Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) (29 page)

Toormis handed a package over his shoulder to the
Administrator. It contained high energy rations for space travel, known as
‘space junk’ to pilots. The Administrator ate everything in the package, he
wanted to ask more questions but fell into a deep sleep. Toormis calculated his
fuel, decided he had enough and engaged tactical hyper drive.

---------

The courtyard below the House of Irrimus exploded in a
sonic boom with a bright flash as a T334 materialised.  CRACK!
as
another T334 appeared. Six T334s in all appeared
throughout the authority and administrative infrastructure complex of Irrimus.

Two T334’s went straight into the Offices of Irrimus
Space Fleet and vaporised the senior officers then isolated and took control of
the tactical computers and there memory banks. Another T334 shot all the
security heads of the domestic police and security forces. All high ranking
military personnel in the Administrative buildings and Command Centres were
herded into the open areas around the complex and vaporised.

Thirty three Trigeal Space ships entered Irrimus
atmosphere and spiralled down and dispersed to the major population centres on
the planet and with the instant arrival of a number of T334s took control of
the power, communication and essential service facilities. In a very short
period of time Irrimus succumbed to Trigealian control and martial law was
declared.  

Civilian and Political Leaders were rounded up and
interned for re-educational programs. All financial institutions were suspended
from trading and all food and essential services were placed under emergency
services. Any corruption or theft was dealt with harshly. Trigealian random
mind scanning stations were on route to Irrimus.

Hundreds of Space transport freighters entered
Irrimus’s atmosphere full of Trigealian sanctioned police, security and
administrative personnel. Irrimus ceased to be autonomous.

The Captain of the Imperial Guard grunted out loud and
kicked his chair so hard it smashed into the food canisters on the other side
of the barracks. Greasy liquid splashed on to the wall and slid slowly to the
floor. The android messenger screeched and ran from the room.

A junior Officer ran into the room; surveyed the wall,
and then looked at his Captain. “Sorry to disturb you Sir,” he said softly and
backed out of the room very carefully. All his instincts told him to be
cautious and get out of there, fast. His Captain was furious about something
and he just wanted to be someplace else.

“Get back in here,” the Captain snarled, straightened
his uniform and checked his blaster.

“Sir?” the Officer said returning to the room.

“You have served with the Palace Guard for some time now.
You are waiting for promotion, is that not correct?” The Captain asked in a
much calmer voice.

“I believe my status was successfully reviewed and the
request for promotion is on your desk Sir.”

“Yes indeed it is. I signed it and you are now a Level
4 Officer. Your Commander will verify that with you shortly.”

“Thank you Sir, thank you very much.” The Officer said
stunned at a Level 4 promotion, he reasoned a Level 2 would have been generous.

“You have shown adequate administrative skills for that
promotion but I require an Officer with abilities in the sphere of initiative.
You have more than demonstrated that in combat and leadership training
requiring split second decisions. That is what you have been promoted for…” the
Captain said but he moved in front of the Officer and stared directly into his
eyes. “Are you up for a change of duties; something with more challenge?”

The Officer did not alter his steel like look into the
Captain’s eyes. “What is it you wish me to do Sir?”

“I require an aide to cover my back. These are
dangerous times and if the Palace Guard is to function correctly I will need an
extra set of eyes behind me. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Absolutely Sir,” the Officer said and reached for his
blaster and flicked the dial off its safety position and set the power level to
kill - an illegal setting within the Palace unless ordered and replaced the
weapon in its holster.    

“Good man,” the Captain said and moved away from his
new level 4 Officer. “I have been ordered to attend the Imperial Court for
reasons not specified. Go and put your dress uniform on and report back here
immediately.”

“Yes Sir,” replied his Aide and rushed out of the
room.

The Captain paced back and forth waiting for his Aide
to return. His mind was racing. His new orders and subsequent Imperial denial
to allow him to command his forces in the controlled conflict with Volen
disturbed him. The recent incident with Irrimus’s Starfighters should be a
matter for Trigealian intervention, not Palace Security. Why he was ordered to
supervise the mundane security procedures exhausted his understanding, danger
loomed. He failed to notice his Aide’s return.

“Sir.”

The Captain looked up. “Oh yes, yes of course,” he said
trying to dismiss the thoughts that plagued his mind. “We must go.”

The two men entered the passageway which led to the
Palace and the Captain stopped and leaned closer to his aide and whispered. “As
you are left handed I want you to position yourself to my left rear at all
times unless ordered otherwise. My field of fire is naturally to the front and
right but I need to know where you are. Inform me immediately if you have to
move for whatever reason.”

“Yes Sir. What are my standing orders?”

“Your function is to protect me at all costs. You have
my authority to do so,” the Captain whispered but added the chilling remark.
“Whatever happens to me will also happen to you.”

The Aide acknowledged and took a small step backwards
so as to position himself at the left rear of the Captain. Both men marched
confidentially through the Palace and up to the entrance of the Imperial Court.
The security checkpoint outside the Court had been strengthened but it also
contained an Assengi Guard. His black uniform with the silver insignia gave the
checkpoint an air of hostility and danger.

The Captain marched up to the Commander of the
Security detail and stood smartly before him. His eye caught the guard behind
the computer console and noticed the guard was not wearing his cap in the
regulation manner.
“You there!”
The Captain bellowed,
“Get that cap on straight or you’ll meet the Stockade Commander in chains.”

The Guard’s eyes open wide in fright and with fumbling
fingers straightened his cap. “That’s better,” the Captain said averting his
blazing eyes from the guard and setting them on the Guard Commander. “I have an
Imperial summons for immediate audience with the Imperial Court. My aide is
here to accompany me. Alert the Court’s Clerk of our arrival.”

“Yes Captain.”

“Not so fast Captain,” the Assengi Guard said as he
made his way forward. “The summons was for you only and I will require your
weapons before you will be allowed to enter the Court.”

In a blur of speed which defied belief the Captain had
his blaster out of its holster, the power setting set to stun and fired almost
point blank into the Assengi’s chest. The Assengi was blown off his feet and
fell to the floor unconscious some distance away from the checkpoint.

“Just what sort of unit are you running here
Commander? Do you wish to question my orders as well?” The Captain said and
made a showy point of setting his blaster to kill in front of the Commander.

“No, indeed not Captain,” a shaken Commander replied but
added quickly. “There are new orders sir and we…”

“I don’t care what your orders are; you will carry
mine out immediately or die.” The security checkpoint Guards froze when they
realised the Captain’s Aide had his blaster out and was aimed directly at the
group. Its muzzle was slightly flattened indicating it was set for broad blast
pattern and was close enough to kill them all.

The air was tense but the Checkpoint Commander turned smartly
and flicked the communication’s switch. “The Captain of the Palace Guard and
his Aide are present for Imperial Audience.”

“Understood… send them through,” came the reply over
the communicator.

“You are free to enter Captain.”

“Thank you Commander. Put that,” the Captain said
pointing to the unconscious form of the Assengi Guard, “in a holding cell and
he is not to be released and no one is to see him until I order it.”

“Yes Captain,” the Checkpoint Commander said watching
the Captain and his Aide march through the open doors leading into the Imperial
Court.

Both men halted and bowed before the Assembly. The
massive marble columns beside them ascended impressively up to the ornately
decorated dome roof. The Emperor’s own colours and heraldry still adorned the
walls as well as the uniforms of the guards and android scribes. At least the
Emperor is still alive, thought the Captain.

A Court Official shuffled along the main isle and
bowed when he reached the two men. “You are welcome, please follow me.” The men
proceed down a broad passageway shadowed by the tall marble columns. Highly
polished insignia glistened on the colourful uniforms of the Imperial Court
Guards, their tall lancers enhancing the massiveness of the columns.

The amphitheatre appeared before them. At the centre
was the Emperor’s table and directly to the front of it were the tables of the
twelve Houses of the Confederacy spread out in a long curve, none closer than
the other to the Emperor’s table. The Captain noticed the Irrimus table was
empty of personnel and a black cloth was draped over it. The next sight chilled
the Captain to his soul - the Empress sat in the Emperor’s Chair and beside her
in the Vice Regent’s Chair sat the Black Priest!

“Ah, Captain,” the Empress said without emotion. “Come
before us.”

The Captain bowed his head in acknowledgement and made
his way down the steps to the visitor’s section in front of the Emperor’s
table. He felt the presence of his Aide directly behind him and slightly to the
left. He knew the man would be nervous but his presence alone gave him comfort.

“Reporting as ordered my Empress,” he said bowing
deeply and straightening quickly to gaze upon his Empress. His heart sank as he
looked upon someone he didn’t know. Even her beauty seemed different. Her eyes,
though brilliant emerald seemed too bright and glassy. He no longer felt her
magnetism and his heart didn’t quicken as it usually does in her presence.

“Your
report of recent security
operations please
Captain,” she asked coldly, her eyes not blinking nor
changing their focus as they stared at him.

“My Empress.
All Irrimus personnel on Ennack have been located and
detained. Standing orders have been issued to all Confederate Garrisons to
detain all Irrimus personnel both military and civilian and wait for orders
pertaining to their deportation to detention facilities.”

“And news of the two Irrimus assassin ships?”

“Tests have positively confirmed Lord Ambrae was the pilot
of the ship which attacked the T334. No evidence has yet been recovered
concerning the second ship. It is believed it may have been completely
vaporised.”

“You have had ample time Captain to be more positive,”
the Black Priest cut in.

“If the Irrimus ships were indeed ‘assassin’ ships as
you ascertain Black Priest they would have been carrying an extensive array of
destructive ordinance. At the present stage of investigation it is speculated
it may have been a victim of its own weapons. Also, I am not privy to the
results of mind scans or the reason why top level Irrimus personnel who may
have held the answer to their mission have been annihilated. I can only go by
the physical evidence available,” the Captain answered calmly.