Prosperous: Chutes & Ladders -
Chapter 1
13 April 2660
UNDER THE LIGHTS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ROOM, TERALLIANEMPEROR Lixu’s yellow and dark green striped skin glistened with an almostglowing sheen. His lizard eyes focused on a holographic screen at the center ofthe room, and the video playing on it. An external camera on a Terallianfreighter ship saw a dozen Merchant Raitor Patrol Vipers rushing through theblackness of space toward it.
The view changed to show a Dilcarq trade ship. As Vipersmoved to surround the ships, his head drifted to the left to follow the Vipers.Dreadlocks of skin fell across his face. Colored tattoos decorated most of thedreadlocks, along with several piercings which tinkled like wind chimes on eachsubtle movement. Not that he would ever notice such a refreshing sound the onlyartistic skill Terallians possessed. His scaly, bony fingers curled around thearms of his chair. Long, yellowed fingernails pushed into the scratches he andhis predecessors had dug into the ancient wood.
The view cut again to show a Merchant Raitor Patrol cruisercoming to a halt. He leaned back, jerking the edge of his green and yellow robeover his triple jointed knee. Sewn onto the shoulder of his robe was the rankinsignia of an admiral and flowing down the robe were various symbols of theancient Terallian language to identify his family house.
The video cut out and it left his blood boiling. Intenseanger coursed through him, making the veins down his neck pop up and the greenstripes across his body darken. Anger flared his nostrils, lifted his lips intoa sneer to show his small, serrated, sharp teeth.
He looked down the oblong table below the holograph screen. Lixusat at the head of the table. To his left were twelve advisors of industry,commerce, religion, and various other areas of government; to his right, were twelvemilitary advisors. Across from of him was his family advisor and liaison forhis wives and children. Lixu didn’t trust any of them. He didn’t trust hiseight wives, twelve children, or numerous grandchildren. Once, a hundred andeight years ago, his father and he were waiting for a banquet and his fathertold him distrust was a strong ally for all emperors. He told Lixu to trust noone, not even his family. He looked Lixu in the eye, and told him that his ownblood was perhaps his worst enemy. The next day, Lixu killed his father and usurpedthe throne, proving his father right.
“What happened?” Lixu snarled, his teeth gnashing eachsyllable.
“We were selling weapons to the Dilcarq, as you ordered,Emperor,” came a slithering reply from Admiral Riliq.
Admiral Riliq sat on Lixu’s right and was always the mostvocal of his advisors. He was the youngest Terallian to hold the rank ofAdmiral, but Lixu also admired how he had earned it. Any time a superior officerdared to question his advice, Riliq challenged them. That meant a hand-to-handcombat to near-death – however, the rules didn’t prohibit actually killingone’s opponent, and Riliq never left his opponents alive. He had the cunning,deceit, and brutality Lixu wished he could see in any one of his own sons.
Riliq continued, “Without provocation the Merchant RaitorPatrol arrived, took the weapons into possession, arrested both crews, andimpounded our vessels. The Dilcarq have refused further trade with us becauseof this incident.”
Along his long snout, Lixu’s lips twitched.
“They interfered with a trade again?” Lixu asked, although it wasn’t really a question. He knewthe answer. This happened far too frequently. How many millions of cubits hadbeen lost because of these raids that the Merchant Raitor board deemed‘illegal’ or ‘monopolizing trade markets’?
With a voice dripping of disdain, Riliq answered, “Yes,Emperor Lixu.”
Parak, a general advisor halfway down the table on hisright, cleared his throat. “With respect, Emperor, it is in our peace agreementwith Merchant Raitor that we aren’t to sell weapons without obtaining theappropriate permits and informing the Merchant Raitor board. We failed tofollow procedure… Again… Emperor.”
Lixu’s angry eyes lifted to the Terallian, who immediatelylooked away and sat back to hide behind the others.
“Should we reallyhave to get permits to trade outside of the Merchant Raitor Union, even forweapons?” Riliq growled at Parak. “We don’t have to have permits to tradestaples with the Dilcarq, why weapons?”
Parak didn’t reply, seeming to sense he’d already puthimself in danger.
Lixu, for a brief moment, was indecisive. He knew why thatregulation was in place. He had read all of the regulations and protocols beforeagreeing to sign the peace treaty. The Merchant Raitor board didn’t wantunauthorized weapons used against other Merchant Raitor nations. His indecisionvanished when he remembered the billions of cubits that had been lost when theweapons were seized and the trade compromised.
“General advisors, you are dismissed.”
They didn’t move at first. They looked at each other as ifthey didn’t understand the order.
“GET OUT!” Lixu screamed.
They quickly obeyed, falling over themselves to leave.
After they were gone, Lixu asked, “Riliq, didn’t AdvisorParak just have a male child?”
“Yes.”
“Order it killed and be sure he understands that if hespeaks out again, all his children will be executed.”
Riliq tapped a button and a holographic keyboard and monitorappeared before him. He quickly sent the order.
“The Merchant Raitor was interfering with our trade andeconomy long before we tried to be at peace with them,” Lixu continued, “andfor eight years I’ve listened to my people voice they too are tired of the meddling.”Lixu looked at each face of his military advisors as he ordered, “Buy or stealthree ships from every nation, hide them, and equip them all with a cloakingmatrix. The Tetra Empire is about to rise again.”
The room vibrated with gnashing teeth, fists pounding on thetable, and roars of approval.
Like aged Gaxean Barutiaa mead, trust knows how to killor make a soul true.
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