Princess Marie stepped forwards, and I moved aside to let her speak. Raising her head, the princess said, “The Stelsylvanian Secret Service has uncovered incontrovertible proof that the Federation’s so-called intercepted transmission, wherein the Despotess supposedly ordered her forces to detonate a Fall device on New Melbourne, is a fake.”
Boleslaw broke the silence which followed the princess’s declaration. “And how have you proven this? Royal Military Intelligence has scrutinized those communiques. The transmissions are perfect.”
Marie agreed. “And so they are. The transmissions themselves have no flaw. However, our spies in the Empire have uncovered additional Federation transmissions, in particular, a transmission containing the activation code for the Fall device which destroyed New Melbourne.”
“That’s not terribly incriminating,” Boleslaw began, but then her eyes went wide.
Marie nodded, the two of them sharing some secret realization. “The Federation communique was found on an Imperial commlink, with the proper send and receive codes. The activation codes were intentionally broadcast from aFederation source to an Imperial recipient.”
I jumped in. “Which means we have collusion and conspiracy.”
Darius shook his head. “It’s circumstantial at best—”
“It’s clear evidence the Federation is lying,” I shot back.
Darius conceded. “Yes, but one of the conspirators was an Imperial. It doesn’t make sense – the Emperor wouldn’t set off a Fall device if she was winning. Clearly, it didn’t work out the way she intended.”
“No,” I agreed, “but I know some demons who it did work out very well for.”
“That’s all well and good to know the truth,” Boleslaw interrupted. “But the Federation and the nobles currently running the Empire will deny it. They have too much to lose if they accept the truth.”
“Which is why we must take action now,” I insisted. “The truth will strengthen our position, but we need a position to strengthen first.”
Archduke Darius stepped forwards. “Prince Selnikov and his cronies will not accept reason. They must fall to violence.” With a practiced motion, the archduke brought up a digital map of the palace. “It is vital we seize the armory and the barracks, here and here, to control the weapons and cut the usurpers from reinforcements. Then, we hit the main hall.”
“How will taking the main hall accomplish anything? Selnikov, Zukov, and the other traitors could be anywhere,” Lyudmyla sneered.
Archduke Darius nodded at her. “Precisely. That’s why our attack must occur during the treaty signing.”
“The treaty signing?” I repeated, stunned.
Darius looked at me with disbelief. “Yes, the treaty signing. What, do you have a pressing social engagement to attend or something?”
“No, it’s just, everyone’s going to be there. The prince, the nobles, the armed Imperial guards…” I trailed off.
Darius’s expression told me I had arrived at the conclusion he’d been leading me towards. “You mean the one time all the vipers will be together in one nest?”
I straightened my tunic, attempting to regain some composure. “When is this peace accord to be finalized?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Boleslaw said.
I gritted my teeth. “Then we haven’t much time.”
“Who’s we? Are we in this room all we have of us to fight?” Lyudmyla asked.
Princess Marie said, “My royal guard is committed to this course of action.”
“Thirty-odd ceremonial soldiers, chosen for how pretty they look in their dress uniforms?” Lyudmyla sneered.
“My guards are also at the Consort’s disposal,” Archduke Darius snarled, stepping next to Marie and placing a hand on her shoulder to show support. “You think I chose these bastards because they look pretty? These are sky troopers, drop soldiers, space marines, and skilled cavalry all. The Stelsylvanian guards are no pushovers either. They’re elite bodyguards, ready to die for the princess, and tough bastards in a brawl. I’ve nearly been killed by Stelsylvanian soldiers enough times to know those jackholes can fight.”
“Fine. We have some soldiers, and I can call a few more demons to fight with us. That still doesn’t tell me how we’ll overthrow Selnikov and the Federation. What’s the plan?”
At Lyudmyla’s simple question, every head swiveled to stare at me.
I tried not to shudder. I was no military expert, no tactical genius. I was a supply officer, a glorified clerk, a military shopkeeper.
Then again, I had survived for ten years, and it wasn’t my first time commanding an outnumbered, outgunned detachment on a near-suicidal mission behind enemy lines. Then, it was our survival we sought. Now, it was the survival of our nations we stood to win.
