Chapter 15

It had been two weeks since the tea party and my encounter with the Gravidan, his presence still in the back of my mind as I idly calculated possibilities and outcomes. Sitting at a desk, I ponder the reasons for a Gravidan in Iridian space. What would be the effect on my mission here? How would the Gravidans respond to a change of leadership?

I set these questions aside to look at the Itinerary for the day, which was on a datapad sitting on my desk. I looked outside through the window, pondering. I watched the yard outside and my eyes wandered past the metal fencing, the gates leading into the main road which took anyone out to the city beyond.

We were in the suburban outskirts of the capital city of Eridan IV. The jungle and mountains beyond the gates lush with purple and yellow plants with a strange bioluminescant tree growth forming a canopy that obstructed any aerial observer's view of the subtropical jungle underneath. My curiosity got the better of me and I resolved that, when I finally had some time, I would explore the jungles beyond the suburban area. Perhaps there were ancient ruins lying around? First thing is first, though.

While I had come a long way towards gaining allies in my fight against my unknown and elusive enemies, I had to figure out who they are. Farsa wanted to speak with me later that day about what I was up against. I had asked her to look into these things for me if I deal with the high matron. Who she and many other nobles saw as a pretender.

From what I had gathered attending luncheons and social gatherings, the high matron was not well respected by many Iridian houses. She was lazy, incompetent, and unimpactful on political matters. Her only saving grace was the money in her name that she used to prop up her status as high matron.

This would not be enough to save her from an outsider such as my self. This was why Farsa wanted me to be the instrument of her demise. But, I had no idea if Farsa would keep her word, if she would let me live after killing the high matron.

The question is: Can I trust her? Would she dispose of me after my part is done? I purse my lips in thought, contemplating reasoning for an answer to these questions. While it is true that Farsa has been immensely supportive of my goals, she also has no reason to continue that trend once she gets what she wants.

On the other hand, this may just be a means to an even greater end. Knowing how Iridian plots and conspiracies tend to have many parts to them, that is, insurance against failure and refraining from showing your entire hand to anyone, there must be more to Farsa's goals than deposing the currently sitting high matron.

I sigh, not an easy choice. But I had to do it regardless of what happens. I lean back in my chair and look at the Eridani sky, the star burning brightly in the sky above, a darker blue than on earth due to the higher oxygen content of hte atmosphere. Which allowed for the larger flora and fauna to exist here.

I half-lid my eyes, and withdraw my senses inward to my own conscious. Silently contemplating the gravity of these considerations. I resign myself to what ever fate awaits, and open my eyes. The door to my room opens, and I finish my glass of wine. The movement and pattern of footsteps familiar to me from these past few days, as I have had the same person visit me personally time and time again.

"Princess." I acknowledge the new presence in my domain. Princess Galinae starts "oh! How did you know it was me without seeing me?" I smirk to myself, dodging the question. Some things are indeed best left unsaid. "Never mind that, did you need something from me, Galinae?" I quirk an eyebrow as I look out the window at a few young Iridian children at play in the yard.

"I just had a question, and.. I am not sure what you will think." she fidgets nervously, and I lift my other thin, black eyebrow. My telehaptics tingling as I resist the urge to probe into her conscious to find out what the question is. I fail to resist and my mind makes the connection. I sigh, and fold a leg over my opposite thigh tightly. "You wish to travel with me."

Galinae meeps in shock at my foresight "how did you know?" I smirk, but inwardly I wished to sigh exhasperatedly. "A little bird told me you wished to travel, and that you see an opportunity with my presence to travel off of-world." I failed to reign in my ability and it nearly tipped my hand. I have to be more careful in the future. While Galinae was unaware of my gifts, using it on her and in front of her would tip my hand. It was the one card I had that I had to keep close to my chest at all times possible unless I had a reason to tip that card.

Galina fidgets "y-yes, I did, but.. I was unsure if you would allow it." I sigh, half-lidding my eyes. "Only if Matron Reghyn allows it." I answer her firmly. Galinae blinks, clearly unsure of how this will turn out when brought up to Matron Reghyn. I know She likely does not want a Princess accompanying me to the city and to the High-matron's residence for the task at hand. So deferring the decision to her will likely mean rejection. It was a calculated risk based on Farsa's prudent judgement.

The princess sighs "very well, I will bring it up next time I talk to aunt Farsa." I nod "you should have brought it up with her in the first place. She -is- your adoptive aunt, after all." Farsa was the sister of the former high-matron, who I later found out was killed by the currently serving high-matron and her supporters. Many of which benefitted from her vast wealth that kept her in power, yet they only served to line their own pockets as a result of her inaction as high matron.

As Galinae departs, I go back to that matter internally. If high-matron Kelle lost favor of other houses such as house Regyn and house Vanrea, She likely had other opposition. Likely, she also had leverage to keep them from acting openly against her. My first goal was to deal with her support. That would be primarily house Vansae and house Fan'ir. Both of which were rather influential Iridian houses with residences on the Eridani moons. The matron of house Vansae has a formidable network of informants. My first suspect is the Gravdian. As house Vansae has a history of using Gravdian informants to further their information on the various internal political struggles inside of Iridian society.

There was also the possibility of him being merely a Turncoated agent. Of which possibility was likely high. Farsa's intuition was such that I could not see her letting a Gravdian freely roaming her estate who also happened to be an informant for a rival house.

I open my eyes. Step one. Pay a visit with the Gravdian male who walked the gardens every afternoon. Step two. Secure passage to travel the Eridani moons among Eta-Eridani. Step three, scout the main residence of house Vansae, find intel regarding their connections to informants within House Regyn and house Vanrea. Step four, eliminate them.

After mapping out these steps, Steps one and two were ones I had to conduct simultaneously. I rose from my chair, buckled my sidearm holster and combat belt, which I had been wearing openly when ever I went out of my room. I inspected the Mk26 I had inherited from the dead Commonwealth spy. After I holster the weapon, I exit my quarters and stride in the direction of Farsa's study.