Challenged to the limits of their learning ability, Kayla and Dan’L pushed themselves to the max. Ranger Dan’L was accelerated to the ES-class fighter simulators. He trained on the simulators ten hours a day, seven days a week, and passed the course in seven weeks. Dan’L flew the ES-class warbirds in live flights another two months with various instructors, and passed his tests. Upon receiving his ES-class pilot wings, he was awarded a bonus and three days off-duty. Then Dan’L was assigned to the Imperial Command Battle Cruiser for Emperor P’Lau, to escort and protect his Sovereign. He was also sent to be P’Lau’s eyes and ears there.
Aboard the Imperial Battle Cruiser
The Imperial Command Battle Cruiser was the flagship of the Imperial Fleet, and the primary transport for Emperor P’Lau. Dan’L was assigned to the ship, and ordered to secretly investigate the Cruiser while carrying out his usual Ranger duties. The anomaly shown inside the Royal Suite on the red Dalian crystal holograph within the gold ring had not yet been found, and P’Lau felt it was still on board his Battle Cruiser. With hard work and some good luck, perhaps Ranger Dan’L could learn more about the anomaly, or whatever the object was physically. And hopefully, find it.
Friendly, out-going and always willing to assist the Imperial Guardsmen or Space Cadre officers on board the Cruiser, Ranger Dan’L became much sought-after for many tasks. Because of his willingness to assist in many areas, Dan’L was learning firsthand about the massive Cruiser operations. He knew there were hundreds of potential hiding places for some anomalous object approximately the length and size of what appeared in the Royal Suite scan on the red Dalian crystal holograph.
Under the guise of learning all about the Cruiser, Dan’L methodically scanned every floor, section, compartment, and room of the Cruiser during his off-duty hours. He’d tuck his small, portable scanner in his cloak pocket and casually walk from stem to stern, scanning everything. At meal time, he chatted with the ship’s officers and learned where they worked, what their duties were, and other valuable information. The officers enjoyed the young Ranger’s company, and his obvious eagerness to learn about their work.
More reserved were the Imperial Guardsmen. They could not fault Dan’L for being so interested in the largest, most powerful, and fastest battleship in the fleet. But it was uncommon behavior for a Borgund Ranger to be so socially active. The trained assassins and protectors of the Emperor usually kept to themselves.
Imperial Guard Commander Nat’N said to Dan’L during dinner one night, “The Borgund Rangers I’ve worked with always reminded me of falcons. They’d stay on their perch, watching everything, until they found their target. Then they attacked, killed, and flew back to their nest with their prey. So, are you a falcon, Dan’L, or a pigeon?” The other Imperial Guardsmen chuckled at his question.
Dan’L smiled broadly and replied, “The falcon knows his territory well, and protects it from other predators. This falcon is learning about his new territory, every open space, every nook and cranny. Then, I will take unsuspecting pigeons for lunch.”
His answer brought a round of laughter from Commander Nat’N and his fellow Imperial Guardsmen. They were more accepting of Ranger Dan’L, but kept close watch of his daily interactions with the Space Cadre officers. Nat’N noted in his personal log: “The Ranger is a friendly assassin. Perhaps he has been sent here to uncover hidden assets of the Rebellion. I will watch him, and watch out for him.” Nat’N could not be certain of Dan’L’s true purpose, but he would discover he was correct.
The most difficult area on the Cruiser for Dan’L to explore was the Ship’s Stores. It was a small storefront, fronting a humongous storeroom of cargo boxes, dry and refrigerated lockers, and massive freezers. Dan’L had no real reason to ask permission to go inside the Ship’s Stores. No one besides assigned crewmen and food service personnel were allowed inside. Robots loaded, stacked, and unloaded the thousands of crates and boxes, vacuum-packed beef quarters, venison, pork, and other fresh and frozen foods. What a perfect place to hide the anomaly.
The Central Core of the solar system was the area between the White Belt and Ata, the giant gas planet. M’Wati, Home World, and K’Halon Prime orbited within the Central Core. Six Space Bases strategically placed within the Central Core provided protection for merchant ships and the huge space transports traversing the shipping lanes and major routes between the three main planets.
Any mercenary activity or pirating taking place within the Central Core was punished quickly and efficiently by the Space Cadre patrols. If necessary, the Battleship Groups would provide extra fighters and heavier gun fire to eradicate any problems. Rebel activity had to be quick, with pinpoint accuracy, and a successful getaway. The fighters used by the Rebels were more than twenty years old, mothballed Space Cadre craft. If their attack was not fast enough, the newer, faster Space Cadre fighters outran and blasted the Rebels into fiery explosions.
Food and supplies, and replacement personnel were delivered to the Space Bases by large cargo ships, and the transports. Flying slower through space than the fighters, the cargo ships and transports were prime targets for mercenaries, and Duma Wat. The supply and personnel ships always were escorted by Space Cadre ships in the last three years. Long convoys now traversed the shipping routes, and the cargo and human passengers were much safer than before. But it increased the costs by a huge amount for the Empire. The peoples’ taxes were raised again to pay for the increased Space Cadre protection.
For twenty years, Duma Wat recruited rich and poor, young and not so young. He promised independent, democratic rule for each planet, and reduced taxes for all people. Many citizens saw little need to have such a large Space Cadre force in the solar system, with so many bases in full operation. Although Duma Wat promised democracy and independence, what he really wanted was to usurp his half-brother, Emperor P’Lau, and take his place as Emperor.
Three times in the previous seven years, taxes had been raised on the populace. And they resented it. The Rebellion was indeed growing, as Emperor P’Lau feared. He called a secret meeting of his Special Inquest Commission, and added M.C. Javette and C.S. T’Anh to the membership roster, which also included C.S. Vu’Duc, C.S. Bette, and Rangers Dan’L and Kayla. He tasked the Commission to develop innovative ways to defeat the Rebel Leader, Duma Wat, and slow his increasingly effective recruiting efforts.
Mission assignments for the Special Inquest Commission members were put on the back burner, except for Kayla’s advanced tutoring, and Dan’L’s assignment on board the Imperial Battle Cruiser. The Commission had become a trusted advice council for Emperor P’Lau, especially regarding the Rebellion. Every lead they followed, each act of sedition or treason led them back to the Rebellion, and Duma Wat. Someone was providing lists of names of discharged and recently retired officers and crewmen to the Rebel leaders. Applicants who failed entrance exams and assessments to enlist in the Imperial military were also being actively recruited by the Rebel leaders, with amazing conversion rates. The Rebels did not reject them, but welcomed them into the fold with open arms, and bonuses. The number of fighting Rebels was growing every day.
The Emperor said, “The incessant struggle for power and control are now touching my people. We must make a definitive, victorious stand against Duma Wat before he ignites the anger of the average man and woman. My Military Advisors assure me of the weakening of the Rebel forces in the Central Core; but my gut says otherwise. You are my most trusted Borgund and Shi’Lon Ranger leaders. What suggestions do you have for your Emperor? I want the truth— not some politically correct, sugar-coated response. I am sick of hearing how wonderful everything is, when all around me I feel undercurrents of treason and war!”
He gave them one week to prepare answers and suggestions to remedy the situation. The Commission members offered several proposals to Emperor P’Lau. Some were military; others were mission-specific recommendations for the Borgund Rangers. But all were excellent.
The Commission recommended several method
s for discovery of the Rebel training camps. Those who volunteered without any military training had to be trained to mission-ready physical condition, and use of weapons. They agreed M’Wati would be one of the most logical places for their training camps. With thousands of islands, camps could be quickly set up, and many fighters trained under the nose of the Imperial Governor, and satellites orbiting above the planet. The Rebel base where M.C. Steph’N worked undercover as Major S’Loc had been abandoned, and relocated to another, unknown site. The new Rebel base was thought to be on one of the larger islands on M’Wati somewhere, but had yet to be discovered. Although Ranger Dan’L had spent time on the new M’Wati Rebel base, he was brought there unconscious, and transported off the planet without being able to pinpoint its location.
The Special Inquest Commission members also advocated for establishing a Media Group for the Emperor, so he could more effectively communicate directly with the people, and not rely upon the dissemination of information from the courtiers. He was also urged to increase his media presence, so the people could feel closer to the Emperor, and he would, in turn, be more accessible to the common man and woman. Duma Wat was famous for speaking directly to the people in his secret mass assemblies, and broadcasting his message of revolution through his Rebel followers. Emperor P’Lau was urged to reach out to the people, and reassure them he was still their Benevolent, Great Emperor, who cared about his people and their needs.
Aboard the Imperial Battle Cruiser
Several months later, Ranger Dan’L was invited by the Medical Officer to visit the Hospital. He was amazed at the sleek, efficient android nurses and medical techs. “Their voices are soft and feminine, almost human,” Dan’L remarked. “I’m used to battle droids with commanding, male voices.” The Doctor smiled at his comment, and continued the tour of his ultra-modern hospital, and introduced him to the human doctors and nurses working there.
“This is our Recovery Room, Ranger. We have three patients here, being treated for minor injuries from a workplace accident in the Ship’s Stores,” Dr. Ba’Lel said.
Dan’L saw two men with minor wounds, and a female crewman with a shoulder and collarbone brace. He walked up to the female crewman and said, “I’m Dan’L, a Borgund Ranger. Are you all right? Are you in pain? How can I help you, crewman?”
She answered, “I am First Crewman La’Do. This whole thing was my fault. The loading bot over-stacked the cargo boxes while I was taking a bathroom break. When I returned and tried to correct the bot’s error, the entire stack of crates crashed, injuring my crewmen, and me.”
Dan’L asked, “How bad is your injury? She will heal soon, won’t she, Dr. Ba’Lel?” He appeared very concerned about the female crewman.
“She took the brunt of the accident, I’m afraid. We’ll fuse the broken bones when the swelling goes down, but she’s on Medical Restriction at least six weeks,” the Doctor answered. First Crewman La’Do hung her head and sighed.
This was the opening Dan’L needed. He said, “There is no excuse for this accident, First Crewman La’Do. Obviously, the programming for your workplace robots is faulty. It is no fault of yours. Perhaps the entire process management system needs reconfiguring. Humans require breaks, period. I am required to report this incident to my superiors, you understand. This Battle Cruiser is the flagship of the Space Cadre Fleet, and primary transport for Emperor P’Lau. I will conduct the investigation myself, beginning at once!”
Admiral Wen’T, in command of the Imperial Battle Cruiser, was copied on Ranger Dan’L’s “Urgent Report to Commander Superior Vu’Duc.” In minutes, Dan’L had unlimited access to the Ship’s Stores, their files and manifests, and all their records. He did not have to hide his small scanner inside his cloak. The big scanners were used to scan each crate and box, supposedly to verify weight and load content for his report. The technicians worked on the loading robots programming, and operations officers analyzed the storage processes for improvement. All the while, Dan’L and several crewmen scanned and recorded everything.
“This is the section for replacement electrical and computer components, Ranger Dan’L. We haven’t opened any of these packing boxes in over a year. We can probably skip this section,” one of the crewman wrestling the big scanner suggested.
“Have any boxes been added, moved, or taken out of this section in the last year?” Dan’L asked. The crewman stared at the dozens of boxes and crates, and then checked his com tablet.
He shrugged his shoulders and answered, “Don’t think so. But, now that you asked, I’m really not sure, sir. The manifest is labeled ‘Incomplete.’”
Dan’L called for the officer in charge, and a security squad. “Let’s find out now,” he said. The packing boxes were five rows deep, stacked twelve high. Behind the fourth row was an unmarked, two-meter-long black crate, with electronic locks and magnetic seals. The crate could not be scanned. He focused his recorder on the unusual crate, clearly out of place with the other packing crates and boxes, all of them labeled and coded.
“What the hell is that thing?” The officer in charge exclaimed. “This crate doesn’t belong in here. It’s unmarked, and doesn’t even have a numbered scanning tag.”
Dan’L tried to hide his excitement. He said, “It is the anomaly.”
XXII
The live broadcast showing the recovery of the illegal crate was witnessed on board the Imperial Command Battle Cruiser by Admiral Wen’T and his full senior officer staff, and interested citizens of the Empire. A Public Media Officer narrated the removal of the long, heavy crate by forklift bots:
“Citizens of the Empire; we are today witnessing the discovery of an important, illegal shipping crate on board the Imperial Battle Cruiser. Upon removal of the crate from its hiding place, Admiral Wen’T will determine if it is safe to open. What is inside the crate, hidden here on Emperor P’Lau’s Imperial Battle Cruiser? Who hid it here, and for what purpose? We all want to know,” he said. Vid cameras focused on the unmarked crate from every angle.
On Home World, the Special Inquest Commission members, Emperor P’Lau, and his Military High Command officers watched, as transfixed as the people. “Take the crate off the Cruiser, and onto a small loading barge. Record everything for the people. Have the bomb bots stand by on the barge, and two skiffs, as well, in case evacuation is necessary. I assure everyone here this crate is not any possession of your Emperor,” P’Lau stated.
After the mystery crate was loaded onto the barge with Ranger Dan’L, Admiral Wen’T and his officers, and the media crew, the Cruiser was moved 100 kilometers away. Then the officers broke the locks and hacked the electronic seals on the crate.
Dan’L looked at the other officers on the barge, and realized they were all wondering why they were so eager to witness the opening of the crate. The Media Officer continued his soft, steady monologue during each step of the activity, while the vid cameras whirred. This was the biggest event of his media career.
“Stand back. I will open the crate. I am the Commanding Officer of the Imperial Battle Cruiser, and I take responsibility for this crate and its contents,” Admiral Wen’T declared anxiously. He put on large protective gloves and a face and body shield, and the cameras zoomed in closely. The Admiral popped open the crate, and raised the lid cautiously. His men continually scanned for booby-traps.
If it’s wired to explode, my Mother will see her Son get blown to the Afterlife, Dan’L thought to himself. He watched the Admiral raise the lid halfway, then stop.
“Oh no. Oh No!” Admiral Wen’T cried, “It’s a nuke. Evacuate the barge. Abandon ship!” Dan’L, the officers, and media crewmen abandoned the barge on the skiffs. The Imperial Command Battle Cruiser pulled farther away. The two skiffs launched at full speed, heading away from the barge.
Bomb robots took over, analyzing the nuclear warhead. They dismantled the arming, detonation, and ignition controls, then took apart the entire deadly weapon systematically. The inventory control number on the warhead was analyzed.
It had been stolen from the arsenal on K’Halon Prime, at an unknown time. No theft had been reported from the Imperial Army arsenal on K’Halon Prime. This was an inside job, Dan’L realized. There were traitors here on the Cruiser, and on his home planet, K’Halon Prime. Traitors in their midst were planning to overthrow the Empire, and kill the Emperor. Emperor P’Lau was not paranoid, as some of his courtiers whispered. The Emperor was right.
Instead of hushing up the discovery of the warhead, as he and his predecessors before him would previously have done, Emperor P’Lau permitted the public media’s investigative journalists to run with the story. The Emperor had nothing to hide—but traitors somewhere surely did. Daily reports were broadcast on the investigation of the warhead, and the traitors responsible. The official Media Group Secretary hosted a brief weekly session on “News from the Empire,” and it became a very popular video segment for the people.
A special, live interview was broadcast from the new Home World Media Center when the investigation was concluded. Emperor P’Lau spoke to everyone in the Empire via closed vid screen directly: “We sincerely thank the many journalists for their excellent investigative work. We also thank the men and women of the Space Cadre; the Imperial Army, Air Corps, and Navy; Imperial Guards; and our Borgund and Shi’Lon Rangers for their efforts. We have all of you to thank for saving the lives of so many innocent men and women serving faithfully aboard our Imperial Battle Cruiser. Your investigations have helped uncover the evil traitors who plotted the murder of over 2,000 Space Cadre officers and crewmen, and our Imperial Guards. May the Creator bless you all!” He bowed his head to the invisible audience, and the camera faded out. It was a very touching moment.
Dalian Crystals Page 18
