They were careful, knowing that Seeton was not the senior admiral on Aldebaran I. When Tarn claimed to be a personal friend of the admiral’s, doors opened, and Trist’s presence added credence to his story.
When they were shown into Seeton’s office, he came from behind his desk but did not offer a greeting. Unlike a lot of the senior commanders they had met, Seeton was not a large man. He was spare, of average height, and he sported a goatee. His gaze was stern and unrelenting.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
“Not who we appear to be, sir,” Tarn answered. “We come from Admiral Chandrajuski.”
“I wondered if it was something like that. Few civilians seek me out, and I knew you were not friends of mine. He’s been sacked, you know.”
“Sir?” Tarn blurted out, looking sharply to Krys. Her lips trembled, but her eyes remained dry. From her earlier vision of him, she knew his road would be difficult. Would he hold, as she believed the vision called for him to do?
“I only just received word. I’m sorry,” Seeton added.
“Has he left?” she asked.
“He’s been placed under arrest by the new governor,” Seeton growled.
“New governor!” Tarn blurted out again.
“I’m afraid so. We have a new governor here, as well.”
“What happened to the old one?” Krys asked softly.
“He’s dead. Struthers isn’t taking no for an answer.”
Her eyes opened wide in alarm. She started to speak, but Tarn cut her off. “So you support Struthers now, sir?”
Seeton stared at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Do you?”
“We’re done here. It’s time for you to leave.”
Trist growled low in her throat. “Answer the question, Admiral,” she demanded.
His gaze settled on her as he considered. “To you, I will answer. Never. Never will I support the man or his Rebel cause. Don’t ask me who I now answer to because I don’t know, but it’s not him or our new governor. I think it’s time you told me who you are.”
Krys reached behind her neck and carefully unclasped the locket, then handed it to Seeton. He examined it, then moved to the doorway. “It’s okay,” he said calmly to the staff members milling about. Weapons appeared from various places and went back into drawers. He closed the door and turned to Krys. “Who are you?” he asked, as if nothing untoward had happened.
“I am many things, but I am first a messenger. I carry a dispatch from Admiral Chandrajuski.” She handed him the chip and waited while he inserted it into his work station and read the letter. When he turned to her, he was brief. “What is your message?”
“The Empire is not bereft of legitimate leadership,” she said. “We have a Queen, and she is very much alive.”
Seeton’s hand shook slightly as it passed across his forehead. “I would so like to believe you,” he breathed. “Have you proof?”
“Are a Friend’s word, the word of Admiral Chandrajuski, and the presence of a Great Cat not enough?”
“It’s a good beginning, but it’s not enough. Do you appreciate the impact those few words have on . . .” His eyes rose to the ceiling, then searched the room. “Well, everything! Everything we stand for, and everything that happens from this moment forward?”
“We do, sir. The old system is not dead, and it’s up to you and others like you to keep it alive. She’s counting on you.”
“You’ve seen her?”
“Not in the manner you wish for, but I promise you, the Queen lives.”
He suddenly seemed to deflate. “Surely you’ve seen the pictures.”
“Not all the Chosen were at the Palace, sir.”
“All are reported dead.”
“Reported by whom?”
His eyes narrowed. “Of course! Of course he would make such a claim. He had to.” He paused in thought for a moment, then said, “There is another who must hear this.”
“There are many others who will hear it, Admiral. Our list is long.”
“I mean here. Now.”
Krys turned to Tarn with alarm in her eyes. This was not part of the plan.
“Who is it, Admiral?” Tarn asked harshly. “What you do with our message after we deliver it is up to you, but our words are only for you. Our presence here cannot become known.”
“If his name is not on your list, your list is incomplete. If I tell you his name and you fail to convince me of your story, you will not leave this office with your freedom.” He looked to the Great Cat. “That includes you.”
Trist just stared back at him with that imperturbable look cats seem to have stored up for just such occasions. As Seeton considered her, he knew she was not in the least concerned with threats from him.
Nor was Krys. “What is the name, Admiral.”
He hesitated, then said, “Signio Veswicki.”
Trist spoke instantly. “Bring him, Admiral.”
Seeton stepped from the office. As soon as he did, two sets of worried eyes turned on the Great Cat.
“He’s right,” Trist said. “If his name is not on the list, it should be. I don’t doubt for a moment that it is on Senator Truax’s list.”
“Who is he?” Krys asked.
“Governor of Triton Sector. I suspect he’s out of a job at the moment.”
“His loyalty is not in question?”
“I assure you, it is not. I’ll add that he was a senior member of Fleet Command before he was Named governor.”
“He’s an admiral, then?” Tarn asked.
“Before he retired, he was a very senior admiral. When the Queen learns he is alive, she will call him to her side. I have heard rumors that Struthers is searching hard for him. He is an ally, Krys, an important ally. You may speak freely with him, of that I am certain.”
A stooped old man with a cane and considerable facial hair was ushered into the office. Seeton closed the door and began introductions, then hesitated. “I don’t believe you gave me your names,” he said in surprise.
Tarn did the honors. “Lieutenant Tarn Lukes, Ms. Krys, and the Great Cat Trist.” And you are. . .?” he asked, turning to the old man.
“Who I am does not matter.” The old man turned to Seeton. “What’s this all about, Harry?”
“Perhaps you should be seated first, old man?” Seeton asked, the corners of his mouth curling up into a tight smile. He turned to Krys. “Meet Governor Signio Veswicki, governor of Triton Sector.”
The old man instantly straightened up. The cane, rather than a support, suddenly looked like a weapon in his hands. “Harry?” he said with a dangerous look.
“They’re couriers from Chandrajuski. Their message, if true, changes all our plans.”
Veswicki turned to them, his eyes studying them intently. He did not have to ask. Krys simply said, “We have a Queen, Governor. She is very much alive.”
He just stared at her, then at Tarn and Trist, then at Seeton. “I happen to know that she died,” he said softly, menacingly.
Krys did not flinch. “Daughter lives. She is now Queen.”
He might have discounted Krys’ words, but he would not discount the words of a Great Cat. His eyes went to Trist.
“It’s true, Governor. Daughter lives. She is now our Queen,” she said.
“You’ve seen her?”
“I have not. This one has,” she said, indicating Krys.
“Since the Palace fell?”
“I have, Governor.”
He studied her for a time, then removed the beard, mustache, and the colored lenses in his eyes. The face of an aging, trim man emerged. She could easily see this man dressed in a uniform rather than the rumpled civilian suit he now wore. As he stood erect, even the suit seemed to unrumple. With a look into his eyes, Krys sensed a true leader standing before her, one of those rare individuals whom anyone would follow.
“Where is she?” he asked, his forehead creased in a demand.
“I don’t know at the moment. When I last sa
w her, she was in mortal danger. I have good reason to believe she survived that particular trial.”
Veswicki stared at her for a time. “You set our hopes up, then dash them?”
“I do not. I sense loyalty to the realm in both of you. It’s time for you to know the full story. Will you sit? It’s a long story.”
Both chose to stand, but by the time she had finished her story, both were sitting.
“Gods, Harry! Do you know what this means?” Veswicki asked.
“I do, Signio. Our plan can be modified to fit. And I can’t wait to arrest the new governor and my boss.”
“In time. Not yet.”
“No, not yet, but instead of hesitation, we can move with confidence, knowing our path is right.”
Veswicki looked to Krys. “We cannot find it within our hearts to abrogate everything we have ever stood for, and that’s what it takes to join with Struthers. We’ve been putting a plan together to organize a few sectors against him. We’ve already made contacts, but we move with hesitation because in a way it means we’ve gone rogue.
“Our system of Empire governance places the politicians above the military, but to act as we’ve planned requires the military to supplant the politicians for a time, and possibly for a long time. Worse, no matter which course we choose, that of Struthers or that of martial law, our models predict failure in the end. Enduring peace requires a charismatic, benevolent leader. Only the Chosen have been able to fill those shoes. And now . . . now all our efforts will lead to the restoration of that which is right. For the gift you have given us today, we will forever be in your debt.”
“It’s a long road ahead of us, Governor,” Krys said.
“And the single most important thing we can do is to locate and protect the Last of the Chosen. Nothing takes precedence over that. I would encourage you to focus your energies in that direction.”
“Trust me, Admiral, I have tried, and I am trying. Until I succeed, I will continue on the mission assigned to me by Admiral Chandrajuski.”
“You know he’s imprisoned?”
“We just learned. I’m saddened, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“It does not. Your message must get out, and you deliver it powerfully. But we should look to managing our resources. Chandrajuski did not know of our activities here. We’ve already made some headway, possibly in places a visit from you is no longer needed. We can take your message, and our delivery will have equal impact because of who we are. Let’s face it. Knowing Chandrajuski, your list is long. If you were to visit every name on the list, it would take years, maybe centuries. We will have to act within the next two years. With some minor disruptions to Struthers’ efforts, we might have three years. No more than that.”
“Why such a short time?”
“It’s quite simple really. When Struthers next convenes the Imperial Senate, and if the existence of a surviving Chosen is not universally accepted, he will be installed as the leader of the Empire. He’ll be the legal ruler then, Krys. We’ll legally be the Rebels.”
“In that case, it sounds to me like Senator Truax’s efforts are more important than ours.”
“In the long run they are, and I’m going to have to give serious thought to how I can supplement his efforts. I just learned that we still have a Queen, and it’s changed everything. I’ll flesh out these preliminary thoughts over the next few days, but here’s the important thing: Struthers only gets one shot at it. If he loses the vote, he’s either out, or he’ll have to disband the Senate. In the short term, certain actions can force him to delay that Senate meeting. Certain other military actions might even force him to disband the Senate, which as strange as it might sound is to our benefit. Everything we do must be aimed at preventing the Senate from legitimizing his government, even if it means we have no Senate for a while. Do you see where I’m going with this?”
“I do, sir.”
He turned to Seeton. “Harry, with Chandrajuski out of the picture, she’s lost her support base. Are you willing to pick it up?”
Seeton looked at Krys. “Are you willing to let me pick it up?”
“I am, sir.”
He nodded, and Veswicki continued. “Will you share your list with me?”
She squirmed in her seat. That list had become all important, and Chandrajuski had warned her not to trust anyone. She looked to Tarn for advice.
He nodded his head. “These are good people, Krys. I know you sense that. We have to trust someone.”
She turned back to Veswicki and nodded. “I don’t have it with me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“It includes plans and methods for retreat, Governor. Chandrajuski believes that some commanders will not be able to hold their positions of power. Before they are replaced, he’s asking them to escape with all the resources they can muster. He’s provided a leader to gather them up.”
Veswicki’s eyes sparkled. “A masterful stroke! Not only does he augment our forces, he denies those assets to Struthers. Of course, with him imprisoned the whole plan is compromised, but we can develop a new one.” He looked to Seeton.
“I’ll get my staff working on it, Signio.”
Trist growled. “This has direct impact on the welfare of my principal, and potentially the Queen. Your staff is a source of compromise, Admiral. Perhaps you should develop it yourself.”
“Wise words, Trist. Since the coup, and since the arrival of Governor Veswicki, I’ve made changes to my staff. They are all of the right persuasion. Trust me, I’ve been thorough. All our lives, theirs included, are at stake here.”
Trist dipped her head in acknowledgement.
Veswicki rose from his seat and went to Krys, squatting down before her as she sat in a chair. “Admiral Chandrajuski is a friend of mine, as well,” he said. “You must accept the fact that he will not be allowed to live.”
She leaned toward him, their faces separated only by inches. “I have strong reason to believe he’ll survive.”
Veswicki rose, and she rose with him. “How do you know?”
She looked briefly at Tarn, then turned back to Veswicki. “I had a vision in which he was alive. I believe the Queen will seek him out, regardless of the difficulties.”
Veswicki’s eyes looked to the ceiling in thought. “She might go to him. He’s one I would put on a very short list.”
“Are you on that list?”
“I would be if she knew where I was, but my location is a secret. I’m the number one enemy of Struthers right now, and he’s searching for me with great diligence.”
“I would say you’re number two at the moment,” she said, her lips pressed together grimly.
Veswicki’s eyebrows raised. “I do believe you’re right, young lady. Your news changes everything. Will you stay for a few days while we consider adjustments to the plan?”
“I will, sir. The plan is flexible; we expected change.”
A new plan was produced, and Krys’ part in it remained unchanged, but Veswicki was going to direct considerable resources to assisting Senator Truax. In his mind, the political side of things held equal importance to Krys’ activities.
“What are your plans for helping him?” she asked.
Veswicki looked at her kindly. “Do you really want to know?”
She considered his words. “I’d like to know. He’s a close friend, but I see where you’re going with this. It’s probably best that I don’t know. Am I done here?”
“We’ve made an adjustment or two to your list, and I’ll be contacting certain individuals on that list. They’ve been marked, so don’t waste your time with them. Yes, I think we’re done.”
“Before leaving, I’d like to attempt a vision with each of you. Will you allow me to try? It doesn’t often work,” she added with downcast eyes.
Veswicki and Seeton looked at each other in surprise. The looks of surprise soon changed to looks of hesitation.
“I share in your hesitation, sirs,” she said. “The choice
is yours, of course. One admiral chose against just before going into battle. He knew he could not effectively lead his forces if I foretold his doom. Three squadrons were lost as a result of that choice, though I cannot honestly say I could have produced a vision that would have swayed him. Admiral Chandrajuski faced the same difficult choice, but he agreed. I believe that what he learned during that vision will be a source of strength to him during his present difficulties. I believe, further, that the consequences of his choice will benefit our new Queen in her efforts to restore the throne.”
“Who can say no to that?” Seeton said. Veswicki, too, nodded his head in acquiescence, though his reluctance showed.
She looked to Tarn. “It doesn’t matter who goes first.”
He nodded his head, and she tucked her legs beneath her on the chair, settling into her meditation position.
Governor Veswicki was the first to take her hand. Instead of her eyes flying open, this time a smile lit her face. She opened her eyes and nodded to him, then closed them again, though the smile remained for some time. When it was well and truly gone, Tarn motioned to Seeton. He, too, took her hand. This time she did not smile. She opened her eyes with a sober expression. He stepped back, suddenly afraid.
She remained comfortably in her meditation position and addressed both of them. “When I See, it is always something in the future. Sometimes my visions are accompanied by words, always in the form of a riddle. My vision of you, Admiral Seeton, consists only of words. They are the following:
Many demands. There are battles, and there are great battles. Two follows one. Rule two wins.
Seeton’s gaze was locked on hers, but his eyes blinked repeatedly, his thoughts clearly on the words of her vision. He licked lips that had gone dry while he considered. “Do you know what they mean?” he asked her.
“I never do. It’s up to us to solve the riddle. Many demands seems simple enough, particularly if battles are being waged. The business with battles also seems straight-forward, though these riddles never are. The rest is unclear to me.”
“My thoughts exactly. The words are simple, but what do they mean? Of course two follows one, and who knows what Rule two is?” He turned to Veswicki. “Do you know?”
Last of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book One) Page 61
