Exodus, page 78
“I’ve no idea. So how is killing you another trigger?”
“Terence, for all your opinion of me, I am—was—an archon of the Now and Forever Queen of Wynid, one of the rulers of the Crown Dominion. My assassination by a human is a very serious act of aggression against the Crown—basically, a direct challenge to the authority of the empress herself. That will never be tolerated. There will be consequences.”
“Nobody but me knows a human shot you.”
“Toše knows. And you were standing right next to me. You were in his sights. That information will find its way back to the court. It’s what I’d do. They already know you are my head agent on Gondiar; they will want to know what you know. Excuse my indelicacy, but that puts us right up shit creek.”
“They might know already. The information about Zikar modifying the concluder was in the files I sent. So your replacement will have access to them, yes?”
“Oh, dear. Yes.”
“What do we do?”
“Expose the game played against us. We have to find out which dominion Liliana and Toše are working for.”
“We have to find them, then.”
“We do. I have some resources available. There are certain items placed around the city and beyond in case of emergency. I believe this qualifies.”
Terence experienced a little egotistic thrill at the prospect of acquiring more Celestial toys.
Makaio-Spirit smiled fondly and raised his beer in salute. “Yes, I thought you’d like that.”
“What’ll happen to your son?” Terence asked. “I remember warning him.”
“It is my hope he will return with allies. He has comprehensive giftings from me—more memories than is usual to pass on before succession, but then as we have established, archons are paranoid creatures. He won’t be me, but in the old human tradition of biological inheritance being immortality, he is a genuine son to me. I am alive through him, and this shadow version of me takes comfort in that.”
“So who are your allies?”
“Lord Gahiji-Calder and Lord Jolav-Dabny. They too are disconcerted with the changes of policy within the Crown Dominion.”
“And do you trust them?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Did they know you were coming to Gondiar?”
“Ah. Yes.”
“I ask because someone else knew, and they told Toše. Even I didn’t know you’d arrived, yet he was ready and waiting in a position that gave him a clear line of sight. So who sent you here, and who knew you’d been given that particular apartment in the Governor’s Mansion?”
Makaio-Spirit froze for a second, like a glitched hologram. “Lords Gahiji-Calder and Jolav-Dabny knew. Also, Lord Ualana-Shoigu, Wynid’s new chief archon; it was he who granted me permission to come.”
“Chief archon, and now chief suspect, then.”
“That would be extremely disturbing. But then, his appointment was extremely unusual.”
“Well, it’s not like we can ever ask him, so we’ll just have to focus on Toše and Liliana.”
“Is that not what you’ve been doing for the last two months?”
“Yes. But not very well, clearly.”
“Do not blame yourself. They obviously have support that even excels that which I have provided you. Staying hidden will not be difficult for them. They will have flawless new identities.”
“Yeah, but we have to try. And we know they’re interested in starships. It’s not much, but it’s a start.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Empress Carolien-Amaia was eating breakfast with the princesses when her chief archon, Lord Acelynn-Jabula, came in, walking side by side with Lord Drake-Ottavio, the Master of the Imperial Court. That meant it was going to be bad; the court knew how much she valued an uninterrupted breakfast. Listening to the princesses chattering away about inanities mixed with court gossip—mainly dissing the congregants—was always a pleasant way to begin the day. Forty minutes without cares, responsibilities, and worry. Was it really so much to ask for?
She gave her senior courtiers a cool gaze as they walked across the massive hall. As one, the princesses stopped talking and looked at them disapprovingly.
They reached the table and bowed.
“Majesty. I apologize for disturbing you before your official day begins,” Lord Acelynn-Jabula said.
“I’m sure you have good reason.”
“Unfortunately, yes. A Wynid Navy frigate, the Tyr, docked at High Vaxjo last night. An emissary from Queen Helena-Thyra is on his way down the tower. He has requested a meeting with you at the earliest possible convenience.”
“Crap. Who did she send?”
Acelynn-Jabula cleared his throat. “Lord Ualana-Shoigu, ma’am.”
“Double crap.” They’d known this was coming, of course. The news had actually left her disconcerted two years ago in her start-of-day briefing, when Acelynn-Jabula told her that Makaio-Faraji, the Wynid archon covering Kelowan, had been assassinated on Gondiar—in the governor’s mansion, no less.
“How on Old Earth could such a thing happen?” she’d asked.
“We believe it was a Remnant weapon, ma’am, a concluder rifle.”
“Which dominion did it?”
An extremely uncomfortable Lord Acelynn-Jabula glanced around the table, seeking support from his fellow Imperial Council members. He wasn’t getting any. “It would appear he was shot by a human, ma’am.”
The council chamber was completely silent.
“You’re joking. You’d better be joking!”
“No, ma’am.”
“A human killed an Imperial Celestial archon?”
“Yes.”
“Helena’s going to go apeshit! The bitch’ll try and blame me at the next meeting…Oh no, that’s going to be the naval exercise before we annex Capo Frois.”
Two years ago. One year for the news to be couriered through the Gate of Heaven to Wynid, one year for Helena-Thyra to send her emissary, who would be explaining her reaction to the assassination in clear terms. Two years would be long enough for tempers to cool and shock to fade. Two years would enable her own archon to arrest or kill the assassin. Except it wasn’t two years, not for Helena-Thyra. Her emissary would have been with her barely a fortnight ago in their personal timeline.
Carolien-Amaia sighed and looked around the breakfast table, taking in the expressions the princesses were directing her way. Mostly curiosity, but there was nervousness there as well. “There’s a saying from Old Earth, girls,” she told them. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Remember it well, beyond even my giftings to you, because this is exactly the kind of thing it applies to.”
“Yes, Mother Queen,” they chorused.
“Lord Acelynn-Jabula, please tell me we now know who shot Lord Makaio-Faraji.”
“Majesty, unfortunately, the situation on Gondiar—”
Carolien-Amaia slammed her hand down on the breakfast table. “For fuck’s sake!”
“I apologize profusely.”
“Yes. That helps.” Her accusing finger lined up on the chief archon. “If Helena-Thyra uses this to call a vote of no confidence…”
“She wouldn’t dare,” Lord Drake-Ottavio said. “In any case, the other queens would never countenance such a vote. It would set a precedent that would leave all of you vulnerable to being recalled before your tenure as empress is complete. The Accord would shatter.”
“At one time I would’ve believed that,” Carolien said. “If we were dealing with Helena-Chione. But this Helena-Thyra? It’s like we’re back at the start of the Crucible Era. I remember her from those days; she was not much fun to be around.”
“You are more than a match for her,” Lord Drake-Ottavio said confidently.
“Thank you, father.” She drummed her fingers on the table, reviewing the factors. “Sending Lord Ualana-Shoigu here is the message. It’s complete overkill. She wants something— Ah, of course, the annexation. When we meet to merge the fleets, she will use the council to seek a concession from me. The others will love that.”
“But what concession?” Lord Drake-Ottavio asked.
“Isn’t that obvious? She proposed annexing Capo Frois. She now wants to command the fleet.”
“When every realm merges their fleets, it becomes the Imperial Fleet,” her father said indignantly. “It cannot be anything else.”
“One Royal Fleet alone is enough to subdue Capo Frois,” Acelynn-Jabula said. “More than enough, actually. Sending the Imperial Fleet was always a political move.”
“And she would have both the credit and the glory,” Carolien said. “I thought we were past this kind of Machiavellian audacity. Twelve thousand years we’ve lived here. Nine thousand since the Accord. I mean, really?”
“Never let your guard down when there’s a queen around,” Lord Drake-Ottavio said ruefully.
“An aphorism Helena-Thyra needs reminding of,” Carolien said sharply. “It is Wynid enterprises that benefit from Gondiar’s farms, is it not? So, I will simply show the other queens that this empress does not shirk her duty in stamping down hard on sedition—even one as pitiful as a human’s. It will mean Wynid enterprises suffer for a couple of centuries as a result, but I am sworn to carry out my duty and protect the stability of the Crown Dominion. Let’s see how Helena-Thyra likes that.”
* * *
—
It was a full court reception that greeted Lord Ualana-Shoigu. Carolien-Amaia decided that if Helena-Thyra wanted symbolism, she was going to damn well get it.
Androids and Deain were summoned to perform a fast clean of the hall. The members of the Imperial Court were told to get their asses in gear and don full ceremonial robes. This was going to be a full-on state occasion.
The empress sat on her throne with senior courtiers on either side, the princesses behind, and the full court—all five hundred of them—standing at attention along both sides of the state reception hall’s imposing colonnaded walls. In front of them stood a row of Imperial Knights in their full golden battle armor, with claret crystal sigil inlays of their House glowing in splendorous enmity.
The herald announced Lord Ualana-Shoigu’s arrival, leaving Helena-Thyra’s representative to walk the length of the hall all alone, his footsteps echoing in the inhospitable silence. Five hundred pairs of eyes judged him; it didn’t require a neural connection to know he’d been found wanting.
He stopped in front of the empress and took the knee. Carolien-Amaia extended her hand. First, Lord Ualana-Shoigu kissed the ring, then the hand was turned palm up, and he was awarded a self-perceptual greeting.
“I thank you for receiving me, Highness,” Lord Ualana-Shoigu said. He began to rise, then caught Carolien-Amaia’s gaze and wisely decided to stay on his knee. “My queen sends you greetings from the loyal realm of Wynid.”
“I have always admired and endorsed loyalty to the Imperial Throne,” Carolien-Amaia told him. “Without it, we would descend into chaos and war.”
“My queen appreciates that, and thanks you for the most excellent task you are performing as empress. She appreciates that she rules within a dominion at the most stable it has ever been since the Accord.”
“That is most pleasing to hear.”
“However, it is with profound regret that my queen petitions you about a small issue which is troubling her.”
“What could that possibly be?”
“During your splendid reign, an archon of Wynid has been murdered by a human while carrying out his duties on the planet of Gondiar, in this very star system.”
“I am aware, Lord Ualana-Shoigu, of where Gondiar orbits. It is visible from this palace most nights.”
“Of course, Highness. Your wisdom is renowned.”
Carolien-Amaia was pleased with herself for not screaming orders to her Knights to blast this smug little vermin to a pile of ashes. “We had heard that dear Lord Makaio-Faraji was no longer an archon after an unfortunately poor performance over the last century.”
“Then I am delighted to inform you that, in fact, the archon was performing superbly. I recently promoted him to have Wynid’s exclusivity in all subversive matters arising on Gondiar. My queen was most concerned for the citizens there—including the humans, who are being sadly mishandled by the governor’s incompetence. Everyone knows that when humans moan about authority, the last thing anyone should do is subject them to yet more of that authority. They are but children with weak minds. You let their tantrum run its course, then treat them exactly as before. All will be forgiven and forgotten, and they’ll soon pass on to the next shiny item that attracts their short-lived attention.”
“Indeed. And yet these simple people murdered your archon.”
“A tragedy, Highness—one which my queen implores you to rectify. Helena-Thyra believes the Gondiar humans must be brought back under the disciplined control of the Crown Dominion. She would ask that you consider relieving your governor and appointing someone who is more capable.”
Carolien smiled sweetly. “No need.”
“I regret, Highness, I do not understand.”
“I don’t need to consider anything, Lord Ualana-Shoigu. I am perfectly aware of the responsibility my position requires. Preparations have been long under way to deal with the insurrection on Gondiar, and I am delighted that you have arrived just in time to witness their implementation. General Avone-Valerio?”
One of the armored figures took two steps forward and turned to salute the empress. “Your Highness.”
“Are my forces ready?”
“They are assembling right now in High Vaxjo Naval Station. Seven assault carriers are docked and ready to receive a brigade of Imperial Knights each. They will be supported by half a million Ghosts, and ancillary war Awakened. Five thousand ground assault aircraft will provide complete planetary coverage. I will command the landing myself, and the recidivist humans will be subject to the full laws of the Crown Dominion under the terms of the original human settlement constitution. They will be made to recognize your absolute authority, and any resistance will be countered with extreme force. Order will be restored.”
A startled expression flickered across the face of the Wynid archon. It was quickly banished, but not before Carolien-Amaia had caught it. She found that lapse almost worth the wholly disagreeable expenditure of the occupation. Almost. “Will that be sufficient, do you think, Lord Ualana-Shoigu? Or should I commit more brigades?”
“The response of Your Highness is, as always, most impressive. I will convey that to my queen.”
“Thank you. General?”
“Highness?”
“I expect the person who murdered Lord Makaio-Faraji to be brought to justice. That is a priority. Whatever needs to be done, you have my authority to do it. Should anyone harbor this fugitive, they are to be considered accomplices to the crime and will face the same punishment. If you need to make examples of people, do not hesitate.”
“Yes, Highness.”
“Was there anything else, Lord Ualana-Shoigu?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Then you may go. Please convey my regards to my dearest friend, your queen. Tell her I look forward to meeting her at the fleet merger.”
* * *
—
The navy assault cruisers were eight hours out from Gondiar’s georing when news of their impending arrival started to appear in news feeds from excited Travelers on the georing. It was unusual for Crown Dominion navy ships to visit Gondiar, and assault cruisers were some of the more uncommon ships in the navy. To have seven of them arriving was a rare opportunity for astroengineering enthusiasts. As they had an escort of fourteen Eclipse-class frigates, ship watchers were hurriedly trying to book capsule trips up to High Rosa.
Zelinda Jalgori-Tobu’s patch opened its petals and pushed the item to the top of the news queue. After she reviewed it, she connected to the Zetian Palace network and used her high-level access to review the georing’s traffic control. The assault cruisers were breaking formation; flight vectors showed one, the Niterói, was heading for High Rosa. Then she saw the other six were all on course for Gondiar’s remaining six orbital tower docks.
She placed a call to her mother. “Did you know they were visiting?”
“No, I did not.” The marchioness paused. “The governor didn’t, either. Or at least I was not informed by her office.”
“That’s odd.”
“Very. And tower control has just canceled every scheduled descent capsule.”
Zelinda looked through the huge windows of her office to where the orbital tower bridged the sapphire gulf between land and sky. “Oh, Asteria, they don’t think there’s another bomb, do they?”
“No, María José would have told me.”
“So, if it’s not that…Mother, why would they cancel the down capsules at the same time an assault carrier is docking?”
“I don’t know. I’m requesting an audience with the governor. Zelinda, this is a whole navy squadron. We’ve never had a squadron visit Gondiar before—ever.”
“You don’t think— Why would they send troops down to the planet? Especially now? The capsule bomb was over two years ago.”
“Events in the dominions never occur in rapid succession. Responses take time. Does that archon’s man know anything?”
“I’ll ask.” Zelinda walked over to the window. For her whole life, the tower and the georing had been symbols of Celestial power—a power that provided every human on Gondiar with a safe and peaceful life. Now all she felt when she looked at the incredible structure was fear. She told her lnc patch to call Terence Wilson-Fletcher.
“They’ve canceled the scheduled capsules?” he asked in surprise.
“Yes, both passenger and cargo.”
“That’s not good. What does the governor say?”
“Terence, for all your opinion of me, I am—was—an archon of the Now and Forever Queen of Wynid, one of the rulers of the Crown Dominion. My assassination by a human is a very serious act of aggression against the Crown—basically, a direct challenge to the authority of the empress herself. That will never be tolerated. There will be consequences.”
“Nobody but me knows a human shot you.”
“Toše knows. And you were standing right next to me. You were in his sights. That information will find its way back to the court. It’s what I’d do. They already know you are my head agent on Gondiar; they will want to know what you know. Excuse my indelicacy, but that puts us right up shit creek.”
“They might know already. The information about Zikar modifying the concluder was in the files I sent. So your replacement will have access to them, yes?”
“Oh, dear. Yes.”
“What do we do?”
“Expose the game played against us. We have to find out which dominion Liliana and Toše are working for.”
“We have to find them, then.”
“We do. I have some resources available. There are certain items placed around the city and beyond in case of emergency. I believe this qualifies.”
Terence experienced a little egotistic thrill at the prospect of acquiring more Celestial toys.
Makaio-Spirit smiled fondly and raised his beer in salute. “Yes, I thought you’d like that.”
“What’ll happen to your son?” Terence asked. “I remember warning him.”
“It is my hope he will return with allies. He has comprehensive giftings from me—more memories than is usual to pass on before succession, but then as we have established, archons are paranoid creatures. He won’t be me, but in the old human tradition of biological inheritance being immortality, he is a genuine son to me. I am alive through him, and this shadow version of me takes comfort in that.”
“So who are your allies?”
“Lord Gahiji-Calder and Lord Jolav-Dabny. They too are disconcerted with the changes of policy within the Crown Dominion.”
“And do you trust them?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Did they know you were coming to Gondiar?”
“Ah. Yes.”
“I ask because someone else knew, and they told Toše. Even I didn’t know you’d arrived, yet he was ready and waiting in a position that gave him a clear line of sight. So who sent you here, and who knew you’d been given that particular apartment in the Governor’s Mansion?”
Makaio-Spirit froze for a second, like a glitched hologram. “Lords Gahiji-Calder and Jolav-Dabny knew. Also, Lord Ualana-Shoigu, Wynid’s new chief archon; it was he who granted me permission to come.”
“Chief archon, and now chief suspect, then.”
“That would be extremely disturbing. But then, his appointment was extremely unusual.”
“Well, it’s not like we can ever ask him, so we’ll just have to focus on Toše and Liliana.”
“Is that not what you’ve been doing for the last two months?”
“Yes. But not very well, clearly.”
“Do not blame yourself. They obviously have support that even excels that which I have provided you. Staying hidden will not be difficult for them. They will have flawless new identities.”
“Yeah, but we have to try. And we know they’re interested in starships. It’s not much, but it’s a start.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Empress Carolien-Amaia was eating breakfast with the princesses when her chief archon, Lord Acelynn-Jabula, came in, walking side by side with Lord Drake-Ottavio, the Master of the Imperial Court. That meant it was going to be bad; the court knew how much she valued an uninterrupted breakfast. Listening to the princesses chattering away about inanities mixed with court gossip—mainly dissing the congregants—was always a pleasant way to begin the day. Forty minutes without cares, responsibilities, and worry. Was it really so much to ask for?
She gave her senior courtiers a cool gaze as they walked across the massive hall. As one, the princesses stopped talking and looked at them disapprovingly.
They reached the table and bowed.
“Majesty. I apologize for disturbing you before your official day begins,” Lord Acelynn-Jabula said.
“I’m sure you have good reason.”
“Unfortunately, yes. A Wynid Navy frigate, the Tyr, docked at High Vaxjo last night. An emissary from Queen Helena-Thyra is on his way down the tower. He has requested a meeting with you at the earliest possible convenience.”
“Crap. Who did she send?”
Acelynn-Jabula cleared his throat. “Lord Ualana-Shoigu, ma’am.”
“Double crap.” They’d known this was coming, of course. The news had actually left her disconcerted two years ago in her start-of-day briefing, when Acelynn-Jabula told her that Makaio-Faraji, the Wynid archon covering Kelowan, had been assassinated on Gondiar—in the governor’s mansion, no less.
“How on Old Earth could such a thing happen?” she’d asked.
“We believe it was a Remnant weapon, ma’am, a concluder rifle.”
“Which dominion did it?”
An extremely uncomfortable Lord Acelynn-Jabula glanced around the table, seeking support from his fellow Imperial Council members. He wasn’t getting any. “It would appear he was shot by a human, ma’am.”
The council chamber was completely silent.
“You’re joking. You’d better be joking!”
“No, ma’am.”
“A human killed an Imperial Celestial archon?”
“Yes.”
“Helena’s going to go apeshit! The bitch’ll try and blame me at the next meeting…Oh no, that’s going to be the naval exercise before we annex Capo Frois.”
Two years ago. One year for the news to be couriered through the Gate of Heaven to Wynid, one year for Helena-Thyra to send her emissary, who would be explaining her reaction to the assassination in clear terms. Two years would be long enough for tempers to cool and shock to fade. Two years would enable her own archon to arrest or kill the assassin. Except it wasn’t two years, not for Helena-Thyra. Her emissary would have been with her barely a fortnight ago in their personal timeline.
Carolien-Amaia sighed and looked around the breakfast table, taking in the expressions the princesses were directing her way. Mostly curiosity, but there was nervousness there as well. “There’s a saying from Old Earth, girls,” she told them. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Remember it well, beyond even my giftings to you, because this is exactly the kind of thing it applies to.”
“Yes, Mother Queen,” they chorused.
“Lord Acelynn-Jabula, please tell me we now know who shot Lord Makaio-Faraji.”
“Majesty, unfortunately, the situation on Gondiar—”
Carolien-Amaia slammed her hand down on the breakfast table. “For fuck’s sake!”
“I apologize profusely.”
“Yes. That helps.” Her accusing finger lined up on the chief archon. “If Helena-Thyra uses this to call a vote of no confidence…”
“She wouldn’t dare,” Lord Drake-Ottavio said. “In any case, the other queens would never countenance such a vote. It would set a precedent that would leave all of you vulnerable to being recalled before your tenure as empress is complete. The Accord would shatter.”
“At one time I would’ve believed that,” Carolien said. “If we were dealing with Helena-Chione. But this Helena-Thyra? It’s like we’re back at the start of the Crucible Era. I remember her from those days; she was not much fun to be around.”
“You are more than a match for her,” Lord Drake-Ottavio said confidently.
“Thank you, father.” She drummed her fingers on the table, reviewing the factors. “Sending Lord Ualana-Shoigu here is the message. It’s complete overkill. She wants something— Ah, of course, the annexation. When we meet to merge the fleets, she will use the council to seek a concession from me. The others will love that.”
“But what concession?” Lord Drake-Ottavio asked.
“Isn’t that obvious? She proposed annexing Capo Frois. She now wants to command the fleet.”
“When every realm merges their fleets, it becomes the Imperial Fleet,” her father said indignantly. “It cannot be anything else.”
“One Royal Fleet alone is enough to subdue Capo Frois,” Acelynn-Jabula said. “More than enough, actually. Sending the Imperial Fleet was always a political move.”
“And she would have both the credit and the glory,” Carolien said. “I thought we were past this kind of Machiavellian audacity. Twelve thousand years we’ve lived here. Nine thousand since the Accord. I mean, really?”
“Never let your guard down when there’s a queen around,” Lord Drake-Ottavio said ruefully.
“An aphorism Helena-Thyra needs reminding of,” Carolien said sharply. “It is Wynid enterprises that benefit from Gondiar’s farms, is it not? So, I will simply show the other queens that this empress does not shirk her duty in stamping down hard on sedition—even one as pitiful as a human’s. It will mean Wynid enterprises suffer for a couple of centuries as a result, but I am sworn to carry out my duty and protect the stability of the Crown Dominion. Let’s see how Helena-Thyra likes that.”
* * *
—
It was a full court reception that greeted Lord Ualana-Shoigu. Carolien-Amaia decided that if Helena-Thyra wanted symbolism, she was going to damn well get it.
Androids and Deain were summoned to perform a fast clean of the hall. The members of the Imperial Court were told to get their asses in gear and don full ceremonial robes. This was going to be a full-on state occasion.
The empress sat on her throne with senior courtiers on either side, the princesses behind, and the full court—all five hundred of them—standing at attention along both sides of the state reception hall’s imposing colonnaded walls. In front of them stood a row of Imperial Knights in their full golden battle armor, with claret crystal sigil inlays of their House glowing in splendorous enmity.
The herald announced Lord Ualana-Shoigu’s arrival, leaving Helena-Thyra’s representative to walk the length of the hall all alone, his footsteps echoing in the inhospitable silence. Five hundred pairs of eyes judged him; it didn’t require a neural connection to know he’d been found wanting.
He stopped in front of the empress and took the knee. Carolien-Amaia extended her hand. First, Lord Ualana-Shoigu kissed the ring, then the hand was turned palm up, and he was awarded a self-perceptual greeting.
“I thank you for receiving me, Highness,” Lord Ualana-Shoigu said. He began to rise, then caught Carolien-Amaia’s gaze and wisely decided to stay on his knee. “My queen sends you greetings from the loyal realm of Wynid.”
“I have always admired and endorsed loyalty to the Imperial Throne,” Carolien-Amaia told him. “Without it, we would descend into chaos and war.”
“My queen appreciates that, and thanks you for the most excellent task you are performing as empress. She appreciates that she rules within a dominion at the most stable it has ever been since the Accord.”
“That is most pleasing to hear.”
“However, it is with profound regret that my queen petitions you about a small issue which is troubling her.”
“What could that possibly be?”
“During your splendid reign, an archon of Wynid has been murdered by a human while carrying out his duties on the planet of Gondiar, in this very star system.”
“I am aware, Lord Ualana-Shoigu, of where Gondiar orbits. It is visible from this palace most nights.”
“Of course, Highness. Your wisdom is renowned.”
Carolien-Amaia was pleased with herself for not screaming orders to her Knights to blast this smug little vermin to a pile of ashes. “We had heard that dear Lord Makaio-Faraji was no longer an archon after an unfortunately poor performance over the last century.”
“Then I am delighted to inform you that, in fact, the archon was performing superbly. I recently promoted him to have Wynid’s exclusivity in all subversive matters arising on Gondiar. My queen was most concerned for the citizens there—including the humans, who are being sadly mishandled by the governor’s incompetence. Everyone knows that when humans moan about authority, the last thing anyone should do is subject them to yet more of that authority. They are but children with weak minds. You let their tantrum run its course, then treat them exactly as before. All will be forgiven and forgotten, and they’ll soon pass on to the next shiny item that attracts their short-lived attention.”
“Indeed. And yet these simple people murdered your archon.”
“A tragedy, Highness—one which my queen implores you to rectify. Helena-Thyra believes the Gondiar humans must be brought back under the disciplined control of the Crown Dominion. She would ask that you consider relieving your governor and appointing someone who is more capable.”
Carolien smiled sweetly. “No need.”
“I regret, Highness, I do not understand.”
“I don’t need to consider anything, Lord Ualana-Shoigu. I am perfectly aware of the responsibility my position requires. Preparations have been long under way to deal with the insurrection on Gondiar, and I am delighted that you have arrived just in time to witness their implementation. General Avone-Valerio?”
One of the armored figures took two steps forward and turned to salute the empress. “Your Highness.”
“Are my forces ready?”
“They are assembling right now in High Vaxjo Naval Station. Seven assault carriers are docked and ready to receive a brigade of Imperial Knights each. They will be supported by half a million Ghosts, and ancillary war Awakened. Five thousand ground assault aircraft will provide complete planetary coverage. I will command the landing myself, and the recidivist humans will be subject to the full laws of the Crown Dominion under the terms of the original human settlement constitution. They will be made to recognize your absolute authority, and any resistance will be countered with extreme force. Order will be restored.”
A startled expression flickered across the face of the Wynid archon. It was quickly banished, but not before Carolien-Amaia had caught it. She found that lapse almost worth the wholly disagreeable expenditure of the occupation. Almost. “Will that be sufficient, do you think, Lord Ualana-Shoigu? Or should I commit more brigades?”
“The response of Your Highness is, as always, most impressive. I will convey that to my queen.”
“Thank you. General?”
“Highness?”
“I expect the person who murdered Lord Makaio-Faraji to be brought to justice. That is a priority. Whatever needs to be done, you have my authority to do it. Should anyone harbor this fugitive, they are to be considered accomplices to the crime and will face the same punishment. If you need to make examples of people, do not hesitate.”
“Yes, Highness.”
“Was there anything else, Lord Ualana-Shoigu?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Then you may go. Please convey my regards to my dearest friend, your queen. Tell her I look forward to meeting her at the fleet merger.”
* * *
—
The navy assault cruisers were eight hours out from Gondiar’s georing when news of their impending arrival started to appear in news feeds from excited Travelers on the georing. It was unusual for Crown Dominion navy ships to visit Gondiar, and assault cruisers were some of the more uncommon ships in the navy. To have seven of them arriving was a rare opportunity for astroengineering enthusiasts. As they had an escort of fourteen Eclipse-class frigates, ship watchers were hurriedly trying to book capsule trips up to High Rosa.
Zelinda Jalgori-Tobu’s patch opened its petals and pushed the item to the top of the news queue. After she reviewed it, she connected to the Zetian Palace network and used her high-level access to review the georing’s traffic control. The assault cruisers were breaking formation; flight vectors showed one, the Niterói, was heading for High Rosa. Then she saw the other six were all on course for Gondiar’s remaining six orbital tower docks.
She placed a call to her mother. “Did you know they were visiting?”
“No, I did not.” The marchioness paused. “The governor didn’t, either. Or at least I was not informed by her office.”
“That’s odd.”
“Very. And tower control has just canceled every scheduled descent capsule.”
Zelinda looked through the huge windows of her office to where the orbital tower bridged the sapphire gulf between land and sky. “Oh, Asteria, they don’t think there’s another bomb, do they?”
“No, María José would have told me.”
“So, if it’s not that…Mother, why would they cancel the down capsules at the same time an assault carrier is docking?”
“I don’t know. I’m requesting an audience with the governor. Zelinda, this is a whole navy squadron. We’ve never had a squadron visit Gondiar before—ever.”
“You don’t think— Why would they send troops down to the planet? Especially now? The capsule bomb was over two years ago.”
“Events in the dominions never occur in rapid succession. Responses take time. Does that archon’s man know anything?”
“I’ll ask.” Zelinda walked over to the window. For her whole life, the tower and the georing had been symbols of Celestial power—a power that provided every human on Gondiar with a safe and peaceful life. Now all she felt when she looked at the incredible structure was fear. She told her lnc patch to call Terence Wilson-Fletcher.
“They’ve canceled the scheduled capsules?” he asked in surprise.
“Yes, both passenger and cargo.”
“That’s not good. What does the governor say?”
