Command Decisions (Book 3 of The Empire of Bones Saga) (8 page)

Breckenridge declined, instead reiterating that Kelsey come to him.

Jared was unsurprised when her cutter undocked from
Lance
and arrowed directly toward
Courageous
. Breckenridge immediately ordered her to divert to
Spear
. The princess didn’t respond.

Meyer stalked up to Jared. “What does she think she’s doing?”

He looked up at the other officer blandly. “It seems that she thinks she’s coming aboard
Courageous
.”

“Stop her.”

Jared allowed himself a wry smile. “Princess Kelsey is second in line to the Imperial Throne. My ability to direct her in any way was limited to my position in command of this mission. I no longer have that lever. Captain Breckenridge does. And you see how well that seems to be working.”

“You know her,” Meyer snarled. “Find a way.”

“Short of firing on her cutter—which I of course will not do—I see no way of stopping her from coming here. If you want to redirect her, you’ll need to do it face to face.”

The unspoken subtext was that she was his problem now. And Jared was looking forward to watching her roll over the other man.

Meyer looked as though he’d bitten into something sour. “I see. Then we’d best go down to meet her. Perhaps I can convince her to follow Captain Breckenridge’s lawful instructions in person. She is not a member of the Imperial line for purposes of this mission. She is subordinate to the military commander.”

Good luck with that, Jared thought as he followed the man to the lift. A glance back at his crew showed that they shared his opinion.

They arrived just as the princess’ cutter docked. The hatch slid aside with a puff of cold, misty air and the marines assigned to watch over Princess Kelsey came out. They stood beside the hatch and braced to attention. He noted Talbot was standing with them. A good choice on his part. The less these outsiders knew about the man’s relationship with the princess, the better.

Kelsey came out next, her head held regally high. Obvious posturing to someone that knew her as well as Jared did, but not so much for Meyer.

Even after saying that she had no Imperial place other than diplomat, Meyer bowed his head. “Highness. I’m Commander Sean Meyer, at your service.”

For once, Jared couldn’t blame him. Respect for the Crown wasn’t easy to put aside. The other officer’s deference actually did him credit. Of course, at this point, almost anything he did right would do the same.

“Commander Meyer, Captain Mertz,” Kelsey said as she strode right past the two of them. “We’ll wait in the main conference room.”

“But—”

Obviously ready for an objection, she whirled on Meyer. “You will not argue with me, Commander. Your captain’s tone has left me in no mood for argument. You will accompany me to the conference room where we shall await the arrival of Captain Breckenridge and the other officers in your task force.”

The tall officer bowed his head again, probably deciding that it was easier to let Breckenridge fight that fight.

They proceeded to the lift as a group. It was just large enough to hold them all. Expecting it, Jared accepted Kelsey’s communication request. Meyer had no idea the two of them could communicate around him, an advantage Jared intended to take full advantage of.

You’re putting on quite the show,
Jared thought with some amusement.

A small twitch of her lips was her only physical response.
I’ve had years of practice. Is this Breckenridge as much of an ass as he seems?

Unfortunately for us, I think he’s worse. Everything I’ve seen tells me he’s an opinionated man incapable of thinking outside his narrow worldview. One who thinks highly of his power. Frankly, his arrival is probably the worst possible outcome of sending a probe home. If I’d had a clue this might happen, I’d have avoided leaving any information at all.

The lift opened and they all trooped toward the main conference room. Jared tapped into
Courageous
’ scanners and noted that a cutter was on its way from
Spear
. Breckenridge obviously wasn’t taking Kelsey’s request to gather his senior officers seriously.

This was going to be an entertaining meeting. He wondered if they’d all end up in the brig.

Kelsey was obviously tapping into the scanner feed herself, because when she sat—at the head of the conference table—she gave Meyer a cold stare. “Your captain is ignoring my instruction to gather your ships’ commanders. He’s choosing to come over alone. This is not an auspicious beginning to our relationship. I suggest you contact him and correct this deficiency.”

Her words surprised Meyer. “How could you possibly know what he’s doing, Highness?” He shook his head. “You have those implant things. Of course. I’d forgotten. It’s Captain Breckenridge’s opinion that those devices leave a person’s competency into doubt. Perhaps he only intends to see that you receive the medical care that you deserve.”

The chill rolling off her became arctic. “Questioning my competency is an unwise course of action. I assure you that I have received the very best medical care possible. I understand and accept that you are following orders, but do not make yourself my enemy in your support of his policies. Do you understand me?”

“I will obey my orders and do what I think best for the Empire, Highness,” he said stiffly.

Meyer took a seat near the other end of the table. Jared sat on Kelsey’s right. The marines arrayed themselves behind the princess.

Jared knew the moment Breckenridge docked and even watched the vid feed as he made his way toward the conference room. He looked supremely pissed. And he wasn’t alone. He’d brought half a dozen marines in light body armor. He obviously expected trouble.

If he tried to take Kelsey, he’d get it, too.

Courageous, pass a message to Lieutenant Reese. I want an armed response team with neural disruptors ready to respond at my call. If this situation gets physical, I want it stopped without loss of life.

Acknowledged. Should this unit instruct the bridge to bring the ship to battle stations? This vessel’s screens and beam weapons give it a decisive advantage at this close range.

Negative.

Breckenridge strode into the conference room as though he owned it, his marines at his back. He hesitated when he saw the marines arrayed against the bulkhead. “You marines are dismissed.”

“You overstep yourself, Captain,” Kelsey said, holding up a hand to stop her marines from moving. “These men are acting as my guards. They stay.”

Jared was proud to see how she didn’t back down one centimeter.

Breckenridge scowled. “You are out of line, Highness. You are only authorized to act as the backup diplomatic presence on this mission.”

“Wrong. When Carlo Vega died, I assumed the mantle of Imperial ambassador. You are being insubordinate and it will stop now.”

The Fleet officer looked flabbergasted. He’d probably hadn’t had anyone speak to him with that tone in years.

He finally found his voice. “With all due respect to your father, you’ve been through a terrible ordeal. I have relieved Commander Mertz of his position as commander of this exploratory mission. Your position is subordinate to mine. You
will
submit to examination on board my ship and I will see that the Empire’s interests are represented appropriately.”

Kelsey smiled without the least bit of humor. “I absolutely will not
submit
to anything. I will
allow
your medical personnel to examine me, but only under the circumstances that I dictate.”

She paused a moment to allow her words to hang in the air between them. “The Empire is at war. As the voice of the emperor, I decide what response is appropriate. The exploratory mission ended when we discovered the fight against the rebels wasn’t over. You, sir, are under my orders until such time as the emperor appoints someone else to speak in his voice.”

“That’s preposterous,” Breckenridge sneered. “You don’t have the authority to make any of those declarations. We don’t go to war at your say so.”

“You don’t need my say so. Emperor Marcus issued an Imperial edict for all Imperial forces to continue the fight. None of the emperors since has rescinded that edict. The fact that we didn’t know about it means nothing. The Empire remains in a state of war, even though we thought ourselves at peace. Allow me to play those orders for you.”

The screen on the wall came to life and Jared found himself mesmerized as the vid feed played directly into his implants. He found himself rising to his feet without thought as Emperor Marcus began to speak. He heard the words, but his attention focused on the flag bridge, for obviously that was what it was. It dwarfed even
Courageous
’ main bridge.

Courageous, can you identify that ship or its class?

This unit does not know the particular ship, but the flag bridge belongs to a Holyfield class superdreadnaught, the most modern and powerful warship Fleet possessed.

Basic schematics presented themselves in the corner of his vision. Holy God, that ship dwarfed
Courageous
. It had enough firepower to take on half a dozen battlecruisers head-to-head and win. It might be a wreck afterward, but it would take them down. It could singlehandedly destroy the present day Terran Fleet in one engagement.

The vid ended and Breckenridge waved his hand. “Irrelevant. He and everyone with him died with the Old Empire. Until and unless your father declares war, the Empire is at peace.” He shot a glare at Jared. “Or we would be if someone hadn’t started shooting when they should’ve stayed hidden. A flaw that he has displayed more than once.”

Kelsey shook her head slowly. “So we finally get down to the reason you’re pushing this. You dislike Captain Mertz because he defeated you. Humiliated you, from what I hear. Understandable enough, I suppose, but not relevant to this situation. You speak of the Old Empire and the Terran Empire as if they are two separate entities. They are not. The rule of the emperors is unbroken.”

“Enough of this preposterous fantasy,” Breckenridge snapped. “Senior Sergeant Jones, please escort Princess Kelsey to my cutter so that she may be examined by our chief medical officer.”

“Stop,” Jared said. “You heard the Imperial edict. Unless the emperor countermands it, Princess Kelsey is the most senior Imperial official in this system and she’s given us our orders. Stand fast, Senior Sergeant.”

“Senior Sergeant, take Her Highness into medical custody,” Breckenridge snarled. “And arrest Commander Mertz. He’ll face charges for insubordination and disobeying a direct order. His blood won’t save him now.”

The man looked torn, but he moved when Breckenridge snapped his fingers. One of his men followed closely behind him. Two others started toward Jared.

Kelsey held up her hand one last time. “Captain Breckenridge, you’re about to make a career-limiting error in judgment. As an ambassador plenipotentiary of the Terran Empire, I order you to stand down and submit to my lawful authority.”

Senior Sergeant Jones took Kelsey by the arm and looked suitably shocked when she stood and slammed him face down onto the conference table without the slightest effort.

Jared opened his mouth to say something, but Meyer beat him to it. “Captain, we need to take a step back. The princess may have a point. Legally speaking. We should withdraw to consider the situation before we make the wrong choice.”

Breckenridge looked as though he wanted to lash out, but he stepped back from the abyss after a very long moment of silence. Very reluctantly. “Commander Mertz, you will come with us.”

“He will not,” Kelsey said firmly. “
Courageous
says you don’t believe she is an active Fleet vessel. Fine. I hereby declare her my diplomatic ship and transfer Captain Mertz and his crew from the disabled
Athena
to
Courageous
to act as my crew on detached duty. You may be the senior Fleet commander in this area, but they are no longer under your authority.”

Breckenridge’s expression was apocalyptic. He backed out into the corridor. “This isn’t over. We’re leaving.”

Kelsey released the marine and he backed out with his fellows. Meyer inclined his head and strode out.

Once they were all gone, she slumped back into her seat. “Well, that could’ve gone better.”

Jared agreed, but he wasn’t sure how they could have gone about salvaging the situation once Breckenridge attempted to assert dominance. “
Courageous
, without sounding an alarm that Captain Breckenridge or his people can see or hear, go to general quarters. No battle screens unless they fire on us. Block all transmissions from inside this ship. And signal
Lance
that she is to withdraw at once. This isn’t the Pentagarans’ fight and I don’t want Breckenridge to think she’s a threat.”

He rubbed his face as Lieutenant Reese looked into the conference room questioningly. “Take your men and follow them to the docking level, Lieutenant. I want them off my ship without force, if possible. Be gentle. They are Fleet personnel.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Well,” he said to Kelsey, “this certainly makes things harder. What do we do now?”

She sat down at the table and buried her face in her hands. “I haven’t got the faintest idea, but we need to get this settled as soon as possible. That freighter could pop up at any time now. If we’re still bickering, it’ll bring the wrath of the rebels down on us.”

Chapter Eight

Kelsey listened closely as Jared finished detailing his interactions with Breckenridge. “The man sounds like a real ass. How does someone that lacking in talent become a senior captain in Fleet? I ask only because I intend to make sure it never happens again.”

Her brother stalked around his office. “Good luck with that. You’ll have to get his uncle thrown out of the Imperial Senate first. And don’t forget his influential family.”

He sighed. “While that’s a worthy goal, we need to worry about our current situation first. The freighter and its escort will be along shortly. I’d intended to make our way over there today, just in case they came early. We have to stop them or we’re completely screwed.”