Ravens of Eternity

303 Minister Mathilde

A quartet of the Matriarch’s Royal Guards escorted the Ravens, Max, and his personal guard out not too long after they went in. It was certainly short enough to allay any suspicions, and curbed any deep speculations.

The whole group went back down the grav lifts, but only by a half dozen floors. From there, they traveled down the busy hallways filled with groups of councilors, and out to a long walkway that extended out of the Palace itself.

They traveled across to a building adjacent to the Palace. The Ravens were treated to yet another security station close to the end of the walkway, perhaps 20 meters away from the entrance to the building.

And the Royal Guards stationed here were a little bit different from the regular ones. Their uniforms were a deep, dark burgundy. It was so dark that it was almost purplish-black. And there were no other highlights on their uniforms, silver or not.

At the station, the Ravens went through yet another round of careful vetting, And they also witnessed another changing of their guard. The Matriarch’s Royal Guard handed over the Ravens to these shadowy Royal Guards, then went back the way they came.

Just like at the Matriarch’s Throne Room, Max’s personal guards were also made to wait at the security station. They most certainly didn’t have the clearance to enter this building. Even Max barely had the ability, if not for the Matriarch’s influence.

After the checks, they were all ushered inside.

Unlike the large hallways in the Palace, this building’s hallways were much narrower and darker. Almost no-one lingered around in them, and anyone they passed moved hurriedly off to parts unknown. The walls themselves were a drab gray and highly utilitarian in nature, a further contrast to the Palace’s decorated ones.

As they walked down a particularly long hallway, they came across a section of windows that peered into a large room. It almost seemed like a mission control room to Eva and Xylo.

.....

One of the officers inside of the control room suddenly became aware of the Ravens out in the hallway, though he didn’t particularly look alarmed. Instead he raised his datapad and tapped a few controls on it.

After a moment, the windows turned completely opaque, and all the Ravens saw was more of the same drab walls.

A few moments later, the Ravens were taken to a small meeting room at the end of the hallway. Inside were four spacious couches facing each other, with a rather low table in the middle of them. They quickly settled themselves in, and waited patiently for Max’s aunt.

Unfortunately for them, it was hours until she arrived. They were on the verge of dying from boredom when she finally came into the small meeting room in a small flurry of activity.

Max’s aunt was followed by one of her personal assistants, who seemed equally harried. The two of them planted themselves onto the last open couch and collectively sighed in temporary relief.

“Thanks for waiting,” said the aunt, “it’s always busy, busy around here, and the fun never ends.”

Eva observed the woman and noted she seemed younger than the Matriarch by a considerable amount. Now that she was getting more used to people’s ages in this new universe, she guessed that Max’s aunt’s age was probably in her 60s or 70s, despite looking like she was in her 40s.

She also noted that the woman had that de Jardin look about her – angular in many ways. But softer in others. The woman also had chestnut hair, which fell in wavy locks behind her.

“You must be the Ravens,” she continued. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Mathilde de Jardin, Minister of Clandestine Operations. I got the Matriarch’s message, not that I appreciated it much. It’s not like we don’t have a hell of a lot to do already.

“Anway, she didn’t get into much detail, only said that I had an opportunity, and to hear you out. So, what’s going on, then?”

“Long story short,” said Eva, “we ran from the Federation, and wanna get a recommendation from you for nation-statehood in the Hegemony.”

“I granted them asylum as per the de Jardin Treatise on Federation Defectors,” added Max. “I honestly believe that if House de Jardin sponsors them, they’ll help us fix what’s ailing the House. In the future, anyway.”

“Those’re pretty bold words, nephew. Are you so sure the House needs what you’re suggesting it does?”

“All Houses need constant fixing, otherwise they fall apart from the inside...”

The Minister pursed her lips slightly, but ultimately turned into a grim frown.

“That’s true,” she said. “And since this wasn’t an official request made through standard channels, I’m going to take this as a favor-type of scenario.”

Max nodded, though he wasn’t exactly sure as to what his aunt was alluding to. She in turn faced her assistant for a few moments.

“Make sure to do a level 3 redaction on this one once you’re done,” she told her. “And increase the room’s seclevel to 5.”

Mathilde turned back to Max, this time with a slightly sterner attitude. There was a shift in her eyes, and she was suddenly back to being all business.

“What you’re asking is ultimately going to be dangerous for you, you know that, right?” she said flatly. “And I don’t mean normal family politics. You’re going to be dipping your toes in real politics.”

“The Ravens are pretty sure,” said Xylo. “Sounds like you’re the wet works branch of the de Jardins, and that’s something we can definitely do. It’s right up our alley.”

“We do dirty jobs,” replied Mathilde. “But it isn’t all we focus on. We’re a multidisciplinary division meant to answer the de Jardin’s most problematic difficulties. The kind that diplomats and soldiers can’t solve.

“If we take a leap further from that: If you’re trying to be a nation-state, then that means you would naturally become a nation-state dedicated to clandestine operations. Or am I perhaps off in that assessment?”

“It was not our intention to head in that direction, specifically,” said Miko. “But now that you mention it, it is our greatest skillset thus far. We would be wise to shape ourselves into an operations-style nation.”

“I agree,” added Lucifer. “I wish I had thought of it first, honestly. That’s how much I like it.”

“Same,” said Xylo.

“The Matriarch asking me to back you makes sense now,” said the Minister. “All you would have to do is a few favors for us. Then I could extend certain courtesies... It would still be a simple recommendation, but with a few asterisks. These would practically guarantee your nationhood when it comes time, in the future.”

“Wait,” said Claire. “Are you saying that we could bypass the Duke’s votes altogether?”

“No, not really. But they would be incredibly obliged to vote the affirmative. We have specific clauses for people like you, who help us in very unique ways.”

“What do you need us to do?” asked Miko. “I do not imagine your tasks are easy.”

“No, they aren’t,” the Minister replied. “Before we get to that, I need you all to acknowledge that your part in this is completely covert. You will have no official statements from me or the Palace. You do get some resources from the MCO, but otherwise you would all be operating on your own.”

“Do those resources include expenses?” asked Claire. “And other remuneration?”

“Absolutely. What we provide is completely liquid – you would have to source your own equipment and such.”

“You’re drawing a fine line between us,” said Lucifer. “Which means these favors carry a big weight on the House.”

“More or less. You’ll be treading on the toes of many powerful Houses in the Hegemony. If you’re caught, we most certainly will deny you. If you’re killed, no-one here will even remember you. We may even have to neutralize Max to protect ourselves.”

Max laughed nervously, unsure if his aunt was joking or not.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” said Eva. “We’ll get what you need done, no matter what. And in exchange, we’ll receive a recommendation. Sounds fair to me.”

“Good to hear,” Mathilde mused. “That kind of attitude is going to take you very far. Now, let’s get to business. Tell me, have any of you heard of the Major House called ‘The Illuminated’?”

The Ravens shook their heads at her. They barely knew much about the Hegemony, or its houses. They did know that Major Houses weren’t as influential as Great Houses. But they were incredibly powerful in their own right.

“I heard a few things,” said Max. “Nothing tangible, mostly hearsay, I think. People say they’re crazy zealots who follow their Supreme Pontiff with crazy reverence. Heard one story that said he had been around for two thousand years...

“And also that he feeds each of his followers a fraction of his lifeforce through some kind of cybernetic thoughtwave device. It all sounds so damned ridiculous.”

“I’ve heard similar things,” his aunt replied. “They are an offshoot of theocracy, and are incredibly hierarchical in nature. There’s multiple ranks leading all the way to the top, where that supposed Supreme Pontiff is. Though I’m not certain he’s real.”

“Alright, so they’re a bunch of crazies who worship some god, so what?” asked Lucifer.

“Oh, we’ve all moved past such ridiculous superstitions. No, what the Illuminated do is religiously venerate their superiors. Not as some kind of deity, but as some kind of luminary.

“They draw people to join them based on universal truths, the freedom to discuss them, and minimal government interference. This certainly brings in many people from all over the galaxy – usually other Houses.

“But they don’t just join – they give them everything they own. Properties and ships and businesses. And here’s the most alarming thing – those who give more are given higher ranking on the hierarchy. They’re immediately placed in positions of power, over each other, and over the normal citizens.”

“So the people of the Illuminated literally worship their leaders?” said Eva, “I don’t like that at all.”

The Minister nodded ruefully.

“You make it sound like they’re hypnotizing people and stealing their wealth,” said Kali. “Which... I totally believe. Not like they’re the first to do something like that.”

“Potentially, yes. But that isn’t the only thing that’s worrying me. It’s the knowledge the people who join have. Some could bring secrets from their Houses into the Illuminated – they give it to them for positions in their ranks. Imagine what they could do with national secrets...

“I had people looking into one of their induction planets to see not just what was happening, but if they’re also performing clandestine operations like us. If they’re stealing knowledge from their members.”

“I imagine they were discovered,” said Lucifer.

The Minister nodded.

“Or worse,” the Minister replied. “I want you to find them. Extract them if you can. Neutralize them if you can’t. And for heaven’s sake, don’t get caught.”