Exodus: Empires at War: Book 11: Day of Infamy (Exodus: Empires at War.) by Doug Dandridge Read Free Book Online

since he must also work through Parliament.”
    “And we both know that he
has a lot more power to do what he wants in wartime.”
    Horatio nodded.  The High
Lord knew of what he spoke.  There were checks and balances in the Imperial
government, and the power of the Emperor was limited, except during war.  Then
he became the ultimate power in the Empire, though he still had some
limitations.
    “Anything else?”
    “We would also like a
discussion about giving us some of your wormhole weapon systems on the table. 
Oh, not the actual hardware, except for some examples we can use to engineer
our own.  And the plans and schematics of the technology.”
    And that will go over
really well with Parliament, thought the Ambassador, shaking his head.  There’ll
likely be some heart attacks when they hear this.
    “I’ll talk to the Emperor
and see what we can do.  You understand that the Klassekians have an agreement
with our government to serve in our military.  They would have to volunteer to
do the same with yours.”
    “I understand.  Hopefully
we can work something out.”
    Good thing we’re not
expecting an attack anytime soon , thought the Ambassador as he led the High Lord
out of the sitting room.  Of course, this was war, so the unexpected happened
all the time.
    *     *     *
     
    CAPITULUM, JEWEL.
     
    It wasn’t the most
exclusive jewelry store in Capitulum.  That was reserved for the moderately
rich, and entry was by invitation only.  Of course, the nobility and the very
rich didn’t shop for their jewelry in stores.  They had their pieces made to
order.  But Newmans was as exclusive as someone of Tomas Gijardo’s wealth and
status could afford.
    “I would like to see that
one,” he said to the clerk, pointing to a one carat ring in the case.
    “A good choice, sir,”
said the Malticon clerk, barely able to look over the counter from his one
meter and a third height.  His species looked as close to human as possible,
with the exception of some differences to his limb joints and fingers.  They
fit into human society much easier than most species, and there had to be a
couple of hundred million of them in the city.
    Wonder if you say that to
everyone, no matter their choice? thought Gijardo, taking the ring from the
humanoid hand and turning it to catch the light.  I think I can afford this,
and I think she’s worth it.
    Tomas was an up and
coming business analyst with one of the largest firms in the city, which made
it one of the largest in the Empire.  Someday he would be a big name in the
firm, and then he might be one of those who ordered specialty jewelry.  But for
now this was all he could afford.
    “I’ll take it,” he told
the clerk.  From the return smile he wondered if the being was getting a
commission on the sale.  He swiped his wrist over the sensor, authorizing the transaction
through his implant.  As far as he knew it was a foolproof system, safe from
any hackers or cyber criminals that might still exist in this day and age. 
What criminals there were still made a living, but not from preying on people’s
savings and bank accounts.
    Tomas walked from the
store and onto the street, his eyes taking in the sights of the city.  This
section of Capitulum was made up of towering megascrapers, reaching thousands
of meters into the sky, each taking up an entire city block.  Interspersed
among them were small parks, also city block sized, bringing slices of nature
into the urban landscape.  The streets were busy, swarming with people about
their business.  All of the buildings boasted lines of street side stores, from
individual specialty shops like the jewelers, to mega department stores that
took up the second and third stories of the buildings.  Above those stores were
business offices, belonging to accountants, lawyers, lobbyists and others.  
And above those in most of the buildings were the apartments of the people who
worked here.
    Many of the