Admiral's Gambit (A Spineward Sectors Novel:)

by Luke Sky Wachter

  “They’re Lancers, not Marines,” I corrected mildly, “and besides, I thought you represented the Confederation Government right at the moment, not Capria’s,” I scoffed before moderating my tone slightly. “The Guard who whacked you in the back of the head, like you so very much deserved, is native to this system. I sincerely doubt he cares what you say about him back on Capria.”

  Bethany made a strangled sound and turned red. “Curse you Jason Montagne, do you have any idea the trouble you’ve caused…” she trailed off making strangled noises.

  I wrinkled my forehead. “I still don’t understand what Akantha has to do with this-” I said as innocently as I could manage. I knew that she had a few points. Alright, a lot of points, but it was nice to see old Cotton-Mouth at a loss for words for once. Since there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about the past other than spin some PR damage control once she was willing to listen, I might as well have some fun twitting her.

  “That’s just icing on the cake, as you know very well,” she said hotly, pointing an accusing finger at me. “I think we can all safely assume that marrying without the King’s permission is the least of your problems.” She threw her hands in the air dramatically.

  I couldn’t help silently laughing at the histrionics. I knew I should be worried about the possible repercussions, don't get me wrong. Bethany represented both governments I had to worry about, all wrapped up into one abusive, hateful and high-strung representative. But I just couldn’t. Right now, all I could see was my oh-so-dear cousin nearing the end of her rope, and it was a place I think I had never actually seen her. At least, not since before she was a teenager.

  “You realize that even if what you’re saying is true about King James and the fall of Parliament,” I said rolling my eyes, “the monarchy hasn’t controlled who we, the Royal Family, can and cannot marry for the better part of a century now.”

  By now her eyes were pools of molten lava, she was so mad. She took a deep breath and seemed to slowly get herself under control. “If I were you, I’d be a lot more concerned about my good graces than you seem to be,” she said, her voice husky with the effort of controlling her emotions.

  Bethany, being from the Vekna side of the family tree, never had been quite as or concerned with mastering her public emotions as those of us from the Montagne branch. We Montagnes were public whipping boys, and it behooved our line to learn self-control and deceit above and beyond what most members of royalty needed. It was rather amusing to watch this near-meltdown, even if what she was saying would probably have made me squirm if delivered by anyone else.

  “By all means, elaborate, dear cousin,” I invited courteously. It was probably time to stop with the small digs as I watched her spin out of control and see what, if anything, I had to work with. I didn’t have high hopes, but barring tracking down the pirates and blowing them to space dust, this was probably the best chance I had of getting out of this thing without going into hiding or being sent to prison. Not that I considered it to be a very good chance, but I still felt that I needed to explore it, if only so I didn’t kick myself later.

  Bethany blinked, clearly not expecting this response. “The Confederation Assembly is ready to string you up and have your guts for garters,” Bethany said cautiously. She saw what she believed was me lapping up her every word. She cracked a smile. I didn’t particularly like that smile, to me it held a hint of triumph in it, that I was finally bending to her will but if I was going to listen to her, it was probably best to let her think she had the upper hand. At least until I figured out what her angle, and thus Capria’s angle was in this big mess I’d landed in. “Capria is the only thing standing between you and the chopping block right now.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” I said with a forced smile to take the sting out of it. “It seems much more likely to me that ‘Capria’ is leading the charge, so to speak.”

  She goggled at me for a moment, then gave a slow smile. That smile said she knew something I didn’t or at least thought she did. “I forget how cut off you are from galactic affairs, way out here on the Rim.”

  I blinked before giving her a quizzical look. “Galactic Affairs,” I grinned. “The ComStat network is down and now you’d have me believe that you’re still linked in after the Imperials set the network to self destruct?”

  Bethany jerked and looked irked. “All right, Planetary and Sector affairs, if you want to get all technical. That’s still considerably more, how did you put it, ‘linked in’ than you can possibly be out here.”

  My grin started to die and I let it. “You’re probably right about that,” I allowed reluctantly. With the loss of the Interstellar communications network, my world had shrunk. It was like the dark ages after the AI wars, before mankind linked itself together again. If she actually knew what was going on in the rest of the sector, most specifically that part away from the Rim and where the Assembly was meeting, then I needed to know it too.

  Reassured of her place in the universe, more specifically her superiority in the information chain, Bethany breathed out a pent up sigh.

  “As I was saying, Capria is the only thing keeping you in that ridiculous uniform you’re wearing right now,” she said, giving the space-cadet/bowler style officer’s helmet I was wearing a scornful look.

  I wished I could get up a good head of steam about the helmet crack, but I knew how I looked and it wasn’t very fashionable. Not in the least.

  So instead, all I did was repeat myself. “I still find that hard to believe. Saying the same words over and over again aren’t convincing me of much,” I said.

  “Well, you’d better start believing it,” she chirped bluntly. “If the Imperials had asked for your head, the local Assembly would have given it to them by now. As it is, our Assemblymen argued passionately for you and barely managed to filibuster until the motion to remove you was tabled.”

  I pursed my lips. “It still doesn’t scan. Why would Sir Krong and the government back home want to keep me out here,” I said quizzically. If true, this really messed with my whole world view as a persecuted scion of a distrusted house. “I’m a Montagne, for Murphy’s sake. Am I supposed to believe Krong or the government acted in my best interest, strictly out of the goodness of its heart?”

  “Hardly, Cousin,” she laughed. “Prince-Cadets like you are a dime a dozen, especially when compared to old Battleships that could be better used back home,” she smirked.

  “So then the question still stands. Why?” I repeated forcefully.

  “You know, you really shouldn’t promote that silly little space superstition. It might give the lessers" (one of those haughty, superior terms too common to the inner circles of nobility used to refer to those not born with some lengthy title) "the wrong idea about the Family,” she said, changing the subject instead of answering the question. How I hated that casual smugness.

  I frowned at her. She rolled her eyes and raised her hands like some kind of priestess in the midst of a religious experience. “Saint Murphy’s Sacred First Law quoted since time immemorial. ‘What can go wrong will go wrong,’” She intoned pedantically before changing back to her normal, deriding voice. “Then there’s that whole bit with the fly in the lubrication and monkey in the multi-tool. Or whatever that actually means, and however it really goes.”

  “People who live most of their lives planetside worship the Pantheons, while those whose lives are spent in cold space, like the Spacers on this ship, have their own set of beliefs,” I said sternly. “Mocking them doesn’t help your case.”

  “Don’t tell me you actually buy into that sanctimonious rattletrap and that I’ve offended your feelings,” she scoffed.

  I gazed at her levelly. “If I’m not being recalled and you won’t tell me why, then I’m not sure we have much more to discuss,” I said, turning my gaze to Akantha. Amazingly, she had remained silent throughout this prolonged exchange, but she still looked like she wanted to take her sword to Bethany. Still, she seemed more than mild
ly interested in the conversation. She quickly blanked her face, hiding her emotions as soon as she realized I was looking at her.

  Before I could finish dismissing her, Bethany cut back in, clearing her throat.

  “Ah-herrrm,” she said and I was forced to look back at her. “I may have certain information that might interest you, if the price is right.” Her eyes were narrowed with concentration.

  I smiled. If I knew my cousin, and I’m quite certain I did, being ignored was almost worse than being insulted. In court, they always said it was better to have more enemies than you could handle than it was to simply be ignored, as though beneath society's notice. And on this ship, this was the center of power.

  “Go on,” I invited evenly.

  “If you give me the sword, I’ll tell you everything I know about the inner workings of both the Caprian and Confederation governments,” she started but I was already shaking my head.

  “Try again,” I said flatly.

  “Don’t be a fool, Jason,” she said stepping up to my desk in one quick move and slamming her hand down.

  “Tread softly, Cousin,” I warned, my voice lowered to a dangerous level.

  “You need what I know, if you’re going to survive this little adventure of yours,” Bethany said flatly.

  “I sincerely doubt that you are privy to the inner councils of either group,” I said dismissively, looking off to the side as if growing disinterested to emphasize the point.

  “You would be surprised at who I know and just how much I’m privy to,” she said stiffly.

  “Unless it's pillow talk from someone you seduced-” I started only to be cut off.

  “Someone is going to get the credit for rediscovering the sword of King Larry the Founder,” she cut in, her voice rising. “Mocking me or implying I’m some kind of whore doesn’t change that fact.”

  “You can leave now,” I said.

  If it was just me, I’d surrender Bandersnatch so fast it’d make your head spin. However, the matter was no longer entirely up to me and my worst fears were being realized. Someone recognized it and now it was just a matter of time until the authorities back home stuck their noses into the situation. Really, they already had in the form of Bethany but she was pretty powerless right now. I was sure I could handle anything she threw my way.

  Besides, there was Akantha to consider, and there was no way I could even broach the subject of giving away that sword without a major blowup. I tried for a moment to imagine that conversation: ‘Um. Hey Akantha, my cousin really wants me to give away the sword you consider your wedding ring and the symbol of our marriage bond. I realize that without it you probably wouldn’t consider us married but hey, I’m sure that after the divorce you’d be more than willing to save the colonists on Messene and also stand as a witness during my trial for planetary piracy. Right, sweetheart?’

  That so wasn’t going to work, it made me ill just thinking about it. No, I probably would come back into possession of Bandersnatch going that route, I realized. Point first, of course.

  “There’s no advantage to keeping it until it's forcibly removed from your custody and taken back to the home world,” Bethany grated, “Better to give it to me now. There’s no way King James or the government is going to let the public know you were the one who recovered it. The only choice you have is whose favor to seek in exchange for the publicity of its return.”

  “Is this slattern actually saying what I think she’s saying,” Akantha broke in, unable to contain herself any longer. “I’m sorry if this is your cousin, but if she’s saying what I think she’s saying-”

  I cut her off before she could say anything that couldn’t be retracted. “My Cousin is simply overcome with the knowledge that Bandersnatch has been re-discovered, and not knowing the entire situation, desires it returned to the Palace-” I soothed, only to be interrupted in turn.

  “I didn’t really believe you before when you said you were married, but now I do,” Bethany said cuttingly. “Holding onto that blade will only get you killed, are you already so whipped by this great looming monstrosity that you’ll just let her tell you what to do-” she abruptly came to a halt and danced to the side of the room as Akantha cleared Bandersnatch from its sheath.

  “Satisfaction,” Akantha growled, holding Bandersnatch up at head level with the blade pointed at the Confederation Representative masquerading as my Cousin. “No one tries to strip me of my sword and gets away with calling me a Great Looming Monstrosity.”

  “Honey, think about what-” I started, but Akantha was past words and lunged across the ready room with a full-fledged snarl. “Protect the Representative,” I yelped, looking at the non-Tracto-an Lancer for help. I could tell the person wasn’t from Tracto because of their height and the size of the armor. I figured it was a lost cause looking to the native for help, as he or she would probably just take Akantha’s side and apologize to me later. After I had a dead cousin for a Confederation representative and it no longer mattered because we were all dead men walking.

  The Lancer jumped forward, trying to get between the two women.

  Bethany crouched and reached up in her hair. Quick as a wink she pulled a pair of razor-sharp chop sticks made out of Imperial Locsium crystal out of her hair. She stepped to the side and used the criss-crossed sticks to parry as she jumped and pushed her way clear of Akantha’s attack.

  Spinning so gracefully at first that it looked like a dance move, Bethany launched a backhand blow of her own with one of the chop sticks.

  Akantha leaned back to avoid the blow but couldn’t quite get out of range quickly enough and a line of red opened on her cheek. My heart suddenly went into overdrive. She could have been killed! The next thing I knew, I was throwing myself over the desk without a thought to the fact I didn’t have either a weapon or armor.

  Before I or the Lancer could get there, Akantha made her move. Realizing Bethany was too close for her to use Bandersnatch effectively, while she herself was within two quick jabs of being stabbed to death, my Sword-Bearer didn’t try to use the blade of her sword. Instead she punched Bethany's face with the fist holding Bandersnatch.

  Bethany was just drawing her arm back with the intent of gutting my girl when three things happened at once. Bethany’s nose splattered all over her face as the pommel of Bandersnatch connected with her face, I jumped off the desk and knocked Akantha out of the way and the Lancer grabbed Bethany in a bear hug, turning his back to protect her from Akantha and her vibro-blade.

  I felt a stinging sensation on my back and bit back a curse. I started to get up but the tangle of arms and limbs was too much. I slipped and fell back on top of Akantha.

  “Get off me,” barked Akantha, grabbing hold and bench-pressing me off her.

  “My sweet, you can’t just go around killing Confederation Representatives,” I tried to smile, but the pain in my back was growing and all I managed was a half-hearted grimace.

  Instead of replying, she threw me to the side. My back spasmed and I stifled a groan. I didn’t feel up to stopping my Sword-Bearer a second time, so instead I stayed down, trying to catch my breath and considered once again how strong my wife was.

  I could have picked her up and thrown her to the side too, I told myself. That was if our positions had been reversed, although of course I would never do such a thing because it would have been ungentlemanly of me. That’s why we would never actually know who could throw the other farther. Although, maybe forty five minutes a day in the gym hadn’t been quite enough.

  My serious contemplation of the facts and how to continue slating them into a world where a man was always stronger than his wife was interrupted.

  “Let go of the Admiral’s cousin,” Akantha ordered.

  “I’m sorry My Lady but I cannot,” said the guard. I received another shock. I had thought the Caprian half of the honor guard pair who’d come into the Admiral’s ready room was just another common Lancer. The ‘common guard’ was, in fact, the Lancer Colonel himself.


  This could get ugly. The Colonel was a former member of the Caprian Royal Lancers. They were, or at least had been, considered fanatically loyal to the Royal Bloodline. I forced my arms under me, and ignoring my new aches and pains, I then reached up and used the desk to pull myself the rest of the way up.

  “Don’t protect that honorless swine, Colonel Suffic,” Akantha growled after a short pause.

  “May I reminded the Lady that when she first attached herself to this party, I told her that it was our duty to protect the visiting Representative from harm and that perhaps she might prefer not to join the Honor Guard,” replied the Lancer Colonel, his back still presented to Akantha, and his voice as tough as nails.

  “Hansel,” she said, irritation in her voice. My head jerked up at this familiar use of the Lancer Colonel’s name. I took a step away from the desk but I became dizzy and started to sway, so I quickly returned my hand to the edge of the desk for balance.

  “My Lady,” he said, not giving an inch.

  I didn’t like this familiarity between my wife and the Lancer Colonel, who I was reminded had accompanied her on several boarding actions. He was old enough to be her father! I forcibly suppressed the surge of jealousy that shot through me, instead focusing on returning to my chair.

  I sat down gingerly. My back still hurt, but at least easing into my chair made it feel better.

  “So I am to be cast as the one in the wrong here, despite the provocation,” Akantha said, her breath hissing through her teeth.

  “Get lost you, witch,” snarled Bethany from the safety of the Lancer Colonels arms, “and take your primitive self away while your betters have a ‘civilized’ conversation.” She might have continued, but the Lancer Colonels arms visibly tightened and she gave a muted yelp instead.

  “Silence yourself long enough to stay breathing,” the Lancer Colonel told Bethany in a low, harsh voice.