by Kal Spriggs
Lucius nodded, “Lead the way.”
As they stepped down the corridors, Admiral Dreyfus spoke, “Any good news from your end, Baron?”
“We got a data chip with suggested tactics, a promise of friendship, and a nice little notice from the Shadow Lord Lachesis that she hopes we die horrible deaths.” Lucius said.
“Oh.”
“Any good, non-confidential news?” Lucius asked.
“Captain Doko just got married.” Admiral Mund said, his voice dry.
Lucius froze mid-step. He turned, surprised, “That was sudden!”
Doko shrugged, slightly embarrassed. “I, uh, well, Lizmadie and I didn't want to wait.”
Lucius nodded, though he felt a spurt of panic as he realized the implications. That Tony and the Princess had gotten married was good news for them. And Lucius felt grateful that Emperor had given his approval. He just wondered what favors the Emperor would demand in return for that approval. He shot a brief glance at Kandergain, “Take what joy you can in this world.” He cleared his throat. “Congratulations, Captain, and many fine children.”
Anthony Doko flushed, “Thank you, sir.”
Lucius continued down the corridor, “Though… I am disappointed I didn’t receive an invitation.”
“From what I understand, they married in private,” Admiral Mund said. “Very private, you might even say secretive. We only just learned of it earlier today.”
“What!” Lucius coughed. He actually stumbled this time.
He looked between Admiral Mund and Captain Doko, “Please tell me you got the Emperor’s approval?”
“Baron, we're both tired of pretending. Given the dangers we all face, the idea that we needed his—”
“Captain Doko—“ Lucius broke off, taking a deep breath, “Anthony, use your head, this is a matter of succession. Whether or not his approval means anything regarding the love you and the Princess may share, marrying without his approval has massive political ramifications.”
Doko leaned close, “Baron, I’m the illegitimate son of a well-off corporate executive. What do you think the Emperor told me when I asked him?”
Lucius sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. “He refused to approve of the marriage?”
Admiral Mund spoke, his voice dry, “I think if the Emperor used such polite words, there might have been more delay before the wedding. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of two people getting married in anger.”
“Oh, God.” Lucius looked between the two men, and finally he burst out in laughter. He waved a hand, “I expected all kinds of crisis, but this…” He continued to laugh, to the growing consternation of both Anthony Doko and Admiral Mund. “I’m sorry, I truly wish the best for you two.”
He started down the corridor again, “Any more good news?”
They finally reached the conference room.
Admiral Dreyfus spoke as soon as the door closed, “The investigation into the escape of Lucretta Mannetti has finished.” He pulled a folder from the conference room table, “That’s the details. In summary, someone knew your codes, knew your watch schedules, and someone had some of your uniforms.”
“One of my crew?” Lucius said, his voice filled with shock.
“One of the officers of the War Shrike had to provide the codes that they used to take your corvette. Either she infiltrated your crew from when you recruited from Faraday upon your initial arrival or she had a sympathizer aboard the War Shrike all along.”
Admiral Mund spoke, “Going by what you said about Mannetti’s political aims in Nova Roma, I’m drawn to feel it must be the latter.”
Lucius looked between the two men, “You have just suggested one of my men, one of my officers must be responsible for the deaths of sixteen guards, the release of a pirate, and possibly knew about and assisted in acts of treason?”
“Baron, that’s what it looks like.” Anthony Doko said. “And that means even I am suspect, I realize. I didn’t want to believe it, but I’ve had three days to look at the evidence.”
“I understand.” Lucius felt something hollow in his chest. He knew betrayal, but never by his own, never by people he’d trusted and served with.
“I trust Captain Nix is looking into this?”
“Negative, Baron,” Admiral Dreyfus said, “We thought it best my people handle that investigation, as they’re clear of any possible ties. They didn’t have access to the information. We’re keeping things as compartmentalized as possible right now.”
“I put Captain Nix Reed to work interrogating Chxor prisoners who’ve decided to come over, along with Kral,” Admiral Mund said. “That’s where we got this intelligence, and that’s why we have to act on it quickly. It’s already a month out of date, and at this point… you can see how important it is we act soon.”
“What’s this battle plan?”
“The Chxor began construction of a shipyard at Melcer.” Admiral Dreyfus said as he pulled up a hologram of the region. He highlighted the system, “Apparently it started as a repair base to support the attack on Nova Roma. They needed a lot of basic labor, so they brought in prisoners, mostly humans. After the final battle for Nova Roma, they had lots of damaged ships. They expanded the yards. Apparently, someone decided they should just expand the base there for construction purposes, since they already had a lot of assets in place.”
He brought up a diagram of several stations and dock-yards. “They’ve brought in hundreds of thousands of human POW’s to serve as slave labor. Mostly the bad jobs, zero gravity mining, working the refineries. Stuff they could use robots for, but the Chxor find expendable slave labor cheap.”
Lucius felt his stomach turn, “What’s the plan to save these people?”
David Mund smiled, “We’ve got three damaged Chxor dreadnoughts and a dozen Chxor cruisers in varying states of repair.”
“We fly in there and play a Trojan Horse?” Lucius asked.
“That’s the basic plan, yes.” Anthony Doko spoke, “Most of it was my idea, Baron. I spoke with Kral, he and some Chxor turncoats can take our captured ships in, talk nice, and then take out the Chxor defenses from the inside while some fighter support comes in, mops up the survivors.”
“Risky.” Lucius said.
Admiral Dreyfus spoke, “The Chxor have a lot of assets there we can use. Raw materials, manufacturing machinery, hell, if we have time we can loot their orbital refineries and strip their shipyard to the bones. Failing that, we can nuke the yards after we get those people out.”
“Glad you kept perspective.” Lucius smiled, “The prisoners must be our number one priority. I approve of the plan, let’s hash out the details.” He looked over at Admiral Mund, “The Emperor, I hope, realizes that we’ll be saving a lot of Nova Romans in this operation?”
“He sanctions it. I think his words were ‘it’s about damned time.’”
“Took the words out of my mouth,” Lucius’ smile turned hungry. “I hate playing defensive all the time. Gentlemen and lady,” he nodded at Kandergain, “it’s good to be back, now let’s take the fight to the Chxor.”
***
Lucius’ enjoyment didn’t last till nightfall, as Kandergain found later that night.
“Economics!” He threw up his hands, “I’m a ship commander, what the hell do I know about printing money?”
“You’re actually printing paper money?” Kandergain asked.
“Well… some,” Lucius said. “Bank notes, but most of the newly elected Lower House’s hard currency would consist of cast precious metals.” He shook his head, “It’s the amounts. My advisers,” by that, they both knew he meant Kate, who had become the President of the Lower House, “suggest scaling up currency production as the economy gets on its feet. On the other hand, half the people out there want money, to buy things they need now. And on the third hand, people on the streets are screaming that the currency they looted or hoarded is no longer worth anything.”
She rested her hands on his shoulders and massaged at the t
ense muscles, “Sounds like a mess.”
“It is a mess.” Lucius leaned back. “And again, I’m going to do what Kate Bueller says, not because I understand... but because she’s been correct before.”
“You don’t like making decisions when you don’t know the answers yourself?”
“I’m a military man, I’m supposed to know the reasoning behind the orders I give and follow, even if I don’t agree.” Lucius snorted, “I don’t understand the first thing about half of what she’s advising me on.”
“You know enough to keep people around who do understand the things you don’t.” Kandergain said, “Which is more important than understanding those things yourself. I’ve seen too many leaders —military and civilian— fall into the trap of believing they had all the answers, and putting people around them to nod their heads and agree.”
Lucius spun his chair around, putting his arms around Kandergain’s waist. He smiled, staring up at her, “What would I do without you?”
“Probably get yourself in a lot of trouble.” Kandergain smiled and leaned down to kiss him.
His link buzzed, and Lucius bit back a curse as he answered it. “Yes?”
“Baron, the Nova Roma Emperor wishes to speak with you.”
Lucius sighed, “Put him on.”
“Uh, Baron, he’s standing in your office.”
Lucius sighed. He rose to his feet, “I’ll be out in a moment.”
He straightened his uniform and looked over at Kandergain. “Hold that thought.”
Lucius stepped out of his bedroom into his office. His mood did not improve to see the Emperor seated behind his desk. “What can I do for you this evening, your Highness?”
“You can have Captain Anthony Doko stripped of rank and arrested.”
“Excuse me?” Lucius asked.
“You heard me, Baron. Captain Doko has made a grave mistake, he disobeyed a lawful command from his Emperor, he committed an act of Treason, and he must pay the penalty for that,” Emperor Romulus IV commanded.
Lucius stood, staring at the young man for a long time in silence. “Your Highness, Treason carries the penalty of death.”
“A fact I think you should be quite aware of considering your father,” the young man snapped. “I certainly have not forgotten that.” The purposeful ambiguity of the statement was not lost on Lucius.
Lucius turned away in silence. He walked over to a cabinet near the desk and poured himself a small glass of scotch. He did not offer one to the Emperor. He knocked it back quickly, then turned.
“Have you ever been in love, Emperor Romulus?”
“Excuse me?” The young man scowled.
“Have you ever fallen in love before?” Lucius repeated.
“I’ve had infatuations a couple of times, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No, I’m asking if you’ve ever fallen in love, and that’s quite a different thing, entirely.” Lucius said. He thought of the curve of Kandergain’s neck, of the way the sun shone on her hair.
He sighed, “There is a saying, an old saying, your Highness. ‘Love will find a way.’ It dates back to Earth.” He held up a hand to forestall the Emperor from speaking, “The reason I say this, your Highness, is that there are some things that no mortal man can stop, no matter how hard he tries. Moreover, there are things he shouldn’t.”
“Your statement that Princess Lizmadie and your Captain Doko are in love is absurd. It’s obvious he’s using her inexperience as a means to leverage himself into—”
“Into what, Emperor?” Lucius snapped. “Into a dynasty in exile? I’ve known the man for over a decade, since he stepped aboard the War Shrike as an Ensign. I know his flaws, Emperor. I also know his virtues. He can’t hide that he loves your older sister, and he hasn’t tried. He gains more difficulty than advantages in this marriage.”
“Whatever the cause, I am his Emperor and I denied him the hand of my sister. He disobeyed my command and married her in secret. That is an act of Treason I cannot tolerate.” The young man spoke rapidly. “He is a Captain of one of my ships, an officer of the Nova Roma Imperial Fleet. He must stand trial for his betrayal of my trust.”
Lucius stared at the young man, he spoke slowly, “In that, you are mistaken, Emperor.” Lucius took a deep breath, “Captain Doko is in command of the War Shrike, which is a ship of the United Colonies, a ship under my command, which you are allied to.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?” Emperor Romulus IV snapped. “The War Shrike was built in the Nova Roma system, in a Nova Roma shipyard. Captain Doko was born on Nova Roma, the bastard son of a corporate magnate and his mistress. He graduated from the Fleet Academy on Nova Roma, twelve years ago. You are an officer of the Nova Roma Fleet.”
Lucius leaned forward, “If you check the records of my government, you will find the same stated there. All the crews of this fleet, including the War Shrike swore an oath the day the interim government signed the new Constitution.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t care what some scruffy little colony in the back-ass of no-where says, the War Shrike is the property of the Empire. You and your crew are members of the Nova Roma military. Either you will do as I say—”
“Or what, Emperor?” Lucius whispered, “What do you have that you can hold over us?” He shook his head, “My men knew they committed desertion when we didn’t return to Nova Roma’s defense nearly ten months ago, when we made safe harbor here. Will you declare us traitors and pirate? Will you fire on us? Will you destroy any chance of us restoring you to your rightful throne because your older sister fell in love with a commoner and it makes you feel your heritage is polluted?”
The Emperor flushed, starting from the chair. “You can’t talk to me that way.”
“I just did. Now get out of my office,” Lucius snapped.
***
“Alright people, we have one week before the task group departs.” Lucius stared around at the small group of officers. “Captain Kral, do you feel your force will be ready to depart?”
“More time for the ships crews to drill would be beneficial.” Kral answered. Almost half a million Chxor survived the liberation of the planet, and the riots that followed. Kral hadn’t had time to interview more than sixteen thousand. He had, however, selected ten thousand he believed trustworthy enough for the mission. “However, I believe the crews will perform their duties acceptably.”
Lucius looked over at Captain Doko, “How go the crews of the War Shrike and Peregrine?”
“The shuffling of personnel has left us weaker than I’d like,” Captain Doko said. “We’re not as proficient as I’d like in the lower enlisted ranks. We’ve got a lot of new people,” he shrugged. Most of the new recruits from Faraday had gone to those ships and though they’d transferred over some personnel from the Dreyfus Fleet, the differences in equipment meant they lacked experience in those areas. “It’s something that will be a more long-term problem, but it’s likely to decrease as an issue as our crews gain proficiency with their departments.”
“Understood.” Lucius nodded. He looked back at Kral, “Do you think the damage to your ships will impair your part?”
“Dreadnought 50—that is, the Retribution’s damage is the worst,” Kral said. “The missing main batteries cannot be replaced in time for the operation, leaving it with only three operational turrets.” He shrugged, as if half a ship’s primary weapons missing made for only a minor inconvenience. “The Retaliation’s damage primarily lies with its engines. Since most of the battle will be fought without maneuver, that will not be a problem. I do not feel that the damage to the Justice is much more than cosmetic.”
Lucius grunted at the damage estimate. It looked a lot worse to him. Power plants damaged, weapons systems missing, defense screens at partial loads due to missing and still-damaged emitters. “You have no reservations?”
Kral spoke softly, “Most Chxor who receive suicidal orders have no recourse. They go to their deaths knowing the failure o
f their actions will lead to the murder of their offspring. I think the plan full of risks. Had I thought it suicidal, I would not have volunteered.”
“Thank you, Kral.” Lucius looked over at the two Admirals. “Any questions?”
Admiral Dreyfus shook his head, “We’ve sorted through this for the past six days, now. I think we’ve talked through every possibility already. There are a lot of ways this can go wrong, from more significant forces, to a talented Chxor commander. We need to get ship crews fully briefed, and get people moving.”
Lucius nodded. “Very well, make it so.”
***
“Miss Kelly, thank you for seeing me.” Lucius said, later that afternoon.
“Well, sir, I was a little surprised to get a message, we take off this afternoon.” She looked uncomfortable as she stood in the office in civilian dress.
“Take a seat, please.” Lucius said as he pulled out a folder and passed it across to her. “I’m not sure, exactly, what your plans are. I’m not sure if you even have any plans, but I think this might help you.”
She opened the folder, and stared at the illuminated certificate inside. She read over the decorous lettering twice, before she looked up, “Baron, is this what I think it is?”
“If you think it a letter of marque, you are correct,” Lucius said.
“But… why?” She looked confused, and a little bit hurt, “Baron, I thought my letter explained it, I’m done with fighting. I’ve seen too many people die—”
“I understand.” Lucius said. He sighed, “Honestly, I hope you never have to use it. At the same time,” he met her eyes, “I know you, Lauren Kelly. I know that you can’t set idly by and watch bad things happen to good people. Hopefully, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to act, this will help you.” He shrugged, “Honestly, there are systems that will hang you just for having that, so I wouldn’t advertise it.”
“Oh.” She looked down at the certificate and he saw her rotate it to show the imbedded holograms and verification chips. “Then you aren’t going to try to use me as some kind of secret agent?”