And more

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SEQUENCE PARALLEL: London, England. New European Union. 04:08 hours

Avery Hsiang caught himself staring at the carpet when he realized the man across from him had stopped speaking. He stood up casually, then leaned over the massive black conference table and smiled a very thin smile. “Here we are back at the start - again - Mr. MacKinnon. How many times must I repeat myself? The Shin Roh Corporation denies any complicity in the recent intrusions in your London facility. It is that simple.”

“Our sources indicate those mercenaries were associated with your company and had been in your employ previously on numerous occasions. It is obvious-”

“It is obvious,” Avery cut in, “your ‘sources’ confirm only what you wish to hear. Why suspect the Shin Roh? You invoke confidential protocols and demand this meeting in the middle of the night only to vent anger and preposterous accusations. Our companies have shared several profitable joint ventures in the past. What of the Americans? Your successes in their Argentinean markets must offend them. You know how territorial they are. Perhaps this clumsy burgling is their way of lashing out at you.” Avery Hsiang smoothed down the puckered silk of his coat sleeve. “From your description, the attempt seems rather continental to me.” He sat down again and let his gaze travel over the rich wood paneled walls of the conference room, conjuring a mildly irritated look on his face.



“The ‘attempt’,” Jackson MacKinnon spat, ’ penetrated much further than normal and their equipment was far too sophisticated for simple shoplifters. Nothing vital was taken, of course,” he waved a hand,
“but their presence that far inside our facility betrays a certain level of privileged intelligence.”

Avery ignored the last statement and raised his hands toward the other Arbitrator, “Well, if nothing critical was compromised, why am I here? To waste time and offend us?” he paused. “Or is there something further? Do you require our assistance in some matter? These thieves, these spies… they were all killed, were they not?”

His father told him long ago the trick to getting your hands dirty is never touch anything directly. Avery knew full well the Sprawl scum had been eliminated; his agents confirmed it. He’d also been assured it was an utterly sterile operation; not one shred of tissue or scrap of equipment could be traced back to the Shin Roh. MacKinnon had nothing and they both knew it. Outwardly, he waited for a response, looking patiently at his frayed counterpart who could only glare back. Inwardly, Avery’s mind leapt that his suspicions had been correct: the N3 was real! Otherwise why would Dawson-Hull react so swiftly, demanding an immediate face to face conference? They are scared, Avery thought, scared that we now have their prototype. He glanced down at his watch, in fact, he said to himself, we just might by now.

“No?“ he continued smoothly looking back up, “We both know mercenaries have no loyalty beyond their fees. They are hirelings, whores who perform for money. I promise you Mr. MacKinnon, first thing in the morning I will relay this information and your concerns to the appropriate department. I will say again however, the Shin Roh prides itself in the skills and dedication that render such dishonorable practices irrelevant. Even if extreme necessity demanded it, my company would never contract such amateurs.”

Jackson MacKinnon rose to his feet. “Avery, our investigators are going to sift through every speck of evidence. Forensics experts arrive from Brussels tomorrow, and the Board has granted me full authority in this case.” He snapped his briefcase shut. “We will find the perpetrators Avery, and reprisals will be severe.” He let that hang in the air over the polished obsidian table.

Avery Hsiang shrugged, “I trust your forensics teams are a bit more accurate than your usual ‘sources’, Jackson. We certainly regret the disturbing incident that prompted such an urgent meeting. I assure you, my company stands willing to assist you in apprehending the criminals. The problem of Illegals is a concern for every corporation. But, it is the middle of the night - now if you‘ll excuse me, Mr. MacKinnon.” He picked his case up from the floor and nodded to the bodyguard standing against the paneled wall behind him. Together they left the conference room in silence.

It wasn’t until they were in the lift down to the car that he permitted himself a much larger smile. It was amusing to see the gajin MacKinnon so unnerved. Reprisals? Reprisals meant nothing if he obtained the prototype. If this latest mercenary team was as good as his assistants claimed, in a few short hours the Hegemony would stride the system like a giant, thanks to his initiative. From childhood, his father taught him it was the destiny of the Asian-Pacific Hegemony to rule the affairs of mankind. It was inevitable; and with this, he would be the catalyst for that inevitability. The Board of Directors would recognize his abilities, and with the enormous profits this would yield, if he aligned the proper coalition, even the path to Chairman was open. Yes, he thought, it is destiny. But over the years he had learned that Destiny was only certain when it was seized.

Moments later, Shin Roh Senior Arbitrator Avery Hsiang leaned forward in his limo seat, and hit one of the buttons on the armrest, then spoke into the secure line. “Are they in the air yet?”