Domain at Yaumgan by Blaze Ward

Author:Blaze Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781644703168
Publisher: Knotted Road Press

FORTY

DATE OF THE REPUBLIC AUGUST 16, 412 RAN URUMCHI, KYULLE ORBIT

Phil had drawn Heather back to his office off the flag bridge. Markus had left them coffee and was guarding the door outside like a cave troll or angry dragon.

They were alone.

“You never did answer the original question,” he said, studying one of his best-ever students.

“You are correct,” Heather replied tartly. “I needed to meet the Chevalier first.”

“And?”

“And I can see a way to do it, Phil,” Heather finally said. “It will be hard, painful, and cost a lot of lives if the rest of Zerzan is as hardheaded as she is, but I will accept Yaumgan’s offer to become their dread warlord. For the time being. They will need it, and nobody else is prepared to step into that role. What about you? Are you ready to lead the combined forces of the entire Cluster in some grand fleet event for the ages?”

He grimaced.

“I’m not entirely sure they’ll do it,” he began, only to be shut down by her eruption of laughter.

“Phil, you’ve just spent a year and change bashing heads together to get these people to get over themselves,” she said when she recovered. “You could have easily overthrown everybody but Gloran had you set your mind to it. Literally held it in your hands. You even caused Aditi to have elections centered entirely on governmental corruption.”

“Because I asked?” he replied.

“Because you will ask Morninghawk to raise the banner,” she replied, sobering sharply. “Kohahu calls him the herald of a new era. She’s not limiting herself to only Dalou when she says that. Striker Solo has had painful conversations with his people. Cruiser-Captain Khan has been part of a revolution at Gloran, along with Kira Zaman, based on what he learned from Morninghawk. Even Kaur Singh has managed to get through to the right people, assuming there are any honest folks in that cesspool.”

“Honest enough for my needs today,” he nodded.

About as good as he could get, when the changes Aditi needed would be measured in decades, or perhaps even a few generations.

It was his responsibility to provide them those generations. To hold the wall, as First Lord Kasum had once famously said, against the darkness that sought to overwhelm them all.

He keyed his comm. She was there instantly. Because of course she was.

“Harinder, could you join us?” Phil asked.

“Be right in.”

Phil leaned back and drew a breath, considering the shelf over Heather’s left shoulder. The brass telescope that had been a birthday present from none other than Vo zu Arlo, Imperial Consort and all-around badass.

To see farther than the rest.

That was his charge today. And tomorrow.

All tomorrows.

Harinder came through quickly and he gestured her to the other open chair.

“Heather has agreed to negotiate with Yaumgan about details,” he told her. “I’m not feeling particularly benevolent, so they’ll take what she offers and keep their mouths shut about it if they have any sense at all. I need you to review the message Kohahu drafted and make sure that Legal is on board.

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