Summoned by an Imperial Messenger from the High Chamberlain’s Office, and escorted by two of the sinister black-clad Imperial Bodyguards, Diadran had made her way to the Imperial Palace where she had been instructed to wait by a polite yet firm Imperial Equerry in an exquisite white uniform. Diadran had expected to be kept waiting for several hours before being seen by a minor functionary on whatever matter had arisen in the Imperial Court. Diadran was both surprised and alarmed to have been kept waiting for barely a few minutes before the High Chamberlain had swung open the huge onyx doors to the Imperial Reception Chamber.
“Ambassador Zhannell!?” the once derisively-snorting Chamberlain had politely requested confirmation of her identity in a voice that would have echoed around the city.
“Yes, sir,” she responded with the formal politeness that was required of her.
Let the games commence, Diadran thought to herself as the High Chamberlain bowed lowly to summon her into the Imperial Presence.
Stepping into the huge, cavernous Reception Chamber, shadowed by the rotund figure of the High Chamberlain, Diadran Zhannell forced herself not to be intimidated by the sheer size and grandeur of the place. She had seen many Reception Chambers in her career, but this was by far the biggest and most imposing. The row of huge onyx columns, that supported a beautifully frescoed and gilded ceiling, stood almost fifteen metres in height. Stationed at each column, Imperial Bodyguards stood in their menacing black uniforms with their weapons fully-charged. Standing to attention with their darkened visors down and locked, the Bodyguards made Diadran shiver involuntarily as she walked slowly across the hard, shiny floor. Hearing her soft shoes scuffing an echo in the Reception Chamber, Diadran focussed on keeping her breathing regular and under control as she approached the imposing sight of the Empress herself in full majesty perched on the huge Onyx Throne.
Surrounded by a gaggle of courtiers, many in military uniform, there seemed to be polite laughter and merriment in an atmosphere of dread and terror. The Empress, herself, the centre of attention, smiled happily as she appeared to regale the company with amusing anecdotes.
Then, suddenly from behind Diadran, something rapped heavily on the floor three times, startling her to a halt.
“Your Imperial Majesty the Ambassador of the Universal Alliance Her Excellency Diadran Zhannell!” the High Chamberlain bellowed his deep rich voice echoing around the Reception Chamber.
“Ah, Ambassador Zhannell,” the Empress said brightly, gracefully drifting down from her perch on the Onyx throne her left arm extended.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” Diadran bowed low in recognition of the Bardomil Head of State.
“We have been most remiss of you Ambassador,” the Empress smiled sweetly, extending her left hand for the Ambassador to receive, “our High Chamberlain has neglected to inform us of your arrival,” the Empress lied.
“Your Majesty is most gracious,” Diadran acknowledged the diplomatic falsehood making sure she kept her gaze downcast in the Imperial presence, as she received the hand and touched it to her brow.
“Come let us walk together,” the Empress instructed, allowing Diadran to rise from her bow.
The Empress extended her right hand inviting Diadran to support it with her left hand as they walked away from the group of courtiers.
“We really have been most remiss of you, Ambassador,” the Empress smiled with sweet insincerity when they were out of earshot of the others, “we must make amends for our tardiness in receiving you.”
“Majesty,” Diadran began, “it is of no account…” she continued trying not to notice the jet black eyes that glared maliciously and disconcertingly from the otherwise angelic face.
Diadran knew that the genetic flaw in the Empress’ DNA was unique to the Bardomil Imperial family. The orbs of the Empress’ eyes were pure black although it apparently presented her with no difficulty in her vision.
“Ah, Ambassador,” the Empress interrupted as they walked slowly to the huge bay windows that overlooked the formal garden of the Imperial Palace, “you are a realist as most Hubbarts are; we thank you for your indulgence.”
“Majesty,” Diadran replied feeling the cold clammy bite of the Empress’ skin on the back of her own hand.
“You know, we are both realists and we ourselves do find soldiers to be the most tedious creatures imaginable,” the Empress whispered almost conspiratorially.
“Majesty,” Diadran gave the non-committal diplomatic response wondering where this impromptu conversation was going to lead.
Despite being in a more informal setting, Diadran knew that this was still the Head of State who commanded a military machine with tens of millions of war vessels. And, accordingly, Diadran knew that she could trust the Empress about as far as she could throw one of First Admiral Caudwell’s colossal Star-Destroyers in the atmosphere of a heavy gravity planet.
“Yes, they are all bombast and bluster and braying about the good of the Empire,” the Empress continued as they passed out onto the formal garden terraces, “but we are both realists, we both know that only peace and diplomacy will allow the Empire and the Alliance to flourish.”
A peace overture, Diadran thought, trying to read the subtext of what the Empress was saying. Why now? Diadran cudgelled her brains for a hidden agenda. Whatever was going on, Diadran could not fathom the objective. She was, however, certain that First Admiral Caudwell would be able to spot the Empress’ hidden intentions. Diadran had known many military leaders, but that young flame-haired human had a knowledge and understanding of grand strategy that was well beyond his years.
“Yes, Majesty” Diadran replied formally as she was struck by the sheer scale and beauty of the formal gardens that seemed to stretch to the deep green twilight horizon of Bardan.
“Our soldiers don’t understand that, they have no vision,” the Empress continued, “They only know how to kill and destroy things. Is this true with your Alliance soldiers?”
Now, probing for information, Diadran thought.
“I do not believe so, Majesty,” Diadran knew she would have to be careful how she handled this, “our Alliance is made up of many diverse species and cultures, but mostly they seek peace and trade,” Diadran held out the opportunity to bring the possibility of trade talks as well as military and political negotiation.
“Ah,” the Empress smiled softly, “our warriors may build an Empire, but it is our merchants and traders that hold it together.”
“Your Majesty is very wise,” Diadran flattered as she watched the deep red orb of the Bardomil sun begin to dip towards the horizon.
“Peace and prosperity is what we also seek,” the Empress said softly, “Like most species we both fear those things that we do not understand.”
Well, that’ll be about the closest we ever hear to an apology for the year of frontier skirmishing that had cost hundreds of ships and thousands of lives, Diadran cynically speculated.
“Then we must work together to learn about each other and banish that fear,” Diadran said politely.
“It is good that we have spoken of such things; we must speak again of such matters very soon” the Empress announced, “now please leave us; we shall instruct the High Chamberlain to move your legation to more suitable and luxurious quarters more befitting of your status.”
“Your Majesty is too kind,” Diadran released the Empress’ hand and bowed.
“We shall speak again of these matters soon,” the Empress promised.
“I shall await your pleasure,” Diadran bowed once more, backing away from the Imperial presence and returning into the Reception Chamber relieved to be out of the firing line.
When Diadran Zhannell had disappeared from sight, the looming dark figure of the Captain of Bodyguards stepped out into the terraces behind the Empress.
“Well?” the Empress demanded, her attention drawn to the dazzling sunset.
“The emitter weapon was dispatched early this morning,” Captain Sudrus reported, “It should be in orb
it around the Earth’s Sun in twenty-five days,” he reported.
“How long is that in Alliance time?” the Empress asked.
“Just under seven hundred of their Earth hours,” Sudrus replied.
“Excellent,” the Empress smiled viciously, “by the time the weapon goes off no one will be able to connect the solar flare to the Bardomil Empire. It’s a beautiful sunset isn’t it, Sudrus?” she added softly.
“Yes, Majesty,” the sinister Captain of Bodyguards replied in agreement.
Chapter 15
The Star-Cruiser Aquarius
Marilla Thapes paced anxiously up and down the corridor outside Briefing Room One. Breathing in slowly she puffed heavily trying to force down the butterflies that seemed to be running rampage in her stomach. Despite having had nothing to eat for nearly five hours, Marilla still felt like throwing up as she constantly rehearsed her presentation in her mind. This was the big one, she told herself as she continued to pace nervously. Second Admiral Lokkrien was chairing the briefing, and as she paced, Marilla knew that what she had was pretty flimsy. Her weeks of investigation had produced nothing of any significance that would justify her ongoing use of time. But, the idea that the Bardomil had developed and produced some kind of emitter weapon gnawed at her mind. The instinct was so strong that she felt she could almost taste it. Still wrestling with the idea, Marilla was interrupted by the voice of Karap Sownus.
“Right, Marilla, don’t be nervous,” the gently smiling Sownus said.
“Sir!” Marilla yelped caught by surprise and snapped to attention.
“In we go now, remember to salute,” Sownus said and ushered Marilla towards the grey force-shielded door of the famous Briefing Room One.
Clutching her folios to her chest, Marilla stepped through the force-shielding, her heart hammering in her chest and her throat feeling dry.
Inside Briefing Room One, Marilla was surprised to find just how small the room where First Admiral Caudwell outlined his plans was. Expecting something much grander and more impressive, a part of Marilla Thapes was rather disappointed. In the pale grey painted Briefing Room a table for only four or five people was dominated by the First Admiral’s high-backed chair. Occupying the seat was Second Admiral Marrhus Lokkrien the Bardomil who was the effective second-in-command of the whole Universal Alliance military. And, as she registered the presence of Admiral Lokkrien, Marilla realised that there was no one else present. The other Departmental Heads had been dismissed prior to Marilla’s arrival.
“Sir,” she snapped to attention and stumbled as the precious folios started to drop from her sweaty-palmed grip.
“At ease, Technician Thapes,” Lokkrien said calmly returning the salute without standing up.
“Get yourself sorted out Marilla and start in your own time,” Sownus instructed from behind her before taking a seat next to Lokkrien.
Fumbling with the folios, Marilla was aware of the steely gaze of the Second Admiral who was beginning to show signs of irritation. Taking a deep breath, Marilla focussed on her folios and made sure that they were in the right order. When she was ready she stood to attention once again.
“Proceed,” Marrhus Lokkrien intoned professionally.
“Gentlemen,” Marilla began nervously, “I believe that the Bardomil have developed and produced an emitter weapon that generates massive solar flares and that they are intending to deploy it somewhere against the Alliance.”
“Well, that’s quite a claim, Technician,” Lokkrien interrupted, “I trust that you can substantiate it?”
“Yes, sir; I have evidence that supports that hypothesis,” Marilla said nervously.
Marilla Thapes had been warned that Marrhus Lokkrien was a highly sceptical individual. Dozens of seemingly stupendous claims like Marilla’s emerged from various departments every week, and Lokkrien’s sharp incisive mind was well-honed at separating the wheat from the chaff.
“If I may, sir?” Marilla asked.
With a gesture, Lokkrien indicated his assent and leaned forward, elbows lodged on the table top.
Slipping the first folio onto the red, square plate, Marilla passed her hand over the white control panel to operate the projectors. A moment later, the projector image cleared to show the faces of two Xanath; one considerably older than the other.
“Master Sammut Claggit, to the left, sir, and his assistant, known to us as Marrut Bem,” Marilla introduced the two dead weapons specialists, “Master Claggit was an expert in magnetic field manipulation who worked at the Bardomil Imperial Academy of Sciences, Peace and Friendship; both were found dead under mysterious circumstances.”
“How mysterious?” Lokkrien asked.
“Both were killed in a hunting accident according to Bardomil video news broadcasts,” Marilla explained, “But, Master Claggit was known to be a non-carnivore with a weak heart who stood vehemently against blood sports.”
With a brief shrug, Lokkrien indicated for Marilla to continue.
“Scanning the scientific literature, the thrust of Sammut Claggit’s work was in manipulating the magnetic fields of planets to make them inhabitable for colonists or for military installations; however, a month ago, a massive solar flare incinerated the planet of Collizon in the Artreaus system,” Marilla paused and changed the folio sheet.
The new image showed a three-dimensional image of the planet of Collizon being swamped by the massive super charged solar flare.
“Data from the Vasco Da Gama indicates that this was not a naturally occurring phenomenon,” Marilla continued as the image of Collizon was scorched, “the yellow dwarf star at the heart of the system was not in its natural cycle to produce flares,” Marilla added.
Turning her attention away from Lokkrien’s stern gaze, Marilla focussed on the image in front of her.
“The yellow dwarf in the Artreaus system is too young and immature to naturally produce so destructive a flare,” Marilla continued as the atmosphere of Collizon finally collapsed on the image leaving a glowing cinder floating in space, “the episode, according to both intelligence operative and long-range scanner sources was witnessed by the Bardomil Empress.”
“Empress Lullina was there at the time?” Lokkrien suddenly perked up, “Just passing through or was she waiting for it to happen?”
“The Imperial Fighter Carrier Taurai was stationed in the Artreaus system for nearly four hours before the flare mysteriously erupted,” Marilla indicated as the Collizon image disappeared.
“Go on, Technician Thapes,” Lokkrien said, now captivated by the presentation.
“I had a word with the people at Theoretical Weapons who said that the Garmaurians had been using bursts of high-intensity Lissian radiation to create very small-scale solar flares for many centuries; they used them for entertainment rather like pyrotechnics,” Marilla reported, “But, the mechanisms that they used were large and cumbersome and could only be operated from the largest of the Star-Destroyers. The Bardomil currently do not have a ship of sufficient size to carry such equipment and the Vasco Da Gama data indicates no vessels of any significant size were in the immediate vicinity of the Artreaus yellow dwarf at the time of the solar eruption.”
“So, we have a mystery on our hands?” Lokkrien asked.
“It would appear so, sir,” Marilla responded, “I paid a visit to Professor Xanfar, our foremost authority on Lissian radiation, and asked if it were possible to make something smaller that would emit Lissian. Her answer was non-committal; however, she did indicate that it was not beyond the realms of possibility for someone to construct something that could deliver a short-duration high-intensity pulse.”
“What might this contraption look like Technician Thapes?” Lokkrien asked.
“Professor Xanfar indicated that such a mechanism could be as small as thirty centimetres in diameter and still deliver enough Lissian radiation to cause a major solar flare,” Marilla replied, “shape and composition are still unknown, sir.”
“With those dimensions, our scanner
s would never see it, sir,” Sownus commented, “Unless they were deliberately looking for something of that size.”
“Well, so far we’ve got a very nice theory, Technician,” Lokkrien said pensively, “Do you have any physical evidence that I can hang my hat on here?”
“I believe that we may have, sir,” Marilla replied setting down a new folio sheet on the projector.
The image that appeared showed a Bardomil M-Cruiser amongst some turning and tumbling rocks being attacked by the unmistakable darting shapes of Alliance Eagles.
“This, sir, is the enhanced data from ‘The Clements Incident’ on the edge of the Nezadir galaxy,” Marilla began as the M-Cruiser tried to make a slow and ponderous turn whilst being harried by the smaller and more agile Eagle fighters.
“The long range data from the Magellan indicates that this solitary M-Cruiser was picking up, apparently examining and then discarding rocks close in dimension to the suggestion of Professor Xanfar,” Marilla said knowing that the link was going to be tenuous at best.
“Are you suggesting that this M-Cruiser was launching this weapon?” Lokkrien asked.
“It is a possible explanation for an otherwise inexplicable incident,” Marilla winced inside as she knew it was the best answer that she could give.
On the image, the final run by the Eagle that would destroy the M-Cruiser was just beginning. As the four explosions from the rapid-fire pulsar-cannons blossomed from the top of the M-Cruiser, Marilla slowed the image down.
“I’m magnifying the M-Cruiser’s forward air lock, sir,” Marilla manipulated the image to focus on the rectangular door-like structure, “the crew have just ejected this particular structure,” she indicated a small rock-like image that seemed to drift forwards.
“Slowing down the image, sir,” Marilla manipulated the scene once more, “the structure is drifting forward,” she commented, “the M-Cruiser starts to explode,” she indicated as a bright flash began to impinge upon the image, “and, here, the structure seems to move to the right under its own propulsion,” Marilla commentated as the structure moved rapidly to the right for a few frames before being swallowed up in the flash of the explosion.
First Admiral 02 The Burning Sun Page 9