Mice And Men at it Again #3
Darius conceded. “Yes, but one of the conspirators was an Imperial. It doesn’t make sense – the Emperor wouldn’t set off a Fall device if she was winning. Clearly, it didn’t work out the way she intended.”
“No,” I agreed, “but I know some demons who it did work out very well for.”
“That’s all well and good to know the truth,” Boleslaw interrupted. “But the Federation and the nobles currently running the Empire will deny it. They have too much to lose if they accept the truth.”
“Which is why we must take action now,” I insisted. “The truth will strengthen our position, but we need a position to strengthen first.”
Archduke Darius stepped forwards. “Prince Selnikov and his cronies will not accept reason. They must fall to violence.” With a practiced motion, the archduke brought up a digital map of the palace.
“It is vital we seize the armory and the barracks, here and here, to control the weapons and cut the usurpers from reinforcements. Then, we hit the main hall.”
“How will taking the main hall accomplish anything? Selnikov, Zukov, and the other traitors could be anywhere,” Lyudmyla sneered.
Archduke Darius nodded at her. “Precisely. That’s why our attack must occur during the treaty signing.”
“The treaty signing?” I repeated, stunned.
Darius looked at me with disbelief. “Yes, the treaty signing. What, do you have a pressing social engagement to attend or something?”
“No, it’s just, everyone’s going to be there. The prince, the nobles, the armed Imperial guards…” I trailed off.
Darius’s expression told me I had arrived at the conclusion he’d been leading me towards. “You mean the one time all the vipers will be together in one nest?”
I straightened my tunic, attempting to regain some composure. “When is this peace accord to be finalized?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Boleslaw said.
I gritted my teeth. “Then we haven’t much time.”
“Who’s we? Are we in this room all we have of us to fight?” Lyudmyla asked.
Princess Marie said, “My royal guard is committed to this course of action.”
“Thirty-odd ceremonial soldiers, chosen for how pretty they look in their dress uniforms?” Lyudmyla sneered.
“My guards are also at the Consort’s disposal,” Archduke Darius snarled, stepping next to Marie and placing a hand on her shoulder to show support.
“You think I chose these bastards because they look pretty? These are sky troopers, drop soldiers, space marines, and skilled cavalry all. The Stelsylvanian guards are no pushovers either. They’re elite bodyguards, ready to die for the princess, and tough bastards in a brawl.
I’ve nearly been killed by Stelsylvanian soldiers enough times to know those jackholes can fight. ”
“Fine. We have some soldiers, and I can call a few more demons to fight with us. That still doesn’t tell me how we’ll overthrow Selnikov and the Federation. What’s the plan?”
At Lyudmyla’s simple question, every head swiveled to stare at me.
I tried not to shudder. I was no military expert, no tactical genius. I was a supply officer, a glorified clerk, a military shopkeeper.
Then again, I had survived for ten years, and it wasn’t my first time commanding an outnumbered, outgunned detachment on a near-suicidal mission behind enemy lines. Then, it was our survival we sought. Now, it was the survival of our nations we stood to win.
Clearing my throat, I turned my attention to the display of the Crystal Palace.
“Right. We have several targets we need to secure, and limited troops with which to take them. The armory, the barracks, the main hall…”
“Nobody’s mentioned the Federation delegation. We can’t expect them to take our countercoup lying down,” a Yezhidian officer added.
I highlighted the four suggested areas, considering them from a logistical standpoint. It was a nightmare. “We’re outnumbered, outgunned, and already we must divide our forces…”
Lyudmyla stepped up to the hologram table.
“We’ll have armaments enough once we take the armory.
If we’re looking for reinforcements, I know where we can find a host of Imperial loyalists eager to fight for the Emperor.
” She indicated an area near the stables.
“They’re being held here, awaiting transportation or execution. ”
“That’s where the Urgan delegation is being held as well,” Boleslaw put in. “I’m sure they’d be willing to fight.”
“All Imperials, though, not necessary Selnikov’s forces alone,” Darius growled. “We can’t trust them.”
“I’m not convinced we can trust you, Archduke,” Lyudmyla said. “Cavorting with Royals and enemies of the Empire, whose side are you on?”
I slammed my fist onto the table. “The Emperor’s side! This planning is pointless. Armory, reinforcements, disrupting the treaty, none of it matters if we don’t first rescue the Emperor. That is of primary and paramount importance, and we don’t even know where she’s being held.”
Ingvar gave that small, servile cough he had perfected. “Actually, sir…”
“You know where the Emperor is being held?” I asked.
Ingvar leaned back slightly. “Not precisely, sir, but these last two days, I have had the dishonor to wait upon Count Zukov and Prince Selnikov. They both know where the Emperor is currently imprisoned.”
I cut him off with a slash of my hand. “Selnikov is no good. He’ll be under heavy guard the whole time. We might as well skip to the end where we’re all executed.”
“And the dissidents likely have orders to execute the Emperor should Selnikov be threatened,” Princess Marie added.
“Precisely so,” Ingvar said. “That is why we should target Count Zukov for interrogation.”
“And you know where he is?” Darius asked.
Ingvar grinned, the corners of his mouth impossibly wide. “I do, sir.”
“Then step one, I go to rescue the Emperor. The rest of you will assume position and await my signal. Once you hear the Emperor has been released, move on your objectives immediately. Things will happen very quickly once the Emperor is freed. Got it?” I asked.
The table agreed, but Boleslaw raised a single finger. “It’s all fascinating, but I’m still not certain what the plan is, exactly.”
I leaned on the table, examining the holographic layout of the Crystal Palace complex. “That’s what we have all night to figure out.”