Chapter 15

“Good Morning, my fellow Caledonians.” Governor Sylla began, looking over the assembled reporters whose Ocular Implants were recording and transmitting her speech across the planet. For many, this was the first time they had heard her speak.

The Governor rarely had anything to say to the public. There was no need to communicate besides the occasional memo or notice. Her government was ineffectual and poor, and the planet was lawless.

“Ten millennia ago, our people crossed the vastness of space looking for a new home. A place that could shelter and protect them, where they could raise their families in peace and security. After years of crossing the void between stars, they found Caledon.

“Over time, we grew strong and prosperous, and when the first Emperor united our galaxy under his benevolent rule, our planet was granted a Ducal title and the right to self-govern. Regardless of the instabilities afflicting the rest of the Empire, Caledon was a beacon of peace, the Jewel of Humanity.

“Five hundred years ago, Duke Emerick rose in rebellion against our Emperor, plunging us into war and chaos that cost him his life. His son, Kalen Caledon, surrendered, travelling to Terra to beg the Emperor for mercy. Not for himself but for his people. He succeeded, our citizens were spared, but he was sentenced to five hundred years of imprisonment in stasis.” Sylla paused, gathering herself for the next part of her speech.

“Kalen Caledon, Baron of Caledon, has returned.” She stated. The reporters shifted in their seats, eager to ask questions but knowing that the Governor had more to say.

“The Baron is dismayed at the state of our planet and has delivered our government a mandate. We are to return Caledon to its former glory. To do so, he has granted me the resources and means of restoring order and law to our Barony. As of this moment, Martial law is declared on Caledon. Citizens are forbidden from leaving their homes after dark, and-”

Sylla’s speech was cut off as Ellis Morrow threw the datapad against the wall of his office. Even the sturdy piece of technology couldn’t withstand the force, and it shattered, pieces of plastic and glass falling to his carpeted floor.

“Son of a bitch!” He screamed.

Morrow knew this wouldn’t be good news. He felt like a rat in a cage, scratching at the walls. There was only one way out of this situation. He would need to kill the Governor and capture this Kalen Caledon. He'd build an army with his current security forces and considerable wealth.

A Baron as a puppet could be helpful. He could expand his operations across the planet, branching out his ventures. With a feral grin twisting his handsome, unnaturally youthful face, he was about to call out for his assistant when the man came rushing into his office.

“Mr. Morrow! Our security forces are assembling throughout the city, but I couldn’t send any of our funds off-world. The Imperial Bank has frozen all our accounts, even your private assets.” Morrow’s assistant explained, an anxious look on his face.

“God damn it!” Morrow cursed, slamming his clenched fist against the blackwood table. He trusted his security forces to be able to overwhelm the few estate guards the Baron had remaining, but freezing his accounts meant Sylla was prepared for him.

The Governor knew his response to her speech would be violent, and she wouldn’t count on just her handful of guards to secure the planet. She must have help, off-world support that could overthrow his hold on New Antioch.

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Morrow needed funds for mercenaries to support his troops and bribes to keep Sylla from getting Imperial help or, worse, turning some of his rivals against him. He gestured impatiently for his assistant’s Datapad.

Confused, it took the man a moment to understand. As he passed the new Datapad to his boss, he recognized the shattered remnants of his old one on the ground by the far wall.

Ellis Morrow angrily connected the device to the Imperial Net and waited for the recipient to answer.

Merrick Tan’s face hovered above the blackwood desk, the display emitter showing his handsome visage and greasy smile. The Banker looked exhausted and overworked. His ordinarily perfect suit and hair were slightly untidy, as if he had been at work for too many hours, forgoing a change of clothes or his hygiene.

“Ellis Morrow. How may I assist you?” Tan said, his exhaustion fading as he smirked at the person on the other end of the Holocall.

“Cut the shit, Tan. Why are my accounts frozen!?” Morrow hissed out, his hands gripping the desk’s edge as he leaned forward aggressively. He wanted nothing more than to rip that smug look off the Banker’s face, but unfortunately, Morrow needed him.

“Regrettably, Baron Caledon has ordered that every account of a suspected less-than-legitimate income stream be frozen until they undergo a thorough review. All your accounts were on the list provided to me by Governor Sylla.” Tan said, shrugging his shoulder and placing a hand against his cheek as he reclined back into his chair.

“Well, unfreeze them, you little shit!” Morrow shouted.

“The Imperial Bank is at the Emperor’s service. As the Emperor’s chosen representative on Caledon, we must obey the Baron’s request.” Tan replied, enjoying the image of Ellis Morrow’s face turning beet red.

After Tan met with the Baron, he appreciated being on the winning side again. The experience of being squeezed dry by Kalen Caledon had left him traumatized for days.

“Don’t forget what I have on you, Tan. How would your superiors react to learning about your little ‘escapades’ here in New Antioch? Release my funds, or I distribute the holos.” Morrow threatened, using his trump card.

Merrick Tan was a man who enjoyed the liberty the Free City provided to its utmost. Drugs, alcohol, women, the Banker would spend weeks in a state of near bliss, his every whim catered to. Morrow had ensured that every moment was captured and recorded for a time like this.

“Release it.” Tan said, shrugging disinterestedly.

He would likely lose his job. The Imperial Bank was aware of the rumours of his activities but chose to ignore them in favour of the profits he brought in. But having it thrown in their face, on the Net for everyone to see, they would be forced to act.

Still, Tan would sooner be fired from the Imperial Bank than face the Baron’s wrath. He could find a new job, but Kalen Caledon would take his life. His crimes in New Antioch were relatively minor, a few years in stasis at the maximum. It wasn’t worth risking the Baron’s ire to avoid such a modest punishment.

“I’m not negotiating with you, Tan. Unfreeze my accounts, or everything I have on you will get uploaded to the Net.” Morrow repeated, shocked at the Banker’s uncaring attitude.

“And I’m telling you, release it,” Tan reiterated. He stopped slouching. Instead, he leaned forward, his expression becoming serious.

“Let me give you some advice, Mr. Morrow. Don’t worry, it’s free,” Tan stated, forestalling Morrow’s objection.

“Leave Caledon as soon as you possibly can. Take some of your more valuable items, that desk, the artwork and treasures you have hidden in some vault, and flee. I’m sure you have a private Starship waiting in orbit to take you anywhere in the galaxy. I suggest you make use of it,”

“Because you can do nothing to make me betray the Baron. Whatever terror you inspire in others, whatever blackmail you have, whatever bribes you can scrounge together without your accounts, it’s irrelevant.

“Kalen Caledon is an unstoppable force whose entire purpose in life is to restore what he lost, and you’re an obstacle in his path. You will be caught on the wrong side of history, Mr. Morrow.” Tan said.

Tan’s words were shocking enough to drive all other emotions from Morrow’s mind. The Banker severed the connection as soon as he was finished speaking, not giving Morrow a chance to respond.

For the first time in centuries, Ellis Morrow was left stunned. His rage and his frustrations were gone. In its place was a numbness.

The worst part was that his instincts agreed with the Banker's words. The evidence was right in front of him.

The Imperial Bank’s cooperation, the Governor’s sudden declaration, and finally, the fire trails in the sky above New Antioch as Mech drop pods and troop transports left orbit and raced towards the surface.

Ellis Morrow could see the end approaching from his window, the imminent destruction of everything he had spent centuries building.

Perhaps it would be wise for him to follow Merrick Tan’s advice.