Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) Read Free Page B

own reflection in their scanning
ports as he walked past and a cold shiver ran through his body. The Security
Chief took off his cap as he reached the Administrator and saluted in the
traditionally accepted Confederate style of the left hand flat on top of the
right with both elbows touching the body and head bowed briefly. The
Administrator stood and returned the salute.
     
    “Thank you for your response,” the Administrator said
calmly. “I welcome you to the Academy, please be seated. Your questions are
appreciated.”
     
    The Security Chief was immediately put off balance.
“Sir, you summoned me. How can I be of assistance to you?” The Chief felt
powerless to say more and sat somewhat heavily in his chair.
     
    “But Sir, your armed men entered the Great Hall
without orders. Why did they and under who’s directive?” The Administrator
asked politely and leaned forward waiting for an answer.
     
    The Security Chief felt immediately worse, a fact not
unnoticed by the Administrator. He had no way of answering why the men under
his command did such a thing, the excitement of such a moment had no precedent
and orders had never been issued nor written for such an eventuality. In all he
has studied and researched in his long career he has never known such an
incident or anything like it to have ever occurred before. There was no
precedent. Honesty was a waste of time; he needed a way out of this mess and
settled for a mechanical answer. “I will initiate an immediate investigation on
why my personnel entered the Great Hall. I cannot be honest with you without
knowing all the facts and actions of my men, but rest assured if anyone is out
of order in this matter they will be intervened with the utmost efficiency and
urgency.” The Chief said feeling a little more relaxed with a reasonable
response.
     
    The Administrator expected such an answer and nodded
in acknowledgement. “I have my report for the Trigealian High Command. I will
send it immediately as I’m sure you will send yours in whatever time frame you
deem appropriate. Good luck to you Sir,” the Administrator said calmly as he
stood up and walked smartly away.
     
    The Security Chief sat back even harder in his chair
and turned grey. I’m a dead man he thought. His future changed entirely at that
moment. Trigeals don’t for a moment accept any form of incompetence concerning
any aspect of their robot creations. What sort of report was I to make, he
thought. He felt doomed.
     
    “My dear Administrator,” The Chief said earnestly. “I
feel it is obvious no one knew what went on here. My men acted on their own
initiative when apparently a number of personnel were, well... vaporised.”
     
    The Administrator stopped, turned smartly and
listened. Then cut the man off with disastrous effect before he could utter
another word. “Have you somehow read my report? You weren’t here... were you?”
He asked staring somewhat coldly at the Security Chief.
     
    “No, no, of course not! How could I?” The Security Chief said but suddenly
realised what he had said and to whom he had said it. To indicate or disclose
what occurs inside the Great Hall to anyone unless authorised by Trigealian
decree is an act punishable by a fate worse than body death – a reprogramming
to a lower life form. He knew he didn’t have such a clearance. He looked at the
Administrator with fear and apprehension; knowing every word he had just spoken
as well as him saying it had been recorded.
     
    “I am at your service Sir,” the Security Chief said
softly.
     
    The Administrator returned to his chair and sat down.
His face expressionless but his eyes keenly focused on the man opposite. He leaned
over to a side table and dispensed a beverage of hot malqucian tea; an herb
known for its relaxing and soothing qualities popular across the Confederacy.
The Security Chief accepted it gratefully. “I have no vendetta against you
Sir,” the Administrator said calmly, “but you have