The Price of Conquest

"Colliard?" a quiet feminine voice called into the silence of the dim room.

With a pleasant sigh, Gaunis levered himself onto one elbow and peered toward the mirrored dressing table at the foot of the bed.

A woman sat perched on the padded stool before the table, her back to the bed, her pale, waist-length hair pulled forward over her right shoulder, glimmering with the waves pressed into it by the braids that normally bound its length. Her naked body glowed softly with a sheen of perspiration, the taut muscles of her back and shoulders rippling beneath her pale skin as she raised her arms to fidget with a stubborn strand of the shorter hair that framed her face. After a moment's battle with the unruly lock, she conceded defeat with a loud sigh and lowered her arms.

"Coll?" she called again. She turned her head to look at him, violet eyes wide in the twilight illumination of the room.

He smiled. How many years—how many decades—had passed since a woman called him by that name? And such an exquisite woman. Area Commander Renee Andren. His smile broadened. You lose, Byerly.

"What is it, Renee?"

"Isn't there any way I can take charge of the Adriassa now?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What's this? Your noble Admiral Byerly still very much alive, and already you're after his flagship? You are a greedy, ambitious bitch, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't be here if I weren't," she said with a short laugh, and then turned back to the mirror.

Gaunis frowned at the comment, not sure he approved of the matter-of-fact way she admitted to such behavior. But it was true. Renee Andren was ambitious, more ambitious than he would have imagined before she waylaid him in the corridor outside the Council Chamber ten days earlier, insisting they discuss her future use to him—and his to her.

The thing that had kept him from seeing that ambition for so many years had been her constant vacillating between sides of any important issue. For a long time, he had put that behavior down to her interpretation of a woman's prerogative, but now he knew the truth. Andren wanted power, but she also wanted to play it safe. Keeping both sides of an issue open until the last moment was her way of keeping a security net under herself at all times.

Having finally recognized this need in the woman, Gaunis had offered her security in a form that would cover the possibility of a Confederate victory, as well as the more likely prospect of the Confederacy's demise. Once the Confederacy had been dealt with, Renee Andren would become the United Galaxy's first female admiral, she would receive the dreadnought Adriassa and the powers and holdings of her present commanding officer, Admiral Darus Byerly, and she would hold the lucrative position of High Admiral's favorite. If, on the other hand, the Confederacy managed to overcome the Patrol—an unlikely occurrence, but one for which plans had to be made—she and Gaunis would retire to the High Admiral's secret retreat on the planet Halycen.

Gaunis allowed himself a small smile. After spending the afternoon abed with Renee, the prospect of retiring to Halycen with her seemed almost the more desirable of the two options. Initially, that thought had surprised him, but he realized it would soon pass; he was content to enjoy it now.

What had come as an even bigger surprise than his thoughts of quiet retirement with a woman, was the fact that he had reason to reflect on them at all. A chance at sex with Andren had never been among the reasons he wanted her on his side. In fact, the thought of sharing a bed with her had never even crossed his mind, and if someone had suggested it, he would have laughed it off, claiming he was much too old for such a primal thing as lust. But Renee had shown him he was still quite capable of lust—and of answering its call.

"If your plans work out, Daru—Byerly's as good as dead," Andren said, continuing her argument for the Adriassa. "So what if I take his ship now?"

Gaunis frowned at her childish reasoning. "Come now, Renee. The admirals may seem a bit dense at times, but don't count them too short. Some of them are already suspicious about Len's death. What would they say if Byerly were to suddenly turn up dead, as well? Let's wait until our present troubles with the Confederacy are over before instigating any new ones, shall we?"

Andren sighed and tossed her head, swinging her hair over her shoulder to fall down her back.

"I guess you're right," she said, peering closely into the mirror, and then commencing another battle with her hair, this time armed with a brush. "What about the Taleris then? Len won't be needing it any longer." She smiled in amusement at her own words.

"I'm afraid Len's trusty Commander deRorescal has already claimed the Taleris, and I can hardly command him to turn it over to you, especially now that he's agreed to support me."

"Wise move on his part."

He ignored the quip. "Besides, I want you here on the Esprit."

Andren halted the brush in midstroke and peered over her shoulder, one pale eyebrow arched.

"What a sweet thought," she said with a falsely charming smile. "Why do I get the feeling you want to keep me around as much to keep an eye on me as to enjoy my company?"

Gaunis frowned. He did not want to participate in any verbal games alluding so close to the truth. "Let's just say I value your help."

He rose from the bed, slipped hastily into a robe, and hitched it loosely about his waist to hide his nakedness. He had been surprised to discover that his years of solitary living had renewed a childhood modesty. He wondered if more time with Renee would purge him of his newfound reserve. As it was, his shyness did not seem to bother her, if she noticed it at all.

He crossed the room to stand behind her, enjoying the sensual, fluid motion of her breasts as she continued to brush her shimmering hair.

"What kind of help might that be?" She cast a sly glance over her shoulder. "Something only I can do for you?"

"Several things only you can do for me." He took the brush from her and began running it through her hair. "First, I'd like you to give me your report on what Byerly and his compatriots are up to. That is why you came."

"Isaacson's been in contact with Byerly about his ties to the Confederacy," she said. "I'm not sure how serious he is, though. Nothing ever came of their discussion."

Gaunis forced away a frown. "Probably just putting out feelers in case things go wrong on this end," he said, hoping he was correct. His private talk with Isaacson had convinced him the man was on his side, but he would need to be watched closely.

"Do you know of anyone else Byerly's spoken with?"

"Quite a few people, actually, but I'm sure they're not all interested in contacting the Confederacy. I made a list. We can go over it later, see if you recognize any of the names."

He nodded. "How has the Confederacy reacted?"

"There really hasn't been any change in their stand, as far as I can tell. They're doing a little trading with Byerly and the others, and they've promised to help if you move against them." She met Gaunis's eyes in the mirror. "Do you intend to?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

He shook his head, continuing to brush her long hair. "Not now. I don't see what good it will do. As long as they're getting what their worlds need from the Confederacy, we don't have to worry about supplying it. I'm content to let them hide in their sectors and play their game, as long as they don't cause trouble. They must realize it, too. That's why none of them have offered to back the Confederacy against us. They know as well as we how little chance the Confederacy has against us in the long run. We've already taken four of their worlds and not lost a ship—or even had to fire a shot."

"What about Calton?"

Gaunis frowned, not happy to be reminded of Calton. "That was Shaw, not the Confederacy. They couldn't have taken it without him, and I don't think they would have tried. Calton hasn't any trade items worth mentioning."

"What about whatever Bryant was after?" Andren asked.

"I don't know." His frown grew. He laid aside the hairbrush and seated himself on the bed.

Renee took a light dressing robe from the table and pulled it loosely around herself. She turned on the stool to face him.

"I never found out what Bryant went to Calton for," he said. "The only thing any of my people came up with was that it probably had something to do with the black diamond trade. If I ever discover what it is, I've probably got plenty of it on Ularis."

"Why not take Calton back? That way you could stop the Confederacy's work there and take out Shaw."

He shook his head. "Thanks to Shaw, the admirals know enough about my use of Calton to refuse to support my return there, and I won't risk control of them by pushing the issue."

"If you told them the Confederacy needs something they can only get from Calton, maybe they'd help then," she said.

"I think not." He met her violet gaze. "Not without proof, and I haven't any."

She nodded, but her expression showed less than total agreement.

To his amazement, Gaunis felt disturbed by his inability to convince her. It had been a long time since he felt the need or desire to explain his actions to anyone, but he found himself continuing on the subject, intent on giving his new ally a short lesson on the ambitions of the admirals.

"Renee, the only thing the admirals are interested in is their standing with the citizens of their worlds. And the only way to keep those standings in good order is by providing access to the items those citizens want. Attacking Calton won't do it for them; the world has nothing they want. Maybe it would slow the Confederacy a bit, but it won't stop them. Better we continue to hit them where they feel it immediately—their own worlds." He searched her eyes and found the agreement he was hoping for.

With a smile, she rose to her feet and started around the bed to where her uniform lay draped neatly over the back of a chair. The comm chimed unexpectedly.

Gaunis held a finger to his lips, bidding her to silence. No one knew of their relationship, and he intended to keep it that way. He crossed the room to activate the comm unit beside his bed.

"Go ahead."

"Sir, we've received a priority message from Commander Lehrton on Arecia."

Renee had halted her movement toward her clothing when the call came. Now she glanced up in surprise.

"Arecia?" she asked, keeping her voice low. "You have forces on—?"

Gaunis silenced her with a harsh look, thinking fast. Should he take the message here, where Andren could hear it, or risk offending her by postponing it? She now knew he had a contact on Arecia, and he could not imagine any information coming from that world that she would not learn of eventually.

"Thank you, Commander. Transmit message." He shot another sharp glance at Renee to keep her quiet, and then seated himself on the bed beside the comm panel.

A moment later, a calm, richly cultured voice began to speak, "High Admiral Gaunis, this is Special Corps Commander Lehrton. I have just finished speaking with our agent from the base. The Confederacy plans to attack Terra at full strength in six days."

Commander Lehrton's composed, formal tone had not wavered even slightly during his announcement, but Gaunis heard a sharp intake of breath from Renee. He looked over his shoulder to meet her gaze, but could read nothing in it save for intense concentration.

"Aidan Terling is here on Arecia and has been assisting with the Terran attack plans," the recorded message continued. "Our agent believes that Westlex's Stingray has been repaired and will be leading the attack. Evidently, Captain Westlex is the officer behind the plan and may be driven partially by a desire for revenge. Our agent also reports strife among the Confederate leadership, extending to the command structure of the Arecian Guard and the Stingrays, and to Terling, as well. There are no further details on the timing of the attack or its strength, although attempts will be made to obtain more information. End of message. Lehrton, Arecia, out."

There was a brief silence, and then Gaunis's aide came on. "Orders, sir?"

Gaunis pursed his lips, still holding Andren's gaze. "Recall all forces to Eminence immediately and schedule a Council meeting as early as possible upon their return. That is all." He switched off and returned his eyes to Renee.

"Six days," she said, flat-toned, expressionless. "Is that a lot of time?"

He nodded slowly, thinking of projects he'd started recently, others he'd had in the works for months. "It's enough."

"What will you do?"

Gaunis looked down at his hands clasped loosely in his lap, thinking hard. Behind him, Andren remained completely silent. After several minutes, he stood, crossed to the closet beside the dressing table and withdrew a fresh uniform. He glanced briefly at Renee. She had not moved. He held her gaze for perhaps ten seconds, and then disappeared into the washroom. Minutes later, he emerged, dressed and ready to get back to work. Renee had dressed, as well, and taken a seat at the mirror again to braid her hair. She glanced at him and smiled distractedly, her expression thoughtful.

"Terling knows Terra's defenses," Gaunis said as he moved toward her. He had sensed a natural strategic ability within the woman, and he wanted to hear what ideas she might have to contribute.

She considered his statement for a moment, and then returned her attention to her braiding.

"That's not a bad thing, Colliard," she said. "If the Confederacy knows our defenses, then we know where they'll concentrate their forces. All we need to do is attack from elsewhere."

Nodding, he pulled a chair up beside her. He watched the practiced movements of her fingers as she wove her white-gold hair into its intricate arrangement. It seemed odd to be talking with someone other than his logistics people about plans; odd, but not unpleasant.

"Go on," he encouraged.

She completed one braid and started another. "How dependable is this Arecian agent of yours?"

"He hasn't given me any false information, if that's what you're asking."

"Sort of. How does he get his information?"

Gaunis briefly pondered where her questions might be leading and how much he dared tell her about his Arecian network.

"He works at the main Confederate base," he said at last, deciding to follow his instinct to trust her. "He observes and listens, picks up information, and then passes it on."

"An agent on the base?" She gave him an astonished look. "Impressive. I'd like to hear how you managed that. But for now, what do you think the odds are that your agent learned of the Confederacy's plans on purpose?"

"You think the Confederates planted the information?" he asked, astounded by the suggestion, but well aware of its plausibility.

"It's something to consider before deciding on our reaction. If the Confederacy wants us to think they're moving full strength against Terra, they could be trying to force us to concentrate our energies there while they attack someplace else. But where?" she went on before he could comment. "And why?" She looked at him. "Why Terra, for that matter?"

That was a question to which he was certain he knew the answer. "It's one of my power bases, Shaw and Terling know its defenses, and there is an active Guard element in many of the larger cities. Also, I think Westlex is at least part Terran, and from what I've observed of his behavior, he's just irrational enough to choose Terra as a target based on that fact alone."

Renee gave him an odd look. "You're not suggesting Westlex is unfit for his duty, are you?"

"Far from it," he answered, his voice adamant. "Westlex is a dangerous adversary, and his tendency toward seemingly irrational actions makes him that much more dangerous."

"Then you're convinced Terra is the target?"

"Enough to prepare a counterattack, with your suggestion of a trap taken fully into consideration. In fact, I'd like your help on that. If the Confederacy expects us to know of their plans, then Terling will base the attack on what he knows of my previous use of tactics." His gray eyes locked on Andren's, holding them, studying their depths. "You seem to have a knack for unusual tactics, Renee. I want you to study our forces and Terra's defenses and come up with an independent countermove, one I can present to my logistics people."

"This one needs a woman's touch, hmm?"

"That is one way to look at it. You could also look at it as the ticket to everything you've worked for." He stood and offered her his hand. "If Westlex intends to make this the final showdown, I do not want to disappoint him."

Her smile grew as she coiled her final braid into place, and then reached up to take the High Admiral's hand.

"We won't disappoint him."

He looked down at her with a smile, no longer surprised to find himself thinking of her as a partner in what could prove the decisive battle of his war against the Confederacy, a partner to share the glory of victory, or bear the burden of defeat. And he had to consider the possibility of losing; he was too much of a realist to do otherwise. He had to consider it—and plan for it.

"There is one last thing you must do for me, Renee."

She met his eyes, waiting.

"As soon as you have completed your work on the plans, return to Byerly and find an excuse to spend some time on Terra."