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Chapter 4

  • EMPEROR ARION
  • I sat in the imperial chair. A dozen advisors filled the grand conference room. Each specialized in a different category of their field. The Minister of Military and the Minister of Civil Space and Science had joined the discussion.
  • "Doctor Imbalance," I had turned my head in his direction. I watched as the old man pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. "Report?"
  • Uneasy, he stood to his full height, bowed to me, then lifted the file before him.
  • His report was as I had predicted. The peculiar object that had entered my solar system was still heading on the same trajectory.
  • "The space object has left Neptune's orbiting perimeter and has entered Uranus' orbiting perimeter."
  • I smiled, showing all my dragon teeth. A silent threat the doctor had noted. "And when did this occur?"
  • Beads of sweat trickled down Doctor Imbalance's neck. He was anxious and rightfully so. He had just replaced the male that had been executed along with the others who betrayed me.
  • Stammering, "My team had temporarily lost the whereabouts of the object. The SS Babylon station had relocated the object. That was three days ago. At this moment. They have lost the object again. It appears that the object has the technology to cloak itself."
  • "Interesting," my finger tapped the top of my armrest. "Is there anything else?"
  • The doctor cleared his throat and picked up the glass of water in front of him. With three gulps, he had emptied the glass and set it back on the table, then continued.
  • "It appears that a missile had been launched from the object. The target seems to be locked on the SS Babylon."
  • My tone had dropped. "Tell me you're lying, Doctor, because the alternative is a very long walk through a very short gallows," I didn't blink.
  • I watched the way the man’s pulse hammered against his throat. Doctor Imbalance read off the page in his hand. Repeating the data that had been sent to him from Doctor Kepler, the captain of the SS Babylon.
  • "A request for immediate evacuation has been sent through the proper channels. Doctor Kepler is still waiting for a response."
  • Doctor Imbalance had the decency to lower his head as the room fell into heavy silence. My advisors looked at me, waiting for the next words to come out of my mouth.
  • No words came to mind. Just a jolt of electricity blooming in my chest. My father fought a war against the Kethis. A clan of red dragons that refused to pay their dues. My grandfather fought the Ashen Claw pack. A group of wolves that had learned never to challenge the crown. Now it was my turn. I will dub the aggressors the Xanthor. Aliens with a low intelligence level.
  • "This isn't just an act of war. This is their greeting card." The Minister of Military leaned forward. "Your majesty, the SS Babylon holds the bioweapons."
  • I raised my hand, silencing the Minister of Military from speaking further.
  • "What is stored on the SS Babylon, is also located here. Evacuation denied."
  • I stood up slowly. The silk of my robes swept against the polished floor. I said nothing as I circled the table once. I looked at Doctor Imbalance. He leaned against the table for support. He looked at me with a desperate hope. Perhaps he was praying that I would revoke my earlier statement. Ordering an immediate evacuation of the SS Babylon.
  • "Doctor Imbalance, you are a man of numbers. And logic. Tell me. How much would it cost me to evacuate the SS Babylon versus cutting my losses?"
  • "The SS Babylon is roughly worth 150 billion beast coins. To evacuate the vessel could run into the hundreds of billions of beast coins."
  • I clicked my tongue as if I were about to make my point. "Hundreds of billions of beast coins." I twisted my body as I looked at everyone who sat at the table. "Cutting my losses would be cheaper. However, I am not a cruel emperor. I will grant reentry if those on board the SS Babylon can get back here without aid being sent to them."
  • A sigh of relief rippled through the crowd at the words. I watched the newly appointed Minister of Military. His eyes shifted. It wasn't panic, but a male making calculations.
  • "Your majesty, if I may speak boldly?"
  • My obsidian horns had glimmered in the morning light that was coming through the glass window. I admired the light catching the gold threads of my sleeves. A smile crept onto my face as everyone began to comprehend the situation. They understood now that I wanted the war to happen. And the blood-sucking Ministry of Military was looking at possibilities. Declarations in his name. His social status was rising in his mind. He just needed it to happen.
  • "Speak." I motioned my arm toward the Ministry of Military.
  • "For three hundred generations, your family has played the part of the shield. We have been protected from skirmishes and petty raids. This new threat has not even bowed and shown any diplomacy. I ask your majesty for permission to invoke the old laws. The ones that built your grand lineage."
  • I chuckled slowly, "Granted."