"As you should, and will." Thark switched the blaster to maximum
power, placed his soul-blade on the floor, and fired.
Then he screamed, a long full-throated yowl of absolute, terrifying
loss that subsided to broken whimpers as he collapsed beside the
smoking metal that had been a blade.
"What--" Nevan exclaimed in astonishment.
"Psychic shock, Lieutenant," Corina said. "He will recover enough to
stand trial and serve whatever sentence he is given, but he will never
be whole again. He has destroyed an essential part of himself. Take
him to the medical unit, please, and see that he is cared for while
medteams find and treat the other survivors. Can you find it?"
"Yes, sir." Nevan pried his gun out of Thark's hand and holstered it,
then picked the Irschchan up. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
* * * * *
Three hours later, the Empress Lindner returned to Terra orbit, and
shortly thereafter one of its landers touched down beside Chang's.
Medart and Corina were waiting for the passengers in Emperor Davis'
working office, as he had asked; they had given him a complete report
during his trip back, and had in turn been given reports of what had
happened elsewhere in the Empire during the shortest-lived revolt in
its history. The next step was His Majesty's decision as to what was
to be done about it.
The office showed no sign of the fighting just ended, and cleanup
elsewhere was already under way. The Palace morgue was busy, the
medical center only a little less so; Hobison was there, in critical
condition, along with three less seriously wounded from the assault
group. Greggson and one of the other Marines had been killed; the rest
of the group was unhurt. Kennard's injuries had been serious, but
thanks to Medart's help not fatal, and Senior Physician Zanivar had
said he'd be released later that week.
The two stood and came to attention as the Emperor entered, followed by
Crown Prince Forrest and a massive, gray-skinned Traiti in Marine
service black. "As you were," Davis said, motioning the others to
chairs and seating himself at his desk.
He turned to Corina. "You did a good job, Ranger. I didn't expect it
to end so quickly."
"Had Thark been less honorable than he was, sir, it would not have."
"I'm aware of that, which is why he'll be sentenced to exile rather
than death--though in his condition, I'm not sure which would be
worse."
"To him," Corina said slowly, "it no longer matters. His body
survives, but very little of Thark himself remains. He can go through
the motions of life, that is all--and he has effectively wiped himself
from Irschchan memory. His name and story will survive, of course, but
it will be without the mind-pattern in his blade to give it substance."
"He can still serve as an example," Davis said. "The fact that he led
a rebellion because he was convinced it would be beneficial to everyone
doesn't excuse it--but the fact that he called it off and tried to
atone when he found he was wrong justifies my giving him what will be
seen as clemency by most people. And it'll have at least one side
benefit." Davis indicated the Traiti. "Lieutenant Hovan spoke to his
Clan Mother at my request, and got her consent. Thark's exile will be
on Norvis, guarded and taken care of by Clan Ch'kara. That way he's
visibly punished, in a way that demonstrates the Empire's trust in our
newest citizens."
"An elegant solution," Corina agreed. She turned to Hovan, gave him a
polite seated bow. "I saw the tapes of your rulers' Audience,
Lieutenant. I am pleased to meet one who can react so swiftly and
correctly."
Hovan returned the bow, his arms crossed over his chest. "You give me
too much honor, ka'naya Ranger. When that man shot Ranger Tarlac, I
reacted the only way I could, as a newly commissioned officer of the
Empire."
"It was well done, nevertheless." Corina returned her attention to
Davis. "I assume my next task, then, will be bringing Irschcha's
government into conformity with the rest of the Empire?"
"That's right. You're head of the White Order now, so you'd have less
trouble than anyone else. I'll give you a signed Confirmation of
Suzerainty for whoever you pick as Baron; from now on that's going to
be a hereditary position the way it is everywhere else outside Sector
Traiti--though if you think it best, I'll add a stipulation that the
Baron must have Talent."
"That would indeed be best, sir, at least at first."
"So be it, then. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Not at the moment. I cannot even consider candidates until I know who
is available--in other words, who did not participate in the Crusade.
Then I will have to choose one who abstained because of loyalty to the
Empire, not because of fear."
Davis nodded. "Do you have any idea how much of the Order will be left
for you to choose from?"
Corina's ears went back in a frown. "That is difficult to say, sir,
though probably less than a quarter. Those raised in Order schools are
almost certain to share Thark's convictions, and therefore to have
taken part. I simply hope there are enough to form a new government; I
would prefer not to have to bring in unTalented, who would not be
accepted because of it."
"As long as you can manage to avoid me having to send in an occupation
force, I'll be satisfied. You'll have Jim along, of course; it'll be a
year or so before I'll send you out solo, even if he didn't have a
convalescent leave to finish."
"I am most grateful for that, Your Majesty. I have much to learn."
"Don't we all." Davis leaned back. "Now--have you been able to find
out more about human Talent potential? Especially Rangers'?"
"Very little, I am afraid. I was reluctant to tamper with the shields
of any of our assault group to check them further, but I did probe
Ranger Kennard while he was being treated, since his shield was
weakened by his injuries. He does have good potential, though somewhat
less powerful than Jim's. Since Captain Hobison and Lieutenant
DarLeras are both Ranger-level and shielded, as well, I would say that
hypothesis is correct."
"What about Rick and myself?"
It hadn't occurred to Corina to check the Emperor or Crown Prince; now
she did so. "Both shielded, Your Majesty."
"Good. Next time you're on Terra, you can train us; in the meantime
you can work with Jim, and I'll send the others to you for training as
I can spare them from other duties. We'll worry about lower-ranking
ones with Talent later."
"Sir," Medart said.
"Yes, Jim?"
"What do you have planned for the rest of our assault group?"
Davis smiled. "I think you can guess, for a mission that valuable to
the Empire that they didn't expect to come back from. Since they're
military and risking their lives for the Empire is technically part of
their jobs, I can't quite justify Life Nobilities--but I can damnsure
give them Sovereign's Medals and merit promotions, plus choice of next
assignment."
"That sounds good, except for Hobison," Medart said. "He's already
refused promotion half a dozen times to keep command of the Chang."
"Considering his total career, that's one Life Nobility I can justify,"
Davis said. "And I think he will take promotion if it doesn't mean
losing his ship."
"I think so too, sir." Medart grinned. "I like it--that'll make him
the only ship captain whose position title is lower than his Navy
rank."
Davis chuckled, then sobered. "That's it, then. I'll see you all at
the Tribunal, gentles--in the meantime, we all have work to do." He
stood.
The others rose and bowed, then left. Corina waited until she and
Medart were on an elevator to the Rangers' apartment floor, then she
said, "It is strange, Jim. I was afraid to take this job, and I am
still not positive that I should have been offered it--but I find
myself enjoying even the danger and the responsibility."
"Which," Medart said with a grin, "should prove to you that you are
right for the job. It's one challenge after another, and you'll
eventually run into one you won't get back out of--but in the meantime
you can be damn sure you won't be bored."