Scars of War: Chapter 2
"Beware of thieves, politicians and idealists,
In the end, if your not careful,
They all leave you with nothing."
Scipio Antiochus of Kodiak Pride
"Lectures on the Heart of Nietzchean Philosophy"
CY 9791
"Prepare to leave slipstream," Bekka called out, "In 5..4..3..2..1.." With a brilliant flash of released energy the Andromeda Ascendant existed from slipstream and back into normal space.
"Welcome to Sintii, first world of the new Commonwealth and the last place in the entire known worlds where you'd find a good sense of humour."
"Persieds aren't that bad Bekka," Dylan told her, "Just wait until you meet the Lyridians."
"I can barely contain my excitement," Bekka told him dryly.
"Who are the Lyridians?" Trance asked.
Dylan turned to look at his purple skinned Life Support Officer, "The Lyridians are just one of the many races that the Sintii have invited here to listen to our proposal for a new Commonwealth. They were also known as one of the driest races in the old Commonwealth."
"Oh," Trance said looking away more than a little confused.
"They have no sense of humour, Trance," Bekka clarified, "Not a single funny bone, their worse than Persieds, even worse than Nietzscheans."
Tyr let out a little growl from the back of the Command Deck were he was standing. Harper snorted softly with laughter but quietly backed away with his hands raised when the powerful Neitzschean glared at him.
"Dylan," Trance said breaking the brief silence that followed, "The Sintii Directorate is hailing us. They would like to send a party aboard."
"Thank you Trance," Dylan replied, "Clear them for docking. Bekka, Rommie, let's go make nice with some Persieds.
Dylan, Rommie and Bekka all stood waiting for the Persied delegation from Sintii to come aboard. Both Dylan and Rommie were looking remarkably official in their diplomatic uniforms, dark blue with burgundy trim. Bekka stood proud in her less formal attire.
"Sure are taking their sweet time," Bekka remarked.
"Yes," Dylan agreed, "They certainly are. Rommie...?"
"They haven't debarked their own ship yet," the ships avatar told them, "Wait they seem to be coming now."
Dylan and Rommie stiffened into proper military posture as the doors to the docking bay began to open. Bekka just stood there; looking annoyed.
Four Persieds walked through the open doorway to meet Dylan and his crew.
"Captian Hunt," the lead Persied said, "I am Peanen of the Sintii Directorate.
"This is General Movturi and his aids from the Planetary Defense council," Peanen said indicating his companions.
"Welcome aboard Director.. General," Dylan responded, "This is Captian Rebekka Valentine, my first officer and Andromeda, the ships avatar."
"A pleasure to meet you all," the Director told them.
"Perhaps you would enjoy a tour of the ship," Dylan offered.
"Yes that would be lovely," Peanen told them.
Dylan proceeded to take them on an extended tour of the Andromeda. They walked through the hydroponics garden and the observation area. Dylan showed them the machine shops and even the slipstream core. All throughout the tour the Persieds said very little.
Remarkably little in Bekka's mind; in fact she couldn't ever remember a Persied being so thoroughly not aggravating, it was getting on her nerves. Finally the group arrived at command, with the rest of the crew already there waiting for them, and Bekka couldn't take it any more.
"OK," she said with a little exasperation, "What exactly is going on?"
"Bekka!" Dylan chided, "A little respect."
"Something is going on here Dylan," Bekka told him, "These Persieds are holding something back and I want to know what it is."
General Movturi looked helplessly at Peanen, who nodded slightly giving his accent.
"In the last two days we have received two independently supplied reports that concern the Andromeda and its mission," the General told them, "The first report was that a bounty has been laid on your entire crew and this ship, it totals over 100 million guilders"
"The second report," Peanen said turning away from the crew, "Was that any world that supported or harboured the Andromeda and her crew risked a massive attack by the Magog on the same scale as that of Brandenburg Tor."
Dylan and his crew stood dumbfounded unable to process what they had heard, after all Brandenburg Tor had been the Commonwealths first contact with the Magog who had murdered the population of three billion ruthlessly. Rev Bem fell to his knees, unable to stand any longer with the shock of what he had heard. Bekka and Dylan both stood with mouths wide open having lost the ability to speak. Harper also no longer able to stand fell to the ground and quietly began to whimper as Trance tried to comfort him. Andromeda remanded in stunned silence as the news tried to process through her logic circuits.
It was Tyr who first found the will to speak.
"When exactly were you going to tell us this little tidbit of information," Tyr bit out with anger.
"We didn't know how to tell you," Peanen explained apologetically a sad almost distant look in his eyes, "This is not exactly every day information."
Dylan shook himself from his stupor and starred briefly the Persied.
"Where does the Sintii government stand on this issue?" he asked simply.
"That decision has not yet been made Captian," Peanen replied starring intently at the floor.
"Then I suggest Director," Dylan told him very quietly, "That you return to Sintii and decide very quickly."
The Director looked to the General for support but found none their so Peanen simply nodded and began to leave.
The General and his aids did not follow or even turn away from Hunt or his crew, he stood stock still as the Director walked toward the command deck exit.
"Are you coming General?" Peanen asked quietly.
"No sir. With Captian Hunts permission I'd like to remain aboard and go over defense plans and everything else we've done so far," Movturi responded, "Just in case."
"Very well," Peanen said quietly, "Keep us informed General."
"Rommie have one of your robots escort the Director to the launch bay," Dylan ordered.
Director Peanan left the command deck behind and walked hurriedly to the launch bay as fast as he could with one of Andromeda's many robots guiding his way.
Dylan and the Movturi starred at each other intently, both trying to take measure of the other. The General was the first to break the silence.
"Captian, I'd like to show you something if I may," Movturi said, "I think you'll be more than suprised by what we've been up to the last few months."
The General motioned to one of his aids who held pulled out a datacard and handed it to his superior. The General in turn gave the card over to Captian Hunt. Dylan took the card and placed it in the proper slot and said, "Andromeda bring up the file on the main screen."
Everyone present turned to look at the data being presented, even Harper and Rev who had both now regained some measure of their composure. All, with the exception of the General and his aid were suprised at what they saw.
"These are your brand new Commonwealth warships Captian," the General told him with pride, "They were designed in a joint effort by my government as well as that of Castilia. We have already begun construction of these vessels, we'll have several completed by the end of the month."
The ship that was being showed to them was small and angular and looked very deadly.
"We call it the Renewal-Class," the General informed him, "It is seventy-five metres long and has twelve ELS missile tubes. It also has two Anti-proton cannons and four point-defence lasers. It uses some of the best technology available, including some from Andromeda's achieves."
Dylan reluctantly drew his eyes away from the projection and turned to address the Persied officer.
"This is all fine and good, General," Dylan told him, "But what good will it do us if your people decide to withdraw from the Commonwealth?"
"I don't see that as an option Captain," Movturi told him, "I have seen the data you gave us concerning that Magog abomination heading this way and frankly, it terrified me.
"I won't allow the Magog to wipe out this or any other galaxy if I can do anything to possible stop it," the General said.
Dylan stood silent for a moment as though taking in everything that had happened in the last few minutes and trying to process it.
"Tyr," Dylan finally said, "Please escort the General and his aid to some VIP quarters. We'll speak later General."
Movturi nodded than he and his aid followed Tyr out of Command.
"Dylan..." Bekka began, "Are you..."
"Andromeda," Dylan cut Bekka off, "Be prepared to leave the system at anytime. I want at least one person capable of slip piloting in command at all times."
Dylan took his station and starred into the view screen. Willing his anger back down to a nice simmer rather than a full boil but finding it nearly impossible to do, Dylan began to prepare himself for the worst.
Onward To Chapter 3!
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