Prakash gasped.
“I can’t believe it,” said Kline.
“We have also apprehended a man who gave them access to the compound. He confirmed Lord Henneson’s involvement, after some interrogation.”
If only Alastair had listened to her and stayed away from the observatory. She didn’t want to risk losing him to some stray bullet. But he was too stubborn. Granted, even she didn’t think there could be a working camera in the compound. The railroad was moving so fast, and they were dealing with technologies not used in her lifetime. How could they possibly have anticipated this?
“This is an unusual situation,” continued Zarnik. “Lord Henneson will be held for trial in the coming weeks. Given the overwhelming evidence of malfeasance, in accordance with our bylaws, his vote on the council of lords will be deemed in absentia until such time as he is found guilty. When he is sentenced his seat will be up for reelection.”
“Thank you Zarnik,” Meeker said, “and well done. This is truly a shocking development, that one of our own lords would be involved in this raid. We must be steadfast in prosecuting him for this crime, so that he is measured by the law as any other common citizen.”
Zarnik nodded. “The evidence you and honorable Lord Bartz has provided has been crucial to our investigation. Your team should be recognized for its vigilance.”
Madison tried not to roll her eyes at all self-congratulatory remarks. Even Bartz seemed to tire of the display. “Let’s move on,” Bartz said, waving his hand.
When Zarnik went to sit down on the exterior pews, Madison was feeling quite isolated at the lords table. How would she be able to have any influence as the sole dissenter to Bartz’s machinations? Hopefully Alastair’s efforts wouldn’t be in vain. It would take months to rebuild the dish.
The recorder began. “The main objective of today’s meeting is an update on defense preparations and to convey any further intelligence about the threat from the Essentialists. Lord Meeker, you have the floor.”
Meeker nodded to his cleric, who came to the table and distributed some printed materials. “What you have in front of you is the updated Seeville Defense Plan,” he said. “It includes new resource allocations and intelligence. I will not go through all the details with you here, but I will highlight the most important and urgent component, which is on page seven.”
Madison quickly shuffled to the seventh page, which was titled “Operation Prudent Liberty.” Based on the name alone, she knew she wasn’t going to like it.
“Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense,” Meeker explained. “We have decided we shouldn’t wait for Essentialist forces to attack wherever we are weakest, and whenever we least expect it. Instead we should do a preemptive strike at the center of their operations, where they are marshaling resources for their offensive, and destroy their momentum and ambition in the process. It will be a strike at the heart of their military infrastructure at the town of Grand Caverns.”
“Ten thousand men?” Madison asked, holding the paper up for all to see with her finger on the line item. “All equipped with rifles? Ten Old World tanks you have managed to restore? This is a massive force!” Madison said with some apprehension.
“Yes. We believe we can achieve an overwhelming victory early, which will ultimately prevent future casualties.”
“Overwhelming victory, or overkill? With all due respect, honorable Lord Meeker, except for a few years ago, the Essentialists have never attacked us. I believe they are building up their forces, as your intelligence suggests, but how do you know they are intent on attacking us? Maybe we are starting a war that doesn’t need to be started?”
“We are certain they intend to attack us. We have spies that have infiltrated their camp.”
“Yes, yes, you have asked us to trust you with that intelligence. But if I recall you said yourself you haven’t reached their inner sanctum. You don’t know what the higher levels of authority are thinking in Grand Caverns.”
“It’s plainly obvious. We know their culture.”
Bartz interjected, speaking to all the lords. “Meeker shared the updated proposal with me earlier. I believe victory is virtually assured. We are fighting against a backward people, bows and arrows. There is nothing to worry about. Loss of life will be minimal.”
Meeker said, “That’s right. We believe we can win with less than five hundred casualties.”
“On our side,” Madison said.
“That’s right.”
“And how many casualties on their side? How many of these people do we have to murder because we haven’t tried some sort of diplomatic resolution?”
Meeker had a look of repugnancy on his face. “You want us to negotiate? With the SLS?”
Bartz again weighed in. “It’s not important, really. These are savages. Don’t get me wrong, we will try to spare as many lives as possible, but remember, we are saving these people from their tyrannical leaders. They need us to help them escape from their Essentialist brainwashing. The sooner we can do that, the better. Some of them will die, but much fewer than if this becomes an all-out war. In fact, they can eventually become Spoke citizens, given enough time and teaching. Eventually, we can even expand the railroad to the west.”
There it was, Bartz’s ambition shining through—an opportunity to expand his business empire through vast swaths of territory. “And how do you think this will be perceived by other Essentialist establishments in the west? The Tucson Union? The Prefectorate?” Madison asked. “Don’t you think it will heighten their awareness of us as a threat, given we are attacking them unprovoked? There are many millions of them in the west. The Prefectorate and the Union may not be as advanced as us, but they are well organized.”
Bartz shook his head. “Don’t be so naïve. The SLS have no loyalty. If anything, this show of strength will make many of them defect to our side. And trust me, within a few months our military will be virtually unstoppable.” He cast a knowing look at Meeker.
“If that’s the case why don’t we wait? We need to at least try some form of diplomacy.”
“Enough of this!” Meeker said. “It would give up the element of surprise, and they could attack at any time. You have said your piece, Lord Banks, but this is what we are going to do. Let’s move on to other elements of the plan.”
“Shouldn’t we discuss this more?” Madison turned to the other council members. “Prakash, Kline—do you have an opinion?”
Prakash looked back and forth between Meeker and Madison like some sort of caged animal. She said, “I’m comfortable with it.” And then she looked down at the papers, as if continuing to review it. Kline just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think it’s going to make much difference talking about it any further.”
“Good, let’s move on from this issue,” Meeker said.
Madison had no more standing to argue. She wondered if there was any cause for which Prakash and Kline would develop a proper spine. If they couldn’t consider the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, what could they stand up for?
Meeker said, “I recommend we take ten minutes—” Bartz flashed five fingers, “I mean five minutes—to review the rest of the plan. If there are any reasonable questions we can then field them before going to vote.”
Madison went back to perusing the proposal, this time with urgency. It was only a high level overview. The budget had been again doubled and recruiting efforts increased. Partnerships had been established with Raleigh, Harrisburg and Lynchburg. Detailed intelligence was hard to find in the report. She suspected many of the tactical operations were deliberately left out. Meeker and Bartz essentially had the council in their pocket. There was little need for detailing anything that might qualify as proper diligence.