Knight of the Empire -
Chapter 14
I slipped out of bed and staggered to the window as if my legs were unused to walking. The blind rolled up to my touch to reveal a garden and a tree lined wall behind it. In the distance I could just about make out the tall spires of a city. It confirmed my first thought I was still on Nthus. A sudden need had me shuffling on stiff legs to the washroom feeling as if I had been in bed too long. Inside was the washroom typical for a hospital with its facilities and walk in shower.
As I washed my hands I happened to glance at the mirror and froze horror filling my soul. The face was mine no one could miss the Locke chin but it wasn’t what I was seeing in my reflection. Gone were my brunette locks I was now blonde. Someone had even plaited my hair, coiled it and pinned it to the top of my head. I know I had not kept my hair to regulation length. I had always meant to get it trimmed but kept putting it off. So my hair was longer that I normally liked it. Yet someone had made an effort to style it like a Valkyrie. It wasn’t the only thing wrong. I’m brown eyed but the eyes staring back from my reflection were blue, Valkyrie blue. I blinked hard thinking I was in some weird dream. No they still blue and my hair blonde. I was determined to replace out who was responsible for this sick joke. I stormed out of the washroom and stopped my arms straight my side my mouth half-open. I reckon I must have looked such idiot standing there staring.
Seated on the green chair was Sigrunn. She was wearing a blue leather suit that buttoned at her shoulder with a high collar her senate insignia was on her left breast it looked like a uniform. I had a lot of questions for her.
“Who did this! My hair, my eyes.” I wasn’t vain and Camelia was always saying you had to work with what you got. It may have been ok for her then she hadn’t inherited the Locke chin. But it was my hair and my eyes.
“We did what was necessary,” she replied.
“But I’m not a Valkyrie,” I protested. I had to stand my ground.
“For the purposes of your stay here you are and as for the future we’ll just have to see.”
I gave up nothing the Valkyrie did made sense. Even Marsha did things that left me perplexed and she was the most rational Valkyrie I had met. “Where am I?” Hopefully she wouldn’t be so cryptic with that question.
“A Valkyrie hospital. You are still on Nthus.”
The door slid open and a Valkyrie doctor walked in. I assumed she was a doctor since she was wearing white hospital scrubs and there was a monitoring glove on her hand.
Again I felt such a fool standing there gawking at the two of then like some loon.
Sigrunn smiled at the doctor. “How is our patient?” she asked.
Literally talking over my head I felt like a child with these two giants.
“I was just about to check mother,” the doctor said as she moved closer to me.
“Is she fit?” Sigrunn asked.
At first I thought the doctor was going to scan me with her glove but some instinct made me duck. A fist flew through the space where my head had been.
“More than fit,” the doctor replied grinning from ear to ear.
I wasn’t so happy, if I hadn’t have ducked I would be lying on the floor possibly with a bruised chin or worse. I’d thought doctors were supposed to heal patients not knock them senseless but we were talking about Valkyrie here.
“Good!” Sigrunn said beaming like a mother pleased with her child.
The doctor exited as quickly as she had entered.
“What was that all about?” I muttered angrily.
“Get used to it, it is the Valkyrie way.”
I couldn’t comment on that nothing here was making much sense so I changed subjects. “How long was I out?”
“Ten days,” she said as if it wasn’t important.
“Ten days what happened?”
“Time to discuss that later. We have an appointment to keep.”
“Appointment, what appointment?”
“Come,” she made a hooking gesture with her hand.
I stiffened to attention my former military training coming to the fore she had that sort of commanding voice. I had no choice but to follow her.
Sigrunn led me though a maze of corridors. She seemed to know where she was going I was thoroughly lost and not for the first time I wished I had a map. I didn’t have a comms unit nor did I have Lottie to give me directions. That had been one of the reasons I had purchased her in the first place. We arrived in what I could describe as an arena. Tiers of benches lined the two longest sides of a rectangular room. In the centre was a mat on which two naked Valkyrie sparred. Both had their hair curled on the top of their heads like mine. The two were trading blows like professional fighters neither pulling any punches. I winced hearing the smack of flesh on flesh. Unlike Marsha and the other Valkyrie I had met neither of the fighters seemed to be worried about showing flesh to strangers. And I mean the room was crowded. All the tiers of the benches were full of Valkyrie and on the lowest bench sat five elderly Valkyrie each with a single braid almost to their feet.
One on the elders raised her hand in a fist immediately the fighters broke off and bowed to the elders. Sigrunn waited until the two women were dressed and gone before stepping on to the centre of the mat and motioning for me to stand beside her.
She turned to face the elders and bowed the way the two fighters had done. “Sisters I wish to initiate a bonding to my clan as is our custom.”
“Test! Test!” the crowd, yelled obviously getting their blood lust up. I started to feel very nervous at this point.
“Clothes off!” Sigrunn ordered me.
Reluctantly I disrobed feeling like some peepshow. Now who was the prude. We undressed in mixed company in the GF when washing or changing uniform. This was different I felt like some Sunray Dancer at a review. Sigrunn stripped off her uniform and stood beside me.
I knew what was coming next. Sigrunn launched a series of blows with her fists and legs that I was hard pressed to evade. I was too busy dodging her attacks to go on the offensive. I saw a gap and took a chance instantly regretting it. I drove my fist hard into her unprotected stomach. I might as well been punching a brick wall and winced feeling shock run down my arm. With her height and longer reach I was at a serious disadvantage. Like my first fight with Marsha I was face down on the mat too many times for my liking. As I rose from my latest bought on the mat Sigrunn attacked. I wasn’t sure how I managed it but Sigrunn ended face down on the mat one arm pushed up her back in a painful hold. Sweat stung my eyes but I kept a tight grip on her arm my body across hers using my weight to hold her down.
“Yield!” I gasped.
Sigrunn just laughed and did the impossible. With her free hand she did a one handed push up. While I was still wheeling trying to regain my feet she flipped me high in the air to have me crash hard on the mat. My shoulder took the brunt of the damage as my vision blurred. I lay there spent I was unable to go much further. Sigrunn gripped me by my uninjured arm and hauled me to my feet. I was ready to concede defeat sweat covered my body and my legs shook. All of the Elders stood with their fists raised. Were they congratulating Sigrunn or telling her to finish me off? I felt too dazed to wonder or care I just wanted it to end.
Sigrunn smiled and said. “Welcome sister.”
The crowd erupted with cheers. I was too exhausted to do more than nod my head felt ready to fall off. Two of the elders helped me dress. I can’t remember going back to my room.
I woke to Sigrunn sitting beside my bed and the sun streaming through my open window bringing the sweet smell of flowers with it.
“Good,” she said. “I was about to wake you?”
“Not more tests?” I didn’t feel up to another fight. My shoulder didn’t ache so they must have fixed the damage. I was grateful for modern medicine.
“In a way the palace awaits.”
“Palace?”
“Now get showered and dressed.” She stripped the covers off the bed and hauled me up.
“In what?” I said moodily plucking at my pyjamas.
“I’ll have your clothes ready by the time you’ve finished.”
That didn’t sound like any sister I had heard of they were the things my mother would have said. Then I felt sad remembering what she had said. “I have no daughter.”
Sigrunn wasn’t there when I finished my shower. Towelling the wet ends of my blonde hair dried I noticed a Confederacy dress uniform on the bed a pair of shiny black shoes on the floor under the bed. She had even thoughtfully provided me with underwear. Unfortunately they were standard GF scanties in grey although in better material not the scratchy stuff that was standard issue. I wasn’t fussed so I dressed. The only the only thing that had me pausing was the Terran crowns on the collar of my tunic they should have been Confederacy eagles or maple leaves would have been more accurate. That was if I was still a major in the GF. As I pulled my tunic straight the door slid open and Sigrunn entered she looked at my uniform giving it her nod of approval.
“What about my hair. I’m not a Valkyrie,” I didn’t want to complain but the thought of what I might encounter at the palace had me on edge.
“You are now,” she stated firmly.
“That never going to happen?” I put my hand on my head. “I’m too short for a start and my eyes.”
“Eyes, dissolvable contact lenses they will change back to normal in a couple of days. There are short Valkyrie we don’t discriminate a sister on the basis she isn’t as tall as the rest to us.”
“What about my hair?”
“It will grow out although I’d advise from trying to dye it. The colour won’t hold.”
I gave up she had an answer to everything. I knew I wasn’t going to win against her.
An MRECV was waiting for us in the under parking lot of the hospital. Sigrunn escorted me inside and sat opposite. We were the only occupants.
“Are things that bad?” I asked. I hadn’t had any access to news feeds.
“Things are tense but there is nothing for you to worry about,” she replied as the tail ramp closed sealing us inside.
“I need to know. I can’t assess danger if I don’t know what’s going on?”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt it’s a long journey.”
“So what has happened?”
We travelled for four hours before the MRECV started to slow. Sigrunn brought me up to speed on recent events. She told me that the President had offered his resignation and it had been refused. Davenport had declared independence but that had lasted three days before a popular uprising had thrown out the pro ATL planetary government. I felt sorry for the people of Davenport they had born the brunt of Terran attacks during the Succession Wars. The Emperor of the time had ordered several cities to be nuked before the Confederacy drove them off. The next news was grimmer. There had been fighting at Com Ops HQ. I had been to the HQ the building was built like a fortress. The Marines had been able to gain entry but not without casualties. It had finally surrendered when the several high-ranking officers vanished. They must have been Rhosani replacements. The same thing had happened when I had killed the Rhosani in the throne room. Admiral Jericho had stepped down and had been replaced by Admiral Prmi. I remembered my first encounter with Prmi when I had been assigned to the Havok. It wasn’t hard to forget that he doubted my suitability for the mission. He might have been a pain in the rear but he couldn’t be a Rhosani replacement. The ancients had rendered the T’Arni immune to Rhosani influence. Several senators were missing presumed to have been Rhosani replacements and several others where in jail. The people now knew about the Rhosani and currently the Confederacy was gearing up for war. At least this time it wasn’t with the Empire. I wouldn’t have known what to do if they had.
“Constantina?” I worried about Ellie.
“Her majesty has been kept informed of the situation and sends her best wishes.”
I felt relieved about that.
The MRECV slowed again and stopped. I stood glad to stretch my legs after such a long journey waiting patiently as the tail ramp lowered. We were inside an underground parking lot. From what I could see this was a T’Arni building seeing the statuary and the pastel patterns on the wall and the tiles on the floor. An honour guard waited outside the elevator to the building dressed in smart dress uniforms. Here I was my element as I inspected the guard. I glanced to Sigrunn hiding a smile behind her hand.
“Yes well presented,” I said to the guard commander. A statement I’d said so many times before.
“Thank you your highness,” he replied and gestured to the elevator. “This will take you straight to the palace.”
“Thank you,” I saluted and marched over to the elevator.
“Yes?” I said to Sigrunn as the door to the elevator closed and we started upwards.
“Nothing?” she answered with a laugh.
I just scowled.
“Now that’s more like the Valkyrie you should be.”
Again I had no answer for that.
The elevator opened to a broad hall. There were a number of other elevators that opened up to the hall each guarded by a dozen guards in full combat armour. One of the elevators on the opposite wall opened to disgorge several people in party clothes. I couldn’t help but notice the guards stop and scan them before letting them proceed. The T’Arni royal family inhabited a spire and unlike the Terran Palace it was at the pinnacle of the spire. The guards on our elevator did the same I could understand their caution. I held back and followed a party towards the doors to the palace. We stopped as we were scanned again and then walked on I could hear sound of music ahead as we halted again as the party in front were announced. There was a greeter at the palace, a man with a good set of lungs that announced everyone that entered the throne room of formal occasions. I shouldn’t have wondered why this would have been any different. This wasn’t a throne room it was the T’Arni equivalent of a ballroom. It had something the Terran ballroom hadn’t. There was anti grav pool where the dance floor would be. A number of couples where performing three-dimensional dances using the anti gravity field. The women wearing dresses that floated along with them like some exotic birds. There was no way I was going to be doing that and showing what some of them were showing although I wasn’t as prudish as the Valkyrie I felt that way now.
“Her highness Sandra Camelia Locke, Duchess of Mars, bond sister of the Yanik Clan...” The greeter went on to mention my medals both Confederacy and Terran.
I winced at his glowing announcement. “There goes my anonymity,” I muttered under my breath. I hated occasions like this.
Sigrunn touched my wrist. “Be well sister. I have business to take care of.”
She walked off leaving me on my own. I wasn’t on my own for long. The prince appeared Sheila at his side. She was wearing a blue dress and her reddish locks were piled on top of her head and held in place by chains and jewelled toped pins. Her ears had a slight point forcing me to re-access my opinion of her. Sheila was a ‘Brid’ that automatically extended her life span to three times that of normal humans. The prince was finely dressed in a suit in pastel colours and was just a jewelled as his partner.
“Your highness,” he said to me with a bow while Sheila did a respectable Terran style curtsey.
“Your highnesses, “I guessed.
The prince laughed. “That’s the boring formal bit out of the way.”
With one hand to his lady he led me deeper into the room.
After he introduced me to several people he left me on my own citing other business and promised to replace me later. Despite all the laughter and smiles I could feel tension in the air. Even though the prince had left me free to mingle as he had put it I put on my palace scowl. Ellie kept telling me to smile more but I found my scowl was enough to keep inconsequential nobles from trying to suck up to me because I was Ellie’s cousin, that and my reputation. Everyone had heard I’d thrown a man over the balcony one New Year’s morning because he had annoyed me. Although I severely doubted that news had filtered over to the Confederacy. In a side room almost as big as the ballroom I found the buffet. My stomach rumbled as I smelt food. I hadn’t eaten since early this morning or was it yesterday morning I couldn’t be sure and I was hungry. The room was full of chairs and tables and at one end was a long table covered with all types of food. I could even see a section laid out for the Fandaren. I wasn’t that hungry that I’d touch of any of their food. I steered myself over to the human and T’Arni section. Nodding to the server on the other side of the table I grabbed a plate. There was a queue at the table I joined the line and shuffled along with the other diners both human and T’Arni. No one looked twice at blonde haired human with blue eyes I was happy with that. I had got a few items of food when I was jostled from behind as a drunk T’Arni pushed in. He put his arm out and knocked my plate spilling food.
“Hey!” I shouted. “Watch what you are doing?” I was furious.
The drunken T’Arni turned to face me giving me the evil eye. He was of average height for a T’Arni and well dressed or he had been. His once pristine suit was crumpled and he stank of booze. I had been in that state before but I wasn’t aggressive when I was drunk I had been more of the maudlin sort.
“How dare you speak to me stupid arouraío!”
I heard several T’Arni gasp. I knew the insult when I heard it the T’Arni had just called me a slime rat.
“What did you say?” my voice dangerously low.
People around me parted they knew better than to get in the middle of a fight. As much as I wanted to punch this idiot I held back thinking about the political fallout if I did. I placed my plate on the table all thoughts of eating forgotten. Had I been a real Valkyrie he would be on the floor spitting out his teeth.
“Lazy good for nothing human,” he sneered. “You’ve been here five minutes and you’re already stinking up the place.”
I tried a different tack still hoping for a diplomatic solution Camelia would have been proud of me. “Do you know who I am?” I asked speaking mildly.
The drunk stared at me. “Just some gutter born human that should have been strangled at birth.”
The crowd we had drawn gasped at his tirade.
I had heard enough I was going to disappoint Camelia. “Really don’t care do you?” I said.
He swung at me. I easily avoided it and retaliated punching the T’Arni clear across the table. Quickly I examined him he was still breathing, unconscious and he would have a black eye I was lucky I hadn’t killed him with my punch. Abruptly I turned and walked away more angry with myself for my lack of self-control than what he had said.
Sheila caught to me before I had made it to the entrance to the elevators.
“There you are,” she announced.
“I’m leaving,” I told her I had to be honest.
“Not enjoying the party?”
“Not really my scene.”
“Oh really,” she replied. “Not from what I’ve heard.”
“Please give my apologies to the prince I hit one of his guests. I thought I’d leave before I caused him any more embarrassment.”
“Nonsense it’s not a good party without a fight.”
I stopped and stared at her. I realised my first impression of her standing beside the prince was correct. Around her neck there was a long chain that ended with a red quartz crystal hanging between her breasts. The T’Arni marriage symbol, Terrans and most Confederacy humans wore rings but it meant the same thing.
“I still lost my temper and hit your guest.”
“Guest,” she snorted. “From what I’ve heard he deserved it. Erames may be Leonto’s younger brother but he’s so full of himself that he needed to be taken down a peg or two.”
I could hear her total dislike of the prince’s brother. “That makes it worse?” I told her.
“No.” She slipped her arm in mine and turned me around facing away from the entrance. “There are some people that want to meet you. I’ll take you to them.”
She guided me to a Terran delegation. I knew they were Terrans I recognised Captain O’Donnell and the smartly dressed older man with him a purple and green sash across his chest must be Ambassador Leven. The Ambassador was the shortest of the group he was with. He had a bald head and beard for a moment he reminded me of Eel but without the sarcastic humour.
Sheila smiled as she greeted the ambassador. “Lancing I’ve found our lost soul. I’m placing her in your care.” She turned to me and curtseyed. “Your highness, Lento and I will be with you soon.”
“Your highness,” I replied snapping to a salute Terran this time.
She just smiled and nodded to the ambassador. “Later Sandra.” And she was gone.
I felt uncomfortable with these strangers. I felt out of place surrounded by only men.
“Your grace,” Ambassador Leven said to me. “Captain O’Donnell has something for you.”
Captain O’Donnell had a rectangular box in his hands. “It turns out that it was from Earth.”
I looked at the box feeling its weight. It was a plain wooden box with hinges and simple latch to keep it closed. For a minute I couldn’t remember what I asked him to do. Then it came to me I had asked him to investigate why a member of the ATL had a Terran pistol that should have been in a museum.
“Oh yes I did didn’t I.” I flipped the latch and was about to open it when the ambassador stopped me.
“I’d rather you not open that here. I wouldn’t want you to cause a diplomatic incident?”
“And I haven’t already?”
“That moron got what he deserved. Not that I condone violence in general but only when it applies to him in particular!”
“This sounds personal?” I got the impression he would have done more that just hit Erames. He must have done something to upset the ambassador more than his anti-human vehemence.
“I’d rather not go into it here,” the ambassador told me.
I took him at his word. “Her majesty ok?”
“She is fine and has been fully briefed on the situation.”
“She knows all about this?” I pointed to my hair.
“She approves.”
I stared at him shocked wondering what else he knew and what the Empire would do now that the threat from the Rhosani was out in the open. But before I could ask him the question I heard a voice behind me one I hadn’t heard for while.
“Sandra?”
I turned abruptly to face the speaker. “Mother,” I said keeping my expression neutral. Although she was dressed in fine clothes her face was haggard she hadn’t aged well since my father’s death.
“I’m sorry for everything Sandra,” her voice sounded hoarse.
The ambassador and his companions made the excuses and moved away politely.
I felt angry I couldn’t keep it from my voice. “What gives you the right to call me by my name. You have no daughter!”
Mother winced at the spite in my voice. “I did it to protect you,” she pleaded.
“Oh really I was somewhere with people you hate.”
“I...I...” She paled her voice stuttered into silence.
“I know mother. Camelia told me it all about it.”
Angry flared in her eyes. “Don’t dare mention that name here!”
“None of it was Camelia’s fault her father poisoned more than just you with his lies.”
“You don’t know what that woman did to me.”
“I do. Isn’t it time to put away your grudge too much of that which was held precious has been lost!”
“Don’t say that to me!”
“I’m saying because it is the truth. It may not be what I’d thought my heritage was but for good or ill it’s still my heritage!”
Mother looked distraught.
I continued hating myself for the harshness of my words. “It’s far past time you dropped this silly feud.”
“Please don’t hate me,” she begged. “You’re all I have left of Frank.”
It hurt me to hear her beg like that but I couldn’t let it go. “And Ellie, ever consider her she’s the innocent in all of this?”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t? Then it’s goodbye mother!” As much as tried to hide it, it really hurt me deep inside. I turned to walk away.
“Sandra wait!”
I turned back to her. “Well?”
“You are my daughter, strong, loyal and brave. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Then let Camelia apologise.”
“For you I will. I’ve lost too much.” She held out her arms her face pleading.
I hugged her trying to not to cry. I felt so lonely.
I felt her sob against my chest and that broke my resolve. Tears tickled down my cheeks. I did care if anyone saw me cry. I am human despite what the Guardians had done to me I was still human. Mother broke the hold first and pulled a tissue from her belt purse she wiped her eyes and then pulled another and handed it to me.
“Be brave and strong you will need it,” she said simply. “I must go. Please don’t follow you are needed here.”
I watched her go my loyalties in shatters I felt lost torn between worlds. I looked around wondering why we hadn’t drawn a audience with my hysterics. No one seemed to be paying me the slightest bit of interest. Then I saw why Sheila had cleared the room she was by the door leaning against the wall. She gave me a nod before leaving. I left the room aware of every eye upon me I had been shouting loud enough for everyone to hear. I walked across the ballroom and returned to the buffet. Hopefully I was getting something to eat this time. I managed to grab some food and sit down at an empty table. Conversations buzzed all around me but I ignored it buried in my own misery. I ate taking no pleasure in the food my only delight was a glass of raspberry juice. I reckon they must have imported it from one of the former Terran colonies. Humans on those colonies had brought plant stocks from Earth and replanted them. Most failed but there were a few rare exceptions and raspberries was one of them. Placing my glass on the table I regarded the wooden box. I was tempted to leave it closed but curiosity got the better of me. It was a plain wooden box and wasn’t local wood it must have come from Earth. I would be hard pressed to name the wood it had a rich reddish colour. I wasn’t sure if it was from the lacquer on the wood or the wood itself. Inside nested in a bed of green velvet was the Terran pistol and two spare clips. On top of the weapon was a note written on expensive paper. The sound of a chair being drawn out had me snapping the lid closed. I glanced to see Sheila sitting down at my table.
“It hard isn’t it?”
“What is?” I was in no mood to be cryptic.
“Families, unforgiving parents, I’m not sure what my father would have said he’s been gone twenty years. I still mourn his passing and a slimy leech of a brother in law. Just to let you know you‘re not the only one with family problems.”
“If this is about an interview I’m not in the mood!” I felt a bit out of sorts since I had had that argument with my mother.
Sheila chuckled. “No this isn’t it, I’m not wearing my journalist hat today. I helping a friend to understand that she isn’t alone.”
“Sorry I snapped at you it’s been a trying day.” I hadn’t meant to be so sharp with her.
“For us all,” she replied. “Just remember you have more friends than you realise. And remember the words of the First Citizen, ‘United we are free!’”
It wasn’t that easy to forget those words nearly every T’Arni town or city had at least one statue of the First Citizen. The woman who started the T’Arni rebellion against the Rhosani then had vanished. Many assumed the Rhosani had killed her but she was the spark that fuelled the rebellion and allowed the Elder Races or Ancients as the T’Arni called them to intervene.
“Thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“No thank you for saving us all.” She stood and smiled at me. “We’ll speak again later Sandra be sure of that.”
I watched her leave. I hadn’t time to speculate on her words when Sigrunn joined me.
“There you are,” she said and sat in the chair Sheila had vacated. “I’m getting too old for this.”
“Old for what?” I asked.
The music quiet in the background swelled to a crescendo.
“There’s our cue!” she said rising for her seat her hand pulling me up.
“Cue for what?”
“Come and see Sandra Locke-Yanik the fun begins,” she picked up my box. “I’ll look after this for you.”
I had no choice but to follow Sigrunn. She led me to another smaller room behind the ballroom. I remembered seeing it roped off and guarded. This time it was open and people were filing in. The T’Arni throne room was nothing like the throne room in the Imperial Palace. The room was much shorter and was only single storied. Done out in T’Arni pastel colours there was a raised dais at the far end of the room. Had this been a Terran throne room there would be a throne or two on it. This was T’Arni throne room, all the dais contained was a statue of the First Citizen her arm pointing towards the entrance to the room. Sigrunn barged her way through the crowded room. There wasn’t any room for chairs or benches here not that any T’Arni would sit down in such and important place. Sigrunn found us a place close to the dais. I could see the prince pacing there his lips moving like he was rehearsing his speech. I could not see the king or the queen. They seemed to be absent. On the dais with him was Sheila her camera drone hovering over her head. I hadn’t seen it with her earlier she must have summoned it from where ever she had stored it.
At a signal from Sheila the prince stopped pacing and faced his audience. “Friends and honoured guests. Welcome to the palace after such a horrific ten-day. I thank our blessed stars that we live to see another day free. An ancient evil has returned and together we must join and face this enemy side by side. To this end I have invited a guest to speak to us someone that’s faced this evil and defeated it.”
A shiver passed down my back I would rather have faced a room full of Orsini armed only with a knife than speak in public. Sheila’s drone moved forward and projected a holo image on to the floor of dais. I stared seeing the holographic image of Ellie standing looking fine in her coronation dress. I had never seen it in person but I had seen the vids of her coronation the dress glimmered in the light. My fists clenched hearing muttering in the background.
“Stay calm,” Sigrunn whispered into my ear. “Deal with them later.”
I turned my attention back to the hologram.
“People of the Confederacy thank you for your patience. Know that you are not alone in dealing with the Rhosani.”
I listened as she detailed how the Rhosani were behind the war with the Confederacy and how we defeated the Rhosani and stopped the war. She spoke saying that although they had chased the Rhosani from Earth they were still trying to return.
“Persistent buggers aren’t they.” Ellie gave the audience her best smile. “To this end I have gained the collaboration of Ezaran Hegemony, The Kingdom of Nthus and Special Operations to form a task force under the command of Admiral Komana.”
I drew a deep breath Admiral Komana was the same admiral that defeated the Terran forces during the Secession Wars over a hundred years ago. I had heard that she had retired. Many in the Confederacy considered her a legend I amongst them. As a girl I had often imagined myself at the helm of a starship fighting off pirates by her side. I had to admit I used to be a bit of a fangirl but I grew up and nothing grows you up faster than seeing comrades die in combat.
Ellie continued. “And I announce that the Empire has no longer any interest in returning our former eleven colonies to us. From now and forever they will remain part of the Confederacy. No longer have we any interest in them.” Ellie gave a shy smile. “No we don’t want Davenport back no matter how much you beg us.”
That brought out a ripple of nervous laughter from the audience.
“The Rhosani is a threat to us all,” Ellie stated turning serious. “Anything else that happens is a distraction. ‘United we are free’!”
The audience repeated the phrase as her holo faded. I knew she was right and despite my initial anger at those that had muttered against her I felt proud of her.
The prince took Ellie’s place on the dais. “To show how serious the Empire is about the threat of the of Rhosani they have entrusted us with a precious gift. A gift that saved lives and exposed a Rhosani plot against us.”
I was getting a bad feeling about this especially as he was looking directly at me when he said that. Suddenly he glanced past me and smiled. “Admiral Komana just in time.”
Every head in the room turned as the admiral strode in. She like the prince had been there at the birth of the Confederacy. Tall for a T’Arni she wore her dress uniform like it belonged to her. A Confederacy Star glinted on her chest. I saw it and thought mine looked like cheap copies. Hers was the one and only original. She wore her silvery coloured hair long and it cascaded down her shoulders and back. I felt like a fangirl again on seeing that she owned the room.
She stepped onto the dais with a quick salute to the prince she turned to face the audience. “I’ll do my best against the Rhosani I’ve got good ships and crew eager to take the fight to them. With the ships the Empire have lent us we’ll take the fight to the enemy and win!” she said that with utter confidence.
I applauded along with everyone else. I felt as if the gloom was lifted from my chest.
She waited until the applause had died down before continuing. “I’m no hero but there is one here amongst us that has that honour.”
The feeling I had earlier returned with a vengeance. I got the feeling I was being set up.
Admiral Komana continued her speech. “Time and time again this individual has shown their sense of honour and gone beyond expectations saving friends and comrades.”
I wanted to shrink and hide. Sigrunn must have guessed how I was feeling as she gripped my arm. I wasn’t going anywhere with a Valkyrie on my arm.
“And has fought against the impossible and won.” Admiral Komana paused. Seconds ticked by reminding me of those ancient vids about talent shows. “Lady Sandra Camelia Locke-Yanik please step forward,” she said and pointed at me.
“Me!” I shrieked.
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