Star Trek Voyager #6: The Murdered Sun by Christie Golden

Author:Christie Golden [Golden, Christie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780743453677
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Published: 2002-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

They had refueled, repaired the Victory, commissioned a second ship, and crewed her with those who, Linneas was convinced, would not falter in the conflict that was to come. In a few hours, they would be ready to depart for the Verunan system.

Garai, for his part, was relieved that he had been promoted to first warrior commander for the new Empirical Exploratory Unit vessel, Destroyer. That meant that he would no longer be Linneas's "trusted first-hand." He would not have to watch Linneas rage at trivialities or punish innocent transgressions with a brutally heavy hand--or be an unwilling party to the lies Linneas was telling their empress.

True, lying to the emperor or empress had been practically tradition for centuries. A few rulers through the ages had been hard, or as Linneas might have put it, "wise," enough to be trusted with the secret--that the great glory of Blessing was obtained only by slave labor and killing a system's sun. But there had not been many. For the most part, the truth behind the harvesting of Blessing remained known only by the military. This fact, this odd tradition, did not make it any easier for Garai.

As Linneas and Garai headed toward their audience with Her Grace, here in the enormous, sprawling white metal palace that was both Akeras's seat of government and royal home, Garai, his commission already in hand, dared speak openly.

"With all honor, First Warrior," he began as they walked down the narrow, echoing corridors of the palace toward the receiving chamber, "I think it is time to tell the government the truth about Blessing--and about the new ship."

Linneas halted in midstride. Mentally, Garai cringed, but physically he did not retreat. Slowly, Linneas turned to Garai, his newly polished helmet gleaming in the harsh, artificial light of the corridor. The light threw the scores in his horns into sharp relief.

"Empress Riva is my kin, Lowborn, not yours," he hissed. "She is hardly of a temperament to handle this knowledge. This information has been kept within the military for centuries now.

Why should we tell her or the government anything? The fewer people involved, the easier it is for us to operate efficiently."

Garai bobbed his horns in acknowledgment of the truthful insult but gathered his courage and continued. "The alien ship Voyager has entered into the scenario. They are players whose participation was never--could never have been--predicted. Do you not think that the government needs the facts--all the facts--in order to determine the proper course of action?"

A low rumble of angry impatience emanated from behind Linneas's mask.

His gloved hands twitched. Garai's mouth went dry.

Should Linneas charge him, Garai would be honor bound, due to his inferior bloodline, to submit without fighting. Dying by Linneas's hands was not something he would relish.

"Since when has the government ever needed the facts?" replied the first warrior. "They stay here and make laws, parcel out goods and food, playact their own little games. It is we who make the important decisions! Every Akerian would

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