Chapter 3:
Planet Charlot
ALONG WITH THE OTHER NOBLES in Cleo’s faction, I’d been summoned to the palace on the Capital Planet. In addition to the more significant names in attendance were trusted knights and bureaucrats they employed.
The large assembly room featured circular tiers of seating with the lowest rows in the center. Nobles, knights, and soldiers packed the room, Cleo looking down on them from the special seating closest to the ceiling. In the center of this arrangement was a hologram of Planet Charlot; it rotated so that everyone could get a good look at it.
Chairing this meeting was Theodore Sera Zach. He stood under a spotlight, speaking loudly and with great enthusiasm. “He who obtains Planet Charlot shall rule the Empire! I need you all to understand how important this battle will be!”
There was nothing wrong with what he was saying, but his attitude was overbearing, as if he were lecturing a group of children. Theodore was from a baron’s family; they were so-called “court nobles” who didn’t command their own domain, yet still received a salary from the palace, even if they did nothing to earn it. If such nobles served in a government post, they received additional pay, but Theodore had been unemployed until recently. He could only stand before all of us so confidently because Cleo had just given him a powerful position in his Imperial Guard.
Theodore wore a unique Imperial Guard uniform with a rank insignia identifying him as a Special Lieutenant General. That was basically an honorary rank created for him specifically, similar to the Special Staff Officer rank I’d held during my time in the Imperial Army.
Theodore continued his commentary on the planet. “Planet Charlot is already habitable, with an excellent environment, but the most important thing about it is its reservoir of rare metals. Initial reports suggest considerable reserves, and the mining prospects look good.”
The planet was enticing, judging by the documents in front of me. It was beautiful, but sadly destined for environmental tragedy, since it would be mined for its rare metals. Its surface would inevitably be dug up and its waters dirtied, eventually rendering Planet Charlot no longer fit for human habitation.
“Too bad. It’s a beautiful blue… Reminds me of Earth.”
Claus was seated beside me, and my reminiscing about my past home caught his attention. “‘Earth,’ sir? What planet is that?”
“Don’t worry about it. What’s your take on Charlot?”
Claus turned his attention back to the documents and stated his honest opinion. “It’s definitely a promising planet, but we wouldn’t need to interfere if not for the succession conflict.”
No one cared about Planet Charlot in and of itself. We all knew what this was really about: the Imperial succession.
Beside Theodore was one of the people who asserted ownership of Planet Charlot: Baron Schlust Sera Glynn. The thin, androgynous-looking baron had long black hair that went almost down to the floor. He wore a suit, but his striking hair drew more attention than his clothes. His slender, vulpine face gave him an untrustworthy look.
The spotlight shifted to Baron Glynn, who bowed deeply. “I very much appreciate the assistance of all you gallant folk. Charlot is part of House Glynn’s territory, but Viscount Myatt is trying to steal it. I’d like your help in bringing this matter to a just resolution.”
The conflict around Planet Charlot was between Baron Glynn and Viscount Myatt. Glynn had the nobles of Cleo’s faction on his side, while those in Calvin’s faction sided with Myatt. I’d initially thought that the baron and viscount were merely small-time nobles getting caught up in a fight between bigger names, but Glynn seemed perfectly content with the situation.
“‘Just,’ eh? What a shameless guy,” I whispered to Claus.
“You don’t feel that Baron Glynn’s cause is just?” Claus asked cautiously.
“I don’t believe there is such a thing as justice. Charlot’s an enticing planet, so he wants it. That’s all there is to it, right? If no one had found rare metals there, it would’ve been left untouched forever.”
Before, Planet Charlot had only been a habitable planet and nothing more, but now that Baron Glynn knew that rare metals were present, he wanted to settle it for mining. Viscount Myatt, a nearby lord, had noticed the planet at the same time, and so the two nobles began squabbling over it.
Furthermore, there was no guarantee that Baron Glynn was telling the truth. Viscount Myatt would have his own side of the story. No one here had any interest in which of them was actually justified, though. It didn’t matter to the Empire who owned the planet, so long as they got their taxes in the end. Planet Charlot was only coming to all of our attention now because of Cleo and Calvin’s succession conflict.
The other nobles around me gave Baron Glynn cold looks, voicing their opinions.
“He’s a coward who can’t even defend his own domain.”
“If it’s really his territory, he should’ve mined it already.”
“Well, he’s too weak to do that, isn’t he?”
As everyone said whatever they wanted about him, Baron Glynn backed up, his face twitching.
Theodore stepped forward to take his place in the spotlight. “Quiet, please! I’d like to hear Count Banfield’s opinion.”
When my name came up, all the chatting nobles hushed, since no one was stupid enough to talk over the leader of the faction. Having all those stern faces clam up to hear what I’d say felt pretty good.
“As a noble with territory myself, I sympathize with the baron. But we also need to win this fight for Prince Cleo’s sake. I believe it would be productive to discuss how we’ll do that.”
My implication was, “Let’s ignore Glynn and talk about how we’re going to beat Calvin’s faction,” but Theodore and the baron didn’t look too happy about that.
“Now, that won’t do, Count Banfield,” Theodore cautioned. “Winning is important, granted, but Baron Glynn is our ally. His war with Viscount Myatt has exhausted his domain; his planets are ruined. We’ll need to provide him with supplies as well. We can’t forget that.”
Behind Theodore, Baron Glynn nodded, all smiles.
He wants supplies, eh? That was nothing but a pain for the rest of us. War would be annoying enough, and now we’d have to support the baron too? Everyone here was thinking the same thing.
“If this conflict is going to settle things with Calvin’s faction, we should focus on that,” I replied. “Although, of course, we can send aid if we have the capacity to.”
As I essentially told them that I had no intention of supporting the baron, Cleo himself appeared as a three-dimensional hologram in the center of the room. The image only showed his upper half, but since it was oversized, we all had to look up at him. For the record, it didn’t feel great to have a huge 3D image looking down on me.
“Please don’t say that, Count Banfield,” Cleo chided me. “I’d like you to help Baron Glynn. He’s one of us, after all. Can I leave this matter to you?” He glanced down at his right arm; that must’ve been where he was injured. He seemed to be saying, “I got hurt because of you, so I won’t brook any argument on this.”
Claus must’ve interpreted Cleo’s gesture the same way. When I glanced over at him, he shook his head, as if telling me not to argue. Still, I hadn’t expected Cleo to call me out specifically. It would’ve been better if I could split this burden with a few other nobles. I was at a disadvantage with Cleo right now, though; for the time being, I’d have to play nice.
“…I’ll send supplies right away.”
It wasn’t just the holographic image looking down at me; Cleo was gazing at me from his seat at the top of the room too. “Thank you. It sounds like the viscount has really put the baron through the wringer, so be generous with those supplies, all right? It would help, too, if you could send personnel to assist with reconstruction. That’s your specialty, isn’t it, Count Banfield? I’m counting on you.”
He’s not going easy on me, is he? “I’ll be sure to meet your expectations.”