Chapter 159: [ Book 2 ] Chapter 19: Asset Activation

The morning sun peeked through the arched windows of the Royal dining hall. Golden beams cut across the thick slice of jangawood that formed the rectangular dining table. Imperatrix Rragustus sat alone at one end in a high-backed chair carved of the same. He eyed the plates of fruit, vegetables, and meats sitting untouched on the stained auburn surface. All of it harvested from the estate.

He sipped from his steaming mug of tea, its warmth doing little to soothe the unease fomenting in his gut. His first meal of the day had always been his favorite, but now it filled him with dread. Tyrcellus fast devolved into more and more chaos as the charter vote neared. The political establishment had ground to a halt as regents and ministers could discuss nothing else. Outside interests—traders and intersystem corporations—voiced their displeasure at the strife as it cut into their bottom line. Crime had skyrocketed against vocal supporters of both sides. Now, Acculturation openly staged events and rallies around the system, pressuring regents to hear their voices and vote for the charter.

But the stakes had risen to another level that morning with the assassination of a minor regent. She served one of the smaller regions with no real political clout. To the public, she was a neutral party, but in private, she fanned the flames of Acculturation. The killing wasn't at Rragustus's orders, but he'd still bare the blame for it. Especially since the deputy who took the regent's place was a devout and vocal Preservationist.

Rragustus wondered if Tryssnym could’ve been behind the act, though it didn't fit his style. A dead body couldn't be influenced, bribed, or coerced. He’d heard rumors of Regent Anncellis’s ruthlessness, but the strategic value of eliminating a supporter—even if they were a critic—didn’t add up.

But it was none of these items that had robbed the Imperatrix of his appetite. That dubious honor belonged to the item at the very bottom of the briefing, added last-minute by Ghadrenis; the entanglement of Sisters Celecis with Acculturation.

The Imperatrix stood and approached one of the oversized windows. The exquisite Royal grounds stretched out before him; statues and monuments cut long shadows in the morning light. Fountains and streams glistened in the sun. Lush gardens as far as the eye could see. Very few experienced the privilege of walking the historic terrain, where great Imperatrixes of the past roamed during their reign. Leaders who led the Pree people to their place among the stars today.

Rragustus knew how he would earn his statue; by elevating the Pree beyond their homeworld with their culture intact. The empire that came to dominate Preemona would exert its control over the system, then expand from there, the Commonwealth be damned. Through the will of the ministers and the Imperatrix, the Pree dictated their own future, not some bureaucratic medley of other races.

A knock sounded on the hall door.

“Come,” Rragustus said, not bothering to turn around. He knew who it was.

Ghadrenis entered, a guard closing the door behind him. “Imperatrix, you must eat. One cannot lead on an empty stomach. And I already know what you’re thinking. No, I am not your birther, but she is no longer with us. Therefore, it is now my duty to nag you.”

"I'm not in the mood for your banter, Ghadrenis. A regent was killed. Project Fidelity is in distress. On top of another rogue activation, the liaison and his operatives failed. The stolen material is still out there. I don’t like loose ends.”

The chief aide came to Rragustus’s side. Ghadrenis lifted a piece of fruit from the table. "The reality of the Imperatrix is that you move from one crisis to the next. If you cannot learn to enjoy a bit of levity in the face of that stark reality, then you best prepare for a life of misery."

Rragustus sighed, plucked a bite-sized fruit from the assortment, and popped it into his mouth. "This is the best crop we've had in years," he admitted, as he bit into the sweet flesh.

"See? Not all is lost. Yes, we had another rogue activation. It's an unfortunate byproduct of what we're attempting to do. As for the missing material, our team has a lead and is headed to Aurora station. In my opinion, the greater concern is the revelation that Sisters Celescia are Acculturation agents."

Rragustus stood and began to pace the room. The rise of Sisters Celescia echoed that of Lady Starlight, bursting onto the cultural scene and capturing the hearts of vast segments of the Pree people. The troupe's blatant anti-Theocracy content was disturbing enough. But their active participation in Acculturation made them a legitimate threat. “The team proposed extracting the troupe from the station with the help of a project asset. I wonder, do we send security forces to arrest them instead?"

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The chief aide considered the question. "Not yet. Let our team take care of it outside official channels. Drawing attention to the singers may alert Acculturation of their importance. And even if Acculturation obtained the material, they don't have the equipment to derive its function."

"I'm hesitant to deploy assets before the vote."

"Aurora is an independent operation but its admins hold sway with the Commonwealth. We must tread carefully there. We cannot make afford to make Sisters Celescia martyrs. The backlash would be severe. If activating an asset is the only way to capture the troupe, then I'm all for it."

"Give them permission to proceed."

"Yes, Imperatrix," Ghadrenis said. "It was fortunate that your conversation with Lady Starlight went well. Has there been any developments there?"

"I'm working on it. We are scheduled to speak today."

"To think someone would have to make time for their Imperatrix," Ghadrenis said, shaking his head. "Speaking of meetings, the Commonwealth ambassador continues to request an audience with you."

Rragustus scoffed. The pestering woman hadn’t given up her attempts to sway his opinion of the charter. She was tenacious, he had to admit. But once the charter was nullified, the ambassador would be shipped out on the first transport heading for the channel.

"Tell her we'll speak when her fleet arrives in orbit."

"As you wish. I implore you to rethink your appetite, Imperatrix. We have a long day ahead of us. You will need your strength."

"I will,"  the Imperatrix said. "Now, I'd like to enjoy the last few solitary moments of my day."

Ghadrenis nodded and left the dining hall. Rragustus examined the food spread on the beautiful work of art that was the table. He lifted a baked pastry filled with a fruit spread to his plate when a priority notification came through. Minster Tryssnym requesting a personal council.

The Imperatrix frowned at the pastry on his plate.

Another problem had arisen to squash his appetite.

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