City of Foundation, Terranova
“… and we’ll have more news as it comes to hand, but for those who have just joined us, we have reports that a shuttle carrying Moderator Ferrero was attacked today as it lifted off from Lenore Island after she addressed a rally of the Federation Peace League. We have been told by sources inside planetary defense that the shuttle was hit by two surface-to-air missiles and was badly damaged but managed to land safely. We also have unconfirmed reports-and I must stress that they are unconfirmed-that Federal Police believe the attack was the work of senior space fleet personnel unhappy about what they believe to be the Ferrero government’s appeasement of the Hammers. In response to the incident, a state of emergency is now in force. And now we’ll cross to-”
Vice Admiral Jaruzelska cut the neuronics link; reopening her eyes, she looked at the man sitting opposite her for a moment. The cafe around them was hushed as the midmorning coffee crowd absorbed the shocking news. “I smell the Hammers,” she said. “I wonder what took them so long.”
“Who knows,” Vice Admiral John N’tini replied, pushing his coffee cup away.
“Fleet’s been set up, John, and we know why. I’ll call the boss to see if she’s heard anything. I’ll also try Juanita Chou at planetary defense.”
“You do that, Angela. I’ll see if my FedPol contacts can tell us what’s happened.”
“Call me if you find out anything.”
“Will do.”
Jaruzelska and N’tini started to their feet. Two men pushed into the air-conditioned comfort of the cafe. They bundled aside two patrons trying to leave at the same time.
“Rude bastards,” Jaruzelska growled as she watched the men thread their way through the tables. They’re FedPol, and they’re coming for us, she thought.
“I’m Chief Inspector Meir,” the older of the two men said, “and this is Sergeant Hardina, Federal Police. You are Admiral Jaruzelska?”
“You already know that,” Jaruzelska said.
“And you are Admiral N’tini?” Meir asked.
“Yes,” N’tini replied.
“John N’tini and Angela Jaruzelska,” Meir said, his voice cold and formal, “I am arresting you both under the provisions of Section 19 of the Emergency Powers Act. In accordance with that act, you will be remanded in custody until a duly authorized Federal Police officer details the charges against you in the Federal Court of Criminal Justice. You are obliged to answer all questions put to you by the Federal Police, and any failure to answer such questions may prejudice your defense. Do you understand?”
Jaruzelska’s eyes blazed. “Tell me what the charge is,” she spit.
“As I just said, sir, you will be informed of all charges against you when you appear in the Federal Court. Come with me, please.”
Jaruzelska turned to N’tini. “What do you think, John? Shall we go?”
“I hate to say it, but I think we’d better do as Mister Plod the Policeman wants.”
“Now,” Meir said, stone-faced.
Without another word, Jaruzelska and N’tini allowed themselves to be led out of the cafe. The leaden silence broke into a buzz the moment the door closed behind them.
A young man at a table by the door left his coffee unfinished. He hurried into the street. He walked past where Jaruzelska was refusing to follow N’tini into the waiting police mobibot, her voice strident above the hum of traffic.
“I’m a goddamned admiral, so get your hands off me, Meir. I want to speak to my lawyer before I go anywhere.”
“I know who you are, Admiral Jaruzelska,” Meir responded, “but I must insist.”
Jaruzelska was not looking at Meir. Instead she stared right at the young man. “Insist,” she said, her voice loud now, penetrating. “Insist all you like. My mother would not like it.”
“Your mother?” Meir said, puzzled by Jaruzelska’s sudden change of tack. “Do us all a favor and get in the bot.” Meir’s body language made it clear that his patience was running out.
“My mother would not like it,” Jaruzelska called out again.
“Now! Or I’ll cuff you and throw you in the bot myself.”
Jaruzelska threw her hands up. “Okay, okay. I’ll do it.”
The man kept walking, an almost imperceptible nod the only sign that he had heard Jaruzelska.
The door was slammed behind Jaruzelska; she slumped down beside N’tini. “This is a first,” John,” she said. “Two admirals arrested in one day.”
“And there’ll be more,” N’tini said, twisting his body to be able to look into Jaruzelska’s face. “I know a witch hunt when I see one.” He lifted an eyebrow in inquiry.
Jaruzelska nodded. “True enough.” She sat back as the mobibot accelerated away. Whatever the Hammers were up to, it did not matter now. She had pushed the button to launch Juggernaut. The young man, one of a team that shadowed her every move, had acknowledged receipt of the code phrase. Even now, every unit assigned to the invasion of Commitment would be en route for the deepspace jumping-off point.
Operation Juggernaut had started. There was nothing anyone in the Hammers or Ferrero could do to stop it. True, she’d been forced to initiate the operation early. But she’d spent almost all her adult life fighting the Hammer of Kraa; all her experience told her that Juggernaut’s chances of success were almost as good as she could have hoped.