Knights of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Two)

by Lawrence P White

  A look of astonishment came over Val’s face, then a glint found its way to his eyes. “Maybe not, but you’ve crashed them into the ocean a few times.”

  “Ugh. You had to remind me.”

  “I’d be happy to assist you through our landings.”

  “We’ll see. Things might get a little tense when we arrive. They have a habit of doing that around us.”

  “That they do.” A little sheepishly, Val said, “You know, I never imagined I’d be the captain of this ship. For me, it’s like . . . the ultimate.”

  “This ship was really the beginning of the rest of your life, wasn’t it?”

  “I guess it was. What’s for dinner?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll try to scrape something up. Any idea what Gamordians eat?”

  * * * * *

  Their arrival at Aldebaran I came off without a hitch. Resolve broadcast a completely fictitious beacon code just in case the Rebels had taken charge of the sector. They emerged from hyperspace to find a large number of Chessori traders scattered through the system, and Mike stayed in the net as much as he could, ready to take over if necessary. Val set up a tight beam transmission to Admiral Harold Seeton, Fleet Commander, a human and an old classmate of Chandrajuski’s.

  Chandrajuski met Seeton at the ramp and escorted him to the conference room where Mike and Val waited. It didn’t take long to get down to the purpose of their visit.

  “How’s business, Harry?” Chandrajuski inquired.

  “We’re basically locked down, just trying to keep the peace. How about you? I thought you’d been arrested?”

  “I was rescued.”

  “Rescued!” Seeton peered hard at Chandrajuski. “You were imprisoned, and now you’re a grand admiral traveling with two Knights. Please tell me you’re not here on Struthers’ behalf.”

  Chandrajuski’s neck stretched across the table toward Seeton. “You know me better than that, Harry.”

  Seeton let out a long sigh, then his eyes crinkled into a smile of triumph. “We know each other well, my friend. I got your message.”

  He turned his head to Val. “Your sister was alive and well when we last met.”

  Val stood abruptly. “She was here? How long ago, Admiral?”

  “Two months. The formalities, Sire, if you will.”

  Val removed a Pin from his pocket and passed it across the table. Seeton stared at the Pin for a long time, his eyes brimming. His hand shook slightly as he picked up the Pin. He couldn’t open it, though in fairness, he didn’t try very hard. He had been clinging to hope for two months and was afraid to lose it. Visions were one thing; the reality of a Knight of the Realm was quite another.

  He handed the Pin back to Val. “Do you have the slightest comprehension of what this Pin means, Sire?”

  Val looked hard into his eyes. “It means everything. Opening this Pin is a test of me, but how do we test you?”

  “Open the Pin, Sire, and I’ll provide proof.”

  Val opened the Pin, and Ellie’s countenance shone forth. Seeton stared, his hopes fulfilled. “She spoke true, Sire.”

  Mike pulled the pendant from under his shirt, but Seeton held up a hand. “That vision was for another, Sire.”

  Mike sighed and looked up to the ceiling. “Not again,” he groaned.

  “Sire?”

  “Never mind. You said something about proof?”

  Seeton lifted a communicator to his mouth. “You can come in now.”

  Blasters immediately sprung into Mike and Val’s hands. Seeton regarded them, then turned to Chandrajuski. “A friend comes. Only one. There is no threat.”

  A crewmember escorted a man into the lounge, then left. For the first time since Mike had known Chandrajuski, he found him at a loss for words.

  “Greetings, my friend,” Governor Veswicki said to him.

  Chandrajuski stepped around the table and batted fists with Veswicki, his mouth open in his ferocious smile. “I am truly pleased, Governor.” He turned to Seeton. “You promised proof, and you delivered, Harry.” Blasters disappeared back into holsters.

  Veswicki looked to Val and bowed. “I see the resemblance, Sire. You can be proud of her.”

  “How is she?”

  “She seemed well, very well, considering.” He turned to Mike and faced him squarely, then bowed. “You would be our First Knight, Sire?”

  Mike hesitated. He was not pleased, not pleased at all that he was known to this man. What other visions had Krys had of him? Veswicki’s expectant look turned into a look of confusion. He turned to Seeton with raised eyebrows.

  Seeton, too, seemed confused. “Uh, now would be appropriate, Sire.”

  Mike again pulled out the pendant and placed it on the table. He brushed his hand across the surface, and the bright hologram of Ellie shone forth. Veswicki leaned forward and picked up the pendant, not for examination but for pleasure.

  “We’re honored that you came to us, Sire.” He stared hard at Mike, and Mike sensed the question.

  “We have not met, Governor, nor will you find a record of me anywhere in the Empire. May I ask who you are?”

  “You don’t know? I’m the governor of Triton Sector.”

  “Hmm. Past or present?”

  “Both, Sire. I do not recognize Struthers’ authority to remove me.”

  “Well said, Governor. Neither does the Queen.”

  “How is she?”

  “Mending.”

  “Mending!”

  Chandrajuski spoke. “She’s had a difficult time since the coup, Signio. It’s a long story. Let me just say that Sir Mike has been with her through most of it. Without him, the last of the Chosen would be dead. The same can be said of Sir Val.”

  Veswicki and Seeton each bent to one knee, their heads bowed deeply toward the two Knights. Veswicki spoke for both of them. “The Queen lives. We are at your command, Sires.”

  “Then rise. We have work to do,” Mike commanded.

  Veswicki rose and looked hard at Mike. “Just who are you, Sire?”

  Mike looked to Chandrajuski who said, “You can trust both of them.”

  Mike turned back to Veswicki and Seeton. “I don’t trust many, and you have not been Tested. Who I am is not important. Know that the Queen trusts the three of us implicitly. You know Admiral Chandrajuski’s background, and Sir Val was a fleet officer before being Named. As for me, you would be well served to assume I know very little about your empire.”

  “Sire?”

  “I’m from an emerging world, Governor.”

  Veswicki stepped back in confusion. Mike took a seat, and Val and Seeton followed suit, but Veswicki remained standing.

  Chandrajuski stepped in. “He’s from an emerging world, Signio, a world without space travel, but he brought her 800 light years without an AI, all manually. He’s fought multiple engagements with the Rebels and Chessori, and she’s alive because of it. He was mortally wounded while protecting her and only survived because he carried a Rider. If that’s not enough, he sent his Rider into her body, bringing her back to life after a gleason’s knife went into her heart. I saw it with my own eyes, and I saw him test a potential antidote to the gleason’s poison on himself before we gave it to the Queen. I think it fair to say that, despite what Struthers did, the position of First Knight has been fully restored.”

  Seeton and Veswicki again went to a knee before Mike. He frowned. “Each of us in this room has faced equal demands on our lives, and we will face equally terrible choices in the months and years to come,” he said. “We do these things for the good of the Empire. You have remained true to your oaths, and I thank you in the Queen’s name. Rise, gentlemen, and let us get back to work. We’re in this together until the very end.”

  They rose, and Veswicki went to stand before Mike. “Sire, the Empire will be forever in your debt. I stand willing and anxious to serve the Queen. I stand willing and anxious to serve you, as well.”

  Veswicki turned away and paced for a time. When he turned back
to Mike, he said, “I would hear your story, First Knight. Clearly, you’re a survivor, and just as clearly, you’re a fast learner. Before that, though, I must ask if you fully understand what you’ve given us?”

  “I believe I do, but I’m also a good listener. Why don’t you enlighten me.”

  “Imagine if you will, Sire, a rope bridge crossing an abyss. Immediately after the coup, Harry, me, Chandrajuski, and all the Empire leadership suddenly found ourselves stranded on that bridge. The ropes are fraying and will not hold much longer. We’re much closer to the side of the Rebel politicians – it’s easier and quicker to head their way – but for some of us, most of us I hope, our principles and ethics beckon from the far side. Now, with the gift you’ve given us, we discover the Queen standing on that far side beside those principles.

  “The decision is easy for us, Sire, and it will be clear to many others as well, but we have to move briskly if we are not to fall into the abyss.”

  His lips pursed with concern. “We were almost ready to move here in Aldebaran Sector before Krys’ arrival. We can deal with the Rebels, but not the Chessori. She warned us about them, thankfully, but we don’t have any kind of plan for dealing with them yet.”

  “How much do you know about the Chessori?” Mike asked.

  “We know as much as she knows, including what happened at Dorwall and during her missions. We know they have some sort of mind weapon. She’s convinced us to keep our distance from them.”

  Alarm filled Val’s eyes. “She’s had run-ins with them? How did she survive?”

  “Her Great Cats manage to function, Sire. She acquired a changeable beacon along the way, so she’ll show up as a different ship everywhere she goes. Her hope is that the changeable beacon will extend her mission. The risk now is if she’s identified during her stops. She can’t change the beacon until she’s out of the system.”

  “Where did she get the means to modify her beacon?” Chandrajuski asked. “It wasn’t from me.”

  “From Korban.”

  Chandrajuski’s mouth opened into a grin again. “She’s working down the list, and it appears she’s been as convincing as I’d hoped. I should have given her the modification before I sent her out. My mistake. I’m glad Korban rectified it.”

  Val leaned back into his chair, his eyes just slits. “Admiral Seeton, you have a new governor here. Have you been ordered to accept any Chessori as crewmembers?”

  “I’ve been ordered to train them, Sire. The Chessori have brought a large number of their own military crews for the process. Since they’re already trained to their own standards, I was ordered to compare those standards with our own by placing them in active positions aboard ships. I have not complied, nor will I.”

  “How can you not comply?”

  “I have informed the sector commander that it is illegal for me to recruit from outside the Empire. If they ever become members of the Empire, I’ll insist they pass muster at an Academy. Following that, I’ll have to think of something else. They’re not getting on my ships.”

  “I served on a ship with a mixed crew, sir. I believe it was one of the first. I can tell you that a small number of Chessori took over the ship without a fight. They activated their mind weapon long enough to secure those of us who would not support the Rebels, then they turned it off. The regular crew resumed control of the ship, but only so long as the Chessori allowed.”

  Seeton and Veswicki both looked ill. “The rest of the crew went back to business as usual after that?” Seeton demanded.

  “I was in the brig, but I believe they did, sir. If you’re a Rebel, and if the Chessori are on your side, what’s a little pain compared to a sure win? Do not ever let even one of them on your ships, sir.”

  * * * * *

  “I get the feeling you’ve been organizing something?” Chandrajuski asked later. “It’s time you brought us up-to-date.”

  Veswicki spoke for himself and Seeton. “Before Krys’ visit, we were considering going rogue.” Mike’s eyebrows rose, but Veswicki didn’t apologize. “Sire, we knew the Chosen were all dead. Our choices were to cave into Struthers, or attempt to resurrect some kind of structure based on Empire standards. His way is wrong.”

  He glanced at Chandrajuski, then back to Mike. “So was ours, Sire.”

  Mike sat back and nodded. He and Chandrajuski had had this same conversation, though Veswicki didn’t know it.

  “Our models showed both plans, his and ours, ultimately failing. Our plan at least had a chance. It would give us time, time to look for the right charismatic leader, or perhaps some other mechanism as yet unknown, that would provide acceptable leadership to the multitude of worlds and races throughout the Empire. None of us is that right leader. Our plan was to buy time.”

  He looked to Chandrajuski. “Your plan to hold was just the right message to send. It has bought us time, time we’ll use to prepare. Struthers can never claim to have the Touch. Use of the Touch is universally recognized and accepted as the court of final appeal. No one has ever successfully argued against the political power of her Touch.”

  Chandrajuski nodded, and Veswicki continued. “Of the 47 sectors, I believe I speak for seven, and several more will likely join with us if we can move before the sector commanders are forced to flee. If we combine our efforts with Krys’ efforts, I believe the number will be higher.”

  “How many has she reached, and what is her success rate?” Chandrajuski asked.

  “We were her ninth stop. Seven sectors were receptive and two were not. Her contacts there were dead. But it’s not just her, Admiral. She’s recruited others, including Buskin. When they last met, they both agreed that he should break up his two squadrons, sending ships out on individual missions. They, in turn, would network others. If they have been even marginally successful, her message might have reached all the sectors by now.”

  Chandrajuski’s eyes gleamed. “Then she’s gone far beyond the assignment I gave her. Have you heard from Buskin?”

  Veswicki shook his head. “Not a word. She gave us a location, but we haven’t followed up on it yet. He can’t fight the Chessori any more than we can, and we’re not planning to join him as recruits. We’re going to hold, and we’re going to resist.”

  Veswicki paused, then added, “Struthers has to know what she’s up to by now. Secrets can’t survive when so many know. They’ll find Buskin eventually. We just have to act before the Rebels do.”

  “He’ll find Krys, too. Struthers has known for a long time,” Val said softly. “You said she’s had some encounters with the Chessori. What they know, he knows. I’m certain of it.”

  “We can’t move against the Chessori, Sire,” Veswicki said.

  “We’re developing a plan to deal with them,” Mike informed him. “It’s my problem, not yours. You’ll have to wait a little longer, maybe as much as a year. Are you strong enough here to hold that long?”

  “Sire, it might be all over by then. Certainly we won’t have more than two or three years. The Chessori are an immediate problem, but the Imperial Senate is the most pressing problem.”

  “Why?”

  “When Struthers next convenes the Imperial Senate, he will attempt to cement the legality of his government. He’ll present a motion stipulating that the Chosen are dead and that his government is the new government.”

  Veswicki stared at his new First Knight for a time before saying, “If that motion is approved by the Senate, he’s won, Sire. His government will be the only legitimate government in control of the Empire. He would brand us as Rebels, and we could legitimately be prosecuted as such, including the Queen.”

  Veswicki directed his gaze upon each of them in turn, his eyes burning with passion. ”Until learning from Krys that we have a Queen, I had seen no possible way to stop Struthers from succeeding with his motion. The few Imperial Senators within the sectors I am pulling together would not be enough to prevail against the rest of the Senate. But now! We have a Queen from the line of Chosen. Her very
existence is the club we can wield before the Senate. I don’t know how we, or she, will do it, but she has to convince the Senate that she is a contender. There is not a more important task before us. We cannot allow Struthers and his Rebels to be legitimized.

  “Admiral, Sires, our first priority is to prevent that motion from passing, or even from being introduced if possible. From a political standpoint, that first convocation of the Senate would be the perfect time to prove to the Senators that the Queen rules, even if it is in absentia. Senator Truax is attempting to organize the Senate against Struthers. His task is equally important to ours.”

  “Krys was able to recruit him?” Chandrajuski asked.

  “She was, and he’s off with a list of his own to recruit other senators. It was another masterful stroke, sir.”

  “I wish I could take credit, but it was her idea. What resources have been provided to Truax?”

  “I don’t know. Krys doesn’t know. I’ve been searching for him, but I have not found him yet. Krys dropped him off on Mitala I. All she knows is that his original plan was to use civilian cruise ships to get around.”

  “That’s too slow,” Chandrajuski growled.

  “But safer than military ships. His contacts will, if he’s successful, spread out to reach other senators. I, too, have dispatched messengers to Imperial Senators. His contacts and mine are small in number, but the numbers will increase and pick up momentum on their own as time goes by.”

  Veswicki’s lips pursed and his eyes narrowed with excitement as he considered his next words. “Struthers’ motion will never pass if enough senators believe the Queen is alive and well. Truax and I are spreading the word, but it’s our word against Struthers. There will be some doubt. If we can find a way to prove to the Senate that the Queen rules, Struthers’ movement will lose all legitimacy. He’ll be finished. Is there a way?”

  “You might be encouraged to know that the Queen has reached the same conclusion,” Mike replied. “We don’t have a plan yet, and quite frankly, it seems impossibly difficult at the moment, but that’s why we’re here. We’ll find a way, but first she needs an infrastructure to support her. What support can you provide?”