The Obsidian slowly entered 492's inner system. The Hood stood 500,000 kilometres of her port side. When the ship had reached an undeclared boundary, three Free Legion escorts moved in to intercept.
Macen ordered full stop. Minutes later, T'Kir reported an incoming hail. Macen wished it to be put on the main viewer.
The clone that appeared before them wore the Imperial rank of Immunes, "I am Titus XV. You are violating a lawful blockade."
"I'm Captain Brin Macen of the Obsidian," Macen smiled, "contact Justinian V and confirm our clearance to cross this blockade line."
"I shall." Titus XV promised and the screen reverted to the view of the three Free Legion ships floating ahead of them. Mere seconds later an almost pleasant Titus XV reappeared, "Proceed to Magna Roma. One of our vessels will escort you. Do not deviate from a direct vector towards the planet or attempt any manoeuvre outside of a standard orbit. Understood?"
"Understood." Macen replied, "We're more than happy to comply."
"Another thing: you are forbidden from utilising your transporter once in orbit."
"Very well then." Macen acknowledged, "We'll restrict ourselves."
Litol was on the surface. He and Hafet had squirreled themselves away in a foreboding and abandoned section of the Roman fortress. Hafet was agitated but Litol sought to ease his anxiety.
"Macen's arrival is fortunate for us." Litol assured him, "These clones are too weak-kneed to be allowed dominion over this world. Cardassia must save these neo-barbs from themselves. Six more Keldan-class cruisers and three Galor-class, Type V, are in bound. With them are 3,000 more troops. I have ordered the off-loading of our hovertanks and crews. The armoured cavalry is also being deposited upon this mud ball. With these in place, the neo-barbs will fall before as their 'wheat' before a scythe."
"But won't the Starfleet units intervene?" Hafet sceptically wondered.
"Starfleet won't act until they've received an invitation to and their wretched Federation Council has approved of the intervention. We merely need to ensure that no such request leaves the planet." Litol replied with a nasty smile.
"Orbital jammers." Hafet replied.
Litol was pleased that his ground commander was beginning to stretch his imagination, "As for Macen's ship, we shall simply board her and hold her until the dust settles."
"But what of Macen's proposed investigation?" Hafet asked.
"Measures have been taken." Litol wore a confident smile, "Macen will not discover anything. My experts and Glinn Fern have seen to that."
"So you approve of Macen's effort?" Hafet double-checked.
"With proper supervision." Litol laughed, "I'm on my way to inform Justinian V of my endorsement of his plan. Are you coming?"
Hafet shook his head, "I'm going to oversee the landing of our armoured divisions."
Litol nodded, "Good thought. Until later then."
The launch of the Corsair was flawlessly executed. As it descended nearer Roman airspace, atmospheric interceptors approached. Grace took the hail and followed them to Nova Roma. Local traffic control then guided her to the Imperial Palace. There, the base's own traffic controller set her down.
The Praetorian Guard met the runabout. As Macen descended the ramp, they saluted. The guards relaxed as the others exited from the runabout. Dracas appeared last and when he did so, the Praetorians went for their weapons.
The SID members were quick on the draw. Within seconds there was a stand-off. Finally, the Praetorian Commander approached.
"Hail Dracas." He raised his fist to his chest, "I bid you welcome if you come unarmed."
Dracas looked to Macen and Macen shook his head, "Not a chance. My personnel are armed at all times on the ground. That's my regulation."
"Always a gladiator, eh Captain?" the Commander smiled.
"Always, Scipio." Macen replied, "As you should know."
"Very well." Scipio relented, "Joachim Dracas, you may enter the Emperor's abode on my recognisance. If you betray my trust, you will die."
"Understood." Dracas acknowledged.
"Follow me." Scipio commanded and the SID team followed while flanked by the Praetorians.
Macen and the group were led to the Imperial Command Centre. It was fully staffed and occupied. Given that it was 3:00 A.M. local time this came as a surprise.
Displayed on the viewing screens was satellite imagery of Peking. Owing to the 6 hour time differential, it was 9:00 A.M. there. The pictures were of troops massing for a battle.
The pictures of the clones showed legion upon legion. They had well and truly massed their forces for this engagement. Conspicuously mixed amongst their ranks stood the Cardassians. Hovertanks, wheeled vehicles, aircars, and antiaircraft units moved alongside the Free Legion tanks, tracked vehicles, missile launchers, mobile artillery, and jeeps.
The odds seemed stacked in favour of the Chinese. After all, the Middle Kingdom's army outnumbered the clone and Cardassian forces ten-to-one. The Chinese also possessed the planet's largest air force.
Macen knew they would be slaughtered, "I must speak with Alaric. Now!"
Macen and Dracas were brought before the Emperor. Alaric beamed and embraced both of them, "Greetings my friends. I'm sorry our reunion had to take place under such circumstances."
"The circumstances are what I must discuss with you." Macen said, "The Chinese are about to be butchered. Call them off."
"Are you mad?" Alaric laughed, "The advantage is ours. Besides the Middle Kingdom's forces, there are two Roman aircraft carriers off-shore. We also have two squadrons based in the Middle Kingdom. The locals call them "the Flying Tigers." Besides all of that, there are three missile submarines flanking the carriers. They are the new Firedrake-class. Nothing can stop their missiles."
"The Cardassians can and will." Macen promised, "Call this off before hundreds of thousands needlessly die."
"No." Alaric replied with steel in his voice, "The battle must be fought. The clones must learn their place."
"Call Starfleet in." Macen implored, "They can help both sides reach an understanding. A peace treaty is still possible. Don't throw away the chance to end this before it's truly begun."
"There can be no peace." Meacham said as he approached the gathering, "These mockeries are traitors and must be punished accordingly."
As Dracas bristled, Macen turned to the Senator, "Who are you and why should I care?"
Alaric smiled, "May I present Senator Meacham and beside him is Senator Grachus. They are my minders."
"Since when does the Emperor have Senatorial minders?" Macen wondered.
"This is still a republic." Meacham answered, "One governed by the rule of law. The Emperor is the 1st Citizen, an example to all Roman subjects. He is the absolute commander of our Legions and the enforcer of our laws. He must also be reigned in by the laws of our state or chaos will carry the day."
"What is this 'punishment' that you've mentioned?" Macen asked.
"The punishment for treason is death." Dracas supplied the answer, "The sentence can be decided without trial. It is a military matter."
"But as the absolute commander of the Legions Caesar can commute the sentence?" Macen hoped.
"The Senate has issued a decree," Meacham boasted, "All Roman clones are to be executed. All of them."
Dracas caught the implication as Meacham stared at him while making his announcement. So did Macen.
"You refuse to call in Starfleet?" Macen pointedly asked Alaric.
"Yes." The Emperor was confused as to why Macen was repeating what had already been decided.
"And if I can prove the Cardassians are here to invade?" Macen enquired.
"You think they are?" Alaric was more urgent now.
"I think they are and I think I can prove it." Macen revealed, "But I need to go to them to get the proof."
"I will order your vessel to be listed amongst the inviolable craft. No Roman shall harm it." Alaric vowed, "You have free passage within Roman airspace."
"That's all I ask." Macen turned to his people and the Praetorian Guard, "We're leaving folks."
Dracas cast one last discerning look Alaric's way before following his CO out of the Palace.
Justinian V and Hafet monitored their troops progress from a mobile communication, command, and control centre. A comm tech summoned Justinian V.
"We have unidentified craft approaching."
"Visual." Justinian V ordered.
A vessel of an unknown type appeared on the screen. Hafet bristled.
"That is a Federation runabout." He revealed, "Let my troops destroy it."
"And let you slip past Macen's investigation?" Justinian V gloated, "You profess cooperation one moment and then utilise every form of persuasion to try and prevent such a thing from occurring."
"I merely wish to spare you Macen's lies." Hafet offered as an explanation.
"Let me discern what is a lie and what is not. Hmmm?" Justinian V counselled.
Justinian V turned to the comm tech, "Alert all wings and air defences, the Federation craft is allowed free access to Free Legion held territories."
"Yes, sir."
The battle of Chung Kuo had been a swift and lethal affair. The Cardassians carried the day. Their ground assault equipment was a century more advanced than that of the Chinese and the Romans. The Cardassian troops had been hand selected from crack Orders that had served in the front lines of the Dominion War.
The Cardassian antiaircraft capabilities had stunned the allied forces. The surprise appearance of Cardassian assault shuttles had decimated what forces were left. Even the corpses of the vaunted Flying Tigers were spread across the field of battle.
Macen and the group surveyed the wreckage as they landed. One good thing was that Peking was taken intact. Even now the clones were rolling in in a victorious column.
Justinian V and Hafet stood back as Octavius XII and Dalin Dan led the troops in. While the SID team waited at the runabout, Macen was brought before the two commanders.
"Greetings Captain." Justinian V saluted Macen, "It is an honour to meet you."
"The honour is mine." Macen replied, "Will the probe commence?"
"Immediately." Justinian V said with amusement in his voice. He handed Macen a flimsy, "Here are the coordinates of the clone and Cardassian encampment where you will proceed. The Cardassians have offered you assistance and equipment."
"We have our own equipment." Macen smiled, "It will suffice."
Hafet looked disgruntled, "Glinn Fern will oversee your efforts. You will report to him and he will report to the chain of command."
"Fair enough." Macen said agreeably, "Then my team and I will be leaving so we can begin."
"God speed." Justinian wished.
"May you find what is there." Hafet offered.
Macen cast a dubious glance Hafet's way. He didn't pursue the matter and headed back to the Corsair. Once there, he boarded and the starship lifted off and headed for the Ruslands.