Whom Gods Shall Fear, Part One: Book Five of the epic military science fiction series. by R. Curtis Venture

Author:R. Curtis Venture [Venture, R. Curtis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: R. Curtis Venture
Published: 2023-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

12

THE PATH IS LAID

Eilentes sat with Bruiser in Caden’s office compartment, preparing to witness what she could only imagine would turn out to be the most difficult holo-call of the Shard’s career.

After Hekekia’s conference and its frankly seditious outcomes she had walked away from the wardroom in something of a daze, and presumed that many of the others had as well.

It was real. It was happening. They were disobeying orders, and breaking away from the chain of command. The sensations running through her body had been strange, as though her nervous system was sending mild warning signals continuously. Like the others Eilentes had known for a while that this moment might come, and she was on the whole in favour of it, but it still felt like she was walking on air. The world did not seem altogether real any more.

She had had almost an hour to get used to the idea by the time Caden finished his private conversation with Admiral Betombe. Whatever they had been discussing it had taken them a while to get through it.

Caden had caught up with her in the mess, where she had been talking with Feior, Straeger, and Bruiser, and he had requested that she and Bruiser accompany him for an important assignment.

And so here they were, watching and listening quietly. At some point down the line, she knew, perhaps in some sombre court room, her recollection of the coming conversation might well form part of someone’s idea of key evidence.

“Many days have passed since last we spoke, Shard Caden.”

Her Most Radiant Majesty Ecoria Faustrathes Maerane shimmered in the air between Caden and Eilentes. Eilentes and Bruiser saw the reverse image, hidden as they were on the far side of the office holo-sensors.

“I have been as you have willed, Majesty. A shard in the mind of your enemies.”

“It is our great fortune to have your allegiance.”

“No, Majesty. It is my great fortune to give it.”

“I have reviewed your deliberations on the nature of Voice,” said the empress. “It makes for some very troubling reading, to say the least.”

“The very least,” said Caden. “Do you find it compelling?”

“I do. Compelling, but also saddening. At last we know the secret of the Shaeld Hratha, and now I almost wish we didn't. For this knowledge brings with it a terrible dilemma. Do we sacrifice our own worlds to preserve Shaeld culture, or commit genocide against them to save ourselves?”

“Genocide would be, I hope, only an option of last resort, Majesty.”

“We are fast approaching last resorts,” she said. “We may soon be forced to choose ourselves over them.”

Caden’s eyes pierced the hologram, and Eilentes thought he might actually be looking through it, directly at her. She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head slightly, trying to indicate she too thought ‘last resorts’ was more than a little premature.

“That’s not necessarily the case,” said Caden. “Various possibilities exist. The biggest issue we have right now is the inflexibility of Fleet Command in approaching this unconventional problem. They’re remaining staunchly formulaic, which is exactly what they should be avoiding.

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