Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) (9 page)

“I’ll be straight with you
Drex
,
” you don’t mind me
calling you by name, do you?” The Emperor asked.

“Not at all Sir.”

“Good. I find it quite refreshing to have the Mandates
of Almogest exercised but you are not a gullible man otherwise you wouldn’t be
here. Those Mandates were made obsolete at the very time the term Trigealian
intervention was first uttered in this sector of the universe. The Imperial
Court scholars are already closing that loophole which has brought you here as
we speak. You have my attention, what is it?” The Emperor said sitting down and
obviously enjoying his beverage.

“Fifty six trainee cadets were killed inside the
Academy.”

“That’s a tragedy, I’m sure, but it isn’t
a
Imperial concern. You have your chain of command.” The
Emperor replied. “That surely isn’t the reason you’re here?”

“Not exactly sir,” the Administrator added. “It’s the
method of their deaths which is of concern.”

The Emperor was basically enjoying the break from his
routine and promised to assist his wife’s request to have this man dealt with
and sent on his way, she could be so damn persuasive. But now his instincts
told him something else. He somehow knew he might regret this meeting.

The Emperor placed his beverage on the desk and sat
upright. He looked at the Administrator and leaned forward. “Are you Norfian?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Pure Norfian?”

“That’s illegal Sir. Pure Norfians are intervened and
quarantined on their home planet.” The Administrator answered.

“Yes, yes of course,” the Emperor replied, now feeling
uneasy. He knew he should ask the obvious next question how or why the cadets
died, but he also knew the answer may make him potentially scannable for
Trigealian intervention, Imperial immunity or not. He might also be compromised
by the fact that if this man in front of him was ever mind probed by the
Trigeals this meeting would stand out concluded or not. Maybe I’ll just get the
Captain of the Guard to deal with this man, the Emperor thought, yes... yes
that is a better idea.

“I will summon the Captain of the Palace Guard to
conclude this interview, since it is of a security nature. I have many pressing
engagements. I trust your stay at the Palace has been a rewarding one,” the
Emperor said standing and walking toward the door.

The Administrator stood with him and took his life
literally in his own hands; to deal with the Captain of the Palace Guard would
be fruitless as well as dangerous. To upset or show any insubordination toward
the Emperor was insanity.

“Sir, the Confederate Cadets were killed by a T334.”
The Administrator said directly.

The Emperor stopped and turned around. “I’m sure that must
have been quite a tragedy for you. Please accept my sympathies but the
Trigealian Regiment acts independently in matters of Confederate Security. It
is neither my concern nor yours if you value your survival. I will send in the
Captain.”

“The T334 was not piloted at the time Sir.” The
Administrator replied and waited just long enough and added. “The T334 in
question is presently on Ennack and has gone into defensive mode. No one is
safe on this planet.”

The Emperor stopped and stood motionless, then shut
the door and returned to his seat. “When did this occur?”

“Last time frame Sir.”

The Emperor put the facts together but remained
silent. This is a major incident he realised. The Trigeals are liable to do
anything. They don’t make mistakes and surely if it is… it is their first. He
looked at the Administrator and actually admired what he had done, two firsts
in one day by this man.

A light taping came from the door. The Emperor stood
and opened the door.  A court android informed him of his schedule and it
was time he changed uniforms. The Emperor told the Android all audiences were
postponed for the moment and he would advise the Court when they were to
resume.

“Administrator.
I have to assume you are aware of the magnitude of
the news you bring me. I am aware of your report to Confederate and
Trigeal  High Command, plus of the fate of the Security Chief,” a faint
raising of his eyebrow caught the Administrator’s attention, there was an
instant understanding that nothing more was to be said about the Security
Chief.

“Yes sir. I feel as the Emperor you should be informed
of the current state of activity concerning this incident on Ennack. Simply
Sir, as you are now aware, there hasn’t been any response from anyone, Priests,
Trigeals or their Regiment.” The Administrator answered.

“What about the personnel at the Academy and the
Security Forces who were involved?” The Emperor said slowly weighing the
gravity of the situation.

“All confined to post or barracks Sir. Everyone including
myself has been security scanned and all results negative. There has been no
Trigeal or Priest activity of any kind or any reply to my report except the
acknowledgment.”

“The T334 in question, the pilot?”
Added the Emperor.

“Johe of Irrimus.
Lord Ambrae’s son.
The
monitor shows him safe and well training on Earth,” the Administrator replied.

“Earth.
Well, that‘s interesting. Earth is to have the same
fate as Norfis soon I believe. Complete quarantine from any and all Confederate
activities. It seems like the Great Houses will have to look for other means of
getting rid of their undesirables. The uncertainty and randomness of Trigealian
intervention on that planet has allowed certain experiments for our scientists
but the people of Earth are now using nuclear weapons against themselves. If
they don’t blow themselves up the mutating microbiology will probably slowly
poison the planet anyway or disrupted weather patterns will substantially alter
the environment. Has the pilot Johe reported in?” the Emperor said reflecting
on recent discussions with Space Command and why the pilots used Earth as a
training ground.

The Administrator relaxed a little. He saw the Emperor
now as a possible ally but a dangerous one.

“No Sir he has not. May I suggest a request for
contact with
Johe.
Lord Ambrae must be granted this or
a formal request to the Priests be submitted. If Johe can be contacted it will
confirm the malfunction with the T334,” the Administrator said as he reached
down and switched off a communication device which was flashing bright lights
inside the room but added. “Contacting the Priests will put this matter beyond
any Imperial influence.”

The Emperor looked at the Administrator and his features
hardened. He was not accustomed to being suggested courses of action by
subordinates. This matter was probably best handled by leaving it alone but
something occurred with the Emperor. His face brightened and he sat back in his
chair.

“What is it you’re not telling me
Drex
?”

The Administrator answered quickly and fluently. “Sir,
you have all the information. I have lists of the dead, the scan reports, local
investigation…”

“I have been Emperor for quite some time,” the Emperor
said cutting off the Administrator mid sentence. He stood up and walked across
the room and leaned against a table. “I am aware of a number of things when I
have audiences. Namely my position in the situation and secondly what the other
could possibly want. My position of power has taught me one thing if anything.
Everyone that manages to see me or influence me has a goal, aspiration,
treachery or even straight out greed in one form or another. In other words
they want something. Facts and figures are irrelevant; you went to a great deal
of trouble to be sitting here. Also the risk, the Captain of the Guard has
eliminated a great many people for treason, mostly he alone presumed. You are,
while you are here subject to his discretion. You are lucky to be alive. Let
alone the risk you run with the Trigeals. Now, what is it you really want?”

The Administrator had not been prepared for this
question nor to be put in such a position of having to answer such a question.
He looked at his hands and rubbed them, not often are they moist. He looked
down to avert his flickering eyes from the Emperor.  “Sir, I believe there
is an opportunity here. Never has there been any mistake or oversight in the
handling or running of the Trigealian Regiment. The Articles of Intervention
are nothing more than a collection of observations so as to avoid being
intervened. I am loyal to the Confederacy but not to a life as a mechanical
contrivance for the benefit of beings who aren’t even humanoid. To learn
something of their weaknesses would be a step in the direction of freedom. What
I have just said to you Sir could easily result in my terminal intervention by
your Captain. That was always a risk. This I see this situation as a great
opportunity.” The Administrator said honestly and felt somewhat relieved but
realised that statement may have just cost him his life.

The Emperor’s expression did not change and an
uncomfortable silence developed in the room. The Emperor walked over to the
desk with electronic equipment and pressed a button and spoke.
“Captain of the Guard report to the Emperor’s Communication’s Room
immediately.”

The Administrator had all feeling drain from his body,
he went numb. The Emperor was busy at the communication’s console and neither
looked at the Administrator nor spoke further.

There was a brief noise outside and the door opened.
The Captain strode into the room. He was no longer in dress uniform and was
attired in military fatigues. He was soon to be engaging in a Trigealian
sanctioned controlled conflict with the House of Volen over disputed borders.

“Yes Sir?” he said standing rigidly to attention, hand
resting on the butt of his blaster.

“Oh Captain,” the Emperor said while still busy at the
console. “Would you see to it that the Academy Administrator is rapidly returned
to his
Academy.
Use one of your fastest fighters with
an escort. The Administrator has to rapidly get the Academy organised for an
upcoming formal parade. Please dispatch our number two marching band to the
parade ground outside of the Academy to commence immediate practice.”

“At once Sir.
Administrator please
follow
me.” The Captain said but halted and turned toward the Emperor, “Oh Sir, what
uniforms are the band members to wear?”

“Dress for a funeral service. Fifty six Academy Cadets
died for the Freedom of the Confederacy, it is in their honour.” The Emperor
turned to the Administrator, “Thank you for bringing this tragedy to my
attention. Have a safe journey.”

“Thank you Sir,” the Administrator said and saluted.
He marched out with the Captain. Once out of the room and marching down the
corridor the Captain looked over his shoulder at the Administrator and a small
smile played at the corner of his mouth. The Administrator noticed the
Captain’s hand was no longer resting on his blaster, he returned the
smile.     

The two men worked their way through the Palace and
into the tunnel leading to the Space Dock. The Captain met two pilots on route
and briefed them concerning the Administrator’s return flight. The pilots
hurried away to prepare their ships.

The Captain was just about to release the
Administrator from his responsibility while being at the Palace when a dark
figure seemed to materialise in their presence. It was the head Priest of the
order Assengi; the secret sect of the Trigealian Temple. No one knew what they
did but they had the sanction of the Trigeals and had their own Temple within
the Palace.  This priest was known as the Black Priest, he was feared
throughout the Confederacy.

The Black Priest seemed to float on the floor, his
full length black robe covering his feet. His hood covered his face completely.
There was the slightest odour surrounding this being, he smelt faintly of
mould.
“Greetings Captain.
I see you’re dressed for
death,” the Black Priest said with a quiet, penetrating voice. “Anyone worthy
of such Imperial attention has not long to live I assume.”