“You believe in my Legacy,” Anna said. “But do you believe in me?”
“Of course, I do. They are one in the same.”
“Do you believe I am destined to rule?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe that when it comes to Ancient technology, that I have the wisdom and authority to make the right decisions regarding it?”
“There is no doubt in my mind.”
“Then go beyond your duty for me, Commander,” Anna said. “Be my protector. Be my guardian. But most of all, be my…” Anna had to struggle to keep from letting her emotions overcome her as she got choked up. “Be my friend.”
Anna’s words seemed to take Seqis aback. His face softened slightly, and he finally nodded in ascent. “Do not fear, Your Highness,” he said gently. “I am by your side. No matter what happens, you will have my support… and my friendship.”
Anna smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “I fear I will need it now more than ever.”
“And you shall have it. Anything I have to give is yours, Princess. I believe in you with every fiber of my being, and I swear upon my oath as a member of the Royal Vanguard, you will never be alone again.”
“That is what I needed to hear,” Anna said gratefully. “Now come. It is time to meet with the Directors.”
The five members of the Directory were already in the Royal conference room when Anna arrived, along with the Royal Guards she’d requested in case things went badly. The Directors all got to their feet when she entered and did not sit again until Anna took her place upon the high-backed chair at the head of the table. The Directors all looked at her, waiting to know why she had summoned them.
Anna slowly gazed at each one, recalling the things she’d heard them speak about her from the surveillance videos and remembering exactly what each man thought of her. Oddly enough, she no longer felt nervous now that she was in front of them. She felt calm. Collected.
She felt like an Empress.
“Gentlemen,” she said, “thank you for assembling for me on such short notice.”
“We serve at your pleasure, Your Highness,” Casgor said. “What is it you have called us here for?”
“I have called you all here today concerning matters of Ancient Technology,” Anna said. “More specifically, Armonto Virtuoso’s proposal regarding the Great Seal of the portgate network.”
The Directors all exchanged curious glances. “Yes, we’re familiar with the proposal,” said Director Jamerones. “Do you wish to hear our thoughts on the subject?”
“No,” Anna said. “I have thought long and hard about this. I have meditated and reflected upon it over and over, and I have come to a decision.” Anna looked at the members of the Directory, eyeing each one carefully before speaking. “I have decided to move forward with the proposal to transmute the Great Seal of the portgates.”
Director Zersee gasped audibly. Both Ridsco and Phenberg looked shocked. Jamerones grimaced. “But… but Princess,” sputtered Zersee. “What if Mr. Virtuoso’s proposal does not work? We’ll have destroyed the very thread that ties the Empire together!”
“I have every confidence in Mr. Virtuoso’s abilities when it comes to Ancient technology,” replied Anna. “He has yet to disappoint on that front. We all know the risks involved, he most of all. If he is confident he can do this, then I believe he can.”
“We can all agree that Mr. Virtuoso is a smart and capable man,” said Phenberg. “But, Your Highness, even the most miniscule risk of failure is cause for concern.”
“Gentlemen,” said Anna forcefully. “When Emperor Tantalis discovered the first portgate on Regalus Prime, no one knew what lay on the other end. Yet he had faith in his convictions, and through him the Age of Exploration began, building the foundation for the first galaxy-spanning Empire in history. But now I look around my kingdom, and all I see is fear, rebellion, and uprising. Losing Regalus Prime has been a blow we haven’t even yet begun to recover from, and while you bicker among yourselves discussing how to keep it together, my Empire is crumbling around me! By unshackling the portgates from the Great Seal, we can connect every colony, outpost, and space station to the Empire at large. We can bring in new, habitable planets our people can colonize, providing them with instant access to supplies and support. We will no longer be restricted by an old and outdated system built tens of thousands of years ago, which is limiting us and hindering our very survival. I do not wish to be the member of Legacy Prime under whom the kingdom my ancestors built falls. If we are to survive, then we must do this.”
“And if it should fail?” asked Jamerones pointedly.
“We still have hyperspace,” said Anna. “We will endure.”
“Hyperspace will slow our response with the core worlds,” argued Ridsco. “To effectively police the Empire would require far, far more ships than we currently have. What if the Deathlords were to strike again? What if the Legacies were to break away and declare their own kingdoms as independent rulers?”
“Then we will be no worse off than we are now,” replied Anna. “The Visinis have been able to maintain an Empire without the use of portgates with a far smaller fleet than ours. I am confident we will be up to the challenge of maintaining order.”
“You are forgetting one thing, Your Highness,” said Jamerones. “The Councils have just voted to enact an offensive against the Deathlords. The vast majority of our ships will be committed to this endeavor. If the portgate network dies, and we must rely on hyperspace to hold the Empire together, we will not have the resources to do so.”
“I am well aware of that,” said Anna. “Which is why I am vetoing the measure.”
“What?” cried Phenberg. “Your Highness, you can’t do that!”
“I am sick of being told what I can and cannot do, Director Phenberg,” Anna said sternly. “Particularly when I see my Empire being driven into the ground by the incompetence of its leadership.”
The Directors all seemed to bristle at her statement. “What my colleague means, Princess,” said Jamerones, sternly, “is that the Imperial Constitution states that laws passed by the Councils can only be vetoed by a unanimous vote of the Directory. You do not have the legal power to do as you say.”
Anna narrowed her eyes, sensing the challenge the Director had just thrown down. “Very well,” she said. “I order you to vote to veto the declaration on my behalf.”
Casgor steepled his fingers under his chin thoughtfully as the other four Directors exchanged tense glances. “I’ve been in support of the measure since it was first proposed,” said Phenberg. “I believe the only way to ensure the safety of the Empire is to kill the thing that is threatening it. If you feel you must break the portgate seal, Your Highness, I implore you to do so after the offensive has run its course!”
“Which could be years, or even decades,” replied Anna. “I will wait no longer.”
“Then… I’m afraid I cannot in good conscience vote as you wish me to,” Phenberg said, sitting up indignantly.
You are not worthy.
“Nor I,” grumbled Jamerones. “I see the reasoning behind your arguments for this course of action, Princess, but it is far too reckless. I support the offensive, as well, and it will proceed as planned.”
You are not worthy.
“I am not a fan of this offensive, but I must vote against your request on principal, Your Highness,” said Ridsco. “I agree with my colleagues. What you are proposing is dangerous, and the precedent you are setting by ordering us to simply do as you bid is troubling to say the least.”
You are not worthy.
“Though I am a man of peace, I concur with my peers,” said Zersee. “I cannot, in good conscience, overturn the will of the people’s appointed representatives in order to pave the way for this endeavor you have undertaken. In fact, I put forth a motion to the Directory to place an injunction on Mr. Virtuoso’s proposal, barring him from access to the Great Seal until such time as we can all agree that the rewards outweigh the risk
s.”
“I vote in favor of that,” said Jamerones.
“As do I,” said Phenberg.
“Agreed,” said Ridsco.
Anna glared at the men before her. She calmly looked at Casgor. “And you, Director?” she asked. “Do you agree with your colleagues?”
Casgor rubbed his hands thoughtfully. “Your Highness,” he said, “for generations, your Legacy has ruled this Empire with strength and wisdom. You sit where you do today because the blood of our ancestors runs through your veins. Legacy Prime has always decided how to use Ancient technology and has yet to let us down. I would be remiss in saying that I do not share similar concerns with my colleagues, but I also have faith in you and your heritage. If you believe this is the best course of action, then I believe it is my duty to support you in any way I can. Therefore, I must vote ‘no’ on the injunction and express my desire to veto the offensive measure put forth by the Councils.”
“So you vote as I am commanding you to?” asked Anna softly.
“I am, Your Highness,” said Casgor with a bow of his head.
“Good,” Anna said. “Then the veto has passed, and the injunction has failed.”
The other four directors all exchanged confused glances. “Your Highness,” said Phenberg, “the vote is four to one. The veto has failed and the injunction stands.”
“That is incorrect,” said Anna. “The vote is one to zero. It is both unanimous and in favor of my wishes.”
“But, that makes no sense—” said Zersee.
“Then let me spell it out for you, Director,” said Anna pointedly. “I am relieving the four of you of your duties and placing Director Casgor solely in charge of the government.”
The four other Directors looked at Anna in shock.
“You can’t do that!” shrieked Ridsco.
“The Directory falls under the purview of Legacy Prime, of which I am the sole member,” said Anna. “I can assure you, I can do exactly that under Prime Privilege 21 of the Imperial Constitution. It is my right to dismiss any Director I feel is not adequately performing his duties, to the detriment of the Empire. As of now, consider yourselves dismissed.”
The look on all four of the previous Directors’ faces was so aghast, Anna almost found it comical. For a long moment, no one said anything. Anna mused that it felt like the calm before a storm.
“Prime Privilege 21 has never been used in the history of the Empire!” snapped Jamerones, finally recovering enough to speak. “What you’re doing is a blatant power grab! The people will not stand for it!”
“The people love their Princess more than they love their Directors,” Anna replied. “And they will believe me when I go on the holonet and speak of how you’ve allowed the Empire to be brought to the brink of collapse through your incompetence. New Directors will be elected in time. But until then, Casgor is now the sole Director and shall remain as such as long as he does what I ask. Does that work for you, Director Casgor?”
“I am, and have always been, your humble servant, Your Highness,” Casgor replied with a nod.
“Princess, please,” pleaded Zersee. “Don’t do this!”
“It is already done,” replied Anna. “Guards! Escort these men back to their residences and confine them there until I say otherwise.”
The Royal Guards in the room stepped forward, making it clear whom it was they obeyed. The four former Directors looked angry and confused as they were escorted from the room. Casgor got to his feet and bowed deeply toward Anna. “Do you have any more orders you wish me to enact, Your Highness?” he asked.
“Contact Mr. Virtuoso and have him begin preparing for the Great Seal transmutation,” Anna said. “And make sure to enter the overturning of the Evenstar offensive measure into the record as soon as possible. I want our fleets to stay where they are for the time being.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” said Casgor with a smile, before taking his leave.
When Anna got to her feet, she noticed the troubled frown on Seqis’s face. “You do not agree with my decision?” asked Anna.
“Are you asking for my opinion, Your Highness?” responded Seqis.
“Speak freely,” Anna commanded.
“I do not believe what you did was wise,” Seqis replied.
“And why is that?”
“There was a reason why Emperor Nameer ceded much of his power to a five-member ruling body when he reformed our system of government,” Seqis said. “It was meant to prevent tyrannical leaders, such as his brother, from ever coming into power over the Empire again.”
“Is that what you think of me?” asked Anna. “That I am tyrannical?”
“No, Princess. I do not believe you to be anything of the sort,” said Seqis carefully. “But to give so much power to Director Casgor… it could lead to such a thing. I’ve always found the people who want power the least are the ones best suited to wield it. And if there is one thing you can say about Casgor, it is that he very much wants power.”
“And if it is I who wants power?” asked Anna. “Does that mean I am not suited to wield it?”
“Your Highness, I didn’t—”
“I know what you meant,” Anna replied. “But I am sick of being a figurehead relegated to the sidelines as fools and sycophants destroy what it took my Legacy ten thousand years to build. Young Emperor Daarius found himself in a similar situation and took action to correct it. I plan to do the same. The decisions I must make to correct the course my kingdom has been on are sure to ruffle some feathers, but change is never painless. I value your council, Supreme Commander, but what I need now more than advice is people I can trust to carry out my will. Do you remember our talk earlier?”
“I do,” replied Seqis.
“And do you still believe in me?” asked Anna. “Do I still have your support and friendship, no matter what?”
“Of course.”
“And will you still obey me, even if you do not agree with me?”
“Such is my charge, Your Highness.”
“Good,” Anna replied, as she turned and began walking purposefully out of the room. “I’m planning to do much that others will not agree with.”
Chapter 48
Professor Green frowned as he looked at the open access panel on the bridge of the Earthship. He was gazing over Scallywag’s shoulder as the pirate wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “Now,” said Green, “connect the feedback cable to the sequencing subsystem node.”
“Right,” muttered Scallywag, before adding, “which one’s that again?”
Green pointed out the things he was talking about. “Plug this, into that,” he explained.
Scallywag sighed. “This’d go a lot quicker if ya’d just do it yerself.”
“We’ve already tried that,” Green said. “You saw how the ship responded. It wants nothing to do with me.”
“Oy, and ya think it likes me any better?” Scallywag grumbled as he continued to attach the slicing gear to the Earthship’s systems.
“Well, it hasn’t tried to shock you or blow up any of your equipment yet, so… I think it’s safe to say it certainly likes you better than me!” replied Green, having flashbacks of all the times he’d almost been seriously injured recently while trying to access the Earthship’s systems.
“Prolly because it knows I don’t have a bloody clue what I’m doin’,” Scallywag said.
“Chin up, my good man!” Green said. “We’re almost done. Just a few more connections and we’ll finally be able to—”
Suddenly, all the cables Green had painstakingly walked Scallywag through connecting popped out of the circuit board all at once. Scallywag groaned in frustration and sat back, tossing his attachment tool on the floor. Green frowned, as well.
“Bloody waste o’ time this is,” Scallywag said. “Been sneaking in here for the past couple o’ days tryin’ ta get this ship ta hack the Maguffyn mainframe, and we’re no bloody closer than when we started! We’re gonna need ta think of another
way.”
“There is no other way,” replied Green. “This is our only option.”
“Well then, let’s get Jack out here ta make the ship cooperate.”
Green shook his head. “They won’t let him get anywhere near the spaceport,” Green replied. “After the Princess dismissed the Directory and put Director Casgor in charge, he ensured the Maguffyn Corporation retained complete control of the ship. Jack can’t even get into teleportation range of it.”
“So, what do we do?” asked Scallywag, fatalistically. “Ask it nicely ta start cooperating with us, pretty please?”
Something about Scallywag’s remark sparked an idea in Green’s head. He thought back to when Armonto revealed the spiritual signature to the ship. The notion that it was a living thing, with a body, mind, and soul. Just then, a revelation struck Green with the force of a speeding truck, his mouth hanging open as his mind struggled to cope with it.
“Oh, my,” Green said. “I fear I’ve been looking at this all wrong… all wrong, indeed…”
Scallywag raised an eyebrow. “What do ya mean?”
Green smiled at Scallywag sadly. “I’ve been making the same mistake Armonto Virtuoso has made since day one,” he said. “The same mistake we’ve all been making. All but Jack, anyway. We keep looking at this as a spaceship – as a machine. Yes, it’s an advanced machine. We understand it’s special but… to us, it’s still just a machine. But it’s not, is it? It’s so much more than that… it’s a living thing. No different from you or me.”
“Uh…” said Scallywag, obviously not completely in agreement with the Professor. “Pretty sure there are some glarin’ differences.”
“Only cosmetic,” Green said. “You have red skin, I have green skin. We look different, but we both have a body, mind, and soul. In that sense, we’re exactly alike! And this ship… this ship has those things, too! And maybe as long as we treat it as though it doesn’t, it will never truly cooperate with us.”
Scallywag looked like he didn’t completely buy into the Professor’s theory, but he also didn’t seem opposed to it. “Alright, then,” he said. “How should we be treatin’ it?”
Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Earthman Jack Space Saga Book 2) Page 53