Opening Moves (12 page)

“
Well, Corr'tane. That's the real issue, isn't it?” Kalla'shan mused seemingly to himself, as if his best student wasn't present. “They won't admit it, but the Rasenni are troubled by us. We remind them too much of their own past. And that fear may cause them to act irrationally, to attack us while we are overstretched. However, there is something going in our favor, an example of fate smiling on us.”

“
And that is, sir?”

“
The Rasenni Emperor is dying.” Kalla'shan smiled. “And when he dies there will be the usual months of squabbling among the Rasenni principalities before the successor takes charge. The most likely man to take the throne is one Lord Áedh, reportedly something of a pacifist.”

“
A man not likely to start a war with us,” Corr'tane nodded. “Especially if has to calm down the Senate and establish a solid power base first.”

“
Exactly.” The old High Strategos smiled contently at his student's quick grasp on the nature of the situation. “A foreign war would be impossible for him to wage within a year of ascending the throne. Gods willing, by then we'll have conquered all we need. And naturally his position would be even more precarious if the Ukhuri were to stir up some trouble of their own during the transitional period. I hear they have ships already massing near the Oscan.”

Corr'tane grinned widely. Gods, the old Strategos could still weave a rich tapestry of deception. He didn't know how much of a hand he had in matters, but it would only need one or two nudges from him to convince the Ukhuris that the death of the Emperor was a perfect time to exact a measure of revenge, and at the same time keep both governments out of the Dominion's plans. “My compliments, sir. And my apologies. I should not have questioned your strategy.”

“You are my best student Corr'tane,” the old man offered one of his rare smiles. “Of all the Strategoi you are the most gifted, the most determined, the most pure. It is in you the future of the Dominion rests. You are what we should all aspire to, the prime example of our race.”

Corr'tane was stunned into silence. Kalla'shan was a legend, the most successful of all Ashani commanders and a man as tough as hardened plates. He never said more than a few words, and even the tiniest praise from him could make an officers career. To see him smile and hear him speak so frankly and openly was completely unexpected. It took Corr'tane all his effort just to keep his jaw closed.

“I have followed your progress closely, Strategos Corr'tane. And I do not say these things lightly. Know this: I have considered you a son in many ways, and my natural successor when the time comes.”

“
Master, I do not know what to say,” he gasped and bowed deeply.

“
Say nothing. I'm merely explaining the facts as I see them. When this war comes I will have to rely greatly on you. I know I can trust you not to fail me. In the meantime continue your research, be ready. We invade when the Rasenni emperor dies, and not before.”

“
Understood, sir.” Corr'tane stood to attention.

“
You are my chosen, Strategos Corr'tane,” Kalla'shan said. “The Chosen of the Ashani. Do not forget that.”

“
I won't, sir. And I will prove that I've earned that title.”

“
You already have.” He smiled again.

Corr'tane thought it was probably only for the second time in the grizzled soldier's entire life. Then the image disappeared, leaving him breathless. He had known Kalla'shan for years, but the High Strategos had never once taken him into his confidence, not as he had done now. Perhaps he really was as important as he thought. The realization was nerve wracking, but also deeply exciting. He was being lined up to rule his people, to command the great empire they were about to forge from the ruins of lesser races. It was the greatest honor – and he knew that it was something he could handle. Ten years ago that had been different.

* * * * * * *

“
Commander Corr'tane!” the haughty voice had said, causing him to swivel quickly in his chair. The rank and the bright white walls of the research center still dazzled him from time to time especially if he was interrupted unexpectedly.

“
Oh, what can I do for you?” he gave the technician standing in the door frame a pleasant smile.

The technician slammed a stack of papers down on the young scientist' desk with a face like thunder, and rapidly Corr'tane's smile vanished. The lab technician was at least forty years older than he and known as a formidable personality throughout the facility. Corr'tane may well have been in charge of the research facility in name, but it was this old technician who really ran things. “What the hell is this!”

“Work schedules,” he squeaked defensively, cowed by the man's fury.

“
I can see that,” he snarled. “But why am I pulling a double shift in the nano-engineering labs?”

“
Because you are the expert in cyber-organics, and we need that element of research completed before we can proceed with anything else. So it needs working on quickly, and you're the most qualified man I've got for the job.”

“
I'm not working a double shift,” he sneered.

“
But you have to?!" Corr'tane paused. “It's an order. We must get this work done quickly – as fast as possible.”

“
Why? Why the hell should we? What's the damn rush?” he folded his arms and glared at him.

Corr'tane had been sworn to tell nobody about the approaching disaster, not even the research facility's staff. “You should do it because I told you to,” he replied with no conviction in his wavering voice.

The old technician snorted and walked away, bluntly telling him where he could shove the work schedules.

He stayed in his chair, ashamed of himself for being dominated by someone who was supposed to work for him. Corr'tane had only been here for a few weeks, and already the stress of the work and the responsibility was getting to him. Gods, he was too young for this, too young to run a hundred staff for the military. He just wasn't a born leader. With the stress of the past weeks mounting inside him he knew that tears of frustration were beginning to well in his eyes. His mind screamed at him, telling him to just quit and save himself further embarrassment.

But there was another voice, a cool calm reminder that unless he got a grip the planet would die. They
all
would die. It seemed such an extreme thing to say to himself, but the more he repeated it the more it mattered, and the more it drowned out his doubts and convinced him to do something. With a sudden burst of energy and rage he grabbed the work sheets and tore off after the unruly technician.

Corr'tane found him up on the second sub-level in the nano-engineering labs. He was alone, having a snack in the secure area behind the thick glass walls there. Food was strictly regulated on the facility because of the risk of disrupting sterile environments. The senior technician's actions were blatantly flaunting the rules. The man didn't even deign to acknowledge his presence.

“Technician, it is customary to stand when a superior officer enters the room,” Corr'tane barked sharply.

“
Who said you were superior?”

He tried to ignore the remark, and put the papers on his desk. “You
will
work on these shifts.”

“
No, I won't.”

“
If not, I will be forced to have you arrested for insubordination,” he stated firmly.

“
I'm not one of your soldiers. Besides, you need me here. So why don't you get lost and play with your school friends?” he smiled maliciously and shoveled more food into his mouth.

“
Stop eating, gods damn it!” he shouted.

“
No.” He just grinned and took another bite.

“
Damn it, I'm ordering you to stop!” Corr'tane snapped, losing all composure. “I'm warning you!”

The technician rocketed to his feet and stood directly in front of Corr'tane. He was huge, at least six inches taller than he and far larger. With a thin smile he leered down at him. “
You
want to warn me?”

“
This is intimidation,” he said, keeping his voice even despite feeling a sudden bout of fear. “Strategos Kalla'shan himself put me in charge!”

“
Yeah, guess you're his new pet.” The large technician continued to look down on him. “So why would our greatest leader put a whiny, sniveling little boy in charge of this place?” he chuckled “Maybe he and your mom got really well acquainted, say, some twenty something years ago?”

Corr'tane gave him a powerful slap across the face, surprising even himself. It absolutely wasn't like him to get physical. He stood with his mouth wide in shock as he registered his actions. He couldn't remember the last time he had lost her temper, certainly not since childhood. His wide eyes met those of the technician who stared back at him with cold anger.

“You stupid little school boy,” he shook his head. “You are so far out of your depth. This is
my
lab,
my
facility. I've been working here for years. I was all set up to run this place before you came along. You just walk in and get handed everything I worked so long all these years. I hate you, you little upstart. I suggest you resign and let someone more capable take over. Someone like
me
.”

“
Never,” he snarled, his own anger taking charge of his thoughts. He wasn't going to be bullied by this primitive lab rat who thought intimidation was the way to earn command. “I am in charge because I
am
better than you, so deal with it.”

“
Deal with it?” he growled. “Fine. I'll show you how I deal with it!”

With vicious speed he pushed Corr'tane backwards, the force lifting him off his feet and hurling him out of the lab. He hit a console on the outside with a yelp, his head banging the control panel and activating the lock down sequence. Yellow lights blinked on as the doors to the nanoengineering slammed shut, trapping the technician inside the secured analysis room. The lights turned a sickly yellow and warning sirens began to sound.

“Corr'tane!" the technician banged on the glass. “Get up! Get up!”

He rolled on the floor, stunned from the impact, blinking his eyes. The side of his head was pounding with pain, and the screaming sirens weren't helping. He stared up at the white roof now toned yellow in the light and gradually regained his focus, enough so to hear the muffled shouting from the lab. He slowly turned his head and saw his attacker banging on the glass with a look of terror on his face.

“Hurry!” he yelled. “The room is sealed. I'll suffocate!”

Even in his groggy state Corr'tane realized the man had hours before he was in any danger of asphyxiation. He picked himself up, pulling himself onto a chair beside the control panel. He slumped back, closing his eyes and nursing the pain in his head. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. The sudden assault had left him in a state of shock. Even now he was having a hard time grasping what had just happened. His brain seemed to be processing information at a snail's pace, like an overloaded computer. Which, he guessed, was exactly what it was in a way.

“Commander, the door!” the voice continued.

Corr'tane noted absently that now that the technician wanted something he was giving him some respect. “First of all, I want your word that you will obey my orders,” his words came out in a slur. The sides of his head were still stabbing with pain.

“Anything! Please, I can't stand being locked in here!”

“
Second, you're going to face charges for assault.”

“
What?” he squealed. “Come on, it was only a push! It was nothing!”

He felt his anger growing, and with it the pain in his head. “You deliberately attacked me! You will answer for your crime!”

“They'll kick me out of the facility! I'll be destitute. Gods, I have a family to feed!”

“
You should have considered that earlier, before you decided to assault your facility leader,” Corr'tane remarked coldly.

“
You can't do that! This is my life!”

He felt a wave of revulsion for the man. The technician was nothing now. He couldn't even believe he had been worried about him. He was a bully, a shallow and self-obsessed bully who was now pleading like a slave to be allowed to continue his ways. Like hells. Now it was Corr'tane who had the power and he would see him begging on the streets before the day was over. It had been a lesson in power, one he now understood. Others only had power if he allowed them to have it, if he willingly gave it away. It was something he always had to remember: power could not be taken from him, only given away.

He leaned over the panel and found the door opening control.

“
Come on, boy. I haven't got all day!" he called, and Corr'tane stopped.

“
Boy?” he said softly. “You do not call me 'boy'. You call me Commander. Is that clear?”