by Neal Jones
"What do we do with it now?" Saveck finally asked.
"I'm open to suggestions," Gabriel replied.
Garrett hesitated for only a second before he spoke. "With your permission, I'd like to dismantle this one more time, but this time I'd like to study it more closely and for as much time as necessary. I have a friend at the FCE who would be more than happy to get a team out here to help me properly analyze this. It's possible that we could adapt the raider's technology to our own systems, that we could upgrade them."
"How long would that take?" Decev asked.
The chief engineer pursed his lips as he mulled the figures. "At least six months for the analysis alone, then another year, minimum, to apply the upgrades. It would have to be done piecemeal, one system at a time, and only after we've determined for a hundred percent certainty that doing so won't permanently damage us in the long run."
"Are you sure that all that time, effort and expense would be worth it?" Saveck scowled. "I agree that this is an advanced piece of technology, but is it really that advanced? What does the FCE have that would enable you to conduct a more thorough analysis of the raider?"
"They have more sophisticated equipment, for one. This starbase is not fully equipped to handle analyses of this nature. Our primary function is security and defense. Secondly, the FCE has a dozen shipyards at their disposal, in addition to the variety of diagnostic technology that is more sensitive and more advanced than what I've got in my department."
Saveck nodded, then cast a sideways glance at Gabriel. "There is still the possibility of another Haal'Chai attack. They might even attempt to re-capture the raider."
Gabriel looked at Garrett. "Is there any information from your current analysis that you could use to upgrade our defenses in the next few days?"
"Yes. A few. In fact, there's a couple that I've already ordered my team to implement. One is to our deflector grid. The other is to our pulser array." He motioned to the compad in front of him. "The details are in my report."
Before the commodore could reply, his commlink beeped.
"Lieutenant Estes, sir. I apologize for the interruption."
"Go ahead, lieutenant."
"The High Chancellor of the Chrisarii Alliance is standing by to speak with you."
This drew startled glances from the other three officers, and Gabriel stifled an irritable sigh as he said, "Thank you, lieutenant. Have the call routed here." He terminated the link, then stood. "Commanders, you are dismissed. Major, I'd like you to stay."
After the door closed behind Garrett and Decev, Gabriel deactivated the holo-image of the raider, then stood and smoothed the front of his uniform. Saveck also stood, noting the commodore's gesture, and the major felt a stab of unexpected pity for Gabriel.
"You only need to address the High Chancellor by his full title in your initial greeting. After that, you simply refer to him as Chancellor. Also, do not avert your gaze from his at any time, no matter what he might say. It can be interpreted as a sign of cowardice and disrespect, especially between two men."
That was all the advice that Saveck had time to give because the data on the holo-screen was suddenly replaced by the image of High Chancellor Maliston Kroth. He had the look of a man who has lived a full life and still has plenty to give. Despite his silver hair, shrunken forehead ridges, the crow's feet at his eyes, and the lines around his mouth, there was a fierce power in his gray eyes, and Gabriel found it difficult not to look away. When Kroth spoke, his voice was deep and reverberated with quiet, controlled thunder.
"Commodore Gabriel."
"High Chancellor Kroth."
"I have a received a report from the Diplomatic Ministry regarding the unfortunate deaths of Ambassador Vorik and his wife. Is it true that the perpetrator of this violent crime has been apprehended and signed a confession?"
"Yes, chancellor, that is correct. His name is Isaac Blacke, and he's human."
"Is it also true that you and Major Saveck have proposed to have Mister Blacke extradited to our homeworld to receive his punishment?"
"Yes, that's right. We feel that this action would mitigate the violent response here on the station."
"And has there been such a response?"
"Not yet, no." Gabriel wanted to glance at Saveck, but he remembered the major's advice from a few moments ago. "But we are certain that some kind of violent act or acts will happen soon, primarily because of Blacke's association with the Church of God's Witness."
"Hhhmmmm, yes, I found that part of his confession very interesting." Kroth frowned as he considered something, then said, "Normally it is in the purview of the Ministry of State to grant or deny a request of this nature. However, they have turned this matter over to the Quorum, and I have decided to visit Exxar-One in person before I make a decision."
Saveck gave a slight cough, and Gabriel swallowed, then quickly said, "Of course, chancellor. My crew and I will accommodate you in any way possible. We would be honored to have you tour our starbase." He paused for only a breath, then continued. "Am I to understand from your statement that you will have the final say in this decision?"
"Yes," Kroth replied, with just a hint of exasperation in his tone, as though Gabriel was an errant child who was stating something that had been obvious to everyone else long ago. "You may expect my arrival in four days. My staff will be coordinating the details with your liaison officer. Major Saveck." Only now did the chancellor's gaze turn to Gabriel's second-in-command. "I trust that you will be up to the task, major?"
"Yes, High Chancellor."
"Very well." Kroth faced Gabriel once more. "Good day, commodore."
The image vanished and the holo-screen disappeared. Gabriel exhaled slowly as Saveck scowled and paced to the viewport.
"This is extremely unusual," the Chrisarii murmured.
"How so?" Gabriel asked. "We just had a visit from President Enkaro. Why not the High Chancellor?"
"Not that," Saveck waved dismissively, "although it is unusual for him to arrange such a visit on short notice. What I was referring to was the fact that Kroth is the one who is deciding whether or not to grant our extradition request." He turned to Gabriel, his expression no longer a frown but one of genuine puzzlement. "He was right when he said that it's normally the Ministry of State who handles this type of request. I'm curious as to why they gave this over to the Quorum."
"It seems reasonable to me," the commodore replied. "Vorik was famous throughout the Alliance, as well as the Federation. His death is a very high profile case, and it makes sense that your State Department is more than happy to pass the buck to the Quorum and the High Chancellor."
"Pass the buck?"
"A figure of speech. It means that they don't want to deal with this matter so they pass off responsibility to someone else."
"Ah. Well, you're right. That is possible, but even still..." The major's voice trailed away as he faced the viewport.
"What?" Gabriel pressed.
"The fact that the Chancellor is coming here in person and that he's the one making the decision regarding our request seems...odd." He shook his head. "But perhaps I'm just being paranoid."
Gabriel sat, exhaling slowly and staring at the space where the holo-screen has once hovered. His day which had started out so early that morning was turning out to be a long one, and he swallowed the bitter taste at the back of his throat. "Thank you for your advice, major. I hope that you'll school me even further on the customs which one adopts when receiving the High Chancellor as one's guest."
"Of course. But right now, I think we should finish our conference about the raider."
Gabriel nodded. "I'm going to grant Garrett's request. It'll probably be at least two weeks until we can get a team from the FCE out here, but I believe it's our best option at the moment."
"I agree."
"Dismissed, major."
Saveck left the wardroom, and Gabriel leaned back, closing his eyes and expelling another deep breath. His entire body felt like dead we
ight, as if his blood had hardened into dark matter, filling every cavity and limb. The commodore wanted nothing more than to climb into a shuttle and set a course for Earth. Once there, he would return to his parents' home, climb into his old bed and throw the covers over his head. He would sleep for three days, and when he awoke he would discover that all of this – Exxar-One, the Chrisarii, President Enkaro, Vorik's death, the Haal'Chai – had been nothing more than an extremely vivid nightmare; something brought on by indigestion, perhaps. His mother would be in the kitchen, frying up a pan of eggs and bacon. A fresh pot of coffee would be brewing, its soothing aroma filling the house, and, as Marc sat at the table, his mother would place his plate before him, and she would tell him that everything was all right.
But Alanys didn't raise any fools. Marc knew exactly what his mother would say after he finished breakfast. First, she would whack him over the head with her spatula, then she would lecture him on his irresponsibility and scold him for acting like an idiot. With a great sigh, Gabriel pulled himself to his feet and trudged out of the wardroom.
( 8 )
"Come with me."
The stranger had abruptly returned, interrupting Sikandra's and Navarr's conversation, and he was alone. The bar had become much more crowded and much more noisier since the two women had arrived almost six hours ago.
"Where are we going?" Sikandra asked.
But the man was already threading his way through the crowd towards the front door. Navarr and Sikandra had no choice but to follow. Outside, the street was mostly empty, with everyone taking shelter inside one of the many nightlife establishments which dominated the gaudy, neon strip. On a nearby corner, a small group was laughing and shouting at one another as they guzzled their bottles of cheap ale.
"My name's Arrul," the stranger said. "I've been ordered to bring you to a safe house, but for security reasons I can't allow you to know the location or how to get there."
His left hand had been empty only a second earlier. Now it contained a small pulser, and he fired two shots before either woman could react. They slumped to the ground, falling neatly beside one another, as three figures emerged from a nearby alley. The pair of spies were pulled into the darkness. From the group of drunks on the corner came a bray of laughter and the sound of glass shattering as an empty beer bottle was hurled against a brick wall.
Chapter 10
____________________
( 1 )
Jolan Nejra, a Jha'Drok senator, a man who was nearing his twilight years and who had held his seat of office for almost three decades, sat back in his chair and sipped his tea. It was late in the evening, and Nejra had been working alone for almost two hours. All the other senators and most of the building's support staff had left long ago, and the silence was a comfort to Nejra. This was the time of night when he did his best work, which consisted mainly of the day's backlog of communiqués, personal correspondence, committee reviews and other various forms of bureaucratic paperwork that was the fuel of most government engines. Jolan had just finished clearing his "in" box, and his mind had already turned to another matter.
He had not received an update from E'kust since the man had been dispatched to Exxar-One a month ago. This evening's newscast had displayed a report that Ambassador Vorik and his wife had been murdered aboard the Chrisarii/Federation starbase, but little else had been released to INC. Nejra was hoping that he would have heard from E'kust by now because it would mean that the spy had succeeded in evading detection and, even better, capture. Yet there was still no message in his personal mailbox, and the senator stared at his computer's blank screen with a growing sense of worry and dread. He stood and walked to the tall, narrow window which rose behind his desk like a giant eye. Beyond it, the Emperium's capital city sprawled for hundreds of kilometers in all directions, lit up like a multi-jeweled starscape, and Nejra contemplated once more his decision to say yes to Koden's proposal. Eril Koden was a fellow senator, one of the most powerful men in the Hall of State. He was a close friend of Lord Emperor Valayne, the sovereign leader of the Emperium.
The door opened, startling Nejra so badly that he almost spilled his tea. He turned quickly, then breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Koden standing on the threshold.
"Good evening, Jolan. A bit jittery, are we?" He strode casually into the large room, settling himself into a chair in front of Nejra's desk. "You need to get more sleep. That tea is what's keeping you up at night."
"It's not the tea, and you know it," Nejra said irritably. "You also know how much I hate it when you sneak up on me like that." He sat, placing his cup on its saucer beside the computer screen, then folded his hands in his lap.
"I was on my way home from the palace when I saw your light was on."
"How is the Lord Emperor? Has Doctor Rimshar's diagnosis changed?"
Koden snorted. "What do you think?"
"It's been ten years. I think that we'll be attending Erengaar's coronation ceremony soon."
Koden stood and walked to the food processor where he requested a cup of the same tea which his companion preferred. "You seem despondent, Jolan."
"I'm just worried. I haven't yet received an update from Agent E'kust. It's been almost a full day since Vorik was assassinated."
Koden sipped his tea as he returned to his seat, and he shook his head. "Even if our spy is captured, he knows nothing of consequence. It's too late now for the Federation to do anything to save themselves. Zero hour is now only two months away. If anything, Jolan, you should be out to dinner with your wife, celebrating this momentous accomplishment."
"I prefer to celebrate after the Federation's territories are under the banner of the Jha'Drok Emperium."
"And very soon they will be. Agent E'kust knows nothing of the greater plan. He only knows his orders, that he was to assassinate Vorik. That's all."
Nejra sighed and stood, turning to his window once more. Koden allowed his friend the silence, knowing exactly what was passing through his fellow senator's mind.
"Sometimes I wonder if my grandfather truly understood the scope of his discovery," Jolan said quietly.
"Your grandfather was given the Lord's Honor, Jolan. No Jha'Drok could ask for a legacy greater than that. Erengaar has already told me of his plans to erect a statue of Elyn in the courtyard of the Hexagon. The battle carrier bearing his name will lead our assault against the Federation. Two months from now, you and I will be seated in our places on the senate floor as Erengaar announces the Emperium's victory to the public."
Nejra turned to his oldest friend. "I wish that I could share your confidence. Instead, I find myself dwelling on the hundreds of minute variables which could cause our carefully laid plans to crumble."
Koden laughed as he rose and threw and arm around Jolan's shoulders. "A bottle of erq brandy will take care of that. Come to my house. I haven't shown you the new sun room. It was finished last week. In fact, I'm sure that Sarra will make us a late dinner."
Just as the men were about to leave the office, Nejra's terminal beeped, signaling the arrival of a new communiqué. He broke free of Koden's embrace and activated the computer screen. "It's a message from E'kust. Computer, decode transmission and secure this room with level three protocols."
The computer obeyed, activating several failsafes inside the walls and door. A moment later, the holo-comm platform near Nejra's desk hummed to life, and the image of a human male appeared. He was dressed in civilian clothes of plain color and design, and he was alone.
"The assassination of Ambassador Vorik and his wife was completed successfully. However, it was not by my hand. It seems that someone else, a human male named Isaac Blacke, had motive and opportunity to carry out the deed, and he was arrested for it that same night. If you desire, I can continue to escalate the situation here, but I don't believe that will be necessary. While tensions are running high, there hasn't yet been a violent public response to this tragedy, and the rumor among the station's population is that Blacke might be extradited to
the Chrisarii homeworld to stand trial. Commodore Gabriel announced just a moment ago that High Chancellor Kroth will be visiting Exxar-One in person. Until I receive new orders, I will wait here and continue observation."
The image vanished and the platform became dark. Nejra shut off his computer screen, making sure to save the message before doing so.
"You see?" Koden said. "Nothing to worry about. Although, it is interesting that Kroth himself is going to visit the station, especially after his speech to the Quorum about his misgivings regarding that whole project."
"I agree," Jolan replied. He began walking to the door. "Remind me tomorrow to check for any new intel from our listeners in the Quorum. Perhaps Kroth has had a sudden change of heart. Does Sarra have any of that spice cake left? A large slice of that will go perfectly with the brandy."
Koden smiled as he clasped his friend on the shoulder. It was good to see Jolan back in high spirits. The two men walked the length of the corridor, passing beneath the large flag which hung from the arched ceiling. On it was a great, ebony bird-of-prey, whose wingspan stretched the width of the flag, and who rested against a backdrop of royal blue. The warrior's talons clutched a sphere of emerald and silver, the homeworld of the Emperium, and its eyes were flints of blood crimson. Behind the predator and its orb was the golden Sword of Chrodusk, the first lord emperor of the Emperium. Beneath the emblem was an inscription in the holy language of the Lords of Jha'Dar. Victory Is Life. Honor Unto Death.
( 2 )
Gabriel took his cup of coffee from the food dispenser and then scowled after taking a sip. He had tweaked the recipe three times in the last two weeks, but the dispenser's computer could never get the flavor just right. This concoction was the best one yet, so the commodore decided to accept it and sat back down at his desk. This was his fourth cup, and it was only two hours after breakfast. It was a full day since Gabriel had released to the public the news of Queyn and Waaris' deaths, and this morning's security report contained only a couple incidents which were directly related to the double homicide two nights ago. Both were bar fights, each involving a dozen off duty officers, and all were currently in the brig. Gabriel was taking his time in deciding the proper punishment, mostly because he wanted to make a clear example of this group, but also because his plate was now full with the preparations for High Chancellor Kroth's upcoming visit.