“We are receiving a transmission from the fleet carrier Validus, Just Hale,” Veepo said from the Legacy’s command bridge. The last of the refugees had just finished boarding, and Veepo was climbing far enough from the planet’s surface to make the jump to hyperspace. “Would you like me to open the channel?”
“Do it.” Hale took a step forward, helmet under his left arm, and prepared himself for another conversation with his former commander. As soon as Sedarious Kull’s bust appeared in the holo projector, Hale said, “Your weapons systems need some alignment.”
Kull smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“Didn’t ask for any help.”
“And yet, without me, you and your rebels would be ground to dust.”
“We had it under control.”
“I’m sure. In any event, I do hope you enjoy your jump back to the Chaosic Regions. Safe travels, Mr. Hale.”
Pelergin narrowed his eyes. “That’s it, then? Not even an explanation why you just obliterated thousands of lives once under your command?”
Kull gave him a dour expression, as if he were hurt by the suggestion. “I already told you once. Qweelin Mink is an imposter, and those she leads are not loyal to the Imperium. I am doing what I must to bring her to heel. This… was merely a convenient chance to extend justice.”
“You plan this?”
“Plan this?” Kull parroted, cocking his head to one side. “No, Mr. Hale. I am an opportunist. And either way, I would hope that you might take me up on my offer.” He produced a data drive and tapped it against his temple. “Knowledge is power, is it not?”
“Depends.”
“Indeed. This is a complete list of all known excreant enclaves throughout the sector. Help me undo the damage caused by the imposter Mink and the weakling who is Rhi’Yhone the Fifth, and it’s yours.”
“Why not skip to the end and just send me the drive now?”
“And miss out on so much fun? Tsk, tsk, Mr. Hale. Believe it or not, I need you, now more than ever, especially since you have the Veul providing ships and weapons. It’s the perfect distraction. Likewise, you need this.” He waved the data card back and forth in emphasis.
“We’ll be just fine,” Hale replied dryly.
“Will you? Tell me, how long will it take you to find them all?”
“Not enough to ever justify working with you.”
“And here I thought you valued their lives above all else. So sad that working with me for just one mission would outweigh that pledge. To each his own, I suppose.” Kull looked like he was about to close the transmission.
“One mission?”
Kull hesitated. “Why, yes. A rather small one too, especially with how dismally Mink performed today. The Senate won’t be pleased.”
“What is it?”
“Ah, ah, ah. I can’t disseminate that without a commitment, and in person.”
“Not happening.”
“Then our business here is concluded. Safe travels.”
“Wait.” Hale took another step forward. “Let me speak with my leaders.”
“Of course. But don’t take too long. This is a limited-time offer.”
“And if we say no?”
“Then I still get what I want… it will simply take more time than I would prefer. Sadly for you, however, it means that there are no guarantees about the well-being of the people on this list. Make no mistake, Mr. Hale: I am not doing you any favors, nor am I feigning mercy. I intend to rid the sector of excreants just as faithfully as I will rid it of weak-bellied leaders. What you do with the outcasts is entirely your prerogative. I’m merely providing a window of opportunity because it suits my ends.”
“Why us?”
“Because you have the means. And… one might say it’s a professional courtesy given our former working relationship. Your ship has no doubt logged this communication channel’s subspace identifier. I will refrain from wiping it for twenty-four hours. I await your reply. Kull, out.”
The image vanished before Hale could say another word, not that he had anything more to add. At least to Kull. “Veepo, as soon as we jump, I need all the leaders to meet me in the war room amidships. Spread the word. We have some decisions to make.”
“Exuberance!”
* * *
One hour prior
Legatus Qweelin Mink stood in the mobile command building looking through a west-facing window over Veenkah. The city had become a hotbed for rebel activity, and while she loathed being called away from the Fringe, she relished the thought of getting to flex her new leadership position and prove herself to the Supreme and the Imperium Senate. She would make quick work of the rebels terrorizing the city and use their demise as an example, both of what happens to those who resist the Imperium and of what she as a leader was capable of now that Kull was out of the way.
Mink would also use the time to redeem herself over the misplaced munitions and the fact that they had fallen into rebels’ hands. That had not gone over well with the Senate. She was able to argue that much of it was due to the change in leadership following the events on Kaletto and that Kull was surely to blame even though she wasn’t sure anyone bought it. Mink would need to be mindful about degrading her former superior too much. While Kull had been dismissed, he was still respected in many circles.
So far, First Stratus’s presence on Tahee Minor had brought renewed peace to Veenkah. Outbursts from the rumored Tahee Resistance League had dried up within hours of her arrival. She deployed two Cohorts to patrol the city while the rest of her people were split between building a garrison to the west and maintaining air and space superiority aboard the Velox Gladius, the battleship Fortuitous, and the many cruisers and attack fighters under her command. The lack of rebel activity was news she was eager to relay to the Supreme via subspace transmission, and news he seemed happy to receive. It came with a sublime congratulations as well as a call to remain vigilant.
Now, as Mink seated herself and leaned back her chair, she felt assured that the TRL rebels would be found, tried, and given the scarlet sash within the week, all for the greater good and the advancement of Rhi’Yhone’s will.
And your career, Qweelin, she said inwardly, allowing the fainest bit of self-adulation. It was mere months ago that she’d been promoted as Kull’s tribunus laticlavius, a position she’d thought unattainable when first joining the Stratus in her youth. Now, not only had she reached the lofty position, she’d usurped him. Fates and Muses be praised.
Mink’s inquisa pinged on the table. She thought about ignoring it, but she’d dismissed her subordinates fifteen minutes ago with a new round of orders. This was most likely a request for more information or an update well ahead of schedule. So she leaned forward, tapped a button, and then fell back into her chair.
“Speak,” she said nonplussed.
“Legatus,” said the deep voice of her newly chosen praefectus castrum, Ardwin Ramstad. He was her third in command and a Stratus veteran. “We have received a transmission that needs your immediate attention.”
“Who’s it from?”
“That’s just it, Legatus. We don’t know.”
“Review the logs then.”
“We have. There’s no trail. No identifiers. It’s been—”
“Purposefully cleaned,” she said, moving onto her elbows. “Contents?”
“It appears to be a coded message sent between TRL agents.”
“If it’s coded, how do you know?”
“We’ve already deciphered some of it. The bulk of the data seems to suggest there is an excreant enclave south of Veenkah in the Goolin Mountains.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“Agreed. But we have coordinates for several possible cave entrances now.”
Mink sat forward. “What?”
“We already have one Cadre armored assault vehicle patrolling that area. With your approval, I can forward the—”
“Send First Cohort,” Mink said, voice rising. “Ready Second as well.”
“But, Legatus, shouldn’t we wait to confirm the source before we—?”
“And lose the element of surprise? No. Deploy at once. With any luck, we’ll have these rebel leaders’ heads before nightfall. Keep me apprised of your progress. I want them found. Justice will be done and vengeance will be executed.”
“Your word.”
With her spirits buoyed, Mink placed her feet on the conference table and then smiled to herself. It seemed that building a garrison outside Veenkah had been too hasty a decision. If she’d only known how quickly the contest would be won, she wouldn’t have even bothered descending to the surface.
* * *
Hours later, Qweelin Mink stood at attention in her private quarters aboard the Velox Gladius. “Clearest of Seers,” she said, chin raised at the holo projection.
Rhi’Yhone the Fifth did not look pleased. While normally free of the worry lines that plagued people of misfortune, the Supreme had wrinkles beside both eyes and the corners of his lips. “My viceroy has given me some troubling news. Tell me, is it true?”
Mink tried not to emote, but the losses were too catastrophic to avoid a small shudder. “Yes, my Supreme. The Fortuitous, Dominari Solem, and two entire air wings of attack fighters have been lost.”
“I see.”
“I can assure you that—”
“Don’t.”
Mink hesitated. “My Supreme?”
“Don’t try to deliver assurances in the wake of your miserable ineptitude.”
She forced herself to swallow the frustration rising in her throat. “At least we know who is behind the attack, my Supreme.”
“Do you?”
“The rogue fleet carrier Validus.” She studied Rhi’Yhone’s eyes, looking for a flash of anger that might signal a target shift in the Supreme’s displeasure. “It’s Kull.”
“I know what traitor commands the ship,” Rhi’Yhone snapped back. “What I don’t know, however, is if I can trust the person who commands my war host.”
“Without question, yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“We are preparing to track him and mount a counteroffensive as we speak.”
“Only preparing? How long does it take?”
“There are many considerations, my Supreme. We must ensure that—”
“Don’t fail me.”
Mink closed her mouth, eyes locked on Rhi’Yhone. She nodded once and then said, “I shan’t, my Supreme.”
“If you do, I will give you the brand that you failed to deliver to Kull.”
“Yes, my Supreme. But I assure you that won’t be needed.”
“For your sake, and that of your leadership, I do hope so.”
The transmission blinked out while Mink was saying, “Your word, Clearest of… Seers.”
She spun away and strode toward the floor-to-ceiling window. Hundreds of miles below, the Fortuitous and Dominari Solem burned on the planet’s dark side with the glow of two small cities.
Part of her wanted to be mad at Rhi’Yhone. How could he question her abilities when there was no way anyone could have been prepared for such an ambush? But she gave him the benefit of the doubt, sensing he was just as angry as she was.
No, her rage belonged with Kull. He alone deserved the brunt of the Supreme’s wrath, and Mink would make certain to be the harbinger.
“You want a war?” she seethed, eyes focused on the wreck sites. “Fine. I’ll give you a
war.”
* * *
Rivettor
Grid H, Section One
Kee’jeeon, Cirra
A few days later…
Simorell had been playing a game with Buffer. Balladu Thice, the man called it. Apparently, people all over the galaxy enjoyed it, and Simorell could see why. The game was an interesting mix of strategy and chance, one he could imagine himself getting good at.
And yet, this wasn’t the first time he’d played the game, was it? Even when Buffer explained the rules, Simorell felt as though he knew them in the same moment they were spoken… like he’d played the game in a dream. Pain lurked there, but only to a point. Something kept it hidden in the dark now—like a gate that he could not pass. Perhaps that same gate was what blotted out the memories of Balladu Thice too.
Simorell was about to play a hand that he was statistically sure would beat Buffer’s latest defense when a woman’s voice echoed through Rivettor. He knew it well, and had not heard it since her last visit when something terrible had happened.
“Simorell?” Iliodol cried. She sounded troubled. “Simorell, where are you?”
“In here-here-here,” Buffer replied, lowering his cards.
Simorell turned to see the woman duck under the cables that segregated Buffer from the rest of the cavern. She looked frantic, eyes wide, hair unkempt. “Simorell!”
“Iliodol.” He rose to meet her. “What is the matter?”
“I need you. We need you.”
“Cooperation. How may I be of service?”
Her eyes shot a look at Buffer. “Is he whole?”
Before the man responded, Simorell raised an arm. “Of course. I am quite-quite whole. Buffer and Splice have repaired me since our last meeting. I am sorry that-that I failed you.”
“You did nothing of the sort, love. I’m just glad to see you’re okay.” She addressed Buffer again. “But he can leave? The planet, I mean?”
Just then, Splice arrived, entering under the cables. “Why the rush?”
“It’s Kull. He attacked Orelia and Hale’s mission to Tahee Minor.”
“What is Kull?”
Iliodol shared a look with the two other humans. They seemed to be communicating without words.
“Not what. Who,” Iliodol replied.
“Kull is a person?”
“Yes. And one I need you to do something about.”
“Cooperation.”
Iliodol’s voice went lower but somehow had more weight to it, Simorell thought. “I want to try restoring his memory again,” she said to Buffer. “But we will be more cautious this time… I will be more cautious.”
“Memory?” Simroell asked, heading tilting. “Of-of what?”
“Of when you used to play this game with other people,” she said.
Simorell looked at the cards in his hand. “I would like to-to know what that was like.”
But Iliodol didn’t seem to share his enthusiasm. A sad look crossed her face in silence.
“Are you-you alright, Iliodol?”
“I will be… when this is all over.”
“Then we should end-end it.” Simorell placed his cards down on the table and looked at Buffer. “I win.”
Buffer let out a snort, threw his cards away, and then folded his arms. “Yes. You most-most-most certainly do.”
THE END OF BOOK FIVE
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