327 Pegged for a Rat
An hour has passed since boarded the Burnyi Class Destroyers. All the crew members prepared the necessary procedures to leave the Port of London.
In the captain’s quarters, now Alexander’s temporary office, Sevastian was holding a file in his hands reading it aloud as Alexander listened.
“The Queen of the Ruthenia Empire has issued an order to the Baltic Fleet to contact the Home Fleet of the Britannia Empire. Those ships will be the ones to pull the battleship out of Port of London.”
“Why are they reaching out to the Home Fleet directly and not to the government?” Alexander inquired, raising a good point.
“The Britannian Government is overwhelmed, Your Majesty. As of now, they can’t execute their powers effectively due to the terrorist attack made by the Black Hand. The reason we are establishing contact with the Home Fleet is to get their permission to enter their territorial waters, avoiding unnecessary conflict due to miscommunication and misunderstanding,” Sevastian answered and closed the file.
Alexander hummed understandingly, rapping his fingers on the table as he thought of another question before Sevastian took his leave.
“Are we going to leave the battleship behind as we depart?” Alexander asked.
“No, Your Majesty. The other destroyer will stay with the battleship to protect it, along with the Imperial Guards and Special Forces on the ground. Of course, we also have an eye in the sky as the Imperial Ruthenian Air Force has dispatched reconnaissance aircraft over London.”
“Good, that’s good,” Alexander bobbed his head up and down lightly. “Hmm…I think this spot is safe enough to discuss the terrorist attack earlier was it not?”
“You wish to discuss it now, Your Majesty? It’s fine by me,” Sevastian said as he took his seat, ready for the discussion.
Alexander liked his initiative. He brought his hand together in a clasp and placed it atop the table.
He began. “Let’s run it down one more time. The Black Hand attacked exactly after the crown was placed on Diana. While we were running towards the Beast, one of the Black Hand operatives rushed towards us with a bomb vest strapped to her body and shouted ‘Long Live the Black Hand’. Then we got to the Beast that transported us safely to the Somerset House and boarded the helicopter to get to the Battleship. But the battleship was disabled by a barge that pulled a hundred kilograms of explosives behind it. The Royal Air Force main fighter aircraft intercepted us in the air, sending us crashing to the ground. From there, we ran for safety while engaging the pursuers. All of it happened within five minutes. All I can say is that this is a coordinated attack that also knows our escape plan.”
Alexander finished summarizing the string of events and looked at Sevastian who was thoughtfully contemplating.
“You mean to say, Your Majesty, that there was a leak?”
Alexander simply nodded in agreement. “That’s right, like a minute or two there were armored vehicles chasing in the right time and streets. And the Spitfire of the Royal Air Force? Those planes take ten to twenty minutes of pre-flight checks and not to mention their bases are 150 kilometers away from our location. Assuming their speed was at 337 kilometers per hour, it’ll take them about 28 minutes to get to London. But it took them only twelve minutes. How is that?”
Sevastian’s eyes narrowed at Sevastian’s analysis. “When you explain it that way, Your Majesty, the more I see that there is a possible leak. However, I do have some questions, how did the Black Hand get ahold of that information? It’s a classified escape plan that only high-ranking officials have access to. Like the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Services, the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guards, and…” he trailed off and Alexander finished it for him.
“And you, Sevastian. As the National Security Advisor, you also have privileged access to the escape plan.”
“Your Majesty, are you suspecting me?” Sevastian’s tone of voice is starting to shift seriously as he locked eyes with Alexander. “I would never do such a thing.”
“Sevastian, I’m not an irrational type of guy, I process information at hand logically and rationally. Well, I know you wouldn’t do it because you already showed your loyalty towards the crown.”
“My loyalty has always been to the crown, Your Majesty,” Sevastian said resolutely, his serious tone starting to fade away, relieved that Alexander doesn’t suspect him.
“So it’s either the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Services and the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guard, Rolan. Hmm…to be honest, I have been doubting Rolan’s loyalty to the Ruthenia Empire. He took a four-month break but got extended to six due to personal reasons. He also went out late at night the day before the crowning ceremony. His movement warrants me to believe that he could be the leaker.”
“I agree, Your Majesty. His movement has also got my attention. He told us that he’d visit one of the FIS safehouses in London but what if he met a Black Hand operative along the way? I can’t imagine Rolan doing that.”
“Me too, but sometimes reality bites hard when you least expect it. If he turns out to be the one whom I’m afraid for him to be, then I can’t forgive myself. My family trusted him and has always been close to them…” Alexander growled intensely, his hands clenching into a fist.
Sevastian’s gulped as he had never seen Alexander give off a livid aura. He understands the emperor’s emotions should his suspicion turn out to be reality. He can only imagine what would happen to Rolan if he is the man Alexander doubts he is.
“Do you want me to watch over Rolan? Your Majesty. Or maybe take a look at his file before he got assigned as the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guards?” Sevastian suggested.
“That would be a lot of help, Sevastian. If you don’t mind it, please do so,” Alexander’s intimidating aura calmed down a little.
“Very well, Your Majesty,” Sevastian stood up, straightening his suit. “I will look over it in my office, I will take my leave…”
Sevastians’ words were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Excuse me.”
A familiar word rang out behind the door. The two instantly recognized the person, it was Rolan. The topic of their conversation, is the one whom they suspect to be a traitor.
“Your Majesty, we are departing now…hmm?” Rolan noticed something out of the ordinary in the atmosphere. “What happened here?”
“Nothing, in particular, Rolan. We were just talking about the executive order made by the Queen of the Ruthenia Empire,” Sevastian said, taking a cursory glance at Alexander who only stared at Rolan.
“Is that so? It seems like you are about to leave His Majesty’s office.”
“Yes, and may I ask that you leave His Majesty for the time being?” Sevastian asked.
“Why is that?”
“It’s a personal request, His Majesty wanted to be alone,” Sevastian reasoned. It was clearly a lie but Alexander didn’t oppose the idea.
“Understood. If you need me, Your Majesty, I’m just outside.”
pA(nD)A no ve1 With that, the two left Rolan and Sevastian left Alexander’s office.
The door closed shut, Alexander propped his chin on the tips of his fingertips in contemplation. He smiled slyly.
“Now, I think it’s time to put out the rat.”
***
Meanwhile, in Sevastian’ private quarters. He sat behind his desk and rested his arms on the armrest. He gripped the end of the armrest, producing a subtle crushing sound.
“Anne…you are so fucking stupid! The Emperor has noticed a flaw in your fucking flawless plan,” he cursed intensely within his mind. He couldn’t vent out his anger verbally as there could be some sort of listening device planted in his office. “This is bad…though I guess I’m saved as Alexander believes that it was Rolan who leaked the classified escape plan. I’ll just have to make him think that way…if that doesn’t work…then I’ll have to take a hand into things personally.”
His eyes glazed over, thinking back on the reason why he is turning against the Ruthenia Empire.
“Just why you didn’t die in the explosion with your parents, Alexander.”