Constance. The others, she thought. Who the hell hit us? She racked her brain for a moment, and could only come up with one answer. The Archduke. He didn’t like my answer, and so then I knew too much. The bastard.
She could hear aircraft flying overhead, but whose? I need help, she thought. These woods are wilderness, not the safest place on the planet, and I don’t have a weapon. She reached out with her mind and tried to connect to the net. And found to her shock that she couldn’t reach it.
That’s impossible, she thought. All inhabited planets had a net permeating the entire globe. Satellites in orbit and ground stations picked up and relayed signals from all implants, connecting every citizen to databases and com systems. And to emergency services. But now she was cut off from that net. It must have been damaged, she thought. Even then, her internal nanites should have fixed it, given time. Which meant not enough time had passed.
Something moved in the brush, and she looked that way with growing panic, concentrating on the dark. Her eye enhancements were online, and a moment later she wondered if that was a good thing, as she saw the large form of a bearcat come crouching toward her. Three hundred kilos of predator, and much more than she could handle without some kind of weapon. And all I’ve got are my hands. And no amount of martial arts is going to help me against this thing.
She did the only thing she thought might help her. She ran. Dodging around trees, through brush, trying to use her small size to her advantage. The beast came crashing behind her, eschewing any attempts at stealth with the prey in sight. Haruko ran like she hadn’t recently in her life, not since she had served in the Marines. It had been decades since she had to run like that, and even though she thought herself in good shape, running like this was not something she was used to. Soon she was huffing and puffing, bouncing off trees, leaving some skin behind at points. And all the while the bearcat was gaining.
The PM staggered into a clearing, immediately realizing that this was not a good thing. In the open the animal would be on her in no time. But there was only one thing she could do, run. So she pushed herself to her top speed, pumping her arms, hearing the beast crashing out into the clearing. She wanted to look back, wanting to know where it was, and knowing that was death. Anything that slowed her would kill her. That concern became moot as something heavy smacked into her back, and the pain of claws tearing her flesh took away all thought of getting away.
Haruko hit the ground and rolled over, looking into the snarling face of the creature. It reared up on its hind legs, towering over her, and she knew when it came down she would be dead. What she was sure would be her last thought was what will his Majesty do without me?
Then the creature was falling toward her, and she did the only thing she could think of. She rolled out of the way, expecting a claw to rake her in at any moment. She looked on in surprise as the predator hit the ground and lay unmoving. Then she noticed the shapes hanging it the air. Their lights came on and blinded her, and she wondered if she had been saved from the predator to only die at the hands of the Archduke’s agents.
“Prime Minister,” said one of the shapes as it landed beside her. “Thank the Gods, you’re OK.”
“How did you find me?” she asked, looking into the face of a man wearing a helmet with the Secret Service logo on it. “My implant is out.”
“We were patrolling the area and looking for survivors, and just happened to see you run out into the clearing, with that monster on your tail.”
“Is it dead?” she asked, looking over at the still form of the beast.
“Just tranqued,” said the agent as more people landed around them. “His Majesty will be so relieved we found you. Now, we need to get you to a hospital and have you checked out.”
“I need to talk with his Majesty,” said the PM. “I need to tell him some things about this incident.”
“You need treatment, ma’am,” said the man gently.
“Connect me with the Emperor. Then you can take me where you want.” And that bastard of a Lord will pay for this. His mistake, not making sure.
*
“Well thank God she survived,” said Director Ekaterina Sergiov on the secure holo.
“But her staffer and the military personnel with her didn’t,” said Sean through clenched teeth. “I want this son of a bitch. And anyone else associated with him in this plot.”
“At least we know of the plot,” said the master of the Empire’s spy network. “Now we can make sure that you are safe.”
Sean laughed. They already have me surrounded by so much security I can hardly breathe. Is the next step to actually smother me?
“I know you don’t like having your freedom restricted such, your Majesty,” said the woman. “But it is a necessary evil in this day and age.”
“It didn’t used to be. At least not to this extent.”
“That all changed when your father and brothers died,” said Sergiov, frowning. “It has always been necessary to guard the Imperial Family from the few crazies that might mean them harm. Now we have active plots.” The woman looked away for a moment, obviously thinking about what she was going to say. “You realize,” she said, returning her gaze to his face, “that this is really outside of our jurisdiction. IIB should be in charge of any investigation of criminal affairs within the Empire. This is really McGregor’s fiefdom.”
“And I don’t trust McGregor. He seemed to be in just a bit too tight with Streeter, and the bastard before him. I trust you, so I want your agency looking into this.”
“Can I get that in writing,” said the woman.
“Of course. I’ll send my authorization over right away.”
“Then I’ll put some of my best agents on it.”
“I want your very best, Director,” said Sean, looking her straight in the eye.
“My best are on the frontier,” said Sergiov with a smile. “Or in the space of foreign powers. Unless you want me to recall them?”
“Then the best you have available will do,” said Sean, sending his code across to allow her to investigate in home space with his permission. “Just get me the proof I need to prosecute this man.”
Sean killed the holo and got up from his chair, moving into his bedroom. Jennifer sat at her dressing table, combing out her long red hair. Sean looked at her, the feelings stirring within him at the sight of her fair skin showing through the opening of her night gown. She saw him in the mirror and turned in her chair, a troubled look on her face. Then she was out of the chair in his arms.
“I am so glad that you are OK,” she said, looking up into his face with her deep blue eyes. “And that the Countess is OK too.”
“She survived the attempt, and will recover,” said Sean, putting his hands on her arms and running them down the softness of her skin. “She is not OK. Hopefully she will recover enough to do the job I chose her for.”
“You are really angry,” said his lover, staring at his face.
“I am angry enough to kill the son of bitches with my bare hands,” Sean growled. “I can only hope Ekaterina brings me the evidence I need.”
“Couldn’t you just, throw him in jail? Then get rid of him, quietly?”
“And when did you turn so blood thirsty, woman?” asked Sean, frowning.
“Since these people put your life at risk,” said Jennifer, a tear in her eye. “Since they started hurting your friends.”
Sean released her arms and turned away. “Unfortunately, or so it sometimes seems, I must obey the laws of my own Empire. The Archduke is innocent until proven guilty, and I cannot jail him without enough evidence to start criminal proceedings.”
“But, this is a time of war,” said Jennifer. “And his was an act of treason.”
“And if he is found guilty of the crime he will be executed, like traitors can be. Until then I will tread carefully, lest I be considered a tyrant by the other Lords.
“Now,” he said, starting to take off his clothes and dropping them on the floor, where someone w
ith less responsibility could pick them up on the morrow, “I’m for bed. I am really exhausted, and need some sleep before I have another day slap me in the face. Will you join me?”
“Your command, you tyrant,” said Jennifer with a smile.
Sean was tired. He was also young, and sleep was not all that was on his mind. Nor on that of his lady.
*
MASSADARA SPACE, MAY 10TH, 1001.
While it really wasn’t home, the Massadara system was the next best thing to it for the Great Admiral. That was before the humans popped in and destroyed the station that was the Ca’cadasans’ nearest thing to a home base. He had sent for another one, from the nearest base of his people in his own Empire. That was over two months away at best speed, so it would take almost five months round trip for the station to get here. Until then they would have to depend on the smaller stations they built in planetary orbits.
The worst part was the loss of antimatter that had been aboard the tankers that had been in a convoy coming into the system at the time of the human raid. That, and the destruction of spare parts and AM generating facilities.
That is our main weakness, thought the Great Admiral, looking over the holo map that showed the closest region of his Empire in relation to the human polities. Most of our ships arrive here with a half load of antimatter. And then they burn the rest in operations over their first month here. Without antimatter my fleet will sit in normal space, accomplishing nothing. Even worse, they may soon become targets.
“We’re picking up the next convoy, my Lord Admiral,” came a call down from the bridge.
The Great Admiral looked up from the map holo and over at another representation that showed local space. The icons of over a hundred ships showed on the holo, those representations of the type of ships they were. About half of them were warships. The rest were freighters and tankers. He cursed as he noticed that there weren’t enough of those last. I sent couriers back asking for more of those, he thought with a scowl. So why in the hells didn’t they send what I asked for. He knew he wasn’t in charge of that sector of the Empire, or even the naval contingent. He was a forward conquest commander. As such he was supreme in the territory that was being conquered, but not in the consolidated space of his Empire. Still, I’m the commander on the spot of a very important conquest. The most important conquest in recent memory, since the Emperor wants it to be so.
He continued to watch the holo, knowing that he wouldn’t know the reason for the slight until the ships entered normal space. He was already angry. He was angry at the humans for destroying his station and the females that had been brought in for the enjoyment of his males. Angry at the way the humans kept pulling surprises on him. Just angry for being where he was and not getting his way.
And my pet human is losing her utility, he thought, looking over at the woman who was occupying a chair in the room. “You may leave,” he said to the human, who had been looking at him with less than total fear on her face. She got up quickly and walked away. Should I start to restrict her movements, he thought, watching the small figure go out the door and into the corridor. He gave his head a shake of negation at the thought. There is nothing she can do, so why worry.
The signal came through that the first of the ships was jumping into normal space. Moments later the command ship of the convoy came through, and seconds later the Great Admiral was on a holo to the group commander.
“You are a welcome sight, Admiral,” said the Great Admiral to the lower ranking officer. “Though I am dismayed by your lack of tankers. Did the sector commander not get my request for antimatter?”
“There was no request for additional antimatter, Great Admiral,” said the convoy commander. “In fact, there were actually many remarks about the lack of communication coming from your conquest fleet.”
“Did nothing make it to you?” said the Great Admiral, his anger rising again. “I have sent a half dozen couriers back to sector base. As well as return convoys.”
“Return convoys we have had,” said the other officer. “But no couriers. Something must have happened to them.”
“Impossible,” growled the Great Admiral. “There is nothing between here and sector base but empty space, with maybe a couple of low tech civilizations we have bypassed. There is nothing out there that can catch a courier.”
“Nevertheless, none have arrived at the sector base. So either they got lost on the way, or something happened to them.”
The Great Admiral slammed his lower right hand onto the table. “The damned humans. Again they task me. But, how?”
The Admiral walked away from the holo, then back, pacing to control his anger. “I need antimatter,” he roared at the other officer. “I want you to unload all your freighters and troop transports of antimatter as soon as they get close to the station. I will use their fuel for my own warships.”
“Sector base will be expecting these ships back, as well as their escort,” said the lesser Admiral.
“I want three of your scouts to head back to sector base immediately,” ordered the Great Admiral. “Maybe they can get through and let them know what I need. On second thought, send one of your battleships with them. I must get this message through to home.”
“I have a message from the sector commander too,” said the other officer. “And a message from higher up the command chain. There has been much talk about your lack of progress out on this front.”
“Lack of progress,” roared the Great Admiral, controlling an impulse to order his battleships to open fire on the insubordinate bastard. “Do they not realize how much territory I have conquered in the last year and a half? And how large the human Empire is?”
“Word is not good from our opposite front,” said the other Admiral. “We have had to stop expansion in all other sectors save this one.”
“We will talk later,” said the Great Admiral. “Now, just do as I ordered. I will assign your warships to one of my conquest groups.” He cut the holo, then called up the messages sent from home. There was one that was marked priority, and the Great Admiral went after that one first.
When the image came up on the holo he fell to a knee. The face of the Emperor stared at him from out of the holo. Behind him was the throne room, a sight familiar to all subjects of the Empire. The center of power, of the mightiest military in the known Galaxy. Of course it was just a recorded message, but the conditioning was such that he acted as if the Monarch was in the room.
“Great Admiral. I am sending you my regards and felicitations. You have found the ancient foe, and to you will come the glory of exterminating him. You will receive whatever you need to finish the humans. Just remember, for the first time in the history of the Empire we are engaged in a major conflict on two fronts. Our other enemy is powerful, and I need you to defeat the humans post haste, so we may concentrate on the other threat.”
And this message was recorded over a year ago, thought the Great Admiral. And the other side of the Empire is over two years by fastest travel time. There is no telling what is going on there at this time. The Great Admiral snorted and looked at the floor. Bah, I don’t have time to worry about that. I have my own war to fight.
“You will be greatly rewarded if you finish the human foe. And you will be punished in a manner too terrible to contemplate if you fail. So do not fail.”
The holo went blank, the visage of the Emperor gone. Immediately the next holo came up, of the Great Admiral who commanded the sector base. That male started to talk in a manner that was less than civil, and the Great Admiral cut the holo with a word.
He walked back over to the map holo, setting it for a close view of the region the convoys and couriers had to pass through. They have something hidden there. Something that is snatching up our individual ships. But what? What are you doing now, my too clever opponents. He spent some hours studying the holo, and was no closer to an answer. The ships he was sending back to sector base jumped back into hyper, having reversed their course and gone back out bey
ond the hyper barrier.
“Get me High Captain Looristarronzas on the com,” he finally ordered his Com Officer. “I have a mission for him.”
*
Jana Gorbachev walked quickly out of the chamber when the Great Admiral ordered her to. She tried to act frightened, and wasn’t sure how well she pulled off the act. The big males were still intimidating as hell, but familiarity did breed contempt. Sometimes I wonder how they ever became an Imperial species, she thought, walking down the corridor to her quarters, keeping her eyes averted to show subservience. They sure aren’t the brightest tools in the shed.
She walked into the small room she had been assigned by creatures that really wanted her separated from them, out of sight, and not due to any consideration of her feelings of privacy. It was no better or worse than the chamber she had shared with the traitor human they had tried to pair her with. At least she no longer had to go to sleep in a chamber where she had committed that murder.
And they finally got that damned station on the second try, she thought, pumping a fist in the air. The first strike on the station had given her the chance to kill the Great Admiral’s pet human. She had broken his neck while they were floundering around in a room that had changed orientation with the torpedo hit. Then she had become the Admiral’s pet human, though not as loyal to the cause as the last one.
So how in the hell do I get myself out of here? she thought as she threw herself on the sleeping platform. Other humans had come aboard, more of the variety who had been raised to serve the Ca’cadasans in their pursuit of her species. She wasn’t sure how much longer they were going to keep her around. From the way the Great Admiral had been shooting harsh looks her way, she didn’t think it would be too much longer.
She lay there for a moment, thinking about her options and responsibilities. She could think about many responsibilities. She had information her Empire needed. She had an obligation to get that information to someone who could use it. And she had a responsibility to get her own ass to safety. A responsibility to her parents, her siblings, and to the Fleet, which was always in need of experienced personnel.
Exodus - Empires at War 04 - The Long Fall (Exodus Series #4) Page 30