The Gungnir Takes Flight

Part 1: The Helmsmen

The Counterweight Cantina was a multi-story lounge and restaurant that was nestled inside a smoothed grey and red asteroid that formed the space-side high end of South Polar Tower. It was the fastest place to get a drink and a bite to eat since it was mostly staffed by androids, except for several of the cooks and one advising floor manager. Skrilxya had been here once as a child and was back again nearly a decade later. She remembered a pastry she had ordered: a large slice of lemon cake, and she paired it with a piping green tea.

She had finished the lemon cake in five minutes, savoring it. Just as she remembered. She continued to nurse her green tea for a time after that waiting on Ben. She enjoyed the aroma the leaves produced. It was green tea made in the Haman fashion, but she ordered tea leaves native to San for her tea. They tasted better, she thought.

The aroma cleared her powerful sinuses as she looked out the reinforced glass window that was a centerpiece of the Cantina. It was a marvel of engineering that they could build actual windows into space so large without compromising the structure of the habitat. The window looked out into the void which was mostly black. The daylight of Berin Ophiuchis blocked out the ambient starlight but a few dim white points were still within view. Skrilxya hadn’t picked a good time to stargaze, lucky for her she wasn’t sitting next to the window to look for stars.

Ben sauntered up the stairs into Skrilxya’s peripheral vision where she beheld, once again, his big dumb grin under his thin curly beard and moustache. She looked at him and nodded respectfully: “everything settled then?”

“Yes Ma’am Cap’m” he said in his slight Corovan accent. He placed his cup on a tray next to the open chair facing Skrilxya. He poured ample cream and three cubes of sugar into his tea. He sniffed it happily and took a generous sip. “Perfectly balanced. You can always trust a robot to keep the brew at the perfect temperature.”

“Hm,” Skrilxya silently agreed. “No need for formalities Ben, we are off duty.”

“Yes Cap’m” he said coyly. “I’m just happy for your promotion.”

“And your’s too I’m sure.”

“Of course! But now we’ve got more work cut out for us. The Admirals are going to ask for a lot of paperwork and coordination records and all that gunk.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to deal with a mess, remember when we were stuck together in Langley Station?”

“Oof,” Ben laughed while nearly choking on his milk-tea, “that was a mess. But we came out alive, and I dare say we are better for it.”

“You more than me,” Skirlxya said with a wink.

“Now listen” Ben said, shifting his posture “you gave me a kick in the aft and showed me how prejudiced I was thinking. I would have gotten out of it eventually myself, but you showed me my error when I needed it.”

“It’s hard when you grow up thinking humanocentrically,” Skrilxya said. “Mallumans have their own quarrels, but we and the other species in the Empire have to make sure the Hamans don’t walk over us.”

“Good on Opalton for letting the Clans into the House of Magnates though, not sure how many other colonies will catch on but a few might. And your mother is one of the voting Weroxes too!”

A sigh escaped Skrilxya’s jaws. “Yes, he saved himself from a fight with the Clans. We fought too hard in the last war to be denied representation. But… ah…nevermind.”

“Nevermind?!” Ben looked puzzled. “I’ve never heard that come out of your mouth unless you did mind it Skril. What’s up?”

“It’s about Malluman prejudices. The blood feud between the Ruby Banner Clan and my own family isn’t over. And Opalton might take advantage of my mother’s pride for his own gain. Though how he’ll do it I haven’t figured out.”

“Ah ha” Ben remarked. “Well from one noble offspring to another, I’ll tell you now you shouldn’t worry about it. Your mom can handle her own.” Skrilxya looked on in a mix of shock and amusement. “Are you serious?!”

“Yes I am” Ben said “And before you say anything about me not understanding: Haman houses have the same kind of fights all the time. This is one where you need to step back and let her deal with it. I have my doubts about Opalton too but I don’t think he’ll take your mom for a total fool. He knows better. He’s not going to provoke that feud or any other for a while.”

“You think so?”

“I know so, he’s a Haman of the upper class. He won’t do anything until everything is neatly in order and back under control. The Archbishop’s instatement, and us delivering the Archbishop to his office, upset more than the Governor wants to admit.”

“I see” Skrilxya relaxed. “Then I need only focus on our tasks. The first of which is our new ship.” She turned and stared out the window for a few seconds prompting Ben to look too.

“Is that it?” he pointed out toward the upper left.

“No,” Skrilxya said with a pause. “It’s there” she said with a finger talon pointed center-right. Once Ben’s eyes focused he said he could see it too. They both witnessed the approach of their new capital ship, the L-1 Class christened the Gungnir.

It was still nearly five thousand kilometers from the station but it was on a direct approach escorted by four modified Tugs each about 100 meters in length and width. The Gungnir herself was just under two kilometers in length from bow to stern, both sides crowned with ionic fusion thrusters, the standard sub-light engine of Mind Imperial vessels. Only the bow thrusters were active now and on low fire, decelerating the vessel on it’s slow approach to the South Polar Counterweight Docking Bay.

It was a beautifully crafted vessel. Some who saw its frame thought it looked like a skinny squash, while others saw the bulb and petals of an exotic flower. The reality was that the ship was a natural evolution of the efficient frame of starships that had been designed throughout the fourth millennium. It was centered around a long space-titanium pole, with the center encased in a large bulb of golden adamantine glass and more shimmering space-titanium. Behind the bulb toward the stern there was a large ring that surrounded the vessel with four connectors and four thermal-vent and solar charger wings. At the bow of the vessel there was a closed device that, when unfurled, turned into a great solar collector and prowshield. More hidden from afar were the hangar bays that held the smaller vessels that accompanied the Capital Ship. Two Nimloth class and four Sting class corvettes were tucked inside. The space-titanium which was naturally silvery was painted in metallic blue, which offset the golden glass of the large bulb which contained the interior’s most extensive habitat modules.

All along these features were the weapons and defenses of the Gungnir, some of the standard greats of the Armada’s arsenal like solarances, plasma charge batteries, flak cannons, and plasmic shield projectors. The ionic fusion engines themselves could be directed into a series of powerful beams as well, the gammafire rays. To Skrilxya and Ben this was a major upgrade from the Happy Customer, which wasn’t even a battleship to begin with and barely had the arsenal to compete with a frigate of similar tonnage.

Skrilxya and Ben left the cantina after a few more minutes of drinking and chatter and made their way to the docking bay where the Gungnir would be attached to the Counterweight Station. The two commanders sent pings out to the rest of their bridge crew to assemble the team who stayed under their command. There was no time to waste.

Lieutenants Oryon, Siwakoro, and Nimitzon were always impeccable in their work, and Bolamey could always be relied on to rally the Malluman members of the crew while Skrilxya was away. Sure enough in the docking bay there were two hundred and sixteen officers and staff assembled in their neat parade rows. No one was wearing their dress uniforms, all were wearing their navy grey-coats and some wore their light spacesuits. All were ready to work.

There was also a line of containers in the back of the hangar. The crew was ready to load on all the goods that they had for personal accoutrements to say nothing of better food than what the matter filters could produce at the replicator, or what some ships could grow onboard. It was true many of the crew got tired of clam chowder fast, but Skrilxya had told everyone that based on ship specs they’d have a much better hydroponics farm than they had on the Happy Customer. After all, this was an L-1, updated, and the frame was only fifty-five years old.

The leading Lieutenants stood in a row before the rest of the assembled crew and saluted the First and Second Commissioner as they approached. Skrilxya and Ben were also wearing their grey-coats with golden thread along the shoulders in a pattern that marked their rank. Skrilxya also wore on the top button near her neck a small medallion carved from a globe like turquoise set in burnt-black titanium, shaped like the Brantopteryx taking flight and holding a pick-axe and a cactus leaf in each claw. Ben meanwhile wore a sigil of house Rikaron on a necklace, the ceremonial calligraphy of his family set in gold and encircled by a wreath of pewter with golden flowers and berries. These trinkets were small, but to both Commissioners it was a point of pride that for their rank and service they were able to display their heraldry on their uniform alongside the livery of the Armada and their fleet.

Which fleet they would be a part of was not a question they had asked themselves at first, they assumed before they would remain with the Second Order under Admiral Jotaro. That seemed to remain the case for now, but the Admiral had sent down a cryptic memo that changes were in the works. Skrilxya and Ben were both on their toes regarding the nature of that change.

After the Gungnir locked itself into place a gangplank tube extended into the hangar. It unsealed itself a few feet in front of where Skrilxya stood at attention. Ben stood close behind her to the right, and the Lieutenants and Sergeant Bolamey standing behind them. Out of the perforated tube stepped a humanoid figure in a pale green and grey spacesuit. Unhooking the helmet, folding it back like a hood, the clearly Haman figure took out a black, zipped, folder and approached.

“Alright, I’m looking for Captain Yonami? Yonami?” He looked in front and looked past Skrilxya at first. She let out a slight sigh and gave a loud “m-HM” that sounded like a cough.

“Oh!” said the Haman, “Yonamey! Of course!” He laughed and sighed realizing his assumption was mistaken. Walking up to Skrilxya he introduced himself. “I’m the Second Order Fleet-Manager Broderick Aveñon but you can call me Brody.”

Producing a paper from the zipped folder he said “we both know the Armada is the real owner of this ship, but since you are the legal and acting captain of the Gungnir yours is the name that will go on the new deed.”

He began reading over the text of the deed and title “Welcome to your new L-1 class Starship, we hope you enjoy your experience yadda yadda yadda…” he brushed through the minutia to the important sections. It was all information that Skrilxya and all the officers had heard before, but now Skrilxya was the captain, and was accountable to the navy for the wellbeing of the ship and the rest of her fleet.

Brody prompted her to sign, she wrote her signature and stamped her family sigil at the end, to which Brody replied “how pretty.”

He took a quick image of the signed document “for duplicate” before he placed it back in the folder and handed it to Skrilxya who passed it to Ben. He then breathed out and said informally “okay, now for the real stuff you need to know. This ship was seriously mishandled under Vice Admiral Carvenon. He gave it to the command of his second, the Rear Admiral Stelton, who after orders to chase Ombroj raiders in sub-light to the gas giants of O-Z-B burned out the old fusion reactor. They were ambushed there and nearly totalled. We’ve gotten the repairs mostly done but I’m leaving some of my own team with you to finish the job.”

Brody winked: “Consider it a gift from J.J.” Skrilxya nodded, recognizing that Admiral Jotaro was still looking out for them. Brody explained: I’ve got three hundred and sixty gamma-level androids to supplement your maintenance team, and alongside them, thirty five clone servants who you may hire yourself or leave here, they will find other work in the fleet if you don’t want them. I should mention that twelve were attached to the ship since Carvenon.”

Skrilxya paused to think, looked at Ben who merely raised his eyebrows, and she replied. “I will retain their service Fleet Manager Brody, thank you.”

“Not a problem” he said “you’ve got a new fusion core and clean thrusters, and fresh weapons at that. The Noah can let you know other details. Last thing I’m supposed to tell you is that the Polemarch, J.J. and a few of the other Flag-Staff want to meet with you at Neolune. They’ll assign you the other ships of your fleet.”

“I am obliged to you Fleet Manager.” Skrilxya said with a polite nod. With that Brody was off and left for the interior of Counterweight station, and some of the androids he left behind appeared and helped the crew take their valuables on board. Skrilxya, Ben, and the Lieutenants boarded first and made their way to the bridge at some speed. They knew they had at most a day to get to Neolune’s orbit for the Admiral’s meeting.

The command-bridge was just a bit more spacious than the Happy Customer’s but very similar in design. It was a sphere they stood inside with a wall that changed its image to display the exterior of the ship. The Captain’s seat and those for a few commanding officers were placed on a dais in the center with neural-link hookups to help the captain directly command the ship. Around that were the different monitoring stations where the adjutants would sit, and near the front where the two bridge pilots would sit. Skrilxya knew before they said it that Gilvon would prefer the left and Fitzshuttle would prefer the right, so she commanded them to take their places now.

As the officers and their aids set up the bridge to their liking the door chime rang. Skrilxya bid the guests enter and she saw three identical men and two other identical men behind them enter the bridge, wearing white and black skin-tight uniforms. The three wore black and close-shaven hair, while the two had blonde bowl-cuts. Skrilxya knew these must be the clone servants.

“Good day gentlemen” Skrilxya said with an alto rumble. She stood at attention and said “may I be introduced?”

The three black haired clones looked at each other and one stepped forward: “We are the representatives of the Dilacruz clones, I’m D-Aleps-14.” And the blonde clone standing to the left stepped forward and bowed saying “I am R-Betdel-55, of the Rielly clone series.”

“A pleasure” Skrilxya said “I am retaining the service of all thirty five clones who were assigned to this vessel. You will live and work here under my command. Do you have any questions?”

“None Captain” said the two leader clones. “But we do have concerns about the running of the ship. And the repairs that were done at the Heavenly Forge and after.”

“Do tell” Skrilxya implored as Ben and some of the other officers, especially Lieutenant Oryon, drew their attention to the new members of their crew.

“Well Ma’am,” said D-Aleps-14, producing a data-pad. “I’ve got some of the notes I took here. New fusion core like Mr. Brody said, all’s well in that, but the Ombroj raiders left some serious holes in parts of the hull, we and the droids were still sealing the gaps and even the nanites are having a hard time completing the repairs.”

Skrilxya said nothing but Lieutenant Oryon spoke: “If I may, Captain…” to which Skrilxya nodded approvingly. Oryon continued “did you have the means to complete electro-magnetic scans on all the damaged locations or any recovered rounds?”

“We thought of that and noticed significant residue Ma’am” D-Aleps-14 said.

“Just as I feared” Oryon said turning to Skrilxya “it’s a new Ombroj method of charging their harpoons with rogue electrons, to ionize the surfaces of space-titanium hulls and disturb the nanite swarms.”

“Forgive me Ma’am that's not all” D-Aleps-14 continued. Oryon and Skrilxya listened alertly. “We also captured a Ferrousite larva. It was chewing on the aft burners when we found it and we put it on ice. At the Heavenly Forge they were going to dispose of it but I brought it along.”

“Is it securely on ice?!” Ben said startled, “completely surrounded in water at 50 kelvin?”

“Precisely so, Sir” D-Aleps-14 said confidently.

Ben sighed with relief. He told Skrilxya bluntly “Ferrousites can’t be treated lightly, one whiff of metal and too much heat and it’ll be back to eating our ship in no time.”

“I know that Ben,” Skrilxya said with an undertone of annoyance. “Why did you bring it to me D-Aleps?”

“That was Mr. Brody’s request Ma’am. He wanted us to give it to you to show to their Lordships. Mr. Brody said the Admirals would know what to make of it.”

Skrilxya hummed quietly and said “Thank you D-Aleps and R-Betel. Lieutenant Oryon is my chief engineer and a woman of some technical skill. See to it she has a copy of your notes and the confidence of your men and droids. I want those electrons scrubbed by the time we dock at Neolune.”

“We will see it done Ma'am,'' D-Aleps-14 said with a sharp salute. Lieutenant Oryon saluted too and exited the bridge with the clones, leaving Skrilxya and her other command crew to sort the room out themselves.

Ben sighed and whispered to Skrilxya as they lifted a coffee table together: “it is a shame that clone bondage is still so widely practiced. To think that the rich can clone their offspring and maintain their wealth forever, yet others make a pittance by selling their genetic copies into serfdom.”

“Aye,” Skrilxya agreed. “But they are now part of the crew, and I intend to treat them as I treat anyone who serves under my command. I hope that is understood by the other Captains that will be attached to us.”

The repairs went smoothly with Lieutenant Oryon’s guidance and the skilled work of the clones who knew the ship well. The androids made the last repairs as the vessel departed I’yrcon proper and went to the planet's nearest natural satellite: Neolune. The trip would take a few hours at typical speeds. Skrilxya introduced herself to the Noah of the ship. He had taken the name of Gungnir for himself as well, since he was cybernetically linked to the vessel now and in a constant state of meditative calm. In the Noah’s chamber Skrilxya assured Gungnir that she would take good care of him. The Noah replied “I know you will, for I have seen it in your spirit. Welcome Captain Yonamey.” She took that for what it was, a sign of trust. Trust was something she didn’t automatically receive from every Haman, but from a Noah on a ship like the Gungnir, she would not question it.

Part 2: The Admirals

Neolune was much like its namesake around Old Earth, white and grey dust and rocks jumbled together into a luminescent ball. And much like Old Lune, Neolune was carved open like a fruit being de-cored. It’s metal interior was exposed in deep crevices for the skilled extraction of miners, and the cooled caverns of the mantle and crust were chiseled into the vacuum sealed paradise cities of the stars, renowned in the galaxy for their luxury and sophistication, and also for the vices one could enjoy while there. Neolune was one municipality under the current local government, with a Mayor and a Council who paid homage to the local high priests, and they all paid homage to Governor Opalton like everyone else in the system.

Above the moon was one of the few locations that didn’t recognize Governor Opalton’s total authority around this star. The Naval Headquarters of the Second Order, the Hammer of the Empire, the largest detachment of the Armada with fifty-one active Fleet-Brigades. The Second Order maintained border defense and general fleet maneuvers in blockades or offensive strikes. That was the tradition, and during wartime, their epithet was well demonstrated.

Now the Second Order was being re-caste. Without the active Aliosan conflict, the resources of the Hammer would be given to the other orders and the Admiral’s whims. Skrilxya, Ben, and the other officers debated what their first mission might be. Siwakoro thought it might be with a First Order detachment to go after more unruly governors and heretics. Oryon and Ben both thought of the Fourth and Fifth orders, dull trade escort work, something to keep the bureaucrats happy. Skrilxya herself was not a betting Iyn, she thought of no judgements till the “prey” was in her sight. Bolamey agreed with her. They chalked it up to the Malluman stoic ideal vs the Haman logic games the lanky apes liked to play.

Skrilxya assumed nothing even as she was summoned to the Polemarch’s office for assignment. Ben of course went with her, keeping his distance respectful at three paces behind her, and obviously so that no one assumed that the Haman was in command. Skrilxya thought to herself: he’s come a long way since we met. Still needs work, but he’s doing his best.

Their walk ended at an automatic double door with engravings of two bronze age warriors fighting serpents and demons. The doors slid open to reveal a deep room with a large desk and high-backed chair where the Polemarch sat. The Polemarch: Grand Admiral Thor II Vulcon, saw the pair enter and motioned silently for them to approach. He was surrounded by other officers all wearing their white and black dress uniforms with full floral golden trim. Admiral Jotaro was there, as was Admiral Thessalian Zed, and Grand Admiral Gol Forchenko, the Executive officer of the Fifth Order who floated in a hover throne beside the desk. Two well dressed Mallumans were also in the room: the newly proclaimed Rex Upitar Qornamey who succeeded her mother as the leader of her great clan after service against the Aliosans and the “Iron Dragon'' who fought the rebels in Kapteyn Pictoris, Rex Albaney.

Skrilxya and Ben both approached the center of the room and at a respectable distance took to one knee in a respectful, military, bow. Grand Admiral Thor said resoundingly: “thank you for your attendance Madame and Sir, please stand.”

Skrilxya and Ben both stood smoothly. It was key here to respect the manners of the Lords. All were facing them now. Grand Admiral Thor never rose from his seat. He merely reclined in his chair from his papers and looked at the two officers. With the slightest grin he said “at ease.”

Skrilxya and Ben both relaxed. The Grand Admiral spoke bluntly, but his words echoed from the high vaulted ceiling of his office. “I will retain the service of the Gungnir and it’s attendant fleet under the Second Order. However, you will not be assigned to Admiral Jotaro’s brigade. You will be attached to one of mine, Brigade 05.”

The Blind Oracles thought Skrilxya without a sound. She knew what this meant, and knew Ben would know it too.

“You will know my meaning” Grand Admiral Thor said as if he heard her thoughts. “You will be under Vice Admiral Raeldon’s official direction, but you will be assigned tasks with other orders under false livery or no livery as I see fit. You will also recognize Grand Admiral Forchenko who stands before you.” He said motioning to the figure in the floating chair. Skrilxya and Ben both nodded in recognition.

Grand Admiral Forchenko floated forward. Raising his spindly arm he spoke “The Fifth Order is in need of reinforcements. More to the point we need firepower and skilled agents, who know the art of diplomacy and of war. You may have heard that Ombroj are on the move.”

“We have, Jamon,” Skrilxya said.

“Then this will come as no surprise,” he said “the Allied Tribes are asking for aid in their squabbles with the Enemy and Neutral tribes. As you know the Empire cannot openly support them without risking war, and we are still recovering our resources from the conflict we just concluded. Open piracy we will defend against, but an open assault is out of the question.”

Thor returned to speaking “therefore I am sending you and your fleet to handle one of these squabbles. You will rendezvous with a mercenary fleet in the Kang System, including Ombroj longships under the command of Tiluddu of Yothask Tribe. These mercenaries will join your fleet to 61 Cygni where you will negotiate with Ombroj forces there or track the nearest gathering of vessels to redirect them. You may use whatever means you have at your disposal to complete this mission. Am I understood?”

“You are understood, Jamon,” said Skrilxya with deference. She then spoke “Forgive me sir, may I know about my Squadron?”

Grand Admiral Thor replied “the Gungnir will be fully stocked with Nimloth and Sting corvettes and Cherubim transports. Six, Six, and Twelve as usual. You will also be given six B-5 Galleons to command, also fully stocked with their complement of corvettes and transports. All six are present at this base, and you will be directed to meet with your Captains shortly. Is this satisfactory First Commissioner Yonamey?”

“It is, Jamon.”

“Very good,” Thor said. “You will find the files on hand, dismissed.”

Skrilxya and Ben stood and clicked their heels before turning to depart. The other commanders silently watched them leave as Grand Admiral Thor returned to his papers.

After the double doors slid closed behind them Skrilxya and Ben both let out a deep breath of relief and nervousness. “Did you see the way they glowered at us?” Ben said, still jittery. “We have our assignment,” said Skrilxya, breathing deeply to compose herself. “Six more galleons has a nice ring to it” she said with pride.

“Yes but Ombroj?! You saw what they did to our new ship already!”

“Ombroj are like wild boars,” Skrilxya said with a shrug “they’ve got tusks and they’re not afraid to use them.”

“No they’re not” Ben said dismissively “they’re more like bears and anteaters if anything Earth like…”

“I am making a metaphor” Skrilxya said with a reptilian hiss “I’m not saying they’re actually boars. I hunt a lot, you know. Animals like those like to use their weapons before they go down. Think about the harpoons they hooked our ship with. Sharp tusks, right?.”

“Right” Ben said realizing how dumb he sounded. “Just don’t call Tiluddu a boar to his face.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” Skrilxya said. “Anyway… my point is that with this kind of prey they need to be taken by surprise. And since we have mercenaries on our side and we are flying under camouflage, I think this will be a successful ambush.”

“I think so too, but remember what Lord Thor and Admiral Forchenko said, they want us to redirect the Ombroj, not necessarily destroy them. Only if it's necessary.”

“It may be,” Skrilxya shrugged. “We will see about that.”

She didn’t know why Ben was so skittish about fighting the Ombroj, they never had more firepower than the Armada did in modern times. The Tribes couldn’t assemble as many ships. She suspected that Ben’s attitude would improve when they met with the other Captains and eventually Tiluddu and the situation could be better appraised. But Skrilxya was a patient hunter, and never made assumptions before she had the facts. She knew that Ben himself wasn’t one for hunting, preferring to hike or to drive to scenic locations aimlessly, taking pictures along the way and listening to music. It seemed pointless to her, but it’s what he liked. They only got along when it came to music when they went to the disco together, something they’d have to do with Siwakoro and Oryon before they left.

As they walked she decided to press the matter, and get the information she needed. “Why do you fear Ombroj Ben? Think about our history with them and how they stand today. We can beat them no matter the situation!”

“Can we? I do see IRDaC reports and memos from the 4D-marketplace thanks to my father.” Ben referred to his father with some distaste, but it passed quickly so Skrilxya didn’t dwell on it. “The badlands are more well organized than the Admirals give credit. We might be walking into an ambush.”

“But if we have help from the Tribe Yothask…”

“The Ombroj tribes operate differently than Haman or Malluman families. These are Nations unto themselves, subdivided into fleets working toward their own interest and building hoards of wealth on their treasure fleets and in moon-side bunkers. I know because my father trades with them often. The allied tribes, the neutral tribes, and even some of the enemy tribes all make their way into the Empire one way or another, and they’ve been building the strength of their raids with new toys ever since the war with Alios started turning into a stalemate.”

“That is data I would have appreciated from Lord Thor,” said Skrilxya with a groan. “I still need to know more about our Captains and Tiluddu. Then I can appraise our strategy.”

With a deep inhale Ben said “oh the Captains should be fine. It’s Tiluddu we need to worry about.”

“Tiluddu can be paid” Skrilxya said nonchalantly “the Captains on the other hand might not trust a Malluman at their helm.”

“They will, or they’ll be tried for mutiny” said Ben sternly.

“Ha,” Skrilxya laughed with her toothy grin “they’ll fear you more than me. I don’t know if I’m okay with that!”

Ben smiled “as long as they follow your orders and do their job they’ve got nothing to fear.”

Part 3: The Captains

The meeting with the captains was scheduled for three hours from the meeting with the Admirals. Skrilxya awaited them on the Gungnir in the forward conference room. There were just twenty or so minutes left before they would start filing into her room. She sipped her tea and contemplated this new station of command. A squadron was a lot more than just one ship, but she felt like she might be up to the task.

She had just replied in the last hour to the Grand Admiral’s files he had sent to her and Ben’s personal electronic mail. In her reply she had mentioned the Ferrousite larva, to which Lord Thor promptly replied: “thanks, my men are on it.” And she had just heard from D-Aleps-14 that one of the Admiral’s aides had come to retrieve the frozen specimen. That was one bit of business taken care of, and she was pleased with how well Oryon and the clones worked to solve the Gungnir’s remaining issues. She thought that this mission was looking better and better the more she learned despite Ben’s reservations.

Unexpectedly, the door chime rang. “Enter” Skrilxya said and the doors revealed the greying scales of the former Rex Qornamey.

“Mama Qoqo!” Skrilxya almost blurted out upon seeing her.

“Little Skril!” said Relonda Qornamey as she embraced Skrilxya. She was Skrilxya’s great great grandmother on her fathers, fathers, father’s side. Jonath's parents Yuhanyt and Eroko often visited the Qornamey keep so Skrilxya and her sisters knew the old Reox well and their Aunt the new Reox.

“I didn’t expect you” Skrilxya said after a long warm hug “I thought you’d be at your house or on Hame or San, not here!”

“I came when my daughter told me you had a fleet of your own! I was impressed, and wanted to see what a place and position this young Yonamey was making for herself. You have an ally in Upitar, remember that.”

“Of course Mama Qoqo, but are you going to stay and take tea?”

“No” the old Reox replied “You’ve got your captains to meet. Remember to treat them like you’d treat a hunting team tracking carnosaurs. Command respect, and they’ll respect your command.”

“Of course Mama Qoqo,” Skrilxya said.

“Much love child” the elder said as she left the room. Skrilxya, reinvigorated, drank her tea and awaited the Captains. It was not long before they all arrived, ushered in by Lieutenant Siwakoro. All six were present, and Skrilxya was pleased to see two Mallumans among them. All six were wearing their standard grey-coats.

She recognized one of the Mallumans as a daughter of the Golden-Bordered Banner clan by her yellow-bronze and black striped scales with inflections of red. She introduced herself as third commissioner Turleyna Chalmuney. The other Malluman was tall and skinny with purple-black scales; she introduced herself as Third Commissioner Welraiya Toganey, a respectable Sannish clan.

The four other captains were Hamans of course. One was pasty white of skin, small in stature, and beady eyed: Second Commissioner Savrell Pilsen. Compared to him the younger and pink cheeked round boy with ginger hair seemed jolly. That was Third Commissioner Erlendir Dean. Looking more refined than the other men was the stout and sturdy Third Commissioner George Tsend. He was from an ancient family on Hame from north of Xia and carried himself as such. The last was a Haman woman who was tall and dark skinned with braided black hair that hung almost to her waist and golden eyes: Third Commissioner Persephone Sanz.

The six captains stood around Skrilxya and saluted her and she said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, at ease.”

The captains all took their chairs and looked at her. Captain Chalumey was the first to speak: “Madame, I am honored to have earned service under your command.”

“Thank you Captain but I have no need of flattery. I am an Iyn who cares about the missions at hand above all else. So let’s get to work. You will find the pertinent information for our first mission on your hand monitors.”

The captains produced individual holograms from their wrist watches that displayed the files Lord Thor had sent. Skrilxya explained: “Our fleet is meeting with a mercenary company and a group of Ombroj from the Yothask Tribe in the Kang system. We will link with the Imperial mercenaries led by Marc Tomadilla on Bob, and then proceed to Casserole where Tiluddu the Ombroj leader is based. Tomadilla and Tiluddu are smugglers, though they have oscillating letters of marque from IRDaC to do business on the frontier. We will be acting as though we are a Fifth Order convoy protecting a legitimate cargo fleet to outposts in 61 Cygni and beyond. In reality, we are collecting information on the enemy Ombroj tribes. Intel reports that Ombroj piracy has increased steadily since the end of the war, and new technologies are being made available to them and other hostile civilizations that will make raiding our colonies easier. Our mission is to “encourage'' redirection.”

Captain Pilsen interjected: “If I may, Commissioner, were we given specifics on how we might redirect them?”

“That is left to our judgement, Captain,” Skrilxya replied. “We have the means to combat or to bargain. Our ships are being resupplied and in five days we will set out to meet at Kang with our smuggler friends. In the files you’ll see we’ve been left a considerable treasury to draw from.”

Captain Dean whistled when he pulled it up. “A million gold credits?!” Captain Sanz replied “Ombroj respond to bribes, anything to add to their hoard will buy off an attack for a while. But do the Admirals really expect us to just pay them off Ma’am?”

“I was not privy to the final objective Captain Sanz” said Skrilxya with a sigh, “if I was I would know what course we ought to take. I imagine more intel will come to us while we wait to depart. For now, let’s get our crew prepared. If it comes to a fight we must remember that the Ombroj have been using new tactics and weapons. Upgrade your ship's systems now while we are here at HQ. That is my one command until we depart. Any questions.”

The room was silent, the Captains understood. Skrilxya nodded approvingly; “Then let us begin preparations and get well rested for our trip. Dismissed!”

The next five days would give Skrilxya ample time to learn about her subuordinates and their quirks. As she expected she found more in common with Captain Toganey and Captain Chalmuney, taking time to spar with them in the Gungnir’s training dojo that she equipped with her own decorations and ceremonial weapons. To her surprise Captain Dean would also join them. He was a poor physical fighter but when they took tea after training he was a good sport and funny. He and Chalmuney actually seemed to know each other from before but upon further conversation Skrilxya found that Chalmuney and Dean simply bonded over a love of their favorite Cannonball team, the Artemisian Appledunkers, and the sport itself. Toganey was more reserved and shared a preference for romance novels and epics. She and Skrilxya discussed the sagas of the matriarchs for a good three hours before they were interrupted by their engineers with reports.

Captain Sanz was also a pleasure to talk to. Similarly literate, she also shared with Skrilxya her fascination with jewelry. She pointed out that Skrilxya’s family sigil was crafted from an old Sannish jade, and Skrilxya was pleased to have a piece of her people’s homeworld on her brooch. Skrilxya similarly complimented Sanz’s collection of silver and gold necklaces, earrings, braid-clips, and rings. Sanz even offered Skrilxya a golden ring: “it was always too big for me. My older brother died in the war and it brought him good luck before the Battle of Dagon. If you have it, it should convince the holy ghost to guide us in our missions.”

Skrilxya would be a fool to refuse such a gift.

Likewise, Captain Tsend came to the dojo on the third day and bowed before Skrilxya and offered her a sword from Hame. She recognized it was from his family and she politely declined, and Tsend requested a duel on the spot. Skrilxya obliged, and the two sparred as Chalmuney, Toganey, and Dean watched. They nearly ended in a draw. Skrilxya was surprised at the Haman’s strength and speed, but eventually overpowered him with her greater size. Tsend accepted defeat with a short smile and bowed to his commanding officer. His final words before leaving the dojo were “I have seen the worth of my commander and found her of greater value than I expected.”

Accursed psychic trickery, Skrilxya thought with a mental eyeroll. Of course the Haman nobleman would use the duel as an attempt to scan her mind. At least she felt validated, though thought it was unnecessary.

The last one to sniff out was Pilsen. He and Skrilxya were together throughout the first three days of repairs before the departure. For three days their conversations were solely about work. The old, pale, man was polite but formal. He never offered more than the slightest grin, and those eyes. They were buggish and beady like Nebulan Barons, but of course Haman in shape and colored icey blue and pink-white. He strutted around in his ship-boots like a true soldier. Almost mechanical. Skrilxya thought this too might be an act to psychically test her. She decided to send Ben to see if he could smooth him but only after some delay. She didn’t want to rely on the networking of Haman gentry to make her job easier. But even the genial Corovaner wasn’t enough to crack Pilsen. Ben simply shrugged at lunch on the third day before they took shore leave on Neolune and said “he’s a titanium wall.” Good metaphor, Skrilxya mused.

After they returned on the morning of the fourth day to the Gungnir and Lieutenant Oryon received the culminating reports regarding the repairs to the engine hull, the solar sail, and the radiators it was Pilsen who met the officers on their bridge. He, to the surprise of everyone, was acting jolly with the clone servants of the Gungnir. Captain Pilsen actually had a genuine smile set within his gaunt cheeks as he spoke to D-Aleps-14 about the condition of the ship.

Skrilxya didn’t confront him on the matter but took it for another sign of what Ben said. Captain Pilsen was titanium on the outside. But seeing him showing respect and good humor to people often seen as second class in the Empire, Skrilxya felt marginally better about his demeanor, and realized he may simply show her the respect due to a superior in a stoic way. Quite different from Ben, she thought.

On the fifth day all seven galleons departed their drydocks for high orbit over Neolune. The Gungnir led its companion vessels out to the edge of the system. The Captains advised their fully rostered crew to prepare the ships for a phase space jump. The safe location for the jump was fourteen hours away at ionic pulse. The phase jump itself would be short and barely expend the fuel reserves of Crimson Matter. Kang, called by some Toh Seti or Setina, was an orange star only five lightyears away from Berin Ophiuchis. It had several inhabited planets and a significant population, but being on the border during the war with Alios it was a sight of high conflict. Skrilxya knew that this mission could be complicated by the erratic fears of citizens on or around any of these worlds, and that she and her fellow captains would have to play the part of the Fifth Order escort with exceptional care.

With the next mission on her mind, Skrilxya contacted the Noah and authorized the transition to phase space. At the edge of Berin Ophiuchis’ heliopause a small tear in the fabric of space crackled with light and enveloped the seven ships. Within moments they were gone, crawling along the outer membrane of the universe itself toward the next star at blinding speeds. A distance that would have taken ancient mankind thousands of years to traverse, and would have been impossible for Mallumans on ancient San to conceive, now took just over an hour.

To be continued…