Everybody got up and stood before the absolute rulers of two and a half quadrillion human beings, the most powerful rulers in humanity’s history.
“I thought I should give you gentlemen a chance to see the Throne you risked so much to preserve,” Burke said. “You risked your lives to save this Throne, and succeeded against terrible odds. You deserved the chance to see it for yourselves.”
Burke paused to let that sink in.
“His Majesty and I are grateful for your efforts to save the Throne we ourselves are sworn to, and we wish to recognize you for your efforts on its behalf.”
Burke turned to Hansen.
“General Hansen.”
Hansen bowed to the Empress, then walked to the front center of the dais, facing the six. Moody picked up two boxes from the table and followed him.
“Brigade Commander Travis Geary and Cadet Nathan Benton,” Hansen said.
Geary and Benton looked at each other, then walked forward and up the steps, stopping one step short of the top.
“For your actions in the recent crisis, you have both been awarded the Combat Ribbon.”
Moody opened the top box he was holding, and Hansen took the Combat Ribbon from the box and pinned it on Geary.
“Congratulations, Brigade Commander.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Hansen shook Geary’s hand, then moved over to Benton. Moody had swapped boxes, opening the one on top. Hansen took the Combat Ribbon from the box and pinned it on Benton.
“Congratulations, Cadet.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Hansen shook Benton’s hand.
“Both of you remain here,” Hansen said.
Hansen and Moody both walked back over to the little table. Moody picked up four more boxes.
“General Hargreaves,” Burke said.
Hargreaves walked over to the front center of the dais.
“Sergeant Major Phil Stinson.”
Not having been dismissed, Geary and Benton remained where they were, and Stinson walked up the steps to join them.
“Their Majesties have extended invitations to the Imperial Guard to the three of you,” Hargreaves said.
One at a time, Hargreaves pulled the black fourragère from a box held by Moody, and applied it to the uniforms of Geary, Benton, and Stinson, congratulating each in turn.
Hargreaves then pulled a command sergeant major’s insignia from Moody’s last box.
“Sergeant Major Stinson, you have been promoted to Command Sergeant Major. While retired from the Imperial Marines, you remain on the reserve of the Imperial Guard, and are thus eligible for promotion.”
Hargreaves pinned the command sergeant major’s insignia on Stinson’s sleeve.
“Congratulations, Command Sergeant Major.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Hargreaves shook Stinson’s hand.
“All of you remain here,” Hargreaves said.
He and Moody returned to stand next to the little table.
“Those look very handsome on all of you,” Burke said.
She turned to Stinson.
“Command Sergeant Major Stinson, with the Imperial Guard reserve salary, and the increase in your Imperial Marines retirement payments due to the increase in your rank, I suspect you no longer need to work at the Imperial War Museum.”
“Oh, I’ll continue working, Milady Empress. I enjoy it, and my wife wouldn’t want me hanging around the house all day anyway.”
Burke smiled.
“I just won an internal bet, Command Sergeant Major,” Burke said.
She turned her attention to Geary and Benton.
“Brigade Commander Geary, Cadet Benton. There have been occasional instances of an Imperial Marines cadet earning the Combat Ribbon, in the long history of the Empire. But no cadet has ever before been invited to the Imperial Guard. You will wear the fourragère with your cadet uniform.”
Geary spoke for them both.
“Thank you, Milady Empress.”
Burke nodded and smiled at them. It was a warm smile, and Geary basked in it.
“Remain there, gentlemen,” Burke said.
Burke turned to Moody, standing off to the side by the little table, and nodded.
“Mr. Troy Donahue, Mr. Ambrose Dickens, and Mr. Michael Odom. Approach the Throne,” Moody said.
The three Department operatives mounted the steps to stand in a line with Geary, Benton, and Stinson.
“The final item today is to express to all six of you our gratitude for your loyalty and your selfless acts of courage,” Burke said.
To Geary’s astonishment, the Empress rose from the Throne, and she and the Emperor walked forward and right up to him. Moody was at her side, with six more of the little boxes.
Burke took a gold medal in the shape of a laurel wreath, hanging from a ribbon, from Moody’s top box. She lowered the ribbon over his head and settled it on his chest.
“Thank you, Travis Geary.”
The Empress shook his hand firmly.
Then it was the Emperor’s turn.
“Thank you, Travis Geary.”
Compared to the Empress’s long, slender hand, the Emperor’s hand was the shape and size of a bench vise, but his handshake was firm, not overpowering.
Down the line they moved, the Emperor and Empress thanking the six by name, not title. When they were finished, they walked back to the Throne and Ardmore seated Burke.
“The Gratitude of the Throne, the medal you have just received, can only be given by the Throne. It is very rare, with an average of less than one per year being given throughout the entire history of the Empire. It comes with a substantial financial award, which will be paid directly into your accounts.”
Burke turned to the Department agents.
“I am aware the three of you often work under aliases. I do not know your real names, and have no need nor desire to. Our mutual friend will take care of seeing to it your financial award will find its way to you.”
Burke now addressed them all again.
“The Throne is indebted to you all, and you have a claim of gratitude upon the Throne you can call upon at need. I suspect, however, it is the Throne that will call upon you, to once again risk your lives on its behalf. It is the way of things.”
The audience was clearly coming to an end, and Geary risked holding his hand up, palm forward, at his shoulder.
“Yes, Brigade Commander Geary.”
“Your Majesty, Milady Empress. There’s one person missing here. Sean Boyle was the one who did the most, and died in the doing. It was the bravest thing I have ever seen. What of him?”
Burke nodded.
“Yes, the paperwork would not have crossed your desk yet, Brigade Commander. Under his true given and family names, Thomas Walsh Doolan was commissioned an officer and a gentleman in the Imperial Marines. He has been awarded the Combat Ribbon, and invited to the Imperial Guard. Lieutenant Doolan also received the Galaxy Cross for valor and the Gratitude of the Throne, though both were pendent from black ribbons because he died earning them.”
“And his funeral, Milady?”
“Lieutenant Doolan will be buried at sea, per his last request, by Imperial Order.”
Geary looked at Benton, then back to Burke.
“We should like to attend, Milady.”
“Of course, Brigade Commander. So would I and His Majesty. As an Academy cadet, Lieutenant Doolan’s funeral will be up to you and General Hansen to arrange, though I suspect the Imperial Guard will also want some involvement.”
Burke looked over to Hargreaves, who nodded.
“Thank you, Milady,” Geary said.
Burke nodded.
With Ardmore’s hand, Burke rose from the Throne and addressed them all once more.
“The six of you are each exceptional men, and we are proud to serve you.”
Burke and Ardmore then bowed to them.
The Imperial Fanfare started up, and everyone took a knee and bowed to the Throne
as Burke and Ardmore left. When the fanfare ended, they all stood facing the Throne. The light had moved on, and the Throne waited in the gloom for its glittering Empress to return.
Moody came up to them, standing there on the top step, carrying a stack of boxes.
“I have for each of you the boxes and citations that go with those awards. Let me just hand these out.”
The name of the awardee was gold-embossed on each box, and he handed the boxes out to the six.
Hansen and Hargreaves came up, and they each shook everyone’s hand.
“Nicely done, all of you,” Hargreaves said.
There were mumbled thank yous from them all.
Hansen came up to Geary and asked, “Can I get a ride back to the Academy with you, Brigade Commander?”
“Of course, Sir.”
Many Meetings
The seven of them – now including General Hansen – were led back through the Palace to the underground entrance by an Imperial Guard captain. In VR, Geary could now see all the controls to the sliding doors, the people mover, the elevators. All the Imperial Palace controls needed for a member of the Imperial Guard, including elevator access to the Imperial Residence.
His and Benton’s invitation to the Imperial Guard was clearly not a sop or a ‘gimme.’ When they graduated the Imperial Marine Academy next year, he and Benton would be transferred to the Imperial Palace.
As before, there were two cars, and they all said goodbye to each other before splitting up. It occurred to Geary he had no clue where they were living. It was probably best that way. He had no idea where in the Imperial government they worked, but it was clear that was not open information.
Geary, Benton, Stinson, and Hansen got into the car, and the driver closed the door. There was no Imperial Guard officer accompanying them this time. The driver got in and eased the big car away from the curb.
“Well, Sergeant Major, you can work in the Imperial War Museum as long as you want,” Hansen said. “That’s under my control, and I’ll make it official before I take a new assignment. Permanent position.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Hansen nodded.
“Well deserved. You all did a tremendous job. Colonel Ryan completely had the wool pulled over my eyes. Damned embarrassing, really.”
“But he was right, Sir,” Geary said. “The Imperial War Museum really did need a makeover. You got that, once they get that one floor cleaned up. In the meantime, you can just block that floor off. Once they have it down to a level three containment anyway.”
“Yes, you’re right, Brigade Commander. We did get a heck of a renovation out of it. And they’re making good progress on the cleanup. They’ll be backing it down to a level two soon. So we’ll probably open a couple weeks late, but not too bad.”
Geary nodded and Hansen went on.
“Shame about Cadet Boyle. You and I need to plan that funeral, Brigade Commander. For a recipient of the Galaxy Cross, we need a twenty-one-gun salute. Not sure how we do that.”
“I’ll think about that, Sir.”
“You do that, Brigade Commander. I won’t be found wanting when it comes to saluting the honored fallen.”
Back in the apartment in mid-afternoon, Geary checked the time at home. About eight in the morning Saturday. He went into the avatar editor in VR. He went to the military honors menu, and added the Combat Ribbon and the black fourragère to his avatar. He got a warning notice about putting the fourragère on the Academy uniform and ignored it.
Geary couldn’t find the Gratitude of the Throne in the menu, so he threw a wider search and found pictures of Trajan II from two hundred and fifty years ago. In MDU, Parnell had worn it on the ribbon around his neck. In business suit, he had worn the pin version Geary had found in the presentation case once he got back to the apartment. He found an icon for the award in the history books and applied it to his avatar.
Geary also sent the icon and the picture on to Benton. History was Geary’s major, after all.
Then he called home. It was about nine Saturday morning in Mandragora.
“Hi, Travis,” David Geary said.
“Hi, Honey,” Jennifer Geary said.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”
“There’s some extra bits on that uniform even from last week, I see,” David said.
The previous week he had called in uniform, with his new Brigade Commander insignia.
“Yes, sir. This one is the Combat Ribbon. And this is the Gratitude of the Throne.”
“I’ve never heard of that one,” David said.
“I’m told it’s very rare, Dad. It’s only given out by the Emperor and the Empress themselves.”
“The Emperor and Empress. My heavens,” Jennifer said.
“Yes, Mom. The Empress herself hung it around my neck. In person. In the Throne Room. Then she and the Emperor shook my hand and thanked me. Nate got the same thing, but don’t tell his folks. Let him tell them.”
“Travis, what happened?” David asked. “The Combat Ribbon. And the Empress. Something big went down.”
“It sure did. I’m not sure how much I can tell you. Whatever you see in the news, though, Nate and I were in the thick of it. And, Dad?”
“Yes?”
“I was there. At the cusp. In the right place, at the right time. Several of us were. We headed off Armageddon. That’s about all I can say, I think.”
“Travis,” Jennifer asked, “What’s that black braid about?”
“It’s the fourragère of the Imperial Guard, Mom. When Nate and I graduate, we will be officers in the Imperial Guard, and begin our careers in the Imperial Palace. That’s also an appointment by Their Majesties.”
“My word.”
“Well, Travis, your mother and I are very proud of you. You knew your mind, and it looks like you made the right decision. If you were really there at the cusp, and made the right calls, you’ve changed history.”
“We sure did, Dad. We truly did. For the better.”
Geary paused. How much could he say?
“We saved the Empire.”
After another half hour getting dressed down on the lower floor of the Imperial Residence – and getting all the paint and primer off her breasts – Burke made it back upstairs a little after one in the afternoon. Ardmore was there with her parents, who had been babysitting.
“Ah, there you are,” Ardmore said. “His Lordship was getting impatient.”
“What else is new?” Burke asked. “How about up on the pool deck, and a late lunch?”
“That sounds good, Dear,” Gail Anne Burke said. “We were just waiting for you.”
After everyone had been fed – including Stevie – the baby got sleepy and Burke’s parents took him downstairs for a nap. Burke and Ardmore moved from the picnic table to the double chaise.
“That was a lot of work, to do that in person,” Ardmore said. It took you five hours of prep and cleanup for a half-hour meeting.”
“It was well worth it. I wanted to meet them, and I wanted them to meet us. They are extraordinary people. The sort who turn up, again and again, when the situation is dire. Who run toward the sound of the guns.”
“Brigade Commander Geary said he saw the cusp coming, and moved to intercept it.”
“Yes.” Burke said. “Extraordinary. And Mr. Dickens was the one who immediately saw the import of the murder of Paul Bowdoin, which allowed us to respond so quickly. It was Mr. Donahue and Mr. Odom who kidnapped and interviewed Dr. Scharansky. And before that, it was Mr. Donahue who executed Sector Governor Shubin and Mr. Nekrasov.”
“I didn’t realize that.”
“Oh, yes I went back through those reports.”
“You’re right, then,” Ardmore said. “Well worth it. Now the question is, When do we confront Maire Kerrigan?”
“Monday, I think. I want to see what Lina Schneider has found out in tracking that warhead. And Tuesday was to be Medusa. That’s when everybody on their side realizes the plot has been foiled.”
“Somewhat, perhaps,” Burke said. “But there has been no broader transmission, like the Medusa message. Ms. Schneider would have told us. People are less likely to broadcast their failures.”
Ardmore nodded.
“And you want to get to her before Medusa day.”
“Yes,” Burke said.
“I wonder how many people in that network they’ve managed to round up.”
“When I spoke with her yesterday, they had gotten most of them. These were the deeply hidden agents. People like Colonel Ryan.”
“Speaking of him, what are we to do with him?” Ardmore asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided. You?”
“No. It depends on a lot of things.”
“Like Maire Kerrigan, for example,” Burke said.
“Exactly.”
The subject came up at Sunday brunch with Paul and Claire Diener.
“I know something big happened this week,” Claire said. “Everybody was getting more and more tense, and then starting Tuesday everybody has been pretty calm all of a sudden. Paul won’t talk about it, so is it secret? What’s happened?”
Diener looked to Burke and Ardmore, not knowing how much they wanted to reveal, and how widely.
“We should really consider what we want to release to the press, Gail,” Ardmore said.
“Yes, Jimmy. I’ve been thinking about that. Not details, I don’t think.”
Burke turned to Claire.
“Please don’t pass this around to your friends, Claire. What happened is we got our break. The one we had prepared for. The conspirators sent a message to all their agents warning them of the time for their big play.”
“Their big play?” Claire asked.
“They were going to smuggle a nuclear weapon into Imperial City and destroy the capital.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yes,” Burke said. “And our people found the device and disarmed it. Then we rounded up all the people who got the warning message.”
“The message warning them to get out of town, right?”
“For their assets here, yes. For their assets in other places, it was a warning the time to carry out their plan was coming. Whatever their moves were to take over. Kill this sector governor. Occupy this location. Take over this newsfeed. Issue this press release. Whatever. We don’t know all their other plans, but we captured most of their assets, we think.”
EMPIRE: Resurgence Page 20
