The Milsian Princess
by AJ Marks
Part 12
Crystal waited for the signal that the fleet had arrived at Milsia, the core planet of the Milsian Empire. She knew if they could gain control of the government then everything would fall into place, or so she hoped. She understood that things could go wrong and hoped for the best.
The assault on Milsia had been Admiral Junkers’ idea. He figured that as long as Emperor Tony felt confused, and that he had control over the Second Fleet he would not feel threatened at home.
Crystal hoped that would become the case. The last thing she needed would be a waiting enemy fleet for her. This probably would be the one last chance they would have. Ground forces from the Second and Third fleets were waiting to carry out the assault on the palace.
“We’ll be in scanner range in thirty seconds,” Kim said.
“All right, this is it everyone,” Mark said. Crystal watched him turn towards her.
She looked all around the bridge seeing everyone doing their duty with ease even though tension from the upcoming battle hung in the air. She knew that without the caste system the alliance held an advantage. They held no fear of punishment if they failed their duty, only that they failed friends which to them was worse.
“Entered scanner range, dropping out of jump in two minutes,” Kim said.
Crystal waited watching the seconds disappear all too quickly.
“Dropping out of jump in five, four, three, two, one, now.”
“Shields up, launch all fighters, giving me a target,” Mark called out.
“Target coming up,” Yvette replied. “Half a dozen warships, one battle-cruiser, and several smaller ships.”
“Empress, the first wave is launching,” Crystal heard Admiral Junkers say.
“They go with my permission,” Crystal said, hoping it sounded correct. She wished they all would return safely and that the fight would end without fighting.
“We’re transmitting in the clear,” Hans said finally.
Crystal knew that one of the main attacks would be a proclamation that she was the rightful heir. Everyone hoped that this would make the citizens and even others in the military think about following Tony’s orders. Any additional confusion would only help them out.
Crystal looked down at the screen watching the battle begin.
*****
Adama walked off the shuttle seeing a dark-haired woman approaching him along with Apollo and Starbuck.
“Welcome to Serria Commander, I’m Amy Barnes,” the woman said holding out her hand in greeting which Adama took.
“Thank you, I take it that Apollo has updated you to the current situation?” Adama asked.
“In more than one area,” she replied. “I talked with the Alliance. I have a strong feeling that several senators are either being controlled by or working for the Milsian empire.”
“And the Cylons appear to be working with them as well from what I’ve been able to understand,” Adama stated.
“Baltar, yes, my father spoke of him,” Amy said. “He is trying but there are a lot of complex issues going on right now and neither he nor the military have any power.”
“Governor,” a male said walking up to them.
“Yes,” Amy replied.
“We’re getting reports from the Milsian Empire that a full scale civil war is going on.”
“Everything is falling apart,” Amy said.
“That’s not all, it also appears that the Alliance military is being boosted by Cylon warships under Senator Agnot’s approval.”
Adama felt numb by that assertion and shared a look with Apollo and Starbuck. If the Alliance worked with the Cylons then they could position their ships for a devastating strike. If that happened no one would be safe and his fleet did not have the fuel to run anymore.
“How many ships do the Cylons have?” Adama asked.
“I don’t know,” the male replied.
“Find out,” Amy said. “Let’s head inside.”
Adama agreed and made his way inside.
“I want patrols to start up,” Adama said to Apollo.
“I’ll get right on it,” Apollo said. “We can use their shuttles to conserve our fuel.”
Adama nodded hoping Tigh and the engineers were already working on a plan to dig the fuel out of the one moon. They would need it real soon it appeared. Adama watched Apollo walk off along with Starbuck to carry out the orders.
“Here we go, can I interest you in something to drink?” Amy asked.
“Sure,” Adama said.
“I’ll have coffee and tea brought in, along with plain water,” Amy said.
Adama did not know what coffee or tea was, but would try it and see. He could always go with plain water. An aide walked back in with a tray and pointed out which was coffee or tea. Adama took a small cup of coffee, a dark liquid with a strong smell. He took a sip almost choking on the taste.
“Not to your taste, didn’t think so, it’s an acquired taste and I think everyone did that the first time they tried it,” Amy said, sipping her coffee. “The tea is generally milder.”
Adama glanced suspiciously at the light brown liquid before taking a taste of it. He found he preferred it over the coffee and would try a cup of it.
“Now, how far away is your fleet and how much time do we have to prepare a site for them?” Amy asked.
Adama leaned back as they would get into the details that he needed to know for when the fleet arrived.
****
Tony glared at Benard, his commander of security of the palace, along with Admiral Hoon who was in charge of the space around Milsia.
“You mean to tell me that we have both the Second, and Third Fleets sitting in orbit and at this moment ground troops, my troops, are heading down in preparation of an invasion?” Tony said, anger tingeing his voice. “Well?” he asked after several seconds when neither man seemed to want to speak.
“Yes sir,” Hoon finally said. “My ships cannot adequately defend the planet from such a force.”
“We should be able to defend the palace,” Benard replied.
“Should?” Tony said. He felt his world slowly falling apart.
“We’ll do our best sir,” Benard said.
“What about the First Fleet?” Tony asked.
“They are still in route to Baraton,” Hoon replied.
Tony cussed at hearing that. Whoever planned this attack knew what he would do. It had to be Crystal and her background. She turned into his greatest mistake he ever made.
“Emperor, we’re getting high energy transmissions from the fleet,” one aide said.
Tony did not have to hear it to know what it would say. “Continue to block it.”
“Yes emperor,” the aide said then walked out of the room.
Tony understood the only way to end this would be killing Crystal real soon. He needed to find out where she was and he needed her down here on the planet not on her safe warship.
*****
Crystal watched the screen knowing that in any previous battle she would be out in the middle of it all in her fighter. Now she had been regulated to watching. She had mixed feelings knowing that now what she said had a tremendous impact on what happened. Two full fleets under her complete command following any order she gave. The knowledge scared her hoping she did not make any mistakes.
“Captain, we had an incoming transmission, it was strange,” Hans said.
“Put it up here,” Mark said.
“I will, it was very cryptic and short,” Hans said.
Crystal leaned over to see what the message had been.
“Interesting,” she heard Mark mumble. “The palace guards are confused, some have heard the message and this person, whoever sent it thinks that you are the next empress.”
Crystal thought about that realizing that she would have to head down to take control of the Empire.
“I need to head down,” Crystal said.
“That is not wise,” Mark said.
“I know, but I will sooner or later,” Crystal said. “If we wait too long then they won’t follow me.”
“And what you propose is very dangerous,” Mark said.
“Yes, but if the palace guards are confused, me being there in person might tip the balance,” Crystal said. She watched Mark struggle when Hans called out again.
“Message from HQ captain,” Hans said.
“Now?” Mark said, frowning. “Put it up here.”
Crystal watched some unknown man appear on the scanner. He had white hair and brown eyes and she heard Mark call the man Admiral Pappas.
“Captain, I’m hearing a lot of things, but you need to know some things quickly,” the admiral said.
“Um, all right bur make it quick, I’m in the middle of something,” Mark replied.
“I know, you’re at Milsia, the senate already seems to know,” the admiral stated calmly. “The biggest problem, the senate believes this is a threat to the Alliance, so they’ve entered into an agreement with the Cylons. They are sending about a half dozen of their ships and positioning them around our core planets to allow our fleet to mass along the border to meet any Milsian threat that might appear.”
“Admiral, I can assure you that the Milsian Empire will not attack the Alliance, but I’m not sure about the Cylons from what I’ve seen,” Crystal said.
“And you are?”
“Empress Crystal Milsian,” Crystal said, for the first time using the true last name of her father. She watched him frown slightly before Mark spoke up.
“Admiral, the Cylons are a race of machines bent on destroying all humanity, not to help us. Baltar betrayed the Colonials destroying twelve highly advanced worlds,” Mark said. “Sir, Admiral ,Corey!”
Crystal watched as the screen had gone completely blank. They had lost the signal. She turned to Mark who had a stunned look.
“I have to go down, if the Cylons get in position they will destroy the Alliance, and the Milsian Empire might not have the power to defeat the Cylons,” Crystal said. “We have to move now.”
She watched his shoulders slump slightly before saying anything.
“I know, I don’t like it so be careful,” Mark said.
“Don’t worry, I will,” Crystal replied turning to head to the hanger while Mark contacted Admiral Junkers.
*****
Crystal landed her fighter jumping out seeing several ground troops walk up to her. In the middle she recognized the general markings and waited for him to speak.
“Empress, we’ve made our way into the palace, we’re encountering resistance in several areas,” he said opening up a small device and activating it. A holo image of the palace sprung up with several spots. “We’re working our way into the main chamber, but the palace is heavily defended.”
Crystal nodded knowing that the palace had heavy defenses and even knowing where the defenses were it would be difficult.
“The fact we’re making any headway indicates some in the palace are not fully supportive of Tony. They have heard the truth, that you are the rightful empress,” the general stated.
“And the surrounding grounds?” Crystal asked.
“We’ve set up a defensive perimeter. So far we haven’t had the counter attack we were expecting, but we think they are organizing. If I know General Schliez will move quickly but won’t actually attack unless he is in position.”
“Then we need to end this quickly, and for more reasons than you know,” Crystal said. Her head still swam with information she heard while on board the Nevada. The Alliance was in great danger and if that happened then so was the Milsian Empire.
“Do you have any orders then?” the general asked.
“Actually general, I have no experience in ground combat, I was hoping you might have an idea,” Crystal said. “Put me in a fighter and I know what to do, here, you have the training and experience, so I’m counting on you.”
Crystal watched shock appear in the general’s eyes before it changed to fierce determination. She had a feeling she had said something right, but had no idea what that might have been. She only told the truth.
“All right, Ben, Frank, over here,” the general said. Crystal walked with them as they huddled around the holo of the palace. “We’re getting heavy resistance here, and here, but it looks light here.”
“Reinforce these areas,” one asked.
“No, which of the light areas is closest to the palace chamber, we attack that one in force, using a push in one of the heavy areas as a diversion. We push right to the palace chamber and take Emperor Tony prisoner for crimes against the Empire,” the general said.
“And if that’s a trap?” another one said.
“We go with this plan, Frank, you’ll lead the diversion, Ben, take the rest including the reserves and hit this area.”
“Yes sir,” they replied.
Crystal watched them walk away to carry out the order. She hoped it worked.
“Sir,” another soldier said walking up to the general. “Scouts indicate an incoming force.”
“Ah, General Schliez, about time he arrived,” the general said. “Are our defenses in position?”
“Yes sir, the six and seventh battalions are in place.”
“Good, they must hold and give us time to capture the emperor.”
Crystal watched knowing she had to be here, but also felt slightly useless in making combat decisions.
“Now we hope I didn’t send those men to a trap,” the general said.
Crystal nodded in agreement. Sound of the engagement echoed to where they stood causing Crystal to flinch slightly at the sound. The others appeared calm waiting for whatever would happen next.
*****
Mark glanced down at Admiral Junkers on the screen.
“You allowed her down on the planet?” he asked. Mark could tell Otto did not appear happy with that turn of events.
“She felt it was her place, and that her being there could help out the fighting. I had to agree and the quicker we win this war the better it will be for all,” Mark said.
“And what’s that mean?” Otto asked.
“It means that the Cylons have already gotten into the Alliance they are placing their basestars around heavily populated planets in the Alliance. If they attack the losses will be billions of people,” Mark said. “I still have an obligation to my people, like you do.”
“So this is a way to save your precious Alliance,” Otto asked.
“No, it’s to save all of us. The Cylons won’t stop with the Alliance, and we’ll need our combined power to stop them. If the Alliance falls, or the Milsian Empire falls, the other will fall for sure as well. Crystal recognizes this, in fact, I think she was probably the first to truly realize it,” Mark said. “And I do support her.”
“That will be a change,” Otto said.
“Yes, but how long do you think before the First Fleet returns?” Mark asked.
“Well, depends on when they got the message, and if they are able to turn around and how long their jump engines needed to cool down,” Otto said. “I say another hour or two.”
“I see, we’ll have to hope that the fighting is done by then,” Mark said. He really did not want to fight another battle. The Nevada had taken some damage already and the fighting had not finished yet.
“Sir, incoming message from the planet,” Hans said.
“If you’ll excuse me for a second,” Mark said to Otto who nodded. Mark switched the screen seeing Crystal’s face. “Crystal, what is going on down there?”
“We’re entering the palace, reports are that our forces are closing in on Emperor Tony,” Crystal said.
“That’s good news, what about the fighting?” Mark said. “Admiral Junkers estimates we have maybe an hour or two before the First Fleet returns.”
“I think the fighting will be over by then,” Crystal said.
“I hope so,” Mark replied. He did not want to fight on the ground and in the air.
*****
Crystal glanced over at the general when he came walking up over to her.
“It seems that it’s working, we forcing our way in, and I’ve got someone who wants to meet you,” the general said.
Crystal watched another man with a square jaw, thin grey/black hair and grey eyes walk up to them flanked on either side by soldiers. She looked over at the general then back to the man who now stood in front of her.
“This is her Frank?” the man asked looking over at the general.
“She’s passed all the tests, this is a legitimate daughter of Prince Boris, and I bet, her DNA is identical to the Emperor’s daughter,” Frank replied.
“And if you’re wrong?” the man asked.
“Then I will accept punishment, but if I’m right, we’ve been following the wrong person, you know that,” Frank replied.
“Where has she been all this time, with the Alliance?”
“No,” Crystal said speaking up for the first time. “I don’t know anything about the Emperor’s daughter, but it appears the emperor, I mean my uncle,” Crystal said changing how she referred to him, “kept me around for some reason. He even went so far to modify my memories using drugs. And I was put in the Second Fleet despite my high flying abilities.”
“Admiral Jurez,” the man said. “Very loyal to the Emperor.”
“What better way to keep an eye on her,” Frank said.
“And to order me terminated,” Crystal said. “In the battle of Serria my squadron leader opened fire on me.”
“And in every battle she has been the emperor’s single focus. If she wasn’t Prince Boris’ daughter then why is the emperor so determined?”
Crystal watched the man for several seconds before he finally seemed to come to a conclusion.
“I admit, I have no logical answer to that,” the man finally said. “It appears then we have a problem, one that is easily solved yet I doubt that Emperor Tony will help.”
Crystal had to agree. He had gained power through the elimination of people in front of him. He would not allow such an opportunity for Crystal. He would eliminate her the first chance he got.
“Until I know, I will not move against either group, but the Palace is effectively sealed. My forces will make sure no one else interferes until such time as both submit to a test, or one of you is killed,” the man said.
Crystal was not sure what to make of that.
“I’ll take it Schliez, you won’t be disappointed,” Frank said.
“I hope not,” Schliez replied.
“What made you talk first, it’s not like you?” Frank asked.
“I got a strange e-mail, suggesting there is more than one legitimate heir. So I was curious, if she is Prince Boris’ daughter then she is the rightful heir,” Schliez replied.
“Another strange e-mail,” Crystal said, not sure what to make of that.
“Yeah, why?” Schliez asked.
“It’s not the first time, and I’m not sure who is doing it either,” Crystal replied. Another mystery she hoped to solve.
“Empress,” a sudden voice said. “There has been a development.”
Crystal wondered what had happened this time and turned to hear the news.
End part 12
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