“The emergency transport rail,” Pendren supplied. “It is situated three levels below the private gate of the royal family. If I recall, it terminates just below the assembly chamber.”
“Perfect. Lead the way,” Ellie said with a nod before turning to Bethany. “I need you to get the crew to snap out of it and meet us at the capital.”
“On it, Princess,” Bethany said with a mock salute as she hopped up on a table and held up her hand for attention. Ellie just shook her head in amusement as she followed Pendren and Mikk down further into the underground, suppressing a shudder as the natural light faded into the distance, replaced by the sterile glow of energy efficient light panels.
One incredibly short train ride later, they debarked in a dark cave of a room. Its walls of natural stone were an ashy gray and the dim red light from the lava tubes cast inky black shadows everywhere. Ellie couldn’t help but feel like some ancient sacrifice, sealed in an underground tomb as an offering to the god of the volcano.
“Your highness?”
Ellie jumped at the sound of Pendren’s voice, muffled by the acoustics of the soft stone. He gestured to a sleek, silver access panel set into the wall, looking completely out of place with its too modern appearance.
“Your credentials are needed to access the committee chamber.”
Ellie placed her hand on the security screen and breathed a sigh of relief as the panel flashed white momentarily before sliding away, revealing the familiar stone hallway leading to the chamber. She turned to thank Pendren, but he and Mikk had already slipped into the shadows with the other non-participants, which included the Eidyn Council members, all of whom seemed to have their gaze locked on her. Unsurprising, given her appearance.
And the spectators were not the only one staring in open curiosity. All of leadership ceased their chatting and activity as soon as she stepped into the room. Even her mother stared in open shock. Only Ka’griannas seemed unaffected, which was in itself odd, given the way the other Eidyssic had acted at the terminal. She edged closer to Julian as the leader approached.
“El’iadrylline, welcome,” he said as he broke through the throng of onlookers to meet her. As he neared, his eyes found hers and he stared openly as well, but with an unreadable expression that bordered on sadness. “It seems the tether of Kyri was no myth as our scholars believed,” he observed, citing the text carved into the walls of the temple.
“Well, at least you weren’t zombified,” Ellie said with a small mirthless chuckle. “What happened to everyone?”
“Shock, I suspect, and curiosity. If I was to guess, most of our people do not understand why they have the sudden urge to follow your leadership.”
“I um… I thought I was just in charge of the battalion.”
“In times of war, your authority is rule, El’iadrylline,” Gri explained. “The council is here to ensure the Alliance fully understands what this means. Now, on that note, the rose stick has already been drawn. Your mother, Queen Isaverlline, will lead the discussion.”
“But I was the one who called the meeting,” Ellie protested, but Gri simply nodded and held up a hand.
“As we are all aware, but matters changed just moments after your request was placed.”
Ellie said nothing, despite her urge to scream in frustration. Now was not the time for political posturing. Now was the time to make everyone understand not only what they were asking of her, but also the dire consequences. But she kept quiet and instead followed Gri to the table, where her mother stood waiting to begin the meeting.
“This meeting of the Alliance Leadership Assembly is now open. I am Queen Isaverlline of Korghetia, presiding over today’s proceedings as designated by the drawing of the rose stick.” Isaverlline picked up the tablet in front of her and read. “Less than two hours ago, an emergency meeting was called by Leader El’iadrylline in regards to an imperial attack on the Sonnan moon of Cald. Nineteen minutes later, a phenomenon occurred that was felt by many, if not all, of the Eidyssic citizens. I too, though not Eidyssic, sensed an event had occurred surrounding my daughter. Ka’griannas informed leadership present—consisting of all members other than Eidyn Master Lady El’iadrylline and Prince Gevandar of Sintar—that the Kyroibi has detected an imminent threat to peace in the galaxy. El’iadrylline,” Isa turned an impersonal eye on her daughter. “Has the awakening given you any indication as to what has changed?”
“There was an attack on the Sonnan moon of Cald not long ago. Refuge Organizer Pendren is here to confirm if necessary, as is First officer Mikk of the Fhasmyrric Royal Guard. She was the one who drew the missiles away. Once the ship was in the custody of the Sonnan Rangers, I called for an emergency meeting and Refuge Organizer Pendren transported us in his personal ship. It was in the hangar at the Korghetian terminal where the transformation occurred.”
“So it was the attack on Cald that identified the Empire as an imminent threat?” asked a notably skeptical Fresson.
“No,” Ellie replied. “I was then personally attacked, at the terminal.”
“Who attacked you?” her mother asked.
Ellie’s discomfort shone from her diodes as she glanced at the single empty chair across the table from where she sat.
“Prince Gevandar.” she said, keeping her tone as neutral as possible as the chamber erupted in a cacophony of protest.
Chapter 19
Through the eruption of startled gasps and murmurs, Ellie was certain she heard more than a few derisive whispers and exclamations such as, “Preposterous!” and “Impossible!”
“Silence!” Isaverlline’s authoritative voice cut through the furor. “El’iadrylline, I’ll ask you to please explain your accusations.”
“There isn’t much to explain,” Ellie replied, just barely able to suppress the frustration she was feeling with her mother at the moment. “Prince Gevandar was waiting to spring a trap for me at the spaceport. Somehow, he knew I would be there and accused me of putting my ideals ahead of what was good for the Alliance. I tried to explain that I didn’t feel killing our own oppressed citizens was doing much to help the Alliance either, but he wouldn’t listen. I then told him we could present our opposing sides to the council and he produced a weapon. He fired at my chest from about four feet away. I would have been dead before I knew what had happened if it wasn’t for whatever dormant instinct awakened within me. It is my belief, that Prince Gevandar has been exposed to the lure of the Kyroibi. I believe he erroneously thought he could take possession of the knowledge if he were to kill me.”
Again, a wave of comments went up around the room, some expressing shock, some objecting, and others stating their own misgivings about the Sintarian prince.
“I do not suppose it is possible that in your state of agitation, you mistook a gesture of frustration as an attack.”
“I know of no one who can shoot projectile weapons from their gestures, my queen.”
The words were spoken with a cold derision that shocked even Ellie. Never in all her life, had she felt so completely detached from her mother. Even when Isa had been under the influence of the Kyroibi and acting irrationally, the familial bond of mother and daughter had kept Ellie’s world from falling apart completely. Now, that bond was on shaky ground and crumbling fast.
Even more unsettling was the anger that had replaced the usual panic she would feel in situations of conflict. Instead of the urge to run, Ellie felt a strong compulsion toward violence and destruction that she was having a difficult time keeping suppressed.
“An attempt was made on her life,” Julian said, causing Ellie to jump as she had not realized he was still standing directly behind her. “When I arrived, there were still traces of boltash in the air. He meant to make a clean kill.”
Isa turned an eye as cold as Ellie’s to Julian.
“Leadership does not recognize the construct known as Julian at this time.”
“Leadership will not refer to Julian as anything other than a person with legal rights and des
erving of respect,” Ellie returned sharply, but before an argument could ensue, Julian stepped forward again.
“Regardless of my station, I am the commander of the Limitless Battalion, the invincible force meant to protect peace in the galaxy by any means necessary. As such, I am attuned to El’iadrylline’s physical, emotional, and mental state. Every threat perceived to be a danger by the Kyroibi is felt within me. Right now, your line of questioning is doing no one any good, the least of all my true master.”
Isaverlline gave Julian a withering stare, but said nothing. Instead, she turned to Ka’griannas, who had submitted a motion to speak.
“With all due respect, Lady Isaverlline, the Kyroibi is not ours to command. That it has awakened and identified a threat is not to be taken lightly. The burden has been shouldered for countless millennia by ancestors past. Not one note in our archive speaks of an awakening prior. To question is to ignore and to ignore is to invite our demise.”
“Meaning exactly what?” Isa asked in frustration. “Are we as leaders of the Alliance to step back and allow an army of killing machines to hunt down one of our own without at least giving him the benefit of a trial?”
“Perhaps if he’d shown up instead of fleeing like a coward, we could proceed with a trial,” Ellie snapped, no longer caring to follow meeting protocol.
Before her mother could reply, Pendren stepped forward, eyes lowered in deference to the committee.
“Permission to speak as an officer of peacekeeping measures.”
Isaverlline seemed to consider the request as she communicated silently with the other delegates. Ellie let out a sigh of relief when she saw several subtle affirmations.
“Leadership recognizes Refuge Organizer Pendren. You have the floor.”
“Thank you,” Pendren said with a bow and stepped up to the table. He unclipped a small device from the collar of his shirt. “As you are likely aware, Sonnan Rangers are required to wear a 360 degree recording device at all times while on duty. As such, I have a recording of the attack on the Eidyn Master, as well as footage of my pursuit. If I may.”
Isaverlline nodded and Pendren connected the small camera into the optics on the podium. A moment later, a three dimensional replication of the earlier events, as witnessed by the ranger, appeared in the middle of the table. As soon as the entire event played out, up to the point when Pendren lost Gevandar, he replayed the attack in slow motion. Ellie watched in horrified fascination as Gevandar fired his weapon. The bolt, she could see, contained a liquid explosive. There was no doubt in her mind that it was meant to kill. Probably painfully.
And then she reacted. In slow motion, it almost looked like a blue liquid spread from her crossed arms, engulfing her entirely just moments before the bolt exploded in a cloud of inky black.
“That was certainly no gesture, my lady.”
Ellie looked across the table, shocked to see Queen Romana, the Sonnan royal who had never hid her dislike, staring at her with a look of sympathy and guilt.
“I would have to agree,” Isaverlline said in a forced steady voice, shocking Ellie. “Whether or not the prince was working off his own agenda or manipulated by another force, the evidence stands that his loyalties do not align with the Alliance. However, Prince Gevandar is one man. Our objective remains the liberation of the former Federation planets. The earlier attack on Cald proves the Huptsovians are escalating the conflict. A challenge has been issued. We are now actively engaged in war.”
“Does this mean we will consider bringing forces back from Helsyn or are we still insistent that taking Huptsovia’s closest ally is not a complete waste of our military’s might?” Ellie asked, forcing herself to momentarily ignore the fact that even with presented evidence, her mother deflected attention from Gevandar’s attack.
“We cannot disengage the Helsyn front,” another protested. “Helsyn is the center of industry. Taking the planet would cripple the Empire.”
“Exactly, which is why it’s a futile gesture. The Empire protects Helsyn with all its might and the two planets share as much culture as atmosphere. Why waste our time when there are actual prisoners of war by the millions, maybe even billions, being held?” Ellie countered. “I would think our first obligation would be to our people, would it not?”
“If you are speaking of taking Fhasmyr, it has been discussed,” Fresson cut in. “The risk is too high.”
“At one time that might have been true, but with a plan of action and the help of our military forces, we can take back the majority of the system. Until then, the Empire is going to continue to slaughter prisoners and worse, send them unarmed into battle so that we do their dirty work for them. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“With all due respect, Eidyn Master, as long as the Empire has the industrial might of Helsyn, this is an unwinnable war. Unless, of course we take into consideration your battalion.”
It took all of Ellie’s restraint not to jump up and begin screaming at the other leaders.
“Unwinnable is exactly what this has been since before my birth,” she instead said through gritted teeth. “Are you all so blinded by the mythos of my supposedly invincible army that you cannot see the very real advantage we have as allies of the Eidyssic people? Helsyn may be able to manufacture war machines for the Empire, but we have the superior technology. The trouble is, you’re afraid to use it.”
An uproar drowned out her voice, but Ellie paid them no mind. She looked across the table to where Ka’griannas watched her with silent curiosity.
“Can any one of you,” she continued, keeping her eyes locked on the only other Eidyssic at the table, “tell me with one hundred percent certainty exactly what the Limitless Battalion is and how, exactly, will they win the war?”
“They are an unbeatable army of automatons,” Tevoni answered.
“Are they?” Ellie asked, turning her piercing silver gaze onto him. “You know this how?”
“We all know this,” he said with an unsure shrug. “It’s what we’ve been told.”
“What you’ve been told.” Ellie let out a derisive snort. “So you are basing your military strategy on faith. On a belief in something to which there is no empirical proof. You know,” she said, getting up from her chair in frustration. “Back on Earth, the primitive planet I grew up on, we had wars based on faith. These wars began hundreds, even thousands, of years ago and they’re still ongoing, in one form or another. Oh, sure, some of the motives have changed, become more capitalistic in nature, but the underlying belief by each side—that theirs is the side of truth—remains. I thought it was stupid. I still do, but you know what?” She came to a stop behind the chair of the delegate and leaned over, as if to tell him a secret.
“At least the Earthlings had the excuse of religion. Their faith in an omnipotent being they’ve never met is a cultural phenomenon with a history going back millennia. They weren’t basing their beliefs on a vague notion of some mythical army they’d only heard of second hand and only in the last three decades.”
“You’re trying to tell us the Limitless Battalion does not exist?” asked Fresson.
“I might as well be,” she replied, staring at each delegate in turn and defying them to look away. “For as much as you know about what it is you are asking, you would be better off thinking of the temple as a bedtime story Eidyssic parents told their children. But the battalion does exist. I have seen them and limitless is a good if not completely hyperbolic description of the cold, soulless killing machines that stand in rows hundreds deep, awaiting the orders of their master and commander.
“You are asking me to lead a massacre. A massacre that will kill billions of people, most of whom are currently prisoners of the Empire. All I am asking is for a chance to take back Fhasmyr, to release from enslavement those who we purport to represent. To do so with minimal loss of life instead of wanton bloodshed. Please. Give me this chance.”
Another eruption of voices overtook the cha
mber as Ellie slowly moved back into the shadows, refusing to return to the table. As far as she was concerned, she was not a leadership delegate, but an outsider. Someone who was seen as nothing more than the catalyst that would bring about victory without truly understanding what it was they were asking.
“Enough of this,” Jorigul said, standing in defiance as she spoke out of turn. “I do not wish to debate ancient prophecies and phantom soldiers. Lady Isaverlline is correct. With the attack earlier today, we are now engaged in an active war.” She raised her voice, addressing the entire room. “The time for diplomacy and discussion is over. We need to put all of our emphasis on strategy. If Eidyn Master says she has a plan, then we should at the least hear her out.”
“Thank you,” Ellie said, nodding to the woman after no objection was made. “I do not have a detailed strategy prepared, but that would not be hard to arrange. Fhasmyr, I understand, is considered dangerous, especially to outsiders. We intend to use this to the advantage of the Alliance. To sneak a task force to the planet’s surface and attack from the ground. Once Fhasmyr has been liberated, it can be used as a springboard for Sintar, leaving only the twin planets of Helsyn and Huptsovia under control of the Empire. At that point, I would push for negotiations over force, but I’m getting ahead of myself.”
“You have never been to Fhasmyr, have you?” asked Fresson.
“I have not,” Ellie replied without hesitation.
“And yet you seem to be operating on the same faith you accuse us of having. You speak casually of Fhasmyr’s danger. I do not believe you are fully aware of all you would face. No reasonable soldier of the Alliance would volunteer for such a mission.”
“Well it’s a good thing Ellie has allies, including an unreasonable soldier of the United States Armed Forces.”
Ellie suppressed a grin as Bethany stood from her post in the spectator’s area, arms folded and feet set firmly in a pose of defiance. “I am well aware of the dangerous terrain, flora, fauna, and other issues, thank you,” she said, turning back to the council. “You are correct that I am taking on faith that we can not only survive, but successfully liberate the planet. The difference here is that my faith is in a real person. A person native to the planet who explored its many dangerous secrets.”
The Princess Rebellion (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 2) Page 17
