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By Root 702 0

that a billion or more civilians had succumbed to his attack on Coridan Prime. Despite the favorable outcome, both for himself and for the entire Empire, he found the knowledge that he was actually capable of such an act of naked treason almost too much to bear. Although such base betrayal was contrary to his every military instinct, he now understood that it was preferable by far to the possibility of losing his family to the whims of a mad praetor. There were limits, apparently, even to military discipline and obedience, and he hoped never again to encounter those limits.

Even as he grappled with his conscience, Valdore knew that First Consul T’Leikha had called an emergency meeting of the Continuing Committee of the Romulan Senate. D’deridex’s sudden passing from the Praetorate had left behind a dangerous power vacuum, creating the possibility of a perilous shift within the civilian government that could have made a bad situation even worse. Valdore and T’Leikha had agreed going in that such a scenario was intolerable, particularly at a time when the Empire was fighting wars on two fronts.

Valdore was relieved to learn that the succession deliberations had concluded a scant four dierha after they had begun, showcasing a degree of administrative efficiency that must have owed much to T’Leikha’s no-nonsense, iron-gauntleted guidance.

Valdore made it a point to be among the first to enter the cavernous audience chamber to congratulate the former proconsul Karzan on his ascension from the Continuing Committee’s topmost echelons to his present august position as the Romulan Star Empire’s newest praetor. The admiral was therefore gratified, though not entirely surprised, when Praetor Karzan had not dismissed him along with the host of assorted courtiers, supplicants, and other high-level well-wishers following the conclusion of his lengthy official installation ceremony.

“I need to be briefed in detail about the wars, Admiral,” Karzan said. “D’deridex’s follies now belong to me—at least until I can bring the worst of them to an honorable conclusion.”

It pleased Valdore immensely to hear that, though it didn’t surprise him in the least. During his time in the Romulan Senate, Karzan had always advocated a far more focused military policy than D’deridex had favored. He had even recently taken the risk of advancing a plan to redeploy all Haakonan-front military resources to the conflict with the expansionist Coalition; most in both the civilian government and in the military—including Valdore himself—believed the Coalition represented a far more genuine threat to the Empire than did Haakona.

“My operational commanders are already assembling the necessary briefing materials, Praetor,” Valdore said, bowing his head deferentially. “We will be ready within the dierha.”

“Excellent, Admiral. The imperial military must be advised of the change in the praetorate in a way that does not harm morale.”

“I will see to it, Praetor.”

“Very good, Admiral. Within one ch’Rihanturn of your briefing, you will receive revised orders regarding the disposition of fleet resources. I promise you that. Now I release you to your duties until you are ready to conduct that briefing.”

“Thank you, Praetor. But may I make a request first?”

The new praetor raised an eyebrow inquisitively. Although Karzan was Valdore’s junior by at least several decades, his prematurely gray hair gave him air of authority beyond his years.

“You have earned the privilege of asking this praetor anything, Admiral,” he said, making Valdore wonder just how much he knew about the actual circumstances surrounding his ascension to the Praetorate—and how long it would take T’Leikha to begin eliminating anyone besides herself who possessed any knowledge of her true role in those apparently fortuitous events.

“Thank you, Praetor,” Valdore repeated. “My request deals with certain people who were... detained by your predecessor.”

“Your family,” Karzan said with a nod. “I understand. You may consider them released.”

“Thank you, Praetor,” he said yet