And Atlantis had existed tomorrow by Justin Mader (carter reed .txt) 📖

drank it, the memories flowed into me like an old film.

Timeflash!

11.632 BP/2057 AUC Atlantis One

I could tell, today was not my day, ...

 

Slowly these my little indiscretion has developed into a massive problem. And I had planned this procedure so perfectly and pulled out all the stops of my ability. The secret technical generators had arrived on time, the ants tripped exactly the way that I had given them, and generally speaking, harvesting the fruits I had much fun. Hmmm, a broad smile rose on my face when I thought, she has been really so charmingly and refreshingly. Her refreshing youth, her enthusiastic belief in goodness, her commitment for what she thought that was good and right, .... Thus, an optimal pawn sacrifice for me.

And so I had used her. With a few small Nano-machines, I had sent her on the way, knowing, in this state in which I had put her she was the ideal target for these dreamers of rebels. Sooner or later, the rebels would contact her. A former member of the Atlantic elite, violated and disgraced and deprived of all goods, would attract these folks, like moths by the light, or like a luminous beacon. And the more I had brought her thoughts to like this twisted morality of the rebels by my ingenious strategy.

I waited, what would develop, direct contacts with her would have been more contra-productive ... although I imagined in my imagination quite charming moments with her. But you have to be able to restrain yourself if the victim should climb up into the spider web. But then this nondescript Luitz began to interest in her and to touch her. For me a terrible idea, a man without charisma and entirely below her level. I was about to stop use and take him off the streets, a little accident, maybe. Because I could imagine, if he confiscates, insult and touch her to requisition, ... I meant purely psychically, mentally of course now, ... meaning to distracting her from the essential, ... none of the rebels would contact her. But then I let it go on, maybe she became even more interesting for them. That this Luitz, on the other hand, had contacts with the rebels, and apparently to the innermost circle, and even was their IFER, the strategic commander of the rebels, I had not been able to imagine me in my wildest dreams. In any case a sign of how the rebels are badly off, that they had to recruit this nondescript Luitz.

When this information come to my mind, the news was very surprising, in a trice I could just arrange an available group of my special units and transport them to this cafeteria. Only I had been too unconcerned. I was simply not prepared, and I had arranged the squad indiscriminately from the forces that I had just available. I had not thought about what I normally do. The fact that this squad obviously had no combat experience and could just take up arms poorly, I could not have guessed, of course! How could one plan and carry out a capture without releasing the safety catch of the guns? An offense, which in practice has only been punished with death. What it did in practice. Anata had killed four of my stupid people in a five-second action, and I finally had to eliminate the remaining losers. Such people simply did not have the right to enjoy the privileges of the upper caste of Atlantis. That Anata was a hot chick, I had already thought, but that she could exhaust my squad so fast, rather not.

However, I was also somewhat disappointed that she had not decided for my side. After all, she had could recognized the geniality of my strategy. And she could think that I could not act otherwise thus, like I had just acted. For her welfare and the welfare of the empire. I had to shake my head in disbelief, it was impossible that women do act on demand. Well, if we have had arrested both, we would be able to gain substantial tactical and military details of the rebellion, by a precarious questioning of the Luitz. But now, ...

.... but now I was asked to file a report to King Atlas-Kronos. Not really a pleasurable and soothing feeling.

 

I could tell, today was not my day, ...

 

And the greatest disgrace was, that I was not allowed to take a feeder to his palace, no, I the highest politician of Atlantis, I Lord Protector Mikaal, had to walk the long way on foot up the 577 steep steps of the palace and to the throne of the Kronos, like all the other ordinary supplicants. It cramps my style, I worked up a sweat. My otherwise impeccable white uniform was contaminated, especially under my armpits. And my breath becomes shallow and heavy. I was not accustomed to this physical work.

In addition, the all-encompassing presence of the dominant power of the Kronos put over my head and my body like a lead coat. This presence, this aura, lay around my brain and squeezed it downright. I could hardly think clearly, and the nearer I came to the throne, the harder it pressed on me. Like if a gigantic mosquito were sitting upstairs there and wanted to suck my innermost part out of me. I felt so small, so weak, so worthless, when I finally entered the huge hall of the Kronos.

 

 

I dropped myself on the ground, kissed the dust and dared not to look up. Out of the corner of my eyes, however, I could see a casual hand movement of the king, which caused me to rise. The master of ceremonies knocked with the traditional warp stock on the bronze ground, so that it began to hum like a bell.

"The lordprotector of the kingdom of Atlantis Mikaal asked the great and only king Kronos of Atlantis, the first son and guardian of the rights of Poseidon, the noble avenger and terminator of the enemies of the empire, for an audience in the year 2057 AUC (ab urbe condidat, The founding of the city)!"

 

I could tell, today was not my day, ...

 

I had not asked for it but I had been ordered, but to such details I could not and did not pay attention, and of course it was a psychological matter. He wanted to make the impression that he did not want something from me, but I wanted something from him, which of course brought me into the poorer negotiating position, namely that of a petitioner.

Gracious the king pointed to me with his flat hand. "Let him speak."

"Ahem..., well, as I have been able to find out, that a rebellion of a fifth column against the leadership and the great rulers of Atlantis was trying to be initiated. But a number of rebels have already been arrested, and we also have made great progress in identifying their plans. It is obvious that besides the simple people and numerous representatives of the middle establishment ...." Now all became a dangerous tough, because of course I did not know how much he knew and how he would react to these words "... also three representatives of the Royal Ten are involved in this rebellion!"

The courtyards and claques of the court gave an indignant murmur, and the king's mental pressure increased almost unbearable. But then, surprisingly, he said, "We know this, of course, and you have delivered us the confirmation only. But as we have heard, you have had lost some very important witnesses of these rebels and not delivered them to the interrogation rooms of the palace!" Again, the mental pressure increased, so I could hardly think anymore. What I could not find out to this day, despite my position and despite my secret services, was if the kings could only build a mental, psychological pressure, or if they could read our own thoughts and whether they might even influence to our thoughts too. In any case, it was not advisable now to make a lie.

"Yes, O noble King, I admit it, it was my fault, I did not choose my men carefully enough, so the Ifer of the rebels and his escort could flee. But however, we would have caught them if they did not receive help from one of the other kings. We were able to trace a royal discus down to the kingdom of Azaes, that means the kingdom of Queen Neith."

"Well, it is a good thing that you could partially correct your misconduct at least, so the punishment against you will be milder than I planned so far. But you will be deprived of your post as lord protector and you will have demoted to an upper protector. You will not be longer responsible for foreign policy matters, because I will take this task myself, and you will be accomplished for the police affairs here in Atlantis."

He paused for a while.

"Now I have decided to convene the high court of the Ten of Atlantis and to punish the crimes and wrongdoings of the other three kings. The communication and the organization of this meeting I convey to you hereby, Mikaal. Ensure that this occurrence expires for the glory of the empire in an appropriate framework and will be an exciting spectacle for the simple people!"

 

I could tell, today was not my day, ....

 

I was allowed to retire myself. It was a disgrace to me to have been degraded here before all, but when I thought about the consequences of all, I could sigh with relief. Quickly I would have gone here to the dogs.

The reports went out to all the kingdoms, of course, without the threats of imminent convictions. Likewise, with reference to one of the laws of the Poseidon, I ordered that no one should appear here with spaceships and a technology above Level IV. Thus, the Home-Fleet Atlantis was the all-encompassing power factor and could not be counter-checked by any other king. In particular, the Empire of Azaes could turn out to be a very dangerous counterpart as a weapon producer. Azaes was situated on the great continent, south east of Atlantis.

 

Beside Azaes (called "the first one who led a good life") were the kingdoms Diaprepes (called "the diaper type") situated on an island east from Azaes ...

 

 

... and Mestor (called "who is in ecstasy") on a great island a further continent in the southwest of Atlantis, which apparently rebelled against Atlantis. All names of the sons of Poseidon, who were last born. All the successors of Poseidon, who were far removed from his ideals, and which, logically, represented only a badly copy of his power. A scum, better said. But I had to live with them.

Tactically I had to try to get in touch with them and weaken their power in some way. Perhaps I could get some more information from there, because my intelligence service act there too, but unfortunately without details.

I considered. Diaprepes lay far in the east, on a small continent on the other side of the earth, near the east coast of Azaes, while Mestor lay in the southern double continent, which extended from the great outlying island, then eastward to the