Paying the Price (Book 5 of The Empire of Bones Saga) (18 page)

The emperor shrugged. “You tell them what you can of the truth. That the process is experimental and classified at the very highest level. We’ll give it a code word classification and call it Project Rainbow Bridge. We’ll need to tell everyone here to keep it under their hats.”

Jared nodded. “I can think of a good way to hide the alien aspect of it, too. One of our scientists has been working on something in a related field. He’s developed something he calls quantum communication. It’s faster than light and undetectable, at least at our technological level.

“It works at interstellar ranges, too. We can still talk to the alien station. And while we were there in the black hole system, we were able to talk with Harrison’s World. We can’t reach any location other than the black hole system right now, so there’s an upper limit, but it’s a significant one. With a system of relay stations, that limit becomes largely irrelevant.”

He brought up the flip map of the Old Empire. It now had the newly created links on it.

“As you can see, we now have a full map of the explored flip points. Carl Owlet says we have some additional information given to us by Omega, but it still needs to be processed.

“The one I’ve highlighted is from Avalon to the Nova system. It’s almost a thousand light years away. This is by far the longest wormhole we’ve ever seen. The one to Pentagar is only slightly shorter. Carl Owlet tells me we can still communicate with Omega.”

“I’ll be damned,” Yeats whispered. “We could communicate with ships away on an expedition.”

“Yes, it does have some down sides,” Jared admitted.

The older man gave him a wry look. “You’re an admiral now, Jared. That means you’ve become one of us backseat flag officers. You’ll come around. And, since we’re now both admirals, I think you can call me Robert, at least in private.

“Joking aside, micromanagement would be something we need to avoid, but it has the potential to allow front line commanders to pass data back quickly and respond to strategic changes in their orders. Finding the right kind of balance would be key.”

“So, you intend to tell the world that this scientist designed this breakthrough, too?” the emperor asked. “He won’t be able to replicate it.”

Jared nodded. “True enough, but since it’s highly classified, he won’t be able to share any details of what was done. Not even the theory behind it. Certainly not the equipment required to make it happen.”

“The academics are going to go insane,” Yeats—Robert—predicted. “They’ll make all kinds of demands and probably protest. We did promise to share the technological finds with them, after all. In writing.”

The emperor shrugged. “That’s the way it has to be for now. One day we’ll be able to share the truth.

“The long range communications gear is a grand achievement in its own right. Undoubtedly worthy of the Lucien Prize. Give me the data on it and I’ll present it to the board when I get back home. They’re already considering this year’s candidates. Your man will undoubtedly win in the physics category. What is his name?”

“Carl Owlet. He’s seventeen and only a graduate student. Brilliant, but somewhat of a private person.”

The emperor grinned. “Well, he’s going to be in for a rude awakening, isn’t he?” His expression sobered. “There are a few other matters we need to discuss at length. Things like how we shift the Empire to a wartime economy. How we start building the ships we’ll need to fight the Rebel Empire with. Harrison’s World is a great resource, but need to spread out our capabilities.”

Yeats nodded. “We’re also going to need an unprecedented number of people to man those ships. And to fight on the ground. We can’t capture those planets from orbit. We have to occupy them and root out the rebels as we go. And besides capturing the worlds, we’ll need garrison forces. The Old Empire is huge and we don’t have the people. We need to recruit and train as we go.”

“Those are just the start of the problems we face,” Jared said. “We need to ramp up implant usage among the civilian population. We need that productivity. And with the advent of medical nanites, society will change. Lives will extend to hundreds of years.

“Also on the military side, we need to figure out how to best use the flip point jammers, build fighters, train pilots, and develop doctrine. I then we should also begin work designing massive forts to guard the flip points, set up some kind of FTL communications network, and assess the other technology the Old Empire knowledge can provide.”

Karl Bandar sighed. “We’ll need a lot more people to do that, but let’s hammer out a general idea of what we want to look at first. Then we recruit helping hands. Jared, I think you’d best call for that food now.”

Chapter Sixteen

Carl was finalizing the assembly on his next piece of equipment when Major Angela Ellis stalked through the hatch. She looked angry. Big surprise.

He set the equipment he was working on down and turned to face her. “Come back to have another go?”

The bruise was almost gone. And he really didn’t need to antagonize her like that. It had just popped out of his mouth.

She stopped a few feet short of him. “I was wrong to hit you. It won’t happen again. But I want to know why you did that?”

“I’ve been asking myself that very same question. I’m not sure what the answer is. I’ll blame the other me.”

She frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Did you read the message the other me before last left on the station? Let me send it to you.”

He watched her reading it and knew she was done when she started shaking her head. “Why the hell would he say that? We barely know one another. Did he
want
me to punch you? You
are
kind of an asshole, so that’s not out of the question.”

Carl smiled a little. “I did some checking over the files in his implants earlier today. I found a trove of interesting images and vid files. Like this one.”

He sent her his personal favorite. The image was obviously from a handheld camera. It showed himself and her, cheek to cheek and grinning like fiends. She was holding the camera out and he could see the Pentagaran parliament building in the background. The two of them looked close. Kissing kind of close.

“Did you make this? You’re sick.”

He held up his hand. “Innocent. I found a lot of vids and images. It looks like you and earlier me were a hot item. In fact, all but one of the other Carls had vids or images that linked us romantically in multiple universes. That last one was more of a lab rat than I am. Maybe he didn’t get out enough to date.”

She pulled up a lab stool and sat. “That makes no sense. Why? How?” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. We’re not them and it was wrong of you to kiss me.”

“I know. I will say, however, that it was worth getting punched in the face to carry out my other self’s final request.”

“Just don’t do it again. We’re not them and…” She clamped her mouth shut. “Kelsey wants me to teach you hand-to-hand. When would you like to go to the gym and start?”

“Never. I’m not going to be competent at fighting. Period. You and I both know that. Let this go.”

She shook her head. “When my princess tells me to do something, I do it.”

“Like when she told you not to threaten me and you did it anyway? I’m not seeing why this is a problem.”

She sighed somewhat aggressively. “Don’t push me, Owlet. I can tie your skinny ass into a pretzel.”

“I can’t see what the other me saw in you. You’re bossy, touchy, and stubborn.”

“And, apparently, an idiot. You’re dangerously reckless and pushier than I am. We’re obviously unsuited for one another.”

“And yet, there we were. In any case, I can’t go now. I’m working on something.”

She looked at the oddly shaped device. It looked like a bulky arm brace. “What is it?”

“A portable battle screen. Very similar to the one in the hammer. I built a fusion plant without the grav drive element and installed it with the screen generator in this arm brace. It’s bulky, but I’ll probably be able to make it smaller with a little work.”

Major Ellis picked it up. “How would someone use it?”

“Hold out your arm.” He strapped the unit onto her left forearm. “Have you ever seen a vid where old time people were fighting with swords and shields?”

She nodded. “Kelsey made me watch one about some guy pulling a magic sword from a stone.”

“I’ve seen that one. Excalibur. I guess I know what my next project is. In any case, this generator forms a battle screen in the shape of a rounded shield. It’s about three feet across, so it won’t protect your legs unless you crouch down.

“There’s a control to alter the shape of the screen. To narrow it and extend it lower. That would make it a bit taller than the wearer and about two feet across. If you went sideways and squatted, it would deflect a plasma burst around you. I’m working on joining two fusion units to the next model to increase the potential size a little more.”

He gestured toward a suit of marine armor on a stand. “I’m adding one to that, too. It’ll be significantly larger and more powerful, but will act in the same manner. The first unit is only a prototype and proof of concept. Something I can put on a dummy and fire a gun at.”

“And we all know how well that worked out last time.”

“You don’t have to use it.”

The sound of someone clearing their throat drew their attention to the hatch. Doctor Leonard stood there.

Carl retrieved the prototype. “Good morning, Doctor. What can I do for you?”

“You have a visitor.”

He stepped to the side and Emperor Karl Bandar stepped into the compartment.

Major Ellis braced to attention and Carl had to force himself not to do the same.

He bowed. “You honor us, Majesty.”

“On the contrary, Mister Owlet,” the leader of humanity said. “You honor me. I’ve heard tremendous things about your work. Your inventions and breakthroughs are going to revolutionize a lot of things in the Empire.”

He felt his face flush as he took the hand Emperor Karl extended. “I just did my part, sir. The team deserves the credit. Doctor Leonard is the one you should thank.”

The emperor nodded. “And I have. Yet, he didn’t create interstellar communications. He didn’t design that protective device I heard you talking about. My apologies for standing in the corridor listening. We were waiting for the right moment to interrupt you.”

“And it turns out we should’ve done that right off,” Doctor Leonard said with a smile and a shake of his head.”

They’d overheard him arguing with her. Dammit.

“That will teach me to leave the hatch open. My apologies.”

“No need,” the emperor said. “It is I who should do so. I’m sorry I listened in on a private conversation. I do hope the two of you work out your problem. In any case, I’ve come to ask a favor of you.”

“Certainly,” he said. “Whatever you need.”

The emperor smiled. “I need for you to deny you had anything to do with creating the new flip points and then refuse to discuss it any further.”

Carl frowned. “That’s easy enough. I didn’t have anything to do with it at all.”

“Yes, but I’m going to imply you did and that it’s classified. Then your denials will be true, but no one will believe you. The subterfuge is necessary to keep people from knowing about your alien friend for a while.”

“I can’t say I’m happy with lying, but I understand. I’ll do it, of course.”

The emperor’s smile widened. “Excellent. I’m classifying this information top secret under the name Project Rainbow Bridge. You will only speak of the alien or the process with authorized people. For now, that is Doctor Leonard, Admiral Mertz, Admiral Yeats, Princess Kelsey, and myself. And Major Ellis, of course. The fewer people that know the precise details, the better.”

Carl nodded. “Of course. What happens now? The mission is over. Or is it? I’m a little unsure if I should be packing my bags to go back to Avalon.”

“We’re already moving to orbit. A few ships will stay here to keep any idiots from going through the new flip point and killing themselves, but I think shore leave is in order. You’ll be staying here, working on these projects after you take care of some business below. And some away time.”

Carl wasn’t sure why the emperor looked at Major Ellis when he said that.

“Doctor Leonard tells me that you’ve got a number of pots in the fire and that you’re the most adept at using the new technology,” the emperor continued. “Your results speak for themselves. He’ll continue to work with you, but I’m giving you carte blanch to explore what you like, under his oversight. If you need assistants, I’ll find some. Or you can pick them. Whatever you need.”

That shocked Carl. “I’m honored, of course, Your Majesty, but I’m only a graduate student. I’ve never led a research project before.”

The older man nodded. “And that’s why Doctor Leonard will continue to advise and guide you. As for your degree, he tells me that you’ve met all the requirements for your doctorate except for your thesis.

“I’m going to have a word with the chancellor at Imperial University. I believe your work on quantum communications will be more than enough to satisfy him. You can make a very good classified paper out of it, and those who are cleared to know the details can question you about it. That should be all that they require to grant your PhD.

“Work with Doctor Leonard to get the paper ready quickly. After all, they won’t want a graduate student awarded the Lucien Prize for physics.”

Carl’s head spun. “I’m honored you’d think so, but that isn’t happening, Majesty. I’m not in that league.”

“Somehow, I knew you were going to say that. The head of the panel considering the awards this year disagrees. I spoke with him an hour ago and he swooned at the breakthrough and all the other science it hinted at. He believes that it’s also linked to flip point science, and I’m inclined to agree.

“Young man, this is the most significant breakthrough in physics since the Fall. You’re going to win that prize without any help from me. And that’s where the lie comes in. They’ll undoubtedly ask you about the flip point and if you created it. Tell them no and repeat yourself as many times as you need to. Say nothing of who did or what happened.”