Imperium: Coda: Book Three in the Imperium Trilogy

by Paul M Calvert

  SCENE 16, A MOMENTUS DECISION

  Having taken the orbital platforms, Adam’s fleet had reformed. The attack on the Jump Station continued, despite it being obvious wearing it down was going to take a long time. The rebel fleet coming from the planet was closing rapidly and would be within attacking range in less than a day. Realising he was at a crossroads and needed to decide one way or another what to do, Adam was sitting alone in his quarters, torn and in need of someone to talk to. Both Vimes and his father had made it clear they would not be guiding him on what to do about revealing the secret technologies, and now the choice was his alone to make, he found his earlier certainty in wishing to reveal it wavering. The implications for life in the Imperium were massive, and he knew that once out in the open, the technology would eventually spread to other Empires, potentially allowing them to finally Jump directly into Imperial space and threaten entire systems. Jump Stations would become redundant, and each system would need to maintain a larger defensive force to protect against such an eventuality. Trade, taxes, criminality and communications would potentially all be impacted.

  He sighed, and put down the now lukewarm cup of tea he had been nursing while deliberating what to do, leaning back into his chair with instructions to gently massage his back and neck. Trying to relax, Adam thought back to his time on earth, and how much he had enjoyed Karen’s company, Without conscious thought, he smiled, then felt the familiar and unwelcome pang of longing for her presence. He could feel himself warming at the thought of her touch and tried to dismiss the feeling, knowing now was not the time to indulge in wishful thinking.

  “Vimes,” he said aloud, “please open a channel to yourself on Capital and see if there is any news on Karen. It has been almost a month now, and I’ve heard nothing since she returned there.”

  “Of course. It will allow me to update myself too. Please be patient. There, connection made. Do you wish me to put you through?” he asked.

  Adam paused, the feeling of uncertainty coming back again with a vengeance. He didn’t say anything, knowing Vimes could read his mood.

  “What if she has changed her mind about living with me and wants to stay on earth,” he thought, despite knowing how much she cared for him. “What if she has been put off becoming a member of the Imperial family after witnessing the death of my mother? Has the experience changed her?”

  In his mind, Adam could imagine his mental finger pausing above the contact button, one-half of him desperate to see and talk to Karen again, the other part scared of what he might be told. Finally, he pressed it and waited expectantly for Karen to take his call. There was no point asking Vimes if she was able to take the call, for he wouldn’t reveal personal information such as that to him.

  “Would he if I was Emperor?” he asked himself while waiting for her to answer the call, suspecting he already knew.

  “Adam, where are you?” Karen’s sleep-laden voice said, her face appearing moments later on the screen in front of him. Despite having caught her off-guard and in a deep sleep, at that moment she looked to him the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. “Adam, is everything alright?”

  “I’m sorry, Karen, I forgot to allow for the time difference,” he apologised, belatedly realising he had made such a basic error, “I just haven’t heard from you for so long and, well, I…” Adam’s voice tailed off at the end, all of his pre-planned speeches vanishing from his mind, but he pressed on, uncertain how to progress, “…I just wanted to make sure you were OK and that everything was still, you know, good between us. It’s just that I haven’t heard anything from you in such a long time.”

  “Oh, Adam, you silly man, of course everything's OK. Look, I’m fine, but with what happened to Christine and …other things happening, I miss you terribly but needed time to grieve and think and get my head straight. Vimes says you are still fighting. How’s it going?

  Back on familiar ground and relieved she still seemed happy with him, Adam replied, “I miss you too. He’s as expected, Karen, I’ll get Vines to brief you on progress so far, but I had a long chat with my father.”

  “How is he? How is he managing after what happened?” Karen interrupted, wanting to get to the important things first, knowing how men often ignored the emotional side of relationships.

  “He took it badly, but with help from Vimes and little from me, he recovered.” Adam picked up on the look Karen was giving him. “When I say recovered, he’s doing as well as expected but has changed. He’s not the same man, Karen, it’s as though a light has gone out and he’s diminished.”

  “He’s become a normal man grieving for his wife instead of the all-powerful Emperor, is that what you mean?” Karen asked, understanding, having had years of seeing what grief could do to people.

  Adam nodded, relieved she seemed to know what he was describing.

  “You remember the conversations we had about the control we have over the Empire and your views on letting go?” he asked, knowing her perfect recall would bring it back to her in an instant. “I’ve that choice to make now, for he’s given me effective control of how the campaign moves forward. Either fight a long war of attrition, taking back control system by system, or ending it quickly by using the secret technologies to behead the snake that is Frederic. But if I do that, then one of our major levers of power goes. Either way, the Empire faces untold upheaval and an uncertain future. I thought I had all the answers and was so sure of myself, but now, faced with the choice, I don’t know what to do.”

  “And you are asking me, a woman of Earth, a planet so backwards we barely register, for advice? That’s just crazy. No, not you being crazy, Adam,” she quickly corrected herself, “I was thinking out aloud for a moment. I wish you were here, Adam. Can’t you Jump here for a while so we can be together?”

  “I would if I could, but not in the middle of an ongoing battle. It wouldn’t seem right to me, especially as everyone else is separated from their loved ones. I need to be here with them, sharing their discomforts. Do you understand, Karen?”

  Karen nodded, and smiled inside, realising how much her man had grown in the long weeks they had been apart. “I understand, Adam. I’ve so much I want to tell you, but that can wait until we are together, providing it isn’t too long. Give me a moment to go over the information you’ve sent me.”

  Adam waited, warmed by just looking at her face, which somehow seemed even more radiant than he had remembered. It didn’t take long before Karen reached the section containing details of how Frederick had suborned the datanet and turned so many Sectors against the Empire.

  “Oh my God. The bastard. So all those lives lost and each side thought they were fighting for the Empire? Evil, but brilliant.” Karen stopped talking and thought hard for a moment, before continuing. “I don’t think you have a choice, Adam. Two attempts at wresting control from your family, each almost succeeding. You need to open up the Empire and loosen the hold you have over information and travel, so people can see and hear what is really happening for themselves. Otherwise you risk another attempt at some point. The Empire is becoming stale and needs fresh challenges.”

  “So you think I should use the technologies to finish the rebellion, then manage an orderly transfer of the technology out to the Empire?” he asked, wanting to make sure. “What about our control, trade, etc.?”

  “Look, Adam, we might be backwards on earth, but we manage to thrive with instantaneous communication and reasonably free and quick travel between countries. Substitute star systems for countries and you can see how it works. I think the Empire would gain far more than it loses and it might usher in a new age of expansion.” Karen stopped speaking, hit by a sudden and unexpected thought.

  “What’s the matter, you’ve just stopped?” Adam asked, seeing the look on Karen’s face, “What is it?”

  “I seemed to get on well with the Felidae Empress, and Freya herself said she was sort of indebted to me; at least, as much as any Felidae could be, I suppose. What if you or I gift her the
new Jump technology? Wait a minute,” she said, seeing him about to interrupt, “think it through. She will eventually get it anyway through spies or traitors, but if we present it to her before anyone else, what does that do to relations with our biggest and most powerful neighbour? She’s proven herself honourable and trustworthy. What better way to gain an ally instead of just a neighbour?”

  Karen stopped, watching the idea and its implications play across her lover's face. “It will take them years, if not decades to retrofit their warships with the new Jump technology, whereas I got the impression from you and your father that all of our Capital ships already have it fitted, but hidden, so you still retain an advantage. What do you think?”

  Adam nodded slowly, allowing her words to sink in. “That is a lot to think about, Karen, but I like it. We would need to present this to them before they learn we have used it in combat, otherwise a lot of the diplomatic advantage would be lost.” He smiled. “Who do you think should present it to Freya?

  “I walked into that, didn’t I?” Karen responded ruefully, returning his smile. “The things I do for the good of the Empire. I’ll go alone but will check in regularly. Well, have you made up your mind?”

  Adam’s smile vanished as quickly as it had come. “Yes, I will. Vimes will advise you what to do and say, but I trust your judgement. I’ll tell father my intent and coordinate our attacks against the rebels with him. This is a momentous moment, Karen and yet again, you are right at the heart of it.”

  Karen picked up an undercurrent from his tone. “What else, Adam? There’s something left unsaid; I can hear it in your voice.”

  He nodded. “You know me too well. I just thought that when this is all over, I will have to do something about Earth. For too long it has been left to its own devices and cut off. I was just thinking how much it’s people would contribute to the Empire.” He changed the subject, “I really love you, you know.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart. There’s so much more I want to say to you when we are together, so hurry up and finish this damn war.”

  As the two young lovers reaffirmed their love for each other, Vimes drew all but a small part of his attention away and began contacting his avatars throughout the galaxy, updating them on developments and getting them to prepare for the huge task ahead. It would take some time, but when Adam was ready to begin ushering the Imperium into a new age, so would he.

  A rejuvenated Adam strode onto the Bridge, having double-checked with Vimes that all of the ships in his fleet were equipped with the secret drive and that they could be unlocked on his command. He acknowledged the salutes and headed straight for Admiral Frith, who he had requested be in attendance when he arrived.

  Her eyes narrowed a little, perhaps sensing the change in his mood and Adam could see her about to ask a question. Raising a hand to forestall her, he activated a privacy shield around them, keeping their conversation private. Frith eyed him curiously and sat down slowly at his invitation.

  “You seem different, or is that my imagination?” she asked him. “Why the privacy shield?”

  Adam smiled. “You’re very perceptive, Janice. I could have told you via the AI link but felt you deserved to know from me personally. The rest of the crew, indeed the whole Empire, will know soon enough, but you are the first.” He paused for a second, expecting her to ask what, but she said nothing and let him continue.

  “I am bringing this war to a conclusion. I’ve communicated my decision to the Emperor just now and he has agreed that I can proceed.”

  Frith held up a finger to interrupt. “You spoke to him just now? That isn’t possible due to the time delay, even if the Jump Point wasn’t destabilised…unless you have something?” Her voice trailed off, letting him finish.

  “Exactly, Janice. We do. Not only can we communicate without a Jump Point, but we can Jump to and from within a gravity well. We are no longer forced to use Jump Points. My family have kept this technology secret for generations, but I have decided now is the time for it to be revealed and used in the service of the Empire.” He sent the precis Vimes had prepared for him to give to her, setting out the military and socio-economic implications.

  Frith’s face became expressionless. She said nothing for almost a minute, and Adam wondered what her reaction would be when she finally spoke to him. Would she be angry at being deceived for so long, relieved at having a means to bring the rebellion to a swift close or perhaps both? He had no idea.

  Finally, Admiral Frith broke her silence, standing up to face Adam. “So that’s how Alexander arranged for us to escape Frederick’s trap. He used the new technology to simply Jump us out of there. My goodness, the implications for this are profound. We can Jump from here straight to the planet here, leaving the Rebel fleet days behind us and there’s nothing they can do to stop us.”

  Adam nodded, relieved that Frith understood the implications, but not surprised she had missed one of the major tactical advantages in the short time the information had been available to her.

  “Not only that, Janice, we can equip large shuttles with the drive and Jump them within the Station’s shields. If they detonate close to critical systems, we can cripple them and force it to surrender. Think of the implications.”

  Frith nodded, her mind checking with the ship’s AI what the limitations were and whether this could be used against the planetary defences. So many small details now made sense and she wondered what had really made the Emperor reveal such sensitive information now. She caught Adam’s eyes and held them.

  “Why now, Adam? Who or what has changed your minds?”

  He took a deep breath. “Father has decided to abdicate in my favour once the rebellion is over, so he felt it was only proper that I made the decision on whether or not to use the technology, seeing as it would be me who had to deal with the consequences. I decided to do so.”

  Frith nodded gently, but still maintained eye contact. “So why did you decide to do this, Adam?”

  “Two rebellions in one lifetime, our Navy usurped because of too tight control over information and technology, millions of our fighting men and women duped into working for the wrong side, the list goes on, Janice. I could not in good conscience allow millions more to die in a war of attrition when I could bring it to a swift close by using every tactical advantage we have.” Adam returned her gaze. “What would you have done?” he asked her, curious.

  “I honestly do not know. I can see both sides of the argument, but the path you have chosen will be just as dangerous and full of unknowns as the other. Now, what do we do next? Do you have a plan?”

  Adam nodded. “I do. It’s really rather simple. Jump to the planet, leaving the Jump Station and enemy fleet behind us and days away. Because of the light speed time delay of two and three-quarter hours, the fleet won’t know where we have gone, and the planetary defences will be caught completely unawares, as they won’t be expecting us to arrive for days. While we are mapping out the Quantum Signatures of the base, I’ll offer the Duke terms on which he can surrender. Should he refuse, we send in a small total conversion weapon to kill him and his retinue. While that is happening, we Jump in transports filled with Marines to take over key communication stations and systems, then introduce IP’s to take back control. Vimes will download a version of himself and try to regain control of his systems that were neutralised. Once the populace and Marines see what is happening, we can expect to see widespread laying down of arms.”

  “And the rebel fleet?” Frith asked.

  “While they are still trying to figure out what happened to us and before any signals or light gets to them about what we’ve done on the planet, we Jump back and confront them. Once they see what we have done and receive messages from the planet regarding Frederick’s treason, we may be able to get them to lay down their arms. If not, we destroy the Jump Station using another conversion device, then offer terms again to the fleet. If Ferris is still in charge of it and hasn’t been deposed, we do it the old fashioned way. ”


  He paused for a moment, “Well, at least that’s the theory. Whether or not it works to plan is another matter.”

  SCENE 17, SIR JOHN’S STUDY, EARTH

  Sir John was also sitting at his desk, a simple oak affair which had been in his family for generations, the embossed red leather insert on top having been recently replaced, looking slightly incongruous in its newness. He reached for the wooden drawer knob to his right, noting for the first time in ages how time and countless hands had browned and rubbed the wood to a glass-like smoothness. Opening the drawer he looked at the book inside, pulling it out and opening it again at the beginning.

  In the weeks since Karen and Vimes had dropped him off at home, his life had been a whirlwind round of meetings with the very top of the British hierarchy. Most of the current Cabinet had been excluded, and he remembered the heated debate over whether the Sovereign should be briefed or not. He chuckled, recalling everyone’s reaction when he quietly reminded them that Vimes had made specific mention of the Queen and had extended his best wishes to her, reminding those assembled that the Empire was ruled by an Emperor with limitless powers and might not take too kindly if Her Majesty was excluded. Subsequently, he had accompanied the Prime Minister on one of her weekly visits to the Queen and had spent a surprisingly enjoyable afternoon discussing what had happened. Most unusually, the Duke of Edinburgh had joined them, and all her meetings and appointments had been cancelled for the day.