Peter David - Out of the Darkness

So he put forward his most ready smile, and said reassuringly, “Of course not, Highness. You are Centauri Prime. I would no sooner dictate terms to you than tell the sun which way to rise.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Prime Minister. I have little doubt that—if you thought you might succeed—you might easily decide that the sun should rise in the west so that you can sleep in.”

This drew mild laughter from the others. Durla nodded amiably at the small joke made at his expense.

“We have quite a military industrial complex under way, Prime Minister,” Londo continued. “Many papers are brought before me for my signature and seal. I have continued to sign off on them, as an indication of my support. For I believe, as do you—as do all of you—that Centauri Prime has a great destiny to pursue. Although I doubt I could put forth the matter so eloquently or enthusiastically as Minister Vallko.”

“I am honored and flattered that you would think so, Highness,” Vallko said. “I have always felt that our positions complemented each other. That you attended to the wellbeing of the bodies of our people… and I to their spirits.”

“Well said, Minister, well said,” Londo said, thumping the table with unexpected vigor. “And since the bodies of my people are involved in the work that you are doing, I wish to know” where we stand.”

“It is somewhat… involved, Highness.”

“Then involve me.”

Durla started to offer another protest, but he saw the firm, un—yielding look on the emperor’s face and abruptly realized that—most unexpectedly—things had become uncertain. He had to remind himself that there was really no need to keep Londo Mollari out of the loop. It wasn’t as if he could do anything to thwart their efforts. The people’s taste for conquest had only been whetted by strikes Centauri Prime had made against worlds at the outer fringes of the damnable Alliance’s influence. There was already momentum involved, and there was no way that anyone, even the emperor, could stem the tide.

And, of course, he had no intention of doing so. Durla was quite certain of that. This was merely an exercise in facesaving, that was all. When Centauri Prime achieved its destiny of conquest, Mollari wanted to be able to bask in the reflected glory. Understandable. Who wouldn’t want to? But the people would know the truth, and the militarydespite Rhys’ knee—jerk compulsion—likewise would know it was Durla’s vision that fired the Centauri movement. In the long run, Mollari’s endeavors to attach himself to Durla’s greatness would backfire. Durla was sure of that. He would be revealed for the posturing poseur that he was.

In the meantime, why risk alienating allies such as Rhys and those he represented just because he—Durla—was able to see through the emperor’s pathetic maneuvering? “Very well,” Durla said simply.

And so he proceeded to lay out, in detail, all the up—todate particulars of Centauri Prime’s military buildup. All the outposts, operating under varying degrees of secrecy, that were assembling the Centauri fleet that would sweep out among the Alliance worlds and spread the ultimate dominance of the Centaurum.

“So we are not rushing into this,” Londo said slowly, once Durla was finished providing the specifics. “Absolutely not, Emperor. The initial strikes that we have made served a twofold purpose. First, we were testing the will of the Alliance members, and frankly, we are less than impressed, They have grown complacent in their prosperity and their sense of peace. To them, our attack on Narn was an aberration, a distant memory at best. We have managed, through a carefully orchestrated campaign of publicity and information, planned by Minister Lione and well executed by Minister Kuto…” and he gestured toward the pair, who nodded gratefully, “to associate those days—in the minds of the Alliance—with the reign of the mad emperor Cartagia. You, Highness, are seen as a very different animal.”

“Certainly a less rabid one, I would hope,” Londo said with a hint of irony. “So I am perceived as a comparatively benign, harmless ruler. An interesting epitaph, I suppose. ‘Here lies Londo Mollari: a harmless enough fellow.’”

This drew a laugh from Kuto, who promptly silenced himself when he noticed that no one else was joining in.

Picking up after the momentary quiet, Durla continued, “We have further managed to pave the way, through backroom dealings, for key representatives of key governments to be… accommodating… to our attacks on assorted worlds. Furthermore, in launching the assaults, we have been testing the versatility and effectiveness of the vessels that we have assembled thus far. We are pleased to report that the tests of these prototypes have met with overwhelming success.”

“Excellent.” Londo nodded. Dunseny’s head was likewise bobbing in agreement.

“There were a few places where ship performance could be improved.” General Rhys spoke up. “Questions of maneuver ability, and proper distribution of energy resources in weaponry. Problems that made no difference against small worlds that are relatively helpless… but could loom large when it comes to battles against the more powerful members of the Interstellar Alliance.”

“We are attending to that, Highness,” Lione quickly assured him. “I have scientists, technicians, going over all the specifics cited by the general and his board of advisers. Nothing is being left to chance.”

“I have found, Minister, that ‘chance’ usually has its own feelings as to just what is being left to it, and has a habit of inserting itself into matters at its whim.” Londo scratched his chin thoughtfully. “And it will come to a direct challenge to the Alliance, yes? I understand the reasons for concentrating on smaller worlds… but I cannot say I embrace it enthusiastically. It seems… beneath us, no? Considering what it is we wish to accomplish.”

“The hard fact, Highness, is that the Alliance’s attacks and strictures reduced us, militarily and technically, to a state of infancy,” Durla said. Rhys looked as if he was bristling slightly, but he said nothing. Durla continued, “To that end, we must re—learn how to walk before we canrun. There is really no choice in the matter.”

“But it is merely a temporary condition, Highness.” Vallko spoke up. “Nothing is more firmly written in the book of fate than that the great Centauri Republic will hold the stars in its JF palm.”

The words, to Durla’s surprise, seemed to jolt Londo slightly. “Is there a problem, Highness?”

“No. No problem,” Londo assured him quickly. “Just… a reminder… of an image I saw a long time ago. A vision… of just that. I think perhaps, Vallko, you are indeed correct.”

“Of course he is correct, Highness,” Durla said flatly. “Our timetable calls for, at most, another two years before a full fleet has been assembled. A fleet that will more than satisfy all the requirements put forward by General Rhys and his advisers. A fleet that will cover the known galaxy as comprehensively as grains of sand cover a beach.” His voice began to rise as he became more and more taken with the impending realization of his vision. “When the time is right, we will launch a multistage assault on the Homeworlds of many of the Alliance governments, taking the war to them directly.” He saw heads bobbing around the table, and Londo’s gaze was fixed upon him in fascination.“If we strike hard enough, we can immobilize them, and pave the way for full—scale assaults on their holdings that will leave them powerless against further Centauri aggression.”

“The only problem,” Vallko said with a touch of caution, “remains Sheridan. This is a man who faced both Shadows and Vorlons, and caused them to back down. There are some who say he is more than Human.”