Resilience (Warner's World Book 6) (57 page)

But she was also intrigued by ‘this new proposal’ he mooted in his signal. He had declined to elaborate in a return signal, which is why she just had to come and see him. She hated the fact that this would mean being away from Earth for a month. It wasn’t that she would miss her husband, far from it. But she was deep in the throes of mounting a covert political campaign to have her son run for Chief Minister of the human Federation.

So her facial expression was an odd mix, formed by both anxiety and intrigue, and it was this that made Charles swallow hard as he came forward to embrace her. He gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. Both surprised Amelia and now a look of amazement claimed her face.

“Thanks for coming mother” said Charles. There was a genuine smile on his Eurasian face and his brown eyes looked the clearest Amelia had ever seen them. “Here let me” he said relieving her of responsibility for wheeling her luggage. Amelia looked at him warily but otherwise was content to walk alongside her son as he wheeled her suitcase. It was peak hour for arrivals and the concourse was extremely busy. “This way” said Charles and he gave her another smile.

Amelia could not remember the last time he had smiled at her so warmly. But she had to slot in behind him due to the number of people jostling to get out to the taxi rank. She was still struggling to remember how long it had been when Charles again said “This way.” He headed for the VIP cars and handed the suitcase to the driver.

They sat in the back of the limousine. “Nelson Towers” advised Charles to the driver.

“Can we go somewhere private first” asked Amelia.

“Of course” said Charles and he gave the driver instructions.

There was so much Amelia wanted to say and ask but she knew better than to do so in the vehicle. Amelia noticed all the construction work as they were exiting the spaceport. “Was that where they nuked?” she asked.

“Further north, but the shockwave severely damaged the northern terminal.”

“Shocking business. We should have retaliated.”

Charles just nodded and they remained silent till they arrived at the Nelson Towers. Charles left the luggage at reception and took his mother back outside and to one of the nearby cafes.

Thankfully the breakfast crowd had left and the morning tea crowd was yet to arrive, so apart from two other patrons they had the place to themselves. When Charles ordered a flat white for himself, Amelia was surprised.

“When did you give up the short blacks” she asked.

“Oh it’s just one of many things I have changed, mother.”

“So, before I meet this Merry of yours, can you please tell me about this proposal?”

Charles glanced around. “I don’t think this is the right place for that.”

“Mmm” said Amelia with one of her tell-tale frowns just itching to claim her narrow face. “I’m not going to like it am I?”

Charles leaned over and took his mother’s hand in his. It sent a shockwave through Amelia’s body and it showed on her face. Charles smiled at the effect. “There is a lot to like in my proposal but it does involve some changes.”

Amelia found herself staring into her son’s brown eyes. There was warmth in them that she hadn’t seen for so long. It was unfamiliar territory and it was having a disarming effect on her. She had a vision of Charles as a little boy over thirty years ago. ‘Yes, that’s the last time’ she thought. It stirred in her a warm feeling that had been long suppressed.

There was a moment in which her clinical, analysing mind tried to warn her against false hope. But something else from within pushed that warning aside. It was something she had archived for far too long. It was now taking its chance to reclaim part of her being.

“I’m not that good with change” she finally admitted. She even allowed a brief expression of fragility to appear on her face.

Charles continued to hold her hand. “But together we can do it.”

“Alright then, so tell me more about this Merry.”

First Lieutenant (1
^st
Lt) Merry Li cast an eye over the apartment. She had already checked and rechecked that everything was right to receive Charles’ mother. From the stories she had received from Charles she thought she knew a lot about this woman who had and still played a big part in her lover’s life. But she remained on edge.

‘She’s just a woman’ thought Merry. ‘Charles loves you’ she told herself. ‘That’s what matters.’ She had woken early in the morning with a fear dream that she would be deemed not worthy and that this chance at happiness would be dashed like all the others. She recalled how Charles had held her and whispered reassuring words to her. His ‘whatever happens we’re getting married’ did much to reassure her that this was not transitory.

The doorbell rang and Merry took a deep breath in. “Show time” she said for her own consumption. She walked to the door and opened it. The woman before her did not look imposing but her eyes scrutinised as she said “Lovely to meet you.”

An hour later they were still sitting in the lounge of Charles’ apartment. He had changed out of his uniform and Amelia had to admit that he now looked incredibly relaxed. Amelia had listened to Merry tell her story about her family and her career as a doctor in the Fleet.

Amelia was struck by Merry’s common sense, down to earth manner and approach to things. At one moment in the telling Amelia found herself thinking ‘this woman cares’. The cynical part of her came back with ‘who cares?’ and then a wave of guilt came over Amelia as she realised that for so long now she had given up caring personally about anyone. ‘Everything has been about attaining status.’ She wanted to pursue that thought but Merry had stopped talking and was obviously waiting on a response from her.

“Excuse me” said Amelia “I was just preoccupied.”

Merry had already concluded that. Part of her felt annoyed but she dismissed that and said “You must be tired. It’s been a long trip.”

Amelia smiled warmly. “No, I’m not tired but it’s a lot take in all at once. I am sorry.”

“Of course, how about some lunch?”

It was while they were polishing off the antipasto that Amelia said “So I think it’s time to hear about this proposal now.”

“OK but you need to promise to let me finish first before responding” said Charles.

“Agreed” said Amelia. She had her business face on now and with it came a rise in adrenalin.

Charles noticed her change in demeanour and swallowed before saying “for years now we have been aiming to secure the Chief Ministership in 2514.” He looked at Amelia and she nodded. “I still want that.” Amelia smiled. “But I won’t be running for office.”

Amelia struggled hard to suppress the anger that was rising within. She had promised Charles to refrain from interrupting. She reminded herself that yes she could be professional. So she reset her face and resisted the urge. It was duly noted by Charles.

“Now I know you had your sights set on me in the top job, but one thing I have realised of late” and Charles as he cut a glance to Merry and then back to his mother “is that I am not leadership material. I won’t cut it as a candidate. But I am good at organising and with your help I want to win the next election for someone who is a natural born leader and who will have almost instant recognition throughout the Federation.”

Charles paused. He could see his mother about to speak so he continued “It’s Dave Warner.”

Amelia had been leaning slightly forward in her dining chair but now she leant back and opened her mouth. But no words came out. It was as though there were two competing aspects to her mind. One wanted to immediately say how stupid the idea was. But another part, one that had been resurging since the events earlier today, responded like it was an epiphany of brilliance. The two competing parts cancelled each other out and so she just sat back there with her mouth open.

Charles wasn’t sure how his mother was taking it. Merry was confounded and decided that the best option for her was to say nothing. So silence reigned for a good minute.

Deep within Amelia’s being a civil war had erupted and she found herself arguing for and against the notion. Finally her eyes saw Charles’ hand holding Merry’s. Merry was looking to Charles but Charles was looking at his mother and his expression had changed to one of warm anticipation. A smile was forming on his face in slow motion and it was a beautiful smile, reminding her of a young innocent boy. There was a glint in his eye from the light streaming in from the big windows and it seemed to reflect and aim straight at her. Like a laser beam it tore straight through the cynic and into the resurging heart of Amelia Hubbard.

Charles’ smile broadened. It was proving infectious to Amelia’s heart as it threw off the shackles of a bitter mind. Amelia’s face morphed first to a smile and then to a huge grin. Charles began to stand and reached out with his arms, inviting Amelia to rise and lean into them. Charles’s hands took his mother’s face and gently embraced her now beaming face.

It defied all logic but Amelia felt as light as a feather. She could have sworn she could have walked on water in that moment. Charles touched his forehead to his mother’s and then kissed it. “Thank you” he said.

For the first time in a long time Amelia was lost for words. But it didn’t really matter, for the first time in a long time she felt content. She realised that how she felt right now was similar to how she felt after giving birth to Charles. Her baby was back. It was like she had gained another chance and she was determined to grasp it.

She sat back in the chair and tears began rolling down her face. They were tears of joy but also mixed with sorrow for all the wasted years. Charles had walked around the table and was now sitting beside her with his arm around her shoulder. She accepted his offer of a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “Oh excuse me” she muttered.

No one replied. With Charles’ arm around her she felt secure like at no other time since her early years with Charles’s father. She dabbed some more and accepted another tissue. A wave of gratitude came over her. Her son had changed. Part of the reason for that she knew was the experience he had in the war. But the other cause was sitting opposite.

‘This woman had done what I never could’ thought Amelia. ‘She has opened him up…and stolen his heart. No, she has returned him to his heart.’ Amelia dabbed some more. ‘And me to mine!’

“You’ll be getting married then?” asked Amelia.

Merry smiled and nodded. “That was our intent” she said and she looked up to Charles.

“Certainly is” said Charles.

“A good choice son” said Amelia. She took a moment to regain some composure. Then with a smile she asked “Now does Dave Warner know he’s going to be the next Chief Minister?”

Chapter 2. Slidwon 1330, 14 November

Grand Imperial Admiral (GIAdm) Hazon Kublinium sat in the briefing room used by the Rogan Imperial War Council. It had been a bitter morning, not because of the strong autumn winds that lashed the capitol of the Rogan Empire but because he had to eat humble pie over the defeat of the 15
^th
Rogan Imperial Fleet (RIF) over the sleth home world of Slenthsl.

He had been opposed to sending the 15
^th
RIF in the first place but the other council members had not been prepared to write off the sleth systems as he had been. Now, thanks to the intervention of Warner’s Audacity Group, the 15
^th
had been decimated. A small rump remained in the sector and there had been bitter arguments over what to do next.

The First Consul, Nestor Quazor, had not been present this morning and Hazon felt somewhat isolated. He had been handpicked by Nestor after the coup but he was still regarded by many of those senior military officers around the table as the ‘young upstart’. His promotion over the more senior fleet commanders was seen by many as a slap in the face and Hazon was well aware that many resented him for it. But Hazon had never been one to shrink from a fight. Being difficult only made its overcoming the sweeter.

Unlike his predecessor, he had encouraged members of the war council to speak their mind. He could have done without it this morning but he genuinely believed that collectively they made better decisions this way. However, he also believed there came a time when you had to draw a line under the discussion and make a firm decision. Now was that time.

He had made a mistake in committing the 15
^th
RIF. He was not going to repeat it. As soon as the last member sat back down after their lunch break, he stood up and stated emphatically “there will be no further commitments to the sleth sector.” He stared down the eyes that glared back at him. The eyes of Vice Admiral (VAdm) Simion Seglitus probably glared more than most but not even he was prepared to press the matter any further.

It was VAdm Daeon Pugernon who spoke, not with a challenge, but more a request for clarification. “What of the remaining ships there?”

“They will conduct a series of strikes against the sleth home world, tying down the enemy’s Audacity Group” answered Hazon. “And that will be important service for I aim to retake Checklin while Warner’s tied down in the sleth sector.”

“Are you personally going to lead this?” asked Daeon.

“No, I plan to stand up the 3
^rd
Combined Fleet under VAdm Klegruniun. It will have the 13
^th
and 14
^th
Fleet under command along with two divisions of ground troops. It will warp for Cheklin tonight and arrive there on the 21
^st
. With Warner tied down in the sleth sector there is no way his stealth group can intervene.”

“But there is still the Federation Arc Royal Group there” said Daeon.

“Indeed and Klegruniun will crush it and we will have retaken one of our home worlds.”

“Well you will not get any argument from me against offensive action” proffered Simion in a rare motion of support for one of Hazon’s proposals.