Better to wait for the time when everyone was going home before trying to move
anywhere farther.
He reminded himself not to borrow any government vehicles. Their rental rate
was more than he wished to pay.
He wished the night would come, and with it the shadows that would offer some
concealment.
113
XXXII
THE PURPLE-SHADED squares on the map represented the territory controlled by
the government, territory being enlarged by the DomSecs day by day. The light
green represented the shrinking area of rebel control.
Gerswin frowned, shook his head, and folded the latest version of the thin
plastic into a small oblong which he stored in the thigh pocket of the
shipsuit he wore under the winter furs.
"Forsenia rebel file. Interrogative projections."
"Insufficient data."
Gerswin nodded again. He couldn't expect the AI of a scout, even his
overendowed scout, to have the capability of a tactical AI, but he had hoped.
Despite the advantage of terrain, despite the advantage of surprise, and
despite the tactics and stupidity of the DomSec commanders, the rebels were
losing, bit by bit, kilometer by kilometer.
Even without the tanks and drones of the security forces, the rebels had more
than adequate weapons, and the DomSecs were so careless about theirs and their
supplies that neither weapons nor ammunition were a problem. The rebels had,
thanks to the bestmeat plant, local flora, and the carelessness of the
government troop:. more than adequate food. And no one liked the DomSecs.
Gerswin paused in his mental summary.
At the same time, few of the Forsenians actually hated the security forces or
the government. They were minor evils to be endured, like the winter, the
snows, the continual freezing temperatures.
Did freedom require an inborn hatred of control and government?
He shook his head tiredly.
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What in Hades was he really doing: And why? What would a revolution on
Forsenia do for either ecological development or Old
Earth?
He had had a reason when he started. Hadn't he?
He shook his head again, and stood, gathering the winter furs around him as he
walked toward the lock. Regardless of the questions, he could not leave
unfinished what he had started, not yet, at least.
Thumbing the lock stud, he waited for the lock to open fully, before slipping
out into the darkness, out onto the thin skis, and into a ground-covering pace
toward the town ten kilos to the west.
He expected to arrive there before the small DomSec garrison began the day,
perhaps in time to liberate quietly a disrupter or two, or something equally
effective.
114
XXXIII
ANATOL SHEFSIN PURSED his lips as his brown cues passed over the two men who
stood oil the opposite side of the bank of data screens from him.
Yes?"
"You asked about the Imperial reaction, First Citizen."
"I did. It seemed likely that no quarantine would result so long as the unrest
involved neither ships nor heavy weapons. Is that the Imperial position?"
Shefsin's brown eyes were as hard and shiny as the polished brown fabric of
his tunic and trousers.
He waited without apparent impatience.
"Basically," answered the blocky man in the dark black tunic used in place of
a uniform by all senior
DomSec officers on Forsenia. "There were words about evaluations and status of
the government, but the
Imperial office did not seem enthusiastic about recommending a quarantine."
"Refreshing change," observed Shefsin dryly. "Of course, it couldn't have
anything to do with the shortfalls an Imperial revenues, could it?"
Neither subordinate ventured an answer. Both stood as if they would stand in
the same position until dismissed or forever.
"Of course not," Shefsin answered himself. "The Empire is as it has always
been, insisting on our pro-rata share, holding itself as our sole protection
against the alien horrors of the galaxy. In the meantime, population pressures
around . . ." The First Citizen waved an arm toward the exit portal. "You may
go. You have done your duty, and well, and the Republic appreciates it. More
importantly, I appreciate it."
Both DomSecs inclined their heads slightly.
"Thank you, First Citizen."
"Thank you, First Citizen."
Shefsin watched and waited until both men had departed before smiling.
He recalled the plans he had studied earlier, the ones for the Republic's
first armed jumpships.
Before long, before long, the Empire would have to pull back from the
Forsenian sector.
The Atey rebellion was fortunate in many ways, he reflected, particularly if
he could prolong the conflict until the new heavy weapons complex was in full
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