Diplomatic Agent (The Empress' Spy Book 4) Read online

  Diplomatic Agent

  The Empress’ Spy™ Book Four

  S.E. Weir

  Michael Anderle

  This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2021 LMBPN Publishing

  Cover by Mihaela Voicu http://www.mihaelavoicu.com/

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  This book is a Michael Anderle Production

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  Version 1.00, August, 2021

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-64971-994-2

  Print ISBN: 978-1-64971-995-9

  The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2015-2021 by Michael T. Anderle and LMBPN Publishing.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Author Notes - S.E. Weir

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Connect with The Authors

  Books by S.E. Weir

  Books By Michael Anderle

  The Diplomatic Agent Team

  Thanks to our Beta Readers:

  Larry Omans, Jim Caplan, John Ashmore, Kelly O’Donnell, Mary Heise, Rachel Heise

  Thanks to the JIT Readers

  Dorothy Lloyd

  Larry Omans

  Dave Hicks

  Daryl McDaniel

  Rachel Beckford

  Diane L. Smith

  Wendy L Bonell

  Jim Caplan

  Deb Mader

  Kelly O’Donnell

  Jeff Goode

  Jackey Hankard-Brodie

  Peter Manis

  Thomas Ogden

  John Ashmore

  Zacc Pelter

  If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know!

  Editor

  Lynne Stiegler

  Dedication

  To all those who have supported and encouraged me every step of the way. This is as much your book as mine.

  - S.E. Weir

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  —Michael

  Chapter One

  Nearby Solar System, Planet Xaldaq, QBS G’laxix Sphaea, Bridge

  “Tell us where we stand, Admiral Waters.”

  Phina glanced at Captain Kael-ven, former Planetary Leader of the Yollins. He leaned forward, viewing her intently over the holo display in between them. The rest of the crew quietly went about their business around them, though they snuck peeks every so often.

  Kiel stood next to the captain. “I didn’t know we were doing a roleplay.”

  The captain waved him off. “Just trying to help Phina get into the mindset of the person in charge of this battle.”

  Phina scanned the holo display again and pointed. “Here’s the planet Yoll, its two moons and three base stations, and the fleet at various vectors around the planet.”

  She moved her hand and continued, “Here’s where the Gate was destroyed when the Empire’s fleet came through from Earth.”

  Kiel corrected her. “They were not the Empire at the time. They were a large, intrepid group of strong and tricky humans with a small number of noble and fierce Yollin warriors who followed their Queen into the far reaches of the universe to destroy the evil Kurtherians.”

  Kael-ven turned his head toward his old friend, who gave a shrug. “What? If we’re role-playing, we’ve got to set it up right.”

  The captain shook his head but kept the laugh inside. “Carry on, Admiral Waters.”

  Phina nodded and pointed out the Meredith Reynolds, the Sphaea-class ships whose design had been based on the one Phina was currently aboard, and the Puck Defense Destroyer, which shot kinetics called pucks that were used to....well, destroy things.

  Kael-ven nodded approval. He had been teaching her military tactics and strategy twice a week since she had requested it of him months ago, shortly after they had first arrived here at the Qendrok’s planet. She wasn’t sure why he had said yes, but she suspected it was partly because he had grown bored waiting for something to happen.

  “Very good, Admiral Waters. What is your assessment of the tactics the Yollins used?”

  Phina sighed as she scanned the holo. “Arrogant and shortsighted.”

  The two Yollins winced at the blunt response. Kael-ven cleared his throat. “Yes. Well, those moronic jackasses did lose. What tactics were utilized by the Yollins in response to this fleet entering their space?”

  Phina frowned as she continued scanning the holo display. She had read numerous briefings and firsthand accounts from the two Yollins as well as others on both sides of the battle. Some had been assigned by the captain, and others were source materials for those assignments that she had sought out on her own.

  “I see they took a long time to cloak themselves.”

  “Good, good,” Kael-vaen responded, waving for her to continue. “What else, both good and bad tactics?”

  Phina straightened. “Good tactics were that they cloaked themselves and that they tried to sneak in from behind. Bad tactics were that the sneak attack was obvious to anyone familiar with Yollin weaknesses. A flank attack might have been more effective. Also, as I said, they didn’t cloak soon enough. If they had cloaked before they moved into nearby space, the sneak attempt they did make may have worked.”

  She pointed at the Yollin ships flying up on the rear of the Empire’s fleet. “Eyewitness accounts state that the captain of the Yollin formation focused mainly on the G’laxix Sphaea, completely ignoring any threat the others posed. That was shortsighted, arrogant, and sloppy.”

  Kiel muttered, “Well, he did die.”

  Phina continued with a shake of her head. “All of the Yollins, but especially that captain, failed to take into account that the Empire fleet could also have cloaking devices.”

  Kiel started, “It wasn’t the Emp—” He stopped with a huff when Kael-ven elbowed him. Phina glanced at the captain to see if he wanted her to stop, but he waved her on.

  “The Yollins assumed the enemy didn’t have the scanning capability to pick up their cloaked ships. Perhaps it would be good practice to presume that an unknown enemy could have at least the same amount of technology available as you do?”

&nbs
p; Kael-ven nodded and folded his arms behind his back as he moved closer to the holo. “Correct. That is not a bad strategy. Now that you have shared your assessment, what would you have done differently than the Yollins at the time?”

  Phina straightened and faced them. “I would have sent a virus that targeted their cloaking and shields to bring them down. Then I would have told them I had them dead to rights and they should surrender, or I’d trigger systems to self-destruct.”

  The two Yollins stared at her in surprise. Silence fell over the bridge as the other officers turned to listen.

  “You can do that?” Commander Kiel squeaked before clearing his throat and turning to Kael-ven. “Can we do that?”

  Kael-ven blinked away his surprise and gestured at Phina. “Explain, please. I am not certain this is possible.”

  Phina nodded and was about to answer when she got an urge to look behind her. She turned to see Link and Will just inside the door. She nodded in greeting and adjusted her position to see all of them.

  “The virus is doable, yes. Either I, or ADAM, or perhaps one of the other digital entities would create it. It would need to be done ahead of time since there would be a lot of complicated coding to ensure it would make it through their firewalls and defenses. The method of delivery is trickier. I didn’t check to see if it’s possible, but I think at least ADAM could do it. I’m not sure about back then, but he probably could now.”

  Kael-ven nodded slowly. “So this is a hypothetical tactic, not one that could have been used during this battle.”

  She shrugged. “You asked what I would do, not what tactics were available then.”

  Link chuckled and thumped the Yollin on his back. “You should expect Phina to make her own interpretations of your instructions and have a surprise or two up her sleeve by now, Kael-ven.”

  Phina sighed. The two males obviously knew each other. Lincoln Grimes, known to her as Link and to everyone else as his cover, Greyson Wells, liked to employ misdirection and be in plain sight as he went about his diplomatic spying business.

  There was value in that, but Phina preferred to operate in the background whenever possible. That difference in their personal tactics was the basis of most of their professional differences. Yet, both of them agreed that it proved good tactics to keep their cards close to the vest.

  Kiel stared at Phina with all the wariness one would have for a live grenade. “What tactics would you have used since you couldn’t apply this virus?”

  Kael-ven turned back and nodded. “Yes, I am also interested to hear this.”

  Phina glanced at Will, but he was busy scanning the holo of the battle with interest. She tapped on her tablet and changed the view before she spoke.

  “I would have cloaked before the approach to flank the Empire’s fleet. Once we were close enough to act before they could respond, I would have targeted the weapons platforms if I wanted prisoners or the engines if that didn’t matter. Then the ships would either break down or explode. After the first pass, I project that at least a third of the ships would have crippled defenses or be dead in the water.”

  She gestured at the Empire’s fleet. Most of the ships were either scattered or unmoving on the holo, the rest surrounding their sister ships and the space station for defense. “I would circle around to maintain momentum and keep the fleet guessing as to our position. After three passes at varying speeds, their forces would be significantly reduced. Then I would demand their surrender. If denied, I would take the rest of the ships out.”

  She assessed her audience, who were expressing varying states of shock and horror. “The Puck Destroyer would be the greatest defense in the Empire’s fleet. It is effective but only has so much maneuvering capability. It would be relatively simple to take it out at that point considering the number of ships I would have left, leaving the space station alone. They would have no choice but to surrender.”

  The phrase “you could hear a pin drop” came to mind as she waited for their response.

  Kael-ven gave her a stare akin to eying a cranky bistok. Kiel viewed the ships with visible distress as his mandibles moved but didn’t make a sound. Link’s smirk was faint but visible. Will appeared to be warring between admiration and discomfort.

  “I’m glad they didn’t have someone with your logic in charge, Phina,” her friend responded, his focus on the Empire’s massacred fleet. “If they had, I’m not sure any of us would be here. The Empire would have been destroyed before it began.”

  Kiel gathered himself and shook his head. “I’m happy those Yollin assholes are dead. The upper caste was privileged and made sure everyone knew it.”

  Kael-ven scowled. “They were morons who got what they deserved.”

  Link shook his head, chuckling. “You two were just as bad when we encountered you in Earth space.”

  “Well, yes, but we got the arrogant asshole slammed out of us pretty quickly,” Kiel pointed out.

  Link gestured to the Yollin fleet on the holo. “So did they. They just didn’t survive the experience.”

  Kael-ven agreed, then turned back to Phina. “Any additional comments, Admiral Waters?”

  Phina nodded and gestured back to the two fleets. “My suggestion was what I would plan to do. That wouldn’t work after the first few passes.”

  Will frowned and leaned closer to the holo. “Why not? It seems to be an alarmingly well thought out strategy.”

  “Because the Empress is a wildcard. Without her, these tactics would work perfectly.” Phina waved at the destroyed fleet. “However, she throws every tactic and strategy into chaos, and all the enemy can do is react. She moves too quickly, and since she can walk the Etheric, her movements are even harder to predict.”

  “Hmm...” Kael-ven considered while the others nodded at her explanation. Everyone knew the Empress was amazingly capable, protective of her people, and unstoppable once she got going. The captain leaned forward curiously. “Have you considered any tactics that would work against the Empress?”

  Phina stared back with a narrowed gaze. “Treason isn’t something I tend to contemplate.”

  “Whoa. Back off with the crazy eyes, sister.” Kiel waved a hand. “He’s only wondering since we’ve seen or heard of her getting shot multiple times. She’s walked away from wounds that should have killed her. He’s got a powerful urge to speculate on it. I don’t share that urge, just so you all know. I’m not suicidal.”

  Phina glanced at Kael-ven, but he just regarded her expectantly. Finally, she relented. “The element of surprise and overwhelming force, such as a missile or a bomb. A surprise nuclear bomb would probably do it, but she would have to have absolutely no warning of it, and the collateral damage would be catastrophic since she rarely leaves the station.”

  The two Yollins exchanged glances as Will gaped in horror and Link shook his head quickly. “Do yourself a favor and don’t mention nuclear bombs in front of the Empress. She might tear your arms off. She’d be sorry later, but her regret wouldn’t help you in retrospect.”

  Will gulped and folded his hands behind his back.

  Phina gave Link a questioning glance that he caught and reminded them of the history of the Patriarch Michael. “The Empress lost someone she cared about to a nuclear bomb when we were still on Earth.”

  They all winced, both at the loss and the reminder that the Empress reacted strongly when her people were in danger, let alone someone she cared about personally. Phina couldn’t imagine the pain of losing someone she loved so suddenly. No wonder she could occasionally sense intense loneliness and sadness when the Empress became lost in thought.

  Phina gathered her thoughts and waved a hand toward the holo. “Well, those are all the thoughts I have about the tactics involved.”

  Kael-ven nodded. “Well done, Admiral Waters. Your tactics were thorough and well thought out. Unless you have any questions, we are finished for today.”

  Before Phina could respond, Link cut in. “Good. We came because we received word that th
e Qendrok have come to a consensus. We are meeting them within the hour.”

  Phina glanced at her t-shirt and pants. They had been dressing formally for their diplomatic meetings, and she hadn’t expected one today. “Do I need to change?”

  Link glanced briefly at her clothing and grimaced. “It would set the right tone. Xoruk and Zultav wouldn’t care, but the rest are sticklers for formality.”

  She sighed but agreed. “I’ll run over to the Stark quickly and meet you there.”

  After saying her goodbyes to the two Yollins and waving to their crew, she turned to leave. Once in the hall, she realized that Will was following a pace behind her. The tall, easy-going guy was around her age but seemed younger due to his light manner and general optimism. Phina usually felt like their relationship was a mix between that of siblings and good friends even though it was relatively new, regardless that he had known her since grade school.

  She threw a questioning glance behind her as she walked. “Are you changing too, or are you just stalking me again?”

  He gave her a wide smile she grew suspicious of as he quickened his pace to walk beside her. “It’s not stalking when it’s a friend, Sera-beara.”

  Phina wrinkled her nose in disgust. “That’s worse than the last nickname you came up with. And yes, it’s still stalking even when you’re friends.”