The Adventures of Crash Morgan, Number 5: The Last Queen of Deimos

The Adventures of Crash Morgan, Number 5: The Last Queen of Deimos by Thorvald McMaster is a book that can be read as part of Book Club. It is Logan's selection, discussed at the fifth meeting.
== Text ==
9. Escape To The Golden Wastes
Princess Enila paced atop the dune's crest, her sapphire carapace in stark contrast to the ochre sand. "It's no use, Crash. The moment the council crowns me queen, Deimos and Phobos go to war."
Crash activated R.O.M.U.T.T.'s built-in spectro-matron and scanned the barren landscape for any sign of pursuit. "The Zorgots will never allow it," Crash said as the 'matron chirped and warbled. "They rely on Martian hyper-ore to power their fleets." Satisfied they were alone, Crash dialed up SHELTER and HIDDEN on R.O.M.U.T.T.'s control box. "Had I known the history of the Star Scepter, I never would have returned it to your moon."
Princess Enila turned to him, most of her eyes afire in the light of the setting sun. "After the catastrophe on Venus, none could doubt your word," she finally said. "And how were you to know our history? The theft of the Star Scepter robbed the solarch kings of their power and led to the ceasefire with Phobos. Now, because of a loophole in an ancient treaty, the council must use the Star Scepter to crown me the first solarch queen of Deimos. As soon as that happens, the ceasefire ends.” She sighed. "I have never felt so lost."
“Good thing you aren’t, princess.” Crash smiled as R.O.M.U.T.T. swiveled east, electro-tail spinning rapidly. “There’s shelter for the night, three deca-miles that way.”
The princess turned briskly and worked her way down. “We should hurry. The sand-maws are hungrier at night.”
16. Deimosian Standoff
Glaxxo-Gorp raised a gloved hand and snapped, “Zorgtroopers, leave us.” The Emerald Guard kept their prisma-bows trained on Crash. Glaxxo-Gorp’s tone softened. “Crash Morgan’s vows are sacrosanct. My safety is guaranteed; yours is not. Please, my loyal guards… Allow me to save your lives for once.”
Crash kept the hydro-gun trained on Glaxxo-Gorp until the zorgtroopers departed the fly-pod. “Pilot, I’m new in town. Your Monoculus is a striking landmark—I’d like to see it from every angle.”
Princess Enila, still disguised as the pod-pilot, ignited the fly-pod’s blast-conduit. As she bobbed it skillfully amongst the sky-traffic of the Deimosian capital, she slid a prehensile ear below the passenger isolation field.
“Defiance is meaningless,” she heard Glaxxo-Gorp say. “War disrupts the flow of hyper-ore to Zorgot. Having weighed all options, the Grand Hegemons left me with two: ensure Princess Enila is crowned queen, at which point her majesty cedes her entire government to Zorgot rule. If she refuses to appear, or refuses to cede control, the Zorgot blockade remains until the Sapphire Legion arrives to pacify the entire moon.”
Crash waved away the judiciator’s argument. “What if there was third option? Fair warning, it is somewhat… Unconventional.”
Glaxxo-Gorp narrowed his eyestalks. “I’m listening.”
25. The Antechamber of Destiny
Within the in the monocular vestibule, the princess-who-would-be-queen sat next to the unmoving Crash-Suit. Magna-manacles bound the wrists; its helmet remained as bronze as its clamshell exterior. The suit’s occupant did not stir.
She scowled. “This will never work… Glaxxo-Gorp.”
Zorgot’s premier judiciator adjusted the gray piping on his emerald vacc-uniform. “But you know it must to ensure the peace… Princess Enila.” He noted her tails, twitching in frustration. “Do not betray yourself to the Deimos council. Any disruption will lead to the Sapphire Legion.”
“This goes against everything I was raised to believe.”
The Zorgot paused. “I understand your reservation, but you know this is best for all parties.” He smiled sadly, glancing at the bronze suit. “Except for one.”
The Deimosian princess spoke quietly, but firmly. “Crash Morgan does not deserve this fate.”
“Perhaps not. But one must live to learn with what fate provides.” Three lights appeared on the door to the council chambers. “As must we all.” In one smooth motion he lifted the Crash-Suit and placed it carefully over his shoulder. “After you, princess.”
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