Three hours later, Sarah rolled herself out of bed again and drank a glass of water. Her throat was dry as paper and her head was throbbing. She hadn't really slept as much as she had dozed off and woken up again multiple times. Everything was quiet and it was still bright outside, but Sarah had the blinds closed. Light was seeping in along its edges. She looked into her fridge and, finding it empty, closed it again right away. Perhaps if she tried hard enough, she could remotely open her fridge on Ayonar and fly a cola through the universe right into her hand. She chuckled and shook her head, then dressed herself in simple pants and a t-shirt before leaving to meet her aunt Therana. The Dark Temple upper levels were as quiet as ever. Nothing reminded her of the attack that had just hours before shocked the world.
Therana was in her office on the phone with the Commander of the Temple Guard Richard Hart. Sarah entered and waited for her aunt to finish the call, then sat down on a chair in front of Therana's desk.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXbOnqeR8K
"You wanted to see me?" asked Therana.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu48jY6A8I
Sarah nodded. "What happened today is a scandal. We must send a response."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jJJGeUQOE
"And what do you suggest?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBhc0NlRM6
"We use Imperial Intelligence to infiltrate the URS and increase our anti-piracy efforts. We must hound them without relent and bring them all to justice."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPaOKzjlRg
"Wouldn't such a forceful reaction escalate matters further? After all, they had warned you that they would come after the family if you continued to strike against them."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55I3QEnEIv
"And because they now have, all bets are off. They didn't manage to kill Johanna, or maybe they didn't want to. We have their guy in custody. Let's get everything out of him and beat back."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZICQADKbQB
"He is already being interrogated. We will soon know more, but what do you mean they didn't want to kill your sister?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwl25v0Ph2
"If she had been killed, we'd respond by throwing everything at them. Since she wasn't, our response will be more measured. Therefore we must throw everything at them either way because they won't expect that now. They think of us and the navy as a tired, bureaucratic colossus that can't react fast enough to counter them effectively."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sqYy8rbIX
"Unfortunately that's not entirely false. I've come to realize that I haven't done the best job in those areas in the past decade, which is why I've sent you to the north and installed the regional system. I don't want you to forget that, but I have other concerns in the rest of the empire as well, especially in the border regions. The URS forces are gradually coming closer to the border with their patrols. I fear they're probing our response times."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluoxbnYZTn
"Do you think we should stick to the plan?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7CdMa76Hg
"Yes. Return to Ayonar and put more pressure on the pirates. I'll see if I can spare more ships. If we act now, perhaps we can really achieve a quick victory."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA69IHlqnu
Sarah nodded. "I wanted to talk to Michael before I leave. I can't just hop off planet without having spoken to him."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaUKl7IVDS
"Of course. Be careful, Sarah. We don't know how deep this really goes."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyVRQqwO4k
"Indeed."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbehBWyBjxk
Sarah left the office and strode through the throne room. The Dark Guards at the doors bowed to her as she passed.
Michael was in the Temple's indoor garden, sitting on a bench next to the fountain in the middle of the garden. Sarah sat down beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. Michael stared at the fountain and only acknowledged Sarah with a glance to the side.683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k7opqsNxz
"I'm sorry this happened, Mike." Michael did not react. "We will find the one who made this happen and they'll get justice."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrdd9vLc8Z
Michael scoffed. "Do you think I care about that?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz5JIfIjVK
"I thought you would."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLuF9YoZU6
"I care about her. The rest happens automatically, anyway."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynv1wviIW2
"She will survive."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpvTbJmzBC
"I know, but she could have died. They could have hit her head or her heart."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepBnsFjnVA
"I don't think they wanted to do that."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zWpUr0UZW
"Why? Murdering someone of Johanna's standing would be such a victory for them."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOnCko3Pr6
"Yes, but a loud bang like that sometimes brings the ceiling down."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUryhwlrIc
"What do you mean?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RLxVxU30N
"If they poke us too much, they get more of a reaction than they can handle, which is why we will measure our response on the assumption that Johanna was killed."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSFtiuIaDq
"So you'll finally kick them in the face?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqIcDX0w0Q
"We'll try to find a face to kick in, but we hope that the piracy problem will soon be one of the past. Our first wave of coordinated strikes was quite successful."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79PgyZzUA2
"I see. You are returning to Ayonar then?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUY3bl4V7Z
"Yes, within the hour if possible. I'm sorry I will probably not be here for the real wedding."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfa01LYqoz
"It's fine. At least we'll know you're out there doing something."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlSH893PJZ
"Yeah, no problem. Will you be okay?"683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs333cIZLJW
"I'm late for visiting her."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEYGybjtYg
"Perhaps she's awake now and you can talk."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN92swMU5ul
"I hope so."683Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgpUVEFH7T
Sarah smiled and hugged Michael. It hurt her to leave, but duty called and she had a job to do. They left the garden together and split up at a junction. Michael went to the Temple hospital and Sarah to the hangar. She had thought to have a few days vacation, not be wrapped up in family drama and her work following her here. As her shuttle shot upwards towards the stars, Sarah looked out the window at the Temple Complex. She had thought it looked more impressive when she initially left for Ayonar.
