So yes, Jac was much stronger than she’d given him credit for; he had an inner strength that Monica couldn’t help but admire. Now it just remained to be seen where his loyalties lie.
ΔΔΔ
One of the unfortunate aspects of traveling to the capital planet was that there was no feasible way to refuse the fleet’s assignment of replacement personnel.
“Sir, I couldn’t put them off any longer,” Maria said. “I just received notification that they launched a shuttle of newbs for us. The message included personnel packets.”
First Officer Monica Stiles said something to herself under her breath and then spoke out loud to Maria, “When will they get here Maria? How long do we have?”
“They should dock with us in 42 minutes.”
“Okay, send the personnel files to my station,” she said from the Captain’s chair.
Seven crewmen and one Citizen were aboard that shuttle expecting to serve on the Halcyon. In their 0200 strategy sessions they had already discussed this inevitability and had a plan in place. The crew could be isolated easily enough, probably without anybody catching on, but the Citizen might be a little more challenging.
During the initial strategy meeting where the Captain had suggested this would probably happen, Monica had asked how they could be sure that the replacement group would include individuals that had been recruited to spy on them? Once the laughter around the table had died down the Captain had pointed out that it was really very simple; we knew it would because it always did.
Just then Citizen Durand interrupted her thoughts with a warning, “First, we’ve got movement in the fleet. Seventeen ships of the Home Fleet all energized their lenses within moments of each other.”
“Were they going?” Monica asked.
“There’s no way to know yet,” he responded. “But it doesn’t appear as if they’re heading out of the system, just repositioning.”
“Durand, keep me informed. I want to know what those ships are up to.”
“Yes sir… Sir? We’ve also just detected a sizable number of ships that have just skipped in system. Preliminary identification identifies them as the 73rd Legion of the Second Fleet.”
“The entire Legion?” she heard herself asking.
“It sure looks that way. We can confirm in a moment.”
“What are they doing here?” someone else on the bridge asked.
“Is the Home Fleet’s movement designed to block them?” Monica asked. “Are they taking up defensive positions against them?”
“No Sir, it doesn’t appear that way. It’s more as if… they’re making room for them.”
ΔΔΔ
“So I’ve given her every opportunity to bring it up but she hasn’t taken the bait,” he said.
Monica was in her quarters using a highly encrypted communication signal to speak to the Captain below.
“So Alyster, do you think the direct approach might work?” Monica asked.
“No, definitely not.”
To anyone else the Captain’s view screen image probably seemed as calm as ever, but Monica now knew him well enough to sense that he was fidgeting inside.
“I assume that getting the prisoners back is still a high priority?” she asked.
“Yes,” was all he said.
“Okay, we’ll think of something. Anything else I need to know?”
“Well, I should probably let you know that our favorite Ensign has been assigned a detachment of Imperial Security Forces by my sister. He’ll be in charge of them, to help protect to me of course. They’ll be accompanying us when we return to the ship.”
“What! Alyster, are you… You can’t let that happen!”
“Yes, it is a bit of a challenge.”
“So, has the Ensign turned on us?”
“No, I don’t really think so. He told me about it at the first opportunity and recounted the conversation he had with my sister. He sounded forthcoming.”
“But why is he in charge of them?”
“Monica, we both know… No, strike that. We all three know he’s not really in charge. But he’s the one person everyone seems to think they have some control over.”
“Do they?”
The Captain shrugged. “That’s what keeps things interesting,” he said with a smile.
“That’s awfully convenient for him,” Monica said indicating she was still unconvinced.
“At worst he may be trying to play both sides but for the moment I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. We have bigger fish to fry.”
“So what you want to do?” she asked.
“Do? I have no idea. I’m a big picture strategy guy,” he said. “That’s why I have a First Officer… To figure out the tactics. Do you have any ideas?”
After a moment Monica said, “Actually, I might have an idea but I need to flesh it out. Just don’t come back to the ship until you talk to me about it.”
“Fair enough, but I’m not sure how much time you’re going to have. I’ve almost completed the bare minimum of my obligatory rounds. The arrival of the 73rd Legion just confirms that something is happening here, the court is nervous. Father seems unconcerned but he’s the only one. Even that snake Namagashi wanted to, I think, sincerely confide in me.”
“Lord Namagashi? Didn’t he raise you? Of all the players I’d thought that if push came to shove he might be somewhat of an ally.”
“No, you can’t think that for a minute. What he confided with me, though, you need to know. He informed me that the Empress had been murdered.”
Monica swallowed hard. “Do you believe him?”
“I’m inclined to but I wouldn’t bet my life on it, and I wouldn’t bet yours or anyone else’s either for that matter. But something is definitely going on here. I’m going to wrap up my obligations as soon as possible so we can all get out of here.”
“How long will it take you?” she asked.
“No more than two days. You’ll need to come up with something by then.”
ΔΔΔ
“It’s the only way.”
Once again they were communicating on a secure channel.
“Excuse me, but wasn’t it you that just yesterday said you weren’t sure if we could really trust him?” asked the captain.
“Do you have a better idea? Do you want those prisoners or not? Look Alyster, we’re stuck deep in a gravity well with over 3000 military ships between us and escape. If you want to extract those prisoners from your sister’s ship you’re not going to be able to do it by force.”
“Monica, I’m not sure you really understand how important this mission is.”
“Then tell me,” she said.
The Captain remained silent.
“Then this is the best I’ve got and it actually has a good chance of success. You have to give the go-ahead but I’m not hearing any better ideas.” After a moment she continued, “Look, you’re either too close to the situation to think clearly or there’s something you’re not telling me, probably both. Right now we’re just wasting time. What do you want to do?”
After a long moment the Captain looked through the view screen at Monica and she could swear he was looking right through her and deep into her soul.
“Monica, if you really think this will work then set it up.”
Even as she said it she knew her obligation was sacrosanct, “Very well Captain. I’ll make it happen.”
Chapter twenty-six
ENSIGN JACOBY NICOLAY
I thought You Were Gone Forever
“Monica, you’re going to get me killed,” I said.
“Don’t freak out, Jac. Everything will be fine if you just stay cool.”
“I’m not freaking out! At least not much, but this isn’t exactly like asking me to stop by the market on my way home to pick up a dozen eggs.”
“Okay, calm down and let’s go over it again. You’re going to requisition a small IDF troop transport before leaving the planet. The Captain will leave in the Halcyon’s shu
ttle shortly thereafter.
“Instead of coming directly back to the ship, you and your Imperial Defense Forces are going to dock with the I.D.F. Femme Fatale. You tell them you’re there to collect the prisoners and then you bring them back here. Nothing could be simpler.”
“You’re nuts!” I said again. “This plan is so full of holes I could fly a shuttle right through it. Who thought up this crazy idea?”
“You just need to focus on executing it,” she then said with some anger in her voice. “You just need to buck up and make it happen.”
“Why would the IDF issue me a troop transport in the first place?” I wanted to know.
“Oh for crying out loud Jac, use your imagination. Tell them that the detachment the Grand Duchess assigned you is too big to fit the shuttle and the Captain doesn’t want to be inconvenienced. Whatever you think will work.”
“And there is absolutely no reason for them to turn the prisoners over to me,” I pointed out.
“Make something up,” she said. “I don’t care what, just make it happen!”
“Monica, seriously, do you really want me to do this?”
I couldn’t help but notice that she swallowed hard before replying, “Jac, we don’t have any choice, ok? For whatever reason the Captain says this is important and I… Well, I believe him.”
When she didn’t say anything else I took my eyes off the screen and stared into the space above the monitor.
“Well frak,” I said.
ΔΔΔ
The Imperial Defense Forces carried a different rank structure than the fleet. Their Citizens still graduated from The Academy but their enlisted ranks could become Citizens as well. Once they were honorably semiretired (you never really left the IDF) the enlisted were granted Citizenship and could choose any civil assignment they wanted, serve anywhere they wanted, and pretty much do anything they wanted.
It was a sore point within the civil service legions that these newcomers could come into any sector and receive priority placement over others that had worked decades to advance. Fortunately, the percentage of retiring IDF was very small. Unfortunately, the nature of this arrangement left them as some of the cockiest most arrogant quasi-Citizens of the Empire.
“There’s a slight change of plan, Sergeant Matthews,” I said.
I had just entered the troop compartment from the cockpit where I’d informed the pilot of our detour.
“We will be docking with the I.D.F. Femme Fatale and taking charge of a set of prisoners. We will then remove them to the C.E.S. Halcyon.”
Sergeant Matthew’s eyes narrowed slightly and he said, “Yes sir, I’ll just confirm that with HQ.”
“You will do nothing of the sort, Sergeant.”
He started to form a response when I continued, “Do you see this?” I said as I tapped my index finger on the brooch adorning my cloak. “The Grand Duchess Tauri Acamar herself personally presented this to me. I know that she gave you some additional orders but I also know that unless I betray her confidence you’re to follow my lead.”
This whole bit about the Grand Duchess giving him special orders was purely made up on my part but I figured it was a good bet.
“Her Ladyship has ordered us to accomplish this in a very specific way, and that way does not include tipping off anybody at HQ in advance. Do I make myself clear?”
I still don’t think he was totally convinced but I was wearing my full dress uniform, complete with my incredibly ostentatious Loyal Servant of the Empire cloak. I pushed my advantage…
“Look Sergeant, I’m just of the fleet – you’re IDF. You understand better than I that some things aren’t always out in the open. But I can tell you, if you blow this both of us will end up shoveling ore on some asteroid nobody’s ever heard of.”
I stared him straight in the eyes and didn’t let my look waiver. After a moment he nodded and said, “Understood, Sir.”
I immediately turned my back to him. Hopefully he thought I was being arrogantly dismissive. In fact, I didn’t want him to see my lip twitch.
ΔΔΔ
Per my instructions our pilot had waited for the I.D.F. Femme Fatale to hail us.
“I.D.F. Femme Fatale, this is Ensign Jacoby Nikolay, aide to Grand Duke Alyster Acamar. Prepare to receive us.”
“What is your business, Ensign?” Came back a disinterested voice.
“I’m on the business of Grand Duchess Tauri Acamar and Grand Duke Alyster Acamar,” I replied.
The pause was much longer this time. I had purposely timed our approach when I knew the Grand Duchess would be in meetings where she wouldn’t want to be disturbed.
Finally, “Proceed to the designated hanger.”
Once we settled in the hanger bay I could see what looked like half a dozen IDF personnel waiting for us. I couldn’t help but notice that they were armed. I cracked the hatch on our shuttle and descended the ramp.
ΔΔΔ
“Who’s in charge here?” I said loudly before I’d even reached the bottom.
“I’m in charge of this… detail,” the sergeant in front of me stammered.
I couldn’t really blame him for being somewhat distracted. I had ordered my full detachment of IDF troops to follow me down the ramp. I had also ordered them into full battle gear; I had to admit they looked impressive.
We were now almost completely encircling the ship’s sergeant that was standing in front of me.
“You’re all they sent to greet me?” I said as arrogantly as I could manage.
I saw him nervously looking at my cloak as he said, “Yes Sir. I mean, no Sir! There will be someone of appropriate rank here shortly. In the meantime, how can I assist you?”
I had been looking over everything and everyone except for the Sergeant in front of me. I now focused my gaze squarely upon him.
“You have 37 individuals on board that I am to take charge of. You will bring them to me immediately,” I said.
“Begging your pardon, Sir. But I have no orders to that effect. The appropriate Citizen is on her way; I’m sure she will be able to sort everything out.”
He then held his hand to his ear and mumbled something into the inter-ship communication system.
It seemed like 20 minutes but I’m sure it was more like only three when the hatch to the hanger bay opened and in marched three people. A First Lieutenant and two sergeants.
“Ensign Jacoby Nikolay,” the Sergeant said. “Here she is. This is the Citizen in charge of the people you want”
I was staring straight into the eyes of Valys.
ΔΔΔ
I had honestly thought I’d never see her again.
We stood there, silently appraising each other.
I suddenly realized that the game was up. Valys would see right through me, she’d always been able to. I opened my mouth knowing I needed to say something but not having any idea what…
Suddenly, she spoke first.
“I am First Lieutenant Valys Stoffer,” she said while emphasizing her superior rank. “Why are you bringing armed forces onto my hanger deck and demanding my prisoners?”
Valys is the one that had first taught me how to survive in a world where you’re under constant observation; she’s the one that had taught me to perform for the overseers. It wasn’t an accident that she was pretending not to know me. She was probably just keeping her options open but I had played this game with her many times and there was no reason to stop now.
“I am under orders to remove the prisoners. The Grand Duchess herself awarded me this cloak not 48 hours ago,” I said as I patted the brooch. “She gave me very specific instructions and I will carry them out – and I don’t care what your rank is Lieutenant. Do we understand each other?”
One edge of her mouth curled up slightly. I recognized it as an amused grin even though most would think it to be an expression of disgust. I didn’t know how and I didn’t know why but it was at that moment that I realized this was going to work.
I pressed on.
<
br /> “Why are you hesitating, Lieutenant? I have a timetable. Confirm it with the Grand Duchess herself if you must but do it discreetly and do it quickly. You do not want to be named in my report as holding up our mission.”
She didn’t hesitate to respond. “I have already tried to contact her Lady but she is presently unavailable. You seem to leave me no choice…”
My Friend the Emperor Page 24