Captain Telnik got a priority ssage from Gomgom, and answered at once. "Gomgom?"
"Captain." Gomgom's voice was flat. "Jacob Tomsun is dead."
Telnik blinked a few tis, unsure he had heard right. "Repeat."
"Jacob Tomsun is dead."
Telnik held back his reaction for the mont. "How?"
"Incompetence, theirs and ours. They were trying to kidnap him, as expected. We thought we were ready. Sohow, one of them got past Dalvag's team and shot him in the brain. He's gone."
"The killers?"
"Captured. Interrogating now. The death was apparently accidental."
Telnik took a breath. "Find out who ordered the kidnapping, and get ready to take them out. I need to talk to the Boss and find out how much revenge he wants."
"I'm sorry, Captain. I have no excuse."
"For Howorld's sake, make sure his litter-mate is safe and keep her that way! We'll discuss this later."
"Yes, Captain."
Telnik ended the comm.
He took a few monts to gather his thoughts, but didn't dawdle. I need to break the news before Petra decides to do it tactlessly or sothing. "Petra, please call Nick Tomsun."
"Nick asked not to be disturbed, Captain Telnik," Petra replied.
"Is he asleep?"
"No."
"Then tell him it's important. He will want to hear this as soon as possible."
He waited. Several monts later, the Boss opened a comm. His fur was askew and he wore no clothing visible on screen. His face wore an expression that was hard to read. His voice ca out as a harsh snap. "Who killed him?"
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not ant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Blue lichen. Petra already told him. "We're working on it now."
"Is my sister safe?"
"Yes, and we're doubling the security on her."
He heard the Boss' mate asking, "My family!?"
"Maggie's family?" Boss repeated.
"Under local protection hired by your friend, supplented by our drones."
"I thought you said you had adequate protection on them?"
"I thought we did. I failed you, Boss."
Nick Tomsun glared at him for a few monts—or maybe it wasn't at him, precisely. "Other people are going to try, on more targets. More distant relatives, friends. Find out who did this, and punish them very publicly, swiftly, and hard enough that they regret it. Hard enough that they can't try again. Hard enough that others are scared to try. Do you understand , Captain Telnik?"
"I do."
"Then I'll leave the details to you. Let know when it's done. Tell if you want to send another public ssage."
"Yes, Boss. I'll get moving on that now."
The Boss ended the comm.
Telnik let out a sigh. That could have gone worse. He had half-expected that Tomsun would demand sothing too severe as punishnt, and he would have had to try to talk him down. He left the severity of the punishnt to . Which, given the kid's usual caution, says a lot. I'd better not disappoint him.
Gomgom reported in after a while. The order had co from a provincial governnt. Telnik confird that there was no mistake, then considered his options.
Not too many deaths, or else we'll start a cycle of retribution. Hurt the decision-makers in ways they care about. Make them regret it.
"Petra?"
"Yes, Captain Telnik?"
"Locate the headquarters of the intelligence agency for that province, please."
"Located."
Make sure they can't try again, Boss said.
"Petra, prepare to erase all the data in the computers of that agency, including all backups. Locate their primary physical data storage units. Paper, or whatever it is they use."
"Locating."
"Give the locations of the data storage units to Gomgom as additional targets. Then ask him whether he needs an orbital strike or not."
"Yes, Captain Telnik."
"Thank you, Petra."
That will leave them unable to try again, or to do much of anything to other provinces for a good while. Is that enough punishnt for the leaders, though? Telnik referenced the list of assassination targets for that province, and added a couple of nas. Now so hardware. Sothing very expensive, but able to be evacuated. Hm. Which of their biggest warships is in port currently...?
Telnik considered his preparations. It was important for retribution to be swift. Shall I make the announcent myself? If the general perception is that this is rciful, better for the Boss to do it...but I'm not sure which way that will go. He said to contact him, but I think he probably doesn't want to be disturbed right now if it's not necessary. His sire was just murdered, after all.
Fine. He started a recording. "People of Earth..."
Reviews
All reviews (0)