CHAPTER 21

“This is insupportable!” Bureel growled to the Assemblage Chamberlain, his lieutenant Gurthur. The whole of the Assemblage was in a dull roar. The ranking survivor’s full report from the skirmish at Lompoc V had just concluded and to the Bureel supporters, of which the Assemblage had a necessary majority, it was a sobering message. Not only had Nazar escaped, but the Terrans proved as formidable an adversary as rumor built them. Alexander himself led the Terran squadron, which could in no way be blamed for forcing the battle after the Chem Commander’s patronizing request for a Terran withdrawal. Alexander again acted with dignity, honor and resolve. The thought of him leading the entirety of the Terran Fleet against an already weakened Chem brought a new interpretation to the wisdom of Nazeera’s peace. There was no trepidation on the part of the Chem warriors, ordinarily they would welcome such a test for glory but the stakes were now such that even the most war loving of them had second thoughts. Even the hard core Bureel supporters could now admire the foresight of Nazeera, and the skill with which she gained concessions from Alexander for not fighting. Imagine, they thought, gaining a frontier of twelve strategic systems from a warlord like Alexander! The defeat at Lompoc V was a slap of cold water in their face. Murmurs arose questioning the very wisdom of war. It was a subject ordinarily taboo, but now noble Chem without a sliver of fear in their bones questioned themselves, and their leader.

Bureel recognized the change in the wind, but he did not let it dampen his resolve, at least not visually. He looked out over the Assemblage, knowing they expected him to lash out in anger at the defeat, but he knew he must be above that. Lordly did he bow his head, but he kept his shoulders strong and upright. He must be, he thought, not the lesser to Alexander in their sight. When his eyes met those of the ranking commander of the decimated squadron, awaiting his lord’s dispensation, he strove to ensure they were wise.

“My heart grieves at our defeat, as must all Chem when victory exceeds our grasp,” he said finally. “It does not grieve with disgrace, however. There is glory in battle, even though it ends in defeat. It hardens the warrior for the next trial, and ensures that there is no room in the breast for anything less than the annihilation of the foe! To fight to the last is admirable and wins the warrior everlasting notoriety. To withdraw is more difficult, though at times there is more wisdom in it. You returned to Chem in defeat, but without your returning we would know nothing of our enemy. This was a lesson to our pride. Let us treat it no less, but make of it no more. Let Alexander scurry about with his squadrons when the full weight of the Chem Armada is upon him! Let this example perk our appetites for revenge. Our day will come, soon.” Bureel paused and studied his Assemblage. The light was back in their eyes. They listened intently. He could now reiterate his vision of the future without it sounding disingenuous. “We will pay back this trifling attention of Alexander. After my Ascension we shall rebuild our armadas for a new day of glory. Then shall we declare war upon the upstart Terran and his fledgling empire. We will unite the Chem, all the Chem, back into the honor bound people the galaxy fears. We will expand into our rightful place amongst the stars. Only in this way may we fulfill the purposes of our ancestors, and the yearning of our hearts. You know my mind!”

There was general applause, and it was genuine. Bureel’s speech hit the correct chord amongst his audience, and Gurthur leaned over to him, saying, “Well done, my lord!”

“It is a step towards the Ascension, my good Gurthur, if we can keep these nobles happy enough, long enough,” Bureel said. “Though I do not miss any meaning in Alexander’s message I have at least diverted it from those who owe their allegiance to me. They are content, for now. We will not put ourselves in any more such adventures until after my Ascension. That event, at least, will not be compromised by Alexander, if I read his message aright. He considers it beyond his grasp, so he waits. Oh, how that must irk my dear wife! Let them wallow in such discomfiting bliss. She cannot disappoint me with her strength, and he dares not. If he wants to carry through with his challenge, which is his right, he must come to me, and that means he must come to Chem. That he cannot do, and will not hazard. That leaves Nazeera an exile after my Ascension, and as soon as war is declared on the Terran Empire her support will bond to me. What happens then does not matter.”

Gurthur nodded and handed his liege a goblet of wine, “The Alliance awaits your Ascension before launching their own offensive against Alexander. Certainly our combined weight shall rid us of this dangerous adversary. Then who knows what you might accomplish to the glory of Chem?”

“Yes, the stars are open to us then, but what reaction from the Alliance to our misstep at Lompoc V? Does our defeat affect their intention to press forward? They are none too bold, these sniveling cultures in need of alliance with others. They cannot stand alone, of that I’ll grant the Terrans in the least but these others cannot be trusted. Each race vies to get their neighbor to fight for them, and then share in the spoils without so much as a scratch!” Bureel’s anger was artificial, and he let a curl of his lip signify his sarcasm. “We all use surrogates when we can. What difference between using a captain or a culture? What resolve remains of this Alliance, I wonder? You have spoken with them, Gurthur, what have they to say?”

“They are unshaken, my lord,” Gurthur told him. “Even the most squeamish of the Galactics realize that something must be done. Fear drives these creatures, and Alexander has instilled it in them anew. They assure me that this small event will in no way affect their overall plans.”

“We shall see,” Bureel growled.

#

When the being known assumed throughout Terra to be President Sadat found out about the battle on the Chem border it was via the media. Terran journalists figured out how to tap into the Galactic broadcasts almost as quickly as the military, and they reveled in such dramatic events. The victory, especially Alexander’s part in it, was the number one topics of interest globally, greatly overshadowing President Sadat. Admiral Augesburcke, who arrived on Terra the following week barely mentioned the battle in his data linked report, reporting only,

"Encountered superior force of Chem rebel ships during rendezvous with loyalist Chem. Location: Cygnus sector, Lompoc V System (Galactic standard nomenclature). Time: 1754Z, 071017 (Terran). Terran ships were threatened and responded in kind. A total of twenty-five enemy vessels were destroyed or captured in the skirmish. One ship lost, the Shark with all hands."

The Galactic media featured a very different story. The Galactic wires, equally as excited about the dramatic events as their Terran counterparts, were full of the face of Alexander and his defiance of the Chem rebels. Alexander had been asked to withdraw but he instead attacked and destroyed the Chem squadron which dared threaten Terran space. It was a sobering message to the civilized galaxy. Though it was a small engagement it still made a sensation; the vaunted Chem severely beaten by the legendary Terran Conqueror. Consternation swept through the Alliance in waves, and it quickly focused on the small planet in the heart of the Terran Empire. President Sadat was at this moment in contact with her superior in the Hrang system. She had a meeting set up with Augesburcke in fifteen minutes, but the impact of the Terran victory had thrown all of the carefully laid plans of the Alliance into chaos in stark contrast with what they told the Chem rebels.

“Everything is on hold for the moment,” the Hrang informed her. “An emergency joint session of the political ambassadors and the military liaisons is scheduled for the next decurn. The net result is at least a seven decurn delay, one more week in your time and that is being overly ambitious. I’m afraid it will take that long, at least, to re-engage the invasion timetable, and there are bound to be changes. Alexander’s victory could not have been timed worse. There was finally a consensus and we were moving forward. Now we must rebuild the nerves of half the membership!”

“Is there a chance the invasion might be postponed or even canceled altogether?” The President asked anxiously.

“A postponement of seven decurns after Bureel’s Ascension is already in place,” the Hrang replied. “A cancellation, though, is out of the question. The Hrang, the Seer’koh, the Golkos and the Bael all agree insistently that the Terrans are now more dangerous than ever and must be dealt with immediately. This particular occurrence only accentuates the point. It is imperative we strike as soon as possible in a coordinated and coherent manner. Our problem right now is a strategic one. The proof of the Terran prowess makes a three pronged invasion absolutely necessary. Unfortunately the Syraptose, who are responsible for one front on their own, are wavering. They are not at all confident they can handle even a minor Terran force by themselves. The Quotterim are also wavering. They share the sector with the Bael, and again unfortunately, it is the Quotterim fleet that forms the bulk of that front. Without the Quotterim or Syraptose in the Alliance we have a single front invasion. That could prove disastrous. Therefore, we must re-establish the military cohesion of the Alliance before we proceed. We cannot attack without support, and the prospect of defense as individual empires against Alexander is almost non-existent. That is the situation which requires you to maintain your cover.”

The Hrang spymaster sighed, making a hissing noise followed by a slump of his narrow shoulders. He gave an all too Human shrug, and said, “If there is any good news out of this it is the clarification of the Terran power structure. All doubt that Alexander is not firmly in control of the military is now gone. You have that to deal with. You must somehow use you limited power to stir up further antagonism against him, and, if possible, detrimentally affect their military establishment. You have permission to take whatever risks are necessary. Indeed, things have gotten to a point where,” he hesitated, blinking his large yellow eyes as would an owl—in fact, a distant, distant ancestor of his galactic strain of saurians—“We find ourselves in a position of unusual peril. The Hrang Master Council has decided to change the status of all of our Terran operatives to expendable.” He allowed a moment for that to sink in, shaking his head. “Understand that we feel there is no choice. The threat from Alexander of Terra is that severe. If all that you can do is to buy us a decand or even a decurn—that is worth your life.”

President Sadat hoped that her superior did not note the sudden cessation of her breathing or the flush of warmth she felt flooding into her cheeks. She found herself unable to do or say anything other than to nod gravely.

Her self control was apparently acceptable, as the spymaster asked only, “Is there any danger of exposure from this extension of your mission. The duration of your assignment is not proportional to the exertion. You have perhaps the most difficult of all assignments in the history of Hrang intrigue.”

“It is negligible,” Sadat replied with more than a little pride. Even if she failed in the end, her fame would be well worth the cost. Her family would be taken care of—she stopped herself. If she failed, Alexander would succeed and it would be Alexander who would dictate her family’s fate, as he would that of the Hrang Empire. Her name would not be remembered by her people, that is, if the Hrang survived at all. She refocused her thoughts; she could not afford weakness or failure. “I have been exposed to several of their physical exams,” she replied with new resolve. “The latest was yesterday. Admiral Augesburcke complained of an outbreak of disease amongst those of his crew who came in contact with the Chem. I was therefore subject to a routine examination. It is of no concern. Their equipment is archaic, and their Scythian equipment is easily fooled. The situation here is under control. I have increasing support in the Senate towards a peaceful policy, directly opposed to Alexander’s hidden agenda of expansionism. As this body was obviously intended for rubber stamp approval I expect it shall pose quite a thorn in his side.

The spymaster nodded. “This revelation of Alexander’s control over the military clarifies the situation a great deal. I now believe the information I have been privy to concerning Alexander’s rise to power is false. The concept of his relative unimportance prior to his rise to power, and the assertions that he was a figurehead in the Terran-Chem conflict are purposeful misrepresentations. I believe the Terrans, and the military especially, have long been involved in active disinformation as a hedge against possible espionage. It has been, I admit, remarkably effective considering I am in a position of considerable importance, more so than Alexander himself, in theory. They succeeded in deceiving us concerning their true power base, even though we knew what that basis of power should be all along. For a time I actually believed that the Terrans were establishing a true federated system of government with legitimate representation. The fact that all of this is an elaborate ruse to confuse us as to their true intentions and to shield their ruler speaks of just how cunning Terrans are. Their weak link in all of this is the public.

“Alexander went to a great deal of trouble to establish the Presidency and the Senate, and its entire purpose was not as a counter espionage ploy. Terrans want to feel involved in their government. This is impossible in a dictatorship so Alexander has set up a puppet government which he controls from a hidden vantage point. With Alexander’s facade of federated government broken in our eyes, but still intact in the minds of the Terran masses, it is my opinion that I can manipulate public support against Alexander and his wars of expansion. This latest issue highlights Alexander’s true hegemony over Terran policy. The Terrans have an ingrained distrust for dictators. I’ve already taken advantage of that issue, and this latest event will give added force to my arguments. We may be able to impede Alexander, and possibly even stop him, by using his own people against him. If I can create enough fear of a dictatorship and retribution for expansionist acts amongst the people I could cripple Alexander. The extra time may in fact be beneficial to us. We can accomplish a great deal.”

“Excellent,” the Hrang exclaimed. “I shall then leave you to your efforts!”