My Friend the Emperor

by William Lee Gordon

She turned the Sergeant beside her, “Have the prisoners brought here immediately.”

  Just as I was mentally congratulating myself for winning the day she reminded me to never underestimate her toughness.

  She took three steps forward into my personal space and looked me square in the eyes. I had an irrational urge to reach out and hug her.

  In a voice loud enough for everybody to hear she said, “You may wear the cloak but you are of the fleet, not IDF. If you ever cross me or try to throw your weight around with me again I will track you down, cut out your liver, and share it with my troops. So, do we understand each other?”

  With that she turned and marched herself out of the cargo bay.

  Chapter twenty-seven

  LEUTENANT MONICA STILES

  Rescued

  Monica had convinced herself that her plan was solid. It was only when she’d explained it to the Ensign, and he had started poking very real holes in it, that she’d realized once again just how shaky it really was.

  The problem wasn’t so much the tactics of the plan is it was that it required a certain personality type to carry it out. Extreme confidence and arrogance would be assets.

  She had expected him to do as he was told but still found herself slightly surprised when he accepted the assignment. Once he had done so the planning went smoothly and efficiently; he was done complaining. Maybe there was more to Jac than she was giving him credit for.

  The plan called for both the Captain and Jac to leave the surface of the planet on separate shuttles but staggered on timing. The Captain’s gig was faster but the troop transport would depart first. This meant they should both arrive at their destinations almost simultaneously.

  It was important that the troop transport and the Captain’s gig not appear to be traveling together, so it wasn’t a good idea to send live video of the Ensign to the Captain. It was, however, possible to send that highly encrypted telemetry back to the Halcyon.

  Monica and the rest of the D Watch bridge crew had a bird’s eye view of the Ensign standing up to and backing down the leader of his IDF detachment. It had caused several surprised and supportive comments from those around her.

  Once the Captain arrived back on the Halcyon he must’ve sprinted from the hanger bay to the bridge because he burst through the hatch and asked, “What’s happening?”

  “The transport has landed in their loading bay and our team is debarking now,” Monica responded.

  The Feme Fatales’ greeting party was led by an IDF Sergeant. Someone on the bridge actually laughed when they saw how big his eyes got when he realized there was an entire detachment of IDF security surrounding him and his men.

  “Wow, where did that come from?” said someone just after the Ensign had done a fairly good job of intimidating the Sergeant.

  Monica had to agree. The Ensign was acting every bit the arrogant Imperial jerk that she’d come to detest so much, but knowing that it was an act, knowing that he was simply carrying out a duty, made it somehow admirable.

  While the Ensign was waiting on the Citizen in charge of the prisoners he appeared to be inspecting the Sergeant and his men. It was obvious from his reactions that he found them wanting.

  “Did Jac’s lip just twitch?” exclaimed Monica.

  “I think the poor boy is scared out of his mind,” said Maria.

  “That’s no boy,” the Captain said. “He’s doing a man’s job and we need to have faith in him. We don’t need any negative karma right now.”

  Once again Monica was struck by how personal the Captain seemed to be taking the recovery of these prisoners. There had to be more to this than he was letting on.

  “Oh shrak,” someone said.

  Monica jerked her attention back to the screen just in time to see an IDF First Lieutenant walk into the Bay.

  Most people fall into a general category. Appearances fall within accepted norms or groups of norms and after a few sentences of conversation it’s usually not that difficult to size someone up. Some people are strong-willed, some are apathetic, and others are arrogant, stupid, or oblivious. But every once in a while you meet a person and you instantly know what they’re about.

  That’s called charisma. Certain leaders have it and everyone knows it when they walk into a room. Conversations slow down or stop altogether. When they speak others automatically listen; everyone finds themselves wanting to show deference to this type of person. It’s not a practiced persona - it’s just who they are.

  Another type of charisma has nothing to do with admiration; it’s all about strength. This type of person is also a conversation stopper but it’s not out of respect, it’s out of fear. Not necessarily an imminent danger kind of fear but more a certain knowledge that this person is stronger than others, more determined than everyone, and that if a person stands in their way they will not survive.

  That’s who had just walked into the landing bay and had identified herself as Lieutenant Valys Stoffer.

  Everyone knew that IDF Citizens were different. Unlike all the other legions you couldn’t request assignment with them and a legacy guaranteed you nothing. You weren’t even recruited into the IDF; you were selected. There was no choice even if you had prepared yourself for a business legion and were third-generation legacy, if the powers that be felt that you had the strength, the ruthlessness, the indomitable will to be an IDF Citizen they tagged you. There was only one way into the IDF and only two ways out. You either died or reached the age of retirement; there were no transfers.

  Monica knew all of this, but that’s not what brought her up short. The particular female Citizen that was confronting Jac was intimidating even for the IDF. She found herself holding her breath.

  ΔΔΔ

  “He did it,” Monica whispered several minutes later.

  “There were several high-fives and shouts of “Titanium Jac!”

  He now had a new nickname – no one would give a second thought as to whether he actually approved of it or not.

  The 37 prisoners were now boarding the transport. The IDF Citizen had left the bay and the Ensign’s team was preparing to return to the Halcyon.

  “Let’s watch that again,” Monica said amusedly.

  “Belay that,” said the Captain.

  Monica realized he was intently studying the prisoners as they lined up and boarded.

  “Well, he actually did it,” said Felix. “He backed down that IDF Citizen like a pregnant bobcat protecting her cubs,” he said while grinning ear to ear. “Oh, I know she tried to save face at the end, coming on all strong and everything but it’s obvious our Ensign got the best of her.”

  Monica was watching the Captain closely and while he was still watching the vid feed she saw him frown slightly at Felix’s words.

  Once the prisoners had all boarded the shuttle transport the Captain cut the feed and motioned Sergio over.

  “What arrangements do we have for the IDF attachment?” he asked.

  “We have a couple of options, Captain” replied Sergio.

  “I would suggest we bunk down the IDF in the transport dorms. However, that’s where we would normally put the refugees. There’s enough room for both but…”

  “No, you’re right. That won’t work. You said we had a couple of options?”

  “Well, we could have two thirds of the ship’s Citizens temporarily hot bunk with each other. That would free up enough Citizen’s cabins that we could bed down three or four refugees in each.”

  “Make it happen, Sergio.”

  The Captain raised his voice to include the rest of the bridge, “Helm, prepare to undock and break orbit. Felix, plot our skips back to the Hades Forest but terminate the first skip close to a communications buoy; I want to monitor comms traffic and see if we’ve caused any kind of stir. Best speed is authorized. I want us out of here as soon as the transport unloads.”

  “Captain?” Sergio said. “We’ll need time to refuel the transport for its reentry.”

  “Okay, listen up everyon
e,” said the Captain. “I said I want us out of here and I mean it. Inform the transport that it’s not to dock with us; it’s to use our loading bay. Once the bay is secured we’re leaving; I think the Empire can survive the loss of a transport shuttle.”

  Monica found herself grinning. You had to admit the Captain had a certain flair about him.

  ΔΔΔ

  The Captain had stayed focused and on the bridge until the Halcyon was safely away on its first skip.

  Only one ship had hailed the Halcyon while it was headed to the skip point and that was simply a belated condolence from a newly arriving captain.

  Once the Halcion was safely on its way the Captain retired to his cabin. He asked Monica to join them there.

  “Monica, did you bring the list of refugees?” he asked.

  “Refugees? You mean the prisoners?”

  “You know as well as I do that they’re refugees but, you’re right, we wouldn’t want the Empire to know we thought of them in any other way. Anyway, do you have it?”

  “Yes, it’s right here,” she said while handing the list to the Captain.

  “This one here,” he said while pointing at a certain name. “Consuelo, she’s the leader of the group. I want you to bring her here.”

  The woman that went with the name was pretty in what Monica had come to recognize as a frontier-rugged sort of way. She wasn’t a Citizen and her long brown hair and arched eyebrows gave her an exotic look. As they walked side-by-side to the Captain’s cabin Monica found herself sizing up this so-called leader.

  She’d been roughed up, it was obvious. But she still carried herself with dignity and self-confidence. Poise was the word that came to mind.

  There was no conversation; there was no frantic questioning of what was going to happen next. When she’d informed her that the Captain required her presence she’d simply stood up and waited for Monica to turn around and lead the way.

  When they reached the Captain’s cabin Monica opened the hatch and they both walked inside and into the main reception area. The Captain was standing there waiting for them.

  She was only slightly surprised when he said, “That’ll be all, Monica.”

  As she walked into the corridor and the hatch started to close behind her she turned around just in time to see Consuelo and the Captain wrap their arms tightly around each other.

  Chapter twenty-eight

  ENSIGN JACOBY NICOLAY

  Returning to the C.E.S. Halcyon

  Sergio was waiting for us in the landing Bay.

  I almost burst out laughing when he saluted me.

  “Captain’s complements, Mister Jacoby,” he said formally. “I have been asked to show your IDF troops to their quarters. Our security team will take charge of the prisoners now, and your presence is requested on the bridge.”

  The show was undoubtedly for the benefit of the IDF and I was grateful for it.

  “Very well, Lieutenant Sergio.”

  I walked over to my IDF troop leader, Sergeant Ansari.

  “Sergeant, Lieutenant Sergio will show you where your people can bunk down. Get settled in and approximately six hours from now… let’s say at 1900 hrs., I’ll be by for an inspection and we can discuss what comes next.”

  The Sergeant saluted me, turned sharply and went back to his men. I glanced back to Sergio and raised my eyebrows briefly. He gave me a nod and turned to follow the Sergeant.

  As I made my way along the corridor to the bridge it was impossible not to notice the reactions of Citizens and crew as I passed. I was still wearing my full dress uniform and, of course, the cloak and its ostentatious brooch. I felt like a peacock or a painted whore and judging from the reactions I was getting I could’ve passed as either. Most Citizens managed to keep a straight face at least until we passed each other - and then I could hear them breaking into laughter.

  Members of the crew weren’t so restrained.

  I realize that I had probably alienated some of the Citizens and crew of the Halcion. Monica and the Captain should be happy that I was able to return with the prisoners but bringing aboard a detachment of IDF troops under my command wasn’t going to go over well with the crew.

  I didn’t spend much time thinking about it, however, because the shock of seeing Valys still weighed heavily on my mind. Why had she played along? Now that I knew who and where she was would I be able to see her again? Did I want to?

  All of these thoughts were swirling in my head and I braced myself as I prepared to enter the bridge. I knew that my IDF command labeled me as an enemy to the people on this ship and that it would be painfully brought home to me as soon as I stepped through that hatch, but I had no idea…

  ΔΔΔ

  They were clapping!

  Many of them were actually out of their seats holding their hands high and pumping their fists!

  My back was pounded several times as I made my way to the Captain’s chair. He wasn’t on the bridge but Monica was and the smirk on her face was just as confusing as everything else going on around me.

  “Congratulations Ensign,” she said deadpan.

  Everyone quieted down and was more or less pretending to pay attention to their stations, but while Traffic Control had our helm there wasn’t much for many of them to do except, of course, watch us.

  “Let’s see,” she started counting on her fingers. “On your first visit to the Imperial court you have had private audiences with all the heirs, were awarded the Loyal Servant of the Empire cloak – which I might add you look very handsome in – and are given command of some of the most ruthless troops in the Empire. On your way back you stop off at one of the most hated ships in the Empire and collect several dozen of the Empire’s enemies and help them make their escape… Might I ask what else you have on your agenda today? Revolution? Single handedly defeating all of the empire’s enemies?

  The bridge again burst out into laughter.

  There was a twinkle in Monica’s eye and I realized that the emotion I was feeling wasn’t surprise; it was relief.

  ΔΔΔ

  As if my day hadn’t been full of enough surprises I received a personal call just as I was preparing for bed.

  There was no one else it could have been so I wasn’t surprised to see her face on the screen.

  “Hello Valys,” I said.

  Hello Jac, or I guess I should call you Ensign.”

  “And look at you – a lieutenant no less,” I replied.

  “When I realized your ship was departing I’d thought I’d better call you before you skipped,” she said without much warmth. “I want you to know that if your little stunt backfires on me I really will hunt you down.”

  Valys was one of the sneakiest people I knew and talking on an open line like this was very unlike her.

  “Is this line secure?” I asked.

  She gave me a look of disdain and said, “Of course it is you idiot. I’m IDF remember? I know how these things work.”

  I guess I didn’t look convinced because she continued, “The encryption we’re using has a backdoor activation only used by the Admiralty. No one can monitor us.”

  I grinned. Then more seriously, “Why did you do it Valys? Why did you help me?”

  She got that dismissive look on her face that I knew so well and said, “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to question good fortune? You’re still a fraking newb.”

  My grin turned into a smile.

  She quickly added, “Don’t look so smug, this isn’t all about you. What we did to those people’s planet…”

  “Will you be ok?”

  “I always am; you know that.”

  I suddenly realized that I might have a way to repay her. Not just for today, but for everything…

  “Look Valys, I can’t explain but I think I can help you. Are you still worried about your sister? Is she still in danger?”

  She suddenly became angry.

  “You don’t know what the frak you’re talking about Jac. You leave my sister out of this.”r />
  “Ok Valys, you need to listen to me very carefully. This is a onetime offer. If your sister is sick or something I probably can’t help her. But if she’s in danger, if that’s why you’ve been worried about her I can probably get her away to someplace safe.”

  She didn’t respond for a full 30 seconds.

  “Where would you take her?” she finally asked.

  “I won’t even know, but it will be far away and you’ll probably never see her again. I promise you she’ll be free to make her own life away from whatever she’s caught up in now. It’s your decision Valys, but if you want me to do it I’ll need her location and a way to get back in touch with you.”