“Gregias, my third best toga, please,” the emperor drawled.“We have decided to view the grounds. We wish to see the Marelena duringits test flight.”
He allowed his valet to drape the heavy robe over hisshoulders, securing it around his waist with a broad clockwork-patterned belt. Autumnin Rome is splendid, especially if you have access to such lovely gardens, hethought in anticipation. Hadrian suffered through most of the other seasonswith the rest of his people who were unable to escape the city-except forwinter, and possibly the worst days of summer, and the rainy days of spring. Hewas not too accepting of hardship.
Several servants, their eyes suitably downcast, profferedtrays of delicacies and light snacks. Hadrian delicately selected one sweetalmond morsel and popped it into his mouth. He chewed and noddedappreciatively, then snapped his hand out. Another servant waiting patiently onthe sidelines stepped forward and deposited a wine glass in the outstretchedhand. He took a long sip of heavy red wine to wash the nutty aftertaste fromhis mouth, smacked his lips, and let the empty goblet fall to the floor. Theservant hurried to pick up the bejeweled vessel as Hadrian strode from theroom, trailed by the usual cortege of servants, guards, and aides.
Several richly decorated hallways later, a set of doubledoors swung aside under the hands of two elite Praetorian Guardsmen, theirscarlet cloaks spotless, steel breastplates gleaming. The emperor gave them acurt nod as he strode past, stepping into the welcome solitude of a perfectlymanicured garden. A pathway took him past flowerbeds and topiaries to a raisedpavilion fondly called the Tower, a simple balustraded marble block reached viaa single staircase in the back. From here, the emperor could see most of thecapital.
Careful to sweep the hem of his heavy toga aside, Hadrianclimbed the stairs, paused to wipe a sheen of sweat from his brow, and resolvedto visit the baths later. For now, a snap of his fingers brought two menforward to stir the air around him with large wooden paddles. They followed himto the marble railing, where he again held out his hand. The air fleet officerstanding behind him took a step forward and placed a pair of binoculars in hispalm.
Resting the binoculars on the stone railing, he asked,“Kartinis, where should I be looking?”
Despite his youth, Air Fleet Captain Kartinis was both aveteran and a gifted advisor. Air Command had positioned him in the emperor’sservice to give them a strong, steady voice in the emperor’s ear, and also toget him out of their hair. He was something of a maverick and had turned establishedAir Fleet doctrine on its head during several recent engagements. The emperorliked the young man because he reminded him of his younger son, Constantine.Who, Hadrian remembered, his smile darkening, had exchanged words with hisfather that they had later regretted. Of course, he sniffed, heshould be the one apologizing to me.
Hadrian heard the clump of the officer’s boots as he movedforward. “If Your Highness will look to the southeast,” Kartinis said, pointingtoward a large expanse of concrete just inside the city walls, “the Marelenais currently approaching the Aeroporto di Roma.”
Hadrian swung the binoculars in the appropriate direction,where several bulbous shapes currently occupied the busiest air docking stationin the Empire, possibly the busiest in the world. A smaller, sleeker airshipwas descending toward the field, its purple canvas balloon tapered at each end,its long gondola barely visible.
“The crew reported some problems with the boiler to steamconversion engine,” Kartinis continued. The emperor appreciated the youngofficer’s no-frills approach, and his solid, if occasionally unpopular orunlooked for, counsel. “It also reported that these problems had not beenevident before takeoff. Your security chief did not think it prudent that wetempt fate by placing you on board.” Several ground crew vehicles were nowmoving around on the concourse, as ropes dropped from the ship.
“I suppose there will always be anoth-”
A massive explosion lit up the field. The Marelenaseemed to disintegrate in midair, the purple canvas blossoming into brilliantwhite-yellow light. Several seconds later, the pressure wave from the explosionreached the palace grounds.
“Get down, Majesty!” Kartinis pulled Hadrian to the ground.The explosion swept over them. Glass tinkled as windows in the palace wereblown out.
Hadrian pushed Kartinis off of him while assuring the youngman of his good health, and clambered to his feet. “Messenger!” he shouted.Several young men and women sprang forward. “You, get to the telegraph office.Find out what in Jupiter’s name has happened. And tell the rest of the Empirethat I’m alive. Now!” The man took off at breakneck speed. “You, you, and you.I want you to go down there and observe events firsthand. Report back to mepersonally. I want details. I also want to know whether this was an accident ora foiled assassination attempt.”
“You could see if they need medical assistance,” Kartinissuggested in a low but distinctly clear voice.
“That too!” the emperor added, eyebrows furrowed. “Learneverything you can. Then get yourself back here. Move!” The small groupmoved rapidly to comply.
Hadrian turned to the last man. “And you-I want you to go tothe Legate Praetorius office and tell that meddlesome man that, one, hewas right, and two, now he’s got a massive problem to clean up.”
As the man scurried off, he turned back to the air captain.“I want your immediate, unbiased opinion right this second, Captain. Whathappened?” Kartinis’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped. He cleared his throatto gain time to phrase his response. Feeling his simmering anger rising to theboiling point, Hadrian demanded, “Air Captain Kartinis, what in Hades’ namehappened? Now!”
Kartinis took a deep breath. “Sire, as you have alreadystated, there are two possibilities. Either there was a major malfunction or itwas a bomb or other explosive. Of the two, I personally believe it is morelikely a contrived event. Although the crew did report having mechanicalproblems, the problems they mentioned would lead to a slow deflate, not anexplosion of such immense proportions.” Falling back on his training, he stoodat attention.
Hadrian turned to frown at the air field. “Why explode itover the field? I was nowhere near the concourse.”
“Majesty, we must look to your security. This place is tooopen. If indeed it was an assassination attempt, there may be a second attempton your life. We need to move to the bunker, now.” Kartinis was referring tothe security bunker under the palace; any attacker would have to fight throughhordes of security personnel and numerous defensive positions before gainingaccess to the emperor there.
Mention of an assassination attempt had sent murmurs throughthe Praetorian Guards in attendance, and Hadrian saw squads already encircling theTower. Several more squads were arriving as Imperial guardsmen began setting upheavy repeating ballistae and training them out in all directions. Others movedto establish a shield wall around the Tower.
His face suddenly went pale. “What about my sons? Where istheir security? They might be targets too!” Fighting panic, he began pacingerratically. The security of the dynasty is threatened!
Kartinis’s steely, detached voice induced calm. “We stilldon’t know it was an assassination attempt. We’ll send a detachment to secure PrimusCaesar Lucius and get him back here immediately. Other than that, we cansend a message to Fort Tiberius, but Secondus Caesar Constantine is mostlikely safer there than we are here.”