by Peter Kenson
One positive outcome of the incident was that a number of mercenary captains decided that a change of employment or possibly even a vacation elsewhere, might be advisable in the short term. The rate of reported attacks on merchant shipping in the region of the attack, declined dramatically.
However, the whole incident, such as it was, might have blown over and been quickly forgotten were it not for one local news reporter who happened to be in a bar on Runnymede and overheard some of the Cleopatra’s off-duty crewmen discussing the comments of the captured frigate’s captain,. By the end of the evening and at the cost of his expense allowance for the entire month, he had the full story of the captain’s outburst on the bridge of the Dominator.
Feeling a little nervous about the size of the evening’s bill, he embroidered the story slightly and then filed the story and the expense claim together in the hope that the one might allow the other to slip through unnoticed. Unfortunately, the duty editor was experienced at spotting such scams. The hapless reporter was called in to account for his expense claim and the story grew a little more in the re-telling.
The editor-in-chief was dragged out of bed and the story was retold a little larger again. The station’s lawyers were summoned to a breakfast meeting and all agreed that the story should be sent up the line to see if any of the networks picked it up. It was perhaps unlucky that it was a slow news day and one of the major networks was intrigued enough to push the story out. It was quickly shared on social media and when all the other networks piled in, it rapidly became the topic of the day. Within hours the story had gone viral.
“VOSTOVIAN STEALTH BATTLE FLEET ATTACKS IMPERIAL NAVY” – The Galactic Times
“NEW STEALTH BATTLESHIPS COMPLETELY UNDETECTABLE” – Empire Illustrated News
“VOSTOV THREATENS TO DESTROY THE EMPIRE” – Daily Planet
“IMPERIAL NAVY DEFENCELESS AGAINST NEW VOSTOVIAN THREAT” – Comment from SocioStars on space-twitter #EndofEmpire
***
“What the hell happened? Where did this come from?” the chancellor demanded of the three faces on the conference screen in front of him. “The Emperor is beside himself. He wants to put the entire navy on high alert and call up the reserves in every planetary defence force. And,” he added, looking directly at Khan’s image on the screen, “he wants to know why he hasn’t been informed of this threat before.”
Khan took a deep breath. “That’s because there is no threat,” he replied. “Or at least, not in the way that’s being reported. The media are simply working themselves into a feeding frenzy over this.”
“Well where did it come from then?”
“You were briefed on the incident with the Cleopatra,” Admiral Wei reminded him. “It appears that a local news hound got some of the Cleopatra’s crew drunk and they told him about the ranting of the captured frigate’s captain. Captain Boronin has disciplined the crew involved and cancelled all further shore leave but unfortunately, we can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”
“How much truth is there in the story?”
“The captain did make some wild remarks about us all having to kneel before our new Vostovian masters but we put that down to him being temporarily unbalanced following the loss of his ship. Certainly Vostov do have some new technology which we were previously unaware of and which is superior to anything that we have at present. But they do not have even one battle fleet to send against us let alone the several fleets that would be necessary to engage the whole of the Navy.”
“And this new technology. Professor Levski, what can you tell us about that?”
“It’s good but…” the chief scientific advisor replied. “The improvements to the weapons systems are something that we were working on ourselves. They just beat us to it by a few months.
“The stealth technology, however, is a little more revolutionary and I think we were fortunate that they haven’t got it working properly yet. We’ve been busy analysing the captured equipment and one of my bright sparks has already spotted a design flaw which we’re working to resolve. So, hopefully, we will at least have the same technology as Vostov and in working order.
“Which leaves us with two problems. The main one from the scientific side, is that while we will have the ability to use these new developments ourselves, we currently have no means to counter them being used against us. We have to improve our shielding to defend against this new type of phasor. We also have to come up with some novel way of detecting a ship that is operating this stealth capability.
“The second problem is more in Khan’s area. I had no idea that Vostov had a research facility that was capable of this sort of development. We need to find that facility and either tap into their research or disrupt it.”
The chancellor raised his eyebrows as he switched his attention back to Khan. “Well?”
“Our contacts inside the Federation have reported rumours of some ultra-high security research facility but that’s all we have at this time. Now that we know it exists, I can set up some more direct lines of enquiry.”
“What about putting some more resources in there? Your man Held, for example. He’s tangled with Vostov before.”
“And unfortunately is well known to them because of it. Besides, he’s dropped off the grid. He’s on vacation somewhere and cannot be contacted.”
“Vacation!” the chancellor exclaimed. “And you don’t know where he is?”
“I’m afraid not,” Khan lied. “Lord Held can be quite elusive when he chooses to be.”
“Well put somebody else in there then. This is now your top priority target.”
“Agreed. In the meantime we’re working with Admiral Wei to update the Vostovian ORBAT, their Order of Battle.”
“I know what an ORBAT is,” the chancellor snapped. “What’s our best estimate of their total strength?”
“Well they’re obviously rolling out this new class of frigate,” Admiral Wei replied. “The Dominator was the first. We think there may be five more in various stages of production or trials. They’ve got more than thirty older style frigates but we don’t know how many of them are capable of being upgraded with the new technology. We’ve got analysts working on that as we speak.”
“What about larger than frigates? Do they have any capital ships?”
“They’ve got some destroyers; estimates vary between six and ten. Again they’re fairly old and we’re not sure of their upgrade potential. And they have two ships that we know about, that we would classify as battle cruisers. We don’t know very much about them because they don’t let them out to play very often. What worries me is whether they have a second production line somewhere, rolling out high-tech cruisers in parallel with the frigates.”
“We seem to be somewhat lacking in intelligence here,” the chancellor said. “Khan this is your area. Number one, find that research facility and either infiltrate it or shut it down. Number two, find their production lines and shut them down. If you need naval support to do that, I will authorise it.
“Admiral Wei, what’s the nearest force that we can put out in strength on the borders of Vostovian space?”
“That will be the Seventh Fleet out of Star Base Caledonia. Admiral Gallagher’s here on Runnymede at the moment for Boronin’s court martial. I’ll have a word with him; see if we can organise some naval manoeuvres in the region. I take it that’s what you’re angling for?”
“Yes and throw in a bit of provocation. Stop and search some of their merchantmen or something. See if we can draw them out but stop short of any large scale engagement. And pass the word to all the fleet commanders to review the refit schedules for their ships. As soon as the CSA has got that technology working, I want it installed on as many ships as possible.”
***
The person whose existence had sparked the attack in the centre of the news story, was at that moment seated at the head of a long table, watching with increasing frustration, the heated exchanges between
the members of her council. Rachel closed her eyes and thought of Jeren and instantly he was there inside her head.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“See for yourself,” she sighed, opening her eyes to show him.
“Ye gods. Are they always like this?”
“They have been ever since we arrived. There is a city of forty thousand people here in this one dome but they rushed me through it and into this administration complex and have been arguing ever since. There is another dome like this one but smaller, where I think they’re doing some experimental farming but I haven’t had a chance to see anything. I want to see how my people live and let them see me. I’m not sure that most of them even know I’ve arrived.”
“Oh Rachel, I wish I could be there with you.”
“I wish you could be here too. And Lord David. He would know what to do with this lot.”
“Why don’t you ask him? You should be able to contact him as easily as you can me. I don’t mind sharing a three way conversation with him. Well not about this anyway.”
Rachel concentrated on an image of David and after a few seconds, received a rather surprised reply. “Rachel! How very nice to hear from you. Is everything all right?”
“Well actually, no. Jeren and I are trying to decide what to do about this and we would welcome your advice.”
Rachel showed him the view of the conference room.
“I recognise the ambassadors. The rest of them, I take it, think that they’re members of your council?”
“Yes but it’s a nightmare. They talk about me, around me, across me… but never to me. They’re insisting that I stay here in this… prison. For my own safety! I haven’t seen any other of my people. I just said to Jeren that I don’t think they even know I’ve arrived.”
“Then tell them. You know you have the ability to broadcast your thoughts rather than private conversations like this. Just tone it down a bit. You don’t want to talk to the entire empire; just your people on Sorinto.”
“Can I do that?”
“Of course. Just set the boundaries in your mind before you start. Concentrate on the planet of Sorinto or just on the domes, if you can visualise them. Set in your mind that you want your thoughts to go there and no further and then talk to your people.”
“All right, I’ll do that. But what do I do with the council?”
“Sack them. Dismiss the lot of them. I can see what, twenty people in the room? You don’t need a council that large. What do they all do? Do they even have jobs to do? I mean real jobs. Think about what you need. Think about what jobs you need somebody to do for you and what advice you need to be given. There’s probably about half a dozen roles that are essential. Fill them with people you can trust and ignore the rest. If you don’t know who to trust yet, choose someone like Mahagama to be your Chancellor and discuss the other posts with him. My reading of him is that you can trust him and he will know all the other personalities.”
“I would agree with Lord David on that,” Jeren joined in. “I know you’ve had some disagreements with Ambassador Mahagama but I do believe he has your best interests at heart.”
“Thank you, my love,” Rachel replied. “And thank you, Lord David. It would be a great comfort to me, if I could call on you for advice from time to time.”
“My advice will always be available to you both. And you both know now that you can contact me even if I’m not physically nearby. Good luck with your council, your Majesty.”
Rachel broke the contact and looked around the conference room again. The level of verbal warfare had, if anything, intensified with streams of words criss-crossing the table without any signs of being heard or understood by their intended targets. Fortunately, one of the documents on the table in front of her was a map of Sorinto showing the locations of the domes. She focussed on the map, drawing a boundary in her mind around the two domes and then opened her mind to speak.
“People of Ystrad, this is your queen speaking to you.”
The effect within the conference room was instantaneous silence as the councillors turned to stare at the young woman, sitting calmly at the head of the table.
“Your Majesty…” one of them started to say and then fell silent as Rachel looked coolly at him.
“My name is Rachel. I know it is an unusual name for one of our people but it is the name I grew up with and I like it. I am truly sorry that I have not been able to meet more of you personally as yet but I am currently occupied with my council, on matters of state. Once these are resolved, which will be very soon, I will take the earliest opportunity to come amongst you and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.
“Until then, please be assured that I will be working every minute I can, on behalf of yourselves and those of our people we left behind on Ystradis. My ultimate goal and that of my council, is to retake the planet of my birth and allow all of us to return home.”
As soon as she finished, the council chamber erupted in a cacophony of shouting, with every councillor trying to make himself heard above the rest.
“SILENCE!” Rachel screamed, trying very hard to limit the range of the scream to the walls of the room.
When she could make herself heard by speaking normally, Rachel stood up and all the councillors scrambled to their feet.
“Gentlemen, on behalf of the people of Ystrad, I thank you for your previous service to this council. However, the council is now dissolved and new appointments will be made over the next few days.”
The stunned silence lasted only a few seconds before the protests began. Rachel stood impassively, letting the waves of sound wash over her. When the volume showed no sign of abating, she sent a trickle of thought around the room. “Gentlemen, do I really have to call for silence again?”
The volume of noise died away and all faces turned towards her. Rachel held up one finger.
“One of you may speak on behalf of all. You may choose who that person will be but please gentlemen, do so without shouting.”
The meeting broke up into small groups that formed and reformed as the councillors held whispered discussions before moving on. Rachel stood waiting patiently at the head of the table until a consensus was reached and was not at all surprised when Mahagama stood forward.
“Your Majesty, this is the council that was appointed by the people to rule in your absence. You cannot simply dissolve it.”
“That is precisely my point, Lord Mahagama. I am no longer absent. The role that this council has fulfilled until now, is no longer appropriate or required.”
“But your Majesty will still need the advice of the council. You cannot do everything by yourself.”
“I agree that I will need considerable help and advice over the coming weeks and months, and I have already said that I will be making new appointments. But those are my appointments to make. I have no doubt that I will be asking several of you to serve me in various capacities. The rest of you, I thank once again for your service to my people but for now, you are dismissed. You may return to your homes and families until I have need of you. Lord Mahagama, I would be grateful if you would stay for a few minutes after the others have left.”
There was much shuffling of feet and some muttered comments but none of the councillors wanted to be the first to move. Rachel turned the full force of her gaze on a group of three who were standing closest to the door. After a few seconds of intense scrutiny, one of them made a hasty bow and raised his hand to the control panel. As the door slid back, the other two made an obeisance and all three slipped through the open doorway.
Once the first had left, the others followed, singly or in small groups, each making a small bow in Rachel’s direction before disappearing. Last to leave was a group of three, led by a tall, powerfully built man with an angry scowl on his face. None of them even looked at Rachel as they headed for the door.
“Wait!” she commanded. The men paused and turned towards her, the scowl deepening o
n the face of the leader.
“I realise that it has been some time since you have had a ruling monarch but I believe it is customary to acknowledge your monarch when entering or leaving their presence.”
“We have no monarch,” the leader sneered. “We needed a king and we’ve got a woman. You’re no use to us. You should have died with your parents.”
He turned back to the door as Rachel raised her hand and pointed at the control panel. The men stepped back in surprise as the door slid shut in their faces. The leader touched the control panel but nothing happened. The door remained firmly closed.
“You may not have wanted a queen but you are stuck with me,” Rachel said. “For my part, I’m not sure I want you as a subject but I’m stuck with you. So we each have to make the best we can from the situation we’re in. Now that door is locked and it will remain locked until either you acknowledge me as your queen or my guards have you secured in irons.
“I take it I have some guards nearby,” she asked as an aside to Mahagama.
“Oh yes, your Majesty. In the antechamber.”
“Good. Then gentlemen, you have a decision to make. Do you leave here on your feet or in chains?”
“I will not kneel to a woman,” the leader snarled.
“Wrong,” Rachel said as one of the man’s knees collapsed under him, closely followed by the second. The other two men looked on in amazement as their kneeling leader bent forward until his forehead was touching the ground. They hurriedly dropped to their knees and touched their foreheads to the floor.
“Get up,” Rachel said as she walked around the end of the table to stand in front of them. “I may be a woman but do not ever again make the mistake of thinking that I am weak.”
The leader was a full head taller than Rachel and she had to look up to look him in the eyes. The scowl on his face softened slightly as he lowered his gaze and made a short bow.