“So how soon could we escape?” Torsten’s voice turned serious now. “What threads would we need to cut, to flee into the night of the borderlands?”
Torsten stopped at hearing his words. He had never been a poet, instead more comfortable with numbers that danced than words. And yet, she did these things to him. Made him transcend the old man he had been.
What would it be like when he and Vo shared a singular place in life, consorts to women of enormous power?
A new adventure with the woman he loved.
“I will need Casey’s permission to take First Expeditionary Fleet home,” Jessica replied, also sobering as they got caught up in the details. “Or the Senate’s approval of Tom Provst in overall command, as well as promotions like Denis as a Fleet Centurion. You will need to change your wardrobe to something more fierce and exotic, and allow your First Deputy to take over. And Casey will need to bless the entire affair.”
“I believe she will support us,” he grinned. “And my side of the equation was the easiest part. I have been working towards that since day one, knowing that I did not want to remain here a moment longer than necessary, as much as I love Casey like a daughter. Will she really come to Petron for our wedding?”
“She has no choice,” Jessica mock-growled. “Well, she could skip it entirely and remain here, but that’s it.”
“Is it really over?” Torsten asked, his voice grown quiet. “I know that the Librarian at Alexandria Station was rebuilt after Em destroyed her the first time. Could they not rebuild their god?”
“They could,” Jessica looked up at him with a face he always ascribed to the ghost of Kali-ma that danced in her soul. “But it would be a replacement god. How many people would worship such a being? And how much of their human government did they lose, much as we did when Werder died? Especially since we have struck so hard and ruthlessly at their military, but not the everyday people. If Casey is serious about withdrawing to defensible frontiers, as you said, and trading with the systems nearest her, rather than conquering them, that will also help unravel The Holding. Not immediately, but Casey has fifty or seventy-five years ahead of her, if she remains healthy. And Moirrey has taught her about the ancient trinity of queens known as the Elizabeths of England.”
“Should she strike to destroy an attempt to rebuild Buran?” Torsten felt his analytical mind engage, rather than the parts that just wanted to drag Jessica off into a quiet closet to neck.
“I don’t know,” Jessica admitted, snuggling closer like she had the same thoughts about dark, quiet places. “Such prognostication relies on data I am not privy to. Not even my resident econometricist and historian could predict that scenario adequately.”
The door to the main chamber opening prevented him from responding. Torsten’s eyes were adjusted enough to recognize the short, almost-squat shape of Governor Chavarría approaching, as well as the apparent smile on the woman’s face.
“I wondered where you had gotten off to,” she said as she paused two meters away. “If it would not be an intrusion, I might ask a few, private questions.”
Torsten only felt Jessica’s surge of angry rigidity because he was pressed against her. It felt out of place, because she shouldn’t be as aware of most of the details as he was about Judit’s undertakings.
Perhaps Jessica already knew the woman well enough to predict her behavior? Or had other spies in the Imperium he did not know? Food for thought.
“Not at all, Judit,” Jessica said, standing more squarely but not losing her hold on him. “How can I assist you?”
“The conspirators all assure me that they have been sworn to secrecy,” Judit replied. “Thus, I am at a loss to gauge the permanency of the outcome. Has Gunter Tifft truly killed a god? Forever?”
“We were just speculating on possible scenarios,” Jessica admitted. “Suvi was rebuilt from backups she had established for just such an eventuality, so it remains within the realm of possibility that the citizens of the Protectorate of Man would be able to do the same.”
Judit nodded, and Torsten noted the sparkle in her eyes.
“However,” Jessica continued. “Suvi was an academic, and not the center of the government. How many thousands of people, including the four Mandarins, were probably killed along with the beast? Fribourg survived such a crisis, but they have firm and established legalities around succession. And the help of many friends. Buran didn’t have a Crown Princess to step into the stead of the god. Plus, I understand that the Grand Admiral and the Emperor are hard at work on new bombs filled with newsletters telling people their god has been killed, to be delivered to every planet that they can.”
“And will they move to conquer the worlds of The Holding?” Judit’s voice got cagey and cold.
Torsten would have replied, but Judit had pointedly ignored him, excluding him from a conversation between the two women.
“I doubt it,” Jessica replied. “Casey will need to rebuild St. Legier, and that will take another decade or two, depending. She will need to take a tighter hold on the Empire itself, as Dukes grow restive and impudent. Expanding herself over such a territory would be a folly I do not expect the woman to make, especially as I plan to retire. And the Senate will most likely politely withdraw First Expeditionary from Imperial space now. The Grand Admiral can build sufficient new ships to push Buran’s fleet back now, and men like Tom Provst know how to use them effectively. But there are few Thuringwells out there on Buran’s border, waiting the jeweler’s hammer.”
Both women shared a secret smile at that. Torsten only had part of the story, but enough to understand the grand adventure the two had shared.
“And you are going home?” Judit pressed.
“Just as soon as I can get Casey’s permission to take everyone else with me,” Jessica nodded. “I am not sure if Vanguard will remain an Imperial ship, since zu Wachturm built it for us, but that is a negotiation between governments. The same for RAN Persephone and her commander. Short of another cataclysmic crime like Second St. Legier, I think we have broken Buran. My fleet did not sit in orbit of Winterhome dropping bombs, but Tifft did the next best thing. And short of hunting down every Buran warship in existence and killing it, there is not much more we can do at this time.”
“I see,” Judit’s voice grew quiet. “And if the future requires it?”
“My commission as First Centurion does not expire, Judit,” Jessica said. “It only goes dormant. Quiescent. The same for Torsten’s commission as Admiral of the White. But I would hope that any need to recall us to duty would be Cincinnatus, and nothing more. I am looking forward to living as Dowager Queen of the Pirates for a while.”
“For a while?” Judit’s eyes flared.
“I might grow bored,” Jessica’s voice brightened. “Commission something like RAN Ballard and go deep into the interior exploring. Or perhaps flip a coin and circumnavigate the entire galaxy, stopping occasionally for food and drink with whatever locals I meet. My war is over.”
Rather than speak, Judit Chavarría, Governor, Palatine Count, and former Premier stepped back and bowed slightly with an enigmatic smile as she departed.
At the door, a murmur and a quick dance as someone attempted to exit at the same time Judit entered. It resolved itself quickly, as four men scampered out to compass points of defense. Torsten didn’t need to see the tall woman emerge to know Casey’s bodyguards preceding her.
She surprised him by walking close and hugging them both at once.
“Thank you,” she said simply, stepping back. “We would not possibly have made it thus without the sacrifices of so many people, but principally you two.”
Torsten bowed to his soon-to-be-former Sovereign Lord and Emperor.
It would be strange to only have one mistress, after this. To only follow Jessica’s heart and no other.
The galaxy had changed.
“I am sorry that your other plans were curtailed,” Jessica said almost reflectively. “I would have liked to see you in c
ommand on your own bridge. Kigali would have been a ruthless taskmaster, but you would have had no better teacher in the art of small warship command.”
“Such are our fates,” Casey said wistfully. “I had other teachers for the lessons I truly needed, and friends at those moments when I would have been lost otherwise. Fribourg will continue when you are gone, but I hope you will not be strangers.”
“We will not,” Jessica smiled, gripping Torsten’s side tighter. “I was just explaining to Judit that I might build my own version of a Galactic Survey Cruiser, one of these days, and set out wandering.”
Torsten noted the faraway look in Casey’s eyes. The pain at loss. But then, a well-run Empire might not necessarily miss its Emperor for certain periods. And he had no doubt that her children with Vo would be capable of temporarily taking the reins while their parents had the occasional vacation, once they had grown.
Look at what Casey had accomplished at seventeen.
“We had also discussed eloping,” Torsten interjected, watching her eyes come back to the present with an angry flare that faded as she caught the laughter in his eyes. “But I feared an Imperial fleet chasing us through space.”
“At a minimum,” Casey said frostily, though smiling. “At a very minimum. Probably a Republic fleet as well.”
It felt good to see Casey smile. There had been so few opportunities for it in the years he had known her.
“I will miss you,” Emperor Karl VIII said simply. She might have sniffled as well, but Torsten wasn’t sure.
Jessica detached herself from his side and hugged the taller woman, leaving him to lean back against the rail and wonder at it all.
“You are required to attend our wedding,” Jessica admonished the Emperor sternly. “You will be in it. As will others you bring along as part of your Imperial embassy.”
“On one condition,” Casey said.
“Oh?”
“When you take Vibol away from me, I demand the right to invest heavily in the fashion house the man will no doubt open when he gets to Corynthe,” Casey said. “Just as you and I were the initial Bond Investors in Bedrov & Keller. Just because he’s a quarter of a galaxy away doesn’t mean that he stops dressing me. And I will have a wedding at some point, so you will also be required to return to St. Legier with him. Or rather, he will be required to return, and you two may accompany him.”
Torsten joined the two women in laughter. That also felt good. He would miss this as well, but the future’s siren call beckoned.
Jessica stepped back and bowed formally to Her Imperial Majesty Karl VIII, Emperor Of Fribourg By Grace Of God. She stuck out a hand and Casey grasped it formally, bowing in turn over it.
“Deal,” Jessica smiled.
* * *
TO BE CONCLUDED
Winterhome Cast List
Corynthe
* * *
Name / Rank / Position
Jessica Marie Keller (F) / Fleet Centurion, Admiral of the Red / Queen of Corynthe
Marcelle Augustine Travere (F) / Chief / Jessica’s Personal Aide
Willow Dolen (F) / Yeoman / Jessica’s Bodyguard
Amala Bhattacharya (F) / Ambassador / Personal Representative of the Queen of Corynthe
Yan Bedrov (M) / / Principle Engineer, Bedrov & Keller
Ainsley Barret (F) / / Test Pilot, Bedrov & Keller
Iorwerth Pops Nakamura (M) / Crown Naval Designer / Corynthe
Summer Ulfsson (F) / Free Citizen /
Galen Estevan (M) / Captain / Commander, Qin Lun
Donal McKiersky (M) / Combat Officer / Qin Lun
Holger O’Ryan (M) / Commander / Badger
Kari Estevan (F) / President / Esteban Trading
David Rodriguez (M) / Vice Admiral, Regent / Corynthe
* * *
IFV Vanguard
* * *
Name / Rank / Position
Denis Jež (M) / Command Centurion, Admiral of the White / Commander, IFV Vanguard
Enej Zivkovic (M) / Senior Centurion / Flag Centurion
Aranyani Del’Antonia (F) / Centurion / Flag Centurion
Nina Vanek (F) / Senior Centurion / First Officer
Tobias Brewster (M) / Senior Centurion / Asst Tactical Centurion & Second Officer
Kathy Mayzes (F) / Senior Centurion / Asst Tactical Centurion & Third Officer
Aleksander Afolayan (M) / Centurion / Gunner
Nada Zupan (F) / Senior Centurion / Pilot
Daniel Giroux (M) / Senior Centurion / Science Officer, Communications
Vilis Ozolinsh, "Oz" (M) / Command Engineering Centurion / Chief Engineer
Saana Robles (F) / Yeoman / Engineer
Phillip Navin Crncevic (M), "Viking One" / Command Security Centurion / Dragoon
Harun Chong, “Archer One” (M) / Senior Security Centurion / Commander, First Battalion
Nadine Orly (F) / Chief / Flag Marine
Jackson Tawfeek (M) / Chief / Marine
Mahmud Astrauskas (M) / Senior Centurion / Surgeon
Nicolai Aoiki (M) / Master Chef / Master of the Wardroom
* * *
RAN Squadron
* * *
Name / Rank / Position
Tomas Kigali (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CA-264
Arsen Lam (M) / Senior Centurion / Tactical Officer, CA-264
Aki Ridwana Ali (F) / Centurion / Pilot, CA-264
Alber’ d’Maine (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, VI Victrix
Komal MacInerney (M) / Senior Centurion / Tactical Officer, VI Victrix, Goddess of War
Robertson Aelieas "Robbie" (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, VI Ferrata
Harden Glenraven, "Hardie" (F) / Senior Centurion / First Officer, VI Ferrata
Tamara Strnad (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, II Augusta
Kichirou Uzun / Senior Centurion / Tactical Officer, II Augusta
Ryanne Mauld / Senior Centurion / Flight Deck Commander, II Augusta
Augustin Petrović, "Merman" (M) / Senior Flight Centurion / Wing Lead, II Augusta
Kanda Lungu (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, Ballard
Elzbet Aukley (F) / Senior Centurion / First Officer & Science Officer, Ballard
Orn Nwokolo (M) / Centurion / Asst Science Officer, Ballard
Lazlo Moushian / Centurion / Pilot, Ballard
Mererid Stella Dimitriou (F) / Centurion, PhD / Security Marine, Geologist, Ballard
Larsen Romanov (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, Bulldog
Nero Yamakagi (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CT-9492
Waldemar Ihejirika (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, Mendocino
Otilia Calkin (F) / Centurion / Mendocino
Illiam Kovack (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, Duncan
Enfys El-Amin (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, Wombat
Manaia Nieminen (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, CE-401
Ariadna Mateu (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, CE-402
Valerie Maikop (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CE-403
Tómasson Ásmundur (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CM-404
Phil Kosnett (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CS-405
Heather Lau, “Ground Control” (F) / Senior Centurion / First Officer, CS-405; Commander RAN Packmule
Siobhan Skokomish, “Lady Blackbeard” (F) / Centurion / Pilot & Second Officer, CS-405; Commander RAN Queen Anne’s Revenge
Andre Gave (M) / Centurion / Registered Nurse, CS-405; Commander RAN Forgotten Mercy
Au Aqal Corven Sam (F) / Chief Medical Officer / RAN Forgotten Mercy
Trinidad Mildon, “Stunt Dude” (M) / Centurion / Dragoon, CS-405
Bok Battenhouse (M) / Senior Chief / Boatswain, CS-405
Avelina Indovina (F) / Able Spacer / Duke, Lighthouse Station
Granville Veitengruber (M) / Flight Centurion / Commander RAN Persephone
Malondenishk “Deni” Abarantakratar (M) / Landsman / RAN Persephone
Jennifer Glenn (F) / Co
mmand Centurion / Commander, CP-406
Takouhi Elouan (F) / Senior Centurion / Tactical Officer, CP-406
Janel Rouge (M) / Centurion / Flight Deck Officer, CP-406
Reese Steiner (F) / Centurion / Science Officer, CP-406
Adnan Kristensen (M) / Yeoman / Gunner, CP-406
Murdag Rasim (F) / Centurion / Pilot, CP-406
Anmol Schwartzenwald (M) / Flight Centurion / Black Prince
Erik Mosiondz (M) / Senior Flight Centurion / Boomerang
Michelle Nystul (F) / Flight Centurion / Grendel
Arott Whughy (M) / Fleet Centurion / Commander, Forward Base Omicron
Iskra Vlahovic (F) / Fleet Centurion / Commander, Task Force Vlahovic
Asha Robins / Command Centurion / Commander, Arad
Lucretia Lomidze (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, CA-410
Yan Victorica (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CE-411
Willem Fabacher (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, CE-417
Yesenia Groehler (F) / Command Centurion / Commander, Leggett
Daren Alliance (M) / Command Centurion / Commander, Redding
Niall Aulay Henderson (M) / Captain / Commander, Robert Fitzwalter
Digger Wolanski (M) / Legate / Twenty-third Ladaux
* * *
The Republic
* * *
Name / Position
Indira (Chastain) Keller (F) / Jessica’s mother
Miguel Keller (M) / Jessica’s father
Petia Naoumov (F) / First Lord of the Fleet
Roderick Stone (M) / Aide to the First Lord
Nils Kasum (M) / First Lord of the Fleet, Retired
Kamil Miloslav (M) / Republic Intelligence Service
Tadej Marko Horvat (M) / Premier, Republic Senate
Judit Margrét Chavarría (F) / Palsgrave, Republic Senate