Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) (23 page)

“Cassy,” he said softly, “it’s too early to be overly
concerned and apparently we have the resources of the Emperor at our disposal.
We will locate him. I’m sure it’s just one of those secret Trigeal operations
we are not meant to know anything about.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” she replied not really
believing him but added, “why the strange old man?”

“He’s here on special request from the Emperor. The
Emperor just asked me to look after him for a time frame or two. I was also
advised not to question him on why he’s here. So, I don’t really know why he is
here,” he answered honestly. 

“That’s not like you father, you always know what is
going on,” she replied watching the waiters bring out the food.

“Oh, on the contrary Cassy.
I am closer to knowing more than I ever did by having
him here. Do you think the Emperor would take me into his confidence easily?
The one thing I do know about this ‘old man’ as you call him, his name is
Torquay, and he is a friend of the Emperor. We could learn much from him in
time if we are nice to him,” Lord Ambrae said leaning back in his chair winking
at Cassy as his plate was laid before him. He waited until the waiters and
servants were out of hearing range, “I have a feeling he is the best support we
could get if there is a problem with Johe.”

“Yes, you are right as usual father.”

Lord Ambrae enjoyed his daughter. He looked at her
while eating and thought she is truly the best advisor he has ever had, her
loyalty was simple and unalterable. However,
her
honestly became an issue at times. He must teach her the finer, more subtle art
of diplomatic and political half truths one day… he checked that thought and
then looked lovingly at her. No, I want her just the way she is, he decided.

There was noise and commotion outside and the door to
the dining room swung upon. Toormis, Lord Ambrae’s most capable pilot and
youngest Squadron Commander rushed into the room. He wore the simple light blue
uniform of his squadron and removed his cap as he marched over to Lord Ambrae’s
table. His tall athletic body moved with confident ease as he covered the
distance quickly coming to a halt at the table’s edge. His quick glance at
Cassy caused him to curl the corner of his mouth into a cheeky smile. He
presented his handsome face to her and very quietly spoke. “Please excuse my
intrusion. A communication of upmost importance for Lord Ambrae has arrived, he
said now turning to face Lord Ambrae but letting his eyes drift back to Cassy,
smiling at her.

“I assume at some point I will receive this message
Toormis,” Lord Ambrae barked with authority, both eyes now locked on this young
Officer.

“Oh! Yes Sir, sorry Sir” Toormis replied swinging his
head to face him. Cassy lowered her head allowing her hair to fall to each side
of her face, smiled and bit her lip to stop giggling.
“Urgent
message from Admiral
Cleed
Space Command.
It’s
on a secure frequency Sir. You’ll need to take it at Space Fleet
Communications.”

“Very well!
Excuse me Cassy,” he said standing up and walking
smartly towards the door. Toormis turned to follow. Cassy had her head leaning
towards Toormis and a finger holding back the hair from her right eye looking
at him. She briefly hinted a smile then quickly pocked her tongue out and let
her hair drop. Toormis stopped riveted to the spot, mischief danced across his
face and was about to return the gesture.

“Toormis!”
Bellowed from the doorway as Lord
Ambrae stood looking back at him.

“Yes Sir!” he said jumping with surprise and strode across
the dining room. His face was flushed with a grin as he approached the door,
Lord Ambrae was already half way down the hallway, and he had run to catch up.

They arrived at the communications station at Irrimus
Space Fleet Command centre. Armed guards along the corridor saluted with their
blaster rifles in front of their chests. Lord Ambrae returned their salute by
touching his cap.

“Squadron Commander,” a voice called out and Toormis
turned to see a Flight Lieutenant holding an orders clipboard. Toormis
exchanged glances with Lord Ambrae who waved his hand in the affirmative,
Toormis went to the Officer and took the clipboard and started reading the
mission orders for his Squadron. Pilots walked across the room and formed a
ring around him.

Lord Ambrae proceeded through the main office of the
communication’s station through to the operations room. A Communications
Officer saluted him and directed him to a console. Lord Ambrae sat down and put
headphones on so no one else could hear the communication.
“Ambrae
here.”

“Admiral
Cleed
Lord Ambrae.
I have an urgent message for you. The Emperor technically died a short time
ago. The circumstances are suspicious; he had a central nervous system
shutdown. His body was recovered in sufficient time to be put on life support,
but there have been no further developments than his body being in life support
status. Medically his body is alive but that is all. Last time frame he
directed me to notify you if anything occurred to him. Can you tell me why he
would direct me to do that Lord Ambrae?”

Lord Ambrae’s mind swam with non related data and
secrets no one must know. He knew nothing about the Emperor’s fate except that
he must have suspected something like this was going to happen; but why order
Admiral
Cleed
to contact me? He thought.

“Lord Ambrae, are you there?”

“Yes Admiral, sorry… I am lost for words. I have no
idea why he told you to do what you have just said. The only thing that makes
any sense in this may be the speed factor. He wanted me to get your message
quickly. Did he mention why or anything else?” Lord Ambrae asked.

“No Lord Ambrae he didn’t. He saw me momentarily and
only gave me vague instructions. I was hoping you could shed some light on this
matter. Any information would be useful,” the Admiral replied.

“As I said Admiral the only thing I can imagine is I
was supposed to understand something and act on it quickly - but I don’t know
what he could have been referring to… I really don’t.”

“Understood Lord Ambrae.
I am authorising an investigative unit to assist you
in deciphering the Emperor’s message and possible intention. Please assist them
when they arrive, they will be dispatched immediately,” Admiral
Cleed
ordered.

“I appreciate your help Admiral and will assist in any
way I can,” Lord Ambrae replied, his mind working hard to understand what
circumstances could result. He concluded Johe must be involved in this somehow
and this scholar Torquay was here on request by the Emperor. Since the Admiral
hadn’t mentioned them he would not originate anything. “I will be standing by
Admiral.”

“Thank you Lord Ambrae, please remain in your present
location. I will contact you the moment the investigative team reports their
arrival on Irrimus.
Cleed
out.”

“Ambrae out.”

Lord Ambrae stood up quickly and walked smartly out of
the communication’s station. He walked straight to Toormis who was busy with
his squadron pilots and dragged him by the arm to one side and whispered in his
ear, “quietly mobilise your squadron and arm my Starfighter. Have Squadrons A
through E on combat readiness training. Keep it a low key training exercise but
all craft will be fully armed. I want no questions, just be ready.”

“Yes Sir,” Toormis replied, experienced in combat
readiness orders. His features lost their youthful appearance and were replaced
with the determined confidence of a veteran pilot gained from many successful
combat missions both authorised and unauthorised. He rushed off to follow his
orders.

Lord Ambrae hurried down the passageways and along the
covered walkways joining the Administrative and Communication’s buildings. He
quickly saluted the guards at the Administrative Records Vault and entered the
courtyard below the domestic quarters. He went to activate the door opening device
to the living quarters when movement caught eye in the garden at the end of the
courtyard. A figure in a pale gown was doing something with the plants. Lord
Ambrae caught sight of the beard and let his hand fall off the door opening
panel and walked down the path to the garden.

“Torquay, I was looking for you?” Lord Ambrae said
looking at Torquay inspecting flowers.

“Is there something with which I may assist you, My
Lord,” Torquay replied still studying the flowers.

“The Emperor died of a neurological disorder and his
body was put on artificial life support.”

Torquay let the flower go and turned to face Lord
Ambrae. His calm face remained but his eyes seemed to focus not on Lord Ambrae
but into the space between them. Lord Ambrae moved off the path and sat on a
stone bench.  Torquay’s gaze followed him, “how did it happen?”

“I was not informed of the details but his central
nervous system shut down apparently. The circumstances are suspicious and an
investigative unit from Space Command is on the way here,” Lord Ambrae said.

Torquay’s face was now etched with concern. “Why
here?” he asked.

“The Emperor asked Admiral
Cleed
to contact me in the event of anything happening to him. Do you know why he
would do that?”

“The investigative team will report on whatever they
find and whatever you say. Their report will be available to the Palace and
that means the Trigeals and Priests. I wish not to be included in that report,”
Torquay replied.

“So you do know why the Emperor told
Cleed
to contact me?” Lord Ambrae asked again.

Torquay sat down beside Lord Ambrae. He remained quiet
for a short time then spoke calmly. “There is now a direct threat against the
stability of the Confederacy. Irrimus I regret will be under Trigeal scrutiny
and possibly Regimental intervention.”

“What!” A stunned Lord Ambrae blurted out loudly, his
head spinning. “Just what are you telling me?”

“You need to know that Johe’s T334 opened fire inside the
Academy and killed fifty six cadets, then went into incontestable defensive
mode. The Administrator kept it quiet as long as he could, which allowed the
Emperor time to stabilise the Houses the best could manage given the time frame
involved.” Torquay stood and put his hands behind his back as he paced back and
forth in front of Lord Ambrae. “I require a safe place for Johe and myself
until I can work out a solution as to why there was such a mistake. The
Trigeals will almost certainly destroy the robot and neutralise Irrimus’s
offensive abilities. They will take no chances with the possibility Johe is
compromised or is in some way responsible. That puts all of Irrimus at risk.”

“They will do that anyway, if what you say is the
truth,” Lord Ambrae stated, his mind now sharp. “I don’t understand why you
want Johe’s body. Please don’t be vague, tell me what you are really doing
here.”

Torquay realised in an instant the futility of
avoiding the truth, the Administrator is in the hands of the Assengi, the
Emperor has been assassinated and he’s soon to be caught within the vicinity of
the Pilot’s organic body.  The conspiracy was running out of options, he
thought. Shrugging his shoulders he sat back down and put his faith in Lord
Ambrae, there was nothing to be gained by hiding the truth. “The T334 went
berserk because it was piloted by an Earthman.”

“Johe’s training on Earth, so that’s it! Something
went wrong!” Lord Ambrae cut in.   

“Yes,” replied Torquay, “something went terribly wrong
on that planet. I believe whoever Johe was using for training purposes got
mixed up in it all somehow. There was a nuclear detonation involved and somehow
something occurred inside of Johe’s T334. I believe the only chance you have of
finding Johe or getting any closure on any of this is through that Earthman.”

Lord Ambrae was confused. “Where is the Earthman now;
still in the T334? But that is in the Academy and obviously the Earthman’s body
must still be on Earth… it is isn’t it?” Certain questions popped into his mind
automatically seeking logical explanation. “Just why are you so concerned with
Johe’s body?”