Anarchate Vigilante (Vigilante Series 4) by T. Jackson King Page A

parts for their potato digger. Just before the slavers hit her family’s farm. Just before everyone was kidnapped, with her father and three sisters to die on the way to the Flesh Markets of Megil. Only her mother had survived to be sold as a labor slave on the auction block. A sad look from her Mom had been the last Charlotte had seen of her mother Kristen. Later she’d found out that Mom had been sold to an off planet Anarchate official and taken away. Her eyes teared and her nose grew stuffed. She blew her nose, then wiped it with her trembling hand.
    “Resume news broadcast,” she said softly, her skin feeling chill bumps from more than the habitat’s cool air.
    “Thuringia’s Governor Charles Metzenbaum issued a statement saying his citizens had not seen or dealt with Matthew Dragoneaux since the male renegade left Thuringia fifteen years ago. Metzenbaum protested the destruction of the colony’s Memorial Pillar, calling it collective punishment for the alleged actions of a former colonist.”
    The holosphere moved its focus away from a three dee of Metzenbaum to the hoverjet and focused in on the image of the Spelidon named Chai. “Commander Chai of Sector 14 Intelligence said he had invited genome harvester ships to visit his base near the Crab Nebula so he could investigate Dragoneaux’s claims of torture and starvation of captive humans and other species.” The holoimage pulled back to show a real-time image of a white cloud streaked Thuringia with its small moon to one side. “Chai has assured Governor Metzenbaum that if the renegade Dragoneaux is captured, then perhaps the Memorial Pillar could be rebuilt, minus the renegade’s image. Chai also reported the Anarchate is offering a reward of one million platinum Standards for information leading to the capture of Dragoneaux and his warship.”
    Charlotte blinked as the news broadcast came to an end. The Anarchate’s official emblem of the Milky Way pierced by a lightning bolt took shape in the holo. That indicated the broadcast had official endorsement. The wallscreen spoke.
    “Additional news guidance desired?”
    Charlotte grabbed her datapad from the kitchen platform and pointed it at the holosphere. “Transmit that broadcast to datapad Chrlotte4791 . Then provide a timeline graph for the appearance of the name sigil Matthew Dragoneaux in any galactic tachnet broadcast.”
    “Complying.”
    The holosphere widened into the shape of a banner. On it appeared a timeline that began three Belizel months ago. Matt’s name only showed at the beginning of the timeline. “Extend timeline back to twelve months from the present.”
    “Complying. Revised timeline presented.”
    Her brother had been busy! The timeline first showed Matt’s name associated with a Vigilante action at planet Halcyon in Sigma Puppis system. That was followed months later by a mention of Omega Casino’s destruction in system Zeta Serpentis and the Belizel symbol for a question next to Matt’s name. Months later his name was co-associated with the Commerce Station destruction in system CC1939, Omega Centauri cluster, Norma Arm. A gap of six months showed empty on the timeline. Then multiple name IDs showed up at Alkalurops C and Megil, 51 Pegasi’s second planet loss, the Memorial Pillar destruction, then a final Belizel question by his name with system CC93721. The last entry showed the star lay close to the Crab Nebula. The entry carried an Anarchate Interdict icon. Which meant no one was allowed to visit the star’s location. Why?
    “Screen, transmit this timeline to datapad Charlotte4791.”
    “Complying.” In a second the holosphere blinked green. “Proceed to next news item from Thuringia?”
    “Yes.”
    That was a short broadcast by Governor Metzenbaum who looked angry, upset but in charge as he told his fellow Thuringians that the Memorial Pillar would be rebuilt as soon as Commander Chai messaged him the approval. Metzenbaum then asked citizens to pass on to him