Seventy Two Hours...
an emergence wave of significant size heralded the approach of the FCS Avalon into the Kowloon system.
By now, Victor had a list of Nobles, prominent businessmen, politicians and celebrities whom had been abducted by the Kowloonese.
It included several nobles in the Kowloon theater.
He also had Lt. General Jasper Zibler, but the man wasn't abducted, he was given a ride on a Coast Guard ship, and had free access to all the commo available.
Which gave Victor a pretty decent picture of just what was going on. Zibler had effectively taken command after relieving Mosovich of her Military duties, and was acting as Governor, but the man was also directing additional abductions.
One cell, led to another, which led to another. The financial trail was enormous, much of it embedded in the Lyran Civil Service, including LIC and the Lyran high command.
the shockwaves were already happening. Katherine had already just barely slipped past an attack by Brotherhood members aboard her ship, the Indomitable, Peter, serving on Tharkad as Regent, was now waiting for replacement legs, the Rabid Fox team assigned to his security barely stopped an assassination attempt thanks to an early warning by the Precentor for the Lyran Alliance personally sending the warning.
at the heart of the conspiracy, Victor now knew, was Ryan Steiner, who decided that Free Skye was a dog that doesn't hunt, but 'pure' steiner blood wasn't.
Armed with this information, Victor boarded a Raptor shuttle from the jump-point, in formation with four more, manned by Rabid Foxes of MI-6.
The snap and flash meant the vast bulk of the FCS Avalon, too large for the advanced drives to work properly (though not too large to have full gravity decking, which made the whole trip here so MUCH easier) would have to wallow at newtonian speed if it wanted to reach the planet...three weeks from arriving.
For the Archon-Prince of the Federated Commonwealth, and his bodyguards, it only took a few minutes.
He landed at Vin Drin Lap airfield, and was met by the Coast Guard's Commodore Alicia Li.
"I'm sorry, your Majesty." were the first words out of her mouth.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for, Li." Victor said, "YOU didn't order this operation. Where's General Zibler?"
she led him to the command center.
Zibler was absorbing status reports.
"Jasper, this better be a damn good explanation, we're on the edge of a ****** civil war." Victor didn't bark.
"They're angry." Zibler said, "Let me rephrase, Vic, these people are pissed. It's not getting better as we bring in more suspects and develop more information either. I'm...I'm trying to prevent a massacre, sir."
"Where's the Baroness? is she leading this massacre?"
"No sir, she's in a cell, under sedation. and under guard. There's only one bright spot in this whole cluster-******."
"what's that?"
"Elizabeth Ngo isn't dead." He motioned and a tech activated a monitor. "She's...not dead, at least, not yet. They're going to try waking her up. that gives me arguments to try and keep some people alive."
Victor looked at the liquid Tank the Duchess of Kowloon was in, and the scarring between her small breasts. the exit wound looked bigger before..
"Keep her under." Victor said, "I'm here. I'll keep some people alive, or let them be executed. just keep the operations clean."
"Yes, your Majesty...you're sure, Vic? These people don't ****** around with executions..."
Victor scowled, "It's my damned job now." he said, "Court of last resort, once all other appeals are exhausted. is there anyone...and I mean anyone out of this mess you've collected who deserves a pardon?"
"Mosovich, most of her men..."
"I mean suspects, and let Mosovich out of the cell, Jas, I need her on her feet and doing her job. This operation now has the Archon Prince's seal of approval." He turned to Li, "get with my team, walk them through your investigation, show 'em your evidence. the bastards went after my little brother and my sister. this isn't just your mission anymore."
"You're taking over sir?" Zibler asked.
"Yes." Victor confirmed.
"Can I get back to my unit then, sir?"
"No." Victor said, "I'll send for your unit to get back to you, LI, handle it."
"Aye sir."