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“The Romulans might have succeeded in taking Berengaria away from us,” he said. “But with all of you at my back, I have every confidence that they’ll soon discover they can’t hold on to it. So consider the word given. Let’s get out there, hit ’em hard, and hit ’em fast. Commodore Archer out.”

Feeling a palpable sense of relief now that he’d formally thrown down the gauntlet, he met the anxious gaze of Ensign Leydon at the helm.

“Take us out, Mister Leydon,” he said. “Best fleet speed for Berengaria.”

FIFTY-THREE

Day Forty-Two, Month of K’ri’lior

Sunday, March 14, 2156

Government Quarter, Dartha, Romulus

“LESS THAN HALF of my attack fleet even made it back from Haakonan space,” Valdore growled, taking care to be quiet despite the almost complete emptiness of the concourse. “I cannot accept losses on such a scale if they serve no larger purpose.”

“Are you questioning the wisdom of your infallible praetor, Admiral?” said the woman who was strolling beside him alongside the wide rectangular reflecting pool that fronted an assemblage of ancient stone administrative buildings. Like Valdore, she wore a simple, unadorned cloak; First Consul T’Leikha clearly had no more desire to attract undue attention to herself, or their conversation, than he did. “Or am I hearing nothing more than soldierly gripes?”

“All you’ll ever hear from me is the truth, First Consul,” Valdore said, his soul laden with the weight of worlds. “The Haakonans have become considerably more formidable during the decades since our original occupation ended there. We could not stand against them. At least not while we are already occupied fighting the Coalition worlds.”

“It should come as no surprise that Haakona would have developed new weapons in order to deter a second occupation,” T’Leikha said.

He nodded. “Of course not. But there are limits even to what the Empire’s intelligence service can anticipate.”

“Have you fully assessed the Haakonans’ new capabilities yet?”

Valdore shook his head glumly, and waited to speak until after an elderly gentleman finished walking past. “The chief technologist’s office is still coming to grips with it. Nijil’s preliminary reports indicate that the Haakonans may have weaponized a capacity they already possessed—their ability to absorb and redirect much of the excess energy released by the two variable Haakonan stars during their violently active phases. But we are still far from certain about anything, since none of this technology was in use during the previous occupation.”

“Praetor D’deridex is aware of that much already. Whatever this Haakonan innovation turns out to be, he is now determined to possess it.”

Valdore swallowed a curse. “Wonderful. Now he can believe he has a good reason to persist in a bad course of action.”

She favored him with a wry smile. “He is his father’s son.”

“Is the praetor aware that our abortive attack on Haakona has cost us access to all Haakonan sources of the akhoii that powers our ships?”

“He is confident that you will get Haakona’s dilithium exports flowing again,” she said with a nod. “After you regroup your forces to begin the second occupation, of course.”

Valdore stopped beside the reflecting pool, admiring its mirrorlike surface, envying its tranquility.

This is intolerable, he thought. He will bring my fleet to ruin. And the Empire with it.

He turned to face her. “D’deridex cannot be allowed to do this.”

“It is true that another would be far preferable in D’deridex’s place, given the perils that now beset the Empire,” she said with a shrug. “Senator Karzan, for instance. But D’deridex is the praetor, Admiral. At least until a natural death contravenes that fact.”

Valdore knew there could be no turning back from what he was about to say. “First Consul, the life and health of the Empire no longer permit me the luxury of waiting patiently upon the whims of death.”

FIFTY-FOUR

Aeihk’aeleir Shipyard

“THIS COULD HAVE BEEN a hell of a lot simpler,” Trip muttered, grunting as he