"Richard Allen Stotts - Empire 3 - Majesty" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stotts Richard Allen)

Empire * Book Three

Majesty

by


Richard Allen Stotts




Copyright 2000

Chapter One

Peace


The official period of mourning had finally ended, long live the new Emperor. Daniel Grayson was that
new Emperor, a title he had only reluctantly accepted. Agood and simple life given over to service to the
Empire.

Daniel had taken some time to celebrate a quite fourteenth birthday at SirIan Murphy's family farm on
New Albion, so had Ian, they were only weeks apart inage. The Imperial Yacht had a permanent spot
reserved in a wheat field a shortdistance from the farmhouse. A small armada of escort craft would orbit
NewAlbion whenever the new Emperor decided to come for a visit. So far there hadbeen only time
enough for one visit since the death of the last Emperor andDaniel's subsequent coronation.

The visit had lasted almost a week, Daniel would have preferred that it lastforever, so would Ellen, Ian's
twin sister and the young Emperor's first and onlylove. Ian had elected to return once again with Daniel to
Earth, the lure of his ownresearch facility on the very grounds of the Sun Palace was just too tempting
topass up. Daniel had told Ian that he could pursue any line of research he fancied,he could keep his own
hours, his budget would be unlimited.

Ellen was as upset as ever when Daniel had to take his leave once more. Itseemed to the girl that all they
ever did was say goodbye to each other. She wasconsoled that her school term would soon be over for
the year. Daniel hadpromised her a long visit with himself and Ian on Earth (properly chaperoned by
Ianand a few thousand retainers from the Imperial household). Ellen's parents hadagreed to her upcoming
visit with Daniel, if she wasn't safe with the Emperor thenshe wasn't safe anywhere.

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The Sun Palace, Earth

Ian's research lab had once been an indoor netball court that was rarelyused, Daniel had ordered a quick
conversion to suit his friend's modest needs. When the Emperor wants something done quickly it is an
amazing thing to witness,people do tend to move right along with their tasks.
Ian was deep into a spinoff theory of his shield technology, projected andfocused 'beams' of shield
energy. Like many eggheads, Ian at times dropped adecimal place here and there.