"But if II Pompiere does nothing, Glengarry could fall into the wrong hands."

Ryan shrugged. "II Fuco has overstepped his ambition. If he succeeds in wresting his planethold from Carlyle, he will need supplies to consolidate his victory. And that means he will come begging to us. If his attack on Glengarry fails, we denounce him as a dangerous and deviant force, and thereby win praise for being reasonable. If we support him now, we invite a wider conflict, which I do not want at the moment. The time is not yet right."

"I see," Hanau said, but his face still showed confusion. "I thought you'd be worried and would want to do something."

"Oh, I do. The level of protests going on in Skye is sufficient for my purposes. Victor's quick fix of supplying goodies for the populace plays into our hands because at some point he will no longer be able to afford this beneficence. When that moment comes and he is forced to cut the people off, the outcry will be loud and long."

"So we wait?"

"Some of us, yes." Ryan Steiner turned to Sven Newmark. "You will execute an Oyster Three Window immediately; severity can be subject lethal, though I would prefer it not be so."

The ex-Rasalhagian nodded. "That would put it close to the date of the fight here. Is that what you wish?"

"Most satisfactory." Ryan smiled as he saw Hanau's bald puzzlement. "Believe me, you don't want to know."

Hanau held his hands up. "Greater good for the greater number."

"Exactly." Ryan clapped his hands together. "II Pompiere does nothing, II Fuco twists in the wind, and we let Victor Davion pay for his audacity. It's a good day's work."

Sven Newmark left the meeting to prepare the message that would initiate the Oyster Three Window. The code name had been created from three parts, two of which became obvious if one shared the same frame of reference as Ryan, Sven, and the Free Skye Militia cell coordinator who would receive it. Window as a command suffix meant that Ryan

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