The Empress then turned her gaze to Maia. “Ember eyes,” she exclaimed. “You are one of the Felariam, are you not?”
Maia raised an eyebrow in mild surprise at the Empress’s description but was polite enough not to comment on it. “My mother was, but my father was Minstrahn. Of the Kaleilae family.”
“Really? And what did he say of our people?”
“Nothing to me,” Maia told her. “I never knew him. He died defending my mother’s people from the Levarc before I was born.”
“I am sorry,” Tenenial told her, clasping her hand in a gesture of sympathy. “As all Minstrahn were sorry to learn of the fate of the Felariam. We did not have many dealings with them but there were some Minstrahn who travelled to their world. The Felariam were a peaceful and honorable people.”
“Thank you.”
“So, what name did your mother and father bestow upon you?”
“Oh, sorry... Maia.”
“Maia. It is a lovely name. Welcome to Minstrah.”
The Empress then met the remainder of Admiral Roth’s entourage and although this consisted of two soldiers and a communications officer, she welcomed each of them individually. Then it was time for the discussions to begin.
“The Empire is unaccustomed to war, terrorism and dissidence,” Tenenial said, seated with her guests across from her. “The lord admirals of the four quadrants have never been tested in the trials of combat and the ships of our navy are largely symbolic, a reassurance to our people that they are under our protection rather than the harbingers of war and destruction your people are more accustomed to.”
“They are capable of combat however,” Admiral Roth pointed out. “They have heavy cannons and carry fighters, just as ours do.”
“This is true,” the Empress replied. “However, we have far fewer of them than you do. And although I am not a warrior, I am fairly certain that their... firepower...” She paused as if she were trying the word for the first time, which in all probability she was. “... is incomparable to that of your own cruisers. Furthermore, we do not have many large ships. The assault cruiser you saw in orbit on your approach is not a common sight in the skies of our worlds, being simply a precaution to be called on only in an hour of great need.”
“An hour such as this?” Roth suggested, a subtle yet polite prompt in the question.
“Yes.” The Empress sighed. “The balance of power that has been so integral to the harmony of our Empire has been threatened. Recently, an orbital station was sabotaged in the Kyrias quadrant, which is currently under the governance of the Ilian family. One of our knight commanders went to investigate but when he arrived, it was discovered to be a ruse. In going to the station’s aid, he abandoned the ruler of that quadrant, Lord Ilian. And in his absence, Lord Ilian was kidnapped.”
“How?” Admiral Roth asked.
“Dissidents boarded his ship and stole it, with Lord Ilian still aboard.”
“I see,” Roth said, leaning back with a thoughtful expression. “Tell me, who is presently in charge of the other quadrants? The Limasi, the Chara and the Daeispa quadrants?”
“Well, the Ilian family, as I said, governs the Kyrias quadrant. The Kamais govern the Limasi, the Eras the Chara and the Valinski the Daeispa.”
“Now tell me,” Roth continued, “why it is that you requested the aid of my people?”
Laila almost felt sorry for the Empress. She was the leader of her people but she was still very young, while Admiral Roth was hardened by age and experiences that the young Empress had no way of comprehending. It was impossible that she wouldn’t be intimidated by him.
“This is a delicate matter,” the Empress replied, hesitating. “I need someone who is not tied by loyalty to any of the families to investigate this matter. Someone with no vested interest in the outcome, no matter what it may turn out to be.”
“In that event,” Admiral Roth told her, “you may have chosen the wrong person to assist you in this matter. I am very interested in the outcome of this investigation.” He then smiled. “I can assure you though that I have no loyalty to any of the families.”
“That is what matters most” Tenenial said. “You see, the families doubt each other and I am beginning to doubt them in turn. There is something they are not telling me, which is why I requested the presence of the heads of all the families here the moment I learned of your arrival.” She shook her head. “It is an ugly affair. Several prominent members of the families have been discussing who could benefit from the Lord Ilian’s disappearance and a handful have accused the younger Lord Kamais of being behind the incident. As long as his older brother is Lord, he cannot govern the Limasi quadrant, and by the time his brother steps down, a younger heir may well have stepped up to take his place. It has been suggested that by removing the only eligible ruler of the Kyrias quadrant -”
“There is no one who can take Lord Ilian’s place?” Laila asked, the gravity of the situation startling her.
“His elders are too old,” the Empress replied. “And his youngers... well, too young. Anyway, the suggestion is that by removing the only eligible ruler of that quadrant, the younger Lord Kamais could govern it as an interim leader. Now the fact that Lord Ilian has disappeared rather than been killed is crucial in this, of course. As his family does not know whether the lord is dead or not, and so there is a possibility he may return, they cannot appoint a permanent leader. An interim leader from another family may therefore seem a less upsetting prospect than it might otherwise.”
“If Lord Ilian were dead,” Laila said, turning around in her chair to explain it to the others, “a permanent leader would be selected from a more distant branch of the Ilian family. However, such a person would need years of tutelage before they could independently govern. Whereas the younger Lord Kamais would have already been taught all that is necessary as it’s part of the upbringing of all potential heirs, whether they are likely to succeed their forebears or not.”
“I see,” Admiral Roth nodded. “It certainly sounds like a much more attractive proposition though to have the younger Lord Kamais as an interim leader in the Kyrias quadrant until either Lord Ilian returns or the next in his line is ready to take his place. Very well, we have one possible suspect in this crime. What else have we got?”
“As I said, it is an ugly affair,” the Empress said. “And already, it is spiraling out of control. Someone attacked another station as well. In the Limasi quadrant.”
“The Kamais family’s quadrant?” Alia asked, trying to keep up.
“Yes. And a station was destroyed, with several cruisers damaged as well.”
Laila glanced at Admiral Roth and their eyes briefly met, but she said nothing. She remembered all too clearly what the admiral had said on board that stricken vessel.
“Lady Valinski, who is not the present head of her family but is extremely influential, suggested that Lady Eras orchestrated it as some act of retaliation or a pre-emptive attack to warn the younger Lord Kamais off any further acts of aggression.” The Empress shook her head again. “It is difficult to fathom this sudden madness. There is no evidence to prove the allegations that have been laid against the younger Lord Kamais, nor is there any against Lady Eras for that matter. And she has of course denied Lady Valinski’s allegations outright. Yet, it seems that all the families are poised to strike out against each other and I am uncertain how far my influence stretches over them. It seems now as if they will do whatever they wish.”
“Well, their leaders have agreed at least to come here,” Admiral Roth pointed out. “So you still have some influence left. However, before we can proceed any further with this, there is something that I must make very clear to you.”
“Please,” the Empress replied.
“If you wish my aid, I will do what I can within my power to assist you and your people in resolving this matter. However, you must understand that at all times, I serve the Federation and the interests of its people. We cannot know with certainty at this point i
n time, but it is possible that a situation may arise where my interests conflict with your own. And you must understand that if you accept our help, then you accept the fact that there may be consequences that are hard for you to bear.”
The Empress considered this for a few moments. “I will accept whatever consequences may come of this arrangement,” she said at last, “and the responsibility for such consequences.”
“Very well,” Admiral Roth replied, rising to his feet. “Now, how soon will the heads of the families be here?”
“Another day or two,” Tenenial replied, also standing. “Three at the most. There are rooms prepared if you would like to wait here but I suspect you wish to return to your ships.”
“There are matters I need to attend to,” Admiral Roth explained.
“I understand.”
“However, I will not leave the system,” he promised. “We will speak again soon.”
8. Maia, Zak and Drackson Depart
The two men seated at the table did not look happy.
“Calm yourself,” one told the other. “We knew this would probably happen.”
“We did not. I say this has all slipped out of our grasp. Neither you nor your friends predicted that the Empress might ask the Federation for aid, and neither of you predicted this problem either.”
“It is not a problem,” the other countered. “In fact, this could well prove to be our best chance at dampening the curiosity of our... guests, and turning them back to their precious Federation.”
“Assuming they are not already on our trail.”
The first man fixed his companion with a glare. “I believe I have already asked you to calm yourself, Knight Admiral. I do not enjoy repeating myself.”
“I am worried by that unanticipated incident with the farming vessel,” the knight admiral told him. “It is almost certain that they saw my men’s ship, and if they were able to reach anyone before they were silenced, the illusion that we so carefully crafted will have been lost.”
“By your own admission, the farmers did not reach anyone,” the other reminded him. “And if they did, then what of it? The Empress would simply know that it was an act of internal sabotage, rather than an external assault, that brought about the destruction of the station and the damage suffered by those ships that were tethered there.”
“Forgive me if I sound ignorant,” the knight admiral said, “but it seems to me that you just answered your own question.”
The man across the table smiled. “I forgive you. The point is that while it would destroy the illusion we had hoped to create, it would not matter. The ship was small and unmarked and would do nothing to tie us to the incident. And it would not matter either if the Empress knew this was an act in which the instigator tried to hide their hand. We could twist that to our advantage just as easily as the intended illusion.”
“But it was not the original plan.”
“As someone who desires the rank of Lord Admiral, you should know how subject to change a good plan is.”
“Very well,” the other said. “And I suppose you think our lady can twist this latest situation to our advantage too?”
“Oh, almost certainly. In fact, as I have already told you, this could be very useful. I do so hate having to repeat myself.”
“So you said. Although I believe I follow your line of logic, such as it is. We cannot use these visitors from the Federation to our advantage or persuade them that there is nothing of interest for them here in the Empire unless one of us can meet with them. However, are you not even in the least concerned that the Empress has requested our lady’s presence on Minstrah?”
The man measured him with a cool gaze. “I believe our fair Empress asked all the higher ranking members of the families to present themselves.”
“But why? Why did she not simply request the presence of the heads of the families? There must be a reason she requested those who are next in line as well. She suspects our lady.”
“She suspects everyone whose presence she requested,” the other man countered. “And as they would undoubtedly have a better grasp of the present mood on Minstrah than you, my friend, they must certainly know that. And knowing that they are under suspicion, they will play further into our hands, spinning their own theories on who is at fault, pointing fingers and laying blame.”
“I don’t like it,” the knight admiral said. “I don’t like any of it. I wish no further part in this.”
“Then turn me over to the Empress,” the other told him. “It would take but a call.”
“I can’t.” The knight admiral paused. “Not without implicating myself.”
“I am glad you understand the realities that bind you,” the other man replied as he rose from his chair. “The destruction of both those stations, the damage to those ships, the deaths of those farmers... These are as much on your hands as they are on my own or my lady’s. And the men who carried out all this destruction did so under your orders. Do you think you could silence them?”
“What?” the knight admiral demanded, leaping to his feet. “That was all part of your plan!”
“Which you very much wanted to be a part of when it seemed you would benefit from it. If you did not wish to be a part of this, then you should not have agreed to it. The time for second thoughts and cowardice has long passed, would you not say?”
“This will be the ruin of us,” the knight admiral murmured, unnerved by the strength of his partner’s conviction but nonetheless determined to maintain some ground.
“On the contrary,” the other countered, his voice now almost deadly quiet. “Our very survival depends upon this.”
Alia didn’t take the Goddess immediately back to the Deliverance. At Admiral Roth’s insistence, she docked with the Sentinel first. The admiral had received a message of some description while he was down planetside and that was when he decided he wanted everyone to return with him to his ship. Once they had docked, they waited while he disappeared for ten minutes and when he returned, they all disembarked to meet him in the hangar.
“So, what’s going on?” Alia asked, as she stepped down the ramp with her sisters and Maia behind her.
Admiral Roth smiled. “My dear Alia. I must say your complete lack of reverence for anything is surprisingly refreshing. Most civilians would feel somewhat ill at ease on the deck of a Class-A Cruiser. And I imagine most would find it just a little unsettling to be face to face with an admiral of the Federation as well, but this doesn’t unsettle you in the slightest, does it?”
Alia shrugged. “Don’t see why it should. A ship’s just a ship and an admiral’s just a man.”
“Unless they are a woman,” Roth pointed out, smiling. “But a ship’s just a ship... Yes, you certainly have a way with words.”
Just out of his line of sight, Lyla rolled her eyes in private embarrassment. Yes, Alia had a way with words all right.
“Actually, what is going on,” Roth said, “is that I would like to have a private conversation with Maia for a few minutes.”
Unlike Alia, Maia was daunted by Class-A Cruisers and admirals of the Federation. “Me?”
“Yes,” Roth replied, then turned back to Alia. “And when we are done, I would like you to give Maia a ride back to the Harpy.”
“So what is going on again?” Alia asked.
“Inquisitive as always,” Roth said. “However, if you just wait a little longer, Maia can explain everything on the way to the Harpy.” He gestured for Maia to follow him. “Thank you again, ladies. We shan’t be long.”
“Sorry, Asten. When they’re all low like that, that’s a dovetail. That’s nothing.”
Asten looked at the cards fanned across the table and glanced at Zak for a second opinion in case Ja’is was having him on.
“Yeah,” his old friend told him. “Sorry.”
Conceding the point, Asten pushed the plastic chips across the table. “Right. Well, here, Ja’is.” The chips were worthless as no one was playing for actual money but h
is pride was taking something of a beating.
Ja’is smiled as he pushed the chips into the small pile that was already in front of him. “I’m surprised. I thought you’d be an ace at Nebraca. Isn’t that what all those privateers play in those seedy bars?”
Asten gave Zak a look of feigned shock. “Privateers and seedy bars? What have you been telling your friends about me?”
Zak grinned. “Asten’s not a privateer. He runs a prestigious escort ship business and he’s a man of class who only ever frequents the finer establishments around.”
Asten nodded in approval, his gaze falling back on Ja’is. “That’s right.”
Ja’is chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry. My mistake.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Just then, a slender blue tinted hand fell across Asten’s shoulder and he looked up into Selina’s marble eyes. “Hi, honey.”
She smiled, glancing down at the table and raising her eyebrows in amusement as she saw his ‘dovetail’ spread across the table and the handful of chips he had left.
“Sorry to interrupt you in the middle of your winning streak but I thought you might like to know Alia and the others are back.”
“Ah, good,” Zak beamed, climbing to his feet. “News.”
“So,” Alia said as she finished bringing the others up to speed, “as soon as all these stuffy lords and ladies arrive, the admiral will be meeting with each of them. And Mom, my sisters and I’ll be along for the ride, lucky us.”
Zak leaned forward, propping his elbows on the mess hall table and glancing at the other members of his squadron. “And what about the rest of us? Does Admiral Roth still want us to hold up here?”
Alia hesitated and looked Maia’s way.
“Actually, if you want to go for a little trip, Zak,” Maia told him, “the admiral said there’s something we could do for him.”
“And who’s we?”
“Well, just me really, not to put too fine a point on it,” she replied. “But I’d rather hoped you’d come with me too. And Admiral Roth did suggest that I might want to take a companion.”
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