The Death Sentence
Outside of the Solar System - 2013
The Cast
Commander Mancer, Petty Officer Casma, Premier Gor, Prince Ventar
The TC battle cruiser had left the Solar System two months ago, and was en route to wormhole Toraxi 4, one of the few large enough to take a ship of this size. Mancer wouldn’t need to leave with the Prince for a while yet.
He sat in his quarters with a glass of whisky from the bottle given to him by Zander. ‘From me, old friend, for you to enjoy on your return journey, after the conclusion of a successful campaign.’
It had been successful. One Princess dead and one Prince here on board with him—a bonus. But the cost? His son dead, and a chasm in his heart that would never heal. Damn, he hated this war. This was not how it was supposed to end. Where was the glory in this?
He drank some more, wondering if there would be any solace in drinking the whole bottle. There was a knock on his door. ‘Come in.’
It was Casma, his petty officer. ‘Sir, an FYE only message has just arrived from Premier Gor.’
He accepted the orb and stared at it. ‘What now?’ he shouted. Premier Gor’s ghostly image appeared as soon as he docked it into the holo-projector console.
‘Congratulations, Commander. The elimination of two Royals is an excellent result. The War Council have asked me to extend their profound thanks.’ His voice was an unfeeling monotone. ‘We have one more duty for you to perform. With the Princess tragically killed, the Council has decided that the best resolution of the whole affair is to eliminate the Prince as well.’ Mancer sat up straight. What the hell?
‘Please be in no doubt that this order requires your immediate action.’ Mancer stared at the holograph, speechless. ‘The war is at a critical stage. Your battle cruiser is urgently needed back in Trun space. We need you to ensure this happens. Do not return using the sphere as originally planned. I repeat, stay with the cruiser. Again, congratulations. Gor out.’
Mancer and Casma walked down the corridor to the detention centre that was holding Ventar. An execution required two officers in attendance. He was confused why Zander had not given him the message personally. What was going on at home? And why make him stay with the cruiser? The excuse given was lame. And now he had to execute a boy!
They arrived at the makeshift execution chamber, normally a common room. The engineers had rigged up a plasma chair, ensuring a quick death, with no pain for the condemned. When they entered, Ventar looked pathetically small in the chair. Though his hands and feet were secured, he still appeared calm.
They both sat down. Mancer stared at the boy, wondering to himself what the hell he was doing. He had never disobeyed an order in his life—he didn’t know how to. He told the executioner to proceed, not wanting to drag this out any longer than necessary.
A rough-looking soldier stood by, but it was evident from his demeanour that his heart was not in this. ‘Ventar of Verceti, you are charged with war crimes, and the War Ministry of Trun Rizontella decrees you will be put to death by any reasonable means. You have two minutes to make a declaration.’
The young Prince smiled at the soldier and then looked directly at Mancer.
‘Firstly, I would prefer not to be executed. Secondly, I go by another name—Camerra Kalter of Trun Rizontella. I’m not in your database, but my parents are: Camerra Maot and Camerra Jake of the KBS. A simple DNA test will prove that I am their son.’
Stunned silence fell over the room.
He continued. ‘Thirdly, the leadership of Trun is now deeply infiltrated by an evil race known as the Zerot. They are perpetuating the war between our two nations ahead of an invasion force that is coming to annihilate any of us left and rape our planet. The Trun and the Vercetians need to stand together. It is my intention to unite them. This foe is deadly.’
A completely dazed Mancer looked at Casma then back to Ventar. ‘Er, anything else?’
‘Yes. You haven’t killed Princess Tauriar either.’ His sudden smile was wickedly devious. ‘A ploy set up with the help of the people of Earth. You destroyed the wrong sphere.’
‘Oh, and your son Kean is still alive too. He should be in the sphere with the Princess heading back to our home world.’
‘Commander Mancer. This is one order you can disobey.’