Echos of Rebellion

Senior Lieutenant Amelia Petrescu watched the security screen on her rounds to the many stations. She submitted the all-clear and went to head to engineering. Her mother and father were the Count and Countess of Petrescu a colony on a paradise planet so she had entered the navel academy as an officer cadet.

She caught her reflection and sighed. Her chestnut hair was pulled into a tight bun and there were bags under her grey eyes. She wondered if her twin sister would have looked the same bringing up painful memories of their past.

The thought was fleeting as Amelia continued on her way. As she reached engineering the entire ship shook and the sirens went off. Forgetting her task the Lieutenant rushed back to the bridge.

“Captain I’m reporting for duty.” Amelia said.

“Good take your seat. The rebels are attacking. They want to retrieve their comrades it seems.”

They started their engagement maneuvers when the door opened again.

“Rear Admiral on deck!” The security officer shouted.

Amelia stood with everyone as the ship rocked again.

“No time for that give me an update!” He said.

“Our guns were knocked out with that last hit.” Her console had turned red with the system warning.

Rear Admiral Ralph Higgs had white hair despite only being in his mid 50’s and the cold gaze of a seasoned Killer. He was on his way to the capital for a classified mission per the rumors.

“I’m ordering you to dump the prisoners. I will take responsibility with the warden at the prison colony. If they want their friends back they can have them.” Higgs ordered.

The captain turned to the head of security and nodded. Amelia felt her mouth go dry and her ears began to ring as the attacks stopped seconds later. They left the area and a systems report was started to assess the ships damage.

That evening when she returned to her quarters Amelia felt on edge. Something was off about Rear admiral Higgs using their ship as a way to get to the prison colony. Usually, an admiral would use a luxury commercial flight since he was from the family of a Marquess. She couldn’t help the pit opening up in her stomach.

Now that the prisoners were executed the ship's mood seemed to lighten up. It took them 2 more days to reach Nulock where a small committee was waiting to hear about the Admiral’s decision. Amelia didn’t have to give testimony even though she was summoned along with the other officers.

The bailiffs dismissed the crew as the door to the meeting room was opened. Inside she could see Higgs had been sitting at the head of the table with the committee chairs all bunched on the opposite side.

“Miss.Petrescu have a seat.” Higgs called from inside.

The chair he pointed to was next to his and there was a tablet waiting.

“You have a good relationship with your family correct?” He asked.

“About as good as any normal noble family.”

“Do you have many enemies?”

“Me personally. Maybe some in the rebels and you know how some families hold grudges from small slights or business deals gone wrong. What is with this line of questioning Admiral?” She asked.

Higgs used his thumb to open the tablet in front of her. A video was waiting and started to play. The room was familiar. The video was filmed by an ai drone falling a person from behind. They entered the drawing-room where her parents were tied up and kneeling on the floor.

“What is this?” Amelia asked.

The unknown woman turned towards the camber and she gasped.

“Where is Eric and Joseph?” Her mother demanded.

“Don't worry. Unlike you, I killed them in their sleep with gas.”

Her mother face turned red.

“Shouldn’t you be screaming in anguish? Do you know how many mothers screaming I’ve heard as the empire abuses its citizens? And yet nothing for you precious sons?” The woman laughed. She stabbed a knife into her captive’s should making her scream.

Higgs moved the video to the end and Amelia watched as she turned to the camera and winked. A short time laps began before the room burst into flames.

Unable to hold it in any longer she dove for a small trashcan to retch out the contents of her stomach. Tears fell from her eyes and mucus poured out her nose as she wailed into the waste basket.

“Take a moment.” Higgs said.

She didn’t know when he had knelt next to her as she sobbed for the loss of her family. It took several minutes for her to calm down. He handed her some tissue and water. Amelia was too angry and anguished to be embarrassed at her pitiful state.

“I’m assuming you recognize her?

“How? Maggie is dead! We buried her. Why would she kill them? And Eric and Joei they were only twelve.” Amelia clenched her fists holding bat the tears of her rage.

“So you can confirm it was Margarette Petrescu on the video?” Higgs asked.

“Yes. The voice her movements. We spared every day. There isn’t a way to fake that. But she’s been dead for ten years. It was an open casket.” She said.

“We don’t know if she will be targeting you next so we will have some officers following you.”

“When did this happen?”

“A few hours after the prisoners were executed yesterday. I received the video this morning before the briefing. I have authorized your leave so take care of you house and report to me at the capitol.” He ordered.

Amelia watched him leave still too drained to pick herself up off the floor. The funeral came to mind and she knew her sister lay dead in the casket. She could feel it. The only way to get answers would be to start at the crime scene.

Still weak She stood and made her way back to the officer's barracks to pack and head home. Word seemed to have already spread as other officers stopped to give their condolences.

A driver was waiting out front to take her to the spaceport for her shuttle. There was an officer in the back seat as well as in the front next to the drivers. She didn’t pay attention to their names instead watching the grey of the base pass by. Her anger was replaced by a hallow pit filled with anxiety about what she would find.