Now operating on minimal life support, the crippled weapon platforms remained in orbit, emitting automated distress signals to anyone left to hear. It would take years for their orbits to decay sufficiently for them to burn up in the atmosphere, but rescue of the surviving crew would come long before that.
The Palace was another matter. Its shields were sufficiently strong enough to hold off the initial attack until they had fully hardened. Impacting railgun slugs exploded into superheated plasma as they dissipated themselves against the shields, adding to the furious energies being discharged, the shields blazing with a ferocious corona that literally blasted the surrounding atmosphere out of existence. Anyone within ten miles of the epicentre who had survived the initial blasts had been both deafened by the noise and blinded by the intense light being given off by the furiously radiating shields.
Having subdued their first targets, more of the attacking ships added their firepower to subduing the Palace, their first objectives having been neutralised. The Palace had been taken completely by surprise, its shields already beginning to radiate far into the blue spectrum; almost white in intensity. Unfortunately, this planetary Lord had followed other members of the rebellion and installed the new shields, dissipating energies directly into the planet’s core.
Adam and Frith watched as the last of their battleships added their destructive power to the attack, unsurprised at seeing the Palace shields hold steady. Below, everything within five miles of the shield’s leading edge was being reduced to a molten slag, centuries of building and care slowly sinking into an amorphous, molten mass that bubbled and spat, rapidly creating a circular, fiery moat of destruction around the Palace.
“As we expected, Janice, the Lord has incorporated the new planetary shield designs into his Palace’s defences,” Adam finally spoke to his Admiral, whose tight-set face was the only thing betraying her inner tensions.
“Time for the offer to surrender, or are you going to dispense with it and use either of the weapons?” Frith replied, looking at his eyes to try and see if she could read his mood. “If you want to use the planet-killer it will take time to get the resonance ships into position around the planet,” referring to the battleships carrying the generators of the intense magnetic fields that would vibrate the planet’s molten core and cause widespread destruction across its surface.
“Yes, he’ll get the same terms my father offered. I hope he accepts, for this destruction sickens me.” He looked at Frith, his eye’s only hinting at the inner pain he felt. “If it weren't for the innocents, I would gladly consign this Palace and everyone in it to oblivion without a second thought, but my conscience is telling me to give them a chance to get out of there alive.”
Adam paused, then sent his pre-prepared offer of terms, allowing the Lord to take banishment and leave the planet for exile, providing he relinquished all his rights and lands. However, unlike his father, Adam felt no need to talk to the man, even via the viewscreen, and had recorded the message an hour previously.
“There, I’ve sent it, but I expect I know what the answer, if any, will be,” he told Frith.
Adam sent Weapon Master Singh his instructions to ready a previously prepared probe. Under the supervision of Vimes, Singh had earlier retro-fitted a probe with the once secret Jump Drive to carry a small amount of collapsed matter. This would feed an expanding total conversion explosion designed to self-propagate itself for a set length of time before dissipating. Not wishing to risk destroying the entire continent, Adam instructed Vimes to triple-check the settings and calculations, just in case. Admiral Frith noted Adam’s choice of weapon and stood down the resonance ships, sending them away from the front line.
Both Adam and Frith stood motionless for some time, waiting for a response to come back from the ruling Lord. Without being asked, Vimes confirmed the message had been correctly sent and an automated acknowledgement received. The two exchanged glances but said nothing. The military part of Frith wanted to see how the new weapon would work in practice, but at the same time, she regretted the inevitable resultant loss of life. Although the actual weapon was an old and trusted technology, the means of delivery was completely new and she realised it would usher in a rapid change in both offensive and defensive strategies, leaving many current ones both obsolete and useless. Since being told by Adam of the new technology, she had spent many hours running new scenarios through both her own mind and that of Britannia’s AI, quickly realising a new age of warfare was dawning. The upcoming paradigm shift in warfare reinforced her intention to retire once the rebellion was over and spend more quality time with Tara. Recently, the two of them had discussed becoming parents when the rebellion was over and had even agreed on the child’s sex. In anticipation, Frith had already made arrangements for a sample of her stem cells to be converted into sperm and all the clinic needed was their go-ahead.
Adam sighed, the noise of his breath causing Frith to look at him. “It is the only way, Adam,” she spoke to him quietly, “You have given him a choice and a way out, so what happens next is not on your shoulders, nor should you dwell too long on it afterwards.” She reached out and gently patted his right shoulder. “I’ve had to make many terrible decisions in the Empire’s service, and on the occasions when I cannot get to sleep, from time to time some come back to me in the dead of night. It comes with the territory, I’m afraid, but know this, Adam, it is the right choice, and most of those Marines down there caught up in this would gladly give their life for the Empire.”
Adam looked down at her, a thin smile creasing his lips. “I understand, Janice. I really do. I was just thinking about what I said recently to my father, criticising him for doing something similar. It is ironic how things come around and back to haunt us. Almost as if the Universe conspires to teach us lessons in humility.”
Adam looked back at the tank, now split into two scenes, one zoomed out to show the planet and the dispersion of his fleet, the other focusing in on an area of some four-hundred square miles, centred on the Palace and its immediate environs. Both Adam and Frith knew this would become a pivotal moment in the Empire’s history, perhaps even one future historians would look back on and use as an example. He suddenly felt the cold wind of his own mortality, despite the many decades of life he still had before him.
“Launch.” Adam gave the order and triggered the weapon’s Jump engine.
Instantly, the tank’s display dimmed to protect everyone’s eyes from being damaged by the intense explosion that followed. Appearing two-hundred yards above the Palace, the probe detonated, the resulting total conversion wave expanding just below the speed of light, too fast for anything other than an AI to follow. Its upward expansion momentarily halted by the shields, they too vanished as the wave bored deep into the Palace, destroying the generators and machinery powering them. For a brief instant after the conversion wave dissipated, a vast crater was clearly visible before millions of tonnes of air rushed in to fill the vacuum, carrying with it debris from miles around. From their position in space, the shockwave caused by the explosion and subsequent inrush of air could be clearly seen smashing across what was left of the city, destroying anything not already damaged by the earlier bombardment.
Immediately the Palace fell, Infiltrator Programmes were being transmitted into the planetary networks, rendered temporarily vulnerable by the loss of their central command. The IP’s would insert themselves and attempt to wrest back control from those installed by the traitorous Lord and his collaborators. Once control had been returned to the Imperial forces, the truth of how they had been betrayed would be sent to everyone still linked.
It wasn’t long before pre-recorded messages of reassurance from Alexander were blanketing the planet, along with proofs he remained alive, ordering the Marine garrisons to lay down their arms and await instructions. Vimes was co-ordinating efforts in conjunction with the Fleets’ AI’s, taking over communications and regaining his earlier control and oversight of planetary affairs once the IP’s ha
d done their work.
Fortunately, to maintain their control and keep the planet from knowing the true state of affairs, the rebel nobility had continued to use the existing Imperial networks and information systems. Once the IP’s had done their work, the truth about the rebellion would be easily disseminated around the planet, building on the groundwork already laid by Alexander and Vimes via their hidden probes which had previously sowed seeds of doubt and dissent in the general population. It would not be long before people began to accept the truth. Even so, many would remain confused, not knowing who to believe or finding the truth of how they had been misled and betrayed difficult to accept.
For two and a half hours, from his position on the Bridge, Adam had watched events unfold on the planet beneath him. His arms were currently resting on the padded rail running around the platform overlooking the tank, the passing time not registering as he monitored the efforts of everyone involved in returning the planet to some semblance of normality.
“Adam,” Vimes interrupted his thoughts, “Soon the rebel fleet will begin receiving their first glimpse of what has happened here on the planet, and you need to prepare yourself. The Fleet is ready to Jump on your command. Weapons Master Singh and I have overseen the preparation of additional Jump capable drones with total conversion charges.”
“Thank you, Vimes. How are you doing down there?” he asked, mentally pointing to the planet below.
“Better than anticipated. My avatars at the Imperial Bank and other areas are nearly all functioning again. As you can see from the reports, rescue and relief efforts are proceeding well, and all the main Marine Garrisons have laid down their weapons and allowed us to enter. There are some very angry members of the Imperial Intelligence Service rounding up known or suspected members of the rebellion hierarchy, and very few have so far managed to avoid detection. They, more than anyone, resent being fooled and there have been incidences of mistreatment of those taken in for questioning.”
Adam mentally nodded to his companion, then drew his attention away from what was happening below and back to what must happen next. Quickly scanning the Fleet’s current and proposed disposition, he left his place by the railings and moved back to where Admiral Frith was in deep discussion with Colonel Potts, the highest-ranking military officer remaining from amongst the planetary forces who had not been party to the rebellion. An hour after the Palace fell and the Marines began laying down their weapons, Colonel Potts had been brought up to the Flagship to meet with Frith, the Admiral having decided to use him in the upcoming engagement with the rebel fleet and Jump Station.
Both the Admiral and Potts stood as Adam approached, breaking off their conversation. Neither had disturbed the young Prince, seeing him fully engaged with what was happening on the planet, especially as they both had much to discuss and plan. Reaching the pair, the Colonel bowed and began to apologise for what had happened.
“No need to apologise, Colonel, as I know Admiral Frith here will already have told you,” Adam waved away the man’s sincere apologies, taking pity on him. The look of anguish on his face for having inadvertently failed in his duty to the Empire clearly showed the knowledge was gnawing at him. Thinking like his father, Adam stepped forward and placed both hands on either side of the Marine’s shoulders, holding them firmly.
“I hold you, and all the other Marines who were betrayed by Frederick and his plotters, blameless in this. I hold you no more responsible for treason than you might blame me for taking the lives of those on your side who were simply following orders, so think no more on it. Now is not the time for recriminations, for we have our Empire to claim back. Now, has Admiral Frith explained what we want you to do?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Several other of my high-ranking officers have just docked and will be joining us shortly to do as the Admiral asks. Thank you for giving us a chance to help.”
“Admiral,” said Adam, turning to look at her, “please instigate the Jump at your convenience once Colonel Pott’s colleagues have arrived at the Bridge. We have a rebel fleet to persuade.” He nodded at them both, then walked back to his previous position by the railing, the view in the tank changing at his unspoken command to show the rebel fleet.
Adam studied the tank, looking for anything he might have missed, the display being updated in real time by Vimes’s hidden drone. Ever since Jumping to take back the planet, the rebel fleet had held position, sending out scouting ships to look for any signs of what might have happened to them. The Jump Station was close enough to the rebel fleet for the light delay not to be overly troublesome, and the two rebel forces were no doubt comparing records. That the Empire had been in the system was not in doubt, nor that it had retaken the shipyards and attacked the Jump Station with a massive force of new ships. Adam expected neither the fleet nor Station knew what to do next and before taking any action would wait the three hours to see what messages came in from the planet in answer to their questions.
Unfortunately for them, their questions would remain unanswered, unless they counted the reappearance of his fleet, ready to either take their surrender or fight. He had few illusions about the outcome. Unless Colonel Potts and his officers could persuade the rebel fleet to lay down their arms, a bitter battle would ensue. As in the first engagement of the Empire’s new ships from Arisia when they attacked Duke McEvitt’s forces, despite the obvious advantages of his new ships over the previous models, any battle would be a bloody affair for they were fighting warriors just as well trained and motivated as themselves. Fortunately, according to Colonel Potts, Admiral Ferris and several of his aides had decided to remain on the planet to await news of Adam’s defeat and had been killed when the Palace was destroyed.
In his peripheral vision, Adam saw the new officers from the planet enter the Bridge. Not wishing to turn around, Adam used his implant to overlay an image across the vision of his left eye from the sensors, watching as they approached Frith and Potts. Despite having been vetted and vouched for by the Colonel, Vimes had ensured all had been examined from top to bottom before being allowed onto both the shuttle bringing them up or into Britannia.
The Jump alert sounded, and he watched as the countdown began, giving just enough time to walk back to Frith and acknowledge the new arrivals. As with Colonel Potts, the officers were apologetic, and again Adam found himself having to reassure them.
“This apologising is already beginning to wear thin,” Adam thought to himself, realising that for the foreseeable future such apologies would be commonplace from those who had found themselves fighting on the wrong side. Inwardly he sighed, focusing on what was about to happen next, walking over to take his position next to the Admiral. He checked with Vimes and listened as the hidden drone began transmitting a request to the rebels for there to be a temporary truce. Message sent, it immediately Jumped to a new position and began resending. To Adam’s relief, moments before the ten-second Jump alert sounded, the rebel commander agreed. Frith and Adam exchanged a quick glance. The alert sounded, and Adam merged his boots into the deck for additional support as the countdown reached zero…
Discontinuity…
The Imperial fleet appeared several light seconds from the rebels, and Frith immediately opened a channel to her opposite number, ensuring both Adam and the previously Rebel senior officers were in view. A translucent image of the rebel Bridge appeared in the tank, hovering in front of the tactical displays.
Speaking first, Frith looked at the man standing in front of his Bridge Officers, not recognising the face but having been told the name by Colonel Potts. “This is Admiral Frith, commanding Crown Prince Adam Doone’s flagship. Thank you for agreeing to the truce, Commodore Jones.
“Admiral,” Jones returned the greeting, “Get on with it. I have little time for traitors and imposters.”
“Mind your manners, Commodore, your rudeness is unbecoming of your rank,” said Adam, stepping forward so his face could be clearly seen. “I shan’t repeat myself.”
The image of
Commodore Jones reflected his momentary confusion but recovered well.
“We all know faces can be changed and is this one meant to make me surrender? Have some respect for my intelligence, whoever you are. I repeat, what is it you want?”
Frith reached out and lightly touched Adam’s forearm, gently moving him back to her side.
“In approximately two minutes, your sensors and communication Officers will begin receiving images from the planet, showing you the destruction of all resistance there by this fleet, which is capable of Jumping within a gravity well. That explains our mysterious disappearance and how we have come back here so quickly. As the short battle unfolds, your own sensors will confirm the truth of what I have said. Believe me when I tell you, this is the Crown Prince and all of you have been terribly deceived by Duke Frederick into betraying your oath of allegiance to the Emperor and the Empire.”
She paused for a moment to let the impact of her words sink in, then continued, “Beside me, I have Colonel Potts, who I believe you know well, along with his senior Officers. If nothing else, their presence here verifies what you are about to witness on the planet. Speak to them as you wish.”
Frith stepped back, allowing Potts and his Officers to move forward and present themselves. This time, the Commodore’s face betrayed him, and he began asking the men questions. After a few moments, Frith watched as the Commodore was interrupted by something off camera and became distracted, the man’s face running through a gamut of emotions as he witnessed the reports coming in from the planet, detailing the destruction. She messaged Adam directly, “If the look on his face is anything to go by, I think this is going to work. Colonel Potts told me he didn’t believe the Commodore was part of the plot and was a reasonable man. I’ve just recalled his service record, and it shows him to be a pragmatic Officer.”
Imperium: Coda: Book Three in the Imperium Trilogy Page 30