Imperium: Coda: Book Three in the Imperium Trilogy

by Paul M Calvert

  His best military advisors could only surmise how this was being done, vague suppositions of multiple cloaked transmitters somehow undetectable by any means at their disposal. As to how they could possibly be transmitting real-time data from other star systems thousands of light years away before his own intelligence service was aware, was beyond frustrating. More worryingly, Alexander and Frith had become far more adept at anticipating where his fleets were at their weakest, striking multiple Jump Stations and isolating them from his network.

  Although the Empire was still losing ground, the pace had slowed to a point where soon his forces ould have lost the momentum and begin to be on the defensive.

  “I need to make an example and show to the Empire that I have the upper hand,” he told himself, looking again at the holographic star map displayed on the table, tilted at a shallow angle so he could see the systems furthest away. “Now where is the ideal point to strike, using these insurgents’ intelligence gathering to my advantage?”

  His eyes lit on Sector Eleven, administered by the Empire on behalf of the under-age Duke James. It would be here that he would send a clear message of intent, bringing in ships from one of his allies, the Durotriges, whose space bordered the Sector. Frederick changed the display in front of him to show systems he controlled in the Sector, his eyes finally lighting upon one holding two ringed planets. He double checked the system’s name, Boskone, then quickly ran through the list of his assets already in place to see if it was suitable. It was already home to numerous orbital shipyards, using the raw materials from the system’s gas giant around which they orbited and the only habitable planet, Boskone Four, had recently been fitted with the new planetary shields.

  “This will be where we draw Alexander in,” Frederick decided, sending an urgent message to his chief advisor, Brendan Brook, to attend him, “Yes, this is where I will end him once and for all. In his weakened emotional state, I will finally crush him.”

  He leant back in his chair, activating its massage and heat function, trying to soothe some of the stress out of his neck and shoulders.

  Noting his discomfort, the Palace AI asked if he required the services of a masseuse.

  “Not now, but send two to my quarters after my meeting with Brook,” he instructed, knowing the AI would know which ones he preferred.

  Letting the heat and ultrasonics ease away some of the tension, Frederick considered his new plan of action.

  Without being too obvious about it, he would make sure news got back to Alexander and Frith that a large fleet would be massing in the Boskone system, daring them to attack. He would also make it known that Admiral Ferris would be in command, the man responsible for the second attempt on his life. If Alexander took the bait, which Frederick was almost certain he would, the Jump Station would be given orders to let Alexander’s fleet move past and in towards the planet. Although it was already heavily fortified with the new planetary shields and an existing fleet, additional reinforcements would be sent to bait the trap further, drawing the Imperial Navy deep into the system. Caught between an impregnable Jump Station and the planet, Alexander’s fleet would be unable to escape the system when the Jump Point was destabilised, letting Ferris crush him once and for all. As an added bonus, defeating Alexander and his allies here in this Sector would badly hurt Duchess Helena, with whom he still had unfinished business. The horrid woman had been providing military assistance to the loyalist forces and her surprisingly effective Sector Fleet had resisted all his best efforts to destroy it or bring under his control. Eliminating one or more of her fleets tagging along with Alexanders would seriously impact on her ability to defend her own Sector when it was time for him to take it with a full-scale engagement.

  Fredrick conjured up an image in his mind of the Duchess, remembering her at the time of their first meeting. As a teenager, the young heir to Sector Thirteen had been sent by her father to his Court for a period of training. Frederick had been immediately attracted to the innocent young heiress, his eye on a possible merging of the Sectors. Disappointingly, she had resisted his subtle attempts at seduction, preferring instead the company of a Marine Captain with ideas above his station. Frederick had arranged for him to “disappear,” hoping she might turn her affections to him once the Marine was out of the way. It didn’t work, and she began to grow increasingly hostile towards him, eventually asking her father, the Duke, to bring her home. On becoming Duchess several years later, at her ennoblement ceremony, Helena had told him that she knew he had been behind the disappearance of the Captain and vowed she would thwart him at every opportunity.

  “Not long now, Helena, and you will wish you hadn’t refused me,” Frederick thought to himself, his previous good mood now replaced with one of evil satisfaction at the thought of what he would do to her and anyone she cared for. “People are so simple to manipulate, just find out what is dear to them and threaten to take it away or hurt it. Rarely fails.”

  The Palace AI announced the imminent arrival of Brendan Brook for their meeting, as usual punctual to the second. “Don’t keep him waiting, let him straight through,” he instructed the AI, in no mood to play mind games today.

  Dismissing the holographic reports and map of the star system with a thought, Frederick ordered the AI to bring refreshments as the two men would have a lot to talk about. While he waited, Frederick took a few moments to study the room, noting the rich wall hangings and paintings for the first time in what seemed like years. Frederick looked up at the vaulted ceiling, noting how the occasional mote of dust was caught in the light streaming in from outside. “Why does this all seem so unfamiliar?” he thought to himself, yet knowing nothing had changed in here for years. A few moments later, Brook appeared at the open door and with a gesture from Frederick, entered, bowing as he did so.

  “Your Majesty, you requested my presence.”

  “Thank you, Brendan, please take a seat. We have a lot to discuss.”

  SCENE 11, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

  Squadron Leader Christine Harris and Lieutenant Wanderley were lying on the bed in her quarters, holding each other close after trying to find some peace amongst the busy preparations for leaving the system and the tragic news of Empress Christine’s death. Like everyone else in the fleet, they had been devastated by the announcement, especially Harris, who ever since she awoke and found Alexander sitting watch by her hospital bed, felt she had a small but personal connection with the Emperor.

  Somehow, the two pilots had found the time to be alone and sought comfort and reassurance in each other; a few stolen moments of happiness in a universe suddenly gone crazy.

  “You do know we are never going to be able to keep this a secret, don’t you?” asked Carlos quietly, gently stroking her naked shoulder.

  “Yes, I do, especially if you don’t take that smile off of your face when we leave here,” she replied with a smile, sitting up and fluffing the pillows behind her back. “We can trust the ship’s AI to keep our personal lives secret, if that’s what you mean. It’s not against regulations for two officers to form a relationship, providing it doesn’t impact on their duties. You know that as well as I do, Carlos.”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of what the rest of the squadron was going to say,” said Carlos, with a wide grin, “You know they are going to blame it on the head injury, don’t you?”

  Harris laughed, “So someone would only sleep with you if they suffered brain damage, is that what you are saying?” she responded, in mock disapproval, “Doesn’t say much about my taste in men.”

  Carlos nodded, his smile fading as he became serious. He too sat up in bed and turned to face her. “Christine, we need to think about our future. I know we’ve not been together long and there’s no obligation on either of us, but what do we…” his voice trailed off.

  “What do we do when this is over, and we’ve both come through it? Is that what you mean?” she finished the sentence for him. “I don’t know for certain, but part of me knows that I don�
�t want to be a fighter pilot after this.” She moved closer, feeling the heat radiating from his skin. “You know, since the injury, I’ve been thinking more about the future. I used to think being a pilot was all I ever wanted, linked to a ship and flying around the Empire, but now I want more.”

  He looked at her, his hand reaching for and finding one of hers. “More?” he asked, not sure where she was going with this.

  She nodded. “Yes, more. Before hearing about the Empress, I’d almost decided to apply for Command Training, and this has just made up my mind. I want to be a Starship Captain or higher if I have the capability. I checked with Vimes, and he promised to have a word with the applications board.”

  “Oh, Command Training, I wasn’t sure what you meant. I thought you were going to ask…”

  Harris burst out laughing. “Carlos, you should see your face. I wasn’t trying to get you to marry me or anything like that! Silly man, but you needn’t look so relieved that wasn’t what I was going to say. Why are you smiling like that?”

  He reached across and brought her closer to him, feeling her body mould itself into his. “Do you think Vimes would put in a word for me too? I’d already put my own application in yesterday and was waiting for the right moment to tell you.”

  They both grabbed each other, and between kisses, she managed to get out a muffled, “You ungrateful so and so. After all I’ve done for you, too!”

  “Like this, you mean?” Carlos asked, closing her mouth with his, stifling any more words.

  Two light-seconds away, in Britannia’s main meeting room, Adam barely managed to stifle a yawn, his badly concealed efforts picked up by his First Officer, Joge.

  “Keeping you awake, Sir?” he asked, with a smile, “Go get some sleep, I’ll cover here. The arrangements for breaking orbit are nearly complete, and the Admiral will be bringing our departure schedule with her when she arrives.”

  Seeing Adam about to ask, Joge spoke first. “Yes, all the arrangements for her to transfer her flag here have been seen to and quarters are ready for both the Admiral and her partner.”

  “Thank you, Joge. After my dressing down I need to get back into her good books,” Adam replied, only half serious. “I might have been named as my father’s second in command, but we both know who’s really in charge of this expedition to Boskone and it’s not me.”

  “From what I’ve seen of Admiral Frith, she likes to test her Captains and Officers,” Joge assured him, “Your time will come. She will let you make your own mistakes but don’t worry, she’ll keep you from making any bad ones.”

  “That really does make me feel better, Joge, thank you,” Adam replied, gently sarcastic. He stood up, gesturing Joge to remain seated. “I’ll take you up on that offer to finish here. See you next watch or wake me when the Admiral is on her way.”

  At the room’s exit, Adam picked up his two Marine bodyguards, who escorted him back to his quarters. Since the announcement by the Emperor of his elevation in formal rank, the Marines had remained uncharacteristically reticent around him, no longer proffering conversation and only responding when spoken to. Adam wondered if this was going to be a pattern repeated everywhere he went, where those who before would have been open now viewed him differently. Inwardly he sighed, realising his life was rapidly changing, the thought of his looming responsibilities even impacting on his dreams at night.

  Leaving the bodyguards to stand watch at his doorway, Adam asked Vimes to check again for any messages from Karen even though he knew Vimes would have passed any on to him immediately they came in.

  “No, Adam, there’s only the latest updates from your father on the probes currently reporting on the Boskone system. Rebel reinforcements commanded by Admiral Ferris have recently Jumped there and are currently heading in-system towards the habitable planet,.”

  “Why does the name Ferris sound familiar?” said Adam, out aloud.

  Before being asked, Vimes interrupted him with the information, “Admiral Ferris was a minor player for the other side in the Succession War. We are not sure what he did in the intervening years, but he finally resurfaced as one of Fredericks ablest men. Apparently, he was behind the almost successful attempt on your father in system DU-499. On learning of this, your father wanted a chance to even the score, but Admiral Frith and I persuaded him to leave you in command. The Admiral argued your case very well.”

  Adam looked around his quarters, eyes lingering for a moment on the doorway to his bedroom.

  “I there anything else that needs my immediate attention?” he asked, hoping the answer would be no.

  Vimes chuckled in his mind. “Nothing that cannot wait until your next watch starts. Go to sleep. I’ll wake you if anything urgent happens.”

  A grateful Adam entered his sleeping quarters and threw himself fully clothed onto the bed, almost immediately drifting off into a deep sleep, his dreams a strange jumble of Karen, the Felidae, and his mother.

  Vimes woke him half an hour before the start of his watch, the dreams which had been so vivid to him a few moments before suddenly vanishing but hovering annoyingly just on the edge of remembrance, leaving behind only vaguely remembered emotions or a feeling something important had happened.

  A quick shower and change of uniform brought Adam fully back to the present, a servitor having laid a fresh set out for him while he was readying himself in the bathroom. Until the emergency was over and Frederick dead, or on trial, for security reasons Vimes had dismissed all the usual royal body servants, replacing them with his own avatars.

  Outside his quarters, fresh bodyguards were already in place, following him silently on the short journey to the Bridge, where they took station at the back, but close enough to be of use if required. First Officer Joge Thomann was already at his station to Adam’s left, as usual immaculately turned out.

  “Sleep well?” Joge asked, noting how his young charge seemed much brighter this morning.

  Adam nodded. “Thanks to you. Anything news on the Admiral?” he asked, at the same time checking the morning’s reports, immediately picking up a signal had come in from Dauntless a few moments earlier.

  “You beat me to it. I was about to tell you, she’s on her way, and her shuttle will be here in an hour. Dauntless and the rest of the fleet who will be leaving with your father have begun moving to the Jump Point at 3-G. Looks like they want to be somewhere in a hurry.”

  Adam smiled, “As do we. How is our fleet?”

  “Ready to depart once the Admiral arrives. We have two of the new carriers added to our list. Someone apparently thought they would be of better use with us than with the main fleet.” Joge stopped speaking for a moment, trying to recall something he’d meant to mention. “Oh, I almost forgot, there was a private message for your attention appended to the Carrier’s transfer order. Here, I’ve just highlighted it for you.”

  Adam searched for the heavily encrypted message, then opened it in his mind, Alexander’s voice sounding firm and clear:

  “Good luck son. Listen to Vimes, Frith, and your experienced officers, and everything will work out fine. I’ve increased the size of your fleet, and in addition to the new Carriers and their fighters, I’ve included several of the “special” reconnaissance and surveillance drones; the ones causing Frederick so much trouble. You never know, son, they might be useful at some point. Keep safe.”

  Intrigued by the message, Adam mulled over it for several minutes, trying to fathom what his father might be implying, but came up with nothing. He turned his attention to his fleet’s disposition, hoping it would spark an idea of what he and Admiral Frith could do to avoid the inevitable battle with the enemy Jump Station when they arrived in the Boskone system. Just as on every other occasion, Adam couldn’t see any alternative other than to fight it out at close range, blasting away with everything they had until they or the enemy were defeated. Adam dismissed the reports and hoped the Admiral would have better luck than he in coming up with something novel and new. Adam, still feeling as t
hough he was missing something, gave Brittania’s AI instructions to warn him when the Admiral was fifteen minutes away, then called up the rest of his day’s business and went to work.

  Several days later found Adam and his fleet decelerating hard to match velocities with the reinforcements already waiting for them at the Jump Point. The two carriers promised by his father were already there, along with an assorted bunch of several hundred additional battleships, dreadnoughts, cruisers and their auxiliaries. For much of the journey, Adam had spent his time either in the company of Admiral Frith or in video conference with the senior commanders of his fleet. Although Adam would have liked to have spoken to all the ship Captains individually, the sheer number of vessels made this impossible, so instead, he had to make do with reviewing their files and obtaining summaries from Vimes.

  With his First Officer seeing to the rendezvous, Adam called up in front of him an image of the fleet he was now in charge of. A quick look at the numbers made him appreciate the size of the Empire's military machine, for when Adam added in those now waiting for him, his fleet would number more than eight thousand front-line ships, with double that in support vessels. Despite the huge number, it was but a small part of what was available to the Empire, bringing home to him yet again just how vast a responsibility he would be taking on when his father stepped down.