Chapter 14

The team were assembled for the final briefing by Vilgra in the non-descript room she used for conducting official business.

“No change in plans,” Vilgra announced. “We want you to investigate a specific manufactory in Vimeaon and any contacts it might have been using in its operations.”

“What of their Intelligence Agencies?” Verlig asked.

“Their head, Myrialis, is aware that we will be investigating, though not specifically who will be doing it.”

“I take it they have nothing on this company?” Haelee asked.

“Nothing at all. It pays its taxes and obeys all the rules.”

“Ah, nothing to justify Intelligence getting involved,” I nodded.

“Quite, and Myrialis has to stick to their rules in their Realm, much as she’s curious about what we’re looking for.”

“Not as well observed by AIs,” Torric chuckled.

“Their choice,” Vilgra shrugged. “Just remember that when looking about various places to do with the investigation.”

“Gives us more leeway, but increases the risk of outside interference as well.”

“Doubt their ferals will be anything to worry about,” Trusha shrugged.

“True, but their private security types might. I’m told they are very efficient and quite ruthless towards trespassers ... should they catch you,” Vilgra warned.

“And we are not to leave a trail of bodies behind us either,” Amanda warned. “Myrialis will have to get involved then and I do not want a conversation with Mum over a diplomatic incident ... ever.”

“Yes, Serenissimé,” we all replied.

“Above all, nothing has to be traceable back to Amanda,” Vilgra added.

“Will your wand be able to function on the surface, Torric?” I asked.

“Yes, I’ll be able to tap into the Gloriana’s AI via their sat-net,” he nodded.

“They’ll also be able to do an emergency evac if required, though hopefully won’t have to,” Vilgra informed us.

“So, basically the plan is to get inside, hack their AI and get out again without being caught or noticed?” I asked.

“Simply put, yes. You’ll have five planetary days to do it in. Hopefully that will be enough.”

“Should be,” Trusha nodded.

“You’ll be leaving later today on a courier, Sakla,” Vilgra informed him.

“Right. Well, at least I’ll get to travel back in comfort,” he chuckled.

“Just nosey around the site. Your main job is to eliminate potential risks to Amanda on her visit,” Vilgra confirmed.

“Will do.”

“The rest of you, go over your briefing packs and travel up to the Gloriana next working period.”

As we were travelling from Lassos on a shuttle, I got to spend the night with Amanda and so two very happy young people assembled to say our official goodbyes to Amantil and Herrick.

“Be very careful, all of you,” Herrick warned. “Amanda will probably be above any petty acts by their nobility, the rest of you won’t. And remember, a demand for a duel can be made no matter where you’re from.”

“Bit silly if they do, but we’ll be cautious,” I nodded.

“Appearing silly does not appear to be a major consideration of their Nobility. So, I reiterate, be careful.”

“Yes, Herrick.”

The trip was uneventful, though we all studied hard on the various aspects of Noble society to be found on Gershon, mostly to avoid getting into trouble.

“It does rather appear that, to keep them out of her way, Jessin keeps them at each other’s throats,” Haelee observed, somewhat bemused.

“Mum used to be the same with our Nobles until she became a little more hands on after the Cillort revolt,” Amanda replied.

“Yes, I studied that. It was definitely a wake-up call for the Empire,” Haelee nodded.

“Additional protection is now built into the system with observers within and without the various levels of society,” the AI pointed out. “Overriding our protocols is no longer easy and is monitored remotely as well.”

“Still, as we’ve seen, there are those looking to get around it,” I added.

“Which is why we find humanity to be endlessly fascinating,” the AI replied in a humorous tone.

“Let us hope we can stay ahead of those who wish only to serve themselves, not the Empire,” Amanda nodded.

“That is our hope too, Serenissimé.”

“Most duels only appear to be until first blood,” Verlig noted. “However, that is offset by a good few duels against foreigners being to the death. Apparently they believe they can safely ignore any repercussions of this behaviour.”

“Can we choose a second?” I enquired.

“It would appear that only women can do this.”

“Let us hope they are inclined to behave,” I muttered, realising I might be a prime target.

“Hmm, yes, Dayyev. You don’t have a major noble title to protect you and their Nobility won’t sully themselves going after Retainers,” Haelee frowned.

“I don’t have any title. Dad and Mum are Lamidosti; I just get to tack a meaningless ‘Ser’ on any official activity I’m attending with them.”

“Pretty sure Mum would have given you a title had this come to light before we set off,” Amanda sighed. “Though I suspect that they may be surprised at just how ... resilient you are to anyone attacking you.”

“I really do not wish to draw attention to myself, though if challenged, it won’t be me who is in for a world of hurt,” I chuckled. “What are the choices for one who is challenged.”

“Most choose single pulse hyperbeam pistols in a death duel,” Verlig informed me. “However...”

“However?”

“The challenged has the choice of a wide range of weapons, though may not choose hand-to-hand as this is considered an ignoble practice.”

“So ... I could choose Kilios fighting rods?”

“It would be frowned upon, but yes.”

“It would also avoid the possibility of a Noble challenging him again,” Amanda chuckled as the rest smiled.

“That is definitely true, Amanda,” Verlig confirmed.

“Very well, let’s hope they are not looking for trouble ... though I suspect some at least will try to embarrass me, Jessin or either Realm,” Amanda replied. “But, if you are challenged ... any of you, beat them in such a way as to warn the others of what will happen to them if they try to be obnoxious.”

“Yes, Serenissimé.”

Unlike visits to Imperial worlds, there was no sense of excitement at the Gloriana’s approach to the main passenger station of Gershon, though it was obvious there was some interest from the people living there. Hence when we emerged from the boarding tube, there was a smattering of applause as a platoon of Gershonian Royal Marines snapped to attention. We were then greeted cordially, if at length, by Viscount Perdevalion, the Noble in charge of the station, along with what appeared to be his very large family.

“A pleasure to be here, Viscount,” Amanda replied after the somewhat florid greeting.

“We are honoured,” he smiled. “I am informed you like to meet some of the bystanders?”

“I do. May I?”

“Of course, your Highness,” he replied giving the Gershonian rank in greeting.

Amanda greeted the crowd, who, though controlled by the barriers, seemed surprised, then delighted by her coming to see them. This increased when she accepted a small handmade flower from the child of an Imperial visitor, until by the time we retreated to our quarters, the crowd’s enthusiasm had reached the stage of cheers and tumultuous applause.

“I have to admit that for all I’d heard of your popularity amongst your own subjects, I did not expect to see such adulation from the Gershonians,” Perdevalion said at a later reception where Amanda met and greeted the station staff.

“People see so little of the Nobility that they are often delighted to find that they are human too, enough to meet and greet the ordinary folk,” Amanda replied.

“But aren’t you afraid you’ll be mobbed or assaulted?” Baron Dissvelior, one of the sons of the Viscount, asked.

“I have discreet bodyguards to assist, if that’s the case,” Amanda replied. “That said, no one has tried yet.”

“I see, so you believe any danger is minimal?”

“Very much so, most only wish to see and speak to someone they’d ordinarily not get a chance to.”

“Astonishing.”

“The Empire is far less formal than Gershon, hence my approach.”

“And most admirable it is too.”

I, meanwhile, had gone mingling and sketching the guests. Gershonian fashions being radically different to Imperial ones with tailored multi-layered patterned clothing rather than a working coverall or silks as worn for leisure and play. I soon had a crowd of the younger ones gathered around watching me, enjoying it immensely when I presented them with the sketches. This naturally attracted others, including the ladies, though I noted several of the adult males giving me hostile glances.

“What’s with the men?” I asked the young lady I was drawing in her finery.

“Jealousy. You’re attracting attention, they aren’t,” she giggled.

“Costs nothing to wander over and just say hello or greet someone,” I shrugged.

“They have to be careful, approaching someone spoken for could be seen as a slight on that person’s honour,” she replied with a smile.

“Er ... I’m OK drawing you; I hope?”

“You are, as I approached you. Don’t worry, unless you do something really stupid, they won’t approach, just make their hostility known.”

“Thank you...?”

“Hellioris.”

“Thank you, Lady Hellioris. Here’s your picture.’

“Oh my goodness! That’s simply wonderful,” she gushed before showing it to her friends.

“You’re welcome. Anyone else?”

“Me, please,” a young man, clearly a relative of the Viscount, requested politely.

“No problem. You appear to have an intended, would you like me to sketch you together?”

“You can? I mean, yes please!”

This seemed to draw a reaction from the watchers, several moving away to speak to a young man or woman then return with them, clearly intending to be sketched together.

“Oh that I had such a talent,” the young woman I was sketching sighed.

“You can learn. However, my talent, such as it is, appears to be something I was born with,” I replied with a friendly smile.

“Yes, we are taught sketching and other forms of art as part of grooming for our debut ceremonies where we are presented to the Princess Royal. Sadly, it’s not a talent I have.”

“There is usually something one is good at, take pride in that,” I replied, handing over the sketch to the pair, to their obvious delight.