II

"You heard me! South tower steps! Flush them out!"

Six Royal Guard clattered down the hall as Commander Vlish screeched orders. "Where are the Battle Mages? Why the hell aren't they up there yet?"

A tall soldier emerged from a service portal. "There's no sign of them downstairs. They must be headed upstairs already."

"No shi - Really!" Vlish caught himself before cursing in uniform. "Get the Imperials on the upper levels! I want to force the intruders back down."

"Aye, Commander!" The soldier vanished back inside the portal.

Vlish cursed under his breath. The biggest damn security breach in Empire history, and it had to be on the only day he had ever commanded the night guard.

A young man in purple robes emerged from the security portal.

"Takos, where the hell have you been?" Vlish growled.

"That is no way to address the Royal Councilor," Takos replied in his usual drawl.

Vlish cursed again for forgetting the minor detail of his former comrade's hour-old appointment.

"I have just come from the Royal Suite, upstairs. We are to move the base of operations to the throne room immediately. This is an assassination attempt."

Vlish shouted louder to prevent himself from cursing in front of a superior. "Any rookie fresh from the academy can tell this is an assassination attempt!"

"The Emperor does not want his life to be at stake and has instructed us to create a strong defense in the Throne Room," Takos advised.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe we should simply relocate the Emperor?"

Takos snickered. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe Hawthorne wishes to remain in his throne room as an act of defiance? If you hurry, I will not report this act of insolence."

Damn insolence, Vlish thought. Damn you for becoming high-and-mighty Royal Counselor. Damn Hawthorne for never having fought outside of a practice arena for a day of his life. "Fine. Emperor's orders, right?"

A soldier emerged from a service portal. "You called for me, Commander?"

Vlish thanked whatever deity might be for some actual progress. "Captain deBain, I need every Imperial Elite that you can get your hands on upstairs in the main throne room, five minutes ago!"

"Aye, commander," the captain acknowledged. "Anything else?"

"Get back here the instant you finish conveying those orders. I need a calm mind to help me deal with the beaurocrats." Vlish articulated the last word as if it were laced with poison. The instant that the captain returned to the portal, he returned his attention to the impatient Takos. "I suppose you have some idea of how I can convey orders to every unit in the Imperial Tower from some place other than the command room?"

Takos looked appalled. "Do you seriously need to coordinate everyone?"

"What the hell is going on here?" Ashort, fat man in banquet regalia had emerged from the northern stairway.

Vlish cursed again. Just what he needed on a night like this: more pompous idiots. "General Limoncelli, I was discussing the wisdom of changing our base of operations with the Royal Councilor."

"What the hell do you want to do that for?" Limoncelli demanded. It was clear that the man was slightly intoxicated.

"I don't, sir," Vlish stated.

"The Emperor demands it," Takos drawled.

Captain deBain emerged from a service portal. "Commander, a group of Royal Guard encountered the intruders on the seventh level. There appear to only be four of them. The Guard are in pursuit," he reported. "Orders sir?"

Vlish digested the information. Four people. Four people causing this much destruction? Dammit! Seventh level! "Captain, send the Elite down the south side from the throne room right now! If the Guard don't stop them, our intruders are going to need to have something between them and the Emperor!"

Limoncelli scowled, something he did rather well. "Why the hell won't Hawthorne just set up an ambush? Attack from all sides? If there's only four of them, troops on all sides would easily divide their attention."

"We aren't sure where they are, and the halls aren't wide enough for a standard ambush, Sir," deBain supplied before Vlish could respond. "Commander, if we could send a group to lie in wait on the eighth or ninthfloor, we may be able to stall them long enough to set up an attack force."

Takos seemed offended. "Captain, I don't believe-"

Limoncelli cut him off. "Interesting perspective, Lonny, but now is not the time to leave standard procedure. Vlish, it's your call."

"Lon, I just-" Vlish began.

"A massive force at the top will crush them!" Takos declared.

"But you must consider their style of attack," Limoncelli pointed out, slurring slightly.

"Would you both shut up?" A gravelly new voice joined the chorus.

The soldiers and beaurocrats alike turned to regard and salute the newcomer, a short, broadly built man with a long black beard.

"My apologies, Lord Garzahd," Takos drawled. "I was just instructing the commander-"

The short man cut him off. "Takos, even though you got close enough to myself and the Emperor to get promoted, it does not mean that you are at all competent." He regarded Vlish. "Commander, I'm taking over the defense. Get your Elites to the throne room. Take some of the battle mages with you. The Emperor has decided that you will be in charge of the final line of defense. I will lead an assault from the rear. And we shall crush them between us. " Vlish hesitated. "Now, Commander!"

Vlish saluted and rushed for the service portal.

"Thank you, Garzahd," Limoncelli chuckled.

"Keller, you're drunk," Garzahd snapped. "Captain!"

"Sir!" deBain saluted.

"Escort the general to a safe location outside of the tower complex. Keller, you'll be much more use to us sober."

"Yes sir!" deBain confirmed.

"Now, Garzahd-" Limoncelli objected.

Wham!A metal object crashed to the floor.

Garzahd, Limoncelli, and Captain deBain wheeled to the source of the crash: the door of a washroom adjacent to the command room. Some poor intoxicated fool had stumbled out of the washroom and spilled a platter of fine rolls onto the floor.

"What the hell is all the yelling about?" The newcomer murmured, trying to regain his balance.

"Jen?" deBain blurted, recognizing the man.

"Nephardia?" Limoncelli and Garzahd simultaneously realized.

"Oh. Hi Lonny," the man slurred. "And Grump-zahd."

Limoncelli scowled. "Nephardia, I always knew you'd end up drunk in a-"

Garzahd cut him off. "Enough! This isno time for insults. Captain, get them both out of here. Takos, you're with me."

Garzahd turned on his heels and entered the service portal, Takos trailing inches behind.