Elite: Dangerous

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The two women sat in the lobby of their shabby hotel, drinking synthetic coffee. Aisling nervously looked at the doors. Anwen had already checked a possible escape route, just in case Captain Bodski was not trustworthy. It was a gamble, both of them knew that, but it was a calculated risk. Aisling’s trust was nonetheless shaken.

Anwen had met with the captain about an our earlier by the docks, and instructed him to come alone, and not to draw any attention.

Then she had checked all exits in the building, including the sewers. She knew a path through the airducts that would lead them back to the docking bay, where the Chrysaor was parked in stand by and ready for an emergency launch. Getting out of the station would be tricky, but Anwen was postive that, once outside the station, the small agile ship could outmaneuver the heavier ships and jump to safety. It would take at least five minutes for Beadford’s fleet to launch their fighters, and she would have jumped out already.

Her escape plan turned out to be unnecessary. The captain just entered the lobby and he was alone. He had changed from his uniform into unremarkable civilian clothes, so Anwen nearly overlooked him. He casually walked over to the table, and asked:

“Excuse me, ladies, is this seat taken?”

Anwen smiled, and offered him a seat. He looked at Aisling, and tried not to sound too excited.

“Your Highness, it is a pleasure to see you alive and well! I was told you were dead!”

“Captain Bodski!” Aisling was genuinely delighted to see the faithful friend of her father’s. “It must have been four years, since we last met. It’s good to see you here!”

“I was told you were shot down by the traitors of Emperor’s Dawn. How did you get away?” Bodski wanted to know.

“I would have been, if it weren’t for Commander Hunter. She saved my life numerous times.”

The captain turned towards Anwen. “Then the empire is in your debt, Commander.” He saluted.

“Oh, don’t do this again, please!” Anwen rolled her eyes.

“From what we know, Emperor’s Dawn is well equipped, and it seems they have a mole in high places. How did you escape?”

“Another time, Captain” Aisling stopped him. “We need to get into the council halls. We need a deal with Auserid, and I want to find out if Lord Beadford is behind all this.”

Bodski nodded. “Of course, Your Highness! I have contacted eight of my most trustworthy guards. We will get you into the hall, and make sure, that Beadford’s people keep their feet still.”

“When will we be able to go?” Aisling asked.

“My people assemble as we speak.”

“Good, we’ll leave immediately.”

The small party entered the hall through a side entrance, Bodski’s men were in uniform and they were armed with pulse rifles. Anwen noticed, that they walked in formation around them, as to shield the princess with their bodies. The professional no-nonsense attitude of Bodski’s men was reassuring to Anwen; these guys were highly trained professionals. And on their side for a change. Bodski led to group to the chamber hall, where the city counsel usually sat. The doors were guarded only by two ordinary policemen, who looked intimidated by the heavily armed soldiers in their shiny armor.

“I’m sorry sir.” One of the police officers said. “But the council is in meeting.”

His voice was quivering just a little.

“I am aware of that.” Bodski said, not unfriendly, but with a tone of authority in his voice, that tolerated no objection. “Please announce that Her Royal Highness, the Princess Aisling Duval demands to speak to the council.”

The policeman peeked through the wall of bodies to get a glimpse of the princess and recognised her.

He swallowed. Undoubtedly he had heard of the princesses supposed death, but he knew better than to ask any questions. Instead he turned around, and signalled his companion to help him open the door. Unfamiliar with Royal protocol, he did what he’s seen on holo, stepped into the room, and announced loudly: “Her Royal Highness, the princess Aisling Duval, wishes to speak to the council.”

The talk in the room seized. Heads turned towards the entrance as Bodski’s men entered the room. They measured the entire room with their eyes for potential danger, and immediately placed themselves in strategic locations around the room. Anwen had originally planned to stay at the princesses side, but she saw that Bodski was better suited for this. After all, he was experienced with keeping people safe. So Anwen decided to stay in the shadows, while the others talked.

One of the men on the table got up. He was of dark complexion, and wore a frock coat over a simple looking waistcoat. He looked like one would imagine a civil servant or a representative to look like.

“What is the meaning of the commotion?” he said loudly. His voice was soft and warm, and Anwen had the feeling this guy was rather amiable.

The princess stepped into the room. “I apologise for the dalay. I was,” she paused “held up on my way here.”

The man in the frock coat bowed. “Your Highness, what a great pleasure to see you alive and well! We were informed of your, ahem, demise and we have been in mourning all day.”

The princess looked around the tables where heaps of papers where stacked in front of each representative, indicating they’d been quite busy. “I can see that.” She said she said with barly concealed sarcasm in her voice. “I appreciate your concern.”

The man bowed again. “May I introduce myself, I am Adminstrator Chesterton Gropp, chairman of the council and mayor of Abe’s Landing; at your service.”

The princess nodded at him. “I was under the impression that you were expecting my presence during these negotiations.”

The civil servant looked surprised. “I was informed that Lord Beadford-Ferron would take over, since you were …indisposed.”

“That’s a way of putting it.” The princess remarked. She then turned her attention to another man, who was undoubtedly Lord Beadford-Ferron, for, opposed to the grey suits of the council members, his appearance was pompous to the point of ridicule. He wore a white cloak lined with ermine. The cloth was embroidered with gold threads and on his head he wore an enourmous powedered wig, that was meant to make him taller, and cover his fading roots. If Aisling didn’t know this was one of the most dangerous men in the empire, she’d laughed at him.

“Your Lordship!” She greeted him. “What a surprise to see you, what brings you here?”

“Well, after we learned your Highnesses disappearence, we hurried here. After all, negotiating an alliance with the good people of Abe’s Landing is important for the empire. We were around, and I informed Her Majesty, that we can take over the negotiations at any point, until you came back safe. Which, thank the godess, you did.”

“What a wonderful coincidence, that you’ve been here just at the right time, Lord Beadford. The empire is in your debt. I think I will not waste any more time, and get myself up to date with the negotiations, if that is acceptable to you, Adminstrator Gropp.”

The mayor bowed a gain. “Of course, your Highness. Whatever you wish.”

“Splendid.” The princess said. “I will inform my staff to send the delegation, while you could update me until we have a new delegation here.”

And to Lord Beadford-Ferron: “Lord Beadford, I’d like you to assemble all protocols of your previous meetings, and hand them over to me. Once the Royal delegation arrives, they will meet with your negotiators.”

The lord had gone paler with every word. “Does that mean, I’m off the table?” He asked.

“Your loyal services to the empire are much appreciated, Lord Beadford. Your services will be well paid for, and not forgotten by the Crown.”

The baron bowed, and said through gritted teeth: “It is my pleasure to service the empire. Bask in her glory!”.

Anwen had kept to the shadows so far. Somehow no one had even so much as looked at her during the entire conversation. All these people were so self-important and big headed, that she appeared to them like any maid that would serve the princess. And as such, she was invisible to them.

This gave her the opportunity to move around relatively undisturbed, as long as she kept out of the way. She casually grabbed a tray and began cleaning up the table. All the while she was checking the situation. There were the councilmen, who actually where almost exclusivly men, Bodski and his men, and some guards, guarding the side entrance. The two guards made Anwen nervous. While the main entrance was guarded from the outside and by personnel that was clearly identifiable as station security, these to people wore military uniforms, that were unmarked.

And both of them had entered the room after the princess and Anwen had arrived.

“If I were Beadford,” she thought, “I’d place my people there. And I’d have backup on stand-by behind those doors.”

In Anwen’s eyes, there was no doubt that it was the excentric baron, who was behind the attempts on the princesses life. She was sure Aisling was aware of it, but she felt safe, surrounded by Bodski’s men. Clearly, Beadford would not attack her in public. Or would he?

Anwen started to ponder. For now, only the council members, Bodski and his men and Lord Beadford himself knew that the princess was still alive. Even if Bodski had sent a memo, he couldn’t have confirmed his report, because he only met the princess on their way here. And he couldn’t talk, if he was dead.

Beadford however had enough firepower out here to take over the station and seize control of the Auserid system himself. If he wanted to gain control, all he needed was to kill everyone in this room, and use his military power to fake an attack of Emperor’s Dawn on the station. He could then play the hero himself and claim that he beat the attackers. But his time-window was closing shortly. If the princess got a chance to contact the emperor, the ruler herself would send a battle fleet to make sure no one took control over Auserid. So, if he was about to act, it would be now.

She set down the tray, and walked along the side of the room and placed herself between Bodski and two of his men, who were guarding the princess left and right. the gurard she was closest to shot her an annoyed look, and pushed her out of his way, towards Bodski. She smiled apologetically, and walked past Bodski as casually as she could. When she was within earshot, she whispered, loud enough that he could hear: “It’s a trap!”. Then she retreated into the background, slowly drawing her blaster.

Captain Bodski reacted professionally: All he had to do, was shoot some looks at his men, and nod. Anwen could see how the members of the Royal Vanguard silently readied for battle. Anwen placed herself behind the tables, so that she only needed to jump accross them to reach Lord Beadford. She had decided a hostage might be neccessary to get out of here.

All this had taken place during the exchange between the princess and Lord Beadford-Ferron.

“To Her glory!” The princess just said. “That would be all, Lord Beadford. Thank you.”.

The baron shook his giant wig and made a face, as if he just received a very sad news.

“I am afraid, Your Highness, it’s not.”

Aisling looked at him in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“You should have gone home, after all this commotion. You could sit in your palace and lick the wounds from your last encounter with death. Instead you decide to come here, despite the grim warning your journey should have given you, and try to mess with affairs a delicate young girl such as yourself, shouldn’t mess with.”

“So it was you, who placed a spy in my own ranks. And you sent those ships from after me!”

“Well, well my dear! Would I ever do something like this? I merely tipped them off. Your handmaid was a really fine ally. Just a little stupid, poor thing.”

Aisling was furious: “This is treason! I see to it, that you’re executed for this!”

“I’m afraid, that has to wait!” The baron lifted his right hand. The two merchenaries guarding the side entrance opend the doors, and men dressed just like the two guards stormed in. Lord Beadford-Ferron turned to go. “No survivors.” He told his men. They opened fire immediately.

Captain Bodski jumped in front of the princess, while his men returned fire. Adminstrator Gropp, with a terrified look in his eyes simply fainted. The other council members panicked and ran for the main entrance, stumbling over each other. More soldiers appeared from the central corridor, and shot the fleeing men on sight.

Anwen jumped across the table and grabbed Lord Beadford while he was passing her. Using the power of her own momentum, she slammed him into the wall. The barrel of her blaster touched the back of his head: “Call off your men, if you want to live!”

“You will die for this.” The corrupt nobleman said through gritted teeth.

“Since your people are under orders to kill me anyway, not a convincing threat. Call them off!”

She pressed the gun to his head even harder.

“H…Hold your fire!” He called into the room. “Hold your fire!”

The sound of gun blasts stopped and all eyes were on Anwen and Beadford.

“Tell them to clear the door.” She told him.

“You heard her! Clear the door!”

When his own life was in peril, Lord Beadford-Ferron was quite the coward. Anwen could literally smell his fear. She just hoped he wouldn’t soil his gold embroidered pants, why she still had to hold him down.

Bodski’s men assembled in a circle around the princess, while they retreated to the door. Anwen followed them, keeping a close grip on the struggling man. She pondered what to do with him, once they were past his men. The second she released him, he’d have his men chase them. She didn’t want to kill him in cold blood either. After all, she wasn’t him. Bodski closed the door to the council chamber, and took the decision from her. He walked over to her, and rammed his fist into Lord Beadford’s face as hard as he could. Anwen heard a crunching noise, as if some bone was broken, and it was lights out for the traitor.

Two of Bodski’s men took over, carrying the unconcious man down the hallway.

“Thank you for your help, Commander!” Captain Bodski said as they hurried out.

Anwen tried to take a glance at the princess, but the three remaining men from Bodski’s team still shielded her with their bodies, although at least two of them were injured.

“Aisling, are you all right?” She asked, completely forgetting about protocol.

“I’m fine, thank you my love.” The princess replied.

They reached the end of the hallway, and hurried outside.

“I need a comms-terminal.” Bodski said. “I need to contact the fleet. They can be here in a few hours.”

Anwen nodded. “There is one inside the shopping mall, over at the High Street. We need to get the princess to safety.”

“Can you get her off-station?” The captain asked.

“Right now, I think that’ll be too dangerous. They have a fleet waiting out there. And they’re going to expect we do something like this. They also will be looking for the baron. We better split up. I’ll take the princess to a safe location, you keep an eye on him,” she pointed to the limp body. “and contact the imperial fleet.”

Bodski pondered. “That would leave Her Highnesses safety soley in your hands!”

Both Anwen and Aisling looked at the captiain of the guard and said simultaniously: “Seriously?”

The captain of the guard sighed. “Be careful, Your Highness.”

Aisling smiled. “Promised Captain. Contact us, when it’s safe.”

She turned to Anwen: “I trust you have a plan how to get us back unseen?”

Anwen grinned. “How do you feel about a trip to the stations underground?”

“Just when I got a new dress.” The princess sighed.

The next morning Aisling woke in the bed in the shabby hotel Anwen had booked them in when they arrived. No one here knew who she was, or that she had been here, so it was safe to stay. Anwen was staring at a news monitor. Captain Bodski spoke to a journalist about how the Royal Vanguard had captured a traitor, and that Lord Beadford-Ferron had been conspiring with Emperor’s Dawn against the crown in order to take over the trade in rare metals that was the foundation of Auserids economy.

He also stated that Her Royal Highness, Princess Aisling Duval, was safe. That was the signal for Anwen, that they could come out of hiding. The newsreel showed an outside view of the station, that was swarming with imperial battleships.

“Good morning, Your Highness!” Anwen said, without turning around. “I think you made it.”

The princess got out of bed, walked over to the commander and put her arms around the womans waist.

“I think that was mostly you. I cannot thank you enough.”

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