Jade Fleet Outpost 7JZ, Jade Zone
DAKU NIGHTWYN STARED at his boots resting on the edge of his desk. He’d finally worn them in and they’d lost that irritating shine that comes with a new pair of boots. There were nicks and scuff marks on the toes, and mud satisfyingly stained them. His eyes drifted to the rest of his desk and the pile of reports that needed reading. They never seemed to end, even at an outpost this small. Semi-buried between the reports was a half-full mug of coffee left over from yesterday, or possibly last week—he couldn’t quite remember. He reached out for the handle; maybe it wouldn’t be so bitter this time.
His office door slid open, providing a welcome distraction and saving his oft-abused tastebuds.
Yan Corth, his executive officer, walked in. Her light grey uniform trimmed in jade green, designating their Jade Fleet association, put his to shame. For starters, she was actually wearing it per regulations, her boots could double as a mirror, and she’d scraped her dark hair into a tight bun to tame the curls. Standing with perfect form, she gave him a precise salute. She knew it’d exasperate him.
“Commander, you’re not going to like this.” She tapped her finger against the screen of her flexi.
“Let me guess, another delay on those supplies?” It couldn’t be anything good, or she’d be calling him Daku. But he held out hope that’d he’d just annoyed her. “They do realise we lost half of our crops in that last storm, right? I know I sent that report through. Don’t tell me I didn’t.”
Yan rolled her eyes, a habit she’d long given up trying to suppress around him. “The status on the supplies hasn’t changed, which you would know if you’d bother to read the reports I compile for you. Sir.” She gave him a pointed look, clearly including the disarray of not only his uniform but his entire office. Her attitude made him feel as if he was the sole cause of the missing supplies. As she opened her mouth to say more, he stopped her and waved her into the chair across from his desk.
“Okay. They’re putting you in charge of uniform inspections for the entire Jade Zone. You’ll go easy on your old buddy” he grinned at her, “am I right?”
However, this time Yan didn’t share in the humour. She stared at him, until with a sigh he straightened, dragging his boots off his desk. If Yan thought the report was a problem, then he’d listen. He relied on her judgment as much as he trusted his own instincts.
“Lieutenant Corth, brief me.” He reached out with his flexi and tapped it on Yan’s, instantly transferring the file. The unmistakable Queen’s Council seal, a circle evenly divided by an onyx triangle into ruby, sapphire, and jade sections, stared back at him. Daku knew she was right; he really wasn’t going to like this.
“Sir, they’re sending a Council Fleet liaison aide here on the next supply freighter to review our operations.”
“What a mouthful for a damn title.” He glared at the offending report like he could make it go away by sheer force of will. “Just more bloated bureaucracy to heap on us. They want to find an excuse to cut our already non-existent resources.” Daku scanned the rest of the message. “Does the Jade Admiral know? This outpost is in his zone. He’s gotta not want this shiny-arsed sand crab around here.”
Yan pointed to the bottom of the message. “His office has already signed off on it. You know Admiral Laxarn won’t dispute this with the Queen’s Council. He campaigned too long to have the Jade Fleet permanently posted out here to risk losing the Council’s support by opposing a random audit.”
Sure enough, Jade Admiral Laxarn had attached his authorisation, along with an order to cooperate fully during the review. Just his luck.
“We're stuck on this outpost. I’m getting a constant headache from dealing with a new mining settlement, and a severe shortage of whatever we seem to need the most.” His eyes shifted agitatedly over the waiting reports. “And now this! Do they even know we’re within spitting distance of the Dark Zone?” He slammed his fist down on the desk and coffee sloshed out from the forgotten mug in his hand, spilling over his desk and dripping onto the floor.
Daku looked morosely down at his boots, indifferent to the stain forming next to them. This visit would be hellish. He couldn’t kiss arse, which was almost certainly why he was stationed at one of the remotest outposts in the Empire. Yan had told him more than once that he needed to play the game, but he’d sooner stay a commander out here for the rest of his career than get into that kind of nightmare. But even he knew when he had to suck it up, at least temporarily. “I’m going to have to polish my boots, aren’t I?”
And he’d only just gotten them perfect.
***
Catera, Rhaslok Prime, Onyx Zone
The roof of the Queen’s Council Chamber curved away high above Kara; years ago, she had memorised the painting of the seven Eternities that graced the ceiling. Her heels tapped rhythmically against the pale marble floor as she crossed the foyer. Her tailored jacket and skirt sat perfectly on her, with not one crease or seam out of place. She blended into the flow of people constantly moving through the area; just one more aide rushing to follow orders.
This route had become a familiar one after ten years spent working for the Council under the Scribe’s command. The first few years had been tedious beyond belief. Monotonously dull, in Tarsk Delkie’s words. But she’d welcomed the steady, even pace, knowing it kept her secrets safe. After her disastrous flight to Mirrow V, Kara knew that Queen Samorn could have demanded that she be sent far away, never to threaten the safety and security of the Rhaslok Empire again. But she’d given her a second chance—well, a third—by that point, and she was content to keep a low profile. After all, that’s what both the Queen and Isra had demanded of her.
Today heralded one more such task. She climbed the flight of stairs to the office of Councillor Methji. She strode straight through the outer office, and after a brisk knock, she entered, not pausing to wait for an acknowledgement. The Ghelpen Councillor sat behind their desk, softly drumming their four hands on the highly polished surface. Methji’s current assistant chased after her to the doorway, spluttering and glaring at Kara’s sudden intrusion.
Kara bore him no heed as she caught the exasperated look Methji shot him. By the time she returned to this office, Methji would most likely have gone through another two assistants.
“You requested to see me, Councillor?” She calmly sat in one of the chairs in front of the Councillor’s desk without waiting for permission; Methji preferred efficiency over obsequiousness. The assistant still stood there, mouth opening and closing.
“Yes, yes. As always, you are prompt. Unlike some others.” Methji looked pointedly at their assistant. “Shut your mouth and sit, before you fall over from oxygen deprivation. Oh, and the file. Now.” They clacked the tiny scales of their fingers together. In a daze, the assistant complied.
Methji nodded at the datafilm, two hands still tapping against the desk. They shot Kara a thoughtful look. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to become my personal assistant? The capital is a wonderful place, you know.”
Kara simply smiled, a bare twitch of her muscles, and waited patiently for the reason she had been called here.
Methji rubbed their lower arms together, scales clicking, before handing Kara the slim datafilm. “Yes, well. You may be right. You have served well as the liaison between the Fleet and me. Who else could I find to replace you?” They shook their antennae at their assistant, and Kara almost felt pity for him. “As I was getting to, we have another mission for you. This time in the Jade Zone. I know you just returned from the Sapphire Zone, but we need to send you out again.” They looked almost apologetic, and Kara noted that Methji’s assistant continued to stare at Kara, almost in awe now.
Not all the Councillors were difficult to deal with. The previous two she had reported to had been quite nice, for bureaucrats. Methji’s reputation most definitely preceded them, generally in hastily whispered warnings. However, Kara had had no difficulties with them. After ten years of service as a Council aide, and equally long operating in secret for the Royal Family, not much fazed her now. Most certainly not one cantankerous Ghelpen Councillor.
The mention of the Jade Zone got her attention, though. She had limited her time there and just hoped this would be a quick mission. There and back, and on to something else next week. Preferably in the Ruby Zone. As far away as possible from her past. Resolutely, she pushed away all thoughts of what had been from her mind and focused on the present.
Looking down, Kara placed the datafilm over her flexi and the file unlocked and displayed on the screen. A minute later, she stared at Methji and raised one eyebrow. “I’m to travel on a supply freighter from New Mornag to this outpost?”
“I’ve been assured the accommodations are comfortable.” Methji shifted a bit, their voice slightly uncertain. Then they seemed to recollect themself and straightened up. “Also, you will be able to start work immediately while on board. The freighter is, after all, going to the same location. The Council requires an independent review of Outpost 7JZ. We believe their requests for supplies are excessive. The Fleet personnel out there need to be reminded they work for us. The settlers are surely self-sufficient by now, and shouldn’t be requesting more than the standard basic supplies. It’s one thing when the settlement is new, but an entirely different matter when they are as established as Outpost 7JZ is.” They’d gone back to drumming their hands against the desk, and their assistant nodded along in agreement. “All this extra work, just because they are classed as settlements now, instead of colonies. Hmph. Why anyone would like—” they abruptly stopped talking, their attention sliding to Kara’s violet tinged hair.
Kara made no comment on Methji’s view of the outer worlds and simply noted their bias. An all too common stance within the walls of the Council Chambers these past seven years since the Settlement Act had passed. It had taken three years for the colonies to become protected, and in the process, they’d been reclassified as settlements and each location gained a Fleet Outpost. Those first three years had been difficult for Kara, while she’d learnt how to blend into a crowd, how to be an aide, how to pretend she was normal and not a threat, and not to panic every time she had to speak to the Jade Admiral or be around other Fleet personnel. Now her calmness matched Isra's.
“Ah-hem.” Methji visibly collected themself again. “As I was saying, while you're there, I need you to evaluate the Jade Fleet officer in charge, one Commander Nightwyn.” Their antennae flicked. “There are reports he is lax. Maybe he needs to be replaced.”
“Isn’t that up to the Jade Fleet to decide?” Kara gave no indication of it, but she watched them sharply.
“Yes, of course.” Methji waved off the comment. “But the Council does have oversight over the four Fleets, and I would not have anyone accuse me of being negligent in carrying out my duty to the Empire. I would merely pass on a recommendation for action based on your report.”
“Of course.” Kara faintly inclined her head and rose. “I always do what is required of me. Now, as I need to catch a spaceship, good day, and may the Eternities be with you.” She ended their conversation with the formal farewell.
Striding down the majestic halls, she activated her secure internal, and illegal, comm implant when it gave a soft beep. “Present.” She pretended to activate the small comms unit attached over her ear, keeping her distance from the people hurrying past.
“You've spoken to Methji?” the Scribe asked, her voice firm.
“Yes.” Kara kept her response brief. There were too many prying ears in the capital.
“Good. On top of the Council’s task, I need you to investigate a rogue transmission. The Jade Fleet seems to be unaware of it at present, as well as the settlers, and I want you to keep it that way.”
“I’m heading to the transport that will take me to the supply freighter on New Mornag now. My tools?” Kara asked, exiting the Council Chambers via a discreet side entrance.
“The Sage took care of them.”
“Support?” She wanted to know if Tarsk would be going with her. They’d been on the last mission together, and right now, she could do with a break from his inquisitiveness. But if the Scribe wanted them teamed up, then she would comply.
“For now, you will be by yourself. I’m sending the Sage to follow another lead.”
Kara breathed a little more easily and slid into a waiting hovercar. “Noted. I will report in when I land.”
“Take care of this for us. Scribe out.”
