trial, Chow Yin had spent a
considerable amount of time listening to the news. He realized that there were people
from all areas of China who had become disillusioned with the policies that had
turned the PRC from one of the most powerful nations in the world to its
current state as nothing more than a puppet for the Earth Council. The
military, becoming less of a necessity as China slowly moved away from
communism and toward democracy, had particularly suffered in the interim. Many
officers and enlisted, who had dedicated their lives to the defense of the
country they loved, believed it was time to restore the old system of divine leadership.
The Emperors of China had always relied heavily on their military to enforce
their rule.
Before he’d been captured on Luna Station, one of Chow Yin’s
hobbies had been genealogy. He had been able to trace his lineage back to the
Qing, the last imperial dynasty of China two centuries before. With a
legitimate claim through bloodlines, all he had to do was to get a message to
imperialist sympathizers of his incarceration.
Before his exile from Earth, Chow Yin had managed to
convince the imperialists, through Leong—who had never managed to make a rank
higher than captain in the PRC Space Force—that they should set their sights
higher than simply retaking China. With Chow Yin as a figurehead, it was only a
matter of time before the disillusioned officers managed to organize and put
their plan into effect.
Captain Leong said, “My apologies for the delay, Sire.”
“You are here now,” Chow Yin said, then added, “General Leong.”
Though the newly promoted general’s expression did not
change, Chow Yin saw that he stood a little straighter.
Chow Yin gestured to the inmates of the penal station. “I’d
like to introduce you to our newest recruits.”
General Leong took a step forward and surveyed the growing crowd
of convicts.
He spoke in a booming voice for all to hear. “We don’t have
much time before the false Chinese government realizes we’ve commandeered their
ship, so I’ll be brief. We need to ensure no one suspects that we have
liberated you from the station. Your cooperation is mandatory.” He made a
gesture, and four of his men came out of the ship, carrying two heavy crates
between them. They set the crates down beside the general and pulled the lid
off.
General Leong continued his speech. “I need everyone to grab
an incendiary canister and bring it to your quarters. Place it in the center of
your cell. They’re connected with a remote, which we will activate once we have
left dock.”
One of the inmates, the serial killer named Sang, spoke up.
“What about our stuff?”
“You must leave all your personal possessions behind.
Inspectors will come. If you’ve packed all your things, they will know the
escape was planned. We want them to investigate all possibilities; this will
delay their efforts.”
Chow Yin cleared his throat and gave the general a furtive
look.
General Leong opened his holoslate and said, “Would the
following prisoners please step forward.” He read off a list of eleven names,
including Sian, the hacker.
As the eleven men separated themselves from the main group,
four more soldiers jogged out of the transport ship, pulse rifles in their
hands, and circled them.
Sang said, “What’s this all about?”
Holding up a hand, General Leong gave the man a conciliatory
nod. “Not to worry. There are some who do not deserve to be part of the new
Empire. We will ensure the purity of our cause.”
Giving the eleven another assessment, Sang nodded. “I see
what you mean.” The separated men shared common traits: they were all
considered the weakest of the inmates. Over the past few years, Chow Yin had
had to intervene several times to spare them a beating from one of the other
more violent inmates. “Besides, you probably want to leave a few bodies behind
to throw off the scent.” A number of the other prisoners
considerable amount of time listening to the news. He realized that there were people
from all areas of China who had become disillusioned with the policies that had
turned the PRC from one of the most powerful nations in the world to its
current state as nothing more than a puppet for the Earth Council. The
military, becoming less of a necessity as China slowly moved away from
communism and toward democracy, had particularly suffered in the interim. Many
officers and enlisted, who had dedicated their lives to the defense of the
country they loved, believed it was time to restore the old system of divine leadership.
The Emperors of China had always relied heavily on their military to enforce
their rule.
Before he’d been captured on Luna Station, one of Chow Yin’s
hobbies had been genealogy. He had been able to trace his lineage back to the
Qing, the last imperial dynasty of China two centuries before. With a
legitimate claim through bloodlines, all he had to do was to get a message to
imperialist sympathizers of his incarceration.
Before his exile from Earth, Chow Yin had managed to
convince the imperialists, through Leong—who had never managed to make a rank
higher than captain in the PRC Space Force—that they should set their sights
higher than simply retaking China. With Chow Yin as a figurehead, it was only a
matter of time before the disillusioned officers managed to organize and put
their plan into effect.
Captain Leong said, “My apologies for the delay, Sire.”
“You are here now,” Chow Yin said, then added, “General Leong.”
Though the newly promoted general’s expression did not
change, Chow Yin saw that he stood a little straighter.
Chow Yin gestured to the inmates of the penal station. “I’d
like to introduce you to our newest recruits.”
General Leong took a step forward and surveyed the growing crowd
of convicts.
He spoke in a booming voice for all to hear. “We don’t have
much time before the false Chinese government realizes we’ve commandeered their
ship, so I’ll be brief. We need to ensure no one suspects that we have
liberated you from the station. Your cooperation is mandatory.” He made a
gesture, and four of his men came out of the ship, carrying two heavy crates
between them. They set the crates down beside the general and pulled the lid
off.
General Leong continued his speech. “I need everyone to grab
an incendiary canister and bring it to your quarters. Place it in the center of
your cell. They’re connected with a remote, which we will activate once we have
left dock.”
One of the inmates, the serial killer named Sang, spoke up.
“What about our stuff?”
“You must leave all your personal possessions behind.
Inspectors will come. If you’ve packed all your things, they will know the
escape was planned. We want them to investigate all possibilities; this will
delay their efforts.”
Chow Yin cleared his throat and gave the general a furtive
look.
General Leong opened his holoslate and said, “Would the
following prisoners please step forward.” He read off a list of eleven names,
including Sian, the hacker.
As the eleven men separated themselves from the main group,
four more soldiers jogged out of the transport ship, pulse rifles in their
hands, and circled them.
Sang said, “What’s this all about?”
Holding up a hand, General Leong gave the man a conciliatory
nod. “Not to worry. There are some who do not deserve to be part of the new
Empire. We will ensure the purity of our cause.”
Giving the eleven another assessment, Sang nodded. “I see
what you mean.” The separated men shared common traits: they were all
considered the weakest of the inmates. Over the past few years, Chow Yin had
had to intervene several times to spare them a beating from one of the other
more violent inmates. “Besides, you probably want to leave a few bodies behind
to throw off the scent.” A number of the other prisoners
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