strain very obviously displayed on his face.
The free hand of the Captain flew upwards and grasped
the sword from the Administrator’s grip.
“Perhaps by the Mandates of Almogest you may
wish to review the Imperial Guard?” The Captain said with practiced politeness
but he kept his gaze menacing. He slipped his blaster back into its holster and
gave it an almost unperceivable pat while looking directly into the
Administrator’s eyes. His intention was obvious and he would kill the
Administrator without hesitation if he thought the Emperor or the Court was
threatened in any way by the merest of insults. The Administrator was now fully
aware he would.
“Captain,” the Administrator said standing straighter
and pushing his shoulders back to relieve the pressure from holding the sword.
“I am not here as a military dignitary or as a member of any of the Great
Houses. I am here as requested by Ennack’s Security Chief to put forward a
matter of Confederate security to the Emperor. I have no idea why the Mandates
of Almogest have been exercised but since they have it is a matter for the
Emperor to adjudicate. I wish to neither offend the Emperor or yourself by
departing from the Mandates.”
“Very well,” the Captain replied as if he were
discussing a military matter with a subordinate. “We will dispense with the
formalities. Come with me.”
The two men marched off the parade ground and through
two enormous doors guarded by soldiers with long pikes with silver spikes at
the top with white, red and yellow gold inlay on the shafts. “It is the custom
that you will remain my responsibility while you are here, unless directly intervened by the Emperor,” the Captain explained as they
walked down a great hallway with many elaborate statues and paintings of
planets and constellations adorning the walls. One whole section had alcoves
with some of the actual Space Fighters that were used in historic and decisive
battles throughout the Confederacy’s history. “Give me no reason to intervene
in your mission or this will be your last view of anything living. I do not
trust you and any out of favour behaviour by you will see you in my hands for
discipline. Do you understand me?” The Administrator needed only to nod his
acknowledgement. The Captain was one of the most serious people he had ever
met.
They turned a corner in the walkway through the hall
and came up to another guarded doorway. The guard to the right stepped forward
and saluted. The Captain returned the salute and handed him the sword. The
doors were opened wide and the two men walked through into the Imperial Court
atrium. They both stopped inside. The room was really another huge hall and was
full of hundreds of people of all races and creeds. There were representatives
and dignitaries from all the far reaches of the Confederacy. They were
dressed in a multitude of uniforms and traditional dress. Many android waiters
and servants were busily attending to the dignitaries.
The Captain turned to face the Administrator. “They
are all waiting for a consultation with the Imperial Court. That must be done
before an audience with the Emperor can be granted. I will arrange…” The Captain
was interrupted by a female android, the same one that came to get the
Administrator from the Academy. The android whispered into the Captain’s ear.
“What!” The Captain shouted loudly at the android. The
android said something of which the Captain obviously disapproved. The android
gave the Captain a small object and the Captain opened it. “Very well,” the
Captain said and the android hurried off.
“Come with me Administrator,” the Captain barked and
turned smartly marching back out of the doorway they had just entered, his cape
trailing from his shoulders. The Administrator followed and the guards closed
the doors behind them as they went through.
Across the hall in a small alcove behind a statue a
black robed
The free hand of the Captain flew upwards and grasped
the sword from the Administrator’s grip.
“Perhaps by the Mandates of Almogest you may
wish to review the Imperial Guard?” The Captain said with practiced politeness
but he kept his gaze menacing. He slipped his blaster back into its holster and
gave it an almost unperceivable pat while looking directly into the
Administrator’s eyes. His intention was obvious and he would kill the
Administrator without hesitation if he thought the Emperor or the Court was
threatened in any way by the merest of insults. The Administrator was now fully
aware he would.
“Captain,” the Administrator said standing straighter
and pushing his shoulders back to relieve the pressure from holding the sword.
“I am not here as a military dignitary or as a member of any of the Great
Houses. I am here as requested by Ennack’s Security Chief to put forward a
matter of Confederate security to the Emperor. I have no idea why the Mandates
of Almogest have been exercised but since they have it is a matter for the
Emperor to adjudicate. I wish to neither offend the Emperor or yourself by
departing from the Mandates.”
“Very well,” the Captain replied as if he were
discussing a military matter with a subordinate. “We will dispense with the
formalities. Come with me.”
The two men marched off the parade ground and through
two enormous doors guarded by soldiers with long pikes with silver spikes at
the top with white, red and yellow gold inlay on the shafts. “It is the custom
that you will remain my responsibility while you are here, unless directly intervened by the Emperor,” the Captain explained as they
walked down a great hallway with many elaborate statues and paintings of
planets and constellations adorning the walls. One whole section had alcoves
with some of the actual Space Fighters that were used in historic and decisive
battles throughout the Confederacy’s history. “Give me no reason to intervene
in your mission or this will be your last view of anything living. I do not
trust you and any out of favour behaviour by you will see you in my hands for
discipline. Do you understand me?” The Administrator needed only to nod his
acknowledgement. The Captain was one of the most serious people he had ever
met.
They turned a corner in the walkway through the hall
and came up to another guarded doorway. The guard to the right stepped forward
and saluted. The Captain returned the salute and handed him the sword. The
doors were opened wide and the two men walked through into the Imperial Court
atrium. They both stopped inside. The room was really another huge hall and was
full of hundreds of people of all races and creeds. There were representatives
and dignitaries from all the far reaches of the Confederacy. They were
dressed in a multitude of uniforms and traditional dress. Many android waiters
and servants were busily attending to the dignitaries.
The Captain turned to face the Administrator. “They
are all waiting for a consultation with the Imperial Court. That must be done
before an audience with the Emperor can be granted. I will arrange…” The Captain
was interrupted by a female android, the same one that came to get the
Administrator from the Academy. The android whispered into the Captain’s ear.
“What!” The Captain shouted loudly at the android. The
android said something of which the Captain obviously disapproved. The android
gave the Captain a small object and the Captain opened it. “Very well,” the
Captain said and the android hurried off.
“Come with me Administrator,” the Captain barked and
turned smartly marching back out of the doorway they had just entered, his cape
trailing from his shoulders. The Administrator followed and the guards closed
the doors behind them as they went through.
Across the hall in a small alcove behind a statue a
black robed
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