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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
2nd March AC 198 Sanc New Port City Time: 01:30 New Port City Sanc Wu Fei "… name is Kristian Richard Alexander Edward Kushrenada." Wu Fei let out a whoosh of air and glared at the mini player clutched in his hands, staring at the handsome face that stared back at him. Dark hair, golden eyes, firm jaw, high cheek bones … Those eyes. There was something compelling about those amber eyes that held one, compelled one to listen and to believe. He had been exposed to something similar before but those eyes had been blue. Clear, pristine sapphire blue and lighted by an intensity that could never be missed, merely misunderstood. He was only too aware of the tight lipped woman seated beside him who never took her eyes from the white out. Une drove the car as quickly as the weather conditions permitted which was far from the speedy response that was usual to a Preventer mission. Through this entire night's investigations the weather was going to be the determining factor. Forensics would be loathing the conditions they must work under but much as he hated being exposed to a blizzard he had to admit that the weather was his greatest ally. In many ways the weather was a mixed blessing. Certainly it was guaranteed to slow down the investigation and pollute the clues that undoubtedly he had left behind him. One could never totally eradicate all evidence of one's presence but with the winds howling beyond the car and the snow fall there was going to be pollution from many sources to muddle the crime scenes. There was also the unwelcome fact that his thawing extremities longed for warmer climes or efficient office heaters but there was no getting past the fact that he was going to find himself exposed once again to this weather. Not a pleasant thought but at least he had dry clothing and he could now feel his feet. It helped too that there were going to be others with him equally as uncomfortable and chilled to the bone. As professionals they would ignore the weather and do their work with little in the way of complaint. At least he was going to be able to conduct interviews within the shelter offered by the individual houses at the center of the crime scenes after inspections of the damages were carried out. He distinctly heard a soft hiss from her and glanced up, but her attention seemed to be focused outside the car, not on the device he held in his hand. He resisted the urge to drop the player and grip the seat as the car swerved, sliding a little on the ice. He found himself watching the tail end of an abandoned car as they swerved around it and he cursed inconsiderate drivers. For a moment Une glared at the car before braking gently, leaving the engine running and diving out into the teeth of the blizzard. "I and those gathered with me this day that you see before you, were once citizens of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. For many and varied reasons we have chosen to renounce our ties to the ESUN and have founded the Independent Station Alliance." He watched as Une fought her way to the abandoned vehicle, brushed at the crusted on ice and snow to peer into its depths and then tried the door, which opened. "... you see before you are the Council for the Station Alliance and I am the duly elected President of our nation. On behalf of my nation I assure you that we look forward …" The Preventer chief vanished into the vehicle for a moment, reappeared and set her slight weight against the car which resisted for a moment before it rolled. "… across the negotiating table. It is my understanding that the Sweepers will forward the coordinates of the meeting place to your security office within the next forty eight hour period." Une heaved a final time, pushing at the steering wheel which sent the car rolling gently into the curb where it rocked to a stop. The door was shut and Une turned back to their vehicle. "… day and the hope for a prosperous future together." He stared down at the face frozen on the screen and considered the golden eyes as Une settled back in the driver's seat, rubbing her gloved hands together briskly. With a decisive snap he locked the screen of the unit down to form a sealed case and then lifted his gaze to glare out at the blizzard. So many questions. Even after so long they still had to clean up outstanding factions who could not live with the peace. They had to insist on making statements and disrupting the peace. He was uncertain exactly where to begin questioning his companion. "Is he a Kushrenada?" The question was out before he realized that he had even considered asking it. It surprised him in that he would have thought that the man's identity was of secondary importance to the possible reactions of those in power in the ESUN. It was the shameful truth that to date two people, not including this Kristian Kushrenada nor Mariemaia had appeared to lay claim to the ESUN using the name of Kushrenada and expecting to be treated as the successor of the former World Leader. There was something about this one … that face. Those eyes … Anyone could claim to be a Kushrenada without actually being related to the man. His name was a rallying cry for every crackpot and would be dictator and rebel to sprout. They did the man a dishonor by repeatedly using his name in such a fashion. And to be honest the man did not physically remind him of the Duke he had briefly known but there was something … Lady Une considered the question for a long moment before she responded, her eyes never leaving the view ahead of her as she pulled out into the road again. Around them the night was made up of howling wind and driving snow and occasionally the feeble glow that marked a street light. He knew that they were approaching the suburb where her home was located and he suspected that she might almost be afraid to see what her plan had caused. When she had devised her plans and issued her instructions there had been no Kristian Kushrenada to complicate matters. It might well be that she had not been required to take such drastic measures to turn attention from the Mars debacle. Lives had been placed at risk, property damage had been caused … and might this Kushrenada claimant not have effected the same results without the risk? Hind sight was a marvelous thing but it had no baring on what needed to be done. He had played the part of a terrorist once again and he was not going to play 'what if'. That would serve no purpose. He was now, not the terrorist threatening innocent lives and property but the investigator assigned to bring said terrorist to justice. How Une expected him to do that was going to be interesting but the Kushrenada might prove useful for diverting attention away from the night of terror in Sanc. He recognized the tree that ghosted past in the storm and flicked his gaze to her. They had just passed the point from which he had fired the rocket at her house. The houses in the immediate area seemed to have every light blazing as their occupants watched what was visible of the sideshow, which in truth was not much. No doubt the Lady's neighbors would be only too happy if the head of Preventers should now deem it prudent to move to an entirely new location. Undoubtedly they had lived quieter lives before she had moved in. "It is possible that he is." Her hands tightened noticeably on the wheel. "The name he gave does or did actually belong to a Kushrenada. His Excellency's older cousin. As a very young child he vanished, the victim of a kidnapping. The child was never returned to his family and no body was ever located. On the death of Kristian Kushrenada Duke Heinrich inherited the title and estates. It has been presumed all this time that Kristian Kushrenada was killed soon after he was abducted. There is enough uncertainty about the case to suggest things might not be so cut and dried." "So in truth he may be exactly who he claims to be." Wu Fei murmured. "Is it of any concern to us if he is in truth this Kushrenada who was abducted as a child? Would it add weight to his grandiose claims of being the President of a Station Alliance that might or not be of sufficient prestige to adversely effect the peace? Or would it simply be useable as window dressing? Impressive but frivolous showmanship? This could destroy the peace we have tried so hard to maintain." "Or assist in keeping it." Une sighed and shook her head, braking gently and creeping down the hill, unwilling to permit the car to gain too much momentum that might bring them to grief so close to their destination. "It is the truth that a common enemy for the ESUN to rally against would strengthen their ties. They did it before, with Zechs and White Fang. They gave up their petty quarrels to rally against the larger threat." That was true, he admitted though not aloud and for a moment he caressed the small recorder with fine boned fingers before he drew a deeper breath and slipped the case back into the glove compartment, settling back to consider the broader implications. "I would prefer not to repeat that series of events." Une actually smiled and it was far from a pretty smile. It brought to mind Colonel Une and the days when she could be ruthless for far less reason than that which now disturbed the peace of the ESUN. "I believe that the ESUN Council also will wish to avoid such a repeat. The man and his Alliance may be exactly what they say they are and want exactly what they claim to want … or not. The government representatives will at least listen to what he and his representatives have to say at this meeting he has arranged. That gives us some time to learn more about this so called Alliance and the people who claim to be its leaders." "Then you believe that the government will attend this meeting that is presumably to be arranged by the Sweepers for treaty and trade talks?" "Yes, they will attend the meeting, you do not need to doubt that. It is of such importance and has been issued in such a way that they dare not ignore the man. Too many questions would be asked, the kind of questions they can not afford to be asked or ignore. Whether or not they will give permission to Relena to attend the talks is another matter. There was rather a broad and plainly blatant hint given that the Vice Foreign Minister was expected to attend the meeting and I have to wonder why it is that Relena seems to be considered a required attendee by these people. Etiquette requires for such a meeting as this that his representatives should be met by those of equal rank and responsibility. Unless, of course, you are deliberately setting out to insult his representatives, which is not considered to be a clever idea when you have no idea who it is you are insulting or how much influence they actually have. Very bad form." "Might not the council in their wisdom decide to do just that? Who are these people to dictate terms of discussion to them? I have not known any politician to take well to being dictated to." Lady Une sighed. "True, and I can only hope that they will not act out of any offence they might take from the colossal gall of the man He plainly does not suggest but demands. He takes it for granted that they will comply … in honesty that is the mark of a Kushrenada. His Excellency was very good at that. He expected you to see the larger picture with less than a basic outline on many occasions and presumed that you understood. And I mean presumed, not assumed. He always seemed to know who would meet his expectations and who could not be relied on to act as he required them to respond. If you questioned you were very quietly informed of what he required of you. Many people never understood him." Une shook her head slightly, no doubt dismissing thoughts she had wanted to avoid for years. She had been in love with the man, Wu Fei had no doubt of that. Totally infatuated with the man and willing to do anything for him, though she had not understood half of what he had intended. Whether she would admit her own misunderstanding of his aims or her ignorance of his true intentions he did not know but he thought she did understand one thing. Odd as the man had been he truly seemed to have been working for peace. Wu Fei wondered if anyone had understood a quarter of the plans the man had made. "No, I think that they know full well that at this point in time they can not afford to offer insult in light of the very public announcement of the existence of these people. It would be very poor form indeed to thumb their noses at an unknown power that publicly declared friendship to the ESUN and offered trade links. Tat-amount to political suicide. While the Alliance might prove to be just a scattering of abandoned mining colonies cobbled together into something rather more grandiose that they actually are they might prove to be something a little more than they are now presumed to be. A canny politician will feel out his opponent before giving him the finger openly." Dark brows arched dramatically toward a high hair line and obsidian eyes stared at her in shock. That was rather more candid than he had expected from the woman who normally played her cards very close to her chest. Still, they were fellow conspirators in this play on terrorism and perhaps she made concessions in his case for that reason, though he thought it unlike her usual self. Watching her he frowned, noting that she looked tired and there was a light in her brown eyes and a faint wrinkling at her brow that warned that she was not in the best of moods. It had been a long day and it was proving to be a longer night. He could sympathize as he was going to be sharing it. After guiding the car carefully around the corner and offering the lightest of taps to the brakes and fighting the car when it fishtailed regardless of her caution Lady Une spared a glanced for him and shrugged slender shoulders. "I'm tired, Chang and at this point in time I don't have to pander to the delicate sensibilities of politicians. When they are not around I tend to speak my mind if the situation warrants it. As this one does." The Lady even offered a small crooked smile. "One day you just might catch another side to my vocabulary. I was in the military for years you know and I think it something of an unofficial tradition that swearing in the most colorful and graphic manner possible is a part of the necessary training for any soldier. As Specials we were taught to swear with the best of them, we were just indoctrinated with the restriction that we restrict our swearing to acceptable company so as not to abuse the tender ears of the nobility." "Nobility that you yourself are a part of." He reminded her, but he was rather amused both with her candidness and her suggested dislike of the nobility and politicians. Une shook her head slightly and sighed dramatically. "How true. Born and bred of the nobility and I could not care a fig for it." She absently brushed at her hair where it flowed over her eyes, leaning forward to peer into the storm. "There were many of us who did not accept the strictures and the snobbery to be found in Romefeller. Useless, stupid protocols designed to cater to the over blown egos of decrepit old men. Treize hated it." She sighed softly and he could almost hear in those three whispered words all of the emotion she had kept restrained for years. Yes, Lady Une had loved the former World Sovereign who had in his own odd manner worked for peace. He still did not understand the man but he had come to regret being the one who had killed him. Why this woman could talk to him as she did and had chosen him for so delicate a matter as this act of terrorism he did not understand. He needed to try harder to understand her but in all honesty he did not understand women. They were an utter mystery to him. "His Excellency tolerated Romefeller as a necessary tool to be wielded to achieve the Peace. It was not just Mr. Treize. Most of the younger nobles in our circles could no longer countenance what they saw and what was expected of them by those who controlled the organization. Gradually they found their way into the Specials where it was easier to forget that they had been born with position and wealth and were expected to emulate their elders." She shrugged, never removing her gaze from the road as they wound slowly down the hill. "Oh, I know what was said about the Specials. You would have to be deaf not to overhear the Alliance's view on what the Specials were. I know what was said about His Excellency too. It was my position to know everything possible about what people were doing, thinking and saying if it pertained to Oz or impacted on his plans for peace. I think that I would know a good deal more than you when it came to stories about His Excellency. It is not important. We had a plan. HE had a plan and in the end, it worked. We have the peace he promised he would bring and now I work to see that that peace so hard fought for and paid for in the blood of so many will not crumble under the administration of fools and incompetents." //He had a plan? Perhaps so, but surely the utter destruction of the Earth was not a part of it. Clearly he did not judge certain of his people with the same accuracy as many others. Merquise was insane. I very much doubt that that was a part of this much vaunted plan. // He held his breath as the car fishtailed around a corner, bumped into a curb before the Lady regained control of the vehicle and was directed toward the next curve somewhere ahead in the white out. It surely was not his imagination that the weather was deteriorating. He wanted out of this blizzard before it proved to be the death of him. "This terrorist cell that I am to investigate and direct the blame for the attacks to … Does it actually exist? Are there people who will pay for actions they did not commit in the price of peace?" Une scowled, a proper scowl not a ladylike frown that vanished quickly for fear of wrinkles. There was little of pretence about the Lady. The Preventer Chief did not dare take her eyes from the view and her fingers were white where they gripped the wheel but she did offer a shrug to his concern. "Wu Fei, the terrorist cell does exists. If only on paper. All of the appropriate files are exactly where you would expect them to be. All of the propaganda exists. In effect, the group actually do exist, there simply are no accredited members in the cell. The records of those who initially agreed to act the part of the terrorists we required during the war have long been destroyed and they were notified that their services would not be required when the Gundams made their appearance. They were thanked appropriately for their dedication and assigned elsewhere. I doubt that any of them will act should the cell become a part of the press circus. I trust them enough to be sure they will initiate contact with me before acting." "So I will not actually be arresting anyone?" Lady Une chuckled softly. "Why Agent Chang, I would have thought by now that you would understand that you cannot prosecute anyone if you cannot catch them. If it becomes necessary we will arrange an accident to give the appearance of the group wiping themselves out rather than face the consequences of their actions. It is possible that during the course of this investigation that people could die. You may well be opening a can of worms with this investigation. If certain people in power and close to power should get nervous then there could be consequences as yet unexpected. It depends. Certainly it is not my intention that anyone innocent of a crime should pay if we have anything to say about it … And we do." "You are expecting people to react … possibly overreact to events and therefore you are expecting deaths. If this is indeed a fictional group how can you expect deaths?" Une sighed softly. "The sad truth is that the people who have been using Relena for their own purposes have a tendency to entertain overkill. They have many of their fingers in multiple pies and are not renowned for patience. It is more than possible that they may become concerned at the attention this List will cause and concern could lead to mistakes. They do not know the identity of agents who will be coming after them or the politics of the support groups involved with political terrorism. They as yet do not have any intelligence on this terrorist cell and therefore have no means by which to control it. It is likely that they will over react while they are waiting to be attacked. Overkill in thinking and in action is something they have entertained on prior occasions. To be honest I am surprised they have not over reacted with the situation concerning Relena before now. No, Chang, it is all too possible that one or two people will act before thinking things through or waiting to see what initially develops. It is quite possible that while you begin by investigating a group that do not in fact exist in reality you might well end up investigating corruption at very high levels of the governmental structure and their closest subordinates." "Ah." he murmured. // This bares thinking about. I had not considered the larger picture from this view point. She has raised some valid points.// "Yes." Ahead of them the road suddenly vanished and Lady Une braked gently and fought the wheel to bring the car fishtailing around the sharp corner. Tight lipped she manhandled the vehicle around the S bend and safely to the level stretch at the foot of the hill. "Bitch of a night. Keep on the road you metallic whore and keep your chassis intact." Brown eyes dared to flick in Wu Fei's direction and she shrugged at his arched eyebrow, dismissing her outburst. "There are some very dirty individuals who have been welcomed back into the halls of power in recent months. Politics is a dirty game as a rule and the latest round of elections has been closely observed by Preventers because of the names of some of those who have not only been running in the elections but have actually been winning seats. It is a sad truth that those who do not learn and learn quickly to play by certain rules often find themselves out of the power bases if not out of politics entirely. Quite often those who refuse to play the game in the accepted manner are removed speedily from positions of power and out of the parties generally but occasionally they are kept around in the background as hangers on until a need should present itself. If a fall guy should be required they may find themselves fulfilling that role and little else of note in their entire career. Relena has fallen afoul of such a group of manipulators but she is too useful for them to shunt her into the background. Her popularity amid the colonists and people of the Earth make her a useful tool and Milliardo's survival was the perfect opportunity to contain her to the limits they set. There are those in control of the situation who have intentions of using her to the fullest potential possible and to the detriment of the Peace that we now enjoy. Unless we can counter them they will succeed." "So much for peace." Wu Fei sighed. "I have to wonder if anything at all has changed. Is this peace some illusion?" Lady Une glanced at him, a brief flicker of her eyes to him and then her attention returned to the road. "Bare up, Chang. It is not so bad as that. To stay in this game with a chance at making a difference all we have to do is gain influence with certain people and have them publicly back Relena. If we can effect an efficient and thorough clean up of this mess we might yet keep her in politics though I know that her illusions of a rosy world and cooperation amid the masses are now seen for what they were. Reality has set in and while it is hard to be disillusioned it is also a lesson she needed to learn before she took a step into the big league." "You imply that her position as Vice Foreign Minister is not big league?" "It is a crumb thrown at the feet of the former Queen of the World to keep her amused and accessible. Don't get me wrong, Chang. If we can keep her from going under and losing all of her fight then she might yet make a brilliant politician and suitably groomed she could be an exemplary leader for the pacifist parties. With an older and wiser Relena the pacifists can still regain the ground that they have lost during this power shuffle. The peace is not destroyed yet and I have no intention of having His Excellency's peace wasted. Too many died and far too many people who survived have lost everything that they ever considered to be important to simply give up at the first major hurdle that has reared its ugly head since the Barton business. I had hoped that Marquis Wayridge would back her against certain of the factions now re-entering the political arena. Unfortunately he damaged his standing with her recently but given a little time she may yet come around to being agreeable to working with him again. He is old politics and he knows the ropes better than most. He knows the short cuts, the pit falls and who works for who and who only pretends to work under their supposed controllers. He is quite up to date on the factions working their ways into positions of influence and if Relena is going to be a politician then she is going to have to learn to work alongside people one does not necessarily like on a personal level." Chang waved a hand in the air. "Personally I am very happy not to enter the political arena nor to have ever entertained the notion of considering politics as a career. I do not think I would do very well there. It is far more likely that I would be more inclined to offer someone their foot to eat than give them a civil good day." Une chuckled. "I can see you doing that but don't get me wrong. Despite what I have told you many politicians are actually working for the good of the people. They do want peace. It is simply unfortunate that many of them are young and do not have the required experience to take on those who are old hands at this political dance they employ to keep in power. These younger politicians with fresh outlooks lack only experience and if we can somehow get them working together instead of separately then they can go up against the older factions on something resembling an even standing. Some of the existing older groups in the Council of Representatives can be of use to the peace minded amongst the Council. What we need to accomplish is to somehow manage to get them to talk together and finding out just how much they have in common. The younger politicians are going to have to learn to live with the idea of working around the set formulas that are the accepted method of doing things and in so doing they will stop offering direct insult to the people who can benefit them. Their ignorance of protocol is causing a great deal of tension in certain circles that we do not want to be upset with the peace parties." "Preventers is not supposed to be a political organization." Chang fairly growled, scowling out into the blizzard, clearly displeased by the talk of politics and with the idea that they could lose the peace and return again to the days of bloodshed. "True, Preventers is not a political organization but the truth of the matter is that we need to be aware of the power flows of government and how they change. Think about it, Chang. It has taken barely three years for the power structure that existed during the war to make a come back. I should not need to tell you that is not exactly good for the continuing peace. In order to maintain the peace we need to be aware of every danger to peace that exists. It is not just the rebels and the terrorist factions that cause problems, indeed they are few compared to the true influences that govern the level of peace we enjoy. If we do not keep track of the political parties in power and those making movements to gain influence for later elections then we are asking to have Preventers used by anyone and everyone who stands in a prominent position and not necessarily in preservation of a fair peace for all. That is not what Preventers should be but if we are not careful that is exactly what we could become. We should be the people's right hand dedicated to ensuring peace for everyone, not just another tool for politicians to use in order to better rule the roost." "If what you suggest of the power struggles taking place now is true then I do not see that we will retain the peace as we now enjoy it for even one generation." Une sighed and shook her head slowly. "Unfortunately you are right and that in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is very true, you know. Preventers has a great deal of independence as far as this type of organization is generally set up but we can not expect things to remain static. As things stand we answer to the President of the Earth Sphere and to a select group of advisors. You have to remember that they are all politicians and subject to the foibles of electoral campaigns to retain their positions. Thus far we have been fortunate with the President that we have. What you need to remember is that he has only one more possible term to serve in his capacity as President, if he wins the upcoming elections before we have a new set of elections that he can not contest. As stated in the constitution a president can serve only two successive terms in office before he must step down from power for two successive elections. Politics waits for no man, neither does life. It is vital, considering how quickly events can change in politics that Preventers be aware of the political factions and their views of the state of peace that we currently enjoy. We have a year to watch the reforming political landscape and prepare for a possible transition of power. Should the current President be reelected to his position then we will only have him in power for another four years. It is simply a wise move to watch the political arena and accept that we will not always be graced with a President we are happy to work for. Our job as Preventers is to maintain the Peace no matter who is in charge. That is not to say that we should not be aware in advance of which way the wind will be likely to blow." "What is it that you wish me to do?" He watched her, careful to observe every flicker of emotion that touched her face and eyes. He had not given any of this matter of politics thought and that was clearly a mistake. Like it or not Chang Wu Fei and all of those working with him as Preventers was vulnerable to the winds of political change. He owed her for opening his eyes to the possible consequences. "You need to be aware of what is happening around you at all times. You will find yourself walking the halls of power while you are investigating these threats and you will need to keep in mind that many around you in those halls will not be looking on you with exactly friendly eyes. To begin with you are one of the infamous Gundam pilots and more people than you think are aware of your actual identity. You are accounted as little more than a criminal by some, a child to others and as a tool to everyone you will ever meet there. Be polite, be efficient and above all be careful." He was liking this assignment less with every passing second. Through the white out ahead of the car he glimpsed the suggestion of lights. "What is it you are setting me up for?" "I am not setting you up for anything, Chang. What I am trying to do is warn you of what you are likely to face over the course of this investigation. What is happening on Mars will not be kept quiet forever and we have to remember that the truth will eventually out and heads will roll. It is too big to be ignored and there will be questions asked that must be answered. Be assured that there will be some quick ass covering going on. It would have started the moment the alarm from Mars was raised. Raiders were to get the blame for the mission if it went wrong but that will not work if there are survivors who are not in the pocket of the politicians involved. You can be certain that anything from blackmail to threats against family members of the terra formers team is on the cards in an attempt to keep information from leaking and we have to be prepared for any and all of it. To compound matters there is now the so called Station Alliance to be considered in the mess. I have every intention of keeping the peace, Chang. It is what I promised His Excellency I would do and that is one promise that I intend to keep above everything." "Will I have backup?" "Of course. You will have a team that you can rely on but unfortunately you will not be working with any former Gundam pilot. Barton is off planet at this time and Yuy and Winner are otherwise occupied dealing with security issues that have resulted from the terrorist activities performed this night. To be honest it is probably just as well you will be receiving no assistance from them considering whose toes you might be stepping on. If I can keep you apart from each other in the public eye there may not be quite so much attention focused on you and believe me there will be attention on you. For all that you will not be officially tailed as per the parole agreement with the Council while you are on assignment you will, never the less, be within the sight of the ESUN Security Agency. They will be watching you like a hawk and just waiting for an excuse to step in. Do not give them that excuse. You will have a competent team, the best that I can assemble. Make use of them." "What about Maxwell?" Une shook her head slightly as she negotiated the turn into the blaze of lights that was the gate house of her home. "Forget any thought about having him join you. I have a use for Maxwell. He is already heading out into the area around the asteroid belt in the general vicinity of Mars. Depending on the designated location of this meeting with the Station Alliance is to take place will depend whether or not he remains in his current assignment. We have not been given a great deal of time to prepare security measures and information relays for these talks, no doubt a deliberate ploy by the Alliance. If the proposed meeting between the ESUN and the Alliance is to take place within a reachable distance of Maxwell's current course then he may be diverted there as advanced security for the ESUN representatives. I can not give a definite placement for him until I hear from the Sweepers on that designated location." Wu Fei watched as the car skidded to a stop and the security officer came out from the mass of people swarming about the gates. // I am on my own then except for a team that I do not know if I can rely on or not. She would provide the best that she can spare but how good will that be? Very well then. I will investigate as she wishes me to and I will learn who it is behind this murder of the people on Mars. That is what she wants me to do. Find out who is responsible and a means by which they may be contained. We needed that colony on Mars. The population of the colonies is expanding and so is the population of Earth. We need new resources and we need new colonies. We need them to be secure. // t.b.c.
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