by Randal Sloan
Commodore Gilmore on the other hand was almost in awe of the Princess as she stood before her. The Commodore was herself the youngest of the three and she had been following the story of the Princess. Despite the difference in age, Commodore Gilmore knew just how much experience the Princess brought to the table and how hard she worked to exceed others. She held the Princess up as an example of how she should do her own job.
Finally, Jarra broke the silence. “Everyone please be seated. In a moment, I will turn the rest of the briefing over to Prince John, who as Admiral in Charge led the squadrons in battle. Before doing so, I want to thank each of you for your service to the Empire during the battle. Especially you, Commodore Simmons, who stood your ground to face that monster ship of theirs, not knowing just how well the technological modifications to your ships’ missiles would perform.
“Many of us believe we’re now entering a time of strife and unrest. The rebels are just the first part and we have yet to face the ones who are the real cause of this strife, the alien race who call themselves the Aerestone. Although I believe the next few years will be a challenge for us, I also believe they will provide the opportunity for the Empire to grow not only in size, such as the addition of the Borjon, but also in maturity. In terms of existence as a political entity we’re so very young.
“Those same times of trial mean that we will require the utmost of each of you, which I know you are willing to do so as you have sworn to the Crown. But I did want you to know your service is appreciated.”
Jarra turned to her cousin. “Prince John, if you will, take over the debriefing.”
Prince John smiled affectionately at her. “What my dear cousin, your Crown Princess, has not mentioned is that she was much closer to that monster than any of us and she was the one who sent us the coordinates to launch those same missiles that allowed us to destroy that ship without loss to ourselves. As I’m sure you know, if we had had to stand with them in a toe-to-toe matchup, some of us would not be here to have this discussion, because we would have taken significant losses before they would have been defeated.”
Prince John turned to look specifically at Commodore Jordense, whose words during the battle had said more than he realized. As everything that was said on the bridge of Empire ships was recorded during a battle, those words had been brought to his attention. Commodore Jordense didn’t know it, but right now he was on probation in his Prince’s eyes and with a word, he would be gone.
“The other thing the Princess has not mentioned is that she was the only one in position to be able to prevent the escape of the leader of the rebels, Governor Resault, and that she did so at great risk to herself and her ship because she knew the importance of preventing his escape. The minor risk our ships took in protecting her was insignificant in comparison to the risk she was willing to take to do her duty.
“Before we go into the debrief of the battle, I have one more bit of information that I believe is significant. When we went into the nebula, we believed the monitor ship the rebels had was a rebel ship modified to take the alien tech. We now have reason to believe the ship was an alien ship modified to handle our Imperial weapons to make it look like it wasn’t theirs. I’m sure you can recognize the significance of that.
“We still believe we have speed advantages over the alien tech, but in terms of power production and shield technology, it appears they have a significant advantage. Our scientists are working overtime trying to figure out their tech and I believe in a few months we will be able to adapt some of it to our own use. I also believe that if the aliens had been ready to stage an all out attack on their own, they would have done so rather than depending on the rebels.
“ But let’s begin. Commodore Simmons, we’ll start with you since you fired the first shots and your squadron was in battle the longest. What do you have to tell us about your ships and their performance during the battle?”
By the time the debrief was finished, all three Commodores were firmly in the Princess’ court. Even Commodore Jordense had begun to understand just how strong the Crown Princess was in her service to the Empire. Her intensity in discussing the battle, her obvious willingness to attempt the impossible, and the way his Crown Prince deferred to her caused him to open his eyes.
As they prepared to return to their ships, Jordense came up to his Princess. Dropping to his knee, the Commodore once more offered himself up to her service. “Please forgive my slowness to understand, My Lady. I offer my all to your cause, if you will accept me.”
Smiling, Jarra answered him, “I thank you for your service. Please rise and join me. I don’t know what the future holds, but we can only do our best for the Empire. I know without a doubt you will give us your best.”
#
After the exhausting debrief, Jarra returned to her quarters. She had barely closed the door when her AI told her she had an incoming intergalactic call being set up and for her to stand by. Her curiosity peaked, Jarra waited while the complex cross galactic connection was completed. Then the call finally connected, the Imperial logo appearing. Staring in shock, Jarra recognized immediately that it was her father.
“Hello, my dearest,” her father told her. “I beg the opportunity to speak with you. I need to ask your forgiveness for my behavior over the last several months. I now know just how wrong I was about you and I know I said some rather bad things. Will you forgive an old fool?”
Jarra was still staring in shock, but she had no difficulty in answering his plea. “Oh, Dad, I love you very much. I knew we only disagreed in our understanding of each other and that we would work it out. Of course, I forgive you.”
“You’ve been quite busy. I on the other hand had absolutely nothing to do until a few days ago, when I had the most unusual conversation with the Borjon Ambassador. It appears your actions regarding the Aerstone and their tech made quite an impression on the Borjon. It was in fact entirely due to your accomplishments that the Borjon not only began actual talks, but made known their decision to join the Galactic Empire.”
“I wondered about that. I thought maybe it was due to their finding out about the new aliens.”
“You misunderstand, dear Jarra. It was not due to the discovery of the Aerstone; that was the original reason they invited me here, but that was only the first step. It was your two victories over the Aerestone technology that brought them in. The Aerstone appear to be an AI-based society and intend to impose their AI’s upon everyone. Your interactions with them caught the attention of the Borjon.
“I’m sending back the full details of the information they’ve given me by courier to my brother. I expect he’ll want to talk about it more with you later, but it appears you were named in a prophecy that has been a part of Borjon history for the last several thousand years. ‘Jarra of the golden human hair’ they call you.”
“What little I can tell you is that the Borjon have fought the Aerstone twice over their history and both times barely managed a draw, eventually forcing the Aerstone to retreat back to their galactic arm, but the prophecy claims that the third time will be the one where they will either defeat them for good or lose entirely. A key figure within that prophecy is a human with golden hair who joins with them in their battle.”
Jarra was now in total shock. What could this all mean?
Marc smiled at his daughter. “Yes, quite the shocker to me too when I first heard it. But they did go on to explain how their prophecy reaches across a span of considerable time. Like a view looking across a range of several mountains; only the mountaintops are visible. The Ambassador speculates that this will span years, if not decades, and may well include your future daughter and even further generations. That’s one of the reasons the Borjon seldom get in a hurry, he tells me, because they only worry about those times where the mountaintops appear to be in play.
“All of this is just to tell you that I know what an amazing person you are and that you must continue doing exactly what you’re doing now as if I haven’t told you any of
this. Even if their prophecy is real, that is the only way you can live your life.”
Jarra nodded. That made perfect sense. “Thank you for telling me this, but you’re right, I can only continue to go forward.”
What Marc did not tell his daughter was that the prophecy had been written way before the Borjon had ever seen a human being, when humans were still working with stone tools in caves on earth. Yet it described Jarra to the utmost detail. Marc had not a single doubt that the prophecy was true, something that was beyond his ability to understand, but he had come to accept it as truth.
“I’ve got to go now, but when I can, I’ll check back in with you. In a few months, I’m planning to return home for a few weeks and hopefully you can take your leave then too. I really want to spend some time with you, now that I’ve come to my senses.”
“I’d like that too, Dad. Even when we disagreed, I’ve always loved you.”
“Until then. I love you too, so very much.” The call disconnected.
Jarra just sat there for a while. Despite hearing what her father had revealed to her, like he said, nothing had changed. She had to go forward just as she would have done. It was a lot to take in and it was a little scary to think there might be something to it. For some reason her father obviously believed it to be true. There were a lot stranger things in the galaxy, she suspected.
Jarra knew she could only work on the part she could see. She had a lot to think through, but she had an idea of what she wanted to do to make some of it happen. Late that night she came up with a fine-tuned version of it and she sent it off in a secure message to her uncle. She didn’t know if he would go for it, but it was the best solution she could come up with to allow them to face the future she expected was hurtling toward them, mountaintops or no.
The other thing Jarra was struggling with was what to do with Greg. Because he had sworn fealty to her, she felt like she was now responsible for him. He had been a big help to them in their cause against the rebels. All the information he had given them had been spot on and had possibly meant the difference between success and failure. She wasn’t even sure if her aunt and uncle would still be alive if not for him. She couldn’t just let him go free, but she didn’t want him to go to jail either. She finally sent a second secure message to her uncle.
The two pieces of the puzzle that she had control over done, Jarra finally stopped to rest. She did have a big day coming up.
#
Jarra had a lot to think about as she did her morning mental and physical exercises. After completing her planning the night before, she slept soundly. When she awoke, she found that she had received a message back from her uncle telling her he had approved her second plan, but he was still working on the first one. Jarra hoped that meant he had accepted the basic plan, but wanted to give her more support or more toys. She was good with either of those ideas as long as it meant he agreed with her solution and that it included her.
Jarra was still a little shaken up that if the assassins had succeeded, she would have been Empress. Not part of her game plan. She knew she could do more good out here, especially now that the new aliens seemed to be a real threat. She continued doing her exercises, using the flow to relax and unwind from her stress.
Unfortunately, the rest of her day was occupied with her doing “Princess duties” as she liked to call them. Some of that was electronic paperwork of her own doing, all from the second plan that had been approved by her uncle. Jarra had caught just a slight undercurrent in the wording of her uncle’s approval and she suspected she understood what that meant. Even a few months ago, she wouldn’t have been mature enough to try to do this, instead probably moving in the opposite direction with her response. He understood well her feelings about traitors, going back to the attack on her mother. In the case of her uncle, it went even further back to the death of his wife, who had been killed in a terrorist attack before Jarra was born.
The latter part of the day for her involved getting ready for the big dinner that evening. It was going to be a combination celebration and awards ceremony, and Crown Princess Jarraosa Christinee Von Hasson was expected to attend and not the mere Lieutenant Jarra Carsean. At least she would get to hand out awards to her team. As the highest ranking official there, she could have done the rest of the awards, but those she would leave to her cousin the Crown Prince as should be his due.
A few minutes before time for the dinner, Jarra met with her team and Greg in a private meeting room. She was dressed in an even more elaborate gown than before. Although most of her team had seen her dressed as a princess before, they were all amazed at just how beautiful and regal she was as their Princess. Sasha and Greg, who hadn’t seen this side of her before, were especially struck by just how well she fit into the role. They all fell to a knee, once again in the presence of their Princess.
Giving them all a gracious smile, Jarra said softly, “Thank you for your service. Please rise and join me.”
She had something to talk with them about before the main dinner. Speaking first to her team, she told them. “I have a proposal here that has been approved by my uncle, but it requires all of you to agree before it can take effect. As you know, Gregorio has sworn fealty to me and because of that I feel responsible for him.”
Jarra turned to look at Greg. “I no longer wish to hang the man for the crimes that were primarily committed by his father. However, he was at least aware of what his father was doing and did nothing to fulfill his duty as a Rim Patrol officer to report what he knew of his father’s plans. Therefore, we had no choice but to discharge him from the Rim Patrol, but I have chosen to do so with a closed file.”
Greg nodded at her words. He had expected this and much more. He knew the closed file meant only the top commanders in the Rim Patrol and members of the royal family could see that file. A public dishonorable discharge would have made it available for anyone to see. “I thank you for that,” he told her.
“I’m not finished,” Jarra told him. “In addition to your discharge, you are required to pay for your crimes. I have decided to offer you the option to serve in a specific capacity to do so. If you agree to accept the offer, for your service you will be drafted as a non-commissioned officer in the Imperial Marine Corp. I’m hoping they will teach you the proper amount of discipline and honor.”
Greg could barely speak. He knew this meant his life was going to be a lot more difficult from now on, but he had a slim chance to still make something out of himself. It sure beat prison. “I accept the offer, Your Highness,” he told her with a croak.
Jarra nodded. “There’s one more stipulation. If the team agrees, I will have you assigned to the Marine squadron that I know is going to be accompanying me from here on out. That means you may still occasionally have contact with this team.”
Jarra looked at her team. “I want an honest answer from each of you before we go any further. Absolutely no pressure and you know I mean it when I say that.”
“Will we be locked into a period of time, or will we be able to change our minds if he proves impossible to deal with,” Sara asked, ever the practical one.
“I will rephrase my statement,” Jarra told her. “If at any time you decide you feel the deal should be off, you can say so. I believe it would be appropriate to say I would like a week’s time to have as a cool-down period in case he just does something that makes you mad and you change your mind later.“
“I can live with that,” Sara said. “I just didn’t want to be stuck with him if he decides to be a jerk.”
“What about you two?” Jarra asked Galen and Gabo.
Galen nodded. “With the stipulations you just gave, I’m ok too. I assume you will talk about specific details if we give the ok?”
“Yes,” Jarra said, “But not until you do. Gabo, no pressure intended here, but how do you feel about it?”
“I’m fine with it too,” Gabo answered. “In fact, I’d probably have gone along with them just to find out those details even if I hadn�
��t felt that way. Curiosity killed the space cat and all.”
Jarra smiled. “Ok, here’s the deal. It’s actually going to involve all of you. I intend to teach all of you the stuff you didn’t learn the first time and I want to include Greg in that. Such as knowing the answer to all of those questions asked in Round Three of our contest without the help of an AI. None of those questions were at all difficult and everyone serving in the Rim Patrol should have known them.”
Galen had to laugh. “You’re right. I only knew about half of them and I recognized at the time I should have known them all.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. The other thing is you all need to learn to defend yourself, and by that I mean with both a weapon and in hand-to-hand defense. There may come a time when it means the difference for one or more of you surviving. I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you. Unfortunately, we have chosen an unsafe profession, and it’s going to get worse, not better.
“My plan is this. Sometimes you will be trained by a personal robotic AI for which I will purchase special modules. Sometimes it will be by the marines who will be assigned as our escort from now on. Sometimes I will train you myself — I can promise you at those times the work is going to be the hardest. I know because I’ve already been through all of it.”
“I’m curious,” Galen had to ask, “What belt are you qualified at? I trained for a while prior to signing up for the Rim Patrol but I only earned some of the early belts.”
“Master Kadash does not give out belts. But with my training, I was able to defeat multiple high-level opponents at once, any one of whom could have defeated anyone you’ve seen out here on the Rim. I’m not telling you that to brag, because the whole point of this is that you must attempt your best, which is why Master Kadash did not hand out belts.”
Greg stared at her. “So when you told me the marines intervened to protect me, you really meant it. I didn’t know what you meant at the time.”