Beyond - Legends The Winds of Erilnar (AU, OC)

So Dela is Switzerland?

 

​

Erilnar
War Room

"Admiral Trae Korros, you have the floor," Queen Carley stated as she stood at a wide table in the planning room of the Centran capital. Here the great strategies of war had once been debated and decided. Wars had been won and lost in this room. So too had the men who had helped create such plans of action.

The room had fallen out of use as the great Centran war had come to a close and the conflicts between various nobles and sub factions had fallen by the wayside in deferrence to Heraat rule. In this era of peace it was only gathering dust and cobwebs. A reminder of the difficult days in the past that nobody, regardless of faction or loyalty, wanted to return to with any great haste.

The resurrection of the room had begun when a meeting was called to confront the pirate conflict that lay just beyond the Centran borders. Too many ships, too much money, too many supply chain issues had roped in the governments that had a vested interest in secure trade corridors in the independent systems. Military representatives from the Corporate Sector, Tion Hegemony, Dela, and the Centrality were present. All had been horribly effected by the pirates that now seemed to have free range. All were united in their resolve to end the pirate threat.

The Centran admiral stood in front of the assembled coalition, the first of its kind in recent memory, and gave a nod to all in the room. A holographic display of the galaxy erupted before them bathing the room in a red light. The map zoomed in to the sector of space that had been ravaged by the pirates that ran rampant as if no law and order existed.

"Many thanks to the Corporate Sector navy," Admiral Korros stated, "the Tion Hegemony, and our new Delan allies, for the intelligence reports that helped make the following strategy possible. Now, let's get right to it. The pirates are attacking out of the Iego system. They are using the asteroids there to mask their movements and then striking cargo ships, no matter what government affiliation, when the escorts are peeling away to ensure a peaceful transition."

"Why not just double up on escorts?" Asked the military representative from the Corporate Sector.

"It would make their attack runs more difficult," the military representative from the Tion Hegemony added.

"Good points," Admiral Korros acknowledged, "but we must travel through so many independent systems, some friendly, some borderline hostile, that the only agreement we can get from them to assure our transit is to keep our military presence as non threatening as possible. My suggestion is to lure the pirates out and pick them off one by one."

"Lure them out," the Delan representative repeated, "that would mean deep space. Away from any of the usual territories or shipping lanes. Wouldn't that raise suspicion?"

"Not entirely," Admiral Korros said, "because where we'd lure them out would be a region in which ships systems can and have failed due to the nearby nebula. It also happens to be near the same place where the escorts typically hand off control to the next government. We send in the ships unescorted. Making no secret they're carrying particularly valuable cargo. The pirates launch their attack and capture a few of the ships. The vessels are outfitted with tracking devices and we follow them back and assault their base."

"And how confident are you that this plan will work?" the Corporate Sector representative asked.

"These tactics proved successful during a few of our less publicized operations against your government," Admiral Korros admitted.

"If by successful you mean the wholesale slaughter of innocents-" the Corporate Sector representative fired back.

"Innocents that were found guilty of espionage," the Tion Hegemony representative added.

"Enough!" Queen Carley waved her hand, "Now is not the time to be fighting one another. We all want to strengthen our economies and encourage the trade growth that has helped us all expand and make the lives of our citizens a little easier. Now I support this attack. Clearly your leadership sent you here because they believed we could be stronger together than apart. The time to strike is now."

"We launch our operations within a week," Admiral Korros stated, "and our intelligence services are already sharing as much information as we know about these pirates."

"Dela, from permission of Princess Josephine, stands ready."

"And the Tion Hegemony."

"The Corporate Sector Authority will do our part."

Queen Carley looked at those gathered around her and nodded.

"Then let us step forward together as allies united in our common goal."

Tag: @Trieste; @jcgoble3; @Sinrebirth

 

I LOLed at this exchange. Brilliant.

And good job Carley nipping that in the bud.

 

Erilnar
Centran Banquet

Princess Josephine Daneher of Dela confidently walked into the royal banquet hall and was immediately greeted by the soothing smells of a delicious dinner, the scent of fine wine, and the ever present warmth of the fire burning in the gigantic hearth nearby. She surveyed the crowded room making note of the various Centran nobles who were present. Some she knew and others she didn't. All were deeply engrossed in conversation about the pirate threat, the Centran economy, Hapan relations, and many more topics of the current times.

Princess Josephine made her way toward the Centran bartender who was staying quite busy with the various nobles who came and went looking for refreshment. She received a bow of the head from the bartender, as was required of two people from different stations, and ordered her drink.

"Delan Delight," a woman's voice said next to her, "don't find many of those who enjoy the unique taste out here on Erilnar."

"I'm surprised you even know what that is," Princess Josephine said looking at the woman next to her.

"I am well traveled," the woman replied, "forgive me we haven't been formally introduced. I'm Princess Caiomhe Heraat. The queen's sister."

"Princess Josephine Daneher of Dela," Princess Josephine replied taking Caiomhe's hand gently into her own, "I wasn't aware that the queen had a sister."

"It's not well known," Princess Caiomhe replied, "I was hidden at birth, educated privately, and had an arranged marriage forced upon me for political purposes. Fortunately my husband is deceased. I should be free to do as I please."

"And you're not free?" Princess Josephine asked.

"The queen has a lot of power in my life," Caiomhe replied.

"Meaning you have no claim to the throne but she stills keeps tabs on your whereabouts," Josephine remarked.

"Precisely," Caiomhe replied.

"It seems we share a common fate," Josephine pointed out, "we are two royals with titles of paper and blood. Titles that hold no real power. No real authority."

"Dela listens to you," Caiomhe said, "they hold you in the highest regard. You are their leader."

"Dela has been annexed by the Centrality," Josephine replied downing her drink, "it is hardly an independent state any longer. I am sure my ancestors are rolling in their graves."

"Truth be told the Centrality needs Dela far more than Dela needs the Centrality," Caiomhe remarked, "and besides I think you made the right decision in joining when you did."

Josephine nodded and glanced around the room, "Perhaps. Why don't we take our chat elsewhere. This kind of banquet really isn't my thing."

"Lead the way," Caiomhe replied with a grin.

---

Two Weeks Later
Independent Systems

​

Lieutenant Jordyn Navaro, lead officer of the 62nd Centran fighter squadron known as the Tempests, watched with muted fascination through her cockpit as the pirates swarmed over the convoy quickly disabling the few vessels that put up a fight. The freighters were carrying valuable cargo enroute to Bonadan. Now they were falling prey to the ambitious pirates that were undoubtedly anticipating a mighty haul for their effots.

Jordyn kept her hands resting on the throttle as she checked her sensors to make sure she remained undetected. Every indicator suggested that she was. She glanced upward as utility tugs winked into existence to haul the disabled freighters to their new home in the Iego system which at sublight speed wasn't far away. The nebula she found herself in hid her well. Now as the pirates began to haul their prizes back home she would have to break communication silence on a scrambled channel.

Jordyn opened a channel and with one word transmitted the signal to Centran military headquarters on Erilnar. That signal was in turn routed to the Corporate Sector Authority and the Tion Hegemony. In a few hours, she was absolutely certain, the stars around Iego would burn brightly with the blood of these scum.

She switched over to internal comms as she began to power up her systems.

"Tempest Lead to Tempest squadron, we'll follow them back home at a distance. Then, along with our allies in the Tion Hegemony and the CSA, we will strike. Do not break radio silence. Echelon formation. Cannons set to linked fire. Engines at 2/3 power. Here we go."

Jordyn eased her fighter out of the nebula and grinned.

Let the hunt begin.

Tag: @Trieste; @jcgoble3; @Sinrebirth

 

Space battles are always fun... for the viewer or reader. I look forward to it, the pilots... perhaps fear it, as well they should.

 

Asteroid Field
Iego System

“Break! Break! Break!” Lieutenant Jordyn Navarro barked into her communications unit as she flicked the stick hard to the right.

The pirate base around Iego was better protected than Centran intelligence had first determined. Missiles, locking onto the fighters heat signatures, raced upward from the scaly surface of the asteroids like fingers from a giant hand. The missiles spread as they locked onto individual targets.

“I can’t shak-” a voice cried out and was muted.

Jordyn craned her neck to look behind her. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched a missile lock onto her fighter. She whipped her head around to center and corkscrewed her fighter down toward the largest asteroid as debris from one of her squadron mates splattered all over the cockpit canopy. She wasn’t going to let one of these pirates take her down. Not now, not ever.

She juked, jinked, and guided the missile right into one of the “Uglies” that the pirates were putting out as a sorry excuse for a starfighter. Her adversaries fighter exploded into a thousand pieces of debris as she quick assessed the battle. Finally, the triumvirate of Centran, Tion, and Corporate Sector fighters were turning the tide against the pirates limited resources.

Centran dreadnaughts, aging weapons of war leftover from the Great Centran War, were dealing heavy blows to a couple of missile defense platforms that the pirates had scavenged from the war. The platforms quickly succumbed to the firepower of the frigates neutralizing the missile threat.

“That’s it! We have our window! Tempest squadron, this is Tempest lead, commence your attack on the pirate base, we’ve got them now!” Lieutenant Jordyn Navarro called out as the surviving elements of Tempest Squadron began their attack runs.

Jordyn gripped her stick tightly in her hands. She was laser focused as the pirate base, built into the side of one of the asteroids shot sporadic laser fire up at her. Their attempts to swat down the attacking coalition fighters were half hearted. Almost annoyingly so.

Her targeting computer screamed at her. She quickly unloaded her payload, four rockets, and watched with muted satisfaction as the rockets slammed into the pirate base obliterating their facilities and shutting down their defenses in one quadrant. She barrel rolled upward and away from the carnage below as the triumvirate frigates closed in around the pirate base swathing the entire facility in blue ion energy.

“Fighters, maintain cover, allow the transports a chance to go forward and capture the base,” Admiral Korros’ voice called out from the Centran flagship.

“Tempest Squadron,” Jordynn called out, “disengage and form a perimeter in case they have friends.”

Jordynn watched as the transports landed in the recessed hangar of the pirate base with little resistance. Troops poured out of their landing ramps and disappeared into the facility.

A single radio transmission came across her frequency, “Centran Command we’ve found something. Repeat we’ve found something.”

Tag:
@jcgoble3; @Trieste

 

That was easy. Perhaps too easy?

 

Reading about Uglies took me right back to the Stackpole and Allston novels! That was a fun blast from the past.

 

​

12 Hours Earlier
Iego System

“Put your hands up where we can see them. Nice and slow,” the Centran trooper ordered as he leveled his blaster rifle at the back of an old man who was kneeling before an altar.

The old man finished his prayer and opened his eyes. He slowly raised his hands and turned to face his captors. His eyes glinted with a knowing look as the Centran troopers rushed to bind his hands together. He did not put up a fight. He didn’t even grunt as the Centran troopers shoved him hard in the direction of their transport.

He had never expected the pirate base to hold out against the combined forces of the Centrality, Tion Hegemony, and Corporate Sector Authority as long as it had. Those who had appointed him as their leader had all died doing their utmost duty to the cause. Now he was alone with his thoughts and his prayers. Thoughts that turned to anticipation, eagerness, even acceptance of his current fate.

In fact, if anyone noticed at all, he gave a barely imperceptible smile as he knew he was heading back home for the first time in years.

---

Erilnar
Throne Room
Current Time

“State your name,” Queen Carley Heraat demanded as she sat on her throne looking down upon the disheveled figure before her.

“Alistare Cunaar,” the old man replied with a grin, “your late husband’s father.”

Queen Carley felt her blood run cold. She knew this man. Of course he looked different than the last time she had seen him. Alistare Cunaar had fought fiercely for the Western Centrality in the final months of the Great Centran War. He had led the resistance on Erilnar that had stymied the occupying Eastern Centrality forces. For six months his band of partisans had resisted the crown before the Eastern Centrality brutally put down the insurgents at the behest of their queen. Cunaar was never captured although his band of insurgents had been obliterated.

“I broke you,” Queen Carley sneered.

“You did no such thing,” Alistare Cunaar replied with a smirk, “and now I have come home.”

“Your band of pirates is gone, your base is destroyed, and you will face a traitor’s death,” Queen Carley stated.

“Once again you killed your own citizens,” Alistare replied, “and I can’t wait to see what the interplanetary press thinks of your little actions beyond the borders of the Centrality. I’m sure once word of this little attack gets out you’ll have a great deal to answer for at your next meeting of the D13.”

“Those that served under you were not my citizens,” Queen Carley reminded Alistare Cunaar, “they were traitors. As for the D13 I will tell them what they need to hear and nothing more.”

“Nevertheless you have the blood of Western Centrans who fled your coup on your hands. Everything about your reign is wrong. Your rise to power. Your illegitimate claim to the throne,” Alistare replied with a grin.

“It was you who led the pirates action against the crown,” Queen Carley reminded, “and it shall be you who pay the ultimate price. When I am through with you no one shall remember your name. Who you were. What you stood for."

“Your confidence and arrogance are precisely what shall be your undoing,” Alistare grunted, “and when this day is out the galaxy will remember my name. Not yours. I promise you that much."

---

The Royal Quarters

Princess Caiomhe’s Private Room

Princess Caiomhe lingered in bed as Princess Josephine’s naked form emerged from the disheveled sheets. Josephine looked back at Caiomhe and smiled gently placing a hand on the other’s cheek.

“Where are you running off to?” Caiomhe whispered.

“You should get some rest,” Josephine suggested.

“You think you broke me,” Caiomhe replied, “but I can endure so much more.”

“I’m sure you can,” Josephine replied as she began to get dressed, “but we’ll have to find out another day. Besides, I have business on Dela that requires my attention. It’s not easy running a planet much less an entire kingdom.”

“You ever get a break?” Caiomhe asked.

“Never,” Josephine replied as she finished getting dressed. She leaned over and kissed Caimohe on the lips. The kiss lingered.

“When will I see you again?” Caiomhe said.

“How does three days from now sound to you?” Josephine asked.

“Sounds absolutely perfect,” Caiomhe replied, “except next time I get to be the one who plays the damsel in distress.”

“You got it,” Josephine said with a smile, “until next time. Oh and tell no one of this.”

“My thoughts precisely,” Caiomhe replied, “mum’s the word.”

---

The Quarters of the Royal Guard

Centurion Aiden Khairn put on his uniform as he had done these many years. The routine was automatic like so much of his early morning ritual. Today was no different than any other day. He was assigned, actually chosen, to serve as the queen’s personal bodyguard.

He would have done his duty without the queen even asking.His loyalty and service knew no bounds. He had fought alongside the queen during the Great Centran War and kept her safe from the numerous assassination plots that had attmpted to take her life. Her survival, her well being, was his top priority.

As Centurion Khairn made his way down the hallway he received salutes from the other guards who stepped out of his way to let him pass. He gave each one of them a quick, curt, nod in turn and entered the throne room through a secret side door behind the chair.

Entered into a conversation with a rebellious Western Centran traitor that immediately caught his attention. He inched closer to the queen as the conversation between monarch and subject grew heated.

---

The Queen’s Personal Chambers

“Where are you?” Jack called out in a playful voice.

Four year old Shay Heraat, heir to the throne, giggled from his hiding place behind the floor to ceiling curtains. His little feet stuck out from beneath the curtains giving away his position to his attentive father.

“Where could Shay be?” Jack called out again as he wandered about the royal chambers pretending not to know where his son was hiding.

“Dada,” Shay giggled and then fell quiet.

“What was that?” Jack asked.

“Dada,” Shay repeated.

Jack whipped around and playfully explored the curtains. He knew Shay hated to be found so early in the game. Hide and seek, after all, needed to be drawn out and extended. To have suspense. To not be over too soon.

Jack navigated the curtains and then pulled the last layer of cloth from in front his face. His eyes settled on his son who squealed at being discovered. Jack gently picked Shay up and spun him all around as Shay laughed some more at having been discovered so quickly by his father.

“Again!” Shay demanded.

“Ok, last game,” Jack replied, “then I need to work.”

Jack gently set Shay down.

“No peeking,” Shay said.

“Gotcha,” Jack replied as he turned his back to Shay and began to count to ten.

Jack heard his son’s feet slapping on the cold stone floors of the Heraat castle. He took a peek to check the direction that his son ran off to and frowned. His son was headed for the throne room. He knew that Carley had an important meeting with someone this morning. He couldn’t remember exactly who with but it wouldn’t do to have their son interrupt.

“Shay?” Jack called out as he quickened his pace.

“Shay!” Jack said raising his voice.

Jack saw the door to the throne room swing open and he burst through. He gave Queen Carley an apologetic look as she was clearly in a heated negotiation with a disheveled looking man who had started to unbutton his shirt.

Jack lunged and scooped up Shay who let out a shriek of joy. He shot an apologetic look to Carley but his eyes remained fixated on the disheveled figure in front of him.

---

Throne Room

“I say again,” Queen Carley stated ignoring her son and husband bursting into the throne room, “you shall know the full weight of your crimes soon enough. To encourage the few holdouts of the Western Centrality to rise against my rule was a serious mistake.”

“The only mistake made today,” Alistare replied as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his bare chest, “is your security team failing to search me properly. Apparently peace time has made them rather lax.”

Queen Carley tilted her head as her eyes examined Alistare’s chest. Something was off. Something didn’t feel right.

“What do you mean?” Queen Carley asked as she saw out of her peripheral vision Centurion Aiden Khairn edge closer to the traitor.

“I mean-” Alistare paused as he looked over at Jack Vehn and Shay Heraat, “what a pleasure it is to have your family here to see the end of your dynasty, Queen Carley Heraat.”

“To threaten the queen is an immediate death sentence,” Centurion Aiden Khairn warned drawing his blaster pistol.

“Soon we shall all be dead,” Alistare replied.

“I don’t see how that’s possible,” Queen Carley said, “I have more weapons trained on you than you could possibly imagine.”

“And I have a bomb implanted into my chest,” Alistare replied, ‘several thermal detonators to be precise. They’ve already been activated. You only have a few seconds of life remaining to you, Your Majesty. Use them well. Long live the Western Centrality! Long live democracy!”

Queen Carley’s face flashed to shock and then anguish as she looked over at Jack and Shay. They were so vulnerable. So exposed. She didn’t see Centurion Khairn lunge to tackle Alistare Cunaar as he closed his eyes.

The room erupted in a blinding flash of light and sound.

Then nothing...

Tag: @jcgoble3; @Trieste; @Sinrebirth

 

I do love a good montage of characters that builds to a climax!

 

Yep, too easy as I suspected. To paraphrase the immortal words of Admiral Ackbar, it was a trap.

The question now is whether Khairn succeeded. He's dead no matter what, but did he save the queen and her family in the process?

 

Erilnar

Princess Caiomhe Heraat had fallen back asleep after her lover, Princess Josephine, had left her chambers. She jerked awake as the very foundation of her room shook. Dust and bits of rock fell from the ceiling. Startled, Caiomhe frantically slipped on a makeshift pair of clothes and was about to head for her door when it burst open revealing the queen’s guards. A pair of them rushed toward her and began to subdue her.

“Get off me!” Caiomhe cried out, “You have no authority to hold me down. I have done nothing wrong.”

“We know you haven’t,” Lady Catriona Khomri said matter of factly entering the room, “but the queen has just been attacked. A suicide bomber. For your safety we’re moving you to a safe house deep in the capital.”

“Is my sister alive?” Caiomhe inquired.

“We’re still gathering the details,” Catriona explained as Caiomhe was led into a nearby armored speeder, “but it doesn’t look promising. The queen is badly injured.”

“Who is next in line to the throne if she is to fall?” Caiomhe asked.

“Her husband, Jack, and her son, Shay, but they were in the room as well when the bomber detonated himself. We’re trying to ascertain their health, their status, as we speak,” Catriona briskly said as she entered the speeder and tapped the roof.

The speeder rapidly merged into Centran traffic, zipping in and out of lanes, taking random turns and frequently stopping, all in the effort to throw off any potential tail. Finally, at long last, the speeder pulled up to a Centran safe house deep in the downtown district of Erilnar. Well away from the castle. Well away from anything that might strike at the young princess and her security escort. The young royal was ushered into the safe house and told to stay away from the windows for fear of a sniper or follow up attack.

“Answer my question,” Princess Caiomhe insisted as she looked Lady Catriona Khomri directly in the eyes, “who is next in line for the throne?”

“Regina and Rebecca, the queen’s daughters,” Lady Khomri replied, “but in the interim the next in line would be you, I’m afraid.”

“Me,” Princess Caiomhe gasped as she clutched her stomach. Her nerves were an absolute wreck. This wasn’t the way things were supposed to be. Her sister was supposed to live. Supposed to fight hard. Supposed to carry the Heraat banner into the future for many years to come. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was all wrong.

“You must look to the future, your highness, and prepare for the possibility that our great queen, our great leader, may not live to see tomorrow,” Lady Catriona Khomri advised.

“I’m not ready for this,” Princess Caiomhe spit out feeling sick.

“Neither was our great queen,” Lady Khomri pointed out, “and now the Centrality may be sent back into the dark ages without her leadership. Prepare yourself.”

Princess Caiomhe shot a glance toward the door. She wanted to run. She wanted to flee. She wanted to avoid all this. She had never wanted power. She’d never wanted the throne. Now it was there, before her, like the gaping jaws of some hideous creature. Jaws that were open wide to devour her in one foul gulp.

“I shall do my best,” Princess Caiomhe replied though it was becoming nearly impossible to quell her nerves.

Tag: @jcgoble3; @Trieste; @Sinrebirth

 

Well, "badly injured" is not "dead". But it can lead to being dead.

Carley is still the Queen... for now.

 

​

Erilnar

Queen Carley Heraat awoke from her surgically induced sleep in a tremendous amount of pain. She groaned as she shifted in the hospital bed and felt as if she’d been thrown from ten stories onto a hard durracrete floor. She began to recall what had happened. There’d been her meeting with the Western Centran terrorist Alistare Cunaar. Then the meeting got heated. She remembered Jack and Shay bursting into her throne room. Centurion Khairn lunging forward to tackle Alistare. Then a flash.

“Your Majesty,” Doctor Anna Kataar, the queen’s personal physician, stated, “can you hear me?”

“I can, Doctor,” Queen Carley replied, “why is the room so dark? Turn on the lights. Where is my husband? My son? Are they safe?”

There was a heavy pause. A deep breath. An inhalation.

“The lights are on, Your Majesty,” Doctor Kataar replied, “I-“

Queen Carley brought a trembling hand up to her face. She brushed her fingers across her eyes. Desperate to see a shadow. A blur. Motion. Anything.

“No,” Carley moaned, “no. This can’t be happening. No…”

“I did everything within my power to fix your vision. Consulted with some of the best doctors in the galaxy,” Doctor Anna Kataar stated, “and all of them agreed that the damage from the bomb blast, your proximity to the flash, destroyed your eyes beyond repair. Even if I were able to grow you artificial eyes your body would inevitably reject them. Some things cannot be fixed, I’m afraid.”

“Where is my husband? Where is my son?” Carley asked again.

“They perished in the bombing,” Doctor Kataar finally replied after a long pause, “I am so sorry, Your Majesty. So very sorry. Centurion Khairn shielded you from the blast as best he could. You would have died had he not been there to protect you. He, too, lost his life.”

Queen Carley let out a shriek of anguish. She curled her fists into rage as she cried out in grief. She felt her soul shatter inside her into a thousand pieces. Fragments flying in every direction. The tears she expected to feel in upon her face, stinging her eyes, salting her lips, never came. The ducts, like her vision, had been destroyed.

“My baby,” Queen Carley moaned, “my baby boy…”

Doctor Anna Kataar looked at a few of the queen’s handmaidens who had attended to their monarch night and day. She was an excellent physician but was untrained in a quality bedside manner. She’d been a war surgeon during the Great Centran War. Had stood beside many a dying man and woman’s side. Never once had she expected to do the same for her sovereign.

“Gather the Centran Assembly,” Queen Carley insisted, “I must tell the people, I must tell them I am alive.There must be a plan forward. I cannot be seen as being weak. Not now. Not ever.”

“Your Majesty,” Doctor Kataar protested, “are you sure? Now may not be the best time. You’ve only just awaken-“

“Gather the Centran Assembly now!” Queen Carley screamed.

---

Erilnar
Centran Assembly
Three Hours Later

Queen Carley Heraat, wearing her finest black dress, struggled forward to the center of the dais escorted by her sister Princess Caiomhe Heraat. Caiomhe gently guided Carley’s hands onto the podium and gave a squeeze of reassurance as she stepped aside to hear the queen’s speech.

“Citizens of the Centrality,” Queen Carley stated to an absolutely packed assembly, “it is with great sadness that we must declare that our son, Shay, heir to the throne of Erilnar and our husband, Jack Vehn, have been killed as the direct result of a heinous terrorist attack against our person.”

Whispers and murmurs of concern flew throughout the chamber. Holocameras flitted here and there recording every angle, every word, every moment, and sending it on to larger networks for galactic distribution.

“This attack has taken our sight from us permanently,” Queen Carley announced, “but we swear to all present and all who are listening that the galaxy shall remember this day as the day that we never lost sight of our need for vengeance. That we stood with great resolve in the face of terrorism and wanton violence. For those left alive who perpetrated this attack listen well. Your days are numbered as are the days of all who aided them in this heinous attack on our sovereignty. We are coming for you. We shall not cease hunting you down until all those who openly support these terrorists are hanging from the city streets of Erilnar.”

“We may be wounded, we may be irreparably heartbroken, we may have suffered egregious losses to those we dearly love, but our resolve to root out the last elements of resistance against our reign, our crown, has never been stronger,” Queen Carley said.

“The days of clemency, mercy, and forgiveness are over,” Queen Carley added, “now come the days of judgement and justice.”

Thunderous applause broke out in the chamber.

“Long live the Queen!” The chamber shouted in unison.

“The Queen!”

“The Queen!”

---

Druckenwell

“This could be bad for business,” Gryffyn Karr stated as he glanced over at Eleanor Vehn. The pair had founded a new venture together in the wake of Master Tel Adain’s death and the discovery that he had liquidated Karr Pharmaceuticals and founded Vehn Industries which had been short lived.

“I made a vow to not interfere,” Eleanor replied as she watched Queen Carley leave the Centran Assembly under heavy armed escort.

“Isn’t this likely to lead to another war? I know quite a few people who do not openly support the monarchy in the Centrality. They still feel they were robbed of their rightful destiny to choose a democratically elected government in the months following the conclusion of the war,” Gryffyn pointed out.

“It won’t lead to another war,” Eleanor replied, “Queen Carley has made sure of that with her absolutist policies over the years. No, the Centran Assembly, despite having political parties and varying points of view, will tow the line behind the monarch. They will not rise against her. They have too much to lose if they did. Having said that there is resistance to her rule. Resistance that will die with a swift stroke. This will change the Centrality for generations. Today is a dark day for those who seek a more liberalization of her realm.”

“To have that kind of power,” Gryffyn whistled, “I could only dream of what I could accomplish.”

“It’s a heavy burden. One not undertaken easily,” Eleanor replied, “and Queen Carley shoulders that burden remarkably well. The burdens she carries now, I’m afraid, are not just physical. They’re emotional. Those can be the worst. The most damning.”

---

Tesserone
Roon

“I’m afraid this isn’t going to end well,” Austin Vehn remarked as he shut off the Holonet, “the Centrality has a particularly bloody history of dealing with traitors.”

“Just be thankful we live here,” Addison remarked.

“I wish it were that simple,” Austin replied, “the Centrans are going to enter some very difficult times. I still have friends there that I keep in touch with. People I helped during their war. People that relied on the Jedi when times were hard.”

“You’re not thinking of going back to Erilnar are you?” Addison asked.

Austin looked over at his desk. He had once kept his lightsaber in a drawer there. He had turned his back on his previous life. The days of peaceful intervention, guarding the light and truth and justice were long over.

“No,” Austin said hesitantly, “course not.”

---

Dela

Princess Josephine Daneher wrapped a shawl around her shoulders a little tighter. Her eyes cast out toward the distant horizon where storm clouds were gathering for yet another spring rain. She shivered slightly as she had just wrapped up watching Queen Carley’s address on the Holonet.

The address reeked of tyranny. Absolutism. The overstepping of power and the refusal to yield to any other way but that of Queen Carley. All this felt so familiar to the young princess. So familiar.

Princess Josephine rifled through her drawers until she found a letter from her grandfather, King Renard, to the ruler of the Centrality at the time. Written during the early days of Delan neutrality. The letter was a plea for clemency. A plea to respect the neutral status of Dela after Dela had harbored the losing side in a Centran internal conflict. There had been a twelve step plan outlined by both governments. War had been averted between Dela and the Centrality.

“That means,” Princess Josephine whispered to nothing and no one, “there is still hope. Hope for us all…”

Tag: @jcgoble3; @Trieste; @Sinrebirth

 

Well, justice is blind, so... (too soon?)

 

Never too soon. The thought had occurred to me!

 

Would it be in poor taste for me to share this response?

 

​

Erilnar
The Funeral
The Great Rotunda

Queen Carley Heraat, escorted by her sister Princess Caiomhe Heraat, made her way cautiously down the central aisle way of the great rotunda of Erilnar dedicated to ancient royals and important figures of Centran government.

All who attended, from heads of state to representatives of galactic government, wore black and bowed with deep respect and sorrow toward the wounded queen who had permanently lost her eyesight. Heavily armored guards flanked the aisle way in which the queen walked. Fighter escorts screamed overhead in a missing man formation before peeling away to patrol the perimeter of Erilnar’s atmosphere.

No one was taking security lightly after the bombing. The entire approach to the capital was under an heavy armed presence and numerous checkpoints throughout the city heavily monitored traffic and conducted thorough searches. Anyone or anything remotely questionable was immediately detained and interrogated.

The bodies of Jack Vehn and Shay Heraat had been treated respectfully, wrapped in fine cloth, and lay atop large funeral pyre made of dried wood and sticks tied together. Their physical corpses were largely intact thanks to the sacrifice of Centurion Aiden Khairn who was represented by an empty pyre a few feet away.

“We are here, sister,” Princess Caiomhe whispered and gently squeezed Carley’s hand to let her know she was on her own atop the dais that had been erected for the occasion.

Queen Carley turned to face the assembled crowd knowing she was facing the correct direction by the sounds that reached her ears. The sounds of whispers. The sounds of doubters. The sounds of friend and foe alike.

“Greetings, all,” Queen Carley said, “it is with a heavy heart that we meet today to witness the immolation of Jack Vehn, my husband, and Shay Heraat, my heir. Their spirits have already journeyed to the afterlife but their bodies shall turn to ash and become one with the sky as per Centran custom. We stand before you a changed woman. A widow. A mother who knows what no mother should ever have to know.”

“Jack Vehn was a husband worth admiring and respecting. A man who knew what he wanted and usually got that. A man who stood up for the beliefs of his family while charting his own course. A man who was no stranger to death himself having lived through the death of his father, Liam, and his mother, Kaitlyn. When we first met in the independent systems years ago there was an instant connection. An unexplainable bond. He was our right hand in so many ways. His guidance, his wisdom, his passion for life, shall be greatly missed. We shall not be the same without him.”

“As for our heir, Shay, a boy of six years. We have no words to describe our love for him. A bright boy. Inquisitive, smart, and full of life that was taken too soon from him. He was the light of our life. The light of our day. The hope for a future without war and death..” Queen Carley’s lip trembled. She could barely keep it together, “my heir. Blood of my blood. Bone of my bone.”

“Lastly before we light this pyre and say goodbye to the ones we held dear remember that we loved once, mighty and deep. Remember that in the days and weeks to come. We loved very deeply,” Queen Carley said as she was guided to hold the torch by which she would ignite the funeral pyre.

Queen Carley felt her sister, Caiomhe’s, hands upon her own as the pair started to ignite the pyre. Carley felt grief roll over her body as she heard the flames crackle and snap indicating that the fire was growing and consuming all that lay within reach. She wanted to cry out but was unable. Her tear ducts no longer worked. She was a damaged woman. A shell of her former self in many ways.

Only the darkness of her new condition greeted her. The darkness and the grief that transformed into unquenchable anger at those who had carried out these attacks. She curled her hands into fists as she felt the heat of the flames splash across her skin.

“Are you well, Your Majesty?” Princess Caiomhe asked.

“I am sick with rage, sister,” Queen Carley replied.

“Then you shall be relieved to know that we have a list of those who aided the terrorist Alistare Cunaar,” Princess Caiomhe replied with a wry grin.

“I want them executed,” Queen Carley hissed, “and not in the usual manner. It is time for the ancient ways to return.”

“You’re bringing back the long death?” Princess Caiomhe replied eyes widening.

“I’m bringing back justice,” Queen Carley replied, “see to it that those who are apprehended get the punishment they so justly deserve.”

“As you wish,” Princess Caiomhe replied as she held her sister’s hand tight inside her own.

Queen Carley didn’t flinch as the heat from the flames grew to unbearable levels. In so many ways the heat mirrored the fires burning within her very soul.

The fires of retribution.

Tag: @Trieste; @jcgoble3

 

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I see what is going on here: blood will have blood.

Also, her tear ducts no longer work? That's very interesting. I never considered that possibility.

 

Erilnar
Secure Transmission

"This will give us audio only?" Sierra asked one of her secretaries.

"As requested."

Sierra nodded and turned her attention to the long-range comm on her desk. It would bootstrap on the secure holo channels that she usually used for secure conferencing with other heads of state. For this conversation she didn't need to see the other party.

Or rather, the other party had no need to see her.

"You are connected."

"Queen Carley, my deepest condolences. When I heard, I grieved not for the Centrality, but for you."

Queen Carley heard the audio loud and clear. She gave a slight tilt of her head as the distortion of sending a signal across so many parsecs reached her newfound senses.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Queen Carley replied, “we are all grieving here. The loss of my husband, my heir, it is all too much at times. I find that it comes in waves. Slowly eroding what is left of my heart as if I were the cliff facing a sea of storms.

“I take it you are not calling me to just send your condolences,” Queen Carley said, “but perhaps to guide my hand in how I handle what little remains of those who oppose my reign?”

It was not a question but a statement of fact.

“There are few beings who understand our positions. Perhaps none but those who actually hold it," Sierra said, sidestepping the question even as she confirmed it. "We are raised above our nations, entrusted to guide them alone. One action on our darkest day can count for more than everything else we do to set the course of our star systems.

"I worry that you face such a moment with the Centrality, that what you do now, in your justified pain, will determine the character of your reign and beyond."

Queen Carley paused and considered Sierra’s words. She knew that the Hapan response would be swift and severe were the roles reversed. It was a response she had publicly avowed. Could she walk back her comments now?

“Every second I delay my response those who would challenge my rule are gathering strength. Tell me, honestly, must I endure more pain before the end? What would you have me do? I am well aware that I must not derail the Centrality’s liberalization and yet my reign has never felt more insecure and vulnerable. These beasts attacked my family. My husband. My son!”

"I live with the same threats to my life, to my family's lives. I won't pretend that the Consortium cannot be brutal in its rules of succession," Sierra admitted. "We live with this instability for all we project we do not. As long as we hold power, so much concentrated power compared to our peers, there will always be beings who covet our positions for themselves and will plot by whatever means necessary to topple us. Former queen mothers do not live long.

"Carley, I'm not here to tell you not to protect your family. Maker knows I've done what's been required to protect mine." Even on a secure call to another queen, Sierra would never speak aloud what she'd done to her mother in-law, Irsine Chume, or talk of how she'd claim power in those critical hours following Irsine's death. "But I didn't compromise the integrity of the Consortium to do it.

"I agree, justice must be done. Your citizens must see it being done. But make it real justice, not the illusion of one done in haste. This is the greatest flaw of our systems: we must be rulers and we must be mothers and wives. When our hearts are broken in the latter roles, we must remember our responsibilities as queens. Please," Sierra pleaded, "don't act summarily now and ignore the established processes that the Centrality expects. As insecure things seem now, they will be far more so if you impose justice without mercy."

“I do not have the luxury of falling upon thousands of years of continuous monarchy,” Queen Carley, “my reign was forged in the fires of a horrific war. A war that saw unspeakable atrocities committed by both sides against the other. Fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, wives, mothers, all were caught up in a horrible conflict that had no end in sight.

“I ended the war,” Queen Carley reminded her Hapan counterpart, “by killing my adversary from the Western Centrality with my own weapon in the heat of the battle for Erilnar. That wretch’s death broke the back of the opposition and cemented my rights to rule all of Centran space. Was it justice? Was it revenge? I don’t really care. The end result justified the means. The war ended.”

Queen Carley was shaking with anger. It was good that Sierra couldn’t see her now.

“As we speak my security forces are rounding up known perpetrators, known supporters, of this terrorist Alistare Cunaar. When the night is over the streets of the Centrality’s major cities will run with the blood of that family. Whether or not they are are all guilty or innocent bothers me very little. Their line ends.

“Let it be known by the galaxy that from this day forward the meddling and interfering in Centran politics ends. I have made it my life’s purpose to push away those outside powers that would interfere with our internal affairs. The blood of millions of lives lost during the Great Centran War is on the hands of the great powers. All of them. Whether its the Roon Federation, the Corporate Sector Authority, the Republic, or dare I even suggest the Hapes Consortium, any interference is looked upon as an attack upon our state. I hope I make myself perfectly clear.”

Sierra was quiet for a moment. She bowed her head as Carley made her steely determination known. "Quite clear, your majesty. I only fear that you will push away the rest of the galaxy all too well." She did not say what she really feared: that Carley's problems would only multiply if she saw this course through to the end. That she would inspire exactly what she sought to prevent, reaping more than what she had sown. And when that blowback came, Carley would stand truly alone. But Carley would not hear that now. "I remain committed to the current sphere of influence of the Consortium. We shall continue to have no part of the Centrality's affairs."

The queen mother hesitated. She didn't know if she should say what was on her mind. But she'd come too far not to. "I hope this goes the way you want it to, Carley," Sierra said, even though she knew what it meant. The deaths of hundreds, of thousands, for political differences.

She could say that the Consortium did not do such things. But her predecessors had all too often. Their portraits still hung somewhere in the palace. Those queen mothers had been great and terrible. Some of them had not lived much beyond their acts of consolidation. Their legacy lived on in the implicit thread of blood sport that wove through Hapan politics.

"You and I will always be feared by virtue of the throne," Sierra finished, "but I don't wonder if it's better we be loved in greater portion."

Queen Carley felt her anger slip through her fingers, out of her grasp, into the ether of all that was. She wanted to continue feeling angry. The grief inside her was strong. Very strong.

It was all she could do to say one final word in parting.

“I shall take your words under consideration,” Queen Carley said, “if only because I must somehow find a way to look forward and not send my people back into the dark ages of what came before.”

Makerspeed, Carley," Sierra closed before the connection ended. She pressed her hands together in a steeple and placed them in front of her face, as if in prayer. She'd made her play to steer Carley away from what Sierra believed would be disaster. But only Carley could chart that course.

Such were the burdens of the crown.

Tag: @jcgoble3; @Trieste; @Sinrebirth (Many thanks to Trieste for a fantastic joint post!)

 

Few understand a queen like another queen. Sierra is right, but will Carley listen?

 

Nime, Roon
Cafe Equality

“I see this is where all the ex presidents of the Roon Federation hang out,” Liberty Karr stated with a grin.

“Certainly their security details,” Eleanor Vehn replied waving a hand about the cafe as the protective security detail of both former presidents swamped the room.

“Hard to get a private word in these days,” Liberty observed.

“I hardly know the term,” Eleanor admitted.

“Your message sounded urgent. What’s up?” Liberty asked.

“The Centrality,” Eleanor replied, “no doubt you heard the news.”

“I did,” Liberty said, “damn shame. All of it. Threatens the entire stability of Queen Carley’s reign.”

“I was at the funeral,” Eleanor said, “and I can tell you now that Queen Carley is on the warpath. She can’t be swayed. The loss of her husband, her son, its all too fresh. Too real.”

“Can you blame her?” Liberty asked.

“No,” Eleanor admitted, “and I’m hardly one to cast judgement on what exactly comes of all this. I know if I were in her shoes the response would be equally swift and punishing.”

“But?” Liberty questioned. She knew her friend Eleanor well enough to know when something else was on her mind.

“I think we need to consider offering permanent asylum to some of Queen Carley’s enemies. At least the ones we know are her political opponents.” Eleanor suggested.

“You can’t be serious!” Liberty cursed nearly spitting out her drink.

“I am,” Eleanor replied, “dead serious. The Centrality cannot fall back into a factional war. If Queen Carley pushes hard against those she sees as enemies it will send the wrong message. We need to extradite them to Federation space.”

“What you are suggesting violates Federation foreign policy seven ways to Taungsday!” Liberty protested, “Besides Queen Carley has made it perfectly clear that any intervention by foreign powers would be tantamount to war.”

Eleanor placed a hand on Liberty’s and leaned forward. “Are you going to help me or should I look somewhere else?”

“Why? Why does it matter to you so much?” Liberty questioned.

“Because a Vehn was killed,” Eleanor said, “and not just any Vehn. His name was Jack Vehn. He was my cousin. He was the last link in a branch of the family that burned out spectacularly. His father, Liam, led an invasion force of Druckenwell soldiers against me in the late 270s sparking a civil war. My own mother and uncle had to put an end to him. Then his mother Kaitlyn being assassinated a few years earlier. It was just a terrible story any way you sliced it and Jack was the one who made it out alive. He did something different with his life.

“Jack helped the Trianii return home with the Trianii Homeland Project. He then worked hard to mend ties with Centran factions following unification. He followed that up with peace treaties with the Corporate Sector Authority, Tion Hegemony, and the Hutts. I might not have liked the results of those agreements but Jack Vehn was hardly one to wage unnecessary conflict.”

Liberty sighed. “How many people?”

“Ten, maybe twenty,” Eleanor replied.

“Off the books?”

“Always.”

“New identities?” Liberty asked.

“The works,” Eleanor explained, “we owe them that much.”

“One last question,” Liberty said.

“Fire away,” Eleanor replied.

“Can Queen Carley reach us out here?” Liberty asked fear slipping into her question.

Eleanor smiled and replied, “She can try.”

Tag: @jcgoble3; @Trieste; @Sinrebirth

 

I fear they will not like Carley's response.

 

Only if they get caught. My Scarlet Pimpernel senses are tingling.

 

​

Erilnar
White Palace

“The list of conspirators,” Lady Catriona Khomri calmly stated as she slid a data pad over to Princess Caiomhe Heraat for review.

“Many Centran nobles are on this list,” Caiomhe realized, “too many.”

“The queen is demanding their blood run through the streets of Erilnar,” Lady Khomri said.

“Such blood letting would be a serious mistake,” Princess Josephine of Dela stated, “and could turn the Centrality back toward factional war. The queen must be careful in her retribution.”

“I speak for the queen in this matte-“ Lady Catriona Khomri began to say but was interrupted by the arrival of Queen Carley Heraat.

“Hold your tongue!” Queen Carley hissed, “You speak for none other than yourself. I will decide who lives and who dies, not you, do you understand?”

“Your Majesty,” Princess Josephine and Princess Caiomhe said simultaneously as they lowered themselves to the ground.

“Rise,” Queen Carley stated to the room.

“Lady Khomri,” Queen Carley began, “we have reviewed your list. We find it horrifying that so many Centran nobles have chosen to support a terrorist. The list seems rather long. We find it equally surprising that a great many of these nobles fought against our forces during the Great Centran War. That by itself is hardly a condemnation. We have come too far to hold old grudges now. Those on the list are questionable targets at best.”

“Your Majesty,” Lady Khomri quietly replied, “I’m not sure I follow your meaning.”

“Do you?” Queen Carley challenged, “We did further research into the names on this supposed list. The names of these supposed conspirators. We discovered that they are all political enemies of the Khomri family. Our intelligence gatherers began to do some more investigating. What they discovered was particularly horrifying. Particularly damning if one were to remain close to our crown.”

Princess Josephine and Princess Caiomhe looked at one another.

“Whatever you have found I swear to you-“ Lady Catrioma Khomri began to reply but was cut off by a slice of Carley’s hand through the air.

“We have found,” Queen Carley paused, “that you personally financed the attack against our person. Against our family. You activated Alistare Cunaar in a bid to topple our reign. That is high treason. Have you anything to say for yourself?”

Lady Catriona Khomri shook her head and began to back away from the queen. She was quietly surrounded by two of the queen’s guard who placed firm hands on her body to prevent her from leaving. Fear gave way to anger. A deep, resentful, anger.

“My family gave everything to you, Your Majesty. Long have we been your servants. Especially in war. And then you go and make a deal with Hapes. You go and find peace with the Roon Federation and the Corporate Sector Authority. You liberalize your regime so that your legacy is secure. Gradually you forgot about the rest of us. The backs you broke to climb to the highest position in the realm. You forgot how you ascended to the throne,” Lady Catriona Khomri replied in an acidic tone.

“We never forgot about the long and arduous road to the top,” Queen Carley replied, “and we can still name all those who died who served in our personal honor guard during the war. Those brave men and women who stood by me while we personally killed the Western Centran governor of Erilnar. Can you do the same? Can you name all your losses? Do you see their faces before you close your eyes for sleep every night? We may have lost our vision, our sight, but we have not lost our purpose. Never once have we ever made a decision that would hurt the Centrality in any meaningful manner.

“You killed the Centrality the day you joined the D13,” Lady Catriona Khomri snarled.

“No,” Queen Carley replied, “we saved the Centrality that day in ways you cannot even possibly imagine. Guards, take this traitor away. Give her a trial if you must but send her to the block.”

Lady Catriona Khomri resisted and began to shout as the guards subdued her.

“Oh, Lady Khomri,” Queen Carley said, “we’re coming for your daughter next. Leeya is guilty by association if nothing else.”

“No,” Lady Catriona’s eyes widened, “you wouldn’t dare.”

“Just like my son was taken from me. So shall your daughter be taken from you,” Queen Carley sneered as she jerked her head for the guards to haul her away.

---

Tund

Leeya Khomri yawned and finished writing her report for the next meeting of the Centran Assembly. The Tund Worker’s Party was particular engaged with the idea of helping the former veterans of the Tund legions find gainful employment. The entire idea had been bogged down with some very choice words from her opposition and she was determined to see to it that the veterans got what they so justly deserved.

It was night on Tund when a knock on her door reverberated.

“Who is it?” Leeya casually called out.

The door burst open and operatives dressed in black fatigues swooped around Leeya and hauled her out of her house. She screamed at first as she was thrown into a waiting speeder which zoomed away at a rapid pace.

“What are you doing with me?” Leeya protested.

“Saving your life,” one of the operatives replied.

Tag: @Trieste; @jcgoble3