The Ingénue in Paresa
17 Aug 2020Tharik Otoli
The Adventures of Prince Tharik Otoli: Space PirateFollow this link for the full anthology!
PARESA
PARESA 3
Nova Imperium, a reactionary faction within the Empire that once sought to isolate the Empire from the other major powers - weakening it in the face of the Thargoid threat - and usurp the Imperial Crown, whose rebellion was justly crushed underfoot by the righteous acts of the true Emperor, or so the story goes. To hear the Paresians tell the tale, the narrative is quite different. Arissa Lavigny-Duval was the usurper and Hadrian Augustus Duval is the rightful heir to the throne being a direct blood-line, male descendant from Hengist Duval, an unpopular and traditionalist view to be sure, but something that did not warrant the summary execution of numerous Senators on the floor of the Senate along with an Empire-wide purge of sympathizers that resulted in the death and imprisonment of many Imperial citizens. Furthermore, it is the view of the Paresians, that any alliance with foreign powers in fact dilutes Imperial strength. In reality, while Hadrian's claim to the throne is not popular throughout the Empire, the heavy-handed tactics which were dealt out in response were said to be, in many circles, mildly draconian. As to whether or not mingling with the Alliance and Federation weakens the Empire, opinions vary wildly.
In any case, as it happened in recent history, the arguably progressive - discounting her view on narcotics - Princess Aisling Duval, had made inroads with her cousin, Hadrian, something that was quickly labeled as treason by Aisling's detractor Senator Zemma Torval, whose alliance with the Sovereign Justice Collective - which took control over Torval headquarters on Synteini at her behest some time ago - led to the original faction that controlled Synteini seeking to pledge their support to Princess Aisling, which, ultimately, led to a very minor - and very beautiful - noble lady, originally from Synteini, being invited to a charity event on Paresa.
I do hope you followed that dear reader, no one ever said Imperial politics was uncomplicated...
At an elegant mansion, sipping Saxon Wine among a glamorous collection of Imperial characters, we come upon a ravishing woman possessing a powerful athletic build - typical of natives of Synteni A 2, a world whose gravity was near the upper threshold of what human beings could tolerate - draped in an elegant and tight-fitting evening gown in the preferred color of members of the Synteini Imperial Society, a deep, blood-red. Her long dark hair, considered beautiful on Synteini in contrast with many other parts of the Empire where platinum blonde was preferred, accentuated her glowing bronzed complexion as she smiled and nodded to the other guests. She was accompanied by a young man, also clad in red, a somewhat formal suit with a hood indicating his status as a scholar.
"Maximus I insist you stand up straight and carry yourself like the Imperial Lord that you are! No one is going to take you seriously at The Academy if you continue to slouch like a common slave," derided Lady Electra Otoli - youngest daughter of Governor Christian Harrison of the Synteini Imperial Society, and wife of Imperial Corsair Captain Commander Prince Tharik Otoli - to her firstborn child, Master Maximus Otoli, newly accepted applicant to The Imperial Science Academy. Maximus made an honest effort to straighten his spine and push his shoulders back but the attempt just appeared rather unnatural. Electra sighed, "Will you be a dear and just go get your mother another drink?"
"Yes ma'am," replied Maximus as he hurried off to a nearby slave holding a dish full of fresh glasses.
A youthful, suave, and dashing man approached Electra. He was dressed in a lavish and extravagant purple Nova Navy uniform complete with epaulets, aiguillettes, and numerous medals. He regarded Electra, smiled, and spoke, "I don't believe we've been introduced my Lady, to whom, may I ask, do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
Electra smiled broadly and bowed as she did so. In retrospect, she considered perhaps she should have curtsied, as her assets nearly spilled from her dress, "Lady Electra Otoli at your service my Lord, and you are of course Imperator Hadrian Augustus Duval, the rightful Emperor, if I am to understand correctly?"
"Indeed that is the case my Lady, but certainly my claim is disputed," he chuckled, "in fact, even the claim that I personally am truly THE Hadrian Augustus Duval is disputed." They both laughed and Electra demurely gazed into his eyes. Hadrian gestured toward Maximus, who was fumbling with a glass of wine, "So, I am guessing the young Lord over there is your husband?"
Electra giggled libidinously, "You are too kind Imperator, that young Lord is my son. I am certainly much older than you take me for, and, as for my husband, he is, in fact, off on business."
The Imperator's wince was barely noticeable, how old could this woman be after all? It is true that Imperial medicine and genetic research certainly prolonged human youth and vitality to an unnatural degree, but she certainly did not appear old enough to have a young man as a son. In any case, a husband had not stopped Hadrian's advances before, and certainly not one that could not make time for his wife at such a distinguished event, "Now what kind of business could possibly distract a man from such a heavenly creature as yourself?"
Electra lasciviously stroked a finger across her lips, wiped away a drop of wine, and licked it as she did so, "Oh why, my husband, Prince Tharik Otoli, is in the import and export business."
"A Prince? I presume the Prince of a local faction of course, not an Imperial Prince, I have never heard of a Prince Otoli," stated Hadrian.
Electra smiled and looked away, there were no overt suggestions in her movements this time, "Oh well, Tharik does love to be liberal and flamboyant with his titles, he is a Lord, as I am a Lady, of the displaced Synteini Imperial Society. His rank of Prince is in the Imperial Auxillary, so I suppose one might say we are all something of pretenders, aren't we?"
Hadrian appeared somewhat taken aback by the bold statement, who was this woman and how could she be so presumptuous? No doubt her beauty has, on more than one occasion, allowed her to keep her tongue. At that moment, Maximus arrived with a fresh glass of wine and promptly tripped, spilling it all over the front of Electra's dress, "Gods! Oh no! MOM! Geee Mom, I'm really sorry."
Electra cringed as a slave hurriedly approached with a host of hyper-absorbent living sponges, "Ugh!! Maximus!! My dear, I love you so, but why do you have to be so clumsy!?"
Maximus sighed, "I'm so sorry mom," he eyed the Imperator and awkwardly blurted out, "Hey! Who is this guy? She's taken! My Dad is an Imperial Corsair, you know? He was an Imperial Marine once too, he fought at Villist!"
Electra was now horrified and she crammed an elbow into Maximus's ribs, "That's enough my sweet little bun!" Maximus shrunk upon hearing his mother's favorite pet name for him. Electra turned to Hadrian, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Imperator. I think we are going to get a bit of fresh air by the lovely fountain outside. Come now Maximus!" As Lady Electra Otoli hurried off, she pushed her eldest son ahead of her and softly swatted the back of his head as she did so, "Less direct, more subtle. Gods Maximus, if I can learn to do it so can you!"
Imperator Hadrian Augustus Duval, possibly the rightful Emperor, gazed on in awed silence and then whispered to himself, "Imperial Corsair Prince Tharik Otoli? The Scourge of Borann?"
Author's note: I have been recently taking requests from other Commanders to feature their characters or squads as leads in my logbooks, collectively titled, "The Adventures of Prince Tharik Otoli: Space Pirate." If any Commander, whether you RP / write fan fiction or not, would like to be included in my stories or perhaps even collaborate on a story to add to the richness of the Elite Universe, please PM me, Tharik Otoli. Thank you.