Chapter 101

　　"Something you want to add, Alexander?" Argyle said, turning toward their thought to be comatose young brother after his groan interrupted their discussion.

　　Alexander slowly lifted the cloth from his head, turning his bloodshot eyes toward his siblings.

　　"Must you all shout?" He whispered, his voice hoarse. Coughing, he replaced the cloth over his eyes and turned away from them.

　　"Do you want to share your opinion?" Argyle asked, although he already knew it would be useless. Still, he would make an effort.

　　"I could care less. Amara`s cat could be Emperor as long as you all stop your infernal bleating." Alexander responded.

　　The siblings returned to ignoring their youngest brother, focusing on the problem at hand.

　　"We need to take action now before this gets out of our control. Father could announce Baron Caledon`s new responsibilities at any time. Once he meets with the Envoys, there will be nothing we can do." Augustus argued.

　　"Agreed, the Baron will need to be removed. Either through direct or more subtle means." Argyle replied. He preferred the use of force, he detested assassins working from the shadows, but his hands were tied in this matter. The Baron was in good standing. He would be unable to assault him directly.

　　"Wait a moment. We don`t know the veracity of this document. It could be a feint or a carefully crafted lie. Eliminating him now would have disastrous consequences. I urge caution in the matter until we can obtain more information." Amara reasoned.

　　"Or until you can secure the Baron using your daughter, Marella? How long until you marry the two of them, cementing yourself in his new regime, Sister?" Augustus accused, narrowing his eyes at the woman beside him.

　　Amara played every side, preferring to have others at the forefront while she reaped the benefits. If her son-in-law could be Emperor, she would continue to hold both power and a privileged position.

　　"You think too little of me." Amara retorted, causing Augustus to snort in derision.

　　"I disagree. I believe I understand you better than yourself."

　　"Enough of this. Amara, you have made your position known. Leave us." Argyle ordered, causing Amara to stare at his definitely for a moment.

　　"Neither of you will act until we have verified that Kalen Caledon is meeting with the Envoys. Do not blame me if your own impatience causes your downfall." Amara threatened before leaving the room.

　　"She can`t be trusted. She`s likely rushing to draw up a betrothal agreement as we speak." Augustus said as soon as they were alone. They were discounting Alexander, who had apparently passed out if his gentle snores were any indication.

　　"Agreed. We need to act." Argyle stated.

　　"Will your Guard support him in the event that he is declared Heir?" Augusts asked.

　　"Some will, many won`t. His Father cast an inauspicious legacy, and the memory of the Guard is long. But the younger recruits didn`t experience the Rebellion. I suspect twenty, maybe thirty percent will follow Caledon if Father proclaims him." Argyle admitted.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

　　"Then he needs to be eliminated." Augustus whispered. Argyle let out a sigh, hating the necessity of politics. He would kill any foe on the battlefield with honour, but attacking a young man because he threatened his position was distasteful.

　　"Once he has left Terra, arrangements will be made. One of the Mercenary groups, I don`t want to involve the Guard in this. They may talk if pushed by Father." Argyle mused.

　　"That is far too long. What if Father declares him during the festivities? Better to have this over with as soon as possible." Augustus pushed, and Argyle balked at the suggestion.

　　"I will not spill blood on sacred Terra. Besides, my Guard is responsible for maintaining the peace and protecting everyone on the surface. If Kalen Caledon is killed here, it will reflect poorly on me."

　　"Bah, who cares if they think you are slipping? I won`t fight a battle with both hands tied behind my back. Step aside if you lack the stones to see this done." Augustus hissed, his face flushing red. Argyle moved in a flash, gripping his brother by his lapels and lifting him off his feet. It was a fantastic show of strength from someone thought to no longer be in his prime.

　　"You will not act while Kalen Caledon is on Terra. Is that understood? I will hold you responsible if there is any disturbance during the celebrations." Argyle threatened. Waiting for his brother`s nod, he set him on his feet.

　　"Now leave. I have things to prepare." Argyle ordered. Waiting for Augustus to flee the room, he turned to his youngest brother. His tiny snores had grown louder, and a thread of drool snaked its way down his chin.

　　Alexander was not a concern in their meeting. He was only here so that if he caught wind of anything and decided to tattle, he would fall along with the rest of them. But throughout his life, it had been proven that as long as they kept him supplied with drink, drugs and women, their youngest sibling would be too busy to participate in the fight for the throne.

　　He had already told Argyle that he considered him to be the best choice, especially since the eldest had promised him a generous stipend to survive on for as long as he declared his loyalty to Argyle.

　　Leaving the drunk in his stupor, Argyle left to make plans.

　　 Page Break

　　In the silent void orbiting a dying red dwarf sun, a prison space station hung in the black. Isolated and hidden, it housed tens of thousands of the most hardened criminals of the Empire, all secured in their stasis chambers.

　　Very few Starships had access to the coordinates of this facility. The protocols for finding it was only available to Captains with high-security clearance. Even then, the station was protected by several heavily armed assault craft and dozens of space combat-capable Mechs.

　　The station commander had just sat in his chair, the latest news from the Imperial Net open before him, when a notification appeared on one of his subordinate`s terminals.

　　"Starship incoming. Azure Skies, here on schedule, Sir." The staff officer reported, pulling up a display of the ship and its crew. They were here to pick up one of the recently released prisoners, and the security codes provided came back clear.

　　"Understood, have the shuttle readied to ferry them across." He ordered, turning back to his holo. A few minutes later, he watched the small craft leave its hanger, its thrusters pushing it through the space between the station and the Starship.

　　It disappeared into the massive hold of the Starship for a short time before returning. Curiously, the Starship sat motionless, its Engine not spooling for the Jump.

　　"Message from the Azure Skies, they`re reporting an instability in their Engine. Only a minor delay. They should Jump in a minute or two." The staff officer confirmed, already in communication with the ship`s Captain.

　　"Confirmed. Have our technicians on standby in case they need to assist." He ordered.

　　The shuttle returned to the Station`s hold, the large doors closing behind it. Just as the Commander was about to return to his reading, the Station`s power fluctuated.

　　"What the hell is going on now?" He muttered irritably.

　　"Power surge in the reactor. Backups are online."

　　"Send a message to the Guard, report that we may be experiencing difficulties, and they should send a Starship for backup. I don`t want any disruptions with the Stasis pods." He ordered, standing up and walking swiftly to a control terminal. There were multiple system failures, including the security doors and internal sensors.

　　"No good, Sir! Communication channels are blocked." Another Staff member reported.

　　That was when the commander saw the Starship Azure Skies` release a flight of Mechs from its hold, and the sound of Lasgun fire erupted throughout the Station.