The Line of the Sol Empress

Chapter 26.1

"Dad? Celeste?" A voice came over the com.

Celeste covered her mouth to suppress a giggle while Moon groaned. He said, "What is it, Gabriel?"

Gabriel's voice took a serious tone, unusual for him. "Well... You really need to see this."

After throwing on some clothes and smoothing her tangled hair as best she could with fingers, Celeste walked with Moon onto the bridge. Gabriel, sitting in the captain's chair flanked by Hope and Eshe, swung around. "This just came in. It is a video statement from the Consortium about the events at Elysium by the Chairman himself."

Diego! Celeste clenched her hands into fists and she struggled to contain an erupting rage.

Gabriel turned back around. "Play it, Sai."

The video began on the forward display panel. Because of the enormous distance, shimmers and white streaks distorted the long-range com picture, but it was clear enough. Gideon Diego, wearing a tailored black suit and blue band-collared shirt, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. To his side and just behind stood the Prime Minister, Wyatt Wilkes, half a head taller than Diego. Further behind stood the Empress Pro Tempore, Ali Zahara, wearing the traditional white gown and headgear of her office. In the background, the golden surfaces of the rounded Parliament building gleamed in the triple suns Aquirii.

Celeste seethed. These are the two most corrupt men in the Commonwealth and their puppet of an Empress. The muscles in her neck tightened, and her mouth drew down into a frown. Moon rubbed her upper back in gentle circles. With a deep breath, she put an arm around her fiancé and mentally prepared herself for the statement.

"Good people of the Commonwealth," Diego began, looking directly into the camera as if he was the viewer's most trusted friend. "I have come here to speak truth to recent events in the Outer Colonies."

There will be no truth.

"Even as we grieved for Gwen Graaf, a vicious unprovoked attack occurred against the Trade Consortium facilities on Elysium. The documents smearing the Consortium that the attackers claim to have acquired are fabrications. Be assured, the Trade Consortium would never operate in this manner. I ask your patience while we seek to remove this fake information from the info-web and scan-logs."

Hope turned toward Celeste with a deep frown on her face. Celeste pulled her lips tight and nodded, communicating that she shared the sentiment.

Diego continued, narrowing his eyes slightly. "The Trade Consortium ships were fired upon and wisely retreated to avoid further conflict. While it is true that Elysium has defaulted on development loans, these ships were not an invasion force, rather they came to offer loan restructuring at a loss to the Consortium." He put a hand to his trimmed beard, looking thoughtful. "It is also in our interest that this beautiful world become prosperous. In fact, the prosperity of all the Commonwealth is a Trade Consortium goal."

Gabriel made a gagging expression, sticking a finger into his open mouth. Eshe grinned at the gesture.

Narrowing his eyes further, Diego's voice took an angry edge. "As to the emergence of a so-called Empress heir, this is a total falsehood. Tragically, Empress Iona died by the actions of the terrorist group Free Dawn along with any heirs. That is a well-known fact. Did they think we would fall for such a ruse?" He put up a hand as if to calm an enraged crowd, although none were there.

"A strong Trade Consortium means a strong Commonwealth. We are in this together!" Diego quoted from a recent advertising slogan.

With a nod from Diego, Prime Minister Wyatt Wilkes stepped forward. The gold medallion around his neck, signifying his prominent position, glistened in the sunlight. He cleared his throat and straightened his suit jacket.

"My friends," the Prime Minister said, flashing his wide campaign smile, "No doubt you have also heard of the recent provocative actions by the Confederacy." He raised his voice and glared at the camera. "We will not be intimidated by them, nor by their terrorist wing Free Dawn! They are an illegitimate group seeking to undermine the Commonwealth and our way of life.

"I have ordered deployment of the Invictus Battle Group to protect our fellow citizens in the outer colonies and beyond." He held up his hands. "Now, we do not seek conflict, not at all. But if the Confederacy dares to attack, they will face an overwhelming response!" A reassuring smile came to his face. "I am confident, my friends, that this situation will resolve itself. And soon, the news will again be dominated by the usual celebrity scandals."

The Prime Minister stepped back, grasping Diego's hand and raising it high. For a brief instant, Diego's face flashed annoyance, then quickly replaced with a tight smile framed by his trimmed black beard. To Celeste, it looked sinister.

The Empress Pro Tempore never spoke, instead stood nearly motionless with eyes turned down and hands clasped tightly at her waist. Like she did not want to be there.

The transmission ended.

Moon huffed. "Well, that was... nauseating."

Hope threw her hands up. "Do people really believe this shit?"

"Watch your language, daughter!" Moon drew his eyebrows down.

"Well, it fits!" Hope protested, but then gulped at her father's continued glare. "How about oral excrement? Is that better?"

"That's better." Moon nodded.

Celeste sighed. "Many will believe them. They do not know any different."

Moon continued the thought. "And many depend on the Trade Consortium for their livelihood, all by design. The Consortium squeezed out most of the independent haulers."

Hope dipped her head. "What do we do?"

"The people still thirst for a true Empress," Celeste said. "As the Writings state, counter darkness with light, hate with love--"

"--and lies with truth." Hope completed.

"Yes." Celeste smiled. "I know a popular blogger in the Leonus system who is sympathetic to Free Dawn. Perhaps the Empress should make a surprise appearance."

"Is it safe to do this? Can we trust him?" Eshe asked.

"I have used him in the past as Haven. I trust him."

Moon put a hand to his chin. "The system is not very far away in the outer colonies, and fairly remote. We should be able to get in and out before the Commonwealth battle group arrives. But regardless, there is still a Commonwealth presence in nearby systems. There is a risk." He turned toward his daughter. "What do you think, Hope?"

"It would be another blow to the Consortium." Hope nodded. "Let's do it."