hungry.”
“Why don’t you take him with you to the mountains and we’ll let you know when we need him to go.”
Daulun’s eyes widened as Kreej grabbed him and lifted into the air. They watched him disappear and Julie said, “You’re making the right decision.”
“I know, my Love. Let’s hope he can be persuasive enough to make it work.”
Oh, I think Kreej will help his efforts,”
“Yeah, me, too.”
Mallory sat and watched the display on the Throne’s arm. Nathan walked in the throne room and said, “All of the palace forces have been neutralized.”
Mallory looked up and tilted her head. “Most of them refused to surrender but several thousand have been sent to the compounds.”
“Any word on how it’s going?”
“The largest base was here with the First Division. They are now in the compound with minimal loss of life.”
“How many?”
“Fifty.”
Mallory smiled at Nathan, “That’s good.”
“The other bases weren’t larger than a battalion so they were brought under control rather easily. Five hundred of them didn’t require a Searcher to help.”
Nathan leaned over and whispered to Mallory, “Vring is in the back of the room.”
Mallory nodded and turned to Jeramiah Jongo and said, “Uncle, we are now in control of New Ulmerton. The fleet is being held inside the jump limit and all of the troops on the planet are incarcerated.”
Jeremiah looked at Mallory and said with disgust, “It appears you are just as efficient as you father.” Mallory just stared at her Uncle and didn’t say anything. “I suppose you will kill us now.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You know we’ve tried to assassinate your father. We will not give up in trying to remove you from power.”
“Why is that, Uncle?”
“You are tyrants who brutalize your subjects and commit horrific acts against innocent worlds. You are blight on this universe.”
“Do you not think we should bring our Province under control?”
“Not the way you do it. We should bring others into our Realm by helping them; not forcing them.”
Mallory looked at the back of the room, “Vring?”
“He’s being honest. I don’t know where he got it but he has seen the true history of the former Realm and knows the lies of the Dukes.”
Jeramiah looked around and wondered where the voice in his mind was coming from.”
“Does he believe in the Realm’s values?”
“Yes he does and his children do as well.”
Mallory smiled, “Uncle, you are so much more than I thought.”
“What are you talking about?”
Mallory smiled and lifted the communicator, “Citizens of New Ulmerton, it is now safe to come out of your homes. You may go about your daily tasks and live your lives confidently knowing that your King will protect you and care for you. I am abdicating the crown and I’m surrendering the throne to my Uncle, Jeramiah Jongo. He is now the new King of our province and I know he will do an excellent job. Long live the King.”
Jeramiah was shocked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m placing the welfare of New Ulmerton in your hands. I wasn’t sure if you could be trusted but now I know you can.”
Jeremiah stared at Mallory not knowing what to say. His son asked “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going back to the Emperor that showed me the evil that ruled us. I am too close to my father and our people will trust you more than me. I expect you to move your Kingdom toward the vision you have for it. Will you do that?”
Jeramiah nodded still in shock.
“You should also be aware that your Kingdom is in danger of invasion from another province that has more than 2,000 Searcher Class Ships. We have plans to delay that invasion but we will need your cooperation to make that happen. While you are getting things in order, we are going to take care of my father’s allies at Crimeron. Will you meet with my Emperor and let him discuss the danger we are all facing?”
Alexander’s face hardened and said, “Yes.”
“Good.”
Nathan looked at Mallory and said, “You don’t want to be Queen.”
Mallory smiled, “I still have a window to look out. Remember?”
Nathan smiled, “Yes, I do.”
Chapter Eight
Canton waited for Daulun to return. He had been gone a week and he had not been heard from. What could have happened? The five Searchers went with him. He should have been back days ago. He looked at his communication board and thought about what to do. He was not going out looking for Daulun in an ordinary ship and none of the Searchers had returned. “Crimeron, this is Delta Fleet requesting permission to enter orbit.”
Canton looked at his display and saw thirty troop carriers approaching the planet, “Who are you?”
“We are the shock and drop troops from Ionia. We’re reporting as ordered.”
“By who’s order?”
“King Daulun commanded us to leave Ionia and come here to support his attack plan.”
Then Canton heard, “Crimeron, this is Zeta Fleet requesting permission to enter orbit.”
Canton began hearing fleet after fleet of Shock and Drop troops requesting permission to enter orbit. What was Daulun doing? Maybe he was discovered attempting to destroy New Ulmerton and now he needed the troops to take the planet back. But that didn’t make sense, he could just destroy it. I need to discuss this with Father. “You will hold your position in orbit until our King arrives and issues instructions.” Canton left the communications center and ran toward the throne room.”
Canton rushed into the throne room and found his father looking at a list of military assets. Canton quickly explained what was happening over head in orbit and asked what to do.
“It appears the King is not as dumb as I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think it’s clear why he’s sending all of his shock troops here. He must have an informer inside our organization to tell him we were going to execute him when he returned. He sent the troops to take the planet from us.”
Canton turned pale, “Can they do it?”
“If they’re allowed to land, I’m sure they’ll overwhelm our forces. Those are his best troops and they’ve been battle hardened by years of fighting.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Well, the fleet is still here and not far away. Send out orders to destroy those transports. Make sure they’re all here before you begin. If any start toward the surface, have the fleet attack at once.”
Canton left for the communications room thankful that he had made sure the ships loyal to him had been brought to Crimeron. He was frightened at the massive number of transports overhead.
Greyson was in stealth mode a hundred thousand miles above the planet. Daulun was sitting in a chair with his arms bound. Kreej was curled up taking up most of the room on the bridge. Daulun looked at the display and said, “Why did you bring me here?”
Greyson said, “Kreej, was the Emperor right?”
