55 The Cancri e, or diamond planet, is only 40 light-years from Planet Earth, yet it belongs to the Empire, since the Consortium was not technically advanced enough to make any use of the planet. It acts as an enclave, an imperial zone on all sides surrounded by the Consortium.
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Eleda Imperial city...
"Today the Empire has lost contact with the constellation Cancer" (constellation where this planet is located), was heard from the radio.
"What? How the hell cold we loose contact with the entire constellation? There are two inhabited planets and one mining planet." Said one of the operators of the Special Operations Center, where Derren brought a report on the process of the military exercise.
"The last communication is some confused signal from 55 Cancri e." Another operator told the others.
"Calm down, it will be just an anomaly, it will disappear within a few days."
"But the lead doesn't think so." One of the commander burst into the room.
"If it is not an anomaly, and something has happened, we will be the first responsible." "So what? Will we send a team of special forces?" One of the operators said sarcastically.
"Something like that." The commander replied to the great astonishment of all operators.
"Right now, sir?" Another operator asked in wonder.
"We need volunteers for the expedition as soon as possible."
"I'll go!" Derren shouted without hesitation. "I see that you are making a good name for the Imperial Guard, Praetor. But I will have to send your request higher."
"I'll do it myself." Derren exclaimed enthusiastically and ran toward the Imperial Palace.
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"Your majesty." Derren ran into the throne room and knelt.
"Be welcome, Derren. What brings you to me?" As always, the Empress replied with a calm voice.
"I've come to ask for permission to join the expedition to the constellation Cancer." "Hmm, you get information with unseen speed, Derren. But do you really want to dive into the unknown so quickly?" The Empress replied.
"I will do everything for the people of the Empire, even if it means my death, Majesty." Derren replied, trying to look confident, but there was a certain degree of uncertainty in his voice.
"Well, you can join the expedition, but slow down with that dying, the Empire needs the people like you." The Empress laughed.
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The second day the expedition was ready. "We need to go as soon as possible, given the distance we have to travel, close to the Consortium and also take care not to violate the intergalactic conventions. We will get there through the corridor of the neutral zone." (A Zone between the areas controlled by the Consortium and the constellation Cancri, which is under no rule, used for transfer of units and trade) Commander Marcus reported to the selected group.
"Special Reconnaissance Unit Alpha:
Private Frederick Collins
Private Cedric Smith
Lieutenant Theodor Rosseau
Paramedic Emily Browning
Officer Praetor Derren
Captain Edward Norton
Special Reconnaissance Unit Beta..." The commanding officer of the Special Operations Center kept checking off people on his list.
"The Empire sends out two groups? Don't they believe us?" Smith exclaimed in confusion.
"Standard approach. It's a long way to go, private." Captain Norton replied, and sat down to the control unit.
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Planet Earth, Britain...
In Old London, a group of mysterious men were knocking on Merry and Helen's door. "Merry Evans?"
"Who the hell are you?" Helen replied aggressively.
"We are representatives of the Consortian's Military Health Service, you and Helen Doul are transferred to the Cancri sector."
"Listen, you clown. First, I'm Helen, second we aren't even assigned anywhere, so you can't transfer us, and third, no sector Conkry is known to me and I don't intend to go there." Helen shouted angrily, trying to slam the door shut. But one of the men blocked the door his feet.
"Let me tell you otherwise, Mrs. Helen. You're going to Cancri to meet your medical duties, or we'll arrest both of you for a treason." The man threatened her.
"You can give it a try!" Helen shouted, when Merry came running.
"Please calm down, what's going on here?" "You are transferred to the Cancri sector, you are leaving tomorrow morning. Should I assign a military escort, or are you going alone?" Again, one of the men said threateningly.
"It won't be necessary, we will go alone..." Confused Merry replied, the men left.
"What was that supposed to be?"
"I have no idea, Helen. But we shouldn't mess with these people, at least we'll look at Cancri, whatever it is."
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The next day, several transport spaceships stood in the park outside Helen and Merry's house. Several other people stood in the park, and were gradually inserted in transports. Helen and Merry were in the same transport, probably because of fear of Helen. After checking that everyone is on board, the ship lifted up and disappeared as lightning. In 4 days, the transports arrived at 55 Cancri c. A planet about half the size of Saturn. As Helen and Merry stepped out of the transport, they saw almost nothing through the yellow-orange haze.
"Move! Quickly!" Approaching soldiers in gas masks shouted. After they followed, they got into a large bunker-like complex. "What does that mean? And why didn't they give us masks too?" Helen began to freak out.
"Now is not the time to explain, the people of the Consortium need you!" One of the soldiers shouted and led them into a large hall full of the wounded.
"What happened here?" Merry asked.
"A terrible mining accident." One of the present officers answered. Helen and Merry began their work, most of the injuries looked like a strange type of burns, the skin in the core areas was almost like charcoal, and the area around was bloody.
"This is your new job, your new home." The commander said.
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