Katz stood in Red Square, watching the emergency crews rushing too and fro, picking up the pieces of the shattered ramparts.
The damage had been contained to just one section of the Kremlin around the shattered remains of Spasskaya Tower, where now, flashing emergency lights and SAR storms were buzzing too and fro like angry bees over a disturbed nest.
"My Ikon," Colonel Antropov approached the silent and brooding figure that stood on the Kremlin's battlements watching the aftermath of the disaster.
"Speak Comrade," Katz said in his usual quiet tones.
"The Zoners are landing at the northern pad, we're bringing them in under heavy escort in case any of our men attempt a retaliatory attack." There was a tension in the air, the whole Coalition poised on a knifes edge, the volatile people who demanded revenge. The Shadowy Commissars watching and waiting with their own ambitions. And, at the top, the Ikon set high upon an impossible pedestal, trying not to think of a fall.
"Have them brought here," Katz said, keeping his eyes on the destruction. "I want them to see with their own eyes, what has been done."
Xavier Triton's transport landed on the northern pad with few issues. Escort was tight but efficient. Something to say about Coalition discipline no doubt, despite the situation.
Xavier addressed his crew.
"All crew are ordered to stay confined to the ship until I return. Escort will most likely be provided by Coalition forces and I don't intend to give them any false impressions. In the meantime I suggest you all finish up on any duties you have and proceed for whatever R&R you can manage. This may take a while."
And with that, Xavier proceeded down the docking ramp of the ship towards the Coalition envoy in wait.
Xavier saw a man with the displayed rank of Colonel at the head of the group. The man made a slight welcoming nod.
Xavier returned the same and then addressed the Colonel.
"Colonel I would wager, if I know my Coalition insignia. Ambassador Xavier Triton, but you can just call me Xavier. The title was given not chosen if you get my drift. At any rate shall we proceed? I am eager to see the Premier."
As the Kremlin came into view, the Storm's speed slowed considerably. The vessel slowly circled the area of the Kremlin that had been attacked, seemingly giving Victor time to absorb the scene before it altered course to the landing pads to the north.
As the vessel approached the pads, Victor watched as Triton's transport finished its landing procedures. A single individual, Triton, exited the vessel and was approached by a group of soldiers. No doubt there to ensure the man came to no harm. Victor looked around at the soldiers who had been assigned to protect him; he knew that the only thing that was stopping them from running him through in a fit of rage was fear of what Katz would have done to them for doing it.
The Coalition wasn't as it was on his last visit; gone were the warm, welcoming greetings. Replaced by looks of disdane and hate. Victor could see in their eyes that they blamed him for what had transpired at the Kremlin.
A large jolt brought Victor's mind back to the here and now, standing and moving down the ramp onto the landing pads.
"Colonel, Ambassador," greeting both men, "Let's not keep the Premier wating any longer."
Katz heard them approaching, climbing the stone steps towards the ramparts where he stood, resting his elbows upon the red brickwork staring across Red Square towards the GYM department store, at the massive broadcast screen mounted to it, somewhat similar to a jumbotron. Displaying the news on repeat, again and again.
"...Unmitigated and undeclared State of War..." The voice boomed across the square.
Katz wearily stood from his vantage point, turning in the warm late spring air, to face the two Ambassadors. Drawing a deep ragged breath as he walked forward.
"Xavier," he greeted, trying his best to manage the Papal greeting Doc Holliday had taught him.
Before shaking Victor's hand warmly, "Victor. I know this is not your first visit to the Kremlin, and I know in the past I have been... more hospitable, but the circumstances..." he turned his head along the walls to the far end, where the tower still smouldered.
"You are, no doubt, wondering as I am, as to what is going on," he said, leading the way along the wall towards an upper level command post, where Coalition Soldiers were attempting to co-ordinate rescue operations.
"And I will tell you what I know. When the blast was detonated, the State Duma was in full session," he pointed to the Grand Kremlin Palace, where one of the walls had collapsed, and fires still smouldered. "And a tour group of school children were returning to their shuttles through the Spasskaya Tower. It is believed that one of the Chaperones of that group of Children was carrying an explosive device..."
Katz shook his head, "And this is where things get confused. How an explosive device got into the Kremlin at all is beyond me. We have some of the tightest security in Sirius, a device capable of breaching our security has to be of either Alien origin, or so highly advanced it... well I will allow the Coalition's Technology expert explain."
The reached the Command outpost, where a holographic image of a slightly befuddled doctor was pacing too and fro, smoking a cigarette and clutching a mug of tea.
"Doctor XiaoBei, I believe you know both Mister Cross and the Ambassador..." Katz introduced.
XiaoBei gave his usual nod, before completely ignoring both of them. "Ikon, I might have a solution as to how the explosive device was smuggled into the Kremlin."
Katz raised an eyebrow, "Do tell."
"I can do one better than that, my Ikon, look up..."
Katz looked up, as a roar of air buffeted the group, whipping coats back and hair out of place, a second later an eerie alien chime reverberated through the air, and a Coalition Storm phased out of Cloak over the ramparts. It pivoted in the air and shot skywards again, it's demonstration over.
"A cloaking device?" Katz remarked. "A cloaked bomb?"
"Not a bomb," XiaoBei stated. "Note the explosion pattern, and the damage. A bomb crater would scatter debris in a circular fashion... this is not a circle."
Katz walked a little to the side of the ramparts, taking a better look. "If it wasn't a bomb then..."
"A cloaked cruise missile, low yield... it'd have to be low yield... too much of the missile would have to be dedicated to fuel for the cloaking device... then the device itself. You'd have a very small warhead..." XiaoBei shrugged. "The technology level required for an attack of this magnitude..."
"I was told this was Zoners," Katz stated, gesturing to the two Ambassadors, "I have ships... in Omega-49!"
"It was the Deuterium used in the warhead." XiaoBei said. "It could only come from Omega-49."
Katz stared down at the conundrum and then back at the Ambassadors. "Care to offer your conjecture?"
Xavier frowned at the destruction before him. Such an atrocity...
He then turns to the Premier,
"Premier, firstly let me say that I am so sorry for your loss. It is always the worst kind of
tragedy when the innocent pay for the ambitions of the wicked."
Xavier moves closer to the Premier and takes on a serious tone.
"I can understand your suspicion but know that all Zoners are aware of the balance of Power in this part of Sirius. It is not in the Zoners best interest to make an enemy of the Coaliton, when you have been such peaceful and supportive neighbors."
"The fact that Deuterium was used in the warhead's construction leads me to believe that someone who has rights in the trade of Deuterium is responsible for this calamity. Whether this was a Zoner or not I cannot say for certain but I can say that no real Zoner would put themselves or Gran Canaria at risk like this."
"I would theorize that this is a deception to make you believe the perpetrator is a Zoner so the real perpetrator can get off scot-free. The fact that the Kremlin was bombed could be an indication that this was a politically driven move. Someone out there could want us fighting amongst each other. "
Xavier pauses to allow Victor Cross and Premier Katz a chance to speak...
"The deuterium no doubt came from Gran Canaria." Turning and looking out over the chaos below, Victor tapped his hands on the railing before continuing, "The vessel that fired the missle would have had to enter the planets atmosphere to do so; none of the cloaking technology I've seen is capable of functioning during an atmospheric entry." Turing and facing XiaoBei, "Canaria is the closest source of fuel and cloaking both the vessel and missle would require a great deal of deuterium."
"If I was to say that I was sure this was not the act of a Zoner, I'd be lying." Looking Xavier in the eyes, "I can assure you, Premier, that if this was the act of a Zoner; they are Zoner only in that their papers say they are, not in spirit. Your soldiers would have very little left to take their revenge on if some of our more..........abrasive brothers and sisters got their hands on them."
"If we are to follow Xavier's line of thinking, who would see us standing at one another's throats with knifes drawn?"
The Premier folded his arms, looking perplexed as he studied the two men in front of him.
"Granted, there are many enemies out there who want the Coalition exterminated. Those that would surely benefit from any kind of conflict... however I think we need to take more time... examine the scene and find more evidence."
Katz gestured to a Commissar, "I want a Zoner CSI involved in the investigation, perhaps they can shed more light on things."
He inclined his head, "I will order my forces to stand down for the time being... while we try to figure this mess out."
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