Imperium's Demise, page 36
Sossdest calculated various approaches. He noted that the peacekeeper had sought to leave the system by the shortest route. So, the imperator had strove to rise above the ecliptic. That provided Sossdest with the perfect opportunity. He attacked the peacekeeper’s stern and targeted the engines on the starboard side of the medial line. His twin energy beans neatly damaged almost half of the peacekeeper’s engines.
Aboard the battleship, the declinator loudly squawked. He’d seen the Trident chasing them. But Executor Dakargk, who stood on the bridge, told the imperator that the conclave wouldn’t fire on them.
Dakargk had imperially declared, “You can be assured, Imperator, that the conclave knew we were aboard the shuttle and were transferred to my transport. They had an opportunity to do something to each vessel, and they didn’t. This chase is merely a performance stunt. Make for the dark.”
“Imperator,” the declinator reported urgently. “Our starboard engines are useless, and our port engines are firing and turning us in a wide loop.”
“Damages?” the imperator returned.
“No life lost,” the declinator reported. “Engineering spaces were evacuated in anticipation of the attack.” He dared to glare at Dakargk, who’d thought the Trident wouldn’t fire on them.
“When we’re headed in system, shut down the port engines,” the imperator ordered glumly. “Then we’ll wait to be rescued.”
The following morning, every citizen with access to comm networks heard about the executors’ attempt to flee Imperium and end the assembly’s ability to achieve a quorum. This news only gave them another excuse to be even more irate against the executors.
24: Indecision
JUMANUS
GORDERS AND JUMANS HOME WORLD
After a long journey, the Alexander, the freighters, and the Trident escorts exited the dark above Jumanus. As expected, the Nyslara was still there, except the forces protecting the admiral were down to just two Trident squadrons.
In an unusual move, Cremsylon set a rule for the flotilla’s controllers. Information wasn’t to be shared with the admiral’s ships.
A traveler left the Alexander and headed for the Nyslara.
Cordelia noted that in addition to Cremsylon, the other passengers were Shoya, Gat’r, Gigi, and Oliver. The group was indicative to her of the unusual situation the flotilla must have encountered. Then the answer occurred to her. Data wouldn’t tell the entire event. She would need to listen to biologicals to understand the complete story. In preparation, she organized subtle elements within her kernel. It allowed her to travel back to a time when she was close to Alex.
Shoya landed the traveler aboard the Nyslara, and Cremsylon led the group to Cordelia’s stateroom, where she waited for them.
When the visitors were seated, Cremsylon began,
Cordelia knew Cremsylon wasn’t one to embellish a sharing. Therefore, what had happened would have affected the flotilla’s crews. She saw Shoya staring straight ahead and presumed that responsibility weighed heavily on her shoulders. Gat’r’s nearly imperceptible movement of his arm indicated that he was probably gripping Shoya’s hand.
Cordelia requested. Then she received a flood of data, which she channeled to the Quadrant’s controller. It detailed the events on Mythrea, where an ore containing efforial was mined.
Included with the information were the technical applications of the efforial in Imperium communications.
Shoya cleared her throat even though she didn’t intend to share orally. Instead, she sent,
Immediately, Gat’r sent,
Cordelia received a vid, which Cremsylon had compiled. When it finished, she was at a loss for words, and she went through several iterations attempting to render a balanced response. It was at these times that she wished for the presence of Nira, who always knew what to say.
A scan of the audience told Cordelia that her last sentence had missed the mark.
The SADEs around Cordelia displayed relaxed faces. Gat’r nodded appreciatively to her, and Shoya no longer stared fixedly ahead. Her eyes regarded her, but she had nothing to share.
Dominique didn’t have a response for Cordelia, but she warned the Trident captains of the imagery that the crews would encounter.
Cordelia regarded the young Naiad.
Then Cordelia’s audience exited. However, she created a private link to Gat’r.
Cordelia thought to urge Gat’r to keep an eye on Shoya, but, on second thought, she believed that was entirely unnecessary.
Gat’r was the last to share. He sent,
When Gat’r dropped the link, Cordelia connected with Cremsylon and shared her conversation with Gat’r. In return, Cremsylon sent her links to the Alexander’s databases that contained the mickies’ and the clones’ history from their first cycles of adoption. Then Cremsylon dropped the link with her.
Cordelia understood that it was her duty to absorb the histories before Cremsylon would want to have the discussion she sought. However, her priority was the prosecution of the empire. Learning about mickies and clones would have to wait. She detected the approach of Kreus and signaled her salon door open.
Cordelia sent.
Kreus offered.
Cordelia stored the exchange to review it before she examined the Alexander’s databases.
Kreus’s unusual face shifted in a complex pattern. It was a mannerism that he’d created to indicate reactions such as disagreement.
Kreus replied.
Cordelia mulled on what Kreus said.
Kreus’s face stopped shifting.
Cordelia laughed, using her silver bells.
Cordelia noted that Kreus’s face shifted again. She realized the subtle difference from the earlier movement. It was in the pace and distance of the shifts. This action related his mirth.
Kreus replied.
Cordelia replied.
