Astrid’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Yes. A Molecular Disintegration Engine. Someone set it off three weeks ago, completely destroyed the planet. That’s why I organized this jubilee, to quietly collaborate with the Allied governments and determine who would risk tripping a second Fall to stop me from gaining another planet. I thought you knew.”
“No, I did not,” I said, suddenly dizzy.
Astrid reached out to steady me. “Levar, you don’t look well at all.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” I said, and barely managed to turn away from the Emperor before I was proven correct.
REALIGNMENTS
THE REST OFmy time at the hot springs was considerably less relaxing. Despite the idyllic surroundings, discussions about Fall devices tended to put me on edge.
Astrid did not know much more about the device than she’d already said. It was a Molecular Disintegration Engine, a device which ripped apart planets at the atomic level, dissolving the strong nuclear force of anything within its field, every dissolved bond causing a chain reaction. There were dozens of hyperweapons classified as Fall devices, each powerful enough to destroy life on a planetary scale or more. Everyone knew they existed, but specific details were sketchy, lost to time and kept hidden by top secret research teams in the major surviving governments. All Fall devices were terrible, but the MDE was one of the most thorough, destroying an entire planet, everything on it, even ships in low orbit, leaving behind a slowly dispersing cloud of ionized gas. In raw destructive power, MDEs were only exceeded by solar core bombs. Then again, there could easily be something worse hidden in Fallspace.
The worst feature of Fall devices was how completely they destroyed everything. That was one reason the Fall was so devastating – the devices left nothing behind. Astrid’s space forces had confirmed the planet’s destruction, but in terms of the tactical situation, I was actually more informed than her – possibly the most informed person alive about New Melbourne’s battlefields at the time the device was activated. However, my knowledge of how many magma shells each army used in a week and how many ground shuttles were lost in each operational theater did not give me any insight as to who would have detonated a Fall device. Or why. I hadn’t even known there was one on the planet.
“Damn. Someonemustknow who detonated the device,” Astrid said.
“It would have been useful for me to know this was all due to a Fall device in the first place,” I said.
“I thought you knew,” Astrid said.
“Bullshit. That’s not the sort of thing you forget to talk about,” I said.
“It’s also not something which comes up in casual conversation,” Astrid replied. “When exactly did you expect me to bring it up? When we were in bed together? At a public event? Over dinner? When would it have been a good time to confirm you knew why we are all here?”
“I still don’t think I know,” I said.
“Because somebody willfully tripped a Fall device.” Astrid’s voice was incredulous.
“You rule a huge empire, dozens of star systems, hundreds of worlds. One of them goes away, what does it matter to you? You’re still winning.”
“I’m afraid!” Astrid shouted. “What use is victory if you Allies destroy the galaxy rather than let me rule it? I’d rather make peace now than face extinction, even if it leads to myassassination.” Another silence followed. “Of course, I’d much rather live and reign victorious, reforging the Empire with my Consort by my side.”
“Of course,” I confirmed. “And as long as we’re dreaming, I’d like the Royal Commonwealth restored and a lasting alliance forged between our two nations.”
“And our smaller allies, like Yezhidia,” Astrid added.
“And Stelsylvania,” I finished.
“Sounds lovely,” Astrid said as she set the skycar down on the roof of her private tower on the Crystal Palace. “Think there’s a Fall’s chance of it ever happening?”
I shrugged. “Well, I am dating the Emperor. That gives us some clout.”
“Less than you’d imagine,” Astrid said with a grimace. “The Empire elects its Emperors by assassination. I make too many unpopular moves, then there’ll be a new Emperor in charge.”
“Well then,” I said, levering myself out of my seat. “Guess I better go talk to the other royal I know who’s currently in this castle.”
Half an hour later, Ingvar showed me into one of the Crystal Palace’s famous gambling parlors. I thanked him, and he gracefully vanished. Meanwhile, I walked up to the green baize table where the Duke of Lynwyzc sat with a handful of cards and a tidy pile of plates and chips.
“Your Highness,” I said, committing a slight breach of protocol by addressing him unannounced, but this was important. I bowed, then asked, “May we speak somewhere private?”
The prince looked at me with distaste as he folded his cards. “Yes, I guess we’d better.” He stood and indicated for me to follow him. Boleslaw rose from another table as we passed and joined our little group. Prince Aureli led us intoa private card room and shut the door. Boleslaw produced a small bug stomper from her pocket and unfolded it, setting it on the table. The prince sat and fished a cigar out of his waistcoat. “Well, what is it you wanted to talk about, Captain? Or should I call you Consort?”
“Both. Neither. It doesn’t matter. Why didn’t I know about the Fall device?” I asked.
“So you know,” Boleslaw said grimly.
“Yes, I know. And so did you. This whole time, you’ve been trying to use me to manipulate the Emperor, to discover why she called us here, but you already knew.”
