The Cimalian Princess: Rebellion
by AJ Marks
Part 15
“We’re going to overthrow my uncle,” Meia said watching his reaction. Greg appeared a bit stunned at the comment.
“The military won’t allow any revolts,” he said to them.
“That’s where this fleet comes in,” Meia said knowing this is the part which it all hinged upon. Could she convince him that this fleet was under her control. “My fleet will take care of the military, all we have to do is get to my uncle.”
“And if the people don’t follow you?” Greg asked.
“I expect some resistance from the higher class,” Meia said surprising Greg with her calm attitude.
“The higher classes?”
“Yes, the class system is too undergo a change as well, something which is needed,” Meia said. “We need to grow up and take our rightful place among the stars, but the class system limits us.”
“You’re talking about overthrowing the Alliance?”
“No I’m not,” Meia said cutting off that conversation and looking over at Randy. “I’ve met some very nice people within the alliance. Some consider me more family than my flesh and bone family. What I mean is its time we took our place as an Empire beside the Alliance, work for trade and understanding. Punishments will be diminished and hopefully eliminated and justice more equal for all.”
“Many Alphas won’t like that,” Greg finally stated.
“You forget my class,” Meia said evoking the class system she already despised watching as he flinched a bit.
“Not all Alphas would,” Greg quickly replied. “I imagine about half would be upset, but it’s the Betas who would be more upset.”
“It know, but its time we push past such petty systems,” Meia said looking at him. “Is there anything you can do?”
“Well, I’ve got a small group put together, a high class rebellion,” Greg finally said. “What are you looking for?”
Meia looked over at Randy knowing he would have more information on making such a plan. She really had no idea how to organize such an attack. Put her in a fighter and she could defeat the enemy, here, she had no idea what to do.
“We could use a way to communicate with you for starters,” randy said picking up for Meia.
“Communications isn’t going to be a problem, security of such communications will be,” Greg said. “I have the ability.”
Randy pressed a button waiting a few seconds until a bridge crew member answered.
“Hans, I need a code for communicating in the open, quickly,” Randy said, there was several seconds of silence before Hans replied.
“Completely open sir, or limited security?”
“Completely open,” Randy replied.
“Yes sir,” Hans replied ending the conversation as Randy turned back to Greg.
“We don’t have the firepower to take on the entire Cimalian military, so its essential we overthrow the Emperor, that’s the crux of the plan,” Randy said.
“I see, and with that you hope the soldiers are loyal to the real ruler and not the person,” Greg stated giving it some thought. “It’s a bold plan, might work but a lot can go wrong.”
“Anything you know which can increase our odds of success,” Meia asked. Part of her wanted to limit the number of casualties, if that was even possible.
“Besides praying, nothing comes to mind,” Greg replied back to her.
“What about this contact within the Emperor’s staff? Could they have any ideas, or information which might help?” Randy asked.
“They have yet to let me down, and we might gain some information on when to strike, but I’m leery of trusting it too much,” Greg stated. “I’d recommend no more shuttles planetside either.”
“This was necessary to make contact, but limit interaction unless necessary,” Randy replied back to him.
“Good, it was the fact a shuttle had landed which tipped my informant off that you had returned,” Greg said looking over at Meia.
“I guess we have a bit of a plan then. We’ll get you back once communications are set up. Once you’re back and make contact we can for new plans at that time,” Randy said to him.
“I agree,” Meia said making it sound like she was in charge.
“I might be able to contact Admiral Jezic in the military, might be able to gain some support from him, he did know your father,” Greg said making Meia feel stunned.
“No,” she finally said seeing some surprise by Greg. “He was my commander in the 3rd DF, and in the last encountered he ordered me killed and tried to kill me. I think he knows who I am.”
Meia recalled that Hecus had taken the killing blow even as the admiral was shot but he somehow managed to escape the Kitakim while activating the self-destruct.
“He was a friend of your fathers,” Greg said pressing.
“No, if he’s still my father’s friend then when I take over he’ll join us, but I have reasonable doubt about him,” Meia explained.
“I doubt that, and he has a good mind, but I’ll respect your wishes,” Greg finally said.
Meia hoped Greg wouldn’t contact Jezic. She already knew which side he was on and his hatred of her overruled almost everything he did. She noticed that the last time she saw him as she was lying on the floor in front of her uncle.
“Admiral, I suggest we return rather quickly, and with a different plan,” Russell said speaking up for the first time.
“Oh?” Randy said as everyone looked at Russell.
“Yes, the Cimalian defenses are getting stronger, but I had the feeling they allowed the shuttle to go. Landing this time they might attack it on sight,” Russell said.
“He seems real interested in you,” Greg said.
Meai gave that some thought and realized last time he had a full expedition planned for her, something he still might have which might give them some room to operate.
“He might have thought I was on the shuttle,” Meia said.
“Thought he might want to kill you,” Greg said.
“My uncle for some reason still wants to capture me, control me. If he thinks I’m on the shuttle it might cause them to hesitate, maybe even a sighting of blue hair among the epsilons would get his attention focused in the wrong direction,” Meia said.
“Interesting,” Greg said. “I might be able to help you out when returning. I was a far pilot back in the day, if I pilot the shuttle down it means no pilot has to go back up.”
“I’ll take it under advisement,” Russell said.
Meia listened as the rest of the meeting went smoothly as they waited for Hans to complete the code to communicate. Russell had left to take care of something, as had John before Randy excused himself as well leaving her and Greg alone in the room. He seemed to study her for several seconds.
“You know, I think your father would be proud of you,” Greg finally said. “He had a good heart, like I see in you with how you deal with others. If this works the Empire will be in for a new era, a better one.”
Before she could reply he stood as Russell and John walked back in to take Greg to the shuttle to give him a quick rundown of the shuttle’s systems. Meia was left feeling slightly happy at the compliment and wanted to know more about her father. She hoped she had time later on to find out.
*****
Meia walked into the cafeteria feeling slightly hungry. The meeting had gone better than she hoped it had. Entering the cafeteria she realized there was a difference in the room, yet something familiar to her which actually disturbed her. It took her a second to realize the crew was acting as ordered.
Taking her tray she felt nervous and knew that as an Alpha Supreme she dictated where she could sit, and with whom. She looked around noticing a group from her squadron nearby and decided that was where she should sit.
“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Meia asked feeling shy all of a sudden.
“Nope,” one said scooting over to allow her room.
“Good, feels weird in here,” Meia finally said.
“Yeah, with this new mission we are not sure how to act either. In fact we had to look up to wee what we were,” the person replied as they all looked over to see two people walk into the room.
“That’s him, Greg from Cimalius, he’s an Alpha,” Meia said to them as he wondered over to the food.
“Really, that’s what we are. We thought about marking the tables be someone vetoed that idea,” another one said.
“Might have been a good idea,” Meia said but realized something. “He’ll probably want to sit here with me, and it’s probably the best idea.”
She noticed a few people thought her statement was crazy but she knew better. She noticed that John and Greg were not approaching her and her group and made room for the two of them. Sitting down Meia wondered what might happen next.
“Ah, reminds me of my youth,” Greg finally said, a wistful tone in his voice. “We’d sit here, Boris and I, and we’d make the life of Commander Hades a living hell.” He laughed silently at some hidden memory as several others remained quite waiting to see if he would say anything else. “Bet you didn’t know your dad was a joker.”
“Um, no,” Meia replied, almost anxious to hear a story about her father.
“Yeah, we had a guy in the squad, a Beta, green, thought he was the greatest thing ever. He was until we got on board,” Greg said. “Your father was a blue, I was a green, but this guy, Caccus, he was jealous of your father’s skills. He thought your father got his rank due to his class. One day you’re father said, loud enough to be overheard by him, that one reason he was so good was the anti-reverse thrusters he sued on his fighter.”
Meai opened her mouth and closed as she considered what was said.
“Oh yeah, we then went to the hangar and laughed as he tried to get by the head mechanic to look at Boris’ fighter. Then demands he has the same thrusters on his fighter. Poor mechanic has no idea what he’s talking about. Boris walked out to tell Caccus to stop bullying the mechanic. But Caccus spent the rest of the tour trying to look at Boris’ fighter,” Greg said laughing at the thought.
“Um, isn’t anti-reverse the same as forward?” one pilot asked.
“Yep, that’s what’s even funnier, the mechanics even figured that out yet he never did. He probably thinks to this day Boris has something added to his fighter,” Greg replied.
Meia shook her head wondering if she would have been as carefree if her father had lived.
“So what happened to this Caccus? Did he have any children?” Meia asked.
“Yeah, last I heard his son was assigned to the 3rd CF about the time of the first invasion,” Greg said stopping and looking at Meia. “Think it was the same ship.”
“Olin?”
“Yeah, that was his name.”
“I guess like father like daughter then,” Meia said. “Olin never liked me either. Thought an Epsilon couldn’t achieve such a position of skill. Maybe his father was a reason why he could never accept me.”
“Possible,” Greg said. “I wouldn’t be surprised knowing him. His son probably spend some time looking for an anti-reverse thruster as well.”
This caused Meia to laugh a bit as she thought of Olin walking around asking Hecus for an anti-reverse thruster and demanding it be put on his fighter. She could almost see Hecus’ face.
“Maybe that’s why he always had a thing for mechanics, and me,” Meia said.
“Ironic he’s also the reason you’re here,” John said.
Meia noticed Greg’s raised eyebrow at that statement.
“During the assault on Pacifica I engaged into combat with John,” Meia said indicating John. “While trying to destroy him before he reached his hangar Olin shot at me from behind. Somehow my fighter stayed together long enough to reach the hangar.”
“The atmosphere in the hangar, it tricked the fighter into thinking it was safe to eject,” Greg said.
“That’s our thinking,” John said.
“Well, I can’t wait to tell Caccus that his own son is responsible for this,” Greg said laughing a bit at this.
Meia slightly smiled wondering what might happen next.
End part 15