by Mike Smith
Pax Imperia
Book Three of The Redemption Trilogy
By Mike Smith
Copyright © 2014 Mike Smith
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
All rights reserved.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover image copyright © 2014 AiTuDou
In dedication to all those who selflessly place themselves in harm, day after day, to keep the rest of us safe. Those nameless heroes, who pull the rest of us back from the brink of the abyss, then do it again the next day and the next.
“The true measure of a hero is when a man lays down his life with the knowledge that those he saves... will never know.”
- Anon.
Special thanks to my editor, Anya, and my proofreader Mirella, for all your help and support. I could never have finished this without you.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Prologue
Present Day
Planet Eden Prime, Eden System
The star at the heart of the Eden System shone brightly. Its light spread throughout the System, banishing the darkness. For the star was the source of all life in the System. Without it everything would wither and die in the dark and cold.
Alone.
Just like all living creatures, the star breathed. Its hot corona continually expanded and contracted, creating the solar wind, a stream of charged particles blown off the surface of the star and extending all the way to the Heliopause, almost fifteen trillion kilometres distant. The star was massive, with a diameter of about one and a half million kilometres, and had a surface temperature in excess of five thousand degrees Celsius. It was by far the largest object in the Eden System, comprising ninety-nine per cent of the system’s mass.
The planet Eden Prime by comparison was barely a pinprick in size. The light from the star took almost ten minutes to travel the distance to the planet. However, in comparison to the star’s swirling maelstrom of hot plasma and magnetic fields, the surface of Eden Prime was green and tranquil. With the distant star beginning to climb above the horizon, only just starting its trek towards the zenith of the day, Eden Prime’s sky was azure-blue and clear.
A perfect day for a wedding.
However, this was no ordinary wedding, as the pastor would be the first to testify. After all, it was the first wedding he had attended where he had been politely but firmly frisked for weapons prior to being permitted entry. He had enquired, with some trepidation, of the Marine who was currently thoroughly searching him, if they were expecting any trouble.
“Not at all, pastor. We are just taking precautions. We already have a company of marines guarding the perimeter and the fleet is enforcing a no-fly zone over the Senate.” The Marine pointed into the sky, where the pastor could observe the contrails left by fighters circling high overhead. “And,” the young man continued on in an unconcerned voice, “The 12th Fleet are in orbit, ready to intercept any approaching ships. We’ve got everything covered. Have a nice day.”
Following the wide, meandering path, the pastor observed the bright sunlight streaming through the overhead branches. A mild breeze, heavy with the scent of summer flowers and newly cut grass, stirred the leaves in the trees making them waft backwards and forwards. He saw trees, lakes and, in the hazy distance, a marsh with glimpses of a silvery, fast-flowing river. He heard couples laughing, as he passed by and, overhead, a songbird trilled from a nearby tree.
Staring around, wide-eyed in astonishment, at the landscape, he wondered why he did not spend more time in the Senate Park. He could not remember the last time he felt as close to the Great Maker as he did with all this life and beauty surrounding him.
The pastor continued on towards the front of the congregation and, upon arriving, he took a moment to stare out at the unusual spectacle facing him. For instead of the riot of colours and styles usually present at such a wedding, the congregation was a sea of black and white, interspersed with the occasional man or woman not wearing a uniform. One example was the elderly couple seated in the front row, behind the groom. The groom’s parents, the pastor assumed. Standing a little off to one side and behind the bride was an imposing man with grey hair and dark-green eyes, also dressed in an immaculate white uniform. He was tapping his foot irritably, obviously impatient for proceedings to get underway. There was no doubt as to the identity of this man. After all, his face must be the most instantly recognisable in the Confederation, and as the Pastor had no desire to get on the wrong side of Marcus Aurelius, the bride’s father, he quickly commenced proceedings.
“My friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of committed marital love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Commander Jonathan Radec and Sofia Aurelius—”
“Princess Sofia Aurelius,” an indignant voice interrupted the pastor. “I didn’t spend thirty years being the Imperial Emperor for my daughter to married off like some common—”
“Father. Hush,” the bride interrupted serenely, with lips upturned in a slight smile. The only response was a huff from over her shoulder.
“Princess Sofia Aurelius.” The pastor concluded without missing a beat. Turning to the groom, the pastor enquired, “Commander Jonathan Radec, do you take Princess Sofia Aurelius for your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
Turning this time to the bride, the pastor repeated the question. “Princess Sofia Aurelius, do you take Commander Jonathan Radec for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?”
“With all my heart.”
Purposefully ignoring the break in tradition, the pastor turned back to the Commander and nodded for him to repeat the marriage vows.
“I, Commander Jonathan Radec take thee Sofia Aurelius,” he started, not missing for an instant the twitch of amusement on his wife-to-be’s lips and the even louder sigh coming from behind her. “To be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour and cherish, ’til death do us part.”
The pastor then turned to the Princess, motioning for her to proceed.
“I, Sofia Aurelius take thee Jonathan Radec to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honour, and…” Sofia paused for a second, b
efore concluding, “’til death do us part.”
Jon had to try hard to suppress his laughter; it would be a cold day in hell before Sofia ever agreed to obey anyone.
The pastor had to supress a sigh of his own, as it seemed obvious this couple were not beyond more than a little improvisation. Hoping to hurry proceedings along, he turned back to the groom, enquiring, “You have the ring?”
“Ring?” The Commander seemed surprised by the question. “No, I don’t have the ring.”
“Your best man, then, perhaps?” The pastor turned hopefully to the blond man, splendid in his white navy uniform, with the rank of Captain clearly visible on his lapel, standing beside the Commander.
All eyes turned on him expectantly.
“What is everybody looking at me for? I don’t have the ring. Nobody said anything to me about a ring,” Paul exclaimed loudly, and not a little defensively.
“Jon,” Sofia uttered, not even glancing at him, the serene expression not slipping from her face for an instant. “You have one minute to find a ring before I order somebody to run you through with their sword. If you have not already noticed, there are many here for me to choose from.”
“Pardon me for just one minute, pastor?” Jon apologised. The pastor rolled his eyes before nodding in agreement. Jon turned around to face Sofia, taking a step forward, deliberately encroaching into her personal space. Noticing the suspicious look on Sofia’s face, he leaned forward to whisper into her ear. “Close your eyes for one minute, love.”
“If you are going to embarrass me in front of my father?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Jon breathed into her ear, noticing how she trembled slightly as his warm breath caressed her cheek. As her eyes fluttered closed, Jon took advantage of the opportunity to kiss her lovingly on the cheek, ignoring the snort of indignation coming from the direction of the pastor.
Gently lifting her chin with a deft flick of his finger, Jon observed the delicate chain encircling her neck and the plain gold wedding ring threaded through it. Jon cupped his palm and let the ring lie within his hand, observing the way it sparkled in the early morning sunlight. Lifting his gaze, he stared at Sofia, who had opened her eyes and was staring back at him with such a look of yearning, tears had pooled in the corners of her eyes.
Jon just took a moment to stare unabashedly at her, to admire how the simple, sleeveless, ivory silk bridal gown accentuated her stunning figure. How her unblemished, pearly-white skin was offset by a single curl of her red hair, which had somehow managed to escape from her pinned–up hair style. Most of all, Jon just thanked whichever deity was listening the fateful day, several weeks earlier, when that terrifying shot rang through the Senate and, for a single, heart-stopping moment, Jon thought he had lost everything.
*****
Jon was already moving before the echo of the shot had even faded, but he already knew he was too late. Both Sofia and Marcus were already on the floor, with Marcus shielding his daughter with his own body. Jon did not even hesitate, throwing himself over the couple, tensing himself for another shot and the impact of a bullet tearing through his flesh. He was surprised by the overwhelming silence in the room.
After a moment, it seemed that time resumed and Jon could hear shouts being called out by the marines as they spread out looking for the shooter. A few minutes later the all clear sounded and, with dread in his heart, Jon rose to his feet and gently rolled Marcus over. Checking him for any entrance or exit wounds, he was relieved to find the man uninjured. Eyes flickering open, Marcus focused on Jon with a surprised expression. Like Jon, he had feared the worst.
“Sofia?” Jon uttered in terror, quickly pushing her father aside. Running his hands all across her body, looking for any signs of injury, Jon was horrified as he held up his hands, stained red with her blood.
“Jon?” She inquired weakly, eyes flickering open to stare into his frightened gaze. “Are you okay? My father?”
“We’re both fine,” he hurriedly reassured her. “You're also going to be fine. Now just stay with me and try to stay awake,” Jon added desperately, finally finding the entry wound on the side of her abdomen and keeping pressure on the wound. Even then he could feel the blood oozing out in rivulets between his fingers. Looking back up at her pale, white face, he noticed, with growing fear, her eyes had slipped closed again. He desperately tried to find a pulse, was only slightly relieved when he had managed to do so, even though it was thready and weak. “Medic!” He screamed hoarsely.
However, before a medic could arrive, Marcus gently lifted her into his arms and turned to face Jon. “Take her,” he insisted. “Go with her and watch over her.”
“But, my Lord, what about you?”
The two men’s eyes met, a look of silent understanding passing between them. While they might have come from vastly different worlds, they both shared something in common; the woman in her father’s arms was the most important person in both their lives.
“I will stay here and put an end to this madness, before somebody else gets hurt,” Marcus insisted, gently passing Sofia to Jon. “Now go,” he ordered. Then he watched for a moment longer as the two of them disappeared into a tight circle of marines and the group hurried towards the exit. “Look after my little girl,” he whispered softly, before turning back to the stunned crowd.
As he approached the speaking podium, it was the first time the Emperor had addressed the Senate in over five years. The first time since the Imperium, the great Empire that had lasted over five generations, had been disbanded.
“I am Marcus Aurelius, Imperial Emperor, and my family has ruled over this Empire for five generations!” The words thundered out across the great hall, echoing off the walls, the last few words lingering in the air where they mixed with cries of indignation from some of the Senators from the rim worlds. However, unperturbed, he continued on regardless. “If it weren’t for my family, none of you would be sitting here today. It was only through our intervention we were all saved. For where would it have ended? How many hundreds of millions more would have died? Where would our great civilisation now be? Nowhere! Your ancestors would have been ashes on some distant planet or living in caves huddled around an open fire. My family saved us all and how do you repay us?”
Marcus held up his bloodied hands for all to clearly see.
“In blood. My daughter was chased across the galaxy like a thief, and for what reason? Simply because she is my own flesh and blood. And, as for me, I was tortured and imprisoned for half a decade. Why? Because I was unlucky enough to be born under this name. Now you all threaten war once again, to bring back the destruction my ancestors fought so hard to bring to an end the first time. But this time you do so in my name, in my family’s name.
Five hundred years ago you were all like children. Ungrateful, squabbling and constantly warring with each other. My family finally took away your sticks, waiting for you to grow up. Well, in five hundred years you have not changed. Still the same petty jealousies, the inability to look up from your own selfish wants and desires to see the grand scheme of things. To understand that we rule for all, not just a select few.”
The Emperor’s voice trailed off sadly, the silence in the hall replaced by pounding on desks and cries of outrage from many of the Senators. Therefore his next words were almost missed by many, as they were spoken so softly.
“Yet maybe I was wrong. As parents we all want what is best for our children. However, in the process of doing so, sometimes we forget that it is their life too. That they must be free to make their own choices, and learn from their mistakes. Occasionally they even surprise us, by making the right decision when we as their elders were blind to see what was best for them,” the Emperor commented approvingly. Remembering his own futile search to find a husband for his daughter, someone to love and care for her, when she had already found him.
“Often we would prefer our children stay as children forever. Letting go is never easy, but it is a part of growing up.” With a thoug
htful expression, the Emperor turned to face the Senate again. Motioning towards two Senators sitting next to each other a few rows back, he continued. “While Emperor, I permanently stationed an Imperial Task Force between the adjoining systems of Procyon and Sirius, in the sure and certain knowledge that otherwise they would go to war with each other. Yet here I stand, five years later, and observe the representatives from these two great systems sitting next to each other. I see no war and hear of no death and destruction. Without the Imperial Fleet to keep them separate, they have had to learn to live and work with each other. They have been forced to grow up.”
Casting his gaze around the many astonished faces in the great hall, Marcus Aurelius, the last in that great line of Imperial Emperors, recognised his own time had now come, and gone. “Therefore, I stand before you today, not to demand fealty from you again.” The Emperor’s final words were almost lost in the sudden buzz of conversation around the room, but he continued on heedlessly. “But to bless this Confederation, to congratulate my daughter on its founding and to gracefully step aside.” By this time the room was ablaze with excitement, many Senators already on their feet clapping. Eventually the Emperor stepped away from the speaking podium, after delivering his final words to the crowd. “For my daughter has taught me the most important lesson I will ever learn. She taught me what is most important in life.”
“Friends, family and, most of all, love.”
*****
Jon brushed back a lock of hair from Sofia’s face, the steady beep-beep of the heart monitor as reassuring to him as the constant sound of her breathing next to his. She lay on the hospital bed next to him, his arms tightly clasped around her, as she reclined against his chest.
The doctors and nurses had tried insisting that he leave after she had been wheeled out of the operating theatre and placed in this white, sterile recovery room, explaining that she needed time alone to heal and recover. Jon snorted in disbelief at that prognosis, wondering where they had found these particular experts, as they knew nothing about Sofia. Instead, once they had finally left, with thinly veiled threats to call security and have him thrown out, he climbed into bed with her and gently, so as not to exacerbate her injury, gathered her into his arms.