Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

bunch of mercenaries and gathered quickly around for a bit of putting the boot in. He should have had more faith in the ability of the Wolfes and Cardinal Kassar to screw up everything they touched. He looked again at Flynn, covering the chaos before him with practiced ease. The camera was currently hovering high above the confusion, with Flynn seeing everything it saw through his comm implant link. It scooted back and forth as Flynn's attention was caught by each new outbreak of violence. For all his faults, and he had many, Flynn was an excellent cameraman.

    Of course, he'd become unbearably cocky and insufferable since the amazing reception of the first broadcast. Toby was just glad the man hadn't turned up in a black basque and feather boa, like he'd threatened.
    "Heads up, chief," said Flynn quietly. "Something wicked this way comes."
    Toby looked around and winced inwardly as he saw Kassar striding determinedly toward them. He felt a distinct twinge of unease, but was careful to keep it out of his face. People like Kassar seized on weaknesses. He bowed formally to Kassar and gave him a smile so natural he almost fooled himself.
    "Good morning, Cardinal. Isn't it a lovely day? I think the early autumn is the closest Technos III has to civilized weather. Until the razorstorms start, of course. Now, how may we assist you?"
    "You can start by turning that damned camera off until we've got things under control."
    "Sorry, Cardinal," said Toby pleasantly, "your superiors' orders were quite specific. They wanted us to cover everything that happens here today."
    Kassar snorted, but had enough sense to say nothing. He'd seen the orders. The Church had felt the need for a propaganda piece to back up its ongoing negotiations for increased influence at Court, and Toby and Flynn and the Technos III Faithful had seemed the safest bet for good ratings. They'd also hoped that a well-viewed piece showing the great skills and discipline of the Church troops might go some way to restoring the damage done by Toby and Flynn's previous piece. Kassar could have told them… but as usual, no one had asked him.
    His fists were clenched so tight he could feel the nails driving into his palms, but he made himself smile frostily at the two newsmen.
    "Of course. Make sure you get some good footage. But I want to see every inch of your tape before it gets broadcast. The Church has very kindly supplied me with
    new equipment, specifically designed to detect such things as palimpsests. Or anything else you might try to sneak past me."
    Confident that this time at least he'd got the last word, Kassar turned and stalked back to his milling troops, clearing his aching throat. This time, they were going to listen. Or else. Lots of all else. Flynn watched him go.
    "Do you think we should have reminded him this is going out live?"
    "Not our fault if he doesn't read his own orders carefully," said Toby briskly.
    "I can't believe they made that idiot a Cardinal."
    "Family connections," said Flynn.
    "Isn't it always?" said Toby. "The man's a bully and a blowhard. Do even his own men like him?"
    "Are you kidding? It's only the Jesuit commandos that have kept his men from slipping a fragmentation grenade into his toilet bowl. And even the Jesuits are getting pretty fed up with him. Still, he has his admirers in the hierarchy.
    After all, utter ruthlessness is what gets you on in the Church of Christ the Warrior."
    "Good point. Does Kassar ever go into battle alongside his troops, or is he strictly a rear echelon sheep-botherer?"
    "Give the man his due, he does like to be in the thick of things. I don't believe he's missed a single battle since he got here. Offer him a chance to kill as many people as he can get his hands on and he's as happy as a clam."
    Flynn paused, and looked thoughtful. "Which is a strange expression, when you think about it. Are clams renowned for being particularly happy?"
    "Don't change the subject."
    "What was the subject?"

    "I forget," said Toby. "Just keep filming. Things seem finally to be calming down, unfortunately. Maybe he threatened them all with mass crucifixions."
    "Wouldn't surprise me. I just hope he gives me time to set up some proper lighting first."
    Toby sighed. "There goes our chance of hanging onto our ratings. He'll get it all under control, everyone will obey orders and play nicely together, and our viewers will change channels in droves. There's no justice."
    And that was when everything went to hell in a