10 Years, 01 Month, 05 Days After Eridani Landing
Species C1764 Home World
Pursing his lips [Vann] looked down at the C1764 planet. The oceans took up most of its surface, almost a direct inverse to that of the Home world with its proportions. The first wars on the Home world thousands of generations ago had been fought over the access to water. Looking at the oceans [Vann] couldn’t help but admire them. It was something he hadn’t seen with his own eyes. Even from orbit the seas looked massive.
If the C1764 had followed the same trend as other species that developed on such worlds, then they had been traveling the seas before they had even started recording their own history.
“This ship is going to land? On the surface of the planet?” asked [Venna] from her seat off to the side of [Vann] on the bridge of the [Singer].
Her father, sitting at one of the science consoles on the bridge of the [Singer] spun around in it. “This is an older class of ship, she’s been the experimental test bed for new systems for generations. Her hull was built before shields were perfected, but strange matter manipulation was. It was a gap of, [twenty years]? So, she’s got a thick hull and precise strange matter control.”
“It was a [twenty-three] year span of time where the ships like the [Singer] were built.” Said High Scientist [Sam] from her science station on the other side of the bridge across from [Howard].
[Vann] glanced at her surprised she was providing information.
He nodded, “During that time, it was safer to build ships that could slowly lower themselves from orbit and land. Energy intensive, but safer than relying on ablative friction when you needed to more personnel and cargo up and down the gravity well. Cancel out all orbital velocity and allow the planet’s gravity to pull you down while slowing the fall with the strange matter systems.”
[Venna] furrowed her brow, “So this entire ship, is like a shuttle? Or a Transport?” She shifted in her seat uncomfortable with the concept.
“Not nearly as maneuverable, she can land and take off, but she’s not built to really fly around in the atmosphere of a planet.” [Vann] paused thinking, “With her original power plant’s at least. Her generators have gone through a few generations of improvement at this point. I suppose she could actually fly around. Her last foray one the ground was about [ten years] ago when her cloaking systems were being upgraded.”
[Syn] shuddered from her seat up near the forward display, refusing to take any of the seats on the bridge she was leaning up against a corner of the transparent material. “Please let’s not try to test how fast she could go, the amount of mass this ship has.” She trailed off shaking her head.
[Reece] grunted in agreement from behind [Vann]’s seat, “Unnecessary risks are something you are supposed to avoid Emperor.”
[Vann] glanced back at him and then around at the rest of the people on the bridge, “It would be interesting none the less, I could take the controls if it would make you feel better.”
[Syn] grimaced, “You take the controls in of the [Singer] I’m stealing one of the shuttles and flying in the opposite direction.”
“The Emperor, uh, [Vann] can’t be that bad of a pilot.” Said [Venna] she turned to him, “Right?”
[Vann] smiled, “It depends who you ask. I’ve never heard an opinion anywhere in the middle. I’m either a dreadful or an excellent pilot.”
[Venna] laughed and glanced over at [Syn]. “So, he can pilot, but he does not exactly follow regulations?”
The small woman nodded, “Exactly. He always tries to scare me whenever I have the misfortune of being in a Transport with him. He doesn’t bother doing the insane flying with [Reece], he won’t flinch until the transport is on fire when [Vann] crashes.” She cocked her head to the side, “I’d be interested to see what he does if he ever deigns to pilot for you.”
[Vann] thought for a moment and turned to [Venna], “There are some beautiful natural features on this planet, the C1764 destroyed a good number of the more ingesting ones but the atmospheric scrubbers have been working nonstop for a few years now. [Charles] had some data on the better ones, I’ll have to dig it up.”
[Venna]’s face went pink at the suggestion and she weakly smiled, “This is a new planet, isn’t it? The class C were just removed, right? Would it be safe to leave the established compounds?”
“Normally no, but you’ll be with me. So, it’ll be fine.”
[Venna] licked her lips, “uhh.”
“There will of course also be an entire battalion no more than ten seconds away at all times while you are with the Emperor.” Said [Reece]. “It’s unlikely [Vann] will be able to get you into more trouble than they can handle.”
[Venna] turned in her seat to look at the bodyguard, “That’s what? A hundred men?”
[Vann] groaned, “A battalion is seven hundred men, and you’re being overprotective [Reece].” He matched [Venna] and turned to look back at [Reece].
[Reece] kept his eyes forwards studiously ignoring them both, “This is a planet that the Consul has designated as exclusive to military and technological development Emperor. There are five entire army groups on the surface, many of whom need training in the protection of VIP’s. Your visit is giving them the opportunity to train.”
[Vann] sighed and turning away from [Reece] he stood, “Fine.”
Pacing forwards, [Vann] moved up to the clear metal at the front of the bridge. Ignoring everyone else on the bridge [Vann] looked down at the blue green planet as it continued to grow in size.
The Singer was over a continent which looked like it had been hit by an asteroid in the far past, a massive circular impact crater which had been filled in by the water of an ocean.
Looking down at the planet, bathed in the light of the star it orbited [Vann] slowly moved his eyes along the coast of the landmass. Every civilization except those that were far more insane than the standard class C1764 established cities beside the largest bodies of water. It made for easy trade even with the most simplistic of technology.
The land of the planet was scared, even from orbit the impacts and assaults the planet had endured under the abuse of the C1764 were visible. Impact craters from the kinetic weaponry, unnatural and unhealed wounds that could only be the from atomic and antimatter detonations.
The cities were the worst off, even devoid of power and falling to the elements of the planet it was easy to see where the population centers had been. The blasts at the centers of nearly all were evident from space, even with the years to recover the biome of the planet would need centuries to cover it all.
That was discounting the few cities and portions of the continent that showed far more recent scars.
The logs from the occupying Regent, which [Marcus] had provided showed that he had ordered an older style orbital bombardment of tactical locations after they were searched for technology and research relating to the antimatter technology.
It was a brutal tactic, but one that [Vann] had to agree with to some extent. The Bunker that [Charles] had been imprisoned in on the red planet, the weapon emplacement on the asteroidal moon of the same world, and the base that had been on the surface of the moon around the C1764 home world.
The C1764 had not been wiped out in the initial cleansing, and it was not impossible to believe that there were still survivors.
The records for the last one had been classified, and [Marcus] had not budged on the issue of their release. [Vann] was half tempted to investigate it, but the [Singer]’s standard scan of the moon as they had come into orbit showed that a nuclear device had been detonated on the site. A failsafe of some sort.
That went without mentioning the dozens of orbital strikes that had been executed during the first few years after acquiring the planet. The Hygonix was still in the atmosphere, bunkers and sealed environments on the planet below had allowed some of the C1764 to survive. Smaller ships and outposts fortifications had infested the system as well, the furthest a small station in orbit of a small rocky planetoid beyond the last gas giant of the system.
That base had only been discovered a [year] ago with a single C1764 left on it. The thing had resorted to eating the other inhabitants of the outpost.
The more recent decision to have the system converted into one purely dedicated to military development was justified by the danger the C1764 presented, there was the still very slim chance that C1764 remained. With hundreds of thousands of troops on the surface combing through the remains of the world for clues to the antimatter technology it was more unlikely every minute.
[Vann] stumbled as the ship shook, torn from his thoughts he glanced back at the pilot.
“Sorry sir,” said the pilot his eyes only flicking up from his readouts for a moment. “I’ve never done this.”
“No worries, the [Singer]’s tough.” Said [Vann] reassuring the man.
“Overengineered and overpowered for her size you mean.” muttered [Sam] from her post.
[Vann] stumbled again as the ship rattled again. The planet was now dominating the forward display, the [Singer] slowly beginning to dip down into its atmosphere. [Vann] looked out at the window for a moment, it was odd to be traveling down to a planet’s surface without the usual ablation shields protecting the hull.
“She’s a bit of a mess behind the scenes, but you have to admit it’s a little more comfortable to have solid walls.” [Howard] tapped the metal behind his console.
“with sensor dampening properties in the hull, which interfere with all of her telemetry. She’s got one of the most advanced sensor suites in the fleet, but the cloaking technology limits it. We’ve got only standard sensor resolution, on any other ship we would be able to pick up a Comm signal from the last gas giant from here!”
[Vann] shrugged and stumbling again as the ship more violently shook he moved to sit back down in his chair. A low hum began to echo through the bridge, [Syn] put her hands down on the deck and grimaced.
“You said you would be fine without a chair.” Said [Vann].
[Syn] glowered at him and closed her eyes as the ship again shook. “[Vann]?”
“Yes [Syn]?”
“Please stop talking.”
[Vann] grinned the [Singer] shook more violently, [Venna]’s hand shot out and grabbed [Vann]’s. He glanced over at her and weakly smiled. “You alright?”
[Venna]’s eyes were screwed shut, her face pinker than it had been only minutes before. “I’m fine.”
[Vann] squeezed her hand as well and turned back to the main display. The [Singer] was still above the clouds of the planet, but they and the compound below were visible. The main compound established by the planetary regent that [Marcus] has assigned was on the continent north of the ancient crater asteroid impact crater, almost exactly in the center of the continent.
It had never been greatly developed like the coasts and despite the C1764’s self-destructive tendencies the damage was light on the plains that dominated the center of the landmass. The development was in the area was minimal, making it easy for the establishment of conventional infrastructure and defenses.
The natural threats of the area were minimal, and the weather mild for the most part. Seasonal storms like those that occurred on the plains of the Home World were common but not unmanageable.
The nose of the [Singer] dipped downwards and the ship accelerated. The strange-matter systems whined and [Vann] felt a slight tug in his gut as the systems fought to maintain normal gravity on the ship and cancel out the planetary gravity which would have thrown everyone on the ship into the nearest forward wall.
“Whoa,” muttered the pilot.
“Something to report?” asked [Vann], even as he pulled the ship out of the dive and flattened out the decent once more.
“No sir, I didn’t compensate enough for the mass difference of the ship. I looked over the flight records and programs for her past, but the [Singer] is more nose heavy than she once was. The old power plants were massive, I had known but my estimations of the difference overall were not correct.”
[Vann] said nothing as the ship passed down through the clouds, “We’re stable then?”
“Yes sir.”
[Vann] stood back up, “Then land us. I’m going to the ramp.”
“You’re not scheduled to disembark for another hour Emperor.” Said [Syn] as she stood, her back pressed to the metal wall keeping herself balanced.
“I’m aware of the schedule.”
[Syn] nodded, “Are you going to change?”
[Vann] glanced down at his light armor, it looked like the antient leather armor the first Emperor’s had worn on the home world when they had led troops directly into battle. Adorned only with his rank insignia [Vann] had taken to wearing it on the ship since the battle with C1764. It was one less thing to worry about in the middle of battle, his own robes fouling him in some manner.
“There is still a possibility this is a hostile world, correct?” asked [Vann].
[Syn] nodded and winced as the [Singer] listed to one side.
“You want to put the Regent off balance.” Said [Venna].
[Vann] lifted her hand and widened his eyes at her, “and I would want to do that why?”
[Venna] narrowed her lips and eyes, “I am better informed than the average citizen Emperor. My Father’s work, and the class C species that has been mentioned only as a whisper for as long as I have known to pay attention to such things? This is the C1764 system, and Earth.”
[Vann] frowned, “What have you heard in the whispers?”
“Emperor, I.” she swallowed. Looking past her [Vann] noted that her father was now very still, and the screen in front of him was not moving.
“I am sure the Consul made all efforts to keep what needs to be secret as such. What have you heard?”
She shrugged and glanced away from him, “That this class C species is the most dangerous ever encountered, that they are.” She paused and turned her eyes back to [Vann]. “That they are a threat to the Empire.”
[Vann] kept his face impassive, considering her words and the implications of such rumors within the Empire. Among just the Senators and other government officials it was concerning, but if it had filtered down to the socialites. [Vann]’s eyes went unfocused as he continued to think.
[Venna] blanched, “It’s not as if anyone believes they could actually be a threat!”
“They wouldn’t destroy it, but they would be able to cause significant damage. They have faster than light technology that bypasses beacons, and they have a way to disable the shields of any ship.”
[Venna] blinked, “What?”
“It is what your Father has been working on replicating for the past [ten years]. He and hundreds of others. He can explain it to you, I have a Regent to meet.”
[Vann] stepped around the stunned woman and glanced at her father, “You can tell her everything you know, or as much as you would trust her to keep secret. I’m afraid I still haven’t gotten to spend enough time with her to make that judgement.”
[Howard] swallowed, “Yes sir.”
Turning [Vann] walked back towards the aft hatch of the bridge, [Reece] and [Syn] in step behind him. The ship shook again and [Vann] pulled out his Comm checking the telemetry of the ship. Just barely under 4,000 meters.
“I thought you were going to be bad at this, you’re not doing great, but her father is convinced.” Said [Syn].
[Vann] kept his eyes on his Comm as he moved through the now familiar corridors of the [Singer] moving towards the cargo bay.
“He hasn’t had to do anything yet that might pit him against whatever [Marcus] might have told him to do.”
“True, but so long as you don’t break his daughters poor innocent heart,” [Syn] drew her words out emphasizing them,” I don’t think you’ll have any issues getting him to break away from [Marcus].”
[Vann] glanced at her, “[Syn]?”
The woman rolled her eyes, “You don’t think that [Venna] isn’t doing the same thing to you?”
[Vann] slipped the Comm back into his pocket, “We manipulated circumstances to meet her,”
“Which she knows.”
[Vann] frowned, “She knows?”
[Syn] groaned and put a hand to her head, “You are lucky that she literally cannot do better than you. You ‘somehow’ running into her, falling into her debt, and then making romantic overtures with her, when her Father just so happens to be involved with a project that you need to gain more control of?”
The [Singer] lurched and [Vann] shot a hand out to grab [Syn] before she fell, “It was your plan!”
“The whole point was to make it just believable, you could have just randomly met her, a woman who just so happened to be related to one of the more successful engineers of the anti-matter engine project, which is what [Marcus] has been obsessed with for years. It all could happen, but I don’t think anyone involved believes it could have happened, it did happen.”
[Vann] growled under his breath, “Then what does she want?”
“Well I’d imagine she would be ecstatic with the title of Empress, but she would settle with being your first love. Just the fact that you’ve whisked her away on your own ship with a military escort to locations unknown will be enough to catapult her up to the interest of a Senator’s son if you don’t stay with her.”
[Vann] pulled out his [Comm] and checking the readout paused, [Syn] continued to walk down the hall and glanced back at him exactly when the [Singer] touched the earth.
[Syn] stumbled and fell to her hands and knees, barely catching herself, [Reece] didn’t move from his position directly behind [Vann] still in his shadow.
“So now that I know that she knows that, when does she figure out that I know that?” asked [Vann] exasperated. Leaning down he held a hand out to [Syn]. She took it and he pulled her up to her feet.
“She doesn’t need to look at that many layers, all she needs is public perception. You need reality.”
[Vann] shook his head and reaching the last compartment door, hit the ancient controls. A small gust of wind blew into the corridor, [Vann] ignored it and stepped into the cargo bay. A full squad of guards quickly saluted, [Vann] waved a hand at them.
“You are early Emperor.” Said the man nearest to the ramp controls.
[Vann] smiled, “I didn’t want to leave you just standing around for too long.”
“The honor guard has not formed outside yet.”
“Then they were not as prepared as you, open the ramp.”
“Yes sir.”
He turned to the controls and tapped at the ancient console. A low hum echoed though the cargo bay and the mechanisms holding the ramp up squealed in protest. Slowly the metal moved, and the ramp moved down. A stronger gust of air swirled into the cargo bay, [Vann] stepped back buffeted by it and put a hand up to his eyes blocking the dust.
The air was warm, mixed with dirt, the smell of mechanical systems and a plant filtered in. Squinting in the sunlight [Vann] walked forwards down the ramp. A transport was quickly moving down the landing strip towards the ship staying only a meter off the ground.
“Positions.” Growled [Reece] as he put a hand on [Vann]’s shoulder.
The squad moved forwards weapons raised, [Vann] heard the additional grinding of metal from above and he frowned.
“You’re going to fire the weapons system in atmosphere?” asked [Vann] looking up at his bodyguard, “That won’t be very efficient, the plasma backsplash alone.” He trailed off as [Reece] glanced down.
“They are set to minimum power. That will be more than sufficient for any ground based threats.”
“Emperor.” [Sam]’s annoyed voice crackled over [Vann]’s comm.
“Yes, High Scientist?”
“We just got a transmission from the Regent’s office, he is on his way to greet you personally.”
“Is this Regent currently in a transport speeding towards the [Singer]?” asked [Reece].
“Yes.”
[Vann] pushed [Reece]’s hand away and stepped forward, between the two men in front of him.
“Emperor.” Growled [Reece].
[Vann] ignored him, the honor guard moved in step with him their weapon moving to ready positions.
“Stand down.” said [Vann].
The men complied, and [Vann] stepped off the ramp and onto the earth.
Taking in a breath he raised his head, and waited. The transport stopped several meters away and lowered itself to the ground. The door on the opposite side from [Vann] opened and a tall Dorvakian only a year or two older than [Vann] stepped out.
“Emperor, you’re early!” shouted the man.
[Vann]’s eyes widened, such a greeting was far from tradition and almost rude enough to be an insult.
“That I am Regent Delsantil!”
[Del] smiled at the words and slowly walked around the transport to stand beside it, “I could still form the honor guard if you so with Emperor, but most people were not very keen on forming up underneath a ship coming up from orbit. You’re also at the wrong landing site,” he tapped a foot on the ground.
“This is one of the old 64’s landing sites.”
[Vann] looked around and nodded, “Ah so it is. Well, not that much of an issue.”
The young Regent smiled, “The Consul did inform me you hated ceremony.” Walking forwards he extended his arm out. “I’m not much for it myself, to many things to do.”
[Vann] walked out across the earth and mirrored the Regent’s gesture, the two quickly set their hands on the other’s shoulder.
“That’s my opinion as well, you don’t have the traditional greeting meal prepared, do you?” asked [Vann].
[Del] chuckled, “I’m afraid so. Some of my advisors were adamant that it be prepared.” [Del] gestured back at his transport, “If you don’t feel like sitting down for that I’ve got some food that’s a little better than standard rations with me.”
“Those will be fine, I’d like a tour of the compound while we do that.”
“The Consul said that would be your first request, that or have the civilian scientists you’ve brought with you start going over the newest data cache we’ve found.”
[Vann] took his arm off [Del]’ shoulder, “You’ve found more data on the antimatter systems?”
[Del] waved a hand, “It’s another one of the 64’s military data devices. We’re running decryption attacks on it now, but it’s more than likely irrelevant to the antimatter systems. From everything collected thus far, well the original scans from your ship.” [Del] nodded at the [Singer], “Are more helpful.”
“Well you can’t have covered everything, you’ve been here for a [year]?”
“About one local year,” [Del] leaned over to [Vann], “If you’re going to be staying her for a while, I’ve got to warn you about the days, they’re [four hours] longer than the home world’s. More time to get things done, but it wrecks your sleep for the first few [days].”
[Vann] smiled, “I could use the extra [hours].”
“You’re saying that now,” [Del] stepped back towards the transport. “Tour?”
“Yes.”
[Del] stepped back and waved his hand around the horizon, “Welcome to the most infuriating planet I’ve ever been on.”
[Vann] grunted and looked around at the fields of tall grass that stretched out to the left of the landing strip. Looking at the too blue sky he shook his head, “You’re understating it.”