Full Transparency ( A Bone Angel Extra)

Bureaucracy, lies and the beginning of the Hunt.

This little story is an updated version of an extra called “How It All Began,” which sets the stage for events in The Bone Angel series and introduces its bureaucratic underpinnings. As we prepare for the release of Series 3 and the standalone volumes of Series 1 and 2, here’s a look back at the pen stroke that launched the hunt for Lilywhite.

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In the beginning, there was paperwork.

In a glass-fronted room filled with the chill sunlight of early spring, a document rests upon a glossy oakwood tabletop. Printed on tissue thin, pale blue paper embossed with the raven seal of the Directorate of the Three Domains, this document outlines the tasking for an audacious and sensitive mission.

From the desk of Major Simon Flescher, Director, The Directorate of the Three Domains:

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL:
Black Ice Level Six, Operation GodsDeath

Mission Target, Earthside:

Laurence Wilhite, AKA “Lilywhite”

Assigned Personnel:

Ruan Corvane, The Free Company of the Wild Hunt (Contractor)

Directorate Special Ops Black Ice Six HUNTER

Claudia Merrin, Senior Runner, Moon Road Division

Directorate and Earthside MISSION LIAISON

Operational Parameters:

FAESIDE :

Directorate HQ, Citadel Isle, The Ruby Court

Field Branch 1: City of Spire, The Shadowlands

EARTHSIDE:

Soledad City, America West Sector 20

Cristobal Canyon Gateway

OPERATIONAL GOALS:

To neutralize attempts to free, abet or weaponize a group of criminal entities known as the Lost Gods, currently contained in a Moon Road pocket sealed by order of the Governing Council of the Three Domains.

To eliminate the Earthsider Laurence Wilhite, known professionally as Lilywhite, who is actively working with unknown entities to break this seal and return these individuals to the Earthside.

To prevent destabilization of the Moon Road and preserve the safety and security of populations and institutions on both sides of the Road.

OFFICIAL TASKING:

Locate and eliminate Earthsider Laurence Wilhite/Lilywhite. He is an influencer who uses his podcast to rally members of The Brotherhood, a worldwide group of Earthside males who expect the Lost Gods to facilitate the return of an ancient and primitive Right Order to the Earthside.

Additional Directives (per Major Flescher):

Agents are expected to collect and report any available information leading to the identity of Faeside and Earthside entities who are providing aid and support to Lilywhite in his mission to open the way for the Lost Gods.

Agents on the ground shall assume assigned aliases and identities and maintain them with glamour as needed until mission directives are achieved. Per Directorate mandates, agents shall maintain confidentiality at all times and respect Directorate guidance on interactions with native Earthsiders.

In view of the high stakes nature of this mission, agents on the ground are expected to take any measures necessary (within Directorate guidelines) to accomplish the goals of the operation.

We request and require the full approval of the Governing Council of this Directorate to initiate operational activities for timely mission outcomes.

Sign and date below, please keep a copy for your records.

At the bottom of the page are three lines, inked in black. Two of these lines hold signatures, scrawled in the flowing, elegant script of the Ruby Court.

The third line is blank.

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In an austere, beige colored office on the top floor of the main Directorate Compound on Citadel Isle, a bespectacled individual with mild blue eyes and close cropped indigo hair picks up a sleek Greengrove phone.

He knows what’s coming.

“Yes, Lord Shayle?”

“You expect me to sign off on this?”

Major Simon Flescher draws a breath, willing himself to patience.

“Yes, my lord. The other members of the Council have done so. With your signature, the Directorate can proceed.”

Lord Artem Shayle, head of the Directorate’s Governing Council, wastes no time. “Of course the mission is solid. We can’t have those creatures running loose on the Moon Road again. But Simon— you can’t mean to use Ruan Corvane for this!”

Flescher’s fingers tighten on the phone. “The framework is already in place. And he is the best choice for the job.”

“I’m sure you know who his father is.”

Everybody knows who his fucking father is. Flescher makes himself speak calmly. “My understanding is that he is estranged from the family. Disowned, even. He is a professional mercenary, now contracted to us.”

“Come on,” Shayle snaps. “He may be disgraced, but if anything happens to him, you’ll have the House of Vane after the Directorate, and this Council, like a pack of wolves.”

“You mean after you, my lord?” Flescher winces. That came out way more snarky than it should have.

Shayle blusters on. “Daneel Corvane is a legal adviser to the Queen’s Court. And I’m on her Board of —”

Flescher removes his glasses, rubs his forehead. “Corvane is a Hunter, trained and skilled. We’ve used him for much riskier jobs than this.”

“Without informing me.” Shayle’s voice is taut with irritation.

“Internal Directorate business, my lord,” A career spent placating the gaudy Sunborn aristos holding the purse strings has taught Flescher this reasonable tone. “Need to know only, for security purposes. I’m sure you understand. But this is a crossworld operation that requires Council approval. So we’ve opted for full transparency.”

A long pause.

“We all want this Lilywhite thing handled quickly. Don’t we?”

Shayle draws a breath, loudly audible through the phone. “We do.”

“Of course we do!” Flescher says heartily. “And we know Corvane’s just the one to handle it. It’s only an elimination really. He’s done many of those. I’ll send a courier for the signed brief this afternoon, then?”

Shayle sighs, defeated. “I suppose so. But I — ”

Flescher cuts in.”Thank you, my lord. We’ll keep you informed.”

Clicking off the call, Flescher releases his stranglehold on the phone.

So the dance begins.

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Catch up on all episodes of Series 1 and 2, here.