Sacrifice

Chapter 36 - The Plot

Kali didn't return home until nearly 2h00 the next morning. It had been a long wait at the vigil, but the Emperor had finally appeared before the crowd to assure them that his son had come out of surgery and was recovering well. He was being kept sedated until his injuries had recovered further, but he was expected to be back on his feet in less than a week.

As soon as Kalli stepped into her room, she heard the computer beeping, indicating an incoming call from Miriam. Kalli answered it.

"Where have you been Kalli? I couldn't get through to your com-pack, and I've left nearly two dozen messages."

Kalli rubbed her eyes. "I was at the Prince's vigil; I had my com-pack off. They only announced that he would be ok a half hour ago. Is this about the position on the colony ships?"

"Forget about the position," Miriam said harshly. "Where in damnation did you get these plans? Do you have any idea what you've found?"

Kalli would have groaned, but she heard the fear in Miriam's voice. "Of course I haven't got any idea what those plans are about. That's why I sent them to you."

Miriam's voice was shaking over the connection. "Kalli those plans show the exhaust output from the star ships connecting to a section of sewers under the city."

Kalli started to get a sick feeling. "But the underground caverns – "

"Have been completely bypassed," Miriam answered. "If the changes on these plans have been made, then when the ships take off in two days' time, the Cirt's compound will be flooded with toxic fumes that will rise from the sewers. Everyone in there will die. Kalli you need to take this to someone, who did you get these from?"

Kalli looked around. They were discussing a planned genocide while she sat in her bedroom.

"The Emperor," she said finally.

"Do you think he'll meet with you?" Miriam asked.

"You misunderstand," Kalli answered a heck of a lot more calmly than she felt. "I'm not planning to take this matter to the Emperor, these plans came from the Emperor."

There was a deafening silence over the connection.

"Kalli what are you going to do? If the Emperor has it in for the Cirts, there's not a place on the planet where they'll be safe. Same goes for anyone who tries to help them."

"I, I need to think ..."

Kalli suspended the call and went to the window to stare out. But she didn't see the stars. All she saw were the pieces of a chessboard laid out in the Emperor's plan. Imperial workers had made changes to the infrastructure under the Cirt's compound; the ships were ready to launch, and the Cirts were all cloistered in their compound unable to escape.

Then Kalli gave a laugh that was half sob. She had thought that she could look and choose to do nothing. How wrong she had been. Staring blankly at the stars, Kalli tried to think of a way to save the Cirts with what little she had.

# # #

Finally, Kalli reconnected the call to Miriam. "I need you to take the position as head of the Princely Project."

"How can you even think about the position right now?" Miriam demanded.

"Because you're right," Kalli answered. "There's no place on this planet where the Cirts, or anyone who helped them, will be safe. So, we need to get the Cirts off the planet, and the only way to do that is to hijack the Princely Project."

"You want to steal half a dozen star ships?" Miriam asked.

"Yes. The only way to get control and have them ready to fly in two days is for you to take over. You'll tell the colonists and the scientists to meet away from the ships because the launch has been delayed. Then you'll load the Cirts on the ships and take off on schedule. That is, if you're willing. It would be a one-way trip, and if the Emperor finds out what we're planning, then we'll both be in danger. Will you do it?"

There was silence across the line. Kalli bowed her head but didn't press for an answer. She was asking a lot from her friend and mentor.

"I'd do it if it were possible."

Kalli breathed a slight sigh of relief at Miriam's words.

"But the Cirts are under heavy guard, how will you get them out of their compound?"

"Leave that to me," Kalli answered. "I have a plan, but it would be better if you don't know about it until it happens."

"Alright, but I can't order everyone away from the project. Someone will notice and raise the alarm."

Kalli nodded. "Captain Adir Doran will meet you tomorrow morning. You can give him the security details, he and his friends will deal with anyone that you can't order away."

Miriam's sigh came from across the line. "So, I assume you've given thought to who will fly the ships? They may be heavily automated, but I can hardly fly all of the ships by myself."

Kalli smiled. "The Cirts may not be big on technology, but they're big on science. They're smart enough to learn what they need to do to get off the planet in one piece. Just get a list of all the essential roles to Captain Doran as soon as you can. He'll get it to the Cirts."

"Where will you be?" Miriam asked.

"Busy," was all Kalli was willing to answer. "Will you do this?"

There was silence, and Kalli knew that Miriam was considering the angles, making sure that nothing had been left out.

"Yes," Miriam finally answered. "I'll be at the launch site first thing in the morning, make sure that the captain comes to visit by 9h00."

The connection ended, and Kalli glanced at the clock. It was 2h30, and while Kalli knew that she should probably rest, it wasn't going to happen. Instead, she sent Adir a message to meet her at sunrise and went to work at her computer console, making sure that her pieces were laid out as carefully as the Emperor's.

# # #