2223:07:01.
Merarch Justin Brown had long known Alfonso Salona as his ship the ES Decimator had served the Estates but he was not sure he would he would ever understand him. The aged scientists certainly gave good service to the state and his loyalty could not be questioned, but the scientist was noticeably weak towards the serfs crewing the ship, treating them sometimes as equals rather than the subjects they were. Just the other day, as they prepared for their latest mission, the Merarch had had occasion to hear the scientist thanking one of his serf assistants for some work they had done. All that seemed to matter to the scientist was his work, even if that did require an amount of responsibility delegated to his assistants than the Merarch was comfortable with. Sometime Brown thought the scientist saw his research being supported by the state, rather than as it should be, the research serving the state. As for Brown sometimes he would have preferred to be serving directly by commanding some of the efforts to restore order in the subjugated territories. Order was being maintained, with some effort, but still resistance movements and independence factions proliferated on the planets which by now should have faced the truth and accepted their domination. But if the leadership ordered him to facilitate the scholars efforts than Brown was willing to comply.
On the screen the view was lit up as the ship passed through the wormhole. Brown activated his communicator.
“Scholar Salona. We have entered the Cador system”
“Excellent, excellent.” Came the reply “I’ll come immediately.”
Brown occupied himself with the initial scans, and it was several minutes before the scientist came onto the bridge. He immediately headed for the science station.
“Hmm, interesting.” The scholar muttered. After a few moments he motioned for the Merarch to join him. Brown complied.
“Look if you will at the energy emanating from the second planet.” Until this point Brown had not noticed.
“Energy? Is it dangerous?” he said, remembering the fate of the first expedition to survey this system. The one led by the late Brittney Collins.
“Oh, no. Quite passive” Salona replied “but well worth investigating I think.”
“Set course for the second planet!” Brown ordered.
“Yes, Merarch” the helmsman replied.
Several days later the Decimator approached the planet.
“What is that?” Brown asked. Displayed On the view-screen was a large mass in orbit of the planet.
“Unknown. But it is the source of the emanations.” The sensor officer reported.
“I think we should look closer” said Salona, flanking the Merarch.
“I’m as eager as you to find out what it is Alfonso, but I recommend we not rush into things, it could be dangerous”
“Nonsense, there are no molecular reactions in the vicinity to indicate whatever it is has moved for millennia. It is obviously derelict, related somehow to the planet, or I should say, ex planet in this systems next orbit”
“Nonetheless I suggest we take it slow. Observe the station before we do anything to it”
“Young people these days “Salona replied, never mind that Brown was barely younger than Salona.
2224:04:08
It took more than 9 months before either officer set foot on the derelict station. Salona, as ever, was eager to investigate more closely, but Brown would not allow it until the Leadership, closely following reports, gave orders to do so.
Two security crew laboured to push the hatch open. An away party including Brown, and an anxious Salona, had landed in one of the many docking stations that dotted the structure. Closer examination, and sensor readings, had shown the massive space station was a shipyard of sorts, but nearly 50,000 years old. Nothing had acted to hinder their exploration of the shipyard which contained the derelict hulls of many ships. Alas that was all they were, hulls. Interesting when it came to studying the hull composition, but lacking any components or equipment that could shed a light on who had once operated the station. Salona had guided the party to what he was convinced was a control room of sorts. As the hatch opened, Salona brushed past the burdened security troops.
“Fascinating” he exclaimed shining his torch around the room. This section of the station had been sealed and so there was no sign that it had ever been abandoned.
“I recommend caution” Brown told him, entering as various crewmembers fanned out to watch for security devices or traps.
“Oh, yes, yes” Salona said absent mindedly.
Brown went over to one side to discuss what was to be done. He spent several minutes co-ordinating efforts, all but forgetting the scientist when he suddenly he heard Salona speak.
“Yes, I see. So that leads there, which powers that. All I have to do is activate this”
Aghast Brown turned to Salona pressing a button on the control panel set in the center of the room.
“No!” The Merarch said, rushing towards the scientist. But he was too late. With a hum the room lit up. Light seemed to flow everywhere. The away team milled about, watching for any activated defences that might strike.
“Very foolish, Alfonso” Brown cautioned.
“hmm, no, no, no problem”
“Merarch!” called out one of the security troops. He motioned towards a large clear partition. Outside there came rumbling and bright light shone.” Brown and Salona went over and took a look.
“By the state!” Brown cried.
“Ooh, yes. Facinating” agreed Salona.
2225:08:03
Merach Valentina Petrenko sat quietly in the waiting room. She had been summoned by the Dominar and so had followed orders and gone to his office, nevermind that she had only just returned from active duty helping hunt down and eliminate the various space monsters that hindered exploration of the Estates’ new holdings. Her last mission had entailed destroying some ancient mining drones, and a station that occupied a system near Sol. Eventually the Dominar’s aide guided the Merarch into the office.
The Dominar was seated behind his desk. As Valentina entered he slowly rose and made his way around the desk. Valentina could see he was having trouble. Could the rumours that the Dominar was ill be true, she thought.
“Welcome, Merarch” The Dominar exclaimed. If his body was failing him than as much could not be said of his voice, for it rang out loud and sure.
“It is an honour to meet you, sir” she replied.
“Yes, yes” he said.
“How can I help you?” she asked.
“I’d heard you were direct,“ he answered. ”Good. Let me get to the point then. I want you to command a new ship.”
Valentina was taken aback. Her current ship, the Nimble, was perfectly serviceable and she could not see why it required the Dominar to give orders, surely fleet command could give them.
“ah, I see I’ve confused you. Come with me”
Valentina accompanied the Dominar, along with a few guards, by shuttle to the shipyards above Earth. When they arrived in orbit the shuttle made way to a section situated a long way from the rest of the fleet. Their vessel docked with a large station and they were guided inside. Within Valentina found herself in a large space dock.
“Some time ago,” the Dominar began “one of our expeditions came across a facility situated between the conquest zones further along the arm. There they found something that is of extreme importance to the empire.
“What exactly, sir?” she asked.
“This” said the Dominar activating a control. The far reaches of the space dock lit up and Valentina was faced with a large ship the likes of which she had not seen before. In design it did not match any Lord ship she knew of. Larger than the corvettes she was used to commanding it was not quite the size of one of the new destroyers recently begun construction.
“A captured ship?” she ventured.
“No not captured, it was built by us, although not intentionally”
“I don’t understand”
“One of our scientists accidently began its construction in an alien shipyard we discovered. Unfortunately the shipyard broke down shortly after its construction, but this ship contains weapons and defences previously unimagined. We have spent over a year going over it, trying to discover how it works, and though we have managed to make it serviceable its technology eludes us”
“But it helped us develop our new destroyers?”
“No, we managed that by ourselves. I’ll get to the point, I want you to captain it on a little test mission.”
Valentina was struck by the possibilities. The Taxis had openly come out and insulted the Empire, and the Falore compact, of which the Empire was part, was in an active war. Perhaps these would be the targets of the new weapon.
“No, you won’t be joining the Falore.”he said, seemingly reading her mind” Their efforts to conquer the Reyubb make your mission possible, but you won’t be directly taking part.”
“What then?”
“There lies a system near Falore space that we have had an eye on for some time. We have been hesitant to act, but because in part we agreed to support their efforts to make the Gimel their vassals we have the leeway to move openly.”
“And the other part?”
“Well, the Falore are sort of busy at the moment. They probably won’t even notice our invasion.” The Dominar turned to a large display nearby, bringing up an image. “This is Mii’Susska”
