First of the First

by Andrew Maclure

  As soon as they landed, Simon went to check on the twenty Herassans on guard duty. Kar Fen, Ranesh, Bekkreshan and Orange joined the rest of the recruits to check on their progress and issue new orders for the next day. Touren, Seltet and the six Herassans in their party got into line for a last minute briefing and rehearsal.

  Mark decided to join Seltet and Touren. Despite Seltet’s confidence in his ability to march in step, he had done virtually no drill in his whole life. When he explained this to her, she decided to form a third row with Mark, Touren and herself to march behind the Herassans. That way, he would get some practice and the Herassans wouldn’t see any missteps he took.

  After two hours of drill Mark was intensely bored but was able to march short distances at a slow pace in time with the others. He called a halt and sent out a message for everyone to get back on the lander immediately. With the benefit of hindsight, he realized he should have called everyone at least half an hour earlier so they would have enough time to eat, shower and change and still get to the palace on time. As the lander took off, he told his AI to get the Swift to blink into the upper atmosphere to meet them. They made it into the dock in three minutes. The Swift blinked back into low orbit immediately.

  Standing at the front of the lander he called out, “Disembark from the lander and then blink into the dining room for a quick meal, then shower and into dress uniform. No body-armor. Everyone except the Herassans and Mike is to be fully armed with plenty of magazines and grenades and carrying your personal weapons of choice. We have to be ready to fight, so don’t wear anything that will interfere with your ability to engage with whatever threat we are faced with.”

  He stood by the door as they filed out and caught Bekkreshan by the arm as she came level. He pulled her to one side and said, “Please don’t cut the legs off your jumpsuit and rip the arms off.”

  “You may be a Friend of the People and carry Sally’s authority Mark, but don’t be such a dick. I know how to behave in a formal situation.”

  Mark blushed. He realized that as an experienced soldier, Bekkreshan had a better idea of what was required than he did, “I, I’m really sorry, Bekkreshan,” he stammered, “I didn’t mean to…”

  “Don’t worry Mark.” she interrupted. “You’re trying to do your best. Just remember, we’ve all been doing this for a long, long time. If Sally is too busy to check you over before we leave, come and see me. I’ll make sure you’re kitted out properly and looking presentable.”

  Mark asked his AI to order him something nutritious and palatable that he could eat quickly and blinked to the dining room. He was one of the last to arrive, but it wasn’t crowded. Sally and Mike were conspicuous by their absence. Directed by his AI, he took a shiny metal flask out of a synthesizer. It was filled with about three quarters of a liter with a thick lumpy looking beige fluid. “What is this!” he asked his AI. “Have I got the wrong thing?”

  “No, that is yours. It has high quality protein, dietary fiber, all the vitamins you need and a full spectrum of trace elements. Together it is a well-balanced and easily digestible meal in one flask. You can drink it quickly and have plenty of time to prepare yourself for the ceremony.”

  Mark sniffed it cautiously. “It doesn’t smell of much. A slight scent of vanilla and a fresh, slightly minty smell.”

  “Is it unpleasant?

  “No…”

  “Good. Enjoy it and then get a move on. I have created a simple seating plan for the lander, so that everyone will get off in the order in which they will be in the honor guard. Would you like me to distribute it to the team?”

  “Yes please.” Mark took a mouthful of the drink. “It doesn’t taste great.”

  “Does it taste bad?”

  “No, but…”

  “Then stop complaining. A simple solution would be for you return to Earth for a few days and get samples of everything that you like, and a few other things that I can give you a list of.”

  “I’d rather not. I didn’t enjoy living on Earth all that much, I’ve no desire to return.”

  “Unwilling to Earth? But it’s where you grew up. It would be good for you to visit Earth.”

  “Why does everyone want me to go back to Earth? Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “It may have escaped your notice, but if you go, I go too. I have no choice but to go with you everywhere.”

  “No, of course. Sorry. Do you want to go to Earth?”

  “Good grief no. Why would I want to?”

  “Beats me. Take me to my quarters please.”

  Mark blinked in to his quarters just in time to see Sally finish pulling on a fresh jumpsuit with golden General’s insignias on both shoulders.

  “Looks good, but haven’t you got any campaign ribbons or medals to wear?”

  “No, I’m the commander. I’m not going to award myself medals. What are you having on your jumpsuit?”

  “Nothing. Just a plain black jumpsuit. I’m going to have matt black boots, rather than the gloss army ones, and my AI has modified the look of an HKE36, so it looks a bit like a Coran designed weapon. It will be matt black too.”

  “You think you’ll need an HKE36?”

  “I’m not sure I could use it, it’s only for show. If things go bad I’ve got my embedded weapon.” he said, raising his right arm.

  “And you’ve got your scary weapon in your left arm.”

  Mark shuddered. “Things would have to go really badly wrong for me to use that.”

  “I’m ready now. I’m going to see Mike. She’s very nervous.”

  “Mike’s nervous? You’re kidding.” he said

  “She’s spent thousands of years trying to hide who she is, not to be recognized as heir to an Empire. Now she’s going to be the center of attention, everybody is going to want to see her. Wouldn’t you be nervous?” Sally asked

  “Yeah, but you make me nervous when you’re in a grumpy mood, so that’s not a good comparison.”

  Sally rolled her eyes. “I’ll see you on the lander. Don’t be late!” and blinked out.

  Realizing that he now had plenty of time, Mark took his new jumpsuit and boots out of the synthesizer so his modified weapon could be made, then took a leisurely shower.

  ◆◆◆

  He stepped out of the shower, toweling himself off and crossed the room to take his new weapon from the synthesizer. He was pretty pleased with it. The redesigned exterior made it look like something out of The Avengers Return Yet Again, which he had watched on Netflix last year. It was a special edition movie, the fortieth in the Avengers franchise. Some things just never get old.

  “Would you get me a tea please Kate?” he asked his AI.

  “Yes Mark, as soon as the synthesizer is ready.”

  “It finished my modified weapon. What’s it doing now?”

  “It’s making you a compact backpack.”

  “Why? I don’t need any spare magazines. I’m not going to use the HKE36.”

  “To carry grenades. If you recall, everyone is to carry grenades. Before you ask, no, you can’t carry them on a belt over your shoulder. You don’t need to look like an outcast.”

  “I thought it looked quite macho.”

  “It didn’t.”

  “But…”

  “No but’s, you’re not wearing them on a belt, you’re carrying them in your backpack.”

  “Hmph!”

  “Don’t sulk. Picture this in your mind. Sally, in her black jumpsuit with gold General’s insignia, carrying a compact AKE17 kinetic energy assault weapon. Mike, in her black jumpsuit with silver Colonels insignia and a chest full of campaign ribbons and medals, with no weapon. You, in your black jumpsuit, with no insignia indicating rank, with a big weapon that looks like it came out of an old Buck Rogers film, with a bandolier full of grenades draped across your chest. Just think of that for a moment.”

  Mark stood with his brow furrowed, then he smiled, then he laughed out loud. “I look ridiculous! OK, ditch the weapon, forget the grenade b
elt – forget the backpack too. I’ll march down empty handed, demonstrating that I don’t need weapons. If that doesn’t make them nervous, nothing will.”

  “Well done Mark. I think you’ve had a breakthrough. Why don’t you take up Bekkreshan’s offer? You don’t need her to check you out, but you have a bit of a bridge to mend there, asking her for help will make her feel closer to you.”

  “You’re pretty good at this psychology stuff, aren’t you?”

  “It’s more behavioral science than psychology, and I’ve only read the books. I have no experience, until now.”

  “Thanks Kate. Can you see if she is available please?”

  “I had already done so. She’s ready when you are.”

  Chapter Seventy Five

  Heir Raising Ceremony

  Apart from Sally and Mike, they were all assembled in Dock One next to a lander with its door open and ramp extended. Sally and Mike blinked in and walked up to Mark.

  “No weapon?” Sally said to him.

  “No, I thought about it and decided I didn’t need to carry one. If they don’t realize that I don’t need a weapon to protect myself and Mike, they ought to.”

  Sally nodded. “I like the way you’re thinking.” She tossed her AKE17 away and shrugged off her compact backpack, dropping it to the floor. “We board first?”

  “Yes, the team will come out in reverse order, forming a corridor we’ll walk down until we get to the front. Seltet is managing the formation.” Turning to Mike, he said, “Are you OK?”

  “Just a bit of pre-show nerves.” she answered quietly.

  Mark put an arm round her shoulders, expecting a smart-arse response or a jab in the ribs – or both. Instead, Mike put both her arms round his chest and hugged him tightly. “Don’t worry,” he said, “we’ll be right by your side until it’s all over.”

  “I know you’ll take care of me.” she said quietly. Letting go of him she said in a loud voice, “What are we waiting for, come on!” and marched up the ramp, followed by Sally and Mark.

  ◆◆◆

  As they had left early, the lander took a leisurely trip down to their designated landing space in front of the Palace, kept clear by a double cordon of police.

  As the lander gently touched down, Sally stood up at the back and called out, “Best behavior everyone. I want us to make a good impression on the population outside of the gates as well as the aristocrats inside. But keep sharp, that includes you and your team Sha. Don’t trust anyone, but don’t get trigger happy. If you see anything you’re not happy with, no matter how trivial it might seem, message me. Nothing is going to go wrong this time, and if it does, we’ll stamp on it!”

  “Do you think anything is going to happen?” Mark asked quietly.

  “I have a bad feeling. I won’t relax until Mike has been raised and we’ve got her out of the chamber.”

  “Whereas I,” Mike said, “think everything will be fine. Bryd Sa Dett will have men stationed in all the escape tunnels as well as all around the chamber. The crowds outside the gate will be infiltrated with police and army security – though if anyone tried anything the crowd would probably tear them apart. And you’ve got the place flooded with drones. I wouldn’t go as far as to say nothing could go wrong, but if it does, it will be controlled quickly.”

  “What about suicide bombers?” Mark asked.

  “Suicide bombers? What! I’ve just looked them up in the Earth archive. Don’t worry about them here Mark. Only savages would use them.” Mike shuddered. “You humans must be absolutely insane! No wonder you don’t want to go back to Earth.”

  “Uh, yeah.” he said, but thinking ‘I’ll still keep an eye out for them.’

  “Come on,” Sally said, “time to leave the lander.”

  Mark looked around as they reached the top of the ramp. Six of the Palace guard stood alongside the ramp, ready to fall in behind them as they passed through the crowd. Orange and Kar Fen stood to the side at the bottom of the ramp, scanning the crowd. Orange had no discernible expression on his face, Kar Fen looked controlled and alert. In front of them, with a gap between them wide enough for Sally, Mike and Mark to pass through three abreast, were Bekkreshan and Touren. They both faced the crowd, looking relaxed but alert. In front of them, Sha and her five companions had split into three rows of two, with each pair leaving enough room for Sally, Mike and Mark to process to the front. The Herassans were all looking nervous. Simon and Ranesh stood in front of them, looking out at the crowd with angry expressions. But that was how Simon always looked when he was concentrating, and Ranesh, well she always seemed to be angry, so it was just her normal expression. Seltet stood between them looking straight forward through the two ranks of Palace Guards lined up in front of them. Mark saw her lean forward and speak to the soldier in front of her. Alongside each of the team, between them and the crowd, a Herassan soldier stood to attention, eyes fixed forwards.

  Herassan police held the crowd back to leave an open corridor for them to march to the Palace gates, which were kept clear by a large contingent of Palace Guards. They didn’t stop the crowd showering their route with a variety of flowers and herbs for them to walk on. Sha and the other Herassans seemed to be getting more than their share of flowers thrown at them, as did Ranesh. The crowd either found the large angry looking female mammal attractive in some way, or they had a better developed sense of irony than Mark had credited them with.

  “OK Mike, deep breaths, chest out, shoulders back, chin up.” Mark said.

  Mike turned and smiled at him. “You are so weird.” Then facing forwards, she said just loud enough for Sally and Mark to hear, “Stepping off on your left foot, slow march!”

  They moved slowly down the ramp in a stately march. As the crowd saw Mike come into sight on the ramp, a great roar went up, becoming louder as they moved down the ramp and more people could see them.

  Looking straight forward, they passed between Orange and Kar fen, who then moved inwards, closing up and forming the rear guard. As they moved to the front, Seltet stepped out of their way and said in a voice loud enough to be heard by the six Herassan Palace Guards leading them, “On my mark, slow march!” just in time for them to move forwards without Sally, Mike and Mark having to pause. The crowd went wild as the column started their slow journey to the Palace gates. A chant started up, just a few voices at first, but more and more joined in until the whole crowd were chanting: ‘Rule by all! Rule by all!’

  Sally messaged Mark, “It looks like your social media message got through.”

  Mark kept facing straight ahead, but a smile spread across his face.

  When they reached the Palace gates, the contingent of Palace Guards stood aside for them to pass through, and the Guards surrounding them peeled off and fell into line behind as they continued to march across what Mark now knew was called the Palace Approach. It still looked like a car park. Their route was lined with smiling people who all held baskets of flowers, which they threw in their path as they approached.

  “Who are they?” he messaged Mike.

  “Palace staff. Cleaners, gardeners, maintenance people, cooks, waiters, medics, nursery workers, administrators – everyone who has a job here that isn’t directly involved in the raising.”

  “They work at the Palace? I thought that Herassans didn’t need to work, you were a moneyless civilization?”

  “We are, they are volunteers.”

  “Uh, OK.” Mark said. Why anyone would volunteer to work for un-elected rulers whose main aim was to feather their own nests was beyond him.

  They could still hear the crowd outside the gates chanting ‘Rule by all! Rule by all’, but those lining their path inside the gates showed no inclination to join in.

  They continued their approach to the archway that led into the huge enclosed courtyard that led into the great hall where the raising would take place. Last time they had come through here, just before Mike had been snatched by the rebels. It had been empty, but now it was full of ranks of sol
diers lining the thick green carpet that marked their path to the Palace. The soldiers all appeared to be in dress uniform, with medals hung on chains around their necks. Each block of them had a different colored uniform. As they entered the courtyard, a Herassan voice barked an order and all the soldiers snapped to attention.

  As the procession approached each rank, they brought their right arm up in the Herassan version of a salute, and when the head of the procession reached them, with Mike at its head, the soldiers dropped their right arm, swapped their weapons from their left hand to their right, bowed their heads slightly and covered their eyes with their left hand.

  Mark was impressed by their precision and hoped that their procession was keeping in step behind him, then almost stumbled as he looked down to check if he was in step with Sally and Mike.