Welcome to the final episode in the space opera saga of Alex Deroma ! This is a kind of epilogue after the climactic space battle in the previous episode - Worldbuilding Prompt #587 - Victory - Alex's Saga #17
Like every other part of the story, I've been inspired by a writing prompt in the Worldbuilding community. This was quite an old prompt, but when I saw it I knew it needed to be about Alex, so I put it in my pocket and saved it for a special post - this one. The prompt was Worldbuilding Prompt #460 - The Queen of Swords
Apologies in advance if this is a long post ! There was quite a bit to get through, and I felt it wouldn't work if it was split into two posts. I edited it down until only necessary things were left, though !
"The Board of Enquiry will come to order !"
Arch Warlord Tahr Kvanar tapped the hilt of his ceremonial dagger on the table as the subject of the Board was marched into the room. This was a formal affair, so formal that unusually it was being held in person aboard the Star Fortress 'Deadly Assault' rather than by hologram.
The subject of the Board was Alex. Everyone else was in full dress uniform, with all their assorted regalia and braid. She'd chosen to wear full dress as well, but modified in a thoroughly non-regulation way by some of the insignia she'd been gifted by the Kerber.
An experiment with AI art generation ! Image on the right is the original, created in Wombo.art. Then I fed that image to Nightcafe Studio as the start-point that generated the more realistic image on the left. They're both how I picture Alex, but which one do you think looks better ?
As she was escorted into the spacious room, she tried to hide her shock at the composition of the board. She'd expected Tahr Kvanar, Arch Warlord for offensive operations, in his mid-blue uniform. But like a mirror image in red was Korvrell Ti Shonordihe, Arch Warlord for defence, his hawkish face tipped by a greying goatee beard. There was one other member, sitting in the centre of the panel, and she was the biggest surprise of all. Colonel Garrad's superior officer, the supreme commander of BrownASP, Lady Saria Reditran herself, possibly the second most influential person in the whole Imperial sphere after the Emperor himself.
The chamber was lined left and right with padded benches. On the left, and assortment of recorders, analysts and experts. On the right, witnesses to the events under review, chief among them Trass Yalandri, BrownASP Colonel Garrad, and Ibrip of the Kerber, who had been Alex's chief Kerber liaison during the final battle.
Tahr Kvanar started the proceedings. "Admiral Alexandra Maldora Deroma, commanding officer of 3275-A Battle Corps, we're here to examine events during your recent mission to Slaver Space. But first," his voice turned cold, "explain to us why you are improperly dressed. What in all unholy space is it you are wearing ?"
Alex didn't flinch. She indicated her cloak, the green iridescent scales glittering under the harsh artificial light. "This, Sir ? Why, it's the Slaver governor of Margal VI. Well, what's left of him, anyway. The feathers in my hair are a gift from the Kerber, to thank me for helping to free them from the Slavers."
The Arch Warlord was clearly about to say something else, but his colleague waved him back, then asked a question of his own.
"So, what were your orders, exactly, Admiral ?"
There was only one accurate answer to this. "To train the 3275-A Battle Corps to operational efficiency and then mount an incursion into Slaver space to destroy a Nexus gate they were forming at Margal VI."
"And did those orders include disappearing off into Slaver space and remaining out of contact for six months fighting a little private war of your own ? Ignoring all recall orders and returning at the end of that time having lost nearly three quarters of your command ?"
Looking down, she replied. "No, my Lord. But it wasn't a voluntary decision, not at first. When the Moonfall was hit and went down a small group of us, the only survivors, were trapped on Margal VI. Then we met the Kerber, and saw how terribly the Slavers treated them. Deciding to help them was my decision, and my decision alone. But it wouldn't hurt to cause a few problems for the Slavers."
Tahr Kvanar jumped in with a question next; his rivalry with the other Arch Warlord was legendary, and Alex noticed that the discussion was becoming one where each of the two men were using her to try to score points off the other. It helped that Arch Warlord Kvanar had indirectly sponsored her promotion to command the Battle Corps.
"So tell me, Admiral Deroma. When your ship was destroyed, why did the most senior surviving officer of the Battle Corps disobey orders and not return immediately to Imperial space ?"
Alex had an answer to that one. " My Lord, when I knew that the Moonfall's damage and trajectory were irrecoverable, and that we were going to crash land on Margal, my last order to Acting Admiral Yalandri before comms went down was to rescue survivors if she could, then return to Imperial space. It took her longer than expected, but that's exactly what she did."
Arch Warlord Ti Shonordihe gave a disbelieving snort. "You expect us to believe that fairytale, Admiral ? I'm aware of your relationship with her, and strongly believe that it led to the breakdown in discipline that we are examining !"
At this point, Saria Reditran spoke for the first time, cutting the red-clad warlord off before he could continue. Her voice was silky soft, but carried with it the impression of an iron will beneath it.
"So tell me Admiral Deroma, was a slave revolt already in progress when you arrived so unexpectedly on Margal VI ?"
Shaking her head, Alex answered that there was not.
"So it would be accurate to say then, Admiral, that you were at the very least it's catalyst, and quite possible that you were the actual leader of the revolt that took the planet away from the Slavers ? And that by some means we have yet to determine, this acted as a trigger for all the other Kerber populations in that sector to rise in rebellion against their masters ? The first rebellion, I would note, for at least several thousand years."
Alex nodded uncertainly. She'd had a slightly rocky relationship with Garrad; the stiff-necked ASPsman hadn't always approved of her unorthodox methods during the rebellion even if he liked the end result. Alex had worried that his report to Lady Saria would reflect this.
Saria looked to her left and right, and seemingly without any consultation whatsoever with the two warlords, announced the findings of the Board.
"Admiral Deroma, you put us in an unusual position. What you did has led to the first significant Imperial advance into core Slaver space for many years, and has freed a large population of former slaves. But you did it by committing an outrageous breach of your orders and the loss of a significant portion of your command. You have also lied to this Board. Did you think we wouldn't examine the comm-logs ? There was no order to Yalandri to rescue survivors. Her staying in Slaver space, no matter how skilfully she conducted the campaign, was entirely her own of insubordination. An insubordination no doubt inspired by your bad example, which should lead to both of you receiving at the very least a dishonourable discharge from Imperial service. "
Saria's voice had acquired an edge to it as she spoke. Her tone of voice made it clear she didn't approve in any way of Alex's conduct.
This was when something unexpected happened. Against all protocol, Ibrip stood up and walked to the centre of the room, standing right in front of Alex. Without being invited to speak, he spoke.
"Imperial lords and lady, this Ad-mi-ral is Alex our Talisman. She free us from Slavers. She lead us. If you don't want her any more, we will take her. She will lead us again in peace as she did in war."
Then his friendly, furry little face hardened and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
"We are Kerber. If you hurt our Alex, we fight Imperials like we fight ex-masters. They dead now. We fight good."
Every face in the room was frozen in shock and surprise, including Alex's.
Saria broke the spell. "Thank you for your opinion, Sir Kerber. Allow us a few minutes to discuss this. The Board will recess for an hour.
An hour later, the Board reconvened. Ibrip was back at his place on the bench, completely composed as if nothing had happened. Trass Yalandri was next to him, her face pale with worry.
Saria spoke again; it was clear she had taken complete control of the back-room discussion, and her voice had returned to it's usual soft, measured tone.
"Admiral Deroma, your methods are incredibly unorthodox, but they work. You appear to have the ability to charm those who work with you. I heard Ibrip, and it is clear that the Kerber love you. As does Admiral Yalandri, or she wouldn't have risked her career spending six months looking for you without knowing if you were even still alive. Even Colonel Garrad, who I know to be an efficient officer dedicated to Imperial law and discipline submitted a surprisingly positive report. My Lord Kvanar clearly saw something in you when he recommended you for such a jump in rank after the Battle of Tharwell."
Then she looked down at her notes, clearly just for effect.
" But. You did commit numerous breaches of regulations. You were seriously insubordinate. So we have no choice but to exile you."
Alex felt her heart stop. She glanced at Trass, who looked as if she was about to feint. Exile was the end of her career, the end of her hopes for advancement and the dream of winning the I-Treatment.
"Admiral Deroma, you will be exiled until we determine otherwise to the newly acquired Imperial territory of Kerber Sector. Your primary role will be to act as key liaison to the Imperial teams we will send to provide aid to the Kerber as they rebuild their civilisation."
"But it is likely the Slavers will try to retake the sector. It needs a strong garrison. So I guess we're going to have to promote you again. You will command an entire Battle group. Six Battle Corps, with Admiral Yalandri as your second in command. We want you to train the whole formation in the methods you developed. I clearly need someone I trust to keep an eye on you. Since the sector will need more than one Battle Group to defend it, I am deploying Lady Kandra Gynzdor with a Battle Group from Planetary Assault Command to Kerber Sector, to learn your methods as well, and to expand the area under control."
"Congratulations, Alexandra, you've done well."
Image created by AI in Wombo.art
This is the end of the current saga of Alex Deroma. I hope you all enjoyed reading it ! It's just possible I may write a sequel, if there's interest, but no promises.
What I probably will do is a couple of posts analysing the story, how it changed and developed as I wrote it and how Alex's character arc grew and changed as it went on.
