The Uprising by L J Suarez

Author:L J Suarez [Suarez, L J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2020-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Empyreum had been placed on its highest alert.

The Capital hadn’t seen this level of emergency in over two millennia. To the masses, Empyreum security was simply running a series of training exercises to test the readiness of its troops that would go on for the next several days. But to those such as Ionne, they were preparing for an impending attack by the humans. She had learned that the task force sent to retrieve the Jafner survivors from the human settlement had ended badly. Though they were successful in extracting the survivors, they had failed to do so without triggering a violent retaliation from the settlers. Lives were lost unnecessarily during an engagement, including Constable Rylan’s. It was uncertain if there were any human casualties, though the guards had been instructed to use nonlethal force if the need arose.

Despite the Inner Council and Empyreum security’s confidence they could handle any potential threat that the more primitive humans might present, their sheer size was what alarmed them the most. The security detail led by Rylan had reported seeing tens of thousands of settlers when they arrived at the site. There was no way of knowing for certain how many of them were armed, and adding the fact that they possessed an EMP device capable of momentarily disabling one of their airships, this made the Council uneasy. There was still the fact that Ionne hadn’t been able to contact Aaron since returning from the Gray Zone border. Ionne blocked from her mind her foremost fear that something terrible had happened to him.

At Empyreum’s security central, where the Jafner passengers were detained for questioning as well as to treat any potential injuries, Ionne had her own questions for the returned survivors. As she entered the plain white room, the survivors were all seated in various chairs extended outward from the wall with a guard seated across from them. The guard had a digital pad levitating over his opened hands, making notes and recording everything the survivors were saying. The survivors’ clothing looked somewhat unkempt, and their collective faces were a combination of sadness and exhaustion, but overall appeared to be in good health.

They all turned to Ionne as she neared them, and the guard stood at attention. “Councilor Ionne. We are honored by your presence.”

“Thank you,” Ionne said.

“Is there something you require?”

“I would like to have a word with these people, if I may?”

“Well, I am in the middle of gathering their statements of everything that had transpired while in the Gray Zone.”

Ionne put on her best polite smile. “It will only take a moment, I assure you. The Inner Council is awaiting my own full report on this matter, and they are expecting it immediately.”

The guard hesitated, but seemed to understand the urgency. “If the Inner Council wishes it, very well.”

Ionne bowed. “Thank you. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.”

The guard returned the bow. “Of course, Councilor.” He turned and exited the room.

Adjusting her Science Institute jumpsuit, Ionne turned to the survivors. “I am most pleased you are all well and have returned safely to us.

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