by Terry Mixon
“His Imperial Majesty, Karl the First, Emperor of the Terran Empire. Her Imperial Highness, Princess Kelsey Bandar, Heir to the Imperial Throne. Crown Princess Elise Orison, Heir to the Throne of the Kingdom of Pentagar. Admiral Jared Mertz. All draw close to hear the words of your liege.”
They all slowly walked into the audience chamber. There was no rushing when pomp and ceremony was required.
Her father stood before the Imperial Throne. She had a smaller one beside it. It had been her brother’s back before things had gone to hell. Jared and Elise stood to one side.
Everyone in the crowd stood at attention, or close to it in the case of the senators and nobles. The only one scowling was her mother. There was a small bubble of space around her. It seemed no one was in the mood to chat. Probably afraid they’d get something on themselves.
Her father gestured for Kelsey to sit. That was not according to protocol, and the majordomo’s eyebrows pulled together a tad. It was her version of a fierce scowl.
Kelsey did as he’d indicated and sat. The cushion made the throne a lot more comfortable than it looked. Thank God.
Her father looked out at the crowd. “Over the course of the last few months, most of you have heard many details about the mission into the Old Empire. What you have not heard are the full details that only a few are privy to. Nor have you heard of every event that transpired. Some of them will remain classified for many years to come.
“Many of the people involved have been recognized in one way or another. Some with promotions, others with awards, and a few with grants of knighthood or nobility. Those were only the first wave. Others are coming.”
He smiled. “In fact, I have a number of knighthoods to bestow upon the unsuspecting tonight. Shall we begin there?”
Kelsey watched as her father called officers and crewmen alike forward. The majordomo read the unclassified parts of their awards and then he used a thin ceremonial blade to tap them on the shoulders in a ceremony older than the Empire itself.
All looked stunned, but none more than Zia Anderson, Kelsey thought. She really hadn’t seen this coming. Neither had Charlie Graves, Dennis Baxter, or Pasco Ramirez. They should have. They’d been a big factor in the Empire’s successes.
As each person she knew came forward, Kelsey grinned at them, pleased to be part of this moment in their lives.
Once her father finished, he smiled. “And then there are those that did even more. In secret, the Imperial Senate and I have worked to make our pleasure known. Doctor Jerry Leonard. Step forward.”
The scientist blinked at them in surprise. Carl Owlet nudged him toward the dais.
“Doctor, you met the challenge of the Old Empire technology head on, marshaling the forces and intellect to turn them into tools we could use to survive. For that, the Empire is in your debt, and we always pay our debts. Kneel.”
The scientist actually protested. “Majesty, it was Doctor Cartwright—”
“Hush, Doctor. He’s out of the system, but my agents are seeing to his reward today as well. You’ve earned this.”
A low laugh ran through the crowd as her father knighted the befuddled man.
“Rise, Sir Jerry, and accept the accolades of your peers.”
The red-faced scientist waved weakly at the clapping crowd in the audience room, much to their amusement.
Her father grabbed the other man’s shoulder when he tried to escape back into the sea of people. “Hold up. I’m not done.
“It is my considered opinion that you’ve earned far more than a simple knighthood. I am hereby giving you a grant to continue your researches, and forming an institute to assist you in the Herculean task ahead of you. I won’t be so crass as to mention the amounts, but trust me when I say that you will not want in your work.”
The scientist beamed. “Thank you, Majesty! That will open so many doors for us.”
“Indeed it will,” her father agreed. “So will the barony I’m bestowing to you and your heirs. It’s on East Bay on the world of Xander, but I’m sure that you’ll be far too busy to go visiting it all that often anyway.”
“A what?”
It was all Kelsey could do not to whoop out loud. This was perfect.
“Don’t worry, Your Excellency. I’m sure Sir Carl will explain it to you in words large enough to make sense.”
That did get a laugh from the crowd as Carl came to lead the stupefied man off the dais.
Her father then called Doctor Lily Stone forward and did the same, minus the research facility, but with an upgrade to Countess of Hawk’s Mount, also on Xander. She handled it with much more aplomb than Doctor Leonard.
“Your work with Old Empire medical procedures will save innumerable lives, Your Excellency,” her father told the Fleet officer. “To facilitate this, I am promoting you to the rank of Commodore and placing you in charge of the medical and research sections of the hospital ship Caduceus.
“Captain Justin Guzman will assist you, and Fleet will see that the operations side is filled with the best people. They will support you to the best of their abilities, I’m sure.”
Lily bowed. “Thank you, Majesty.”
The doctor gave Kelsey a smile before she left the dais.
Kelsey followed her down with her eyes, and spotted her mother again. Justine Bandar looked furious. She had no idea over what, but her mother was glaring at Zia, Dennis, and Charlie. Well, good luck with her causing trouble for them.
“Now for an award that it saddens me to give,” her father said. “During the mission, one of the major factors for their success was the marines. Until almost the end, they were led by Timothy Reese, who was tragically killed in action. I’ve already seen that he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given the Empire’s highest award, but that isn’t enough.
“He had no living family, but I am raising him to the peerage posthumously. I’ve selected a very nice area of land for his heir, though. Not coincidentally, also on Xander. I hope you’re all seeing a pattern here.”
He smiled out at the crowd. “No, this isn’t an empty gesture. I believe it’s fitting that a marine carry on in his stead, just as someone took command once he was gone.”
Kelsey sat up straight, having just enough warning to know what was coming.
“Sir Russel Talbot, step forward in the name of Timothy Reese.”
Her fiancé looked stunned, but he didn’t argue as he came onto the dais.
That was damned sneaky of her father. Talbot would make a huge fuss over this in his own name, but he’d never utter a peep now. At least not until it was safely done.
“As Lieutenant Colonel Reese is no longer with us,” her father said once Talbot stood in front of him, “it falls to you to carry on in his stead in the marine tradition. In the name of the Terran Empire, I grant you the County of Barrett Falls. It’s not coincidentally adjacent to Countess Stone’s holdings.”
I’ll get you for this, Talbot sent her through their implants.
Don’t blame me. This was all his idea. Suck it up, Buttercup.
Once Talbot was safely off the dais, her father turned toward Jared. “And that brings us to the guest of honor. Admiral Jared Mertz was the man who made all these successes possible. He made the right choices. The hard choices. We collectively and individually owe him our lives.
“So, while he’d tell us that his promotion is reward enough, I am forced to disagree. Come forward, Admiral Mertz. Kneel.”
Once Jared was on his knees, the emperor took up the ceremonial sword. “A knighting is the least that I can do, so let’s get that out of the way.” He tapped the blade to Jared’s shoulders. “I name you Knight Commander in the Order of Lucien. Rise, Sir Jared.”
Jared’s face didn’t show how uncomfortable he must feel, but Kelsey knew him far too well.
“Now, to the meat of the matter. Your service to the Throne demands a suitable recognition. I’m awarding you the Duchy of East Bay on Xander. Congratulations, Your Grace. As always, you’ll be
keeping an eye over your most trusted subordinates.”
Kelsey saw the woman her mother had been glaring at react, standing there with her mouth open in shock. Zia grabbed the woman into a hug and whooped while Dennis and Charlie grinned.
Who was she? She did look vaguely familiar, but Kelsey couldn’t place her. She took an image through her implants and sent a request through the palace system to identify her. The Terran Empire was large, so that might take a while.
“Yet, that isn’t enough,” her father said. “After consulting with the Imperial Senate and verifying that sufficient precedent exists, I am reviving an old tradition. You are my acknowledged son, though you were not born in wedlock, and that has caused you grief. For which I am truly sorry.
“However, it gives me the foundation to make that up to you. Almost a thousand years ago, there was a similar situation and the Imperial Senate at the time created a level of the peerage to recognize such individuals that the emperor, or in that case, empress, decided were worthy, though they were not in the line of succession. It gives me great pleasure to raise you to Prince of the Blood. Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“No!”
Every head turned at the hot denial from the crowd. It was her mother, of course. Perfect.
Justine Bandar stormed up onto the dais. The guards moved to stop her, but her father held out a hand to stop them.
“I will not stand for this travesty!” her mother snarled. “He is a piece of common trash and he will not be part of my family.”
Karl Bandar smiled coldly. “I’d have preferred not to air our dirty laundry in public, Justine, but I’ll not shy away from it. We’re divorced. He’s not part of your family. He’s part of mine.”
Kelsey rose to her feet. “And since we’re talking about travesties, let’s discuss the fact that neither Ethan or I were products of your marriage to my father.”
“How dare you? I’m your mother! You will not side with him over me.”
“Oh, I assuredly will. I don’t know what kind of welcome you expected, but I’m not interested in talking. Guards, see my mother out of the Palace.”
Her mother looked shocked and tried to shake off the guards’ hands, but they efficiently whisked her away.
Kelsey looked out over the crowd. “I’m sorry you had to see that, and even sorrier that I had to be part of it. Father, back to you.”
He reached out and pulled her into a hug when she tried to sit back down. “I love you.”
Kelsey held him tight. “And I love you.”
He held her out at arm’s length. “Since you’re standing, I have one more thing to do. Kneel.”
She gave him an odd look, but obeyed.
“My little girl left on this mission as a—forgive me—pampered young woman. The crucible of fire has forged her into a warrior, and it’s time I recognized that. I dub thee Knight Commander in the Order of Lucien.”
He tapped the ceremonial sword on her shoulders and then pulled her to her feet. “I’m sure that Admiral Yeats was going to tell you himself, but I’ll just go ahead and steal his thunder.
“As the only Marine Raider in the Empire, I think we have to recognize that you are only the first. You’re in command of the Marine Raider ship Persephone, so you need the rank to do so. Therefore, I’m inducting you into the Imperial Marines with the rank of colonel.”
His eyes twinkled. “Perhaps that will keep you from needing to disobey all the military people standing in the way of you doing what you have to do.”
Her ears were roaring. No, it was the crowd. The Fleet and Marine personnel were clapping like mad and shouting their approval. She was stunned.
“I’m not a military person,” she said. Only her father was close enough to hear her.
“That’s no longer true,” he said with a smile. “You’re a leader. Now you have the tools to make that authority legitimate. Wield it well.”
Once the celebratory noisemaking subsided, Elise stepped forward. “If I might co-opt your ceremony, Your Majesty, I also have an announcement.”
He inclined his head and stepped back. Kelsey followed suit.
The Pentagaran heir smiled at the people gathered before them. “It is my great pleasure to announce the impending marriage between His Highness, Prince Jared, and myself. May it bind our people even closer together.”
That earned another set of lusty shouts from the crowd.
Her father grinned widely. “That is excellent news! My most sincere congratulations to you both. Have you selected a date?”
Elise shook her head. “I know that Fleet has imminent plans for him, so I think we should have the ceremony on Pentagar. We’ll have to put things together quickly, because I’d like to make sure he’s mine before he has to leave.”
Jared nodded. “We’ll have to get my mother there. She’s waited long enough for me to get married. Luckily, we don’t need to send very far for her.”
Her father blinked. “Patricia is here?” He looked out over the crowd and smiled at the woman Kelsey had noted earlier. “There you are! Come up here and stand with our son.”
Kelsey understood now. No need for that identity request she’d sent earlier, and no wonder her mother had been shooting daggers.
She put on her most welcoming smile and held her hand out to Patricia Mertz. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’m sure your son will have the grandest wedding you could desire.”
“This is all so overwhelming,” the woman said softly. “I never told you how sorry I was.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me,” Kelsey said firmly. “We’re family.”
She pulled the other woman into a hug. Over her shoulder, she saw Talbot grinning at them. That made her smile wickedly, which wiped the smile off his face.
“Count Talbot,” she said with her hand extended. “Get up here. Since we’re going to be working on a big wedding, we should make it a double.”
Chapter Eight
Brandon Levy rode back up to orbit lost in thought. The ceremony had shaken him out of his resentful state of mind. If the emperor thought he needed to knight Zia Anderson, perhaps he had blinders on. Perhaps.
There was a lot to think about.
Not everyone was going directly back to the ship, so the cutter was half empty. As the soon-to-be executive officer, he had a little bubble around him. He was still the new guy.
So, he was surprised when a woman moved up and sat beside him. It was the woman who’d been with the captain on the flight deck.
She stuck out her hand. “Commander Levy, I’m Annette Vitter. I’m in charge of all the fighters.”
He took her hand and shook it. “I’m sure I made a bad first impression. Can I ask for a redo?”
The corner of her mouth twitched up. “I’m a huge believer in second chances. The two of us are going to be working closely together, so I want to have the best relationship we can possibly have. Might I ask you a personal question?”
He nodded. “I won’t say I’ll answer it, but sure.”
“Is part of your anger with the situation because you don’t think the captain is experienced enough?”
“That’s damned impertinent to ask,” he said after a moment.
She smiled a little. “Impertinence is my middle name. Look, I can’t help how you feel, but I wanted you to hear from someone who’s served with the captain since before we left on this mission. You’ll not find a more dedicated and conscientious officer, or one with a better grasp on what it means to command a carrier.
“Not to turn up my nose at your experience, because it’s valid and important, but we’ve had over a year to get used to working with this equipment and the requisite tactics to use it effectively. The tech is so ubiquitous that you might never know where it is or how it can help you. Case in point.” She held up her right hand.
“You’ve lost me,” he said after a moment.
“I was using my arm as an example,” Vitter said. “I lost it in a pinnace crash on Erorsi.
This is cybernetic.”
He blinked in surprise. Her uniform tunic covered her arm, but the hand she was holding up looked completely natural.
“I had no idea. I have to confess that the transfer came so suddenly that I haven’t more than glanced at anyone’s files. They basically stuffed me into a cutter and sent me over.” He gestured at her arm. “May I?”
Vitter held her hand out, palm up. “I was piloting a pinnace full of marines on Erorsi when someone dropped an asteroid on us,” she said stoically. “We tried to run for a ridge, but we didn’t make it. The blast wave smashed us into the ground.”
“And you walked away from that?” He felt her hand gingerly. It felt like flesh and blood.
“More like they carried me out after Princess Kelsey put a tourniquet on me. I’d have died without her quick action. My copilot didn’t make it, and neither did some of the marines, in spite of their crash harnesses and armor.
“The folks at Erorsi stabilized me, but it was the doctors on Harrison’s World that fitted me with this. It took a while before I could use it well. I thought I’d never fly again. I can only imagine how hard it was for Princess Kelsey to remaster her body after the Pale Ones butchered her.”
He’d seen the classified report on what had happened to the heir. That level of modification took his breath away. Just the cranial implants he was supposed to get this evening scared him a little.
Brandon released her hand. “I can’t tell it isn’t real. Does it work with your implants?”
“It communicates with them, but it’s self-contained and connected directly to my nervous system. It isn’t amped up like the princess’s artificial muscles, either.”
“Does anyone else have anything like this?”
She nodded. “Captain Paul Cooley of Shadow lost his legs and suffered a lot of internal injuries. He’s still on Harrison’s World recovering. I spoke with him a little before they pulled me out of the hospital. He’s got a tough road ahead of him.”
Brandon had seen that part of the report, too. The Rebel Empire destroyer had savaged the light cruiser. Less than thirty percent of the crew had survived the initial attack, and even more had died when the AI ships had captured the heavy cruiser Spear.