descendants took extreme measures to insure the Empire's security. Among other things, they began discouraging original thought and scientific advancement. Their intervention was enough to tip the scales. The Empire has been in a slow but definite decline ever since.'
He sighed. 'It's only become noticeable during the past century; and even so, I only learned of it by accident, when I was researching an economics paper on the imperial palace's comps.'
'You seem awfully calm about this.' I observed. 'Why aren't you working to save the Empire?'
Cord shrugged. 'It's too late. There's too much inertia. All I can hope to do is try to delay the fall and keep civilization going in a small part of the galaxy. I've been working on it for the past thirty years.'
I wished he'd stop pacing and sit down. I also wished he'd just tell me what all this had to do with my crew, the Valkyrie, and me. I was about to interrupt him when I realized that he needed to tell us all this.
For over thirty years, he'd been forced to be a solitary plotter, unable to confide even in his closest friend — because his closest friend was the Emperor. Now, some circumstance was forcing him to reveal his machinations. I'm not sure he realized how glad he was to share his burden, even with strangers.
All right, I thought, I'll let him ramble awhile. But he'd better get to the point soon. I turned my ears back on as he continued.
When he ascended the throne, Eron named Cord one of his advisors. It hadn't been easy to thread a course between courtiers and their petty intrigues, and the ambitious with their plots. But Cord did it. Finally, when the old Viceroy of the Rim sector asked to retire, Cord knew the time was right. He helped the ISS break up a planned coup. The Emperor was grateful, and offered Cord his choice of three sectors. Eron XXIV was a bit surprised when Cord chose the Rim sector. It is neither as large as the Sirius sector, nor as wealthy as the Horsehead sector. But Cord had determined that it had to be the rim.
It irritated me, but I had to ask. 'Why did it have to be the rim?'
He shrugged distractedly, and I realized he hadn't been fishing for the question, he'd simply assumed it was obvious. 'The rim is a long way from Prime. It's man's furthest penetration into the universe. Out here, man can't afford to become decadent. Out here, the decadent don't survive.'
For the past twelve years Cord, as Sector Viceroy, had been quietly pursuing his plan for the survival of civilization. The Rim was now nearly as prosperous as the Horsehead sector, though Cord went to considerable pains to conceal this. Every report going back to Prime said that the Rim sector cost the Empire more than it contributed. Everything emphasized that the Empire would be better served by cutting the rim loose. I started to mention that such behavior has a name: treason. Then I remembered the ISS men in the hall outside, and kept silent.
Cord had been reinforcing his recommendation at every opportunity, in person and through agents on Prime. Finally, The Emperor and the most influential senators agreed, and had quietly decided to disown the rim. It was Cord's moment of triumph. Oh, he'd still have to conceal their progress for a while, until the Empire's decline made it less of a threat, but he was on his way.
Now we were getting to it. 'Exactly what do you mean by 'disown the rim'?' I didn't even try to conceal the suspicion in my tone.
Cord stopped pacing, and resumed his seat. He simply stared at me for a moment. Suddenly he relaxed, and a genuine grin lit his face. 'No, Captain. I'm not fomenting another rebellion. If you know anything at all about me, you know that I have a reputation for loyalty to the Empire and His Imperial Majesty that many have called 'fanatical'.'
He sobered. 'To answer your question, the Emperor is planning to turn the Rim sector over to me. Oh, it will be promoted as a 'bold experiment in local autonomy', but that's what it amounts to. I'm even to be given the Empire Fleet base on Thaeron and the rather large task force based there. The Empire is shedding responsibility for the rim, and aside from a nominal oath of fealty, the rim will owe the Empire nothing. We will be on our own.'
I frowned. 'So you want me to do what? Take over that Fleet base you mentioned and run it for you?'
He shook his head. 'Nothing so easy. I want you to defend the rim against the man who commands it now. Rear Admiral Micah Jonas.' The grin flared again. 'I understand you know him.'
'I know him,' I replied sourly. 'I don't like him, and he doesn't like me. But he's nothing but a spoiled playboy. How much trouble could he cause?'
Cord frowned. 'A lot, unfortunately. He commands all Fleet forces in the sector. The entire Thaeron system belongs to the Fleet. They have a large maintenance facility on the fourth planet, and a very powerful battle group home ported there. We're beginning to get indications that Jonas is aware of the plan to release the rim, and is planning some action. We suspect he plans to seize the sector.'
I shook my head. 'That doesn't sound like the Jonas I know. I mean, he's not stupid, but he's shrewd rather than intelligent, and tends to substitute ruthlessness for imagination. But he's a complete hedonist. His whole life has been devoted to pleasure. I can't imagine him having the drive or the desire to foment a rebellion.'
'I hope you're right,' Cord replied. 'Most of my reports agree with your opinion. But something happened at his last assignment. I gather that a group of his officers conspired with a criminal syndicate to practically steal Jonas' base from under him. Fleet Admiral Chu-Lo wanted to court-martial him, but it seems there's no such charge as criminal stupidity. He couldn't even fire Jonas…'
'… Because his name is Jonas,' I finished for him.
Cord nodded. 'Exactly. One does not lightly offend one of the most powerful families in the Empire. The Fleet Admiral had to be content with transferring Jonas to the rim.'
I laughed aloud. 'To Jonas, that would be almost as bad as a court-martial. As far as he's concerned, Prime is the center of the universe. I'd bet he thinks he's been banished to the back of nowhere.'
Cord nodded. 'He's been out here for six years, and has hated every moment of it.' His frown returned. 'But there's something else. The family was very embarrassed by Jonas' stupidity. There are reports that he's been effectively cut off from the family's wealth and power. Yet somehow he manages to maintain his rather, uh, lavish lifestyle. Rumors are starting to circulate that Jonas has gotten himself involved in criminal activities.' He held up a hand. 'Nothing we can verify yet,' he continued hurriedly, 'Just rumors.'
I frowned. I still didn't see the problem. Cord was a Sector Viceroy. Aside from the Emperor himself, Viceroys are the most powerful men in the Empire. I shuddered, and it wasn't just the cold of the room. Most Sector Viceroys were idiots and sycophants. Even so
… 'Why don't you just have the Emperor recall Jonas before the release? Or, why not have him assassinated? Surely a Sector Viceroy has spooks or security people that would be happy to oblige.'
He winced. 'You're correct, of course, and such an operation is underway. Unfortunately, I'm not sure we can get to him in time. He's being very cautious. At this moment, he's sitting aboard a dreadnought, busily dreaming up excuses for not joining me here as I've requested, and suborning his chain of command. There have already been a few fatal accidents among his staff-level officers. As for your first question, the Emperor doesn't want him back. Disowned or not, even the Emperor has to be careful about offending one of the most influential and powerful families in the Empire.'
He held up his hand to forestall my interruption. 'In other words, the Emperor considers Jonas my problem, and expects me to handle it. That's where you come in. I want you to defend the rim against Jonas and his plot, whatever it may be.'
I was puzzled. 'I still don't understand. Why me? Why not Jonas' second in command? Or the captain of that dreadnought? Surely not everyone is in on the plot.'
He shrugged. 'True, of course. Unfortunately, military people assigned to frontier posts tend to become insular. I haven't time to have my intelligence people clear all the officers in the chain of command. I need someone from outside, a proven leader, someone familiar with both space and ground-based strategy and tactics, and finally, someone who won't be tempted to seize power himself.' The practiced smile became a wide, genuine grin. 'Your arrival on Haven was the best news I'd had in weeks. Coups can be very expensive, in both materiel and people, and I can afford to waste neither.'
I was doubtful. 'So, all you want me to do is go to Thaeron and relieve Jonas of command? What will you do after he has me shot as an imposter? Find another sucker?'
The grin flashed again. I was beginning to like Cord. 'No,' he replied, 'I don't expect you to go to Thaeron, at least not yet. As soon as we announce his dismissal, we'll touch off the coup. Right now, I, we, need time. We have to prepare for the worst. I want you to begin assembling an armed force, and designing strategies and tactics for resisting the coup when it comes, assuming that Jonas will have the full strength of his forces.'
