Prosperous: Chutes & Ladders
Chapter 21

AMIDIEN SAT BACK IN HIS CHAIR. HE MOURNED THE WASTED LIVESOF THE Terallians, but the destruction of the ship meant this mission was over.

“Captain Ekal is asking if we should attack, sir.”

“No.”

“He wishes to speak to you.”

“On screen.”

On one of the screens the Terallian appeared.

“What do you mean no?”Ekal asked. “You haven’t been behind this mission since it started, Amidien. Ideclare—”

“Perhaps you didn’t read the mission orders, Ekal.”

“I read them.”

“Then you missed the part that Merchant Raitor ships wereonly to see the Paskian and Avinion ship. I’m sure there was a reason for thatorder and I suspect that if a Terallian ship were to attack them, your firstborn would die.”

“By you?”

“By order of the Emperor.”

“He is clearly trying to instigate a revolt against theMerchant Raitor Union,” Ekal argued.

“Would you rather take that chance or wait until BattleFleet Command has issued new orders? Is risking the life of your only son worthquestioning me?”

Ekal stared into the screen for a long moment. He finallynodded once and the screen went back to showing the ship. Probes were goingover to the Paskian ship. Soon they’d know it was full of Terallians, notPaskians. Amidien didn’t care. With any luck, they’d take the news back toMerchant Raitor and whatever plan the Emperor had would be thwarted.

“Sir, I found something on the ship,” Jali told him. “It isregistered to a human, Doctor Truman Barnet. Do you wish to review the shiprecord?”

Amidien lifted his chin. Admiral Larson spoke often of theBarnet’s, and would jokingly claim that Tru, his brothers and sister were hisown children. And if Truman Barnet was captaining the vessel, Amidien was evenmore grateful he’d won. It meant he wouldn’t have to tell Larson he’d beenresponsible for the human’s death.

“Does it tell us what kind of sensors the ship has?”

“No, sir.”

“Move us further into the corona and contact Battle FleetCommand.” Amidien stood. “I’ll pull the record up in my quarters. Computer, transportme to my quarters.”

Amidien disappeared from the bridge.

A concentrated mindwill pierce a rock.

—Human, Japaneseproverb