Part 17 (1/2)

”Let me be certain I have the players straight,”

said Jessine. The Haiken Maru want Lomax in the seat, as Wiley's puppeteer - maybe his regent. Sclerida wants the seat for himself, but hasn't got a prayer for that, or of becoming regent, not after that scandal - did he really

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Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

think his wife would let his boyfriends live in her house?

”So Sclerida would need to ... dispose ... of Wiley and marry Dov to me or Tira. Blech.”

Jessine didn't like young Sclerida - he was shal- low, egotistical and stupid to boot.

”You could be regent for Wiley, Madame,”

offered Kitchley. ”And Sclerida could many you to Dov and gain the seat that way.”

”No, he couldn't marry me to Dov,” she snapped. ”I wouldn't many Dov Sclerida.”

Kitchley protested. ”But, Madame, to protect the succession...”

'The succession cannot be protected, Kitchley,” said Jessine sharply. ”Wiley is not fit to rule, regardless of regent or advisors. If he takes the Secretariat, the Pact will take another step down towards death.”

”If he doesn't, the Pact will die immediately,”

shot back Kitchley.

”Then we're doomed, aren't we?” Jessine leaned her seat back again. ”Because I don't think that Sclerida or Lomax could run the Pact for anything but their own benefit.”

They were both silent for a moment.

'There is Governor Merikur.”

”Who?*' asked Jessine.

'The governor of Harmony Cl.u.s.ter,” replied

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Kitchley. ”Well, governor pro tern. He was Admiral Merikur until the Kona Tatsu a.s.sa.s.sinated Governor Windsor. I believe he's on his way to Earth, with a fleet of duster command s.h.i.+ps.'*

”Oh, splendid,” muttered Jessine. ”Another hand in the pot. And who does Governor Merikur intend to many? Me, Tira or Wiley?”

”I'm not sure he knows that the High Secre- tary is dead,” replied Kitchley thoughtfully. ”He's been en route for a few weeks now.”

Jessine's eyes narrowed. ”What's he after then?”

Kitchley raised his eyebrow. ”With a cl.u.s.ter command fleet? I understand he's already taken over Apex Cl.u.s.ter.”

”Rebellion? Before the Secretary died? How ambitious!”