Envoy by Tobias S. Buckell

Author:Tobias S. Buckell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books

Ellis woke up as her head slipped forward and struck her desk. Utterly exhausted, she swore, rubbed her forehead, and looked down at the datapane she’d been scanning. Lists of Surakan militia who waited on the rooftops with shoulder-launched guided missiles. Pelicans and several Sparrowhawks prepped to be rolled out of hardened bunkers, procured through backdoor channels years earlier—probably through the New Colonial Alliance, Ellis wasn’t certain. Maps of militia positions around the occupied area also needed rechecking one last time.

But they were all coiled and ready.

The pane suddenly blinked several times, signaling an incoming call. Ellis tapped it and General Grace appeared. “Our ships are about to enter orbit. The Jiralhanae frigates that remain are pulling back from them rather than moving to engage. We have the high ground.”

“Thank you, General. Keep me posted,” Ellis said, and cut the connection. Her vision blurred, doubles of everything she was looking at swimming around in front of her.

How long had she been up? Three days? The human body wasn’t meant for this. She pulled out another stimulant patch and ripped it open. She rubbed it against her forearm and waited until the blurring faded away. The pressure behind her right eye took a step back.

She got up to leave and Lamar quickly appeared in the hall to stop her at the door. “Ellis,” he said, “with the Jiralhanae frigates drawn back, this is our last chance.”

“Lamar . . .” Ellis rubbed her scratchy eyes. “I understand you want to do what you think is best. I won’t hold this against you afterward. Or ever, really. But I need you with me, by my side, to help us do this. I need your expertise. If you can’t give it to me, let me know now. We can’t afford to fight each other. Not with this threat on our doorstep.”

Her vice-governor took a step back. “I had to ask one last time. I have a conscience, Ellis.”

She gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I know. And I really appreciate where you’re coming from. Thank you, Lamar, for all your counsel.”

Of course, when this was all over, she was going to ask for his resignation. Ellis wouldn’t be vindictive; she was better than that. But it was the end for him. Never mind the smile of reassurance she gave him now—that was to make sure he followed through until the enemy had been pushed back.

The operations room’s walls dripped screens patched into surveillance all over the city. They now had a decent line of sight on the rim of the massive crater the Jiralhanae had glassed to get down into the Forerunner structure. Other screens showed feeds from orbit: Surakan ships transmitted a bevy of new data as they waited to head planetside.

Two generals sat in the room, a variety of other militia officers, and three aides. Everyone crammed in close, with those lesser in rank crouching in the corners out of the way while murmuring orders or requests into earpieces.

“We are go for Operation BUZZHAWK,” General Kapoor said.

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