by D. J. Holmes
Johnston let out a half chuckle. “I’m glad to hear that Grand Admiral. Titles can only protect you so far… But I take your point.”
“Do the two branches of your military always get on like this?” Angela asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“You should see it when it’s ordinary officers,” one of the marines commented. “These two high-ranking commanders are playing nice.”
“I’ll not ask who normally wins,” Angela followed up. “Perhaps I should be asking General Johnston for a recommendation.”
“I’m sure the marines would be happy to have you volunteer,” Johnston replied. “But you have to go through basic training like everyone else. We have no accelerated officer courses.”
James chuckled at Angela’s silence. “I’m guessing that might influence your decision back the other way.”
“Perhaps,” was all Angela was prepared to say.
For another two hours the conversation went back-and-forth. Slowly the other special forces marines came out of their shells. “What was that?” one of them asked when a slight tremor ran through the freighter.
“The freighter has begun decelerating,” Angela answered. “I’d say we are about half an hour out from New Delhi.” As the conversation continued, tension seeped into everyone’s voices. No one said it, but they all knew they were sitting ducks. If the customs officials detected them, or the Imperial Loyalists sold them out, the first thing they would know about it was when a bunch of plasma rifles were being thrust in their faces.
“I think that is an orbital tug picking up the adjacent container,” Angela commented when a stronger jolt shook everyone. “We will be next.” James was thrown into the midst of tangled arms and legs as their container suddenly moved. Just when everyone got themselves reorientated, the container was flipped on its end again. Then, everything went quiet. “We are either sitting in orbit or have been deposited at one of the orbital refineries.”
“What happens when they open the container to process the minerals?” one of the marines asked.
“I don’t think we want to find out,” James answered. The container they were in was supposed to be earmarked for one of New Delhi’s ground refineries. Yet there was always a chance some bureaucrats would change the work order.
“We are moving again,” Angela said needlessly as everyone fought not to smash into each other. “Another tug must have us.”
For several minutes the sense of moving continued unabated, then the container got hotter and hotter. “The good news is, I think we are going through the atmosphere. The bad news is I don’t know how hot it’s going to get,” he said. The Imperial Loyalists had designed the hidden container to smuggle weapons, weapons that had had a far higher temperature tolerance than James did. For more than a minute the temperature kept rising and rising to the point where it felt like sweat was flowing out of every pore his body. Then, the increase in temperature dropped off. Slowly at first and then with more speed, things became more bearable.
“I don’t know about you special forces marines,” Angela commented, “but that was becoming a little uncomfortable.”
“We can tolerate much higher temperatures than normal folks,” one marine commented.
James felt movement beside him from Angela. “That may be,” Angela replied, “but you still feel pretty sweaty to me.”
The marine grunted as several of his comrades laughed. Their revelry was cut short when the container landed on the planet’s surface with a thump. The mechanical sound of the tug disengaging its clamps was followed by silence. The silence lasted several minutes until one marine broke it. “Now what?” he asked.
“Now we continue waiting,” James answered. “By my reckoning, it’s still daytime in Calcutta. There are several more hours until darkness. The Imperial Loyalists won’t come for us until then.”
James counted four hours until they next heard any kind of sound coming from beyond their container. At first it was the banging of several hammers on something. Then it sounded like something was moving the mineral dust away from the sides of their container. Eventually voices could be heard. Finally, the scraping of the container’s external hatch release being turned made everyone tense. As the container’s door cracked open and light from several powerful torches shone in, everyone’s hands shot up to their eyes and more than a few groans escaped even the marines’ lips. Someone had come for them.
Chapter 20
Underground resistance cells are almost impossible to root out. Every marine officer has extensive training for the eventuality they find themselves up against such an enemy. Yet in the history of the Empire even the marines have struggled in this regard. Only the Antarians have successfully eradicated such cells on planets they have conquered. Of course, their methods leave next to no-one alive to oppose them from the get-go.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
“Admiral?” A woman’s voice asked tentatively as the container door creaked open further and more light burst in. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes we’re fine, just dim the lights,” James requested. “Give us a second to adjust.”
“I’m sorry Admiral, but we don’t have much time. We need to get moving. There could be a patrol passing by this area any moment,” the woman replied.
That got James’ attention. “Right, we’re coming,” he said as he clapped Johnston on the shoulder. The General snapped a couple of names and two of his special forces marines led the way out. James followed them more slowly, still half covering his eyes. When he got out and slowly looked around, he was surprised to find only three people waiting to greet them. One was reversing the machine they had used to clear a path to his peoples’ small container. The other two were holding lights. Concern was etched on both of their faces. “We are ready to move as soon as you are,” James said as he stretched his arms and legs. “But I think we’ll need a few minutes to fully loosen up if you want us to move fast.”
“I’m afraid we have to walk to the safe house Admiral. There is a curfew on aircars. It’s four miles away, but we have a route planned. We shouldn’t draw any attention to ourselves,” the woman said, she even gave James a slight bow. “I’m Adhira Patel, I was an engineer in this refining facility before they found out about my political persuasions. I lost my job a couple of months ago.”
“Nice to meet you,” James said as he held out his hand to Adhira. “Don’t worry about the walk, it will do us good to stretch our muscles a bit.”
Adhira nodded, “Haima, you take the lead. We’ll stay a couple of hundred meters behind you.”
“Yes boss,” the Indian who was standing beside Adhira replied before quickly turning and taking off. Adhira watched him go for several seconds and then set off as well. “Follow me Admiral and keep your people close.”
“Don’t worry about them,” James replied. “They know how to look after themselves.” He fell in step beside Adhira. As she led them through a maze of containers identical to the one they had been brought to the planet’s surface in, James kept his mouth shut and eyes open. Only when they left the large refining facilities did he feel it appropriate to start asking questions. “May I ask, where are we going?”
“A safe house,” Adhira answered. “I was given the address just an hour ago. I believe some of our leaders are there waiting for you.”
“How long have you been a part of the Imperial Loyalists?” James followed up.
“A month,” Adhira responded. “They contacted me after I lost my job.”
“A month?” James couldn’t help but spit out. “And they trusted you with this mission?”
Adhira looked back at him with a sharp expression. “If you want, I can give you the address and leave you to it.”
“No,” James replied with a smile. “I just like to know who I’m entrusting my life to.”
“I am risking my life as much as you,” Adhira said as she looked back again. “And this is my homeworld that is in this mess.”
“You don’t seem to overly enamored with me or the Empire,” James observed.
Adhira didn’t try to hide her feelings. “I’m not, but when you’re faced with three bad options, the least worst is your only choice. I don’t want New Delhi to continue to be trampled by Culthrapori and his militia. Nor do I want to see my homeworld nuked by the Karacknids. Being ruled from Earth by some Empress I’ve never heard of wasn’t at the top of my wish list a year ago. Yet here we are.”
“Well, at least you’ve met me now. Not many people in the Empire can say that,” James replied.
“The jury is still out you,” Adhira responded without turning.
James smiled at her tone. As they continued to walk through the seemingly deserted outskirts of the city, he decided to change the subject. Instead he asked about how Culthrapori had been treating his people. None of the answers he got pleased him very much. Adhira had a brother who was currently imprisoned without trial and both of her parents had been expelled from Calcutta, New Delhi’s capital. It was no wonder she had been picked to escort him to meet the Imperial Loyalists leaders. She was as motivated as anyone to see Culthrapori’s reign brought to an end.
“Here we are,” Adhira said after what James reckoned had been almost an hour of walking. They had stopped at what appeared to be the back end of a group of high-rise apartment buildings. Buildings that looked identical to tens of others they had passed in the night. After stopping for a few seconds and listening, Adhira jumped over a small fence that outlined one of the gardens of the ground floor apartments. She moved up to a set of glass sliding doors and tapped out a clearly prearranged signal. Stepping back she turned to James and gave him a quick nod. “Good luck Admiral.” Before James could respond, she retreated and hurdled the fence again. Within a few seconds she and her two companions were gone.
James found himself staring at Johnston. “I guess it’s just us again.” Movement behind him made James turn. A woman had appeared on the other side of the glass doors.
Without hesitation she slid one open. “Quickly, come inside before anyone sees you.”
James moved to obey, but Johnston’s hand on his shoulder stopped him short. “Let Phelps check it out,” he suggested. Before James could respond, Phelps was already stepping forward.
“It looks okay,” the marine replied seconds later.
When James stepped through the sliding doors a pleasant aroma of strong coffee brewing greeted him. “The leadership isn’t here yet,” the woman replied. “I’m Maria, I help them out from time to time. They said you would likely want an hour or two to freshen up. I have drinks and some light snacks.”
James licked his lips as his stomach rumbled. It had been hours since he last ate. “Thank you very much,” he said as he stepped towards the kitchen counter that was stacked with different kinds of breads and cakes.
“Is there a bathroom?” Phelps asked.
“Of course,” Maria replied, “this way,” she added as she gestured for Phelps to follow her.
“What’s the plan General?” another marine asked.
“Now we eat,” Johnston replied as he too tucked in, “we can worry about this meeting after we’ve eaten our fill.”
“Sounds good to me,” a different marine responded.
After taking fifteen minutes to eat and drink whatever Maria put before them, James finally felt his hunger subside. “Are there rooms for us or are we to rest here?” he asked as his mind turned to the coming meeting with the Imperial Loyalists’ leadership.
“I have a couple of spare bedrooms you can make use of. There are only three beds though. If you want a nap you’ll have to share or sleep on the floor,” Maria answered.
“The floor is fine for my boys,” Johnston replied. “If you need a nap, you take priority.”
Ordinarily James might have considered refusing. He didn’t want to make himself look weaker than those around him. But when he was in the company of seven special forces marines, he knew such a show of bravado was more than foolish. They had implants that could pump them with enough stimulants to keep them awake and fully functioning for well over twenty-four hours. “I think I might just do that,” James said. He turned to Maria. “They will be here in a couple of hours?”
Maria nodded. “That’s what they told me. But I’m just a hostess.”
“Well, thank you for your hospitality,” James said then turned back to Johnston. “I’ll try and grab a quick hour of sleep, you’re to wake me after that.” He reached out and placed a hand on Angela’s shoulder. “I suggest you get some sleep as well. We’re not built like they are.”
“Of course Admiral,” Angela replied.
“I’ll make sure to wake you both,” Johnston called after them.
*
After waking, Maria suggested that James, Angela, Johnston, and the rest of the marines wait in her apartment’s living room. Happy to do so, they spread out on the sofas and floor and began to discuss strategy. “How long are we to stay here after this meeting?” Johnston whispered so that Maria wouldn’t hear them from the other room.
“Not long if we can help it,” James replied at the same volume. “Though it may not be entirely up to us.”
“We can fight our way out of here if we need to,” Johnston replied. “We might not have our plasma rifles, but marines are still pretty deadly with their side arms.”
James grinned. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. But violence is our last resort.”
“And if they won’t let us go? If they want to use you as a figurehead for whatever plans they may be concocting?”
“Then our last resort may be necessary,” James replied. “We need to get the lay of the land here, not just the Imperial Loyalists’ view of things. That means we need to get out from under their supervision. One way or another.” The sound of one of the other rooms’ windows being tapped stopped James saying anything more. It was the same pattern Adhira had used. “I think our friends are here,” he said instead.
A few moments later three Indians stepped into the room. James was already on his feet to greet them, but when he recognized the fourth person to follow them, he rushed towards her. “Ambassador Bracey,” he said, his voice full of surprise. “What are you doing here?” Though he had only met the Ambassador twice before, once before the Karacknid war, and once when the Inner Council had met with her before dispatching her to New Delhi, Bracey was hard to forget. Especially for James, she had the same jet-black curly hair that Susanna had had.
Bracey smiled at him and warmly returned his handshake. “It’s a long story Admiral. Though I could ask you the same thing,” she said with a smile. She gestured towards the three Indians. “I think my friends wish to make introductions. Then we can talk.”
“Of course,” James said as he turned to the three Imperial Loyalists. “Thank you for getting me to the surface.”
One of the two men gave James a bow. “It was our pleasure Emperor.” He held out his hand, “I’m Arjun. This is Ishann,” he said as he pointed to the second male, “and this is Kaia. I guess you could say we are the leaders of the Imperial Loyalists. Though organizers might be more accurate. I have to say, we were more than shocked to hear of your request. You could have come here with a fleet. Yet you came to us like this. Why?”
“Because there has been no real information getting out of New Delhi,” James explained. “Culthrapori’s has the system locked up tight. If you have been speaking with Ambassador Bracey, then you know that back on Earth we are very concerned about what is happening here. I have come to see for myself.”
“Before intervening?” Arjun pressed.
James couldn’t help but allow a small smile to play across his lips as he shared a glance with Johnston. “You are perceptive. Yes, some kind of intervention is on the table. At least as an option. On Earth we have bigger issues to deal with than New Delhi’s fate, as harsh as that may sound to you. But at the same time, New Delhi is tied in with the rest of our colonies. What happens
here could have a ripple effect elsewhere.”
“And the Empire is concerned about every one of its prospective citizens,” Bracey added as she shared a glance with James.
James nodded. “If you knew me well, you would know that goes without saying,” James said as he held Arjun’s gaze. “But New Delhi is not a part of the Empire yet. As such, my hands are partially tied. That said, I’m here to learn more.”
“If it’s information you’re after, then you may ask us anything you wish Emperor. As far as we are concerned, we are already your citizens,” Arjun said. “If a referendum had been held here, we have no doubt about what the outcome would have been.”