Dawn of a New Age (9 page)

“Good.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk with the captain,” Admiral Bonetti said as he turned to leave.

“Shall we head to the lounge, Colonel?” K’Alan grinned.

“Yes, we shall, Commander.”

2.1.2136

1200

SLS White Knight

Forward Observation Lounge

Thala Ker’sal stared out the window at the Gamma Epsilon station.  It had been a difficult day.  With the Duterian situation and the mission briefing, it had been a really rough morning for her.  She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about the situation.  All she wanted was some time alone to think and figure it out.

“Captain, I was hoping I might have a word with you,” Admiral Bonetti trod on her interspection.

“I’m not in the mood right now, Admiral,” Thala snapped.  She kept staring out the window.  She saw his reflection start to cross the observation lounge towards her

“That’s too bad.  You stormed out of the briefing in a bit of a huff.  Why?”

“I said I don’t want to talk about it,” Thala growled.

“You’re about one step away from insubordination, Captain,” Admiral Bonetti snarled.

“Well, then, maybe you should bring me up on charges,” Thala whipped around to face the admiral.  “It sure wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to me today.  And, by the way, you’ll have my request for a transfer within the hour.”

“Transfer?”

“I won’t stay on this ship.  And you can’t force me to stay.  If you deny my transfer, I will resign my commission.”

“I’m not sure I understand, Captain.”

“Let me put it bluntly, Admiral.  You have placed me in a very awkward position and I don’t want to deal with it.  So, I’m doing what I must in order to get myself out of that situation.”

“Not until I get a straight answer from you, Captain.  I thought you would be happy about the mission.”

“I am.  It’s ferrying the Duterians around that I’m having a problem with.”

“Are you sure it’s the Duterians you have a problem with?”

“No,” Thala exploded.  She flung the datapad she was holding across the room.  It shattered against the wall by the door.  “It’s not the Duterians.  It’s HER!  It’s his wife.  I wish she had never pulled through.”

“What?” Admiral Bonetti asked incredulously.

“Ever since the Academy,” Thala slumped in a chair and closed her eyes.  “I’ve been hopelessly in love with K’Alan Bryce.  And when I’d heard that she was injured, I was filled with hope.  Hope that maybe there was a chance that he and I might be able to eventually get together.”

“I’m not sure I believe what I’m hearing,” Admiral Bonetti said.  He walked over to the viewport.  “All right.  I’ll approve your transfer.  But I suggest you talk to someone about these feelings, Captain.  I’m putting you on detached duty until you work this out.  When you do, I’ll assign you a new command.”

“Thank you, Admiral.”

“I would like you to consider staying on for this one mission though,” the admiral turned back to her.

“Admiral, as tempting as it is to go after M’Bek Tarmos, I just don’t think my staying on this ship is a good idea.  Commander Bryce can handle this ship and her crew.”

“Very well,” Admiral Bonetti sighed.  “You stand relieved.  I’ll brief the Commander later.  And, Captain, I’d suggest you be off the White Knight within six hours.  They’re going to be shipping out that soon.”

2.1.2136

1210

SLS White Knight

The Lounge

“I still can’t believe that Soran is on the ship,” K’Alan laughed.  It was good to laugh after the events of the past couple days.

“Well, the Captain told me she wanted the best people on here, and Soran is the best barman we’ve ever seen,” Mario grinned.

“Well, I just want you to know that even with Kit and Elam living on board, nothing’s going to be different between us,” K’Alan sighed, sipping his Duterian Sunmist.

“How are you holding up with everything that’s been going on, Kal?”

“Not very well, to be honest, Mario.  Can you imagine what it’s like to suddenly find out that you’ve had a son for ten years?”

“Nope.  No one could ever prove that in my case. And I will call anyone that tries a big, fat liar.”

“You’re incorrigible, my friend.”

“In all seriousness, I’m sure it’s not easy on Elam either.”

“Oh, he just hates and resents me.  Can’t say I blame him,” K’Alan sipped his drink.  “If I were him, I’m not sure I’d like me too much either.”

“But you didn’t know, Kal.”

“But he’s a kid.  To a kid, that doesn’t matter, Mario.  I wasn’t there.  That’s all he knows.”

“But you’re here.  He’s here.  Kit’s going to be OK.  You can be a family again.”

“I hope so.”

“Commander Bryce?” a young ensign said as she approached the table the two friends were sitting at.

“Yes, Ensign?” K’Alan raised an eyebrow at the unexpected interruption.

“Admiral Bonetti sent me to find you.  He needs to speak to you immediately.”  The ensign shifted uncomfortably.  “It’s quite important.”

“Tell him I’ll be there presently.”

“With all due respect, sir,” the ensign blushed.  “I’m not supposed to return without you.”

“Well, then I guess I better follow you then, Ensign.  Mario, I’ll talk to you later.  Will you be here for a while?”

“Oh, I’ll be here for a couple hours at least, K’Alan,” Mario smiled.  “The day is young, and there are so many credits to win.”

“I’ll be back before you know it,” K’Alan laughed.

The commander tossed back the last of his drink and stood up.  He motioned for the young ensign to lead on.

2.1.2136

1244

SLS White Knight

The Conference Room

K’Alan fidgeted nervously as he stood just inside the door of the conference room.  Admiral Bonetti was doing paperwork.  K’Alan couldn’t make out what file the admiral was working on, but it appeared to be a personnel file.

“You asked to see me, sir?” K’Alan finally gathered up the courage to interrupt.

“Yes, Commander.  Have a seat.” The admiral finished making a note in the file he was reading and looked at K’Alan.  “I have a problem.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you, John?  I mean, I know things have been kind of hectic lately, but you know that if there’s anything I can do to help out, I will.”

“Well, I find myself having to make a very difficult decision,” Admiral Bonetti sighed.  “Captain Ker’sal will not be staying on as commanding officer of Gamma Strike.”

“What?  Why?” It was the last thing K’Alan had expected to hear.  Despite the issues he and Thala had had, he knew she was an excellent commanding officer.  He couldn’t believe she would just walk away without a really good reason.

“I’m not at liberty to say why, but she’s been put on detached duty.  Unfortunately, this leaves Gamma Strike with no CO.”

“I’m sure that there are plenty of Captains that would jump at the chance at commanding this squad,” K’Alan noted.  “Captain Perrin Hawks would be a good choice.  She’s been looking for a new command since the Grange was lost last year.”

“Captain Hawks is not available.  She just got a new command this morning.  No, I’m afraid there’s only one thing I can do.  Commander, Gamma Strike is yours.”

“Uh, sir, with all due respect, I’m afraid I may not be the best person to command this unit.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, first of all, regulations call for a Captain or higher to lead a unit.  I doubt that I can be promoted so soon after my last promotion.  And second, with all of the recent issues with my people and especially with what has happened concerning my family, my mental state may not be the best at the moment.”

“Well, as for your second concern, your mental state is not an issue.  I believe that you can handle this new assignment, or else I wouldn’t have given it to you.  As for your rank….  Congratulations, Captain Bryce.”

“Um, thank you, Admiral.  About my new XO.  Is Commander Erin Sykes available?” K’Alan asked.  “She’s one of the best officers I’ve ever worked with.”

“As a matter of fact, she’s available.  I can have her on board in six hours,” the admiral smiled.  With how quickly he agreed to the suggestion, K’Alan wondered if Admiral Bonetti hadn’t already anticipated who he would choose as his XO.  K’Alan, honestly, would not have put it past the admiral to know.  “Congratulations, Captain.  I believe Gamma Strike is in good hands.  Oh, I believe you’ll need these.”  He handed K’Alan his new rank insignia.

“Thanks, Admiral.  I hope I don’t disappoint you,” K’Alan said slowly as he changed his rank insignia on his uniform.

“You won’t.  Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

2.1.2136

1300

SLS White Knight

The Lounge

Mario was sitting at the same table carefully counting several stacks of credit chips when K’Alan came walking back into the lounge.  K’Alan was always amazed at how fast his friend could bilk his fellow crewmembers out of their credit chits.

“Barman, my usual,” K’Alan grunted as he walked over to their table.

“Hey, Kal,” Mario grinned, tossing a credit chip to K’Alan.  “Don’t worry about it.  This one’s on Lieutenant Ramierez.”

“Only you, Mario,” K’Alan laughed.  “How many credits did you win this time?”

“Full week’s pay from two lieutenants and three ensigns,” Mario grinned.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

He flopped down opposite Mario.  Exhaustion from dealing with everything so far today set in fast as he sat down, and he put his arms on the table and laid his head down.

“So what did my father want, Kal?”

“Ice is gone.”

“What?” Mario yelped.  “What happened?”

“Not sure,” K’Alan said as he sat back up.  He fingered his new insignia.  “But she’s no longer in command of Gamma Strike.”

“So who is?”

“I am.”

2.1.2136

1155

Furitas V

The Emperor’s Palace

O
RIN Minaya hurried down the hall towards the Emperor’s personal library.  The young ambassador had been summoned to the library.  And he knew that ignoring such a summons would not be received well.

He had no idea what the Emperor wanted to see him about, however.  He knew that whatever it was had to be important.  It was the Emperor after all.

The thing that surprised him, though, was that the Emperor clearly knew who he was.  Orin was a relative newcomer to the ambassadorial corps.  He doubted that the Emperor got a report on each and every member of the ambassadorial corps.  That made the summons even more curious and potentially worrying.

As he hurried down the hallway, he worried about what the summons could be about.  Was he in trouble?  If he was, what had he done.  Orin was a quiet, nervous sort that, unless out and about doing his job, kept to himself.

When he got to the Emperor’s private library, he was stopped by two of the Emperor’s private guards.

“Name?” one of the guards demanded.

“Ambassador Orin Minaya,” the young man’s voice quavered slightly.  “I was summoned.”

“You are expected,” the other guard rumbled.  “Leave your weapons here.  You may pick them up on the way out.”

“One does not customarily come before his Emperor armed,” the young man said quietly.  He unhooked his dagger from his belt and handed it over to the first guard.  “Save for this knife, I am unarmed.”

The first guard pulled a small hand scanner from behind his back and ran it over the young man.  When the scanner finished, the guard looked at the readings and grunted.

“Can never be too careful,” the guard muttered as he put the scanner away.  He looked at the other guard.  “He is clean.”

Nodding, the second guard opened the door to the library, motioning for the young man to enter.

“Have a seat and wait,” the guard said.  “The Emperor will be with you presently.”

After Orin walked through the open door to the library, he heard the guards close and bar the door.  He tried the door handle, but there was no way out.  He was there until the Emperor was through with him.

Not knowing what to do with himself until the Emperor arrived, Orin walked over to one of the shelves and started looking over the titles of the books on the spines.  He quickly realized what books were stored in the personal library of the Emperor.

The diaries of previous Emperors.

When he realized what the books were, he felt an immediate and immense sense of guilt for having looked.  He felt it an invasion of the Emperor’s privacy, a crime that some felt should be punishable by death.

Curiosity was Orin’s one big flaw, though.  Some would say that his curiosity had served him well in the ambassadorial corps, as it had focused him when he did research on another race.  His supervisors in the ambassadorial corps had always found his research helpful.

He turned away from the bookshelf and walked over to the small window that overlooked the capitol city.  The young ambassador watched people in the street far below going about their business.  If he had not been summoned to see the Emperor, he would have been one of the people down in the hustle and bustle.

“Ah, good,” a soft voice from behind Orin said.  “You are here finally.”

Orin slowly turned around to see the Emperor watching him.  He bowed low in a formal bow.

“I have come as you have bid, my Emperor,” Orin spoke the traditional words of greeting to the Emperor of the Furitan people.

“Oh, posh,” the Emperor laughed softly.  “We are in private, Orin Minaya.  There is no need for the formal bowing and scraping.  To be honest, I hate the pomp and circumstance of my office.”

Orin straightened and looked at the Emperor, clearly confused.  “You do?”

“Of course I do.  How would you feel if people came up to you and said ‘I have come as you have bid.’ hundreds of times each day?”

“I imagine I would get tired of it rather quickly, to be honest,” Orin shrugged.

“And so have I.”

The Emperor smiled at Orin and indicated a chair across a small table from where the Emperor was now sitting.

Orin slowly moved over and took the offered chair.  He was still nervous about being in the presence of the Emperor by himself.  If he had known what the Emperor wanted, he did not think he would have been quite so nervous.

“You asked to see me, Your Eminence?” Orin said quietly after settling in the chair.

“Please, Orin,” the Emperor shook his head.  “We are alone.  You may call me Tarmin.”

“I don’t think I can do that, Your Eminence.  You are the Emperor, after all,” Orin sighed.  “I’m just a lowly peon in the ambassadorial corps.”

“Hardly lowly, and hardly a peon.”  The Emperor pressed a button on the table and a
tangu
table appeared.  “Tell me, Orin.  Do you play
tangu
?”

“I have not played in some time, but yes,” Orin nodded.  “I doubt I shall be any competition for you.”

“You may have first move,” Emperor Tarmin waved at the board.  “You are here because I have need of your opinions.”

“My opinion on what, sir?” Orin moved one of his forward soldiers two spaces.  “As I said, I’m just a lowly member of the ambassadorial corps.  I don’t even have access to anything important right now.”

“Ah, but that is not exactly true, my young friend,” Tarmin smiled.  “You have access to exactly the most important thing.  To me at any rate.”

“I don’t think I understand.”

“You did research on both the Star League and the Brentax Empire,” Tarmin shrugged.  He moved a forward soldier to match Orin’s opening move.

“I did, yes,” Orin nodded.  “I was asked to do a threat assessment on both governments.”

“I have read them,” Tarmin smiled.  “Excellent and thorough work.”

“Thank you, sir,” Orin bowed his head slightly.  “I was unaware that you would get a copy of the reports.”

“Who do you think asked for the threat assessments in the first place?”

Orin looked stunned, but said nothing.  He looked over the game board, finally moving one of his guards, capturing one of the Emperor’s forts.  The Emperor nodded in approval at the move.

“If you have read my report, what more do you need from me?” Orin asked.

“Which side will win the war?” the Emperor asked simply.

Orin leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin in thought.  He wasn’t sure how to answer, as he did not know who would win the war between the Star League and the Brentax Empire.  He had given it a great deal of thought since the original threat assessments, but he had no more idea now which side would prevail than he had before.  He had to say something though.  The Emperor was expecting an answer.

“I believe that the Brentax Empire currently has the superior military,” Orin said, choosing his words very carefully.

“So you think the Brentax will win, then?” Tarmin pressed.

“We received a report earlier today that the Brentax Empire had brutally attacked one of the Star League homeworlds,” Orin said.  “I don’t know how the Star League can stand up to the Brentax.  And yet…”

“And yet, what?” Tarmin prodded.

“And yet, I cannot help but think that the Star League will be the last ones standing at the end.”

“I see.”  The Emperor got up and walked over to the shelf of books that Orin had looked at earlier.  He scanned down the row of books and pulled one from the shelf.  “What do you know of Emperor Kyn Cartha?”

“They say the prophecies his star guide gave him made him go mad.  Beyond that, I don’t know much, I am afraid.”

“The books on this shelf are the collected journals of past emperors,” Tarmin said softly.  “I have read all of them.”  He held up the book he pulled off the shelf.  “This one was written by Kyn Cartha.”

“Why are you telling me about these diaries?” Orin furrowed his brow.  “I would assume that these are not for people like me to know about.”

“Normally, that would be true,” Tarmin nodded.  He sat back down at the table.  “And if you were to tell anyone about the diaries, I would have no choice but to have you executed.  Still, I think I can trust you not to spread this around.”

“I shall take this secret to my grave,” the young ambassador nodded.

“Good.”  Tarmin flipped through the book to get to the passage he wanted.  “Emperor Cartha did, indeed, get a vision from his star guide.  And it disturbed him greatly.  I don’t know that it exactly drove him mad, but it did cause him to lose sleep.”

Orin looked uncomfortable at the table.  He tried to cover his discomfort by studying the game board.  He saw an opening that he wasn’t sure that the Emperor knew was there, and so he took it, moving one of his clerics into a position causing the Emperor’s lord to be in danger.

“What does a vision from a star guide from hundreds of years ago have to do with the war between the Star League and the Brentax Empire?” Orin asked after making the move.

“Because, this war is referenced in the vision,” Tarmin shrugged.  “As is one other war to come.”  He moved his lady to capture Orin’s clergy.  “The vision, which I will not relate as the details are not important, stated that the Furitan Empire must ally itself with whichever side wins this current war or we will be lost.”

“I can see why you wanted to know about the two sides, then,” Orin nodded.

“There is one other reason I summoned you,” the Emperor said after a few moments.

“What else can I do for you, Emperor?”

“When this war is over and the winner is known, you will be my ambassador.”  Tarmin moved his lady to a position on the board where it put Orin’s lord in danger, one that Orin could not escape from.  “I am raising you to full ambassadorial status as of now.  The only question is whom you will be the ambassador to.”

Orin slumped back in his chair as he realized he lost to the Emperor.  Then he smiled broadly.

“I shall endeavor not to let you down, Emperor,” Orin chuckled, knowing he had been outmaneuvered in life as in the game.  “I shall keep you informed as to the developments of the war.”

“Excellent,” Tarmin nodded as he reset the game board.  “You may go, Ambassador.”

“Thank you, Emperor,” Orin stood and bowed.  He made his way out of the library quickly, before the Emperor could call him back.

The newly minted ambassador smiled as he left the library, knowing his star was, once again, on the rise.