“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And Tamara, if at any time anyone else chooses to take this action, you have full authority to utilize all Starfleet assets to squash it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Heather added, “I suppose we had to have someone try this. After all, the galaxy is a big place.”
“Yes, and the better to squash it harshly and quickly, so as to show we will not put up with it.”
“We will have assets moving within the hour. This should all be over within a week.”
“Very well, keep me informed.”
58.006.18
They boarded the GSS Defiant and Lanica went straight to the Empress, bringing Matthew with her. They entered on a day when she was holding court. There were not only several people waiting to be heard, but the audio connection to Meladeran had been improved and now had a video link, so she was also responding to concerns there.
Lanica knew she needed to make this information known, so went and found her grandmother, Heather, and gave her a big hug, and said, “Grandmother, it is urgent I speak with aunt Stephanie.”
Heather chuckled. “Actually, she will be glad to hear this; she is really tired of the conversations at court today. Let me go see if I can interrupt her. Go find Jeffrey and then go her private quarters and wait for us.”
Heather left and managed to get Stephanie to end the long court debate. When they entered her quarters, they were met by Lanica, Matthew, Jeffrey and Solon.
“Hi, Lanica. What is so urgent you would interrupt the court?”
“I’m sorry Your Majesty, I didn’t mean to intrude.”
Stephanie laughed, “Oh, no. I am so relieved to get out of there today. So, what is so urgent you needed to meet with me?”
“May I touch your forehead, aunt Stephanie?”
“Okay? I’m sure you have reason for this?”
“Yes. Please, trust me on this one.”
Lanica walked up to her and held her head in her hands, then leaned to touch their foreheads. Stephanie closed her eyes. They stayed that way for several minutes. Finally, Lanica dropped her hands and stepped back, looking at Stephanie.
Stephanie opened her eyes. “You are certain of this?”
“Only as certain as the story passed on to me by Skylar, which appears to have been handed down over generations.”
“The Door to Heaven. Interesting. I need to think about this before taking any action, but thank you, Lanica, for bringing it directly to me. Right now, I have to conclude business in Kaldect. This will involve you, Matthew. I hope you are ready for change.
“Yes, Your Majesty.””
58.010.14
The Imperial Fleet, led by the Battleship Defiant, arrived in orbit above Kaldect. The Imperial Garrison, along with a portion of the fleet above, had maintained control and order on the planet and within the palace during her absence. When she returned, she entered the palace accompanied by the Archduke and Archduchess, Solon and his knights, and several thousand Imperial Marines.
The room was filled with the aristocracy, still in their exoskeletons. She walked through them to the bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne. Samuel Sixty-Nine was still sitting there, in his exoskeleton.
She looked at him, and said, “First, you are sitting on my throne. Second, you and the other aristocrats are still wearing exoskeleton technology. I gave you thirty days to change, I see you have not.”
He smirked, saying, “Well look at you. I told you that while you may have a big fleet, you will never take this throne!”
“Very well,” she said. “On your head be it.”
She turned and stood facing the audience chamber, and raised her hands, and said, “MIRIA NEUSUS DECHER TRONBLES”, and brought her wrists together. Immediately the exoskeletons of everyone who wore them in the entire Andromeda Galaxy, except, oddly, those who were actually disabled, collapsed and turned to dust. In addition, Samuel Sixty-Nine fell over dead. She ordered those people who could function to assist those who could not, and for them to remove Samuel Sixty-Nine’s body.
Then she walked up the stairs and sat on the throne, saying, “I, Empress Stephanie the First of the Milky Way Galaxy claim the Andromeda Galaxy as mine. We will establish trade and build a bond between our two galaxies and create a future of one growing humanity, not one of a growing technology.”
There were murmurs in the crowd, but not from the aristocracy or the military, because they were all now helpless. These murmurs came from the ordinary people who had never been privileged to wear the exoskeleton.
“Matthew Forty-Three, come forward.”
Matthew did not know what to expect. He walked forward and slightly bowed to the Empress.
“Matthew Forty-Three, you have behaved honorably towards me, my family, and all those who traveled with me to this galaxy. I understand you are next in line to this throne. I will not allow you to become the next Maximus at this time, but I would ask you to serve as my Regent of this galaxy, while we decide how to move our policies forward. You will retain all the power of the position, subject to my rule. Do you accept?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I accept.”
“Very well. My first decree is that only those who physically require exoskeleton technology for health purposes, the disabled, will be allowed to wear it. All other humans in this galaxy will function on their own two feet, just like I do.”
The people in the audience cheered this decree. Matthew said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving us this guidance. As you can hear, the vast majority of the people do not support the use of technology in the manner the noble houses used it. We too desire to live as equals, in peace, in our shared humanity.”
“Very well. Let it be known that I am not stripping the titles or positions from the aristocracy at this time. I will give them time to heal and grow strong physically. But let it be known to them, that if they rebel, they will be crushed and a new aristocracy will be appointed, one that seeks positive relations, trade, peace, and safety for all our people.”
58.047.12
Matthew had suddenly become completely overwhelmed by the duties of running a galaxy. He had not been prepared for it. He was not truly ready for it. Yet, he plunged full force into it and worked very hard to make it work. The toughest challenge at present was to get the nobles and military up to strength without their use of exoskeleton technology.
One of the things he did do was to carve out some time each day for Lanica. It wasn’t much, at first; but he began to realize it meant more to him than all the rest. Today was no exception. He had been in various meetings, but at point one three precisely, he informed the participants he had to leave and departed. He met Lanica at a small café, to share in some mestava.
“Thank you for once again making time for me.”
“You don’t understand, my dear. You are the only thing right now that makes any sense. I couldn’t function if you were not here to be with.”
She blushed, saying, “You know, Matthew, I feel the same about you. I have never met anyone before who I want to be with all the time.”
“Yes, well, I have been thinking about that. I don’t want to lose you when the Empress decides to return to the Milky Way Galaxy.” He stood from his chair and dropped to his knees, holding her hands and holding a simple, yet elegant ring. “Lanica, I am so in love with you. I can’t see myself without you beside me. I only want you in my life, to share, experience life, raise a family, grow old, everything. Will you please be my wife?”
Lanica was ecstatic and said a quick yes, while falling into his arms and a passionate kiss after he placed the ring on her finger.
They stayed together as long as they could, then he had to return to the palace to work. Lanica left and went to find her mother.
“Mom!”
“Hi dear, why are you so excited?”
&
nbsp; She held her hand out to show her ring. “I’m engaged!”
“Oh, my girl! That is fabulous! What a beautiful ring! Come let’s go tell your father.”
Simon was equally excited, and asked, “So when will you and Matthew get married?”
“I don’t know. I also know this means when you leave for home I will stay here.”
“That’s okay. With our lifespans we will be able to have lots of long visits whenever we want, and time spent with our grandkids!”
They hugged and had a great family time. Then Lanica went to tell her Aunt Stephanie. She stopped and knocked at the door to her apartments. Once inside, she went to her aunt.
“Lanica, its good to see you. I have been meaning to have some words about our mutual understanding of Skylar’s vision.”
“Hi Aunt Stephanie. Yes, I want to do that, but first, I wanted to show you something.” With that, she held out her hand to show off her ring.
“Oh, my goodness! You are engaged?”
Heather walked in during this and said, “Engaged? Wonderful! Let me see the ring!”
They oohed and ahhed over this step in her life, then Stephanie asked, “Lanica, you know this means you will likely not travel to the Milky Way when we depart?”
“Yes, Aunt Stephanie, I do. My parents and I discussed this and realized that with our life expectancy we can still have numerous long visits, so we will not be absent in each other’s lives, just in different places for a while.”
“Yes, and this also means something else. Matthew is heir to the throne in his people’s understanding. Having him work now, as my Regent, gives him some elevated place, but he needs more. I have an idea. Would you be willing to be the Grand Duchess of the Andromeda Galaxy? You would only be out-ranked by me, Jeffrey and Heather. It would be your responsibility to manage and lead the galaxy into the future. If you say yes, then it would be that Matthew would need to marry you and renounce his title to become the Grand Duke of the Galaxy. That would give him the elevation he needs and, I believe, be the desire of both your hearts? What do you think?”
Lanica stood and thought for a few moments, then she said, “Your Majesty, I would humbly accept and embrace this new adventure in my life, and I believe Matthew would as well.” Then she hugged her, saying, “Aunt Stephanie, thank you, I love you!”
Stephanie hugged her niece, then said, “You are welcome dear. Now, to see if we can make this work. But first, let’s talk about this vision.”
“I have thought about it a lot. It seems that there is a place, identified by the coordinates of these obelisks, where a door exists. I’m thinking it may be a wormhole or something, but one that takes whoever enters it to the home of the people who left these obelisks behind.”
“Yes, that is how I see it as well. Now all we have to do is find the fourth obelisk and we can discover the coordinates.”
“It must be in the Milky Way somewhere. That would give the proper coordinates.”
“I believe so. Once we get home, I will begin a search and see if we can find it.”
“Thank you. The Door to Heaven. Interesting concept.”
58.074.13
“Matthew, we just received word that Jason Seventy-Six has mutinied with a partial wing of two thousand ships.”
Matthew was incredulous. “What?”
“Yes, he is demanding you step down and all forces join together in fighting Empress Stephanie and the invaders from the Milky Way Galaxy and re-establish the nobility in the manner it was before they arrived.”
He looked at Philip Thirty-Two. “How did you not know this was happening?”
“I received word only now. We retain control of four thousand ships, nearly a full wing. However, we are spread out over the galaxy and it will take time to recall everyone for a fight.”
“How many ships are available here for a fight?”
“We have nearly fifteen hundred.”
“Very well, assemble this fleet and put out a call for the remaining fleet to mobilize in this direction. In the meantime, I must inform the council and the Empress.”
Matthew wanted to tell his own people first, so called for an urgent meeting of the council. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a mutiny in progress.”
There was a loud rumbling from the assembled members. One said, “How can that be?”
Matthew held up his hand for silence, then said, “It can be because Jason Seventy-Six, one of the outspoken rebels in these days of recovery, has decided to take us into a civil war. Know that I will lead the fleet to fight him. But we may not have enough power to defeat him. For this reason, I am asking you to spread the word to everyone. We need ships to fight. We need every trader or ship with a weapon to support us. We must win this fight, or we will return to the days when the nobility held us under their boot.”
The council was very animated that they would never return to the past. Many members said they would bring their personal craft to fight.
Matthew Forty-Three then went to the Battleship Defiant to meet the Empress.
“Your Majesty, we have had a mutiny. Fully two thousand ships have deserted us and are prepared to fight to go back to the days of the nobility as it was.”
“Can you defeat them, or do you need my help?”
“We will fight them, Majesty. We will fight them and defeat them. This is a defining moment for our galaxy and our people. We must settle this between ourselves.”
“Very well, Matthew. But I will be watching, and if it goes against you, I will be forced to intervene.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Just give us time before you do.”
“Very well.”
Three days later, Matthew Forty-Three departed with the fleet to meet Jason Seventy-Six in the space above Tremore. Their initial interaction was not a fight, but a conversation.
“Matthew, we are in place. Jason is ahead.”
“Very well, hailing frequencies, on screen.”
Jason appeared. “Well, Empress slave, I see you have not done the right thing and died yet.”
“Jason, I am asking you to surrender in the name of peace. We can discuss your argument later.”
“Surrender? My, you are more ignorant or stupid then I thought. We will never surrender to you. We will fight to take our galaxy back from that piece of slag you follow. You may find yourself defeated soon, and trust me, I will not have mercy on you.”
“I do not understand how you can claim allegiance to the words of Maximus and do what you are doing.”
“Let me tell you something, Matthew. I will destroy the temple of Maximus and create a new temple, one devoted to power and glory! We will redefine leadership into what it should be, maximum strength and conquest of our enemies!”
Jason ended the conversation and his fleet departed towards Aphrodite.
Matthew ordered them to follow. “It seems we will fight for more than our freedom; we fight for our way of life, our history and our future.”
58.081.18
Lanica remained with her family on board the Defiant, as Matthews fleet moved towards Aphrodite.
“Mom, I’m so worried. What if he gets hurt?”
“It’s okay, dear. Your father and I have spent a lot of time evaluating and analyzing their fleet capability. Matthew holds the greater power, and I am certain that the Empress will intervene if it starts to go badly for him.”
At that moment, Heather walked up and asked Lanica if she could come with her. The two of them walked back through the ship to the quarters of the Empress. When they entered her quarters, they found her in council with Jeffrey and others about the situation. The Empress saw her and waved for her to come forward.
“Lanica, tell me your perception of Matthew and his commitment to win this fight.”
“Your Majesty, he is one hundred percent committed to eradicating the past behavior
s of the nobility and embracing a new world that matches your own desires.”
“Very well. Admiral Wilson, make plans to monitor close in, but hold support until it appears that we are needed. Solon, please prepare your soldiers and guides for possible engagement.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Lanica, walk with me.”
Everyone bowed as she walked out of the room with Lanica, then moved to prepare for a possible fight.
“Tell me, dear, with the possible civil war in this galaxy, do you still want to stay?”
“Your Majesty.”
Stephanie cut her off. “No, I am your aunt Stephanie right now. I care about you and this is personal, not the business of politics.”
“Thanks Aunt Stephanie. The short answer is yes. I want to stay. I wanted to go with him on this fight, but he said it was too dangerous and a battle he needed to fight himself without any appearance of having the Empress taking an active role. He says this needs to be done, a purge from within, to assure a future worth having.”
“You know, the more you talk about him the more I like Matthew. I certainly hope he wins this fight. I think this will be the greatest test for humanity. Lanica, I know you are scared. We are watching close in and if it does look like there is a concern, we will act. I know that is not what Matthew wants, but we will none the less.”
“I understand the dilemma. Acting too soon reduces his ability to unite the people of Andromeda behind you on their own initiative. Yet waiting too long could cause needless death and suffering.”
“Yes, a dilemma. Stay with me through this. Let’s see what happens.”
“Thank you, I don’t know what I will do if anything happens to him.”
Stephanie reached over and put her arm around her as they walked through the ship to the bridge.
Jason Seventy-Six brought the fleet into orbit above Aphrodite, the ancestral home of Kaldect and the home of its most important spiritual meaning. He quickly organized the fleet and awaited Matthew.
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