Chapter 40 - Important People[]
The Triad - Royal Palace
Tharkad System
Lyran Commonwealth
November, 3097
[Second floor, Throne-room, Triad palace Tharkad...]
Sgt. Jakob Witt had to kill his lieutenant. The fact he'd had to, essentially, murder an officer would scar him for life. Jakob was a loyal Lyran, and Lt. Vergan had turned his coat to supporting a coup. Even helping bring killers in to slaughter loyal sons and daughters of the Commonwealth.
"Is there anyone else?" he asked, letting his former commanding officer's body fall from the balcony to the floor below.
"Nein..scheisse, you really did it." Korporal Esther Klunt looked a little ill.
"Ja, get the men organized." Jakob said, "We have to secure this chamber and find help."
Down below, the sound of rifle fire drew his attention.
"Whose side?" Esther looked over the balcony with him.
Down below, there were men and women in the same uniform he wore, shooting at one another.
"I can't tell." he said. "I wish I knew who was on which side, Esther."
"Shoot the officer.," a voice said, and he looked back.
The Royal consort, Milena O'Rourke, was standing in her dressing gown and a flak jacket. She was being flanked by two women attired similarly in ill-fitting breastplates and hospital pajamas. "The Coup is being led by officers, most of the enlisted are just following orders." Milena added, "So shoot the officers. God will know his own."
"That is a profoundly bad idea." the dark haired woman said.
"Do you have a better one?" Milena asked.
"Working on it, your grace. Sergeant, I assume you've got control of your formation, ayeh?"
"I do. Who are you?"
"Lieutenant Junior Grade Amanda Ngo, Lyran Commonwealth Navy. Get your men sorted! We need to secure a route to the armory, and from there, to an escape route for Her Grace here. Your RTO...ah ******, you army types don't have that... Do you have someone who can run Commo? We need to establish some kind of situation control on this front and call in assistance to sort this cluster ****** out."
"I can do that." It at least made more sense than simply sniping officers.