The announcement came just as Don Krispa was ready to leave his apartment to attend a party being staged in honour of the Dark Lord’s return. It was Tama Priestas, and she was insistent.

His “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Received a categorical “No!”

Reluctantly allowing her to enter, she did not get the best of greetings.

“The staff are all out, celebrating and I am going to join in. It is best if we are seen to celebrate so make it fast.”

“This won’t take long.” The tall and somewhat gaunt women stalked past him. As always he wondered what her home planet voters saw in her. He never considered what the voters saw in him, equally tall, good looking and intelligent, none compered to him in his mind.

“I just talked to Deuris, he will stick with us. He sees every credit he worked for going into a black hole.” She smiled sardonically. “On the other hand, Conti is now ready to kiss the Dark Lords butt if necessary. He is gone.”

“What about the rest. Authua, Plenna, Kuns and Dupra?”

“Plenna and Dupra are gone. Plenna is terrified about Him for some reason, I am not sure what. Didn’t you see him swearing the oath? He will do nothing to upset in any way the Dark Lord. Dupra, well you saw her take the Dark Lords hands and swear the oath, she will not swerve from that path now. As for the other two, I haven’t spoken to them but Kuns won’t buck someone like the Dark Lord while Authua might but I doubt it. She is too smart for that kind of risk. The rest, well we know where they stand!”

Krispa grunted, what Priestas had said was exactly what he thought. The rest would likely support the Dark Lord anyway, that meant that there would be no chance of a council take over.

“What about our Legion contacts.”

“They want to move right now. Fools! I watched several replays this afternoon after we got back from the palace. The rank and file of the Legion are firmly behind Him. So are most of the officers I am certain. The ones that aren’t won’t move against the Dark Lord, not without a good reason and probably not even then.” She laughed. “Appointing a new Star Commander, especially Vis Vistricer was smart. He is brilliant and thoroughly worthy of the rank. Now that was a great move.” Priestas stopped.

Once again Krispa wondered about her, she was completely honest with herself in assessing others. He wondered if that was a strength or a weakness. Shaking away the irrelevant thought, he returned to the matter of the generals he had been cultivating.

“So they want to move, but you disagree, what are their and your reasons?’

“They say it is better to move fast, before the Dark Lord is fully secure. Before He can claim complete allegiance from the people and the rank and file of the Legion.” She snorted. “They say that a bad plan carried out thoroughly, is better than a great plan for which they have to wait for the right time. The fools.”

“It’s not such a bad idea. Move quickly.” Krispa decided to push a little and see what reaction he got. He wasn’t disappointed.

“If they had a plan and the troops loyal to them in place it could be the right move. But they have neither. This was never anticipated.” Tama Priestas waved her hand dismissively.

A chill ran down Don Krispa’s spine. This was just too convenient. Had this been planned? The thought that the Dark Lord’s return had occurred at so convenient a time was frightening, he had held His hands and looked into His eyes. There was no doubt there, the return had been well planned. The thoughts ran through Krispa’s mind. He decided.

“Listen, they can’t go, we have to stop them. The Dark Lord is not like anyone else, He knows and will act. If he can destroy planets, taking a few generals heads won’t be a problem for him. Neither will ours.”

Tama Priestas rose up from the couch she had flopped into. “You too?” Came with derision. “I thought you had a spine.”

Krispa’s face hardened “I have all the spine you have and more but I am not a fool. He knows, and He is playing with us. Remember what the ladies told us, oh so casually? That we will all have a private audience with Him. He is waiting and watching us right now. If we play it right we just might keep our heads but if you want to go and play with Deuris, that fool that is so full of himself, go right ahead. But count me out.”

Priestas glared at Krispa. “You will regret this.” Her anger showed.

“I already am.” He smiled, then collected a light coat. It was getting into early spring on Tihab, a warm planet, but it was still cool at night.

“For now let us be good leaders of the Empire and go and show the people of Tihab and the rest of the Empire that we are real people.” He went to the door.

As she hadn’t bothered to remove her coat, all Tama had to pick up was her hat and comm unit. Still angry, she gave Krispa another glare, than, without speaking, stormed out the door that he was holding open. With a smile he followed, securing the door behind him.

It was with further amusement that he saw Priestas shut the elevator doors pretty much in his face. Calling another, he joined a laughing and giggling group and went down with them, laughing right along with them. A bachelor, if he played his cards right, he might get one of these women to come back with him. Now there was a thought! Priestas was already forgotten

*********

Later. Two members of the Legion sitting in a quiet room not talking, just sitting, each nursing a drink,

Finally one stirred. “Did you enjoy the Marshals reception?”

“Oh, it was fun, I shook his hand, did you?”

“The men liked it, but did you see that colonels face. You know the one I mean. That one in transportation. I thought that he had swallowed a slime fish!” He laughed. “And yes I saluted and shook his hand.”

“All our plans gone to naught, nothing left.”

“Oh we still have the chance at something, but yes, they will have to be recast.”

“We can still …” The other man lifted up his hand.

“There will be only one chance at this. We will have to have everything in place when we strike so that our so called Master is presented with an accomplished fact. We will use our stooges in the council to stir up trouble and keep him busy with them.” He smiled. “My fleet is behind me, I have no worries there.”

Vice Admiral Vic Tappa, commander of Battle Group Twelve, a quad of battleships with two quads of light cruisers, was a thin wiry man with a thin, hawk like face. He didn’t smile as he rose to his feet. “And that is where I am now going. Keep close watch on those fools in the council. Most will want to keep on the good side of our returned master.” The last came out in a sneer.

“I will.” Rear Admiral Tupper Hills responded. “They are craven idiots but they have their uses.” He smiled. “My position gives me a good reason to keep in touch with them anyway.” He was the Chief of Staff, Council Liaison. A portly man, he used his charm and good manners to make friends. Few took note of his shifty eyes.

“Good, and keep away from the palace. It is too dangerous.”

“Afraid that I will fall in love?” Hills laughed.

“And get you head removed!” Tappa retorted shortly, he was not a humorous man.

The two laughed and left. Tappa first and Hills a fraction later. Both were satisfied that they were unobserved. They were wrong.

A cloaked and hooded woman watched from the shadows. The cloak was cunningly fashioned to both cover, and blend into whatever background it was against. The wearer smiled, removed the cloak, and stepped out into the light. Security Chief Ferni Massett would not be recognised by any of her staff as she walked along one of the many avenues that comprised the residential and entertainment district of Tihab.