Free CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) by Shae Mills Page A

in uneasy anticipation. Tarn hesitated momentarily and then dared to ask his question. “When will you inform Korba of our passenger?”
    Fremma glanced around at the edgy crew, their stillness an indication of their concern. Fremma mulled over the dilemma. “I am not sure,” he confessed. “That is what I propose to discuss with my Lady right now.”
    Fremma’s navigator swiveled in his chair and faced his Warlord directly. “If I may be so bold, my Lord. Korba may choose to rain down his wrath directly on this ship once he hears the news. And that could be soon. It will not be long before he checks in with the Imperial Palace to find out that his Lady is on the wrong ship, going in the wrong direction.”
    Fremma kept his features indecipherable while he juggled all possible scenarios, each one weighed against the strength of his friendship with the mighty yet deadly Emperor. “I can honestly not predict our Lord God’s reaction to the situation. But I assure you that RIBUS 7 is safe from all forms of retribution while the Lady Chelan is on board. Regardless, I want all eyes and patrols to scan for incoming fighters throughout the trip. Special attention must be paid while passing the Zeon sector. I want no unauthorized approaches by any vessels, no matter what their call signs or their stated business. If the Lady Chelan is removed from this ship, a feat attainable only by someone as brilliant and cunning as our Emperor, then it may well be that we become one of the largest and most spectacular novas in space.”
    “Why is the Zeon sector so important?” Tarn asked.
    “Because RIBUS 14 patrols that area right now. Orders from Korba could turn her into our executioner. No link with her has been authorized. If one is to be established, it will be a warning to us all. If everything goes as originally planned, we should pass that sector with no communication at all. Just remember that while tending your posts. Every decision you make should be based on the fact that the Empress must remain on board this vessel at all costs.”
    Fremma studied the crew. “Only a select few of my personal security forces, my officers, and each and every one of you on this Bridge know the true situation, that the Lady Chelan is on board. It is imperative that this information remains absolutely classified for the entire duration of this mission. You are my best Bridge personnel, and I have no doubt you will protect my Lady’s agenda no matter what the fallout with his Lordship.”
    Tarn and the rest of the crew nodded their understanding.
    Fremma turned and left the Bridge, heading for the Command Center. Upon his entering, the main chair swiveled around and Chelan smiled up at him. “Good evening, my Lord. We are safely underway, I see.”
    Fremma nodded and took the chair next to her. “We have to talk about Korba. All the top officers at the Palace were alerted to your departure and told of the sensitivity of the information surrounding your relocation, but they all assume you are with Zane on RIBUS 5. How long it takes Korba to learn of your trip diversion is contingent simply on how long it is before he checks in on you. Once he realizes—”
    “Fremma,” Chelan said. “I have already sent a coded communiqué of the highest military classification to him explaining my decision and absolving you of any blame. He will receive it within the hour.”
    Fremma sucked in a deep breath. “My Lady, the tour of duty to which RIBUS 10 is assigned, combined with our trajectory, puts us, very shortly, within extremely close quarters with one another. You may have just accelerated the fate of my crew and myself. Should Korba choose to abort your journey, he could be here within a couple of days.”
    Chelan stood. “I understand that. I have thought it all through.” She moved over to Fremma and sat down in his lap, curling up like a contented Persian kitten. “This new plan is sound. Besides, he knows my feelings for you, dear