President Armistee Devonis shut down her comm unit and stood up with a sigh. She was coming to the end of her fourth and, she hoped last, term as president of her home world. Fed up with the constant lobbying of the planets government and consequent battles with both sector and galactic councils, she just wanted some peace for a while. Looking around the spacious office, it doubled as a cabinet meeting room, she ran her eyes over the few items of local significance placed in various parts of the room. None were now of any interest to her and she turned to the youthful male aide.
“My ride is ready?”
“Yes, Madam President.” He answered.
“And my husband?” Armistee enquired.
“On his way back from checking mining operations in the asteroid belt, Madam …”
“If you say President one more time, I will send you out to check rocks yourself!”
“Yes ma’am.” Having heard such threats before, the aide was not intimidated. “Mr. Devonis should be landing shortly. Within the period.”
“Send him a comm please. Tell him I am on my way.” With that, the outgoing President of Copus Minor left her office after another days work.
*********
Copus Minor was a standard sized planet in the rather small Twenty Star Galaxy. It was one of only a small number of planets so far identified in this galaxy as being suitable for the dominant humanoid population of the Empire and had in the last two hundred years become a self-governing planet, one not governed directly by the empire. Its capital, Connies Reach was located just inland of an arm of the sea, called simply the Central Sea. It was a pleasant city with just over a hundred thousand population. Several more cities of similar size were scattered across the planet along with many smaller communities. The interplay between these competing townships was another thorn in the side of any president.
While most galaxies held between three hundred to a thousand such planets, Twenty Star galaxy had identified and populated just ninety up till now. The theory was that the galaxy had suffered from interference from passing galaxies and had much of its gas and dust stolen while barely retaining its own integrity. While some other planets had been identified as suitable for humanoid occupation, these would need terra forming. More could be elsewhere in the galaxy but a detailed survey was needed. One was planned but was not due to take place for many years, and other galaxies were also on the list.
Driving herself to the spaceport, Armistee disdained the use of a driver, she considered herself fortunate as she was due to retire in just two months and the next president was to take over all the problems that had been hers. While these were few, the space based mining operations provided steady income for everyone, including the planets coffers, relations between Copus Minor and the sector council and galactic council were difficult. In such a small galaxy, avenues of revenue were slimmer than in other galaxies resulting in constant calls for a larger share of revenues for the sector and galactic councils. While Armistee had stoutly opposed the pressure and hoped that the new president would continue to resist the calls for a greater share by the higher councils, she had her doubts.
Parking her ground car, she walked to the arrivals building which, on this planet, was one of stark functionality. Wearing a conservative dark brown, two piece trouser suit woven out of a synthetic material she attracted some attention especially as she was a tall, good looking woman with brown hair, hazel eyes and in any case, was well known to all the planets citizens. As she walked, she gave nods of acknowledgement to all who greeted her. Expecting no difficulty, she was surprised by a local policeman stopping her and demanding her identification as she went to enter the terminal.
“Sorry Madam President, but there has been an alert issued.” The somewhat abashed officer said.
“That’s alright officer,” Devonis even managed a smile, “It’s your duty.”
Entering the spaceport, she studied the arrivals board noting that her husband’s shuttle was shown as being close to arrival on its assigned landing pad. What was disconcerting was that the board also showed that an imperial task force had come out of hyper and was fast approaching the planet. None had been expected, the President would have known, so such an unannounced arrival was a matter for concern.
Frowning as she pulled out her comm while taking a seat in the waiting area, Armistee called the Minister for Transportation.
“Ivac, what going on?”
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“Good question Armistee, I have asked for an explanation. As soon as I have one, I will comm you.”
“Do that please, Ivac, they should be in orbit in under half a period. No comm lag then.” Shutting her comm off the President tried to relax in the seat she had appropriated. While she could have used her authority to meet her husband’s craft when it landed, such an action was against her nature. A few fractions later a stocky man with a big smile on his pleasant face, partly covered by a neatly timed beard, walked through the automatic doors.
“Darling, oops sorry, I mean Madam President!” The joke was sincere but still grated on Armistee Devonis nerves, however she dug up a smile and kissed her husband on his cheek.
“Ingre, I am glad that you are back and safe. Tell me how the operations in the belt are progressing?” Looking anxiously at her husband she continued, “You will be able to stay here or just in the operations center in close orbit as the operation has now reached a mature stage?” Mining operations anywhere are dangerous. In space, the vacuum and absence of gravity just added another layer of complexity.
“Operations are fine. Don’t worry, we have an excellent team and I just need to monitor them.” Ingre reassured his wife. “I don’t even need to put on a space suit, except for the safety rules when I am observing.” Recovering his travelling bag, they left the terminal.
A look that most husbands understand crossed Armistee’s face, the one that appears when a wife knows that she is being told what she is supposed to hear and accept. Arriving at her ground car she was surprised to see two patrolman standing there. At the same time her comm pinged.
As she pulled out her comm, the two patrolman stepped forward, both clearly from a heavy gravity planet, the use of such patrolmen was not unusual for a developing frontier world. Before they could speak, Armistee raised her hand, stopping them. The call was from the Minister for Transportation and he spoke before she could.
“Madam President, you must return to the offices, we have a visitor.”
Taking a deep breath, Armistee spoke as calmly as possible. “Have you heard from the legion forces, Ivac?”
“Yes, it is Detachment T. Rear Admiral Traska is on his way down.”
Armistee frowned, she had heard of this force, there had been considerable speculation as to why it had not gone to the Kingdom with the rest of the fleet, and now it had dropped in on her planet without explanation. This was not good. “I see, did he say what he was doing here?”
“No, but there is someone else. You must come at once!”
“I don’t see why, just handle it and let me know what the problem is.”
“Madam President I sent an escort, they will bring you here.” She stared at the two patrolman.
“At least tell me who is there!” She wanted to prepare. Her husband was standing close by with a look of puzzlement on his face. Copus Minor was out of the mainstream in many ways but he also had heard of the fleet unit known as Detachment T. He had noted the arrival of the empires vessels but had ignored it otherwise. Obviously there was more here than he realised.
“I cannot, but it is important.” Ivac replied.
“Very well. I will drive myself, there is no need to allocate scarce resources to me!” Accepting the inevitable did not mean that she had to give in altogether. With a stab of her finger, she shut her comm unit off.
“Sorry darling, but you will get a side trip to the office with me.” She turned to the two patrolmen. “Thank you for your services, but you may return to your duties.”
The senior patrolman’s reply surprised them both, “Madam, we have been ordered to escort you safely, that is what we’ll will do.” The patrolman had a surprisingly high pitched voice for such a large man.
He turned and nodded. The second patrolman had opened the rear door of the ground vehicle and motioned over the President. “Please ma’am we need to hurry.”
A demand to know why was ignored and the husband and wife duo were urged into their vehicle. With a flashing escort provided by the patrols vehicle, and with the second patrolman driving, the President and her husband were soon at the presidential offices, a modest building on the edge of the main business core.
Fuming, Armistee opened the door of the ground car and stormed into the presidential offices. Following rather more sedately, Ingre noted the two troopers in armour guarding the imperial shuttle siting on what was usually a parking spot. Seeing two more circling above the city brought further disquiet. As he entered the building, it was clear that there was considerable angst amongst the staff and his identification was carefully checked, which was unusual.
Throwing open the door to her office, Armistee took three steps in then came to a sudden stop. Two strange imperial officers were standing in front of her desk while Ivac Stanstore, the Minister for Transportation was standing beside them along with a scared looking President elect. Other ministers were standing close, but not too close to the desk.
“What’s going on?” passed her lips unbidden, as the group parted revealing a man dressed in dark clothes standing behind her desk, hands thrust in his pockets.
“Wonderful, the President has arrived,” The Dark Lord smiled, “I will speak with her now, in private.”