Exodus: Empires at War: Book 11: Day of Infamy (Exodus: Empires at War.) Read Online Free PDF Page B

get a negative answer.
    “Oh, it’s possible,” said
Yu in a hushed voice.  “We actually had a man lecturing at the Donut some
months ago about time travel.  He was requesting a wormhole to use to test his
theories.  When I checked out his theory, it turned out to be nonsense.”
    “Well that’s a relief,”
said Sergiov.
    “Not so fast, Admiral.  I
dug a little deeper, and found that Dr. Kenji Guatarrez was a highly respected
physicist with Imperial University, who had published several papers on
alternate dimensions, including one he surmised moved in the opposite temporal
direction from ours.”
    “And that means?” asked
Sean, his forehead furrowing in thought.
    “That there was a
possibility of another dimension in which time moves in the opposite
direction.  If you were in that dimension, considering its suitability for
supporting life, you couldn’t tell the difference, since to the occupant of
that dimension time would seem to flow on the proper path.  But if you returned
to our dimension you would find yourself in the past.”
    “How far?” asked Sean,
the sinking feeling growing.
    “It depends on several
variables.  The correspondence of the passage of time in each dimension.  One
second to one second, or an hour or year for each second.  And of course, how
long you spent there.”
    “And you say this Dr.
Guatarrez was lecturing on the Donut .  Did he go back to the Imperial
University? And to which branch?”
    “Some operatives from
Naval Intelligence took custody of him right after I shut him down for
lecturing on a forbidden topic.  I would have to assume that he is in Fleet
custody, or had been and has since been released.”
    “We have no record of
this Dr. Guatarrez being taken into custody by Naval Intelligence,” said
Sergiov.  “No record of interrogation or incarceration.  And several months ago
a missing person’s report was filed by the Imperial University Capitulum’s
physics department, and by the good doctor’s wife.”
    “This is damned
peculiar,” said Sean, shooing away the recalcitrant cat that was walking back
into the room, a plaintive meow coming from its mouth.  “We need to find this
man, as soon as possible.  Before he and the people who took him can do too
much damage to the time line.”
    “How much could they do?”
asked Ekaterina, again the hopeful note in her voice.  She was not destined to
get any hope from this conversation, thought the Emperor.
    “It depends on how far
back they go?” said Lucille.  “If they go back far enough they could disrupt
the entire time line, erase everything we know of today.”
    “Get your best people on
it, Ekaterina.  No matter what you need to do, find him.  And make sure some of
the Imperial Judges know that we may need warrants at a moment’s notice, and
what is at stake.  Or at least as much as I’m willing to tell them.”
    “I would like to put
Angel Martinez on this, your Majesty.”
    “The assassin?  The one
who was going to kill her Majesty and myself?”  Sean felt the anger rising
again, forcing it back, knowing that he needed to keep a clear head here and
make good decisions untouched by emotions.
    “He has the Underworld
contacts that we don’t have.  And I wouldn’t be surprised if these people are
somehow tied in with the Underworld.  If just to get what they need outside of
official channels.”
    Sean thought for a
moment, reasoning past his emotions.  The man could have killed he and his
wife, but had hesitated until the opportunity was past.  Men like him didn’t
hesitate without reason.
    “Very well, Admiral. 
Recruit him for this mission.  Offer him full amnesty for all crimes, past and
present, if he succeeds in giving us information that leads to our finding Dr.
Guatarrez and the people who have taken him.”
    “I want to say one more
thing, your Majesty,” said Yu as soon as Sergiov had dropped off the com.  “And
please don’t take it the wrong way.”
    Sean