Chapter 22

“We have the latest reports from the expeditionary force, Serenissima,” Grand Admiral Vuspic announced at the Security Group meeting.

“Go ahead, Admiral,” Amantil replied.

“They have established contact with several of the local Realms from their Tafta base and assisted one, the Florven Technocracy, to turn back an alien fleet,” he began.

“I take it that the aliens are still using multiple fleets?” Cure David asked.

“I’m afraid so, they also appear to be ruthless enough to destroy their ships if we board them, or rather detach the section we have invaded and then destroy it.”

“Casualties?”

“Six hundred and seventeen Troopers, four hundred and thirty-two Fleet as well as two destroyers.”

“Our hearts go out to their families and friends,” Amantil stated quietly, getting murmurs of agreement from the rest of the group. “Please go on, Admiral.”

“Serenissima,” Vuspic responded. “Since then the 5^th Fleet have encountered an attempt by the Ilmaine Kingdom, a rapidly growing Realm of eighty-seven worlds, which appears to be run in a feudal manner. It has a small technocratic elite, held as hostages, to maintain their technology and infrastructure and a ruthless noble class keeping everyone below them in place.”

“Nice people, and they attacked us?” Senior Imperial Troubleshooter Herrick asked.

“They did, Herrick, though I suspect they regretted it as we destroyed most of their fleet as well as capturing several prizes which we’ve sold to the Florven Technocracy.”

“Good, it will give us a medium of exchange.”

“The second expeditionary fleet is approaching Tafta led by the 6^th and 7^th Fleets and will emerge in three days, it includes the Hegemony vessels, the disintegration beams we purchased from the Hegemony and the adapted ones for our Heavy Fighters we built from their designs. Also the new multi-firing pellet weapons designed by Fleet Research from Cure David’s suggestion,” Vuspic went on.

“And the third expeditionary force?” Amantil asked.

“Will be led by the 12^th and 13^th Fleets who will have been adapted to carry the new high-power disintegration beams. Also travelling with them will be the Melanoqi Amazona and Regialis Fleets as well as the 1^st Gershonian Royal Fleet and two of the Ducal Fleets. We intend to use them to stop the claim jumping of the Trenoc worlds as we will be negotiating their handover to the Florven Technocracy.”

“Yes, High Bureaucrat Taisha is to do that on behalf of the Empire. In return the Trenocians and the Heggesipians will be moving en-masse to settle the worlds the aliens devastated in the Empire,” Justiciar Bonsarr noted.

“We have been in contact with several other devastated Realms as well,” Vuspic added. “They are also seeking asylum in the Empire.”

“It will be granted,” Amantil replied. “Though they will be expected to live by our rules.”

“They have been advised of this,” Vuspic nodded. “It did not deter them; most are severely traumatised by the alien raids.”

“What of their worlds?” Imperial Troubleshooter Vilgra asked.

“They will probably go to whoever seizes them. We can protect the Trenocian worlds as we have an agreement with them, but not any others, we’re just too few, though the freighters have transported all who would leave ... so far.”

“I take it we have not reached all the worlds devastated then?”

“No, Vilgra, we haven’t, though we will have by the time the second expeditionary fleet arrives.”

“So, I take it everything is going to plan?” Amantil asked.

“Yes, we’re now producing the disintegration beam weapons in bulk and installing them in the Fleet ships as secondary weapons. We’re also placing them into battlestar grids on our critical worlds and plan, eventually, to add them to all planets with a battlestar grid,” Vuspic replied, finishing his briefing.

Vangis watched the tri-dee tank in awe as the massive Imperial expeditionary re-supply fleet emerged close to the space station.

“So many,” his second in command breathed.

“Mostly freighters,” Admiral Tret explained. “It means we can start sending the refugees to the Empire on the adapted freighters. We’ve built enough stasis tanks to accommodate them.”

“I can’t believe how quickly your AIs get production started,” Vangis noted.

“Well, it’s thanks to your people providing the raw materials in your abandoned cities,” Tret replied as a call came in from Admiral Desac of the 7^th Fleet formally requesting permission to dock and start unloading as well as the transfer of Imperial High Bureaucrat Taisha.

“We’d best go greet her,” Tret advised. “She’s newly promoted to the High Bureaucrat post and might be a bit punctilious about protocols.”

“Should I invite the Director Elloson?” Vangis asked.

“Yes. She’ll be mostly negotiating with the Technocracy over your abandoned worlds,” Tret nodded.

“Yes, and my people will be leaving soon.”

“They’ll settle in well in the Empire, you don’t have any weird quirks or religions,” Tret chuckled as they headed off.

“True, will be odd being watched all the time though,” Vangis shrugged.

“You get used to it and eventually you just don’t notice it’s there.”

They were joined by Director Elloson who was keen to begin negotiations with the Empire over the abandoned Trenocian worlds as well as keen to see what a High Bureaucrat looked like and how they acted.

“She seems remarkably young,” he noted to Tret as Taisha emerged from the shuttle.

“She is. However she rose up through the ranks by hard work and sheer competence. Her father was a High Bureaucrat as well so she’ll know what’s expected,” Tret replied, before saluting (as did all the military staff) Taisha.

“Greetings, gentlemen,” she began. “I am High Bureaucrat Taisha. Whilst here I will be the voice and eyes of Empress Amantil.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Meritocrat Taisha,” Tret spoke first. “I am Admiral Tret of 4^th Fleet. May I introduce Senior Comptroller Vangis representing the Trenoc Alliance and Director Elloson representing the Florven Technocracy.”

“You are most welcome, Meritocrat. We’ll do our best to make your stay comfortable and it’s just Vangis now,” Vangis replied.

“The Florven Technocracy looks forward to the upcoming negotiations,” Elloson added.

“Thank you, Vangis,” Taisha replied. “The negotiations should be straightforward, I read your representations on my way here, Director Elloson. Provided you can supply the materiel we need, the worlds will be deeded to you by the Trenocians.”

“There are other matters,” a pleased looking Elloson responded.

“No doubt, but here is not the place to discuss them.”

“Of course, Meritocrat.”

“I will escort you and your staff to your rooms, Meritocrat,” Tret spoke up.

“Thank you, Admiral. I’ll have the AIs set up meetings for local time tomorrow to go over various details with Florven and Trenoc as well as an appraisal of the current situation from Fleet.”

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Well, I intend to see my niece whilst I’m here.”

“Your niece?”

“Oh, not by blood, just the daughter of a good friend of mine.”

“I’ll arrange for her to be available.”

“That might not be so easy, Admiral. She’s in Ground Force, one of their Healers.”

“Then I’ll arrange for Senior Commander Gunlod to contact you to make those arrangements. There is a reception being held in your honour tonight, I’ll see if we can get her and her companions to attend.”

“Thank you, it will be good to see Kiria again.”

“Healer Kiria?”

“Yes, do you know of her?”

“I do indeed, Meritocrat. A remarkable and talented young lady, though we in Fleet know her more by her military prowess.”

“She is impressive when threatened, yes,” Taisha replied with a smile.

“She most certainly is.”

“Hey, Kiria. Ensure your dress uniform is in good condition. We have an invite to the High Bureaucrat’s reception tonight,” Flinn informed me. “You too, Torun. Make sure the medals are shiny.”

“High Bureaucrat?” I asked, a bit caught out.

“Meritocrat Taisha, Oversight without Portfolio for the Expeditionary Force,” the AI informed me.

“Oh, Aunt Taisha, that explains it.”

“Don’t you just love how she name drops on occasion?” Torun giggled.

“Yeah, but the clincher was Aunt Manny,” Flinn grinned.

“Yeah, that was gobsmacking,” Torun laughed out loud, using one of my Dad’s terms that had caught on in the Healer section.

“Hey, I’m just ordinary little me. They’re the famous ones,” I protested.

“If it gets us invites to places with free food and booze...” Flinn teased.

“Still, nice to know Aunt Taisha got a promotion. Wonder if Uncle Mance is with her?” I mused out loud.

“He is not, Kiria,” the AI informed me.

“Aw, pity. He’s got some good stories,” I sighed.

“Is he famous?” Torun asked.

“Not really, he was the Commander of a Heavy Fighter Squadron during the defence of Vircon during the Hegemony Conflict. Guess that makes him a hero, though he doesn’t think he is,” I replied. “He does think Aunt Taisha is one though, as she was in manual control of the battlestar grid during that fight.”

“Wow,” Torun breathed. “You sure have interesting friends and family, Kir.”

“Sure do, but you don’t really notice it when you live amongst them.”

“Guess you wouldn’t,” Flinn nodded.

The Ground Force dress uniform was a definite cut above our fatigues or armour, but compared to Fleet, the Hegemony Officers as well as various guests from the Technocracy and Alliance as I viewed things we looked like three wallflowers as we notified security of our presence before being allowed to enter and join the greeting line to say ‘hi’.

“Kiria!” Taisha enthusiastically greeted us, giving me a hug as opposed to the polite words she exchanged with other guests.

“Aunt Taisha, it’s wonderful to see you,” I responded just as enthusiastically.

“Is everything OK with you and please introduce your friends,” she requested.

“Everything is fine Aunty,” I grinned. “This is Healer Flinn and Healer Torun.” (Healers usually ignored their military ranks, as far as they were concerned, the title ‘Healer’ was far higher.)

“So good to meet you,” she greeted them with a dazzling smile. “We’ll have time to chat later, so off you go and have fun.”

“Yes, Meritocrat,” we all replied and headed into the huge reception room, quickly spotting the bar, though noticing various waiters wandering around with drinks on trays too.

It was also noticeable that there were several eyes tracking us ... or rather me. I figured most of them were wondering just who I was (and no doubt being informed by the various AIs) though as I’d been to several official events with my family, it didn’t bother me as much as it appeared to bother Flinn and Torun.