Embassy of the Empire Page 5

  Yet it had all been just that.

  Training.

  In his entire short career, the only wounded he had ever dealt with were those wounded during an exercise or in just a simple accident. He had never dealt with people wounded in combat. He had never struggled to keep the lifeblood flowing in someone he had personally rescued.

  And never before in his life had he been under fire.

  During training, there was always a risk of death or injury, though the exercises were designed to minimize the possibility. Sometimes they were so realistic his heart would pound and his adrenaline would rush through his veins, causing him to shake in terror if he lost himself in the moment and forgot that those commanding him weren’t trying to kill him.

  But today, America’s greatest enemy had attempted just that. And as that realization set in, his heart once again hammered and his hands shook. He thought of his parents, he thought of his sister, and he thought of his nephew that he hadn’t yet met, born only a week ago. Next week, he was supposed to be on two weeks’ leave. His plan had been to fly home, see the family, and be introduced to its new addition.

  He doubted that would be happening any time soon.

  The ship leaned hard to port, sending him tumbling to the deck, snapping him back to reality. Sirens wailed, and the distinctive flutter of the Bushmaster cannons could be heard along with the launching of several RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, suggesting they were under aerial attack, either by plane or anti-ship cruise missile.

  And that fact could mean only one thing.

  War.

  17 |

  Embassy Dig Site Luoyang, China

  Acton strolled through the tent with Laura, Cao describing each of the items laid out before them, the tour invigorating both physically and mentally.

  “And this is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We have many more items back at the university. This is just what we found in the past several days. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see the rest.”

  Acton grinned at Cao. “That will be fantastic.” He jabbed a finger at the contents of the table in front of them. “This is why I got into archaeology.” He picked up an intricately carved dagger made of bronze. He drew the blade, the metal still pristine thanks to its millennia-old sheath. He held it out gently, laid flat in his palms. “This is why I love this job. Who did this belong to? It’s clearly Roman, but”—he pointed at some lettering―”this swears allegiance to Emperor Hadrian, which places its creation possibly half a century before this embassy was supposed to have been built.”

  “So, it’s not standard issue,” said Cao.

  Acton shook his head. “No. And no regular soldier is issued something like this. It’s too valuable.” He pointed at another blade nearby, a basic design. “A regular soldier would be issued something such as that, utilitarian, simple. This”—he held up the ornate dagger―”this is a family heirloom, and wouldn’t have been owned by a simple soldier. This was the weapon of an officer.” His mind raced with the possibilities. “Did it belong to the head of the guard? Or perhaps to the ambassador himself?”

  Laura leaned in to examine the blade. “It’s likely we’ll never know.”

  “No, we never will, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun to speculate.”

  Cao chuckled. “Now that’s the Jim Acton I remember and am happy to see is still there. Too many of us lose the thrill of the discovery with age.” He tilted his head toward Laura. “And I wonder how much of that has to do with this beautiful young lady.”

  Acton winked at Laura. “I’d say she’s played a small part.” His phone vibrated in his pocket and he fished it out, his eyes popping at the alert.

  Laura sensed his concern. “What is it?”

  “It’s an emergency alert from the Embassy.”

  “What does it say?” asked Cao.

  Acton tapped it and the alert opened. “It says there’s been an incident between the US and Chinese navies that has escalated. All American citizens in China are advised to remain indoors at the address registered with the Embassy if possible, and await further instructions.”

  Laura took his hand, squeezing it tight, and he could see the concern in her eyes. And he shared it.

  Cao dismissed the warning with a bat of his hand. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Somebody’s joking with you. Phones are getting hacked all the time.”

  Laura’s phone vibrated and she shook her head as she read the message. “The British Embassy just issued the same warning.”

  A young woman with bronzed skin and bright blond hair stepped inside the tent, holding out her phone. “Professor Cao, what does this mean?” Her Australian accent was unmistakable, and it was clear all Americans and their allies were receiving the same warning. He could think of only two things that could mean.

  Either war was imminent, or they were already at war.

  “How many foreigners do you have here?” he asked Cao.

  “Just two Australians, Kyle Rapp, and of course Amelia here, Amelia Robinson.” He indicated the young woman. “Everyone else is either from China or Hong Kong.”

  A young man walked into the tent, evidently the other Australian, Kyle. His face was ashen, and he held up his glowing phone gripped in his hand. “I just checked the CNN website. They say there’s a naval battle in the South China Sea between the Americans and the Chinese.”

  Cao’s jaw dropped, clearly no longer convinced this was a hoax. He turned to Acton. “I don’t know…I don’t know what to do.”

  Acton saved his friend from the responsibility. “There’s nothing you can do. You’re Chinese. If you help any of us, they might arrest you or worse.”

  The thought apparently had never occurred to Cao, as his eyes widened and his face paled. Then he stumbled. Acton sprung forward and grabbed the man under his arm, steadying him. He pointed at a bottle of water sitting nearby, and Laura grabbed it. Cao took several sips then handed it back.

  “I’m all right, thank you.” He drew a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “They’re my responsibility. They’re here because of me. I can’t just abandon them.”

  “And you won’t be.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Acton glanced at Laura who nodded almost imperceptibly. “They’re coming with us.”

  18 |

  USS Somerset South China Sea

  The Bushmaster cannons continued to thunder as RAM missiles roared from their launchers, rumbling explosions that sounded as if they were from outside of the ship, signaling their success. The cheers were also a good indication. Whatever was going on wasn’t his concern, only his duty was, though knowing a battle was occurring topside that could end his life was distracting, to say the least.

  Kidd looked up as a lieutenant stumbled into the infirmary with a gash on his arm. The Doc glanced over at him and decided it wasn’t worth his attention.

  “Corpsman, take care of that.”

  Kidd led the lieutenant to a nearby chair then grabbed a wound kit. He set to work, cleaning and dressing the cut. “Sir, can you tell us what’s going on?”

  The lieutenant winced. “It’s the Chinese. They’ve sent every ship in the area toward us, and launched anti-ship missiles and drones, probably surveillance. We managed to take them out so far, and more Super Hornets have just arrived from the Ronald Reagan. The Chinese aircraft have bugged out, but once their navy arrives, we’re going to be in for a hell of a fight if somebody doesn’t calm this down. Elements of the Seventh Fleet are already heading for us, but the Chinese will be here ahead of them.”

  “Can we hold out?”

  The lieutenant, a man likely the same age as him, obviously heard the fear in his voice. The young officer squared his jaw in an attempt to convey confidence, yet failed. “The Captain is a good man. He’ll get us through this. Just follow your training and you’ll survive.”

  Kidd nodded and turned his attention back to the wound, struggling to steady his hand and failing, for the words meant nothing, the widened eyes and the
unsteady timbre of the lieutenant’s voice everything.

  He had just been told they were all going to die.

  19 |

  Ministry of State Security Luoyang, China

  Special Agent Yan sat behind his desk, racked with worry as he listened to the radio delivering the official government reports on what was unfolding in the South China Sea. The imperialist Americans were once again aggressors toward his country. As the news reports had clearly explained, the entire area was Chinese territory and always had been. Why countries like the Philippines, Taiwan, and especially the United States were interfering was beyond him. He agreed with one of the commentators that had just been on, when she said these other countries were jealous of China’s success, and were now attempting to stifle their economic progress and hem them into land borders drawn not by the Chinese people, but their past oppressors.

  He had no doubt the world was indeed jealous of what they had achieved in such a short time, just as he was certain the world was terrified that given another 20 years, China would be far more powerful than even the United States. It was this fear, however, that he couldn’t understand. Why did the world fear China? What had they ever done to hurt anyone? After China had thrown out its oppressors and the Communist regime had been established, China had never attacked first. The Korean War had nothing to do with China. China merely stepped in to help their North Korean allies, and, more importantly, to prevent the United States from overreaching and establishing military forces on China’s border.

  Yes, there were border skirmishes with India and Pakistan, and moves to liberate oppressed peoples such as in Tibet, but China had never invaded anyone. That was a European thing. China was now investing billions upon billions of dollars through the Belt and Road Initiative, aiding poorer countries by building infrastructure that they desperately needed, including roads, ports, bridges, and more, yet he had heard that people in the West were questioning their motives. It made no sense to him. Even when China did something good, they were accused of having ulterior motives. Why was it wrong to expect allegiance to a country that had just spent billions helping out yours?

  Yet the worry he felt at this moment had nothing to do with his country, and everything to do with his brother. While he had pursued a career in law enforcement, eventually joining the Ministry of State Security, his brother had joined the Navy, and the last message he had from him was that he was on board the Frigate Yueyang in the South China Sea. Its captain, in his former command before a demotion to the smaller ship, had once before challenged the Americans in a game of what his brother had called chicken. To him, it had sounded more like seeing who the smaller mouse was.

  It was idiotic.

  The official reports last year had been that the Americans were to blame, but his brother, while on leave, had told him the truth. And now that there were reports the Americans had intentionally rammed then opened fire on a Chinese vessel that subsequently sank, he had to wonder whether his brother’s ship with its new captain was involved, and whether his brother was even alive.

  His door opened without a knock and he leaped to his feet, snapping to attention before he knew who was entering, for only someone senior to him would dare breach protocol like this.

  It was his supervisor, Deputy Bureau Chief Wei Zhen.

  “Sir, how may I be of service?”

  A tablet computer was handed over. “We’re rounding up persons of interest during the crisis. These two have been problems in the past, and happened to have arrived just a few hours ago.”

  He glanced at the pictures. “Fortuitous timing, sir.”

  “Indeed. Their current location is in the file. I want them picked up and brought in.”

  “Right away, sir.”

  “And don’t screw this up. This came directly from the Politburo.”

  Yan’s eyes widened at the implications. The 25 members of the Politburo controlled the Communist Party, and by extension, the country. If the orders were coming from them, these people must be true enemies of the state. “You can count on me, sir.”

  “Good.” Wei took the tablet back and tapped the screen several times. “Everything you need is in your secure directory. Report back to me as soon as you have them.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Wei left and Yan brought up the files on his computer then transferred them to his tablet. He read everything included, hoping for some hint as to why the Politburo itself would be after what appeared to be academics, yet no hint was given, and the lack of information spoke volumes. It was likely a state security matter, though if it was, why they had been allowed in the country today made no sense.

  A pit formed in his stomach as he realized exactly what was going on. This was a personal vendetta from someone in the Politburo taking advantage of the current situation. And it meant if he failed, then his career and perhaps his life could be forfeit, depending on whom the Politburo member decided was to blame.

  He rose and strode out of his office, snapping orders as he headed for the elevators. He pressed the button as his team assembled around him.

  “What are our orders, sir?” asked his second-in-command, Shen Dao.

  “We’re detaining two academics.”

  “What are the charges?”

  “None that I’m aware of. The orders come from the Politburo itself.”

  Everyone paused for a moment, and he could sense the fear.

  “What are their names?” asked Shen.

  He held up the tablet. “Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer.

  20 |

  Embassy of the Roman Empire Luoyang, Han Empire 166 AD

  It had been months since they arrived, and construction of the embassy was nearly complete, the massive number of Chinese laborers, directed by the Roman architect Lucius’ father had brought with them, efficient and hard working. Emperor Huan had been impressed with the goods they had brought with them, and he, like the others they had encountered earlier, was particularly interested in their glassware. He was eager to learn more of the Roman Empire, yet hadn’t revealed all he knew, for Lucius was the only person still aware that his daughter spoke their language. He wanted to warn his father of this fact, for far too often discussions they thought were in private in the Emperor’s Court, spoken in Latin and believed to be understood by no one else beyond their translator, were fully comprehended by the princess, and likely others hidden in the room that had taught her the language.

  Yet the only way he could reveal that truth was by telling his father how he had discovered it. And though he and the princess had continued their clandestine meetings several nights a week since the first without being caught, if he informed his father of this fact, he would be placed in chains, never to see the light of day again.

  So far, nothing untoward had happened, and the love he felt for Jieyou and the love he was certain she felt for him, had him confident that if something were said her father should be aware of, it wouldn’t come from her lips—it would come from one of the people hidden in the court.

  A stirring in his loins at the thought of her had him shifting slightly, and he forced himself to focus on the memories of the rough seas they had endured on their trip here, the days and weeks spent leaning over the deck and vomiting into the heavy seas successfully wrangling his overactive libido.

  He stared up at the large building, standing out among the traditional architecture surrounding it, a testament to the might of the Roman Empire. Nobody could rival the structures they built, with the possible exception of the Egyptians, though most of theirs served no purpose. The Colosseum in Rome was the greatest building man had ever constructed that had a functional purpose. Thousands upon thousands of people filled it during the games, and half of its utility was buried beneath the stands, something of which the public was unaware. He had seen nothing here that could possibly rival it, and was proud that here, so far away from the home he knew, now stood something familiar, something substantial, something tangible he could hold on to that w
ould remind him of what he had left behind. This was now their home, and he would likely spend the rest of his life here.

  And it was something he was content with, for he had never been happier.

  Yet this happiness would be fleeting. He and Jieyou would eventually be found out, and he might be put to death along with the others, or worse, she would be married off to someone else, perhaps even someone Roman, which would be a crushing blow, for he was certain he could never love anyone again the way he loved this woman.

  His father stepped up beside him, his hands on his hips. “Impressive, isn’t it?”

  He had to agree. “If I stare just at it, I can almost imagine I’m back home.”

  His father put an arm over his shoulders, giving him a squeeze. “It does make one miss it, doesn’t it?”

  “It does.”

  “Soon we’ll be sending a small contingent home to deliver an update to our Emperor, along with, the gods willing, the completed treaty we’ve been working on. If you want, you can go with them as commander, and then I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you return.”

  Lucius shook his head, stunning not only his father but himself as well. “No, I’d like to stay.”

  His father stared at him, his eyes narrow. “I must admit, I’m surprised.”

  Lucius shrugged. “I’m starting to like it here. And besides, you need me. I’m the only family you have.”

  His father regarded him. “Yet that isn’t the reason, is it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s not for me to say, for if I say what I believe, then it becomes truth, and then consequences become necessary.”