How to get rid of adversaries

By COL Callista

 

The Thyferran State Opera was crowded this day, a rather unusual event considering the lack of respect for culture most of Thyferra’s population showed. ‘The flying Cyborrean’ was shown today, especially for the representatives of the Cyborrean delegation that had arrived on Thyferra the day before. Senator Avian was sitting in the box of honor of the Opera along with other men and women who seemed to enjoy the performance of the Thyferran State Orchestra.

 

Callista D’Omàh wasn’t interested in the music at all, even if she usually was very fond of it. She pretended to be fully consumed by the singer’s passionate devotion for his role, but her thoughts and attention were some place else.

 

Senator Fhakul was sitting on the balcony and watched the stage intently. His wife and eldest son had accompanied him this evening and were sitting to his right and left. Mrs. Fhakul was looking through an operaglass, even though the stage was only about 20 meters away from them. Callista didn’t blame her. The singer on the stage was far more attractive than her husband.

 

Callista wondered if Fhakul was as disgusting as a husband as he was as a senator. Ever since Calli had joined the Thyferran Senate, he had picked on her being a woman, and it had got even worse after she’d brought Thyferra into the Emperor’s Hammer. Fhakul had tried to prevent that, but his failure at that didn’t hinder him from boycotting Calli wherever he could. It was time he stopped bickering. It was time for him to die.

 

Someone in one of the upper boxes was observing her every move. A dark figure behind the curtains had smuggled a wide range blaster into the opera and was awaiting her sign.

 

Calli yawned. She wasn’t tired of course.

 

Fhakul’s head rocked twice when the precise shots hit him. Then he slumped into his seat as though his limbs were numb. His wife was the first to scream. Then panic spread over the audience. Pointless panic. The assassin was long since gone.

 

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Avian looking at her curiously. She met his gaze and a trace of a smile was playing around her lips.

 

‘Senator, we urge you to leave this place now.’ One of her two bodyguards said.

 

Without a word, she got up from her seat and followed them outside.

 

***

 

‘Senator Avian from Cyborrea here to see you, Miss D’Omàh.’

 

Calli looked up from the sheets she was studying and at her secretary.

 

‘Let him in.’

 

A minute later, Avian entered, not dressed in his formal senator’s robe, but instead in usual daywear. He went up to her desk and bowed. Calli got up from her chair to greet him. Avian immediately took her hand and kissed it.

 

‘Mylady..’

 

Calli chuckled.

 

‘Why the formalities, Ave? I don’t believe you’re here for business.’

 

‘No, indeed I ain’t. I am here to give you an advise.’

 

‘Oh?’ Calli offered her friend a seat, but he apparently preferred to stand, so Calli halfway sat on her desk.

 

‘Callista, the Imperial Senate of the EH cannot afford losing a support like you just now. You shouldn’t walk around having your adversaries killed when there’s a danger the suspicion will fall upon you.’

 

Ave looked concerned.

 

‘There won’t be a proof, Ave. I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t too fond of him.’

 

‘I’m only asking you to be careful about these things, Cal.’

 

At that moment, Cal’s secretary entered the room again.

 

‘Excuse me, Miss D’Omàh, Sir, there’s another gentleman who wishes to have a word with you. He seems quite ... agitated.’

 

Cal looked at Ave and he looked back at her.

 

‘Well, I’m sure he can wai..’

 

‘Miss, he says it’s extremely urgent.’

 

Calli sighed.

 

‘Well then, let him in.’ She looked at Ave. ‘Sorry for that.’

 

He nodded understandingly.

 

Calli’s color of skin changed to a whiter shade of pale. The young man who entered her office was Fhakul’s son. He was breathing hard and had an insane flicker in his eyes.

 

‘What can I do for you, Mr. ...?’

 

‘My name’s Fhakul, Eero Fhakul and I suggest we have a little chat alone, just you and me, Senator.’ He pointed at Avian.

 

‘There’s nothing I hide from my friend here. He can hear what you have to tell me. My condolences about your dad by the way.’

 

Eero suddenly drew a blaster from under his jacket and pointed it at Callista.

 

‘Oh, shut up already! I know damn well you had him murdered, you crazy bit---‘

 

All of a sudden, he was smashed against the wall by a short-distance blaster shot. He hit the floor hard, but he didn’t feel the pain of that anymore.

 

When Cal looked at Ave quite shocked, he’d already hidden the blaster in one of his pockets again.

 

‘See, I told you having adversaries assassinated causes problems. You owe me one.’

 

And with that, he left Cal with a corpse in her office.

 

Her secretary came in after she’d heard the noise.

 

‘What in the name of...’ she started.

 

‘Just call the police, will you?’

 

The secretary looked at Cal in surprise, then turned and left the room.

 

Cal sat back in her chair. Ave had been right. Killing an adversary only caused problems.

 

Next time she’d make sure she killed the whole family.

 

SEN Callista (Thyferra) [LXY: Rouge]

CMDR/COL Callista/Typhoon/Wing X/ISD Challenge