On The Imperium’s Secret Service (Imperium Cicernus) by Christopher Nuttall Read Free Book Online

gone from knowing that they were about to meet an awful fate to starting a new career as a wealthy aristocrat’s private pilots.  “And because he’s probably at least twice your age.”
     
    “But does it matter?”  Mai asked.  “Mother always said that we should marry older men.”
     
    Mariko bit down the response that came to mind.  Their mother was a strict traditionalist from a family that considered its daughters little more than pawns for expanding their influence and reputation.  They had taken a gamble by allowing one of their daughters to marry an up-and-coming tradesman, but it had paid off for them.  Until, of course, the time came when they found out their grandchildren had effectively become slaves.
     
    “I don’t think he’d be interested in marriage,” Mariko said, finally.  “I think it’s time you started to work on the simulations on the bridge.”
     
    “I suppose,” Mai said, reluctantly.  She needed to be checked out on the ship’s piloting systems before they left orbit.  Lord Fitzgerald had told them that he wanted to leave as soon as they felt comfortable piloting his ship to the point where she could slip into phase space.  “And what if he expresses an interest in me?”
     
    Mariko tried to think of an answer and gave up.  There was nothing she could say.
     
    ***
    “We’re ready to go, Milord,” Mariko said.  Lord Fitzgerald had been in his cabin during the hours the girls had spent learning how to fly his ship.  It was so simple that she couldn't understand why he hadn't bothered to learn himself.  What would happen to him if there was an accident and both of his pilots ended up dead?  “I request permission to take us out of orbit.”
     
    “Granted,” Lord Fitzgerald said.  He didn't sound concerned.  “Do you want me on the bridge?”
     
    The honest answer to that was no , but Mariko wasn’t sure if that was a good answer.  “If you want to watch, come onto the bridge,” she said.  “If not, there shouldn't be any problems down here.”
     
    “I shall stay here,” Lord Fitzgerald said.  “Make sure you get some sleep once the ship is in phase space.  Tuff is not a very relaxing planet.”
     
    Mariko nodded and returned to the bridge.  One advantage of being in orbit around Dorado was that it had almost no system in place to control the movements of orbiting systems.  A handful of low-orbit automated weapons platforms and a couple of cutters so old that they looked to be pre-Imperium weren't enough to protect the planet if someone nasty came calling, or stop Bruce Wayne from leaving orbit if she chose.  Mariko sent a burst transmission to the OTC anyway and closed the channel without giving them time to respond.
     
    “Naughty,” Mai observed, from her console.  “Shouldn’t you wait for an acknowledgement?”
     
    “No,” Mariko said, as Bruce Wayne came to life under her hands.  The starship was soon throbbing with more power than Happy Wanderer had ever enjoyed, although their old freighter had been a bulky brick with over four times the mass of Bruce Wayne .  She ran her hand down the list of commands that activated the drive completely, removing the interlocks that prevented the drive from coming to life accidentally.  “Let’s go, shall we?”
     
    There was always something different about actually flying a starship, instead of working a simulation.  Mariko felt the ship shivering under her as she took direct control and started to navigate a path out of orbit and up towards the phase limit at the edge of the planet’s gravity field.  Bruce Wayne seemed to be friskier than any other ship she’d flown, almost as if she was pushing her pilot to go faster.  The hum of the drives grew louder as more power flooded into them, generating a drive field that pushed them forward.  Mariko found herself grinning as Dorado retreated behind them, leaving Carlos and his men to enjoy their lives of wealth and power on a