Chapter 37

“Detecting orbital traffic,” Mutra informed Janta. “Looks like several powered down destroyers of some type.”

“Hiding or just on standby?”

“I suspect hiding. Standard Fleet practice is always to have detection sensors going whilst orbiting a world the Empire runs.”

“Probably lying in wait then, to see who might turn up,” Janta nodded. “Last survey would place an Imperial style Destroyer at the top of the food chain of any of the known local Realms.”

“Wonder what they are up to down there?”

“Doubt it’s anything good.”

“True,” Mutra sighed. “There’s a freighter emerging from XD. Locking on to comm signals.”

“Open?”

“No encrypted. AIs are on it but we might have to send them to Vreekoos.”

“Looks like a shuttle’s coming up to greet them,” Janta pointed out.

“Yep, I suspect this is some sort of slave camp and they’re producing illegal stuff to sell in the Empire and beyond ... just a suspicion though.”

“Doubt it’s good, whatever it is,” Janta nodded. “Want to follow the freighter when it’s loaded to see who gets the cargo?”

“Yep. There’s no evidence of any heavies in orbit and I’m pretty sure Fleet will want to know who is running this.”

“Agreed. Moving into position. We’ll transmit the data when they move to XD and follow.”

The Security Group was Amantil’s personal talking shop where matters of concern within the Empire were discussed, often informally where protocols were relaxed and honest, as opposed to political, answers were expected. Usually only meeting every binary cycle of ten Vreekoosian days, this one had been summoned early by the Empress herself.

“High Admiral Limun, how quickly could we get some sort of presence into the Rogoth system?” Amantil asked the Head of Fleet after they’d viewed the tri-dee of the refugees and an initial report from the Misty Cloud.

“Closest Fleet is the 15^th,” he replied. “I can order a flotilla in there with Medical and Assault Carrier support immediately,” he replied.

“Please do so. Inform them I want prisoners if possible.”

“By your command, Serenissima. Though it may be that the ground works at least will be destroyed.”

“Yes, though I doubt we can infiltrate, so we’ll just have to take chances.”

“Serenissima,” he nodded and then moved to a secure console at the end of the room to give out orders.

“Any idea where this freighter is headed?” Cure David asked.

“Course heading is taking it to the Corvallen Registry,” High Admiral Vuspic of FleetInt replied. “Unfortunately it’s not somewhere we have a dispute with, so other than possibly tracking a destination, the Misty Cloud will not gain us much more in the way of intelligence.”

“I will alert the various assets we maintain in the Registry once we know a destination, but it’s likely only being used as a distribution centre to channel whatever it is they are carrying elsewhere,” Herrick informed the Group from his position as Senior Imperial Troubleshooter.

“The Registry usually just acts as a clearing house for various interstellar goods, a cheaper version than the Gullen or Arconians,” Vilgra added.

“Yes, a smugglers paradise,” Kirim sighed.

“Very much so,” Meritocrat Vasuul, Head of ImpSec acknowledged.

“Do what you can, please,” Amantil requested. “Our main problem is this base and what may have been done by Imperial subjects.”

“Are we sure it was actually our people?” Justiciar Bonsarr asked.

“Our people, no,” Amantil admitted. “Using our name, yes. The recordings on the refugee ship confirm it.”

There was a thoughtful silence. As far as most of the group were aware, there was only one Empire within the local Realms they knew of. There were a good few Kingdoms and Principalities as well as other types, though all knew not to go abusing the name of the Empire by way of subterfuge as the Empire was likely to take extreme action over it.

“It may be a false-flag operation,” Cure David acknowledged. “But, as they still appear to occupy that world, unlikely.”

“I agree,” Orliantomin Honack replied. “Though we won’t know for certain who or what until we liberate that world.”

“And then what?” Limun asked.

“Up to the survivors,” Amantil replied. “Whilst it’s a little far out to normally permit them joining us, I will not refuse such a request if an atrocity was committed using our name.”

“Serenissima,” Limun acknowledged.

The Gloriana, along with the Teftol, towing the refugees, had finally reached Vreekoos and left the refugee ship in the hands of several Fleet tugs who were manoeuvring it into the Fleet yards above the northern pole of the planet.

Instead of the usual welcome home messages, we found ourselves summoned directly to the palace on Lassos for an immediate debrief as well as a possible urgent new mission.

“Serenissima,” we all greeted, as well as giving the full bow, as our group was escorted directly into the throne room at Lassos where Amantil was seated on the throne, wearing her diadem.

“Welcome back,” Amantil replied. “Sorry to do this but I want you back on the Gloriana and en-route to Rogoth to join up with a flotilla from the 15^th Fleet as soon as possible.”

“By your command, Serenissima,” Amanda formally replied. “Our task?”

“The Gloriana will remain with the Medical Carrier Restore until the world is liberated. You will then sit in judgment over any prisoners seized as well as offer my personal apology to the natives should we find that any atrocities have been done by Imperial subjects or in the Empire’s name.”

“I understand. It shall be done,” Amanda acknowledged as we all bowed again and were escorted out where we were met by my Mum and Dad along with Herrick.

Hugs were exchanged as well as further information given. Herrick explained that the throne room scene had been broadcast to the High Court sitting in closed session, to let them know just how seriously the Empress was taking the situation.

“I wondered who it was for,” Amanda commented.

“Cass and I will be travelling with you,” Dad informed me. “Oh, Hiqua too, as Cass’ retainer.”

“Who is Girol staying with?” I asked.

“His Aunt Cassira.”

“Bet Galh was hoping it was going to be with Mum,” I chuckled, making my dad smile.

“Probably, though whilst we aren’t following the purity mandates, we do want to protect her reputation somewhat,” he replied as Amantil made her appearance, without her diadem, and hugged Amanda.

“Understandable,” I nodded as Mum came up to me for a hug.

“Be careful,” she admonished me.

“I will, Mum. Give my love to Hilli, Truna and Galh.”

“I will. They’ll be sorry they missed you, but this is important.”

“Yes, reputations are at stake, I know,” I nodded.

“Yes, it might seem a little over the top, but to Manny, her reputation and that of the Empire is very important.”

“Understood.”

There was a slight delay as Dad, Hiqua and Aunt Cass needed to pick up their travelling necessities whilst we were briefed on a few items to do with Fleet operations and what to expect, which basically boiled down to Amanda being told not to interfere with the chain of command. Still, it wasn’t long before we were all on the shuttle back up to the Gloriana for the journey to join a flotilla of the 15^th Fleet.

“I can see the benefits of travelling in this ship,” Dad chuckled as we enjoyed a superb meal. “Luxury liners are fun too though.”

“The security risk on one of them was too high,” Amanda explained. “Plus an ordinary Fleet vessel too crowded.”

“Yes, an ordinary starliner would be a sitting duck for any type of armed vessel,” Aunt Cass nodded. “Though Fleet vessels are comfortable enough, if a tad boring.”

“Well, Mum decided that as I would be travelling a lot to order something both well-armed as well as luxurious,” Amanda explained. “Not that I expect we’ll ever fire a shot in anger, though admittedly it’s nice to know we could.”

“Plus, you aren’t the only one using it,” Hiqua added.

“True, there have been a few others being transported around in her, mostly High Bureaucrats.”

“Yes, I expect that if I need to leave the Empire to cure someone, it’ll be me travelling on her,” Dad nodded. “As it is we don’t know for sure what to expect on Rogoth.”

“Umm, I’ve seen the encampment-cum-barracks they have set up. I doubt its anything good for the people who survived,” Amanda sighed.

“That’s why your Dad and I are along too,” Aunt Cass added. “He to cure, me to authorise extensive medical aid if needed.”

“I’m glad you’re along,” Torric replied. “Nice to have someone to talk shop with, if I need to.”

“Well, we’ll try not to bore everyone here to tears when we do, but yes,” Cass smiled.

“There are plenty of places for a quiet chat,” I chuckled, seeing a spark of mutual attraction between Aunt Cass and Torric.

“Hope I don’t get too bored,” Hiqua sighed. “I very much doubt I’ll need to do much in the way of protecting your reputation during this voyage, Cass.”

“I know, but propriety demands it. Same with young Haelee here and Amanda,” Cass chuckled.

“She pretty much does her own thing, except in public,” Haelee giggled.

“Yes, I’ve seen the reports of her occasional forays into the lower levels with young Dayyev,” Cass smiled.

“I have Trusha to look after me too,” Amanda added.

“Yes. There’ve been no reports of any such forays in the newsies; for you, or Vicki.”

“ImpSec and the Guardians cover up the occasional situation, but the newsies rarely travel to the lower levels,” Amanda nodded.

“They did for my Plenna,” Hiqua added.

“Yes, that was annoying for both him and Vicki,” Amanda agreed. “Caused us to revise our security somewhat with regards to our behaviour when out in public.”

“Yes, no lovey-dovey stuff,” Hiqua giggled. “But only because of the holo-disguises you wear.”

“Only at my expos,” I chuckled. “We both wear one when out and about in general now.”

“Yes, smart move,” she agreed.

As the Gloriana was travelling at full speed we reached the rendezvous point with the flotilla from the 15^th within a day and joined them at normal cruising speed as we headed towards Rogoth. Commodore Gellis commanding the flotilla was clearly competent, though merely designated an aide to keep Amanda updated and otherwise ignored her. This Amanda took in her stride, as at least the aide was competent and well informed of the progress. The flotilla, with the attached Assault and Medical Carriers, made its way to the Rogoth system and planned an approach of the main flotilla to drop out of XD space as close to the planet as possible whilst we and the Medical Carrier Restore along with a couple of tenders emerged at the edge of the system. Aunt Cass and Torric then took a shuttle over to the Carrier to introduce themselves to the Senior Healer as the assault on the planet began.

“Looks like we surprised them, though there are a lot more of them than was initially reported,” I commented as we watched the battle unfold in a tri-dee cube.

“Nothing heavier than a cruiser so far,” Dad added. “Looks more like they are scattering and trying to reach the XD boundary.”