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“What would you say if I stated we are not the only ones who survived the empire’s collapse, that there is another human society in the galaxy capable of faster-than-light travel and whose technological prowess might actually surpass ours?”
Mandus gave Bolack an amused smile which, Torma noted, didn’t reach her eyes.
“I’d wonder whether you’ve been spending too much time in your abbey’s distillery.”
“Word has come of an entity calling itself the Republic of Lyonesse, which, not coincidentally, is centered on the Lyonesse star system, a wormhole cul-de-sac at the far end of the Coalsack Sector. It escaped the empire’s collapse through the foresight of an Imperial Navy officer who collected everything Lyonesse might need to remain a star-faring society. He also gathered thousands of Order of the Void Brethren, the old Order, you understand, to help preserve knowledge of the past and of advanced technology. These Brethren are now spreading across the former empire’s sphere, establishing missions in advance of Lyonesse claiming those star systems for her own.”
An air of sheer incredulity crossed Mandus’ finely-shaped features.
“And you found out about this how?”
Then, surprising them, she snapped her fingers and pointed at Torma.
“Oh, that’s right, through you and Task Force Kruzenshtern, correct, Colonel? And you, Sister?” Their visible astonishment drew a peal of cruel laughter from the Regent. “You didn’t think it would stay a secret for long, now did you? Spacers talk, they talk a lot, and some don’t think about operational security when they talk. I heard about it through certain backchannels I can still access, even though I’m no longer in the immediate chain of command. I thought this visit would concern the expedition to Hatshepsut.
She leaned forward. “Should I ask if you planned on telling me the truth or were you going to spin a web of lies that would cover this mutinous expedition beyond the Hegemony’s sphere?”
“What I said so far is the truth, Regent.” Butter wouldn’t melt in Bolack’s mouth.
She gave him a hard look but knew arguing would be just as useless as threatening the leader of the Hegemony’s official faith.
“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t order Colonel Torma, Sister Ardrix, and everyone involved in this treasonous cabal arrested and executed for crimes against the Hegemony?”
Bolack’s tone, when he replied, was tinged with mild amusement.
“I think you’d find rounding up and executing the crews of five Navy starships rather difficult. It might cause a real mutiny. Not to mention discontent among the senior ranks of the Guards Corps, both naval and ground at such a way of handling what is, for all intents and purposes, an existential crisis.”
She stared at him for a few seconds like a venomous snake intent on striking its prey.
“Why are you the messenger, Archimandrite? And who in the Guards Corps helped organize the expedition?”
“The first should be obvious. As head of the Order of the Void Reborn, I enjoy direct access to you. I also have a keen interest in the matter since the old Order not only survived but thrives in a way the Void Reborn cannot because the Hegemony will not expand its rule. And if the Void Reborn is overtaken by the old Order, then I fear for the Hegemony’s future.”
Mandus waved away his response.
“Fears of hypothetical religious rivalry is hardly an excuse for this.”
“Then consider the reasons it was done without your approval or the Ruling Council’s oversight. If Task Force Kruzenshtern discovered nothing that might threaten the Hegemony’s future, then no more need be said about the matter. But that was not the case, which is why I am here with those who know the most about the situation.”
“So?”
“To answer your second question, those who helped were in the Conclave that elected you Regent, which means they know you well. Many likely even voted for your elevation.”
“In that case, why not ask first?”
Bolack shrugged.
“Despite your views on the matter, I consider it a foregone conclusion the Ruling Council would have refused to allow the expedition and ordered that the evidence Colonel Torma collected be suppressed. Too many in high places prefer isolation in our own little corner of the galaxy. It’s not only safer but more lucrative and with less effort.”
“For a man of faith, you possess such an insultingly small amount in me, the one charged with the Hegemony’s security and its future.”
“And yet, here we are, asking for forgiveness rather than permission because in this case, I fear the former will be more easily granted than the latter would have been.”
“Then you fear wrong.” Her fingers danced on the arm of her chair. “You, I cannot touch, Archimandrite. But the two who are ultimately responsible for this gross violation of the Ruling Council’s prerogatives...”
Torma successfully kept an impassive expression and knew Ardrix did as well without glancing at her.
“You’ll order these two fine servants of the Hegemony arrested and tried for treason? Why? They did what was necessary because they feared for our security.”
Mandus scoffed.
“I can’t allow a senior State Security Commission officer to blatantly disregard government policy. That would only encourage more to second guess those set above them, and on that path lies anarchy, the sort capable of destroying us.”
One of the office doors opened, and four armed troopers wearing the Wyvern Regiment's insignia entered. The lieutenant in charge saluted.
“You summoned us, sir?”
Mandus pointed at Torma and Ardrix.
“Arrest them on charges of treason and hold them in complete isolation in the regimental cells. No contact with anyone absent my authority, and that includes members of the Ruling Council.”
“Yes, Regent.” The lieutenant turned toward them. “Please stand and place your hands on the top of your heads.”
“Now see here—” Bolack half stood.
Mandus raised a restraining hand.
“Even though Sister Ardrix belongs to the Void Reborn, this is now out of your hands, Archimandrite. Please tell those who hide behind your robes that their days are numbered, not for violating Council policy, but for hiding something this momentous from the Hegemony’s legal rulers. This meeting is over.”
She stood, imitated by Bolack, while the troopers chivvied Torma and Ardrix out of her office.
“I’m disappointed in you, Archimandrite. Of all the ways this could have played out, you chose the worst. The Council and I will decide how we deal with this information, no one else, and we will not be stampeded by anyone anxious to profit from it.”
Bolack inclined his head.
“As you wish. But it would be a mistake if you ignored this new reality in favor of a comfortable, though untenable status quo.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, Regent. A warning from history. Goodbye.”
With that, he turned on his heels and walked past Mandus’ aide, standing by the open door, and made his way back to where the abbey van waited.
**
“Her informants don’t know about the Lyonesse Brethren tucked away in Grenfell Priory? Or is she deliberately ignoring their existence?”
Rear Admiral Godfrey gave Archimandrite Bolack a dubious look as they and Major General Robbins strolled through the abbey orchard shortly before the evening meal that same day. Bolack had invited them to dine with him after leaving the Wyvern Palace, so he could update them on the afternoon’s events.
“The first could well mean the Network isn’t betrayed, and what we see here is just another example of informal backchannels working overtime. As to the second possibility, who knows what’s brewing in her devious mind.”
“She made no mention of them, but Vigdis Mandus is nobody’s fool. She doesn’t give away that which she can barter.” Bolack shrugged. “We might still be compromised, and she’s merely giving us the rope her executioners will eventually use. Do you know anything about Colonel Torma’s and Ardrix’s fate, General?”
“According to my backchannels,” Robbins said, “they’re under something more like house arrest in apartment suites kept vacant for high-ranking detainees in the Wyvern Regiment’s garrison.”
Godfrey let out an amused chuckle.
“She’s hedging her bets. Shoving Torma and Ardrix into the Commission’s dungeons would irreparably damage them in the eyes of others and incur not only the Archimandrite’s anger but that of the high-ranking officers who sponsored the Hatshepsut expedition.”
“Our Regent is good at triangulation, which is why she now sits in the Wyvern Palace. I just hope they know better than to interrogate them. Crevan Torma has been conditioned, and Sisters of Void who work for the Commission are beyond anyone’s ability. Though I wonder what message she’s sending with the arrests.”
Bolack made a dubious face.
“I suppose Vigdis is telling the admirals and generals any wrong moves on the Lyonesse matter will result in more arrests. I’m afraid First Secretary Vermat was right. Colonels and Sisters are expendable under the present circumstances, though I hope the Regent and her counselors won’t realize that just yet. Otherwise, she may get the idea of executing them to make a point.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time a Regent and his or her Ruling Council felt a tinge of worry at losing their absolute grip on power because of unexpected events and lashed out in ways that annoyed the Conclave. Thankfully, whenever it was time to replace either before their terms ended, it happened peacefully, at least in as far as outside observers could tell.”
Godfrey glanced at his companions.
“And finding out about a rival already reuniting human worlds is about as unexpected as it gets. Can you imagine the fear of losing control by sending missions and colonists beyond our star systems? Large, interstellar polities are, by definition, decentralized, which was what allowed the various viceroys to rebel so successfully against the Ruggero Dynasty.”
“Do you think we did her wrong?” Robbins asked. “That we should have asked permission for Task Force Kruzenshtern’s mission instead of seeking forgiveness now that we were found out?”
Godfrey shook his head.
“The answer would have been insufficient evidence, permission denied, under the tried-and-true principle practiced by authoritarian regimes throughout history. If you suppress knowledge about something, then it doesn’t exist.”
Bolack let out a bark of laughter.
“Until everyone sees that it does.”
“And that’s when regimes collapse, often in an orgy of violence. No, we did the right thing for our people, though probably not for our rulers or our system of government. But if it means Colonel Torma and Sister Ardrix must pay the ultimate price, then so be it.”
“Rather cold-blooded of you, Johannes. Those two are patriots who willingly went beyond the call of duty and, at our orders, broke the very rules they enforce.”
“Agreed, but you can’t say I’m wrong.”
Robbins let out a soft grunt. “No, I can’t.”
“What happens now?” Bolack asked as they turned back toward the abbey proper.
“That depends on her next move, which must happen within the next eighteen to twenty-four hours,” Godfrey replied. “She can’t wait much longer before control over events slips through her fingers. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s summoned the Ruling Council for a late-night sitting.”
Robbins gave him a sly smile. “Meaning you know she’s summoned them.”
He nodded. “I wish I could sit in on that meeting. It should be quite the performance by dear Vigdis.”
“You mean you’ve not planted surveillance gear in the Regent’s conference room?”
“Tried and failed. Her close protection people are rather good at keeping the Wyvern Palace clean. I’ve been luckier with the Chancellery, but the intelligence we gather isn’t particularly useful. Gossip, on the other hand...” He winked at Robbins. “By the way, whatever happened with the hapless merchant captain who triggered this?”
“He’s learning the ways of the Void at an isolated priory on the other side of the planet. It was that or my cells and a date with the executioner. No one will look for him there.”
Godfrey let out a delighted burst of laughter. “Serves him right.”