EMPIRE: Resistance

by Richard F. Weyand

  Darden waved a hand to Schneider, who stood up and switched the display to alias accounts. Again, thousands of them were highlighted.

  “We used the matchups between alias names and descendants’ real names to work on our accounts map. We’ve identified dozens of what we call ‘parent accounts,’ accounts out of which these people are being paid into their aliases. These are similar to the Barry Lincoln account used to pay the potential assassins on the sector governors’ and royal heirs’ staffs. These parent accounts, however, are being used to pay supplemental amounts to descendants in the Imperial service.”

  “Why would they be paid by the plutocrats, Ms. Schneider?” Burked asked. “Aren’t they already being paid by the service?”

  “Yes, Milady. The supplemental payments are large, larger than their service pay. I guess if you’re a member of a plutocratic family, you can expect incomes much higher than those paid by Imperial service, and the family is making up the difference.”

  “I see,” Burke said, but she was frowning.

  “Most of the deposits into these accounts are being accumulated, presumably against the time the person retires from the service and takes up some other activity.”

  “And you’ve identified other alias accounts being paid by these parent accounts, Ms. Schneider?” Ardmore asked.

  “Yes, Sire. Ms. Darden’s group is now refining their computer algorithm to see if they can’t match up more of these other accounts to individuals. In addition, we’ve found what we call ‘grandparent accounts,’ out of which the parent accounts are being funded.”

  “How much money is in these alias accounts, the parent accounts, and the grandparent accounts, Ms. Schneider?” Ardmore asked. “Just the ones you’ve identified as being part of all this?”

  “It’s tens of trillions of credits, Sire.”

  “What high-ranking people have you identified in the services who are part of this group, Ms. Darden?” Burke asked.

  “There are some generals and admirals, Milady. Mostly they are in positions on the staff of high-ranking people, like senior aides and the like. Of course, most of these people are still working up the career ladder.”

  “And this goes back generations, Ms. Darden?”

  “Yes, Milady.”

  Burke nodded, but she was clearly fuming.

  “Very good, Ms. Schneider, Ms. Darden,” Ardmore said. “We will get back to you with any actions to be taken with regard to this information.”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  “I want to execute them all,” Burke said, pacing back and forth in their private living room after the meeting with Schneider and Darden. “For treason. We can do that, can’t we?”

  “Of course, we can. I’m not sure it’s the best course, though,” Ardmore said.

  Ardmore was sitting in one of the big armchairs. Burke stopped pacing and stood facing him, hands on hips.

  “What then?”

  Ardmore held both hands up defensively.

  “Don’t get mad at me. I didn’t do anything.”

  Burke flopped onto the couch.

  “Sorry. It just really makes me angry. You weren’t in the military, so you can’t understand.”

  “I understand it makes you angry,” Ardmore said. “But I have a better resolution, I think.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Give them a dishonorable discharge. Dismiss them from the service. No retirement payments. Charge them with treason, give them the death sentence, then suspend the sentence. If they do anything else out of line – ever – they’re executed, which makes them a problem for the plutocrats. They have to support them, but they’ll be loathe to do anything and risk the death sentence.”

  “That’s it?” Burke asked.

  “No. One more thing. Seize all the money, in all the alias accounts linked to this whole thing. Any and all accounts we can link to an account we know is poisoned.”

  “Ooo. I like that. So we let them go, which doesn’t create any more angry, vengeful people, like spouses and children, but we take all the organization’s money.”

  “All of it we know about, yes,” Ardmore said.

  Burke thought about it, then started nodding.

  “OK, Jimmy. I can go along with that.”

  Rapprochement

  It was the dedication of the new wing of the Baden Sector History Museum in Heidelberg that gave Franz Becker the opportunity he was watching for. All the social elite of Baden were there, many of them contributors to the museum’s building fund. Becker was himself a major contributor to the new wing.

  The museum focused on Baden’s past as an independent star kingdom, back before the Fifty Years War had laid waste to a wide swath of human space. The Kingdom of Sintar, under the able rule of its kings and queens, had survived to pick up the pieces, and Baden had become a sector in the new Sintaran Empire. That was seven hundred years before, and Baden had been at peace since.

  The new wing was a recreation of a portion of the interior of the palace of the last Kaiser of Baden, a building that had been destroyed in the war along with most of Heidelberg. VR projections of the Kaiser and his wife were part of the display, and visitors could walk through the Throne Room and other rooms of the recreation even as courtiers and service people went about their business.

  After the ceremony, during which Baden Sector Governor von Hesse cut the ribbon allowing everyone into the new wing, the invitation-only attendees moved on into the large reception room for cocktails and noshes.

  Becker, as a major contributor, knew he would likely be approached by von Hesse, and he was not disappointed.

  “Ah, Mr. Becker, there you are,” von Hesse said, walking up to Becker, who had placed himself in a quiet corner.

  “Governor von Hesse,” Becker said, shaking hands. “As chairman of the expansion project, you are to be congratulated. This is magnificent.”

  “My role was primarily ceremonial, Mr. Becker. Nonetheless, I agree with you. The committee did a wonderful job. Quite something to see it as it once was, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, a bit of splendor in a tumultuous period, Governor. As a businessman, I much prefer peace and tranquility. It’s better for business. Better for everybody, really.”

  Von Hesse nodded. It was well known the Stauss-Becker family were staunch supporters of the Throne, and had been for centuries. Von Hesse himself at this point found himself torn. While he had been maneuvering against the Throne for decades, the revelation of the nanite murder command and the discovery of a potential assassin on his own staff had left him something of a man without a country.

  Von Hesse had sought out Becker to feel him out. He saw the opening Becker gave him and pushed through it.

  “Yes, I understand, Mr. Becker. As a younger man, I was drawn to the romance of the independent Baden that was. Now, though, I find myself more content with the peace and security of being an Imperial sector, a peace and security an independent Baden was never able to achieve.”

  Von Hesse’s statement floored Becker. True, Becker had dangled the opening, but could it really be this easy? The events of the last three months must have shaken von Hesse even more than he had thought. ‘As a younger man’ was no more than three months younger, if Becker had to guess.

  “You know, Governor von Hesse, I believe there are likely ways we could work together to make that peace and security even more beneficial, leverage it for the benefit of all the people of Baden. We should probably have a private meeting to discuss the matter fully.”

  Not ‘further,’ von Hesse noted, but ‘fully.’ Was there a deal on the table? There might be. As the head of the Stauss-Becker family, Franz Becker might be close to the Throne. The Emperor Trajan and Empress Amanda had personally – well, in VR projection, of course – attended Otto Stauss’ funeral three hundred years before. That was the first and last time a ruler of Sintar had done anything of the kind. If Becker was not already in contact with the Throne, he certainly could be.

  Of course, as s
ector governor, von Hesse could also contact the Throne any time he wished. That was always as a supplicant, however. The Throne contacted you when the ruler wanted something. To be an ally of the Throne, though....

  “I think that is a wonderful idea, Mr. Becker. And I think we should do it sooner rather than later. What would be a good time for you?

  “I am at your convenience, Governor von Hesse.”

  “Shall we say tomorrow morning? About ten? In my private office?”

  The next day was Saturday. Becker had no hard conflicts on his schedule. That was no doubt why von Hesse had chosen it. There were no hard conflicts on his schedule, either, and it would be a quieter meeting.

  “Of course, Governor. As you say, sooner is better than later.”

  “I’ll have my car pick you up. Until then, Mr. Becker.”

  “And congratulations again, Governor von Hesse.”

  It was Saturday morning when Ardmore and Burke saw the message from Becker. They talked about it over breakfast.

  “That is an extraordinary development,” Ardmore said.

  “Yes,” Burke said. “Maybe we can get some of this tidied up. The sector governors, at least.”

  She looked at the message again in VR.

  To: Ptolemy and Arsinoe, Imp.

  From: Franz Becker

  Subject: von Hesse

  Meeting with von Hesse Saturday morning.

  Indications are he is open to a deal.

  Terms remain the same?

  “Did you respond to Mr. Becker?” Burke asked.

  “Yes. I told him the terms we discussed remain on the table. I was confident I knew your mind on the matter.”

  “Of course,” Burke said. “Here’s hoping his meeting goes well.”

  At quarter to ten, the butler came into Franz Becker’s study in his city house.

  “Governor von Hesse’s car is here for you, sir.”

  “Thank you, Barnes.”

  Becker got up from his desk and went out to the car. It was an armored limousine groundcar not unlike Becker’s own. The driver held the door for him while the shotgun remained seated, then walked around the groundcar and got in. It was only a mile or so to the governor’s residence, and the drive was a quick one.

  The driver did not go into the front entrance of the residence grounds, though. Instead, he drove around the back to a gate in the back wall, sort of a utility gate, as if he had gone out to fuel up the car and was returning.

  The guards waved the familiar car and driver through, and the driver drove up to one of the rear entrances of the residence, the sort of entrance staff people would use when reporting to work. The driver came around the groundcar and let him out. There was a butler waiting at the door who showed Becker into the residence.

  “This way, please, sir. I’ll show you to Governor von Hesse’s office.”

  The butler showed him down a short corridor, into a wider passage, then stopped at a door. He opened the door and waved Becker inside.

  “Ah, Mr. Becker. Thank you so much for coming,” von Hesse said, getting up and coming around from behind his desk.

  “It’s good to see you again, Governor von Hesse.”

  The two men shook hands.

  “I hope the travel arrangements were satisfactory. The press are very aggressive these days, and I hoped to speak with you privately.”

  “More than satisfactory, Governor von Hesse. I understand completely.”

  Von Hesse waved to a couple of armchairs.

  “Please, have a seat, Mr. Becker.”

  “Thank you, Governor.”

  They were both seated.

  “I would think, after so many years of knowing each other, we could finally move to first names, Mr. Becker. Call me Manfred.”

  “Very well, Manfred. Please call me Franz.”

  Von Hesse nodded.

  “So, Franz, our little discussion last night certainly got me thinking. As you must know, I have for some time been somewhat estranged from the Throne.”

  “I was aware of something of the kind, Manfred.”

  “Yes. It has been a source of friction within the Empire. At the same time, the occupants of the Throne have for some time been, well, wanting from my point of view. Something was lacking. Vision perhaps. Or the vigor to carry that vision through. That, though, is no longer the case.”

  “I think that much is clear already, even as early in Their Majesties’ reign as we are.”

  “Yes, I think so, too, Franz. In the face of the previous lack, though, someone needed to provide leadership. As sector governor, it fell to me to provide it for Baden. Now that such an active role is no longer required at the sector governor level, however, I am somewhat at a loss as to how to achieve a more– normal, shall we say, relationship with the Throne.”

  “Manfred, I was speaking with Their Majesties on this very subject recently. You are, of course, not the only sector governor who has felt such pressures to govern your sector with perhaps more vigor and independence than might have been considered appropriate in a time of stronger rulers on the Throne. Their Majesties, too, are seeking some way to normalize these relationships, and put them on a more sustainable footing.”

  Ah, so he was in direct contact with the Emperor and Empress, as von Hesse had surmised. Perhaps a solution was available to him.

  “Well, if people are truly working toward the same goal, Franz, much is possible. Sustainability is a key to me. As we spoke about last night, peace and security are valuable to me as well as to the people of Baden Sector.”

  “My understanding is there would be no problem with maintaining many things as they are, Manfred. Their Majesties are not unsatisfied with the administrative skills of any of their current sector governors. I, in fact, spoke highly of yours in this context. It is only the apparent disagreement over the division of authority that troubles the Throne. Were there to be agreement on that point, I would think Their Majesties would be more than happy to maintain their current sector governors in the positions they now hold.”

  “That is indeed good news, Franz, and thank you for speaking up for me. The Throne, of course, is the source of all authority in the Empire, and now, with rulers who are competent to wield it effectively, I would be happy to take a less proactive role in governance. Along the line of those who served in the time of the great Emperors.”

  “Manfred, I think that would do a lot to seal the rift, and I encourage you to pursue this line. I think it would be most beneficial for everyone.”

  “Welcome news, Franz. At the same time, I worry some of my colleagues – and even I myself – may perhaps have acted outside the bounds of what in hindsight might be considered appropriate, even to the point of – irritating, perhaps is the word – the Throne, and lead to repercussions.”

  “I understand, Manfred. Yet my appreciation of Their Majesties forward-looking view leads me to believe something can be put in place to address that concern. A blanket Imperial Pardon, perhaps – not a public one, mind you, which would imply some criminality had actually taken place – but a very private one, under Imperial header. In the circumstance that something might come up that occurred prior to such a normalization of the relationship.”

  “Franz, would such a pardon require one reveal things one was told in confidence, perhaps by others similarly estranged from the Throne?”

  Becker shook his head.

  “I think Their Majesties have a much better grasp of what is going on in the Empire than people give them credit for, Manfred. I doubt there is much you can tell them they do not already know. Revealing confidences would not be a requirement.”

  Von Hesse raised an eyebrow at that. Then again, Their Majesties were not to be underestimated. His erstwhile friends had clearly done that twice, and would no doubt reap the rewards. He slowly nodded.

  “I would find such an accommodation with the Throne to be a positive not just for me, but for the entire sector, and I am confident many of my colleagues in a similar situation
would as well. I have just one last question for you, Franz.”

  Becker turned over his hand on the arm of the chair, inviting von Hesse to go ahead.

  “Franz, how confident are you Their Majesties are amenable to such a normalization, along those terms?”

  “Very confident, Manfred. Very confident, indeed.”

  “Perhaps I should speak to Their Majesties, then.”

  “I would be pleased to propose such a meeting to Their Majesties, Manfred. As a citizen of Baden sector, and a supporter of the Throne.”

  “That would be most welcome, Franz. We can perhaps finally put all this behind us, and get on with good governance.”

  Von Hesse stood, and Becker followed suit. They shook hands.

  “Thank you again for coming, Franz.”

  “It was my pleasure, Manfred.”

  Von Hesse summoned his butler in VR, who escorted Becker back out to the armored groundcar for the short tip home.

  Ardmore and Burke were early to the meeting and were waiting in channel twenty, the featureless room with three leather club chairs, when von Hesse arrived.

  They were both wearing their coronation outfits, with Ardmore all in black and Burke wearing the diaphanous chiffon gown and her hair flowing down her back. They both wore the crowns, he the gold laurel wreath and she the gold circlet with the Star of Humanity on her forehead and the crown jewels of Sintar across her breast. As this was in VR, they were avatars, of course, and Burke had not had to spend four hours to get ready.

  Burke had found notes in the Empress Marie’s files about the adjustments the Empress Amanda had made to the club chair programming to emphasize Empress Marie’s power and beauty. She found the modifications in the room’s programming and applied them to her own configuration, so any chair she sat in within channel 20 would conform in the same way. She sat with her forearms along the arms of the chair, her hands hooked over the ends of the arms, and her bell sleeves hanging over the outside of the arms.

  When they were ready, they opened the channel to von Hesse, who appeared a minute or two later. He was dressed in an expensive and well-tailored business suit.