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The Black Tower - Karin City - Karin
"The Propylons are in position Director," the greyman reported as he saluted before the desk.
Caldone flipped the pages of his book and glanced up. "Wonderful. Ensure that they are properly guarded and we will commence..." He checked his watch, "Summoning the new Senate."
"The Warlord Taine has dropped marines into the city," the greyman added, a note of warning in his voice. "They are looking for Commander Tevraun." He turned his head to look at her sitting silently at a small conference table tucked into an alcove of the office.
"That is fine," Caldone returned to his book. "They will not search this building, and even if they do," Caldone smiled calmly, "there will be nothing here for them to find." He reached out and pulled a pad of paper towards him. "As soon it is ready, begin to summon the Senate, starting with these co-ordinates."
"The system is ready now, sir," the greyman replied, lifting his TAC-link and issuing orders to the Propylon control room.
The wave of energies greeted them, as they coalesced into Rikard, immaculate business suite, golden cuff-links and an arrogant smile on his face. He glanced at the greyman dispassionately before crushing him like a bug with an absent thought.
Caldone rose from his chair, snapping shut his book, "Everything is as you asked." Caldone stepped aside and gestured to the inlaid golden rings upon the floor forming unusual circular patterns of crystal.
Rikard nodded as he walked around them, crossing to the windows and looking up at the Excalibur, resplendent in the morning, despite the turmoil that went on aboard her. Rikard stood a moment before turning his head, "The Senate?"
"They should begin to arrive shortly. Once assembled, having all been sufficiently bribed, blackmailed or convinced, they will elect Evans as the next Imperial Chancellor." Caldone turned his head, "Commander Tevraun is here..."
Rikard smiled, "Yes, she would be. She's been very useful to me." He turned the chair and sat down behind Caldone's desk. "And what of the data from Taine's Peligian files?"
Caldone nodded, "It was difficult to make sense of much of his findings. It was mostly un-connected and disjointed pieces. Warlord Taine saw fit to not keep records of his interpretations..."
"That is why I asked you to find Lieutenant Galadriel," Rikard settled into the chair resting his hands on the arms, "She worked closely with Taine."
"She's also dead, Master." Caldone said, sounding uneasy.
Rikard's eyes snapped up, "What?"
"She was killed a few hours ago by assault Mechs while she was taking shore leave on the southern continent." Caldone reached into a pile of files on the corner of his desk and opened it for his master.
Rikard didn't bother reading it. He stared up at Caldone for a long, silent moment, as he rose, "Then that makes my next phase... difficult. There is a woman on the Tradeliner you brought me here from. See that she is brought to the Black Tower and given work facilities, and ensure that she has the data from Taine's records. I require a holographic communications unit."
"As you command, Master." Caldone marched away to comply with Rikard's orders.
* * *
Lex Talionis, inside the Black Tower's computer system, accessed the FTL relay system and updated himself on his progress. The master computer on the Battleship fed clear and concise instructions to the avatar.
The Avatar settled in to await Rikard's next move.
* * *
"The Senators from Tempus have arrived," Walker's aide reported lowering the TAC-link from his ear. "That makes almost half the senate in a matter of four hours."
Walker shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "How are they arriving this fast? I thought the Propylons had been stolen?"
Darien's holographic image in the centre of the office nodded. "They have. We have to assume they were taken by the Restorian faction as part of their ploy to seize control of the Empire..."
"That's the problem, Darien," Walker replied angrily, scooping up a mug of coffee. "They have a right to control the Empire, they won the elections."
"The don't have a right to storm my ship and kill members of my house, and assassinate friends of mine!" Darien snapped, "Where are they arriving? I can have the Marines intercept the Propylons and shut this down before..."
"They're appearing in the senate chamber," Walker sighed, shaking his head. "I've had the Senate guard search, but they have found no trace of them."
"No." Darien seemed different to Walker, not tired, not beaten, quite the opposite. He seemed angry, and... confidently in control. "The Propylons have the capacity to transport in both directions, they could be arriving in a secret location here on Karin and then being transported on to the Senate chamber." Darien nodded, "Have the Fida'i arrived yet?"
Walker looked over at the two dark clad men standing by the doors to his office, and back to Darien. "They scared the hell out of my guards, and they won't let me out of their sights, even while I took a shower this morning. I'll thank you for that one day, I am certain my friend."
"You will when they save your life." Darien replied evenly. "I am assuming direct command over the Karin defence forces, and I am transferring the Vanguard and the Reaper fighter squadrons to the Excalibur. Also I am assuming direct command over the Wolves."
Walker stood slowly from his seat, "Darien..."
"In a few hours we are going to be in a very dark place," Darien said calmly folding his arms and fixing a hard look on the Archduke, "And I am the Imperial Warlord."
"That hasn't been acknowledged," Walker warned. "I didn't..."
"Then, Chancellor, I suggest you sign your last executive order and make it official," Darien responded, "because unless you do, Evans will have command of the Imperial forces, and this war will be over and we will all be kneeling before Enarbrem Sul'Rikard and our new Amsus Overlords."
Walker shifted, pacing uncertainly, "Darien, we agreed there would be no warlords..."
Darien remained firm. "We have no other option."
Walker looked up, then down again, motioning for Michael to bring him some paper. "I am essentially signing the future of the Empire over to you," Walker said evenly.
"You are," Darien responded quietly.
* * *
The Senate drew quiet. The newly elected officials sat in the great circular chamber, watching the old Chancellor, and waiting as the votes were tabulated. They were excited, eager for the first true change since the Empire came into being. After months of confusion and chaos wrought by General Iver's coup, the acting Chancellor had been ruling unchecked. Now, at last, to the Restorians in the chamber, the day of reckoning had at last come.
It would be a day of change. The bloody war that had claimed so many of the Empire's children would end. The Immortal Emperor would at last take his throne and be worshipped as they god he was, and a man that showed true leadership, rather than faltering capitulation, would become the Chancellor.
He stood to one side of the floor, a smart and simple black suit on, and a smile in his eyes, confident about his success.
Walker wanted nothing better than to wipe the smile off of the smug man's face.
How had it failed? He glanced about at the angry faces, the Senators from the worlds that had found common sanctuary inside the Empire, who depended upon it for life and for their liberty, the same men and women that were about to deliver it into the hands of the enemy.
Beside him stood the Matriarch, while the large Taïrian Captain, Shale, acting as her bodyguard, was a few paces behind her. Shale's was the only Imperial Military uniform in the chamber. With so many fighting, the representatives, with the exception of perhaps the Tempus representatives, had never worn uniforms. They had no idea what it meant to fight a war, and what standing firm meant. They saw only the here and now; they chose to ignore the bigger picture. Trade unionists and businessmen, clerics and lawyers, each having a very different view of what war meant to them.
"Democracy," The Matriarch said calmly, low enough for only Walker to hear, "The rule of public opinion and propaganda. A hundred mewling cubs crying out for something to ensure they are re-elected. The people of the Empire were looking for leadership, and instead of rising to the challenge, you gave it back to them. Can you blame them for squandering it when you let them down?"
Walker drew a tight breath, "I had to try, and now I must have faith in the people."
"Resignation to one's fate only ensures it," The Matriarch said nodding as the Senate clerk brought forward the results for Walker to read.
"Walker von Karin, Thirty-one votes," Walker swallowed, "Ethan Evans Sixty-seven..."
The chamber erupted in applause, as they began to roar their approval. Walker let his head dip as he watched the Kardiac Chaplin walk forward with the Imperial bible, ready to swear in the first duly appointed Imperial Chancellor since Enarbrem Sul'Rikard of the old Empire.
* * *
Darien waited patiently as the holographic system engaged. He stood before his command chair on the empty bridge, clipping shut the silver pocket watch and slipping it into his pocket.
"I had a feeling you would drop by," Darien said calmly as he looked down towards the second tier of the bridge where Rikard stood. The two men were alone for the first time without any pretence. They were who they were.
"Have I really become so predictable?" Rikard mused a moment, smiling sardonically back at the white clad Warlord. "I think I permit you a certain measure of comfort derived by your arrogant assumptions."
"Perhaps," Darien responded, "Or perhaps I actually do have you figured out. It's taken awhile but I am fairly certain I know your motivations."
"I see," Rikard chuckled, "It is akin to an ant attempting to claim he understands the cosmos, but I am sure you realize that as well."
Darien nodded as he sat down in his chair, "No, you see I used to be a Detective-Inspector in Terran Security. I learned that at times those people that hide behind a mask often don't realize how much they reveal about themselves, believing that they are truly hidden."
"How insightful of you, Warlord," Rikard mused, his smile fading, "but because you think you understand me, doesn't give you an understanding of my plan."
"You seek the Oracle of Peligia. Once you possess the capacity to see into the future you will be able to bridge the gap between transcendence and true divinity." Darien shrugged. "You really should have read the Peligian Diary. There is often truth in the eyes of madness."
"I see that perhaps I have underestimated you," Rikard nodded, seeming impressed, "a mistake I won't repeat."
"Oh I'm not so certain of that," Darien replied, folding his hands into his lap. "You're still underestimating me."
A flicker of something darted across Rikard's eyes. "You are not the Immortal Emperor," he said after a pause. "You have no chance against me."
"Hector had no chance against Achilles during the Trojan war," Darien responded, "but he knew that he had to try. He put on his armour and walked out of those gates to face his adversary, knowing full well he was going to die."
"Very well, Hector," Rikard smiled, "I shall give you your Trojan war. And I shall deliver unto you your chance to sacrifice your life..." The image faltered and vanished.
Darien smiled pulling out his TAC-link. The pride of Achilles had been his downfall; it was time to see if Rikard knew his part. "Commander?"
Deep within the depths of the Excalibur, Commander Durnham stood beside the open bulkhead looking at the abandoned Imperial State Security station, with its independent FTL transmitter tied into the Excalibur's holographic network.
"We have the transmission source," Durnham replied as the computer techs triangulated the short-range communication, leaning back to show the Commander that it came from the Black Tower. "Imperial Intelligence Headquarters."
Darien rose from his chair, walking back to the CIC, unbuttoning his tunic. "Sound General Quarters," he ordered.
The alarms began as crewmembers rushed to their stations, the warship clearing for action as Commander Durnham appeared across the CIC table, "I have Colonel Mayfair on TAC-link. He's ready."
Darien looked about him at the young men and women he'd had recalled from Shore leave, brought back to the ship over the course of the morning. The two squadrons of fighters on the main flight deck, adding their strength to Knight and Paladin Squadrons.
The holographic map of the city sprang to life, showing the distribution of forces, his ITE's on the ground being reinforced by the Civil defence force and the Karin Militia. He had them arrayed, waiting, and he wasn't about to disappoint them.
* * *
"Master, wasn't it foolish to bait the Warlord?" Caldone suggested.
"On the contrary," Rikard stood out on the balcony, feeling the cool wind of the winter day, looking up at the crystal clear, blue skies. Perfect weather for an attack, and Rikard was counting on it. Taine would have guessed where he was by now, he wasn't a stupid man, and Rikard had every intention of allowing Hector to come to him. It was thrilling to know that after so many years of planning, of waiting, that at last he would be able to face down VonGrippen and claim his future.
He watched as the flights of fighters swept into the sky around the Excalibur, curling to begin their attack runs.
"Activate the Propylons," Rikard ordered. "Directive one."
Caldone obeyed without hesitation.
* * *
Down in the control room for the Propylons, the technicians activated the computer, sending commands to the Propylon focusing crystals arrayed at key points around the Black Tower, channelling their energies in towards the monolithic structure, hitting reflective mirrors, and sending the energies upwards to the great spire atop the tower, the Peligian crystal structure acting like a parabolic mirror, projecting the energies up to the network of satellites arrayed in perfect formation in orbit.
The column of light rising from the Tower was bright enough to attract attention, people shielding their eyes from it, as into orbit the Elite Corps appeared one ship at a time.
* * *
"Warlord!" Durnham yelled the warning as new alarms began aboard the Excalibur, the holographic map shifting to show the Planet of Karin, and the new threat that had materialized into orbit almost directly over top of them.
Darien stared at the ships, and out at the four squadrons of fighters under his command. Karin had no defence fleet; it had been arrayed with the other elements of the Imperial fleet on the far side of the Jump nexus, days away. That left Excalibur alone, stranded without jump drives as the only thing between those ships and a full-scale invasion of the Imperial Capital.
"Re-deploy the fighters, and our units on the ground," Darien commanded, walking around the CIC table. "Gunnery crews, begin offering Flak cover for the city and arm all nuclear silos."
Fifteen Battlecruisers, assorted transports all launching Raptors, and a fleet Carrier sending its Predators screaming down into the Karin sky. He had to stop them from bringing more ships into the system, which meant he had to destroy the Black Tower.
"Batteries One through Four," he commanded, "Fire for effect..."
* * *
The Excalibur angled about, its Flak cannons commencing fire upwards as the Predators dived towards it, the Imperial F-150 and F-175 fighters swarming up to meet them as the F-120 Orca's applied power, climbing to an attack vector that would let them make an attack run on the Amsus transport ships.
Behind them the Excalibur cut loose with its Rail-cannons, the powerful artillery pieces hurling rounds down towards the city tower with pinpoint precession. The shots impacted against the glowing golden barrier that flared to life overtop of the tower block, shielding it from the Excalibur's bombardment.
Colonel Mayfair lowered his field glasses as the ITE's under his command sprang about. As mobile Anti-aircraft platforms, the ITE's would be able to give the most support to the Karin city defensive batteries. That still left them with the Black Tower.
"Order assault teams to breach the Tower," he commanded, knowing that with the threat of invasion imminent, and Amsus Raptors already on a direct burn for the city, they were already in serious trouble.
He swung his glasses up again, watching the Excalibur's fighter squadrons engage the Predators, a spiralling dogfight in the air over Karin, as fighters duelled it out dodging dangerously close to the waves of death fired forth from the Excalibur's weapon systems.
He swung the glasses again, watching the Raptors, ploughing their way through the midst of the dog fight, their rear ramps opening as Drop Troopers spilled out, their parachutes engaging as they drifted over the city. The first wave.
He cursed, clambering down off of the back of his mobile command post, grabbing a TAC-link and issuing orders for the Militia to tighten its protective cordon around the inner city.
* * *
"And it's suicide to fight!" Chancellor Evans slammed his fist down on the desk of what had been Walker's office, now his office and had been his office for less than an hour.
"We fight because we have to," Walker said evenly from where he stood, listening to the din of battle outside the Imperial Fortress, "because Darien Taine is an Imperial Warlord and he isn't about to surrender."
"He is outnumbered fifteen to one," Evans seethed. "If we contact the Amsus now and make it clear that we wish to sue for peace they will cease their assault."
"Is that a fact?" Walker mused. "It seems that if we are outnumbered fifteen to one, then there is no reason for the Amsus to accept our terms, not when they can land troops and force our unconditional surrender. Our only hope is to make for the emergency bunkers and pray Taine can hold them at bay long enough for the Imperial fleet to respond."
"Order him to stand down." Evans glared.
"No," Walker replied turning to leave the office. "Do it yourself. As for me, I am going to find a nice, dark hole and a priest." He looked back at the Chancellor. "Good luck." He replied with a cheery smile, before he walked away.
* * *
James observed his Aga-Khan, calm and centred, the only man that didn't seem to care about the odds against him, confidently directing his troops as another shot from the orbiting Battlecruisers hit home. The missile crashed along the heavy upper armour plates of the Excalibur, again failing to penetrate. Excalibur was well built, and as yet the Amsus seemed hesitant to bombard the warship.
He removed his jacket, tossing it into a corner of the bridge as he activated the armour, melding with the shadows as he slipped away, running stealthily through the shaking Starship, descending towards the flight deck.
Emergency crews were racing about as AK-AK teams manned the gun pods, keeping the heavy auto-cannon fire that swatted Predators from the sky when they strayed too close.
James ignored it all, sprinting towards the Imperial dropship tucked on deck, ready to perform SAR missions should it be called upon to do so. He jumped through the side door, grabbing the harness from the locker as he bounded out the other side, shrugging it on as he sprinted towards the edge of the deck.
A couple of the flight deck crew saw him running, waving at him in warning, as the Fida'i propelled himself off the end of the flight deck and fell towards the city below. His hands worked the controls of the harness, angling his freefall as he swept down, curving around in the air, heading directly for the edge of the Black Tower's shield.
The arctic air was chill against his skin as he squinted, tapping twice on the central clasp of the harness, activating the anti-gravity bubble and gliding downwards, passing buildings as he kicked a few times, landing gently on his feet in the middle of the main shopping concourse.
Ahead lay the First Bank of Orion, and across the plaza from that, the Black Tower. He sprinted the distance, jumping up and over the hood of a car that had been abandoned in the street, as an ITE bounded across the road ahead of him, chasing down an Amsus Predator that was trying to get away. The puma-like mech running it down, the auto-cannons on its back tracked the Amsus fighter and mercilessly hammered it with sustained fire.
The Predator banked upwards before crashing back into the street, a smoking ruin as the ITE charged onwards seeking out more prey.
Amsus Drop troopers had landed throughout the city, each group fighting their way to secure landing zones for the second wave of Raptors, the ones that would be carrying the heavy infantry as well as the Lighter Mechs.
The key to stopping the Imperials was control over Karin city, and the more troops they could get on the ground, the better their odds of driving the Imperials back.
James weaved his way along the streets, keeping as close to the shadows as he could, approaching the ground level of the impressively fortified tower. The Black Tower had been designed to keep people out, except that James had served as Zixor's bodyguard during the Pirate-Baron's rule of the commonwealth. Therefore, the Black Tower had been designed specifically to allow Fida'i to come and go as they pleased.
James unsheathed his knives as he slipped into the shadows again, ready to serve his Aga-Kahn.