(Sorry about the delays. Been busy here.)
One final stop on the itinerary: "Strephon". Their resident expert on Capital politics says he's fairly sure this isn't really Strephon.
They arrive at Usdiki and announce themselves. The diplomats and senior crew are summoned to an audience to present their credentials. Hero hands over the letter that Norris gave them; he reads it, smirks and asks "Archduke?" with a bit of amusement, and then asks them about the trip. They tell him about the deal with the Aslan, the hard work of Duke Craig (he's pleased), and Margaret's claim that her daughter is his.
He's livid. He breaks off the audience, apologizing, and walks off muttering something about Iolanthe. The resident expert is awed, and says, yes, that certainly seemed like the Strephon he met once, before the Rebellion.
Jacob does some quick scans to see what he can find. Strephon doesn't show up via 'life detection', indicating a psionic shield of some sort; Jacob pokes at his shield to see if he can tell if it's innate or mechanical. No reaction, so probably mechanical.
On the way out, Jacob is asked to step aside by a Colonel in Strephon's guards. Seldrian accompanies him, so Hero follows, bringing Edge and Kimbley. The Colonel demands to know if Jacob is loyal to the Zhodani, and where he got his psionic training. (Hero and Edge had not previously known he was psionic, although their player did, and they had suspicions.) Jacob says he works for Norris's people, and was trained on Regina. The colonel asks him to open his shields to confirm. Jacob nods and opens his shields. The colonel looks for a second, then smiles and agrees that Jacob can be trusted, and wants to talk shop with him.
The senior crew and diplomats receive an invitation to an informal reception at the estate of the Marquis of Usdiki. The political advisor explains that the Marquis of Usdiki is the Emperor, a request from the Emperor is a command, and that if the Emperor is telling you he's the Marquis, treat him like the Marquis. The relevant people arrive for the reception, including Question.
The Marquis arrives, with an 8-year-old boy. The boy and Strephon talk a bit, and then the two of them make a beeline for Hero. Strephon recognizes Kimbley as a Tensher's wolf; the boy asks if he can pet her. Strephon chats with Hero for a bit about the Domain of Deneb, asking how things are going with the Zhodani, Aslan, and Vargr, along with whether Norris has gotten married yet. After a bit of a talk, Strephon goes off to talk to more people, and the boy reluctantly leaves Kimbley behind.
Strephon meets up with Question at the buffet (of course) and asks him about his MCG. He finds the captain and asks her about the trip through Lucan's territory, becoming visibly upset as he hears how bad things are getting there.
Later, having had a couple more drinks, he explains (in first person) how "the Emperor" came to be here, and about the clones his father had made for him - how disturbing he found them. The boy, Avery, pulls Seldrian away (with Edge in tow) to look at something. As she leaves, Strephon comments that Norris had the right idea - she's clearly _not_ him.
A naval liaison officer contacts the XO about the trip across the rift, introducing him to a senior scout. Unfortunately, they don't have any good suggestions right now. As the liaison officer and XO share a drink, the officer comments that she isn't sure why Strephon isn't going with them - he's not doing much here, they'd probably believe him in Deneb, and he'd be safer there. Before the XO could do much more than grunt agreement, the scout returned with news - records of a comet in the middle of the rift. They'll need fuel tanker support to get across one jump-6 stretch, but the Vengeance can make it the rest of the way on her own...if the comet's really there.
Strephon's physician contacts Jacob, asking to meet. After running him around a bit to make sure he isn't being tailed, they meet in a back room of a small cafe. The physician says that he is absolutely certain that Strephon is legitimate - he's done medical scans, and he's clearly human, and he knows the trigger phrases to activate the identification routines in the clones. Strephon doesn't react to them. He gives copies of this information to Jacob, who was recommended to him by the colonel in security as somebody who was absolutely trustworthy. He feels Strephon should use this proof to reclaim the Imperium, but Strephon has sworn him to secrecy. Jacob scans him - he is completely sincere in his offer.
Strephone approves the tanker support, and it's time for the Vengeance to go home. He asks for one last audience to send them off. He goes along the lines, shaking hands with all of them. He slips a holocrystal into Hero's hand, whispering, "Tell Norris I'm sorry." He pauses when he reaches the captain, as if seeing the Vengeance's crest (with the words "Shall Not Perish") for the first time. He haltingly makes a comment, calling back to Lincoln, about how government for the people, of the people, and by the people shall not perish, and continues along the line. The XO notes that there are tears in his eyes.
As they're boarding the shuttle, the doctor comes up with the boy. He is Avery, and the Emperor has asked that they take him to Deneb. Seldrian accepts before anybody else can comment.
Avery explores the ship with Seldrian and Kimbley as they travel. He likes dogs and spaceships. (When I was told that Kimbley was coming along, and that the book says he likes dogs...I know better than to fight fate.)
One last post to come - return to Deneb.
