Victors by T. R. Cameron

Author:T. R. Cameron [Cameron, T. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MD Press
Published: 2018-03-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Kraada walked with purpose through the hewn rock of the tunnel that connected the palace and the Planetary Defense Center. Once again, his trusted pair of attendants trailed him, Chanii on his right and Variin on his left, each a half pace behind. With each step, it felt as if he was drawing closer to an inevitable end. The confluences in play at this moment were unprecedented. The result of this war would change the Xroeshyn culture for all time.

He would go down in the annals of the Xroeshyn as the leader who’d delivered them to paradise. He knew it, knew it with every fiber of his being.

They came to the first guard post, and the seneschal led the way. Several overprotective minutes later, they’d reached the primary level of the defense center. He regarded it with new eyes. Uniformed personnel moved throughout the space intent on their tasks, unaware of or unconcerned with any larger issues at play. The perfect cogs in the perfect machine. The frosted windows of the main room in the middle kept it secret, and he always pictured it in his mind as it had been on the day this all began. The day the trespassers invaded the reliquary and destroyed the shrine of Vasoi.

The greatest transgression in history had led to the greatest opportunity in history. Unprecedented moments, indeed.

Kraada followed Chanii into the heart of the center and regarded the hologram hanging over the planning table. The room fell silent, doubtless awaiting his orders. The sight of the defenders circling Xroesha captivated him. Never before, during his time among the elite, anyway, had so much of the fleet been gathered in one place. Historical records suggested that a similar mobilization occurred near the end of the war with the Domeki, but despite the evocative descriptions recorded for posterity, the image was too unreal to resolve in his mind.

The present reality was more rewarding than his imagination could have ever been.

A discrete throat clearing from an officer brought him back to the moment with a frown. “Report,” he said in a level tone.

“All is proceeding according to your plan, Emperor,” replied High Commander Maalis Fadl, his subordinate in charge of the defense of the home system. “Our ships are arriving within acceptable tolerances of their projected times. Upon arrival they’re resupplied, rearmed, and set into position.

“Rearmed with everything?” Kraada interrupted.

The slender woman nodded, the long braid of light blue feathers that ran down over her left shoulder bouncing with the motion. “Yes, Emperor, again according to your orders. We’ve unearthed all the weapons that were used against the Domeki and then set aside.” He heard the confusion in her voice. His own research after replacing Marshal Drovaa revealed internal politicking had been responsible for the loss of these technologies from their working arsenal. He said a small prayer of thanks to the gods for again investing religious, military, and political power in one being, to avoid such nonsense.

“Very good. Continue.”

“The delay provided by the

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