Artemis Files 0.5: Lexington Read Free Page B

as quickly released the air with a quiet pop. “Oh, look never mind all that piddle, we have serious business to discuss. The allegations are that you conspired with rebels to assassinate the Governor, supplying weapons and intelligence of the route to the Opera House on the evening he was killed. The Judicial Branch opened an investigation, however pending new orders it has since been deferred.”
    The Captain held his hand up in protest at the imagined interruption, forestalling him from speaking.
    “Yes, I know what you’ve been saying and how you were in the car and saved the Duchess. In light of the matter, there’s been much discussion between those three offices I mentioned previously and we believe a solution is at hand that can benefit all of us. There was talk of sending you away to one of our allies such as the Independent States of America and serving in a liaison role at the Lexington Naval Yard, or off to the Merovingian Kingdom for a similar task in La Rochelle, however there was fear you’d be dragged into the public eye with such generous postings. Instead, another solution came to light for which it was felt your unique talents and skills could be applied in a useful manner. Tell me, Commander, have you heard of the Aldanis System?”
    “No, can’t say that I have… should I?”
    “Definitely not, the very existence of the world is beyond Top Secret Classification and I don’t need to remind you of the Official Secrets Act that you signed upon your enlistment, and on subsequent commissioning as a King’s Officer. The Aldanis system have been building a number of vessels for us, called the Artemis Class, all very high-tech and several generations beyond what we can build ourselves. For the purpose of… well, let’s just say that the entire group of experimental vessels are being dispatched out to the Hinterlands region to observe, report and sometimes carry out work to further our interests in that area. To all intents and purposes, they will seem as mercenaries or merchants undertaking free trader operations, buying and selling cargo or moving passengers around the region. Project Artemis, is named after the lead vessel of the class and we have an opening aboard one of the vessels for you. In light of the media mania, the Admiralty and Foreign Office are ordering you to take command of the ship and head out on deployment for a period of no less than two years… possibly longer if you’re up to the challenge.”
    “You’re shafting me… is that what this is all about? I’ve had the Royal Family and Secret Service telling me to forget my fiancée and not even think about trying to find her while she’s in hiding after the assassination. Then they rush me out to this world, or perhaps dragged here is a better way to say it, with a Marine escort and now you’re telling me they want to send me to the arse end of known space. What do I do there, just hang around for a few years with an experimental ship, some crew I don’t know anything about, on a mission that’s a waste of my skills and experience?”
    “Don’t look at it in such a negative manner, Commander, this is an honourable assignment. The other Artemis Operatives have been chosen very carefully and selected from the best personnel available in the navy and marines, although in your case we will send you out alone without a crew. The ship carries an advanced artificial intelligence, and enough weaponry to take on warships ten times her size, you’ll find it a challenging mission that will hone your talents and enable you to learn diplomacy and tact when dealing with our foreign missions in the region.”
    “Sure… so when am I supposed to go?”
    “There’s just one other thing we need you to do… it will produce an airtight cover that will allow you to undertake intelligence operations more effectively in the region. Commander, we need to court-martial you and discharge your commission. If we don’t, the local media will