In the Rouge

Prologue - Garza

“Not in the bloody budget!” yelled Admiral Emanuel Garza at no one in particular. “How the hell did an accountant become emperor?”

     “I believe he bludgeoned the last emperor to death with a ledger[3], sir,” replied Garza’s lieutenant.

     Garza turned to look at the lieutenant, taking the moment to calm himself. “That was a rhetorical question. I’ve heard the story, and I still don’t believe it. How could everyone just let him get away with this? It makes no sense.” He shook his head and turned back toward the holo-projector, which currently displayed a green and yellow planet.

     “Well sir,” said the lieutenant, “I believe there was a bit of a fuss a few years back when Lord Harrimont nuked a few inhabited planets for an art project. I don’t think anyone was much distraught when he was replaced.”

     Garza stared at the planet, frowning as his gaze passed over receding ice caps and dried lake beds. “Yes, old Harrimont always was a bit eccentric, but even so, not killing billions of people should not be the only job requirement for ruler of the known universe.” He sighed. “Now we have ‘His Supreme Accountancy’ Stanley Beams. It isn’t right, ruling with numbers.”

     “Not much we can do about it here, sir.”

     “I know, and I don’t think it coincidence that he took power while I was off on a five-year mission to the ass-end of space.” Garza sighed again. “Have we received word back from the rest of the admirals?”

     “Yes, sir. I was just coming to inform you that we received transmissions from the Andronikus and the Peverel. Everyone has agreed to attend.”

     “Excellent. We’ll do what we can for these people”—he gestured at the sickly planet—“after that, we will just have to see.”

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[3] Euthenia Sledgepot, 101 Uncommon Uses of the Common Accounting Ledger, #22: Capital Punishment