Chapter 18
“You traitorous bitch!” Webster bellowed, slamming his hand against the table. Even Rowe, typically unfazed by events around him, raised an eyebrow at her revelation of communicating with Baron Caledon.
Miranda Atkinson sat at the table unworried and serene, her cold mask back in place, concealing her emotions. From across the table, Webster was getting out of his seat, his intent to leave the secure room obvious, when she stopped him with a single sentence.
“You’re going to want to hear what I have to say, Max.” She stated, her piercing blue eyes pinning the older man in place.
“You’ve met with the Baron. Did you discuss the terms of our submission?” Rowe asked, his agile mind already connecting the pieces.
Miranda’s continued presence here after her admission, rather than fleeing or being accompanied by Caledonian House Guards, likely meant the Baron had a proposition to convey to the Triumvirate, and Miranda was his intermediary.
“Why would we even listen to anything she has to say? She’s already sold us out and-” Webster shouted before being cut off.
“Max! Sit down and listen. Don’t be a fool.” Rowe cut in, uncharacteristically raising his voice. Seeing they were both heeding her words, Miranda explained her conversation with Kalen Caledon.
“He arrived at my office before the Governor’s speech began. Alone, without a guard or escort-” Miranda’s explanation was interrupted by Webster.
“Wait, he’s here, in Trier? Alone?” Webster asked, his mind whirling as thoughts and plans quickly flickered and flashed through his mind.
Webster needed his accounts unfrozen. His shareholders would riot if he didn’t do something soon. Perhaps he could see Kalen separately and cut a deal of his own, one with more favourable conditions if he agreed to work against the others.
“Yes. The Baron is downstairs as we speak.” Miranda explained, gesturing to the door.
Rowe unconsciously looked to the exit. He had to admit that he was impressed with the Baron’s boldness. He came to the tiger’s den without an escort or army at his back to negotiate with them.
“What does he want?” Rowe asked, tearing his eyes away from the doorway and back to Miranda.
“I would suspect the same thing he wanted with me. A peaceful transition of Trier from our control to his. There were also several stipulations you may find onerous, but I believe they are necessary for the continued existence of our organizations in Trier and the Barony.” Miranda continued.
“What ‘stipulations’?” Webster prompted, not liking the sound of that word.
“He will discuss that with you both. I’ve assured the Baron his safety while in Trier, and you may hear him out. After, the decision is yours whether you accept his offer or not.” Miranda said.
She took a deep breath and stood from her chair as she saw no argument from her counterparts about the Baron’s presence. She straightened her clothing before moving towards the door. Miranda waited a moment for Rowe and Webster to settle again before opening the locked door and speaking quietly to the Atkinson Micromotors Security Forces stationed there.
In only a moment, a tall man was moving through the doorway, flanked by a pair of Miranda’s guards in jet-black Powered Exosuits. Kalen Caledon wore a perfectly pressed and brand new black and red uniform and perfectly styled hair.
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Handsome and towering, he had a commanding presence, instantly controlling the room as he stepped inside. Kal waited a moment for Miranda’s greeting bow and a gesture for him to enter and sit at the table.
Rowe and Webster both stood immediately, the former giving an elegant bow of his own while the latter gave a jerky nod in welcome.
Sitting at the triangular table, the tabletop before him showed the logo of Atkinson Micromotors, a gear surrounding the simple, stylized font of the name. Kal nodded to the others to sit, waving away the guards. At a curt nod from Miranda, the Exosuit-clad soldiers left them alone, relocking the door.
Walking behind the Baron, she stood beside his chair while the others sat down, waiting for him to speak.
“Gentlemen, I am Kalen Caledon, Baron of Caledon,” Kal began, his tone curt but not impolite.
“I am not one for pleasantries and banality while my people suffer. So I will be straight and to the point with you. I have frozen your accounts and retracted your right to lawfully conduct business on Caledon.
“You have polluted our planet, oppressed my people and flaunted your disregard for the Empire’s laws. You will submit yourselves, and your organizations, to my judgement.” Kal said, looking slowly from one man to the other.
“Outrageous! We have been in business on Caledon for over three hundred years! I will take this to the Imperial Court, Baron. You cannot disregard the law simply because you were absent for five centuries.” Webster said, standing up and jabbing a finger at Kal.
“That is, of course, your right. You may petition the Emperor, and he may rebuke me or potentially remove me from my position as Baron for my actions today. But it is far more likely that he will agree with my behaviour. The Emperor abhors those who treat others poorly and seek profit over the lives under their care.
“And remember, the wheels of bureaucracy move incredibly slow. It may be years before you stand before our Lord Emperor, hat in hand, begging for a redress of your grievances, while I will have secured my hold over Trier and spent all of your hard-earned assets in improving the lives of Caledon’s citizens.” Kal threatened, a sly grin breaking across his face.
“What is your proposal, Lord Baron?” Rowe asked, looking from Kal to the quiet Miranda standing slightly behind and to the side of her former chair.
“I grant you the same offer as I did to Ms. Atkinson. In exchange for an admission of guilt by the Triumvirate and the corporations of Trier they represent, I will not hold you personally liable for the actions of the corporations under your management.” Kal began.
“That sounds too good to be true. Milord.” Webster added the honorific belatedly.
“There will be fines. Substantial enough to repair the damage you have done to Caledon’s environment and the workforce you have oppressed and exploited. Reparations will be made to Trier’s citizens. Furthermore, you will be stripped of any governmental powers you currently hold. I rule Caledon, and Trier will be governed by those I trust to act for the public good.
“Finally, you will follow Imperial Law. From this point forward, I will not tolerate lawlessness on Caledon. Examples will be made, as Ellis Morrow can personally attest.” Kal finished, waiting for their response.
“Morrow?” Rowe asked, curious. The news reported the siege of New Antioch, but it only started a few hours ago.
“He is in custody and will stand trial, as will everyone who ‘enjoyed’ the services of his so-called ‘Free City.’” Kal explained, causing Webster to blanch. The man had been a frequent customer of New Antioch.
“If we refuse?” Rowe asked, looking at Miranda and Webster. Their reactions didn’t escape his eyes. He could already see the acceptance on Atkinson Micromotors CEO’s face, while Webster looked to be contemplating outright war to avoid his fate.
“You and any executives of your corporations will be labelled fugitives of the law and treated as such. Your accounts, business and personal, have all been frozen. I have also taken control of all Starships currently in orbit. Unless you have another way out of the Caledonian System, I suggest you take my offer.” Kal stated, snuffing out any remaining flames of defiance in the Triumvirate.
“I accept your offer, Milord.” Miranda said immediately. She had already agreed to Kal’s terms during their first meeting, but he had refused to accept her plea of guilt until the Triumvirate gathered.
Kal nodded at her words, turning to look at the handsome, blond-haired man from Eclipse Dynamics.
“I agree as well. We will submit to your authority, Milord.” Rowed said, standing from his chair and giving another elegant bow, fist over heart. Kal turned to the last holdout, the older gentleman from Select Energy.
“I want your word that I won’t see a day of stasis. I’ll pay your fines. Just don’t let me be imprisoned.” Webster begged, firmly remaining in his seat until he saw Kal’s nod. Once he did, he stood and bowed as well.
“In that case, I accept your offer.”
With that, Trier fell to Kalen Caledon without firing a single shot. Soon, troops of the House Guard marched through its streets while Mechs patrolled the City’s perimeter. Seeing that their days of suffering were over, the workers cheered as they saw them.