Lord Ellrick Lenari, ruler of the Great House Lenari, from the world of Nthandi, sat alone in his den. The harsh light of a single lamp illuminating his sharp features, leaving the rest of the room in darkness. A glass of his preferred Senovian scotch sat on the side table, its condensation marring the finish which the diligent staff worked to keep at a high gloss. Ellrick sat in his favorite wing-back chair of imported Da’ashani leather, custom-built by Fente and sons.

  Ellrick was trying to relax with the aid of neurostimulators, built into the chair’s headrest. He could program them for multiple functions, and he set them to simulate one of the best full body massages he had ever experienced, without the inconvenience of physically being touched.

  Lord Lenari was trying hard not to look at the clock inexorably ticking away on the mantle across the room. He had this one night to enact his plan, but two things were conspiring to upend years of work. First, the unanswered presence of a single Da’a’shori ship hiding on one of Nthandi’s desolate moons. There were supposed to be two ships, and he was unclear why only one had arrived. However, Kosh assured him that the correct personnel were on board and that they could proceed.

  They better. I’m risking it all on tonight.

  Ellrick took another sip of his scotch, allowing its gentle heat to warm him as it traveled down his throat. Not that the Da’a’shori’s suspicious arrival was disastrous by itself. The second thing threatening his plans was his niece, the empress. If they failed to find Astra, then his entire plan lay in ruins; his years of careful planning and manipulation thrown away because of the impulsiveness of an impish girl. With the chaos caused by the first night of celebrations, there would be lapses in security and they had to strike. Either at the Cultivation Palace or the Imperial Palace itself. Tonight would highlight any lapses in security and they would lose the opportunity the confusion afforded.

  Why did she never mind her place?

  He knew he pushed her too hard years ago when she first came to power. He should’ve bidden his time. Instead, he was impatient, trying to force her to see his tyrannical dream for the system. That caused her to push him away, sending him back to Nthandi like a scolded pup.

  Ellrick had rebuilt a tenuous trust over long years. He played the game, letting her hear the tune she wanted, thinking her uncle had seen the errors of his way. After long years, she welcomed him back into her court, albeit hesitantly and at arm’s length.

  He had not spent the time away from court idle, continuing to build influence across the system, garnering the support he would need for his own eventual ascension to the throne. Many of the Great Houses had amassed fortunes during the War of Power and wanted to revisit those days. The peace that Astra ushered into the system was costing them a lot of money and made them easy allies.

  Those rumblings solidified into a plan years ago when Kosh approached him, claiming there was a possibility of meeting with the Da’a’shori, the dreaded Interlopers from their ancient past. Kosh’s position as the head of the Red Fist made him the perfect contact for less than desirable interludes. Over the past decade, the Da’a’shori had infiltrated Solvonus society to a small degree. Not very much, and not in important positions, but it was enough to bring them to the attention of the Red Fist. Kosh had initiated contact with them in order to find out why they were in the system and what they wanted.

  It took some doing, but Kosh met one of their cell’s leader. He had determined that they were the advance scouting force trying to find a way to lower, or bypass, the Barrier. Their goal was to bring what they called the Enlightenment to the system’s population.

  Ellrick chuckled to himself at that thought.

  Enlightenment indeed.

  Both he and Kosh recognized how they could use this threat of invasion to perpetuate a war for decades, or possibly centuries, to come. These were the dreaded Interlopers, after all. It would be a way to keep the military contracts flowing, his own calculations showing wealth beyond even his imagination. The pleasant secondary benefit being that instead of a civil war, the system would come together focusing on the external threat.

  The two men had devised a plan to use the Interlopers, the Da’a’shori, to plunge the system into chaos following the death of their beloved empress. This power vacuum would allow Ellrick to elevate himself to emperor, if only to keep the system from fracturing. Of course, he couldn’t wield the Nine Power’s, but he would be the reluctant caretaker of the throne in a time of need. He would bring resolve and focus to Solvonus, turning their rage outward to the Da’a’shori, the threat they all feared.

  The tales of the Interloper threat permeated the very psyche of Solvonus, leaving the populace vulnerable to manipulation. Of which Lord Lenari had skillfully taken advantage. Using his incredible resources and connections, he had the various Solvonus media perpetuate the myth of the Interlopers, keeping the subconscious fear simmering below the surface. It was the perfect plan. He would use his enemy to rid him of an obstacle, then turn on his conspirators, painting them as the true enemy. Solvonus would gratefully grant him the power he craved his entire life.

  If only Astra would play her blasting part.

  Ellrick heard a ping and glanced at the hologram interface that projected from his chair’s arm. It was a message from Kosh.

  A smile spread across Lord Lenari’s face as he read the message.

  It was time.

  Lieutenant Jon Tusk was in plain clothes. He had exchanged his Royal Crest uniform for a well-tailored, if loose, suit. The looseness of the fit was to accommodate his lightweight armor and a few choice weapons. Designed for concealment, they still contained quite the punch, if needed.

  He received his captain’s coded message while in the empress’s throne room and, once he escorted the courtiers out of the royal wing of the palace, he had raced to the guard barracks. There, he informed the garrison they were to be up and ready within ten minutes; it had taken them five. The empress was on the move and incognito. They knew this meant she was unguarded, and that needed to be addressed immediately.

  Well, she’s with the captain, and Lord Hakana, but still.

  Tusk knew both men were more than capable. Between the two, there were decades of battle honed experience, but Jon still had a job to do, to protect the empress.

  He wasted no time and sectioned the garrison into groups. The Cultivation Palace had its own security in place, and Jon’s experience told him that sending in the Royal Crest at full strength may have unintended consequences. Instead, he initially sent in a small force, dressed in their Class A uniforms; the ones kept for ceremonial duties. This way, they would seem to be part of the celebrations themselves, showing the empress’s pride in her men.

  The rest he further split into two groups. The first of these were the garrison’s top pilots. They would man their custom-built, space capable Raptors. These would move into position, creating a flying shield around the already protected Cultivation Palace.

  Jon assigned himself to the last group, the men and women that were on duty, or in the barracks when he had arrived, making up the bulk of his defensive plan. These would go to the palace as invitees, there to celebrate their empress’ ascension. They would mingle with the crowds while keeping a revolving net around the empress and her companions.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The Royal Crest was used to these last-minute assignments. They rarely centered on a celebration to which half the system had arrived, but they would adapt. Captain Jovani trained them well.

  That initial rush of activity was hours old now. Once his group made their way to the celebration, Lieutenant Tusk had centered in on Captain Jovani’s tracking signal. He placed his soldiers in a revolving sphere around the captain, the high marshal, and, most importantly, the empress. Jon kept well back of his men, moving them about with the consummate grace of a trained choreographer. He kept the guard moving, rotating them in and out of the principal sphere of engagement, so that the subjects had little chance to realize they were being protected.

  When he first arrived on site, he had thought there was an error with the tracking software on the small data-pad he wore on the inside of his wrist. He double checked the trackers’ location. However, the three young people it indicated confused him. They were decidedly not the captain, the high marshal or the empress. Captain Jovani noticed him, and his confusion, and sent a coded message on the Crest’s command channel, letting him know the three individuals were indeed his charges. The empress, Astra, was using one of her Power’s, disguising herself and her companions.

  There had been a tense moment when the trio ran into Lord Hakana’s son and his bodyman, Aiden. Jovani had waved him off with a small shake of his head. Since then, the Royal Crest had been following the group throughout the palace, as they enjoyed their evening without the usual trappings of the throne. His team subtly blocked and maneuvered the crowd around their protectee. The empress was never further than fifteen feet from one of her guardsmen, which was the functional limit of the concealed battle shield projectors each member of the garrison had concealed under their clothes.

  They couldn’t completely close off the sphere, Jon knew. That would be too obvious. They were more a sieve that allowed people in and out of their zone of protection. It was necessary to help promote the idea that the empress was alone with her friends, enjoying the evening’s festivities. The soldiers filtered the faces in the crowd through the HUDs built into the contact lenses they wore, scanning for any known troublemakers. His team identified a few of those and surreptitiously shifted their charges in a new direction, or had caused distractions, allowing the empress to continue on her way, with no one the wiser.

  Jon knew the empress was a strong Power user, but all Powers had limitations, and the guard had trained to deal with those. Touching the empress's Illusion would cause it to evaporate, if not combined with Cultivation, which could give it substance. She could masterfully weave such a disguise for herself. However, this ability failed her each time she practiced placing a substantial Illusion on another person. His team ensured no one could get within touching distance of the empress and her companions, whether or not by accident.

  For the moment, Jon was closest to the empress, taking a turn in the protective detail’s dance to ensure it was operating smoothly. He heard when she announced to her companions that “The Empress” would appear on the upper tier of the palace to give a speech. He signaled for his squad to shift, allowing him to back off his position and fall behind. Jon returned to his trailing position and began coordinating security arrangements.

  He entered his authorization codes on his secure data-pad and tied into the palace securities communications net. After a brief commotion caused by his sudden intrusion into the secure channel, Jon assumed control. He ordered the celebration’s security team and the Royal Crest, those in their dress uniforms, to the upper tier to secure it before the empress arrived.

  That taken care of, he caught back up to the protective detail, continuing to follow the five companions as they made their way upwards. Captain Jovani caught his eye, and he gave his commander a small nod, assuring him that the situation was well in hand. This garnered a small twitch of a smile from the captain of the guard, which was reward enough for Jon.

  ___________

  Captain Jovani was pleased, and he let his lieutenant know it by giving him a nod and a small smile. Jon was very proficient. The young man trained diligently, even more than was required, using his own downtime to study procedures and practice techniques in the training gym. He even suggested one or two changes which showed real insight, detailing weak spots in the way the guard protected the empress. Jovani implemented the changes, allowing himself and Lord Hakana to shore up those vulnerable areas.

  Jon Tusk had a bright future in the Royal Crest, if he wanted it. Some used the empress’s detail as a stepping stone in their military careers. Being able to wear the eagle and sun badge on their uniforms was a good way to make a statement. But for a few dedicated souls, like Jovani himself, their calling was the Crest. Jovani and Lord Hakana kept any eye out for such men and woman, maneuvering them into leadership positions within the garrison.

  Jovani made a mental note to speak with Lord Hakana soon, putting Jon Tusk on his radar for a potential lifer, as they liked to call themselves. First, they had to get through tonight.

  Captain Jovani had enjoyed himself throughout the evening, albeit with a bit of reservation. He knew his people were surrounding their charge and that they knew how to do their jobs. He wasn’t even sure if Lord Hakana could point out the guard, had he known they were there. Only a few select officers had tracking devices implanted and they were discrete; they knew the importance of such measures, and more importantly, the need to keep such information from their principles, who would undoubtedly make them remove the tracking devices.

  It was this layer of protection that allowed Jovani to relax as the empress and her companions wandered about the celebration, taking in the sights. That casual atmosphere dissipated the moment the empress announced she would soon make a speech. That was not on the agenda for this evening. Jovani was struggling to maintain the facade of an out-world minor son from some minor clan, allowed to celebrate with the elites of society. He had work to do now.

  Jovani struggled with whether he should tell High Marshal Hakana that the empress’s honor guard encircled them throughout the evening. The captain knew Nadim must be wondering what to do about security himself right now. Their group was already offloading from one of the many massive lifts that moved a continuous stream of people across all levels of the palace. They were on the upper tier now, following Astra, who seemed to transform from the flighty, excitable girl of the past few hours, into the regal empress that she, in fact, was. Her Powers subtly changing her appearance into the one that she carefully crafted over the years.

  This isn’t good. She’s just marching in here like she owns the place… which I suppose she does, but she can’t know she’s surrounded by her guards and security…. can she?

  Jovani glanced around and saw the uniformed guard lined up around the dais that sat in the middle of the tier. He relaxed seeing his people already in place. He would definitely need to recommend the lieutenant to the high marshal.

  The crowds here were milling about, enjoying the evening under the stars, while being kept comfortable by the force field that not only protected them, but regulated the environment, keeping it balmy and comfortable. They noticed the commotion only a few moments earlier, when the empress’s personal guard, The Royal Crest, had entered the area, approaching the dais in the middle of the floor. The excitement built as word moved through the crowd that the empress would arrive soon, mingling with them.

  ___________

  Nadim dropped back from the empress’s side as her transformation became complete. In the space of a few heartbeats, it wasn’t his friend of long years before him; it was his empress, in all her regalia. Here, suddenly, to see her people and to be seen by them.

  He made his way to Jovani.

  “Sir?” the captain said.

  Nadim looked at the man, a look of amusement playing across his face, then stared across the open floor, to the opposite side, where the lift was now depositing a second, larger contingent of the Royal Crest. They were also in their ceremonial uniforms; the sight causing an additional commotion throughout the growing crowd. Every eye darted around the large floor, taking in each new event. The noise became a crescendo as they noticed the empress walking among them.

  “I see your tracking devices are working well tonight, Captain. Am I mistaken, or did I see Lieutenant Tusk a few times in the crowd, no doubt with others in tow?”

  Jovani, at a loss for words, just stared at his commanding officer.

  “Easy Captain. I’ve known since you first thought it up. Didn’t you wonder how you could procure next generation sub-dermal tracking chips from Research? I’m glad they work. It’s a good plan, and I even approve of you trying to keep it a secret from me. I know the need for discretion, and I’m glad you’ve utilized them so well. We’ll have to chat about expanding the program. For now, I think I need to go rescue my son. He seems like he might fall apart after having spent the evening vying for Astra’s attention with all that flirting and boasting.”

  Jovani managed a stunned nod, watching as his commanding officer went to attend to Davos, before turning his attention to his own duties.

  “Crest, this is Jovani. The secret’s out. Form ranks around the empress. I want full protective measures in place before she gets to the top of that dais. I don’t know what she’s planning, but we’ll be damn sure she’s safe doing whatever the hell it is that empress’s do.”

  __________