Amantus
Copyright© 2026 by QM
Chapter 30
“A signal?” Horth asked.
“Yes, our AI confirmed it,” Warch replied.
“Could it have been my perscomp?” Amantus queried. “Though I wasn’t attempting to link with anything at the library.”
“May I examine it?”
“It contains access codes used for command purposes on the Devastator, sir, so no, you may not,” Horth replied.
“Is the signal still going now?” Amantus asked.
“It is,” a melodious voice replied, startling Amantus.
“Hold on, I’m switching it off,” Amantus keyed in the shutdown code.
“The signal remains,” the voice confirmed.
“I have no idea what it is, then,” Amantus shrugged. “Unless it’s my implant.”
“That’s not a transmitter; it’s a receiver,” a frowning Horth replied.
“May we scan you?” Warch asked.
“Please do,” Horth replied for Amantus.
One of the escorting officers entered the room carrying a wand and waved it over Amantus, finally stopping at the carry pouch at Amantus’s hip. Amantus took it off and examined it, finding nothing unusual about it or its contents. The man with the wand ran it over the contents but returned to the pouch itself.
“Whatever it is, it’s in there,” he said.
Amantus ran his fingers over the pouch but found nothing, then handed it over to Horth.
“Here,” Horth finally said, indicating the clasp.
“Examining,” the AI said, startling Amantus and Horth. “It is a listening device of some sort.”
“Ah...” Amantus sighed. “Why do I think Protectorate Security are still spying on me?”
“This appears now to be an internal Protectorate matter,” Warch decided. “Please accept my apology for having detained you.”
“No, thank you for uncovering a potential security risk,” Horth replied, as he and Amantus rose.
“A listening device?” Dorrus queried.
“Yes, engineering is looking at it now, though it appears only to activate away from the Devastator,” Horth confirmed.
“Protectorate security no doubt,” Dorrus sighed.
“Seems likely,” Horth nodded. “Could have caused a major incident if you’d been in a private meeting with Amantus and one of their politicians.”
“Surprised their judicial service didn’t pick up on it,” Dorrus frowned.
“They likely thought it was just us making sure nothing untoward was going on,” Horth explained.
“Yes, that’s possible,” Dorrus nodded. “Though I was doing so on my perscomp too.”
“Engineering is trying to trace where it was transmitting too,” Horth continued. “I suspect it will be one of our new intakes.”
“Assuming we do find out where, have them arrested, their recordings destroyed,” Dorrus decided. “I will not permit unauthorised spying on my crew.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Amantus had been issued a new pouch, though he could not distinguish any difference in it from the old one. He resolved to ask Horth how he knew the next time they were both off duty. He did worry a little about the device he used to contact his mother, but concluded it would shield him from any eavesdropping; such was the paranoia about privacy among the upper nobility. Amantus received no confirmation, one way or the other, about the incident, though he suspected that Horth had investigated it thoroughly and dealt with it.
The next time Amantus was off duty was the day the Regent was visiting Trema, presumably to talk to the patriarch. Amantus surmised that the patriarch had been dealing with the local entrepreneurs and finding out what was available and what Clan Aman could provide.
“Commander Amantus, it’s good to see you again,” A familiar voice interrupted his musings as he sat enjoying a cool, mildly alcoholic drink while people-watching at a café.
“Pre-Regent Arla, a pleasure to see you again,” Amantus stood and gave the woman a formal half bow.
“It’s just Arla.”
“And it’s just Amantus,” Amantus chuckled, making Arla smile.
“I gathered I caused you some issues the last time we spoke,” Arla apologised as she took an indicated seat.
“Unfortunately, as an involuntary recruit, my card is marked as a potential security risk by Protectorate security,” Amantus explained. “That’s why I’ve informed the Devastator of your presence, and I’m recording the conversation.”
“That’s fine, so long as it doesn’t cause you trouble,” Arla nodded.
“What are you up to these days, Arla?” Amantus asked.
“Currently I’m understudying my mother, hence my presence here,” Arla replied.
“Ah,” Amantus nodded. “She’ll be meeting my great-grandfather at some stage.”
“Orliantomin Hellarch is your great-grandfather?” Arla asked, surprised. “Only there’s no mention of an Amantus in his current family records.”
“I’m banished,” Amantus explained, not at all surprised at how thoroughly the Confederation had gone over his former clan’s links and contacts.
“Oh yes, you did mention that odd concept,” Arla nodded. “I presume telling him we’ve met would be awkward?”
“He won’t acknowledge me, so yes, that could be awkward,” Amantus chuckled.
“I’m glad I spotted you; your name came up with regards to a crime committed on the station,” Arla changed the subject. “The base command was impressed by the way your Commodore handled it.”
“It was easy; she saw the video feed and knew it wasn’t faked,” Amantus shrugged.
“The Base Commander was convinced that she would threaten the base in an effort to get them handed over for Protectorate justice, then pretend it never happened.”
“You have a strange notion of Protectorate justice,” Amantus chuckled. “Believe it or not, the Protectorate deals with crime quite rigorously.”
“Even amongst your nobility?” Arla enquired pointedly.
“That is a flaw in our system, yes,” Amantus admitted. “One of the officers you convicted was a noble; if we’d got him back, he would have been acquitted, and Commodore Dorrus knew that.”
“And the other two?”
“Court-martialled and dishonourably discharged from Fleet,” Amantus replied.
“I think I prefer our version of justice,” Arla replied with a wry smile.
“As do I,” Amantus admitted. “But the Protectorate is what it is.”
“With some being immune for any criminal actions?”
“Not always; sometimes their rival factions or political enemies get involved.”
“That can work both ways, as I believe you found out,” Arla countered.
“Well, true, though the Ullan Clan aren’t really enemies of my former clan,” Amantus replied. “Though they will eventually regret their decision, having made an enemy of my mother practically guarantees it.”
“I was taught women couldn’t wield power in the higher echelons of the Protectorate?”
“Openly,” Amantus chuckled.
“Ah, right,” Arla smiled, thoroughly enjoying the conversation. “I think I’d enjoy talking to her.”
“I think she’d enjoy talking to you too,” Amantus replied. “Just be careful; she has a very sharp mind.”
“That’s what I’d hope for, a mentor to sharpen my political game,” Arla laughed.
“I’ll mention it when we next talk,” Amantus smiled.
“Thank you, I appreciate that.”
Amantus logged the encounter with Horth, who said he’d listened in but found nothing controversial discussed.
“Just be careful, Commander; security does appear to be gunning for you,” Horth warned.
“Yes, sir,” Amantus saluted, recognising it as a dismissal.
Half a binary cycle later, the Devastator detached from Trema station, escorting the Talion back to the Protectorate. Though he suspected the trade talks had gone well, Amantus did not speculate further, as he knew several other threads of discussion would likely have been on the table.
It was an uneventful voyage back with the Talion also stopping at Conveelt, with Orliantomin Hellarch calling to visit both Admiral Kleevi and, unusually, Admiral Carse. This Amantus suspected had to do with the incarceration and trial of the three officers and probably ensured Commodore Dorrus did not suffer any backlash from it.
“They put a detection unit onto your carry pouch?” an angry Helia asked when Amantus finally contacted her.
“Yes, honoured mother,” Amantus replied. “One of the crew was a plant from security and was monitoring me when I was away from the ship.”
“I see,” Helia hissed. “It was probably placed there during the time they held you.”
“Yes, mother,” Amantus nodded. “I assume the device you gave me would have blocked it?”
“It would, though you were wise not to use it away from protectorate territory.”
“Confederation security is good; their use of AI means that a lot of unobtrusive background checks are done, nor can they be lied to ... the AIs that is.”
“Interesting,” Helia replied thoughtfully. “I wonder if I can get one for the estate.”
“Pre-Regent Arla and I spoke again,” Amantus informed Helia. “She’s interested in talking to you, to sharpen her political instincts, as it were.”
“Really?” Helia looked surprised. “Yes, I think I’d enjoy that too.”
“Did great-grandfather’s talks go well?”
“They did; the clan has exclusive trading rights for various Confederation products that he believes will net us a fine profit for both them and us,” Helia confirmed. “He has also established a working relationship with Regent Imaris as well as letting her candidly know which clans can be trusted and who are involved with the various planet raiders.”
“Well, it may eat into their profits, but I doubt it will sever their links,” Amantus nodded.
“Yes, you are correct,” Helia agreed, impressed with her son’s growing awareness of the political and economic corruption rife within the upper nobility.
“Exclusivity in various trade items should ensure the Confederation/Protectorate pact can’t easily be rescinded in the future, as Clan Aman will have a seat at the table in any talks, I presume?” Amantus conjectured.
“Correct,” Helia replied approvingly. “Now I must go; I have a ball to attend, though I will continue my efforts to rein in security on your behalf.”
“Thank you, mother.”
“Well done on handling the incident at Trema Station,” Admiral Carse informed Dorrus. “Whilst it has caused issues with Clan Rozzu, Fleet will ignore their agitation as Clan Aman has given their approval for your actions.”
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