Imperial Recruit (Book 2 of The Imperial Marines Saga) Read online

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Since this is supposed to be about Andrea, it’s likely that either her request to be recognized as a human being is about to be denied, or there’s going to be some kind of gotcha.

  “We’ve been coming into this with the assumption that the worst that could happen is that they say no. What if that’s not the case? What if someone says that she’s still property, but in contravention of Imperial tradition they’re seizing her now that she’s no longer a child and that Imperial Intelligence will take possession of her?”

  Grace’s expression darkened, and her eyes flashed. “Duke DeSantis would shred what was left of them once I’d finished demolishing them. He’s my liege lord, and he won’t allow that to happen.”

  Fei raised an eyebrow in a manner designed to show skepticism. “He has a liege too. What if the emperor has decided to change the rules? If that happens, Duke DeSantis will have no choice.

  “Something about what’s going to happen today is going to be a very unpleasant pill to swallow,” she prophesized grimly. “I don’t know how, but I can feel it coming. Mark my words.”

  “I hope you’re wrong,” Grace said quietly. “If you’re not, there’s going to be hell to pay.”

  Fei nodded. If push really came to shove, she’d implement Operation Gamma. It was an escape plan that she and Kayden had put together without telling their wife. Given an opportunity, she could get them into orbit and onto a ship that was waiting to take them away under assumed names that Kayden swore were absolutely legitimate, though illegally obtained.

  The last six years had been wonderful, but if giving that up allowed them to save Andrea, she’d walk away from this life without looking back. Her husband had once been a smuggler, so he’d know how to establish them someplace safe where they could create a new life.

  No matter the cost, Andrea was leaving with them today. On that, she swore her very life.

  Senior Sergeant John Page stood at the back of the raised platform with his fellow drill instructors as Lieutenant Evans spoke to the platoon. It had been grueling, but the twelve-week training cycle was finally over.

  He was looking forward to a little quiet time now that the soon-to-be marines were moving on. The platoon had shrunk by a third, but the civilians they’d started with had become larval marines. They’d mature with time and experience, but the foundation was there now.

  Once the lieutenant had finished speaking, Page formed the platoon up and marched them to the battalion area, where Major Craig Martelle gave another address before sending the newly minted marines off.

  All that done, Page turned to Sergeant Sophia Gomez as they walked toward the training barracks and the small party they’d set up for the recruits—marines—that didn’t have family here today.

  She’d put in as many hours as he had, and it showed. She looked exhausted.

  “What are you going to do with your time off?” he asked.

  His companion shrugged, her face haggard under her straight-brimmed, round drill instructor’s hat. “I think I’ll head out to one of the wilderness areas and spend some time alone. Get up whenever I want, do whatever I want, and not have any kind of schedule for a couple of weeks.”

  Now that the training cycle was over, they had four weeks off before the next one arrived. A few weeks of that was for staff to unwind once they’d cleaned the area up. One week was free, but the rest required them to have leave accrued.

  He knew Sophia had the time banked because she rarely took leave at all. He was in the same boat. His work gave him purpose, and he didn’t take time off unless he had to use the leave or lose it.

  Thankfully, he wasn’t going to be forced away from the base this time. He’d taken a cruise at the end of the last cycle and spent the time in his cabin, going over the training schedule in detail. It had improved things for this cycle, he thought, so it was time well spent.

  He led her to the cramped conference room the drill instructors used on the third floor and chatted over little things while half the team made their way in. The other half was getting the party kicked off downstairs, and they’d join them soon enough. In any case, they were linked in via their implants.

  “I’ll keep this short and sweet,” he said with a grin. “You’ve all done a terrific job, as usual, and you’ve made me proud. Together, we’ve shaped up another fine batch of marines for the Empire.

  “It’ll take us a week or so to undo the damage this cycle did to the training area. We’ll grab some bodies from battalion, fill in all the bunkers they built, and sweep for unexploded ordinance starting tomorrow. Without recruits on hand, we’ll decadently kick off at 0800.

  “Once that’s done, you’re free to sign out. Have a good time, and don’t get arrested because I’m not posting bail this time.”

  That was the same spiel he always gave, and they laughed like they always did. That done, he dismissed them, but Sophia held back.

  “You should take some time off too. Why not take a week or two and do something crazy?”

  He shook his head. “I prefer the sedate life. Going out into the wilderness might be interesting, but I’ve got things to do. Maybe next training cycle. Go relax, Sophia.”

  She reached out, gripped his arm for a moment, and walked out.

  He really should take some time to actually relax. Maybe next cycle. For now, though, he needed to work up a plan of attack to get the training area cleaned up. He was allowing a week for the work, but he’d prefer to be done in five days. That would let him spend more time focused on prep for the next cycle.

  Before he got started, though, he really should tag up with the LT. As far as officers went, the man was pretty laid back, but it was best to clear the slate now. The man was probably already champing at the bit to be done so he could head out on his next adventure. That was good, since it meant Page would have the place to himself.

  He rose and headed for his commanding officer’s office.

  2

  Andrea handed control of the air car back to Kayden as they approached the Ducal Palace. The flight patterns here were much tighter than over the city itself, and under the coverage of the Ducal Guard and their weapons systems, so she didn’t want to chance making a mistake. She was a pretty decent pilot, but this wasn’t the time to make a mistake and drift out of the cleared lane.

  Kayden took over smoothly, brought them adroitly through the flight pattern, and set them down on the landing pad they’d been assigned to. Like the one at their home, this one was large enough to accommodate even military craft, so there was plenty of room.

  There was also space beside it for the dozen people waiting for the passengers to disembark. Front and center among them was Reginald Fowler, Duke DeSantis.

  He was Grace’s liege lord and the man they’d rescued after the Singularity had captured his heavy cruiser. She knew that he thought very highly of Grace and that he personally liked her, but he was the emperor’s sworn man. That meant that whatever happened today, he was bound by his liege’s will, no matter what he might personally prefer.

  She knew maybe a third of the others were ducal functionaries, but at least two new figures seemed to be people of importance. Those would be the officials that had come from Terra bearing word of her fate.

  Andrea studied the two as her family climbed out of the air car and arrayed themselves in an almost protective wedge around her. According to Fei, first impressions could often be wrong, but evaluating a potential enemy was a skill that everyone needed to nurture. These two held her future in their hands, so she examined them closely.

  Duke DeSantis was obviously senior, as the new people stood slightly behind him and off to one side. Yet, they were not part of his entourage, and they had their own, smaller entourages behind them. She suspected that they were from a somewhat lower social stratum but powerful in their own right, based upon their bearings.

  The more prominent of the two was a thin, hawkish woman with a haughty expression. She seemed the typ
e that was used to obedience and who saw herself as better than those around her. That boded ill.

  The man was shorter and plump. It only took a cursory examination to determine that he didn’t exercise enough, not even close. Or perhaps he was too in love with rich foods.

  Andrea had a hard time understanding people like that. Why would anyone intentionally disregard their body? She couldn’t imagine the man even jogging around the landing pad without running out of breath.

  Sometimes Imperials really confused her.

  Duke DeSantis stepped forward and smiled. “Grace, it’s always good to see you and your family. I trust everyone is well.”

  Andrea’s guardian stepped forward with a smile of her own and took her liege’s hand. “We’re doing very well, thank you. We had a nice party for Andrea’s birthday last week and were sorry that you couldn’t make it, but we understand your busy schedule. I’m sure she’ll tell you herself how much she appreciated your gift.”

  The man turned to the two unknowns, his smile dimming somewhat. “Allow me to introduce the Imperial representatives. This is Marla Treadshaw, Countess Dayton.”

  The woman inclined her head slightly but only after Grace had bowed hers. Some kind of power game, obviously. The woman’s Imperial title was higher than Grace’s, so she was above her in Imperial standing and was emphasizing the disparity.

  “And this is J. Russel Macumber, Earl Still Water.”

  The overweight man smiled at Grace and bowed. He then took her hand into his.

  “Allow me to compliment you on your amazing work inside the Singularity, Baroness Iron Mountain. Quite daring and an incredible blow against the Singularity. Well done.”

  Andrea considered his response for a moment and decided that there was actual admiration in his tone. That, of course, didn’t mean that he’d react well to her if he had some animus against the Singularity itself. She’d quite literally be the face of his enemy. Still, it might be a hopeful sign.

  Grace returned his smile. “The pleasure is mine, Your Excellency. Allow me to introduce my spouses, Lady Na Fei and Kayden Harmon, as well as my ward, Andrea.”

  Andrea bowed moments after her guardians did. There was some type of mandated bowing height that she hadn’t quite mastered yet, so she always paid attention to those around her for guidance.

  “Let’s retire to my private chambers so that we can discuss this matter in solitude and comfort,” the duke said, gesturing toward the palace.

  The group made their way inside and to the duke’s private chambers. They lost all the functionaries along the way, so there was only Andrea, her three guardians, the duke, and the two visitors at the end of the journey.

  A series of small tables and chairs had been set up so that they could take refreshments in a cozy environment. Not a formal setting, so perhaps that was good.

  Once they were all situated around the tables, a servitor took orders for drinks. Andrea noted that the two visitors ordered alcoholic drinks even though it wasn’t even noon.

  The duke ordered tea, and she did the same because the tea at the Ducal Palace was delicious. Her guardians took either water or tea themselves. Once everyone was served, the servitor bowed his way out and closed the doors behind him.

  “I feel like the elephant in the room,” Andrea said into the momentary silence. “You’ll forgive me if I’m a little nervous about that.”

  Grace shot her a look, obviously not agreeing with her direct approach.

  Nevertheless, that was how Andrea worked. If there was a problem, she faced it and dealt with it. Tiptoeing around trouble often made things worse, in her estimation.

  The noblewoman’s eyes narrowed as she considered Andrea. “I suppose that we can get right down to business. As I told His Grace earlier, His Majesty and the Imperial Senate have negotiated at length over the last several years about your status, One Twenty-Four.”

  “My name is Andrea Tolliver,” Andrea insisted. “One Twenty-Four was the name given to me by the Singularity and the Andrea Line, and I’m no longer a member of either of those groups.”

  “In any case,” the woman continued as if Andrea hadn’t spoken, “dealing with how to recognize genetically engineered beings inside the Empire, where they’re legally considered to be property, is complicated when there’s a living example among us.

  “Many of the senators didn’t favor changing the law because they see the Singularity and its rulers—correctly, in my estimation—as one of the greatest threats to the Terran Empire. His Majesty was less convinced but unwilling to overrule the senate. Frankly, I believe that the ‘solution’ they presented only makes the problem worse.

  “Yet they did agree upon a course of action that will satisfy literally no one, which is often the case with the Imperial Senate. Your legal name is of some importance in this matter, so I will make note that you identify yourself as Andrea Tolliver and update the Imperial records to reflect that. You will still have One Twenty-Four listed as an alias because that’s just how the law works.”

  “And what is the decision?” Grace asked, her voice holding more than a hint of impatience. “What’s to become of Andrea, Countess Dayton?”

  The woman smiled slightly, showing no actual amusement. “Not that they asked for my opinion in the matter, but they’ve decided to perform something of an experiment with her.”

  Andrea felt herself tense. Was this it? Were they really going to send her somewhere to be dissected?

  She saw that Fei and Grace had also tensed and noted that Fei’s hand was sliding toward her waistband. That was alarming as it raised the stakes in this confrontation significantly.

  They’d been scanned for weapons, of course, but she wouldn’t put it past the former marine sergeant to have acquired something that was undetectable. This situation had to be short-circuited immediately.

  The duke raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Let’s take a step backward from that statement. There will be no experimenting on Andrea. That was exceptionally poorly phrased.”

  Something in his posture told her that he was aware of the implied threat in Fei’s motion. He commanded the sector militia, so that probably shouldn’t surprise her.

  Her mentor’s protectiveness made her feel good, but she didn’t want Fei to get into trouble. Whatever fate was coming, it was hers to bear. Her guardians had given her six wonderful years, and she wasn’t going to see them throw the rest of their lives away.

  “Whatever the emperor and the Imperial Senate have decreed, I will accept,” Andrea said in a level tone. “There need be no conflict today.”

  Fei’s hand didn’t retreat one millimeter, and her expression remained grim. “Then I think Her Excellency had best trot out the rest of her so-called statement. What exactly do the emperor and Imperial Senate want of Andrea?”

  The two noble visitors seemed utterly unaware of the danger they were in. No, on second thought, while the man seemed somewhat amused, something in his eyes told Andrea that he was quite aware of what was happening.

  That implied that he knew Fei was armed and was in some manner prepared to react to any hostile action. That was very interesting and led her to immediately reevaluate him. There was more to him than met the eye.

  The countess was obviously unaware of the growing danger. Her reaction to the tension was to slightly raise her nose and sniff, her expression colored with disdain.

  “His Imperial Majesty and the Imperial Senate have issued a dispensation that will, if certain milestones are met, grant recognition of humanity and Imperial citizenship upon Andrea Tolliver,” she said, disapproval clear in her voice. “He has ordered that she be inducted into the Imperial Marines for training.

  “However, you should understand that her status is linked to her success. If she graduates from basic training, then her status becomes permanent. If she fails, her temporary status will be revoked, and she once again becomes property.

  “As an adult, she’s no longer something to be watched over
and would be taken into the custody of Imperial Intelligence for detailed study.”

  Grace surged to her feet. “Are you telling me that His Majesty is taking back something that he gave me?” Her voice was low and dangerous.

  The woman jerked back slightly, likely unused to such a direct confrontation. “Remember your place, Baroness! I will tolerate only so much from those beneath my station. Am I clear?”

  Grace didn’t back down. In fact, she took a step forward, her expression hardening even more. “I hear you just fine, but if anything happens to Andrea, I’m holding you personally responsible. I’ve killed to protect her, and I won’t let someone’s social status exempt them from the consequences of putting her in danger. Am I clear?”

  Of the two, Grace sounded much more intimidating, Andrea decided, and far, far too fierce for safety under these circumstances. Fei and Kayden rose to back Grace up, and the situation was on the verge of spinning wildly out of control.

  Duke DeSantis and Earl Cool Still Water had also risen, leaving only Andrea and the countess sitting. The tension in the air was so thick that it felt like syrup. Or a room with a hydrogen leak that needed only a single spark to set it ablaze.

  The rotund man stepped between Grace and the countess, his hands held up imploringly. “I beseech you to allow me to explain the circumstances in more detail before you resort to the level of intimidation that only an Imperial Marine can bring to bear so well, Major.”

  Andrea wasn’t certain that bringing Grace’s retirement rank into this situation was the wisest decision—and how did he know what it was, anyway?—but it made her guardian take a deep breath and focus her attention on him.

  “My tolerance for bullshit has just run out,” she said coldly. “Talk fast.”

  “Andrea will enter marine training tentatively recognized as an Imperial citizen. That terminates your guardianship, as she is of age. If she fails to graduate successfully, she becomes Imperial property for five years—the same amount of time as an initial marine enlistment—before she is returned to you. That was the senate’s price for their agreement.