Free Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) by Keith Chessell Page A

door.
     
    The Administrator stood with him and took his life
literally in his own hands; to deal with the Captain of the Palace Guard would
be fruitless as well as dangerous. To upset or show any insubordination toward
the Emperor was insanity.
     
    “Sir, the Confederate Cadets were killed by a T334.”
The Administrator said directly.
     
    The Emperor stopped and turned around. “I’m sure that must
have been quite a tragedy for you. Please accept my sympathies but the
Trigealian Regiment acts independently in matters of Confederate Security. It
is neither my concern nor yours if you value your survival. I will send in the
Captain.”
     
    “The T334 was not piloted at the time Sir.” The
Administrator replied and waited just long enough and added. “The T334 in
question is presently on Ennack and has gone into defensive mode. No one is
safe on this planet.”
     
    The Emperor stopped and stood motionless, then shut
the door and returned to his seat. “When did this occur?”
     
    “Last time frame Sir.”
     
    The Emperor put the facts together but remained
silent. This is a major incident he realised. The Trigeals are liable to do
anything. They don’t make mistakes and surely if it is… it is their first. He
looked at the Administrator and actually admired what he had done, two firsts
in one day by this man.
     
    A light taping came from the door. The Emperor stood
and opened the door.  A court android informed him of his schedule and it
was time he changed uniforms. The Emperor told the Android all audiences were
postponed for the moment and he would advise the Court when they were to
resume.
     
    “Administrator. I have to assume you are aware of the magnitude of
the news you bring me. I am aware of your report to Confederate and
Trigeal  High Command, plus of the fate of the Security Chief,” a faint
raising of his eyebrow caught the Administrator’s attention, there was an
instant understanding that nothing more was to be said about the Security
Chief.
     
    “Yes sir. I feel as the Emperor you should be informed
of the current state of activity concerning this incident on Ennack. Simply
Sir, as you are now aware, there hasn’t been any response from anyone, Priests,
Trigeals or their Regiment.” The Administrator answered.
     
    “What about the personnel at the Academy and the
Security Forces who were involved?” The Emperor said slowly weighing the
gravity of the situation.
     
    “All confined to post or barracks Sir. Everyone including
myself has been security scanned and all results negative. There has been no
Trigeal or Priest activity of any kind or any reply to my report except the
acknowledgment.”
     
    “The T334 in question, the pilot?” Added the Emperor.
     
    “Johe of Irrimus. Lord Ambrae’s son. The
monitor shows him safe and well training on Earth,” the Administrator replied.
     
    “Earth. Well, that‘s interesting. Earth is to have the same
fate as Norfis soon I believe. Complete quarantine from any and all Confederate
activities. It seems like the Great Houses will have to look for other means of
getting rid of their undesirables. The uncertainty and randomness of Trigealian
intervention on that planet has allowed certain experiments for our scientists
but the people of Earth are now using nuclear weapons against themselves. If
they don’t blow themselves up the mutating microbiology will probably slowly
poison the planet anyway or disrupted weather patterns will substantially alter
the environment. Has the pilot Johe reported in?” the Emperor said reflecting
on recent discussions with Space Command and why the pilots used Earth as a
training ground.
     
    The Administrator relaxed a little. He saw the Emperor
now as a possible ally but a dangerous one.
     
    “No Sir he has not. May I suggest a request for
contact with Johe. Lord Ambrae must be granted this or
a formal request to the Priests be submitted. If Johe can be contacted it will
confirm the malfunction with