Chapter 123

　　One Year Ago - During the attack on Terra

　　Empress Amelia and Princess Amara followed the Exosuit-wearing Imperial Guard Soldier through the halls of the Imperial Palace. Occasional tremors rattled the windows in the panes, and Amara jumped when the loud crash of a vase falling from its plinth broke the silence.

　　Clutching her mother`s hand in her own, Amara quickened her pace, taking comfort in the armoured figure in front of them.

　　It wasn`t until they had walked for nearly five minutes that her mother spoke.

　　"Where are you taking us?" The Empress asked, and Amara looked at her in confusion. When he retrieved the pair from their room, the Guard had told them where he was ordered to bring them.

　　"The Bunker, Empress." The Guard replied without turning to look at them.

　　"Where are you actually taking us? The Bunker is in the other direction." Amelia stated, suddenly halting and forcing Amara to pause as well. The Guard merely shrugged, stopping and turning toward them. He didn`t bother to say anything, simply reaching out, gripping Amara`s arm tightly, and ripping her from the elderly Empress` grasp.

　　"You`re too smart for your own good, Empress. Stay here and die for all I care. I was only ordered to take this one to the shuttle." The Guard stated, dragging the screaming Amara along the halls.

　　Looking around for help and seeing the empty corners, the Empress stepped forward to try and force Amara from the Guard`s grip when a gauntleted fist slammed into the side of her head.

　　"Should have ran." The Guard muttered.

　　Amara`s vision turned blurry with tears as she saw her mother crumple onto the ground. Her last sight of the Empress had been her motionless body lying in the hallway, her bright and colourful dress a splash of colour against the stone floor.

　　The rest of the journey had been a blur. She fought to free herself, only to have her arm twist painfully in response. The Exosuit the Guard wore was many times stronger than her, and she had no choice but to follow along.

　　They exited the palace`s rear, and Amara could smell the smoke in the air. There was a dull roar as a flight of Mobile Suits flew overhead on their way to fight somewhere in the distance. Distracted by the sight, she tripped, stumbling to the ground.

　　The Guard lifted her, half carrying, half dragging her toward a waiting shuttle. The Transport had another half dozen Exosuit-wearing Guards, their hands gripping Lasrifles. Not slowing down, she was thrown into the back of the transport while the others followed closely behind.

　　"Let`s go!" the Guard shouted, slamming his hand on the bulkhead of the shuttle and making a loud clanging noise. The transport lifted immediately, and Amara was pushed against the metallic floor from the inertia. Through the window, she could see the sky darken.

　　Passing through a cloud layer, they emerged into bright sunlight, only for the blue sky to darken once they breached the atmosphere. She could see a sea of stars spread out before them.

　　Huddled on the transport floor, her arm hurting from where the Guard had gripped her, Amara shivered from fright and the cold. The transport shook after a few minutes, an action she knew came from landing in a Starships transport shuttle bay.

　　The Guard roughly hauled her to her feet, pushing her in front of him as the shuttle`s ramp descended to the storage hold`s floor. The bay was empty, with the shuttle the only piece of equipment there. Amara walked through the hold with the Guard flanking her until she reached a narrow hallway.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

　　The guard pressed a button on the wall, and a door opened. Without a word, she was shoved inside. The door closed behind her and locked with a click.

　　It was a small, private bedroom with a single bed inset into the wall and a small bathroom. A tiny window showed her a view of space and Terra below them. Wrapping her arms around herself, she broke into tears and collapsed onto the bed as her body was wracked with sobs.

　　Amara was interrupted by a flash of bright, white light from the planet. A large explosion erupted on the surface, expanding rapidly. She could hear shouts and the pounding of feet from outside the door, indications that more people had arrived on the Starship.

　　With a lurch, the Starship Jumped, the scene out the window shifted to show an unfamiliar star and a derelict space station orbiting a barren planet. Amara could hear more sounds from outside, the thin walls of her room muffling them enough that she couldn`t pick out the details.

　　Standing, she went to the washroom to clean up. Once she was composed and calm again, she sat on the bed, waiting. She couldn`t think about her mother or what was happening on Terra without tears threatening to well up in her eyes again. Her son and husband were on Havencroft, but Mare was still on Terra with Kalen Caledon.

　　Breathing in deeply, she pushed the thought away, trying to think about what these rogue Guards wanted with her.

　　After discussing with her brothers about Kalen Caledon, she thought they would wait to act. At least long enough for him to leave the planet or for her to cement a relationship between him and Mare in the unlikely event he was declared Heir.

　　But one of her brothers clearly couldn`t wait, acting to seize power in a coup. She wasn`t sure which, but the involvement of the Guard spoke of Argyle, although she hadn`t thought him capable of such deception. Perhaps it was Augustus, after all.

　　Regardless, they had taken her from the palace, and she could only think of one reason why. One of her brothers wanted her support and kidnapped her to get it.

　　The door to her room opened abruptly, this time by a trio of Exosuited soldiers. Rather than Imperial Guard markings, they were plain black with nothing to identify them.

　　Their leader was about to enter and grab her when Amara walked out, not wanting any more bruises from their rough treatment. If she was going to meet whoever was behind the attack on Terra, she would do it standing tall.

　　The Starship was crowded with people, many of them wearing more casual clothing. They were from all corners of the galaxy, but they had a single thing in common. Each had a strange, metallic collar and a single green blinking light around their neck.

　　Studying them as she walked, her guards pushed her to walk faster. Soon, the regular crew was out of sight, and she was brought to the Command Center. Ignoring the large, circular room, she was led through a side door to the Captain`s quarters, where she came face to face with someone she hadn`t seen in a century or more.

　　"Johnathan? It was you who was behind this?" Amara exclaimed in shock. Her cousin, Johnathan, was sitting at a chair behind a desk, his feet up on the metal surface. Wearing a Pilot bodysuit, the man had clearly just returned from the field, not having a chance to change before meeting her.

　　Johnathan stood up as she entered, smiling widely as he opened his arms.

　　"Cousin. So good to see you again. I go by Jack now." Lying Jack greeted her.

　　Amara was stunned by his appearance. Johnathan, or Jack, had grown up on Terra with her, a distant relation from a branching family line. He had always been a troublemaker; finally, it had become unmanageable, resulting in his discrete banishment from the planet.

　　He had resurfaced a few years ago while fighting Kalen Caledon. The last she had heard, he had been placed in stasis with the rest of his Corsairs.

　　"There is no way the attack on Terra was your idea, Jack," Amara replied, shaking her head. "Where is my brother?"

　　"Ah, as insightful as ever. Augustus planned this little expedition to Terra. I have him to thank for springing me and my companions from stasis. But your being here is all me, cousin." Jack explained, his smile not slipping at all.

　　Amara was again surprised at the admission. Augustus had let him loose and provided him the means and direction to attack Terra? It was out of character for the sly Prince, who preferred subtle methods. However, it would give him a layer of protection against accusations.

　　"Why have you taken me, Jack? What could you possibly gain?" Amara asked.

　　"Leverage. Augustus has promised me many things, and your presence here will ensure that he cooperates unless he wants something terrible to happen to you. I`m sure Havencroft will seek vengeance against anyone who harms their Princess." Jack clarified.

　　"But, there is also the fact that I`m unsure if Augustus has what it takes to seize the throne. In which case, all my rewards will vanish. Poof, gone in a flash. Argyle will surely pay handsomely for you back if that comes to be."

　　"So I suggest you get comfortable, cousin. You`re my lucky charm."