Before the Storm - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [112]
“I presume the primate earned the expected reward for his failure.”
“He did, at my hand, and his second as well.”
“Excellent,” said Nil Spaar. “It doesn’t do for those who serve in the lesser posts to think that the knife will cut only the throat of authority.”
“The new primate of Blessings expects another combat trial when we return. Perhaps you would like to witness it.”
“Perhaps,” Nil Spaar said as they reached the bridge. “For now, my mind is full of the work ahead of us. And of memories. It seems a right thing to me that you should be the primate of my flagship today. Do you remember the Beauty, and the day we discovered the first nest of the vermin?”
The little starship Beauty, a former Imperial corvette, had carried Nil Spaar to the far reaches of the Cluster and beyond. That long scouting mission had opened his eyes to the true challenge ahead and had given purpose to everything he had done since. He had taken the measure of the All and understood its meaning, taken the measure of their enemies and understood their threat, and had come home to N’zoth to make himself viceroy.
“Of course, etaias. And here we are again, together on the bridge of a fine ship. Soon we will again look down undetected on the nests of the vermin—but this time they will know that we were there.” He looked past Nil Spaar to the proctor of information. “Lifath—what news do you have of the New Republic’s Fifth Fleet?”
“Primate, our shadow reports the fleet has disappeared from Hatawa. Our contacts on Coruscant tell us that it has been recalled.”
Nil Spaar bowed his head and breathed relief. “Then it will be done. I am vindicated.”
Dar Bille turned a proud and joyful face toward Nil Spaar. “On your orders, Viceroy.”
“I wish to speak to all our vessels.”
Turning quickly toward the proctor of communications, Dar Bille arranged the necessary connections and announced the viceroy to the crews of the twenty-five warships secreted in twos and threes across the Cluster.
“Remember that we are the blessed, born of the light of the All,” Nil Spaar told them. “All beauty belongs to us. All that we see in our skies was meant for our children. It was not meant for the creatures that creep in from the darkness beyond. Their presence alone fouls the light and defaces the beauty of the All.
“Today we will remove them, as the steward of a granary must remove the vermin to keep the stocks pure. And when next you stand on N’zoth and look to the sky, you will know that none but the children of N’zoth stand above you.”
Then Nil Spaar stepped away from the hypercomm and looked back to Dar Bille. “You may give the order,” he said generously.
Dar Bille’s crests swelled with pride and gratitude. “All vessels of the Black Fleet—this is the primate of the flagship Pride of Yevetha,” he said in a strong clear voice. “On the word of the viceroy, I direct you to commence your attacks. May each of us honor the name of the Yevetha today.”
Wearing an approving look on his dirty, deep-lined face, Negus Nigekus slammed the check hatch shut and threw the locking bolt home. The ore sheds were more than two-thirds full, and there was still a month to go before the gypsy freighter returned to New Brigia. Perhaps this time there would finally be enough profit over the cost of their supplies to clear the last of their passage debt.
Nigekus would never have dreamed that after eighteen years working the chromite digs in the hills above the village, the little colony would still owe a debt to the captain of the freighter that had brought them there. In the beginning the land had been generous. And with the Cluster under the Empire’s protection and their claim to New Brigia accepted by Coruscant, there had been more than enough buyers for the blue-white metal to ensure good prices. War—so long as it stayed at a safe distance—was good for business.
In the first four years there wasn’t a quarter when the community failed to pare its debt. Even with the extra costs as families left the longhouses for cottage shelters, even feeding new