Starship's Mage 2 Hand of Mars by Glynn Stewart Page B

whole battalion,” Iota, her main agent in the government’s military, told them. “They call it the Special Operations Directorate, and it makes the rest of the Scorpions look like cuddly kittens.”
    “Damn,” Lori whispered. “How widespread are they?”
    “I’m not certain,” Iota admitted. “I suspect he’s been assembling cells of people who think they’re rebels across the planet. As November said, though, he was in Normandy. And he’s been ordered not to return to Nouveaux Versailles.”
    “If there was a goddamn red and black uniformed bastard I’d like to have a long chat with, that’s the one,” Papa said softly. “Oath of pacifism be damned .”
    “Is there any way we can get that information to the Hand?” Lori asked.
    Her people were silent for a long moment, then November spoke again.
    “ Magnifique ,” she whispered softly. “I have an idea.”

    #

    “News reports are rolling in from Nouveaux Normandy of massive civilian casualties after a failed attempt by the so-called ‘Freedom Wing’ to assassinate Alaura Stealey, Hand of the Mage-King of Mars.
    “Current estimates are that in excess of forty people are dead, including ten members of the Ardennes Special Security Service who were escorting the Hand.
    “Hand Stealey is on Ardennes on the direct orders of the Mage-King, seeking the murderers behind the destruction of the city Karlsberg. It seems the ‘Freedom Wing’ has no interest in…”
    The video news in the corner of the staff break room of the Versailles Arms cut off, and Amiri quickly looked over to see who had interrupted her viewing. Riordan’s name had got her a relatively decent room in the Arms - a mid-range hotel near the spaceport - and a tab that seemed unlimited so long as she didn’t abuse it.
    In exchange, she’d been quietly helping out around the hotel - mostly as muscle in the case of matters the hotel owners wanted dealt with before the police were involved. She kept out of sight otherwise, either in her room or down here in the staff break room when she needed company.
    She hadn’t actually heard anything from Riordan since she’d arrived here, however, so she was surprised to see the Freedom Wing demagogue holding the remote behind her.
    “We didn’t do it,” he said bluntly.
    Amiri eyed him carefully. If Riordan knew who she actually was, she doubted he would try to use her as a conduit to Stealey. The rebels would almost certainly see her as a threat, not an opportunity.
    “I’m not exactly inclined to believe government news, if that’s what you mean,” she said slowly.
    He sighed.
    “Sorry, Jewel,” he said quietly. “I just know that’s going to be an argument I’ll need to have a lot over the next few days. I’m not on the same page as the folks who think Mars is going to swoop in and save the day, but taking potshots at Hands is a bad way to promote our cause.”
    “The bar’s empty,” he continued. “Grab you a drink?”
    So this was a social call - from a man with few friends he could trust. Amiri could play that game.
    “Sure.”
    The bar was empty, though not closed as she’d half-expected. Riordan gestured to the bartender as they walked in and then took a dark-paneled booth near a back corner. The bartender showed up a moment later with two whiskeys on the rocks.
    “Why are you so convinced Mars isn’t going to help?” she asked after taking a sip of the liquor. “Everywhere else I’ve been, the Protectorate really does try to, well, protect people.”
    “Mars never has helped here,” Riordan said bitterly. “Twenty years , that’s how long Vaughn has been in power. He buys the interstellars, accepts bribes from the local corporations - he grows fat, the corporations grow rich, and the rest of Ardennes gets turned to slaves.
    “And what has Mars done? They built their fuelling station here - there’s an entire squadron of cruisers in this system, their crews coming through on shore leave.
    “What are we