"Knights of the Chosen" - читать интересную книгу автора (White Lawrence P)

Chapter Three

Chandrajuski cornered Mike in a corridor and shepherded him into a nearby conference room. It was just the two of them.

“What’s up, Admiral?” Mike asked as he stood beside the long conference table.

“We’re wasting time, that’s what’s up,” Chandrajuski stated, brooking no dispute as his long legs carried him to the far side of the table. He leaned over the table with his bright green head angled toward Mike. “Until the Queen is back on her feet, you’re the senior person here, and I’m next in line. Both of us have been sitting around for two whole days, just waiting, for what, I don’t know. We can’t afford idleness, and we can’t just wait around for the Queen to recover. Even after she’s out of the tank, she’ll need another month or two to get her strength back. I’m supposed to be developing a fighting force. I’m not sure what you’re supposed to be doing, but you’re not really accomplishing anything either.”

Mike frowned. “My thoughts exactly. This First Knight business is a little hazy to me; I’m not sure what I should be doing. I need to go to Earth, but the recruits I bring back need ships, and we need to make arrangements for their training. To do that, we need your men. I guess I’ve just been waiting for Ellie, I mean the Queen, to wake up and give me direction.” He paused in thought for a moment. “On a theoretical level, as First Knight I should be running the Empire in her absence. In reality, there’s nothing to run at the moment, nor would I know where to begin if there was. I thought you were busy preparing for an influx of ships and sailors.”

“What influx?”

“Serge could show up any day.”

“He’s weeks away, and my staff, provided he hasn’t shanghaied them somewhere along the way, is months away. It’s a good staff, and they don’t need me around to get things started. All I’ve been able to do so far is put Jons in charge of upgrading our ships. It’s not his forte, he’d rather have a squadron, but he made a lot of headway on his own while you were gone. He’s got the engineers working on plans that can be put in place as soon as Serge gives the okay.”

“The engineers are cooperating?”

“To a point. Drawings, craftsmen, and probably some parts will be available by the time Serge returns. It will be up to you and me to coerce Serge into giving his men the go-ahead. Jons’ immediate goal is to have things ready as soon as that happens.”

“He’s a good man. You say he got started on this on his own?”

“He did.”

“I’m impressed. What else is on your agenda?”

“Personally, I do not want the Queen waking up to find I’ve been idle. Besides, it’s not my way. I’m going on a trip.” Chandrajuski leaned across the table again, his wise, bright eyes meeting Mike’s. “Want to join me?”

“Why, and where?”

“You and I have a number of priorities. The Queen’s safety obviously tops the list. I believe Shipyard provides a reasonable level of safety for her at the moment, though we need to restore her complement of Protectors. I’m not sure how that’s best accomplished, but there aren’t any here. And you’re right; if we’re going to bring recruits from Earth, we have to prepare a place to train them. For the recruits who will work with her Protectors, it’s your problem, and it will be a difficult integration. For the ones going to the fleet, my men will make the preparations, but I have three other urgent priorities: intelligence, ships, and trained military personnel to operate them. All speak of more people. I’m going to see how successful Krys has been, and I could use your help.”

“I’d like to be here when the Queen wakes up.”

“So would I, but she can’t afford such luxuries right now. She needs us to do our jobs. With a fast ship, we can hit two or three worlds and be back in six months or so if all goes well. What do you say?”

Mike’s desire to be there to hold Ellie’s hand when she awoke was strong, but so was her need for him to help her restore the Empire. To do that, he needed to know more about the Empire and what was going on out there. He sorely missed Jake and the guidance he provided.

“Do you have a plan?”

“I always have a plan,” replied the Gamordian. Then in a lower voice, “Well, my men think I’m always acting according to a plan of some sort. In this case, I really do have a plan. There are three individuals I consider vital to our cause. One is a sector commander, another is a fleet commander, and the third is missing and may be dead. What I have in mind might be a long shot, but if we’re successful, we’ll come away with squadrons of ships and personnel. It’s even possible that these men have their sectors under control as we speak. If so, the Queen will have a true base of operations from which to expand her influence to more sectors.”

Chandrajuski backed away from the table to pace. Whenever he did so, Mike was reminded of his strong resemblance to a praying mantis. His long legs moved with incredible grace, then the whole body froze for a few moments. The process would repeat itself over and over. That was not to say Chandrajuski could not move fast. He could move very fast when it suited his purposes, but regardless of how slowly his body moved, his mind continued at full speed.

“These individuals, like me, have built commands based on loyalty to themselves in addition to loyalty to the crown. The Rebels will have a hard time gaining the upper hand in the two sectors I’m thinking about, but you can be certain they’re working on it. The sectors are key to both sides. We might already be too late, but I want to try. It’s not essential that you accompany me, but the presence of the First Knight will not only remove doubt, it will prove that the Queen is in control. What do you say? Will you go with me?”

“Yes,” Mike replied without hesitation. “My trip to Earth is critical, but certain things need to be in place first. When will you be ready to go?”

“Why wait? I can be ready in an hour.”

“Let me see to a few things. It won’t take long.” He went to the door, then turned back to face Chandrajuski. “You’ll be talking with other admirals?”

“I will.”

“And you’re recruiting them to work for you?”

“For me and the Queen, yes.”

“Then you need a higher rank. Is Grand Admiral the right rank?”

“I believe that’s what the Queen had in mind. There’s no hurry, though. I don’t have much of a command to be grand about yet.”

“But you will, and you have to be able to order these men.”

“That’s what you’re there for.”

“No, sir. I’ll just be there to add legitimacy to your leadership. If these men are to report to you, you must command from the very first moment. These conversations will not be among equals. If they were, you would simply be forming a larger unofficial underground like you had on Centauri III. The Queen no longer rules from obscurity, Admiral. She’s the legal ruler of the Empire, and you are her Grand Admiral. Understood?”

“Yes, Sire. It will be so. Give me two hours, no, three hours. I think I’ll make some adjustments to our plans, and I’ll get some things started for your eventual recruits.”

“I’m bringing Val along.”

“Whatever for? Isn’t First Knight enough weight to throw around?”

“It’s not because he’s a knight, it’s because of why he became a knight. He’s very, very good at everything I’ve asked of him, and I value his counsel, especially now that Jake is gone.”

Mike called Val and Reba to a meeting that he did not look forward to. Looking at Reba rather than Val, he announced, “Val is leaving with me in three hours. We’re going on a recruiting voyage with Chandrajuski. We’ll be back in a few months or so.”

Reba looked stricken, seeming to age before his eyes. Val, too, experienced a moment of resentment, but Mike also sensed his excitement. Reba looked deep into his eyes. “I won’t argue with you, Mike. All I ask is that it be necessary.”

“It’s necessary, and I believe it’s what Ellie needs of us right now. We can’t sit around doing nothing while she recovers. She needs us to be productive.”

“I can go with you.”

He shook his head. “No, I need you here. Ellie needs you by her side when she awakens, and I need to know that someone not susceptible to the Chessori mind weapon is here to protect her. You’ll be the only one on the planet that’s immune.”

Reba looked away, then focused on Val. Her eyes filled to the brim with tears, but she rose to the occasion. “You can’t hide it from me, Val. You’re excited for the first time in days. Go get packed.”

Val took off like a shot. Reba turned back to Mike. “He’s bored, not with me but with the inactivity. So am I. Got anything for me to do?”

“Yes. Keep an eye on Ellie.”

“You already said that. Anything else?”

“Think about what I just said, Reba. Do you remember Lieutenant Rebecca Morrison, lately of Earth? She’s now Lady Rebecca, the Queen of All Space’s senior representative here. She’s on an alien planet, right in the middle of a war, and she has no one of higher authority to turn to other than herself. I think you’ve been promoted.”

She wiped a last tear from eyes that had suddenly gone dry. “Is that what it’s been like for you?” she asked softly.

“To some extent, and I’ve been feeling guilty about doing nothing. I’m glad Chandrajuski brought me to my senses.”

“Remember when we were training as a crew on Earth? And remember what happened when I had George remove you from the crew?”

“It was a disaster. Everything came to a standstill.”

“That’s what’s happened to us here, but instead of you being removed, it’s Ellie. I didn’t realize it until just now, but we’ve graduated to a new phase of this war. We’re not just one ship anymore. We have truly moved into the realm of politics. You captained a craft of the state, but she’s captaining the craft of state now, and we’ve come to a standstill without her leadership.”

“And as on Earth,” he said, continuing the thought, “we’re over the shock and struggling to get things going again. I saw the inefficiency then, and I see it now. We’re stumbling along until she gets back in the saddle.”

“Yet we’re all leaders, titles or no. We can get things moving in the right direction without her, we’re just not as efficient.” Her eyes rose to the ceiling in thought, then she turned her gaze back to him. “You’ll miss her, but she’ll miss you more when she finds you gone. I know she’d like to wake up to your touch.”

“I’m counting on you to be there in my place. Give her whatever support she needs, just be there. And while you’re waiting, see if you can come up with a plan to recruit more Protectors. We’re desperately short-handed. And we need to design a training program for the trainees from Earth, assuming we can pull that off.”

“Yes, Sire. I might be able to get us started on some other things, as well. I’d better check on Val. He probably needs help packing.”

Mike, Val, and Chandrajuski met at the bottom of the entrance ramp to Resolve. Mike hid his surprise at the choice of ship, but Chandrajuski offered an explanation. “I had planned to take a fast scout, just the two of us, but after what you said, this makes more sense. The ship itself will add legitimacy to our positions. It might also complicate things, but in the end it will be worth it.”

Turning to Sir Val, he said, “I barely know you. Are you ready to get underway?”

“It’s just the three of us?” Val asked in surprise.

“No, I’ve borrowed some men from Jons’ squadron. We have enough to man all stations. I hope you don’t mind handling the conn when it’s your turn?”

“Not at all, Admiral.”

“Good, because you’re also Resolve’s captain on this voyage. I can give you ten minutes to assure yourself the ship is ready. Set course for Aldebaran I as soon as you can.”

“Yes, sir!” Val headed up the steps at a dead run.

“You know, Admiral,” Mike said with a grin, “as a Knight of the Realm, he outranks you.”

“I know that, but he doesn’t. Come on. You supposedly know your way around Resolve. Show me where my cabin is.”

Later, Mike found himself on the bridge out of old habit. Resolve was already underway with Val in Mike’s old command seat. He and the two other pilots were engrossed in the net, probably computing a micro jump. Sure enough, moments later the screens blanked as they jumped. The screens refreshed in a moment, then they jumped again. And again. In no time at all they settled into the first long jump, after which one pilot and Val took a break. Val removed his helmet and rubbed tired eyes before discovering Mike sitting quietly in a crew seat before one of the active screens.

“Hi, Mike. Feel at home?”

Mike smiled. “Not exactly. This is better. My time aboard Resolve was anything but relaxing.”

“So I’ve heard. Do you realize you’ve probably made more jumps manually than anyone else in the galaxy? Would you like to set up the next one?”

“Heaven forbid we ever get to that point again. I’ll pitch in wherever you assign me, as pilot, cook, or repairman. Do you realize,” he said in embarrassment, “I’ve never landed a ship?”

A look of astonishment came over Val’s face, then a glint found its way to his eyes. “Maybe not, but you’ve crashed them into the ocean a few times.”

“Ugh. You had to remind me.”

“I’d be happy to assist you through our landings.”

“We’ll see. Things might get a little tense when we arrive. They have a habit of doing that around us.”

“That they do.” A little sheepishly, Val said, “You know, I never imagined I’d be the captain of this ship. For me, it’s like… the ultimate.”

“This ship was really the beginning of the rest of your life, wasn’t it?”

“I guess it was. What’s for dinner?”

“I don’t know. I’ll try to scrape something up. Any idea what Gamordians eat?”

Their arrival at Aldebaran I came off without a hitch. Resolve broadcast a completely fictitious beacon code just in case the Rebels had taken charge of the sector. They emerged from hyperspace to find a large number of Chessori traders scattered through the system, and Mike stayed in the net as much as he could, ready to take over if necessary. Val set up a tight beam transmission to Admiral Harold Seeton, Fleet Commander, a human and an old classmate of Chandrajuski’s.

Chandrajuski met Seeton at the ramp and escorted him to the conference room where Mike and Val waited. It didn’t take long to get down to the purpose of their visit.

“How’s business, Harry?” Chandrajuski inquired.

“We’re basically locked down, just trying to keep the peace. How about you? I thought you’d been arrested?”

“I was rescued.”

“Rescued!” Seeton peered hard at Chandrajuski. “You were imprisoned, and now you’re a grand admiral traveling with two Knights. Please tell me you’re not here on Struthers’ behalf.”

Chandrajuski’s neck stretched across the table toward Seeton. “You know me better than that, Harry.”

Seeton let out a long sigh, then his eyes crinkled into a smile of triumph. “We know each other well, my friend. I got your message.”

He turned his head to Val. “Your sister was alive and well when we last met.”

Val stood abruptly. “She was here? How long ago, Admiral?”

“Two months. The formalities, Sire, if you will.”

Val removed a Pin from his pocket and passed it across the table. Seeton stared at the Pin for a long time, his eyes brimming. His hand shook slightly as he picked up the Pin. He couldn’t open it, though in fairness, he didn’t try very hard. He had been clinging to hope for two months and was afraid to lose it. Visions were one thing; the reality of a Knight of the Realm was quite another.

He handed the Pin back to Val. “Do you have the slightest comprehension of what this Pin means, Sire?”

Val looked hard into his eyes. “It means everything. Opening this Pin is a test of me, but how do we test you?”

“Open the Pin, Sire, and I’ll provide proof.”

Val opened the Pin, and Ellie’s countenance shone forth. Seeton stared, his hopes fulfilled. “She spoke true, Sire.”

Mike pulled the pendant from under his shirt, but Seeton held up a hand. “That vision was for another, Sire.”

Mike sighed and looked up to the ceiling. “Not again,” he groaned.

“Sire?”

“Never mind. You said something about proof?”

Seeton lifted a communicator to his mouth. “You can come in now.”

Blasters immediately sprung into Mike and Val’s hands. Seeton regarded them, then turned to Chandrajuski. “A friend comes. Only one. There is no threat.”

A crewmember escorted a man into the lounge, then left. For the first time since Mike had known Chandrajuski, he found him at a loss for words.

“Greetings, my friend,” Governor Veswicki said to him.

Chandrajuski stepped around the table and batted fists with Veswicki, his mouth open in his ferocious smile. “I am truly pleased, Governor.” He turned to Seeton. “You promised proof, and you delivered, Harry.” Blasters disappeared back into holsters.

Veswicki looked to Val and bowed. “I see the resemblance, Sire. You can be proud of her.”

“How is she?”

“She seemed well, very well, considering.” He turned to Mike and faced him squarely, then bowed. “You would be our First Knight, Sire?”

Mike hesitated. He was not pleased, not pleased at all that he was known to this man. What other visions had Krys had of him? Veswicki’s expectant look turned into a look of confusion. He turned to Seeton with raised eyebrows.

Seeton, too, seemed confused. “Uh, now would be appropriate, Sire.”

Mike again pulled out the pendant and placed it on the table. He brushed his hand across the surface, and the bright hologram of Ellie shone forth. Veswicki leaned forward and picked up the pendant, not for examination but for pleasure.

“We’re honored that you came to us, Sire.” He stared hard at Mike, and Mike sensed the question.

“We have not met, Governor, nor will you find a record of me anywhere in the Empire. May I ask who you are?”

“You don’t know? I’m the governor of Triton Sector.”

“Hmm. Past or present?”

“Both, Sire. I do not recognize Struthers’ authority to remove me.”

“Well said, Governor. Neither does the Queen.”

“How is she?”

“Mending.”

“Mending!”

Chandrajuski spoke. “She’s had a difficult time since the coup, Signio. It’s a long story. Let me just say that Sir Mike has been with her through most of it. Without him, the last of the Chosen would be dead. The same can be said of Sir Val.”

Veswicki and Seeton each bent to one knee, their heads bowed deeply toward the two Knights. Veswicki spoke for both of them. “The Queen lives. We are at your command, Sires.”

“Then rise. We have work to do,” Mike commanded.

Veswicki rose and looked hard at Mike. “Just who are you, Sire?”

Mike looked to Chandrajuski who said, “You can trust both of them.”

Mike turned back to Veswicki and Seeton. “I don’t trust many, and you have not been Tested. Who I am is not important. Know that the Queen trusts the three of us implicitly. You know Admiral Chandrajuski’s background, and Sir Val was a fleet officer before being Named. As for me, you would be well served to assume I know very little about your empire.”

“Sire?”

“I’m from an emerging world, Governor.”

Veswicki stepped back in confusion. Mike took a seat, and Val and Seeton followed suit, but Veswicki remained standing.

Chandrajuski stepped in. “He’s from an emerging world, Signio, a world without space travel, but he brought her 800 light years without an AI, all manually. He’s fought multiple engagements with the Rebels and Chessori, and she’s alive because of it. He was mortally wounded while protecting her and only survived because he carried a Rider. If that’s not enough, he sent his Rider into her body, bringing her back to life after a gleason’s knife went into her heart. I saw it with my own eyes, and I saw him test a potential antidote to the gleason’s poison on himself before we gave it to the Queen. I think it fair to say that, despite what Struthers did, the position of First Knight has been fully restored.”

Seeton and Veswicki again went to a knee before Mike. He frowned. “Each of us in this room has faced equal demands on our lives, and we will face equally terrible choices in the months and years to come,” he said. “We do these things for the good of the Empire. You have remained true to your oaths, and I thank you in the Queen’s name. Rise, gentlemen, and let us get back to work. We’re in this together until the very end.”

They rose, and Veswicki went to stand before Mike. “Sire, the Empire will be forever in your debt. I stand willing and anxious to serve the Queen. I stand willing and anxious to serve you, as well.”

Veswicki turned away and paced for a time. When he turned back to Mike, he said, “I would hear your story, First Knight. Clearly, you’re a survivor, and just as clearly, you’re a fast learner. Before that, though, I must ask if you fully understand what you’ve given us?”

“I believe I do, but I’m also a good listener. Why don’t you enlighten me.”

“Imagine if you will, Sire, a rope bridge crossing an abyss. Immediately after the coup, Harry, me, Chandrajuski, and all the Empire leadership suddenly found ourselves stranded on that bridge. The ropes are fraying and will not hold much longer. We’re much closer to the side of the Rebel politicians – it’s easier and quicker to head their way – but for some of us, most of us I hope, our principles and ethics beckon from the far side. Now, with the gift you’ve given us, we discover the Queen standing on that far side beside those principles.

“ The decision is easy for us, Sire, and it will be clear to many others as well, but we have to move briskly if we are not to fall into the abyss.”

His lips pursed with concern. “We were almost ready to move here in Aldebaran Sector before Krys’ arrival. We can deal with the Rebels, but not the Chessori. She warned us about them, thankfully, but we don’t have any kind of plan for dealing with them yet.”

“How much do you know about the Chessori?” Mike asked.

“We know as much as she knows, including what happened at Dorwall and during her missions. We know they have some sort of mind weapon. She’s convinced us to keep our distance from them.”

Alarm filled Val’s eyes. “She’s had run-ins with them? How did she survive?”

“Her Great Cats manage to function, Sire. She acquired a changeable beacon along the way, so she’ll show up as a different ship everywhere she goes. Her hope is that the changeable beacon will extend her mission. The risk now is if she’s identified during her stops. She can’t change the beacon until she’s out of the system.”

“Where did she get the means to modify her beacon?” Chandrajuski asked. “It wasn’t from me.”

“From Korban.”

Chandrajuski’s mouth opened into a grin again. “She’s working down the list, and it appears she’s been as convincing as I’d hoped. I should have given her the modification before I sent her out. My mistake. I’m glad Korban rectified it.”

Val leaned back into his chair, his eyes just slits. “Admiral Seeton, you have a new governor here. Have you been ordered to accept any Chessori as crewmembers?”

“I’ve been ordered to train them, Sire. The Chessori have brought a large number of their own military crews for the process. Since they’re already trained to their own standards, I was ordered to compare those standards with our own by placing them in active positions aboard ships. I have not complied, nor will I.”

“How can you not comply?”

“I have informed the sector commander that it is illegal for me to recruit from outside the Empire. If they ever become members of the Empire, I’ll insist they pass muster at an Academy. Following that, I’ll have to think of something else. They’re not getting on my ships.”

“I served on a ship with a mixed crew, sir. I believe it was one of the first. I can tell you that a small number of Chessori took over the ship without a fight. They activated their mind weapon long enough to secure those of us who would not support the Rebels, then they turned it off. The regular crew resumed control of the ship, but only so long as the Chessori allowed.”

Seeton and Veswicki both looked ill. “The rest of the crew went back to business as usual after that?” Seeton demanded.

“I was in the brig, but I believe they did, sir. If you’re a Rebel, and if the Chessori are on your side, what’s a little pain compared to a sure win? Do not ever let even one of them on your ships, sir.”

“I get the feeling you’ve been organizing something?” Chandrajuski asked later. “It’s time you brought us up-to-date.”

Veswicki spoke for himself and Seeton. “Before Krys’ visit, we were considering going rogue.” Mike’s eyebrows rose, but Veswicki didn’t apologize. “Sire, we knew the Chosen were all dead. Our choices were to cave into Struthers, or attempt to resurrect some kind of structure based on Empire standards. His way is wrong.”

He glanced at Chandrajuski, then back to Mike. “So was ours, Sire.”

Mike sat back and nodded. He and Chandrajuski had had this same conversation, though Veswicki didn’t know it.

“Our models showed both plans, his and ours, ultimately failing. Our plan at least had a chance. It would give us time, time to look for the right charismatic leader, or perhaps some other mechanism as yet unknown, that would provide acceptable leadership to the multitude of worlds and races throughout the Empire. None of us is that right leader. Our plan was to buy time.”

He looked to Chandrajuski. “Your plan to hold was just the right message to send. It has bought us time, time we’ll use to prepare. Struthers can never claim to have the Touch. Use of the Touch is universally recognized and accepted as the court of final appeal. No one has ever successfully argued against the political power of her Touch.”

Chandrajuski nodded, and Veswicki continued. “Of the 47 sectors, I believe I speak for seven, and several more will likely join with us if we can move before the sector commanders are forced to flee. If we combine our efforts with Krys’ efforts, I believe the number will be higher.”

“How many has she reached, and what is her success rate?” Chandrajuski asked.

“We were her ninth stop. Seven sectors were receptive and two were not. Her contacts there were dead. But it’s not just her, Admiral. She’s recruited others, including Buskin. When they last met, they both agreed that he should break up his two squadrons, sending ships out on individual missions. They, in turn, would network others. If they have been even marginally successful, her message might have reached all the sectors by now.”

Chandrajuski’s eyes gleamed. “Then she’s gone far beyond the assignment I gave her. Have you heard from Buskin?”

Veswicki shook his head. “Not a word. She gave us a location, but we haven’t followed up on it yet. He can’t fight the Chessori any more than we can, and we’re not planning to join him as recruits. We’re going to hold, and we’re going to resist.”

Veswicki paused, then added, “Struthers has to know what she’s up to by now. Secrets can’t survive when so many know. They’ll find Buskin eventually. We just have to act before the Rebels do.”

“He’ll find Krys, too. Struthers has known for a long time,” Val said softly. “You said she’s had some encounters with the Chessori. What they know, he knows. I’m certain of it.”

“We can’t move against the Chessori, Sire,” Veswicki said.

“We’re developing a plan to deal with them,” Mike informed him. “It’s my problem, not yours. You’ll have to wait a little longer, maybe as much as a year. Are you strong enough here to hold that long?”

“Sire, it might be all over by then. Certainly we won’t have more than two or three years. The Chessori are an immediate problem, but the Imperial Senate is the most pressing problem.”

“Why?”

“When Struthers next convenes the Imperial Senate, he will attempt to cement the legality of his government. He’ll present a motion stipulating that the Chosen are dead and that his government is the new government.”

Veswicki stared at his new First Knight for a time before saying, “If that motion is approved by the Senate, he’s won, Sire. His government will be the only legitimate government in control of the Empire. He would brand us as Rebels, and we could legitimately be prosecuted as such, including the Queen.”

Veswicki directed his gaze upon each of them in turn, his eyes burning with passion. ”Until learning from Krys that we have a Queen, I had seen no possible way to stop Struthers from succeeding with his motion. The few Imperial Senators within the sectors I am pulling together would not be enough to prevail against the rest of the Senate. But now! We have a Queen from the line of Chosen. Her very existence is the club we can wield before the Senate. I don’t know how we, or she, will do it, but she has to convince the Senate that she is a contender. There is not a more important task before us. We cannot allow Struthers and his Rebels to be legitimized.

“Admiral, Sires, our first priority is to prevent that motion from passing, or even from being introduced if possible. From a political standpoint, that first convocation of the Senate would be the perfect time to prove to the Senators that the Queen rules, even if it is in absentia. Senator Truax is attempting to organize the Senate against Struthers. His task is equally important to ours.”

“Krys was able to recruit him?” Chandrajuski asked.

“She was, and he’s off with a list of his own to recruit other senators. It was another masterful stroke, sir.”

“I wish I could take credit, but it was her idea. What resources have been provided to Truax?”

“I don’t know. Krys doesn’t know. I’ve been searching for him, but I have not found him yet. Krys dropped him off on Mitala I. All she knows is that his original plan was to use civilian cruise ships to get around.”

“That’s too slow,” Chandrajuski growled.

“But safer than military ships. His contacts will, if he’s successful, spread out to reach other senators. I, too, have dispatched messengers to Imperial Senators. His contacts and mine are small in number, but the numbers will increase and pick up momentum on their own as time goes by.”

Veswicki’s lips pursed and his eyes narrowed with excitement as he considered his next words. “Struthers’ motion will never pass if enough senators believe the Queen is alive and well. Truax and I are spreading the word, but it’s our word against Struthers. There will be some doubt. If we can find a way to prove to the Senate that the Queen rules, Struthers’ movement will lose all legitimacy. He’ll be finished. Is there a way?”

“You might be encouraged to know that the Queen has reached the same conclusion,” Mike replied. “We don’t have a plan yet, and quite frankly, it seems impossibly difficult at the moment, but that’s why we’re here. We’ll find a way, but first she needs an infrastructure to support her. What support can you provide?”

“If we can deal with the Chessori, I can have a core of perhaps ten sectors fully under control by the time Struthers calls the senate into convocation, at least in name,” Veswicki answered.

“What do you mean by ‘fully under control?’” Chandrajuski asked. “Sectors are barely under control even in the best of times.”

Veswicki’s expression hardened. “There will be clear separation of Rebel versus Empire control, that’s what I mean…”

Mike let the experts deal with resources. He had other things on his mind. Just listening to Veswicki and Seeton had widened his horizons immensely. He now truly understood what Otis had been telling him all along: their first job was to protect the Heir. Nothing else mattered if the Heir died. Just listening to the two admirals discuss issues with Chandrajuski clearly demonstrated what having a Queen meant to these men. It meant everything, as simple as that. Everything.

And this was just one sector. He could multiply this sense of rightness many times over as the message traveled from one end of the Empire to the other.

He suddenly understood the power of Chandrajuski’s plan for Krys. She wasn’t just spreading the word that there was a Queen. Her assignment was to weave threads through the Empire, threads that would be turned over to Ellie. When Ellie took over the weaving, the Rebels’ days would be limited.

Before leaving, Chandrajuski made some demands. “I have a temporary base that is adequate until you secure your sectors. Until then, I need ships, men, supplies, and support, as much as you can spare, and in the Queen’s name I ask that you send your best. How many ships can you spare?”

“You don’t want me to risk losing the sectors, do you?” Veswicki asked.

“Definitely not. We must protect our infrastructure.”

Seeton spoke up. “Let me model it before I commit. Off the top of my head, I’d say I could spare ten heavy squadrons, and a lot more after we make our move and consolidate the sector politically.”

“See if you can make it thirty, Harry. What about you, Signio? Can I count on support from the other sectors?”

“Definitely. I won’t commit without their approval, but we’ll scrape together as many as we can. I assume we’re talking about hardship duty.”

“We are. Until the Queen can move out into one of the sectors, I cannot support dependents.”

“What can the Queen do for you?” Mike asked.

Veswicki spoke immediately. “We need regular communications, and I am requesting a summons from the Queen for myself and my senior commanders.”

“She’ll want to Test you, but she’s not up to it yet. Multiple Testings take a lot of energy, energy that she won’t have for a while. I’ll let you know when she’s ready. Until then, you have Admiral Chandrajuski’s support, and that means you have hers.”

“You mentioned something about gleasons, Sire.”

Chandrajuski answered. “Struthers has recruited them.”

“How?”

“I don’t have a clue. There were three of them. Her Protectors took them out, but not before the last one threw a poisoned knife into her heart.”

“And she’s still alive?” Veswicki demanded.

“To make a long story short, Sir Mike killed the last gleason, then sent his Rider to the Queen. The Rider is repairing her injuries as we speak.”

Veswicki turned away, then turned back to Mike. He stared hard at him, but he addressed everyone within the room. “The Chosen have never carried Riders. Does anyone know what effect the Rider will have on her being Queen? Will her Touch still work?”

“We won’t know until she’s strong enough to try,” Chandrajuski said. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. If her Testing fails, she might be able to rid herself of the Rider. If all fails, we still have Alexis who will be named Daughter if she passes her Testing. The circle of those who know about this must remain very small. Understood?”

Solemn heads nodded agreement. “I will inform you when the Queen is ready to Test each of you. She may even come here to do it. That will be her decision.”

“Where are you off to next?” asked Veswicki.

“Admiral Korban is my next stop. You three will be my top commanders.”

“You’re wasting your time if you think you’ll get any help from him,” Veswicki responded. “He’s up to his eyeballs just trying to hold Orion Sector together. He’s in Struthers’ sights, and they’re going after him hard.”

Chandrajuski thought for a time, considering options. “I’d love to teach Struthers a lesson,” he finally said. “Can we offer any support to Korban?”

“We already sent a couple of courier ships. When neither returned, we sent a full squadron. Not a single ship has returned,” Seeton said. “We’re on the verge of declaring the squadron lost.”

“It has to be the Chessori,” Val said. “In addition to their mind weapon, they have some other advantages we do not have. They can track through hyperspace, and they have an interstellar communicator. Beware.”

Veswicki and Seeton looked at each other in alarm. Seeton said, “A dispatch was received from our lost squadron. It, too, claimed a trader tracked them through hyperspace.”

“A Chessori tracked me through hyperspace,” Mike said, “though they’re not actually tracking during the jump. Someone had placed a mechanism aboard our ship that broadcast our jump settings just prior to each jump, so they’re really tracking only during the intervals between jumps. I wonder if any of your ships have been compromised?”

Seeton frowned. “We’ll have to check. What do we look for?”

“I don’t know, but I know who does. We’ll get the information to you.”

“Whatever develops here or anywhere else,” Chandrajuski said, “the Chessori, and hence the Rebels, will know about it if we allow them the opportunity to get a message out. Timing will be everything when we make our moves, and because of the Chessori, we’re not going to be able to move simultaneously in all sectors. It’s going to be one at a time.”

“Sir, we can’t fight on these grounds.”

“You’re not fighting, not yet. You’re holding. Your job will be to defeat the Rebels, and you’re well focused on that, but you can’t act yet. Sir Mike’s job is to defeat the Chessori, and we have a plan. There is a way to defeat the mind weapon, but it’s not something I can discuss. Just know there’s a plan that will take some months to put together.”

He added one more consideration for Veswicki. “Are you ready to give up your position here?”

“Definitely not. I’ve just gotten started.”

“You’d better be looking for your replacement during the next few months. The insight you’ve shown me with your understanding of the big picture is impressive, much better than my own. The Queen does not have access to a lot of political advice right now. She might want you at her side. She’ll let you know.”