Chapter Seventeen

The Empire had been building its bases underground for centuries.  For one thing, if there was a fire or a rebellion they could just flood the base.  But besides that, it meant that more use could be gotten out of the actual land.  With the population as large as it was, there was no surprise that any viable farm land was being used with maximum efficency.  The fact that the nobles owned most of the land and could escape large amounts of taxes by allowing the military to build under the land was just a mutually beneficial relationship.  Not that the nobility ever visited either, the paddies and fortresses of the realm were equally unpleasant to wander about in fancy dresses and suits.

The base to which they had been brought was no different.  Dusty, gray, badly lit, there was a reason he'd worked so hard to get a field position, being on base was depressing.  Jor had lived over one of these all his life, and with the way the last few days had gone he had skipped denial and gone straight to anger.  Justly too, he had a girl waiting for him in a nice tower somewhere and here he was in an overglorified cellar.  Not even a cellar, if the guards already assigned here hadn't been shifting uncomfortably every couple of hours he'd have assumed it was a crypt. 

"Captain, you'll want to know why you're here.  I'm here to introduce you to the men you'll be keeping an eye on the next few months."
"Just make it quick."
"To the point then.  The science teams have been analyzing some of the artifacts from the 'ship' as you call it.  We think we can replicate their propulsion systems.  This could solve a lot of our problems."
"In words for the rest of us you fat twit."  Jor lashed out. 
"Excuse me?"
"My second in command wants you to say it in words, not lingo.  And make it snappy, we were about a day away from seeing our families when we got dragged here.  We'd all like to get to them as soon as possible, and every extra word you use is keeping us apart."
"Our entire civilization is on the verge of a new age of exploration and you're worried about seeing your families?  Sir I was told you were a patriot."
There was a time when he'd have thought the same, two days ago in fact.  He was starting to wonder though.  If this is what being a patriot meant then maybe he'd rather be a traitor happily at home with his sons and his wife. 
"Damn right I am, but I'm also a father.  Get to the point, and be quick about it."
"Alright, alright; we think we can put a man into the space around the world."
"What space?"
"The upper space, the space that's above the world."
"The sky?"
"Higher."
"The suns?"
"Higher."
"What could be higher than the suns?"
"We're trying to figure that out.  But the ony way to do it is to send someone up there."
"How?"
"We're working on that, we think we can shoot a rocket, or raise a sort of magical platform straight up until it gets over the clouds and out past the suns.  If we use a really strong radio, then the person on it can call back down and tell us what's up there."
"Then do it, what do you need us for?"
"We've decided to send convicted felons, since it doesn't matter whether they die or not."
"And you needed security."
"Right, and the emperor isn't ready for the public to know what's happened so he can't let you guys go home and spread the story. So he sent you and solved both problems."
"Alright then, men, go settle into your new quarters.  I'll have a shift schedule ready thistime tomorow.  Relax until then, you've earned it."
 
The question that even Collin, wherever she was if she still was at all, would have known better than to aske had gone unanswered.  Why would the Emperor want to keep this a secret?  And what did he hope to accomplish in this 'upper space'?

Chapter Sixteen

Hamaf sat staring at the gaping hole in the side of the ship.  After months in the dim magical lights that still hovered around the base, here were the beams of the rising first sun. Warm, hard, and real, it was a welcome change. 
The sounds were less welcome.  Cranes, heavy drills, and trucks by the thousands were taking apart the hull of the ship.  It had been only a day since they had blasted their way in to get the mysterious device Jor and Polly had found.  It must have been of great importance, for now that it had been removed the rest of the ship, save the computer cores and a few other baubles and curious devices, was being scrapped.  Where all the material was to be stored he did not know, only that it was no longer his responsibility. 
"Sir?"
Jor, of course.  Polly was a god influence, he had softened a lot since they had met.  She had mellowed out a bit too, although she still tended to be rather enthusiastic. 
"Yes Sergent?"
"I wanted to inform you in person, since you've always been so understanding."
"I saw it this morning.  I'd say it's a shame to lose you but I'm sure that you'll serve the Empire much better at her side than at mine."
"Sir, I only said I was retiring."
"You said so yes, but we both know why.  It's not often a farm boy like yourself meets a Lady like her; do us commoners proud.  And next time you two want to get some time alone, just ask.  Last thing I want is someone to blast a hole in my house because you've stumbled on something interesting."
"Yes sir.  And speaking of your house, I was hoping to mail an invitation."
"You have Hamren's address, right?"
"Of course sir."
"Send it to him, the Missus reads all his mail anyways."
"And how is your wife?  She must be relieved to hear your still alive."
Probably, truth of the matter was that he'd written weekly.  She'd probably be less happy he'd survived than she would be that they'd been invited to the wedding of a Noble's heir-apparent.  It's not that she didn't worry, it's that he'd always managed to get home and she was used to it by now. 

"Captain Hamaf?"
He turned and saluted the newcomer.  From the markings on his armor he was a courier, and he had a brown envelope, sealed in red wax. 
"Aye, you've found him."
"I have orders for you sir.  You and your men have been assigned as consultants for a top secret research project, all leave, transfers, and other personnel rearrangements have been countermanded.  Report to Motte Veirnen at once for further orders."
"Countermanded!"  Jor was unsurprisingly enraged by the news.  "By who's authority?"
"Soldier, all I know is that the red wax means Palace business.  Could be from the guard, could be from a Noble, heck, it might even be from the emperor for all I know. Just do it and everything should work out fine."
"Like..."
"Jor, orders are orders.  Go inform the men, and then talk to Polly."  He leaned in and whispered.  "Use my office, the acoustics in there are awful."
"Why would that matter?"
"Jor, you are going to have to tell that girl that it is going to be a while before you can get married.  You do not want things to be any louder."

Jor trudged off.  His day, his month probably, had just been wrecked.  And all because of a little red wax.  Maybe Jeanine had a..nonsense.  The Nobles couldn't have known how this would effect them. 
'But they should have at least considered it.'  He could hear his daughter's reply as soon as he'd thought it.  Maybe it was time to talk to her again, if anyone knew what was going on it would be her.

Chapter Fifteen

No one said anything about the fight. Those who had supported Sharrai knew that when she died they had lost. Polly was a mage, even through their helms and the shrouding darkness she had known who they were. The fact that she had done nothing to reveal them meant that she had elected to show mercy. Most were grateful, the rest Hamaf quickly removed. More than a few wayward voices disappeared into the bowels of the ship, and they knew it was just. Treason was one of the few crimes for which one could be killed, and Hamaf now had cause to treat any sedition as treason.

The had been within the steel mountain for nearly three months when the news finally came. The linguists had managed to decode the foreign script, using scraps of writing and captured locals. With it, the programmers had hacked into the system. They had downloaded maps, logs, schematics, anything that could be useful and thousands of things that couldn't. In the end though, it was Polly and Jr that found what the Emperor had sought from the first day.
He heard a great thud coming from below. The weary Captain lept to his feet, or as close to it as he could manage. The sound was a mining charge, someone was carving the ship apart. As he started down the hallway he saw Jor and Polly toasting each other cheerfully.
"Sergent, what is the meaning of this?"
"Sir!" He snapped to attention, spilling the champagne down his front as he came about. "We were just celebrating."
"Celebrating what? and why are they blowing holes in the ship?"
"That's what we were celebrating, Polly and I were looking for" Her eyes widened and she stepped on his foot.
"Ow! What was, oh...We were looking to see if there were more computers or books lower in the ship."
Hamaf was in no mood for lover's nonsense, someone was blowing holes in his ship.
"So you were looking for somewhere out of the way and?"
"It was nothing like that, I swear."
"Get to the point Sergent."
"Right, so we found this big, mechanical thing. It was like a really big engine, with fuel tanks and stuff all over the place."
"And?"
"So Polly found a manual and it turns out we found out how the ship got here."
"AND?"
Jor cringed, Polly waved him aside and stepped up.
"And after personally informing the emperor himself, a team of demolitionists was dispatched to carve the ship open so we can move it to a proper lab. His Majesty was quite pleased, the chances of my succeeding my father on the throne are now 100%. I shall be sure to remember you and the efforts of your men quite well when I take my seat on the council."
She glanced back at Jor. "Some of you shan't need to wait that long for a suitable reward." She blew him a kiss, and the broad-shouldered soldier began blushing.
"And nobody thought to tell me?"
"Well no. I mean yes, I suppose Collin did. But the Emperor insisted that stay and deliver a full account of our time here."

Then she'd likely never return, not under his command at least. By all rights anything on this land was hers, the ship, the ruined city beneath it, and anything that came out of it. Most likely they would have a child of the streets like her killed before giving her the chance to become the second most powerful person in the empire. He found himself wondering how he would tell Hamren. They'd never really broken up, argued maybe, but they still loved each other. He'd take it badly, blame his father. He might even go looking for his sister and try to join her and the band of political assassins and wealth distributing bandits she called friends.
No, he had to hope she was still alive. If only for the damage it would do to his own family.

Chapter Fourteen

Sharrai struck first, a rather basic horizontal slash. Hamaf had seen proper duels, at this stage such a blow had little actual potential. Sharrai had struck harder than needed, but clearly her intent was still only to probe Polly's strength. It had been blocked with an almost desperately hard cross blow. Polly seemed sure to lose, for all her confidence. She held her sword too low, letting the point drift lazily. And her feet were too close together to allow for any quick movement, a dodge in any direction would throw her dangerously off balance. They were beginner's mistakes, not a single one of the soldiers in the army would make such mistakes.
Sharrai swung high, aiming not to kill her but to humiliate her by slicing a few strands of her neatly tied back hair. Polly brought her sword up to block it, but was to slow. Her pink ribbon hung on the end of the blade. Sharrai twisted her sword, playing with the thin cloth mockingly.

Polly grunted in frustration and lunged, tripping on her own inadequate footing. Her sword fell from her hand as she stumbled forward. Sharrai went to push her aside, laughing. Then stopped abruptly as the young noble rolled aside, recovering her blade in a single swift motion. She flipped backward to her feet and spun to face the treacherous officer.
"I think you've had enough fun for one day."
Sharrai did not hold back any longer. She struck a close upward blow, pushing against Polly as she did. But Poly met the blow with her own blade and forced it aside as she flung her weight against Sharrai to counter her momentum. The two braced themselves against the other, struggling to force the other aside enough to land a blow. At last Sharrai flung her head back to butt against her foe and gain the advantage, but Polly ducked her head aside at the last moment and disengaged her self by turning aside. Sharrai stumbled forward but still brought her sword about to parry a careful blow.

A spark flew as the blades ground against each other. The bright silver curve of Polly's elegant edge contrasted to the bloodied, beaten, and battle-worn blade that Sharrai wielded in the dim fluorescent light. Sharrai stepped back, her anger and frustration were clearly wearing away at her strength as much as the combat itself. Hamaf couldn't help but feel a little pride swell as he watched his strongest officer hold her own against a properly trained noble.

They circled, each one cautiously awaiting the other's slightest mistake.
"I shudder to think that this is the sort of fool who thinks they can lead the empire." Polly mocked.
"And if this is the best of those who lead it now than I should rule it already." Retorted Sharrai.
"Hardly, I hear that His Majesty the Prince bests ten men with his sword in a day."
"I suppose it could be called that, how is the young avian enthusiast?"
"Tsk tsk, such insolence is unbecoming of the empire's next great leader."

Sharrai swung high and kicked low. Polly deflected the sword and deftly sidestepped the armored boot. Swords still upraised and locked against each other once more, Polly brought her soft leather soled shoe down upon her opponent's ankle. It did little harm, but it was nonetheless annoying to the already agitated traitor.
Sharrai swung a fist at the young woman,who rolled her body out of it's way. She then quickly brought her arm down, locking the outstretched blow in place as she grabbed Sharrai's sword arm with her free hand. A quick twist and the simple martial blade clattered against the steel floor.
Polly stepped back, lowering her blade. "Pick it up."
Sharrai lunged at the young woman, drawing her soldier's knife from a sheath at the back of her belt. Polly turned aside, the knife grazing her arm as Sharrai passed. And then the traitor fell, for Polly had stood between her and the pit. She screamed as she descended. Polly relented, and gazing into the depths called forth a flame and cast it down after her. The screams ceased, and it was quiet for several minutes. One of the soldiers dropped his sword and fell to his knees.
"Well, I think this rebellion has burned out."
Polly sheathed her unbloodied sword and ignoring her wounds proceeded to leave as they had came.
There could be no question in his mind, Hamaf knew that the coming age would be just as those of the past. The soldiers, farmers, and laborers would continue to serve the mages and nobles as they had since the legendary contract of old was first signed in the blood of dragons. And it had been bought of noble's blood and peasant's life.

Chapter Thirteen

They were lead down the hall. With knives to their throats, neither he nor Polly were in any position to fight back. Their captors, who had been careful not to reveal their identities, or for that matter their numbers, had lead them into a large room. He could see enough by the powered lights that had been set up to tell that the room had been some sort of drilling or parade area; possibly a briefing room. Behind them the floor had been broken and he could see three decks, steel floors rent by the crash, before it grew too dark to tell. For all intensive purposes it was a bottomless pit.
"I see you've elected to hear my offer, captain."
The word was spat with contempt, not just for him but for the very authority vested in it. Only one of his men would have the audacity to do something like this.
"I'll make it short, you know how I can't stand the usual dramatics. I am going to remake the empire with the technology of this ship, you will either help me or be disposed of."
"Why are you doing this?"

She wheeled around, facing the men gathered around. He could gauge their numbers better now, forty were armed, hundreds more weren't. These men had likely come from other bases that had been established in the ship, who knew just how far her influence stretched now.
"Why? Because with this amount of power means that we can finally challenge the self-declared Nobles. No more will we need to bow when one of those magic wielding twits passes by. We can at last make an empire of the hard working man. An empire where the coin of my purse is not taken to feed some lazy lout lying in his divan as he surveys the filth in our streets, filth we cannot afford to clean because our hard work fills his pockets. But with weapons like these, no manner of magic can stop us."
She held up her hands in a victorious pose. The men cheered, not for her but for her message.
"Sharrai, there is no place for treason in my ranks. Put the weapon down and report to base for court martial."
"Captain, let me." Polly whispered softly.
"So this is how you chose to die? For nobles who could care less if you live or die?"
She lifted the weapon to his head. A small L of black metal, with a circular opening in the front, reflected light on the rim of the barrel marked the gateway of his coming death.
"Fine, the new order has no need for loyalist scum."

He heard a click, then the weapon burst into flame. Sharrai flung the blazing weapon aside, brushing her hand against her side to smother the flames.
"Why you little.."
"Enough of this." Polly's exuberance seemed to have been muted by the stress of their capture. "Why do you hate us so much? What have we ever done to you?"
"Nothing! You've never done anything in your lives. While I work, and I sweat, and I bleed, you and your fat father and his fat friends sit about and gorge themselves at my expense. And if anyone ever speaks out against them they just wave their fingers and end his life. No more! I have the power to change that now, to make the world work without magic."
"I see. Then you believe you can do better than I can?"
She nodded. He glanced from his former lieutenant's raging gaze to the oddly calm stare of Polly. The contrast was striking. Sharrai was a cold blooded killer, the blood of dozens of powerful and intelligent individuals was now clearly on her hands and her words. The passion she had always shown for battle was more apparent now than ever, and yet it seemed silly in the face of Polly's calm. For one so naturally cheerful and excitable, she seemed almost dead in her shoes. Yet it was an active calm, he could almost feel her thinking, observing her surroundings, analyzing not just her adversary's physical abilities but her very mind. He had always known the dangers of facing an angered mage, but never before had he realized how truly dangerous they could be.

"I challenge you to single combat. Choose your weapon." She slipped a slim sword from her smooth flaxen vest. It was short enough that he could tell she had carried it with no magical aid, yet she had concealed it from the guards.
"I will defeat you with only this blade. No magic, no poisons, just a sword like any other."
"Too easy." Sharrai drew a second weapon, like the still smoldering one that lay on the floor but a few feet away. That now familiar crack issued from the deadly tool.
Polly didn't even try to dodge it, she took the hit and kept standing.
"I'm going to show you why the Nobles are in charge, and why loud mouthed lieutenants like you aren't. And it isn't magic."
Sharrai dropped the weapon and drew her own double-edged blade. The fiery traitor lept at her opponent, and the battle for supremacy was joined.

This is my 200th post

Obvious milestone, and not much over a year since I started. We've got a few more readers than we did then, and I've certainly gotten better at writing since then.


Little known secret; while this is the 200th post published to the blog, it is in fact the 201st post written. Somewhere, there is a post that was not actually published until today. If you can name which book its in I'll try to come up with something special for you.

Chapter Twelve

"Sir!"
"Report"
"We may have found something."
"May have found something, or did find something?"
"I don't know."
"Where is it?"
"Three floors up, due north four halls, then right."
"And the rest of your platoon?"
"Still there, Would you like me to lead the way?"
"No, go back to help your squad. I'll bring reinforcements."

The soldier shuffled his feet a little.
"It's not that kind of something, we just need you to take a look at something. We don't know what to do about it."
"Fine, go tell your commander I'm on my way."

Hamaf put away his papers. His crossbow wouldn't be needed if it was just a bit of problem solving. And his sword was being sharpened, but he'd be fine with just his knife. He locked up the office behind him. It wasn't so much locking it as it was securing the improvised deadbolt that they'd installed on most of the doors in the area. It wasn't much, but it would slow any intruders or passers-by.

The men were all hard at, well standing there mostly. Truth of the matter was that other than the occasional wounded and dying local things were pretty boring. Standing guard, escorting researchers, and patrols were about all they did since he base had been established. Sure there were the risky exploratory trips, but even those had slacked off lately. Sharrai still led a few deep exploratory trips, but she and her platoon had become experts at dealing with the locals. Single shot kills, armor analysis, an exacting knowledge of the enemy's combat abilities; they could clear a room in under five minutes without casualties. Unless you counted the increasingly frequent losses of magical theorists and adventerous noble's children. The ability to use magic seemed to be a death sentence down here, only Peter, the guardsman, and Pauline 'Polly' Krenksfeld, Jor's bubbly young companion, seemed to have lasted more than a few days. It was suspicous, and everyone knew it. He'd spoken to Sharrai about improving her security, and though she outwardly obeyed the results had not been forthcoming. It was begining to get on his nerves.

"Mr. Captain"
"Just Captain will do just fine."
"Just Captain, would you mind if I joined you?"
Last thing he wanted was to show the bouncing lass around the dark halls, but his orders had speciffically stated 'deny the researchers nothing you would not also deny a superior officer'. It had elaborated, but the essence of the thing was 'strictly buisness'. As such, he had little choice but to allow the lordlings and clipboard bearing old men to follow him around and ask him stupid questions about how he felt about all this.
"Sure Polly, but I'm just checking up on some of the men. They had some questions they needed me to answer."

Polly took it as a yes and followed him at a cheerful trot. His long stride, born of hurried exercise and battle readiness, carried him much faster than her meandering walk and she was forced to jog periodicly in order to remain close enough to continue peppering him with questions about his family, Jor, what the army was like, Jor, and of course how he felt about all this. By the time they reached the ladder he found himself wishing she'd manage to mis-cast a cone of silence, or whatever the proper magical term for it was.

They reached the designated floor, three up from his office. There weas no guard posted, but he hadn't expected one. Stairwells like this were perfect for the enemy's owerful ranged weapons, so guards would be posted in narrower areas where a melee weapon would have the advantage. It was unlit, although he could see some light up ahead probably where the squad was waiting. He got two steps before he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Captain, I think you should wait here."
"What?"
"It's a trap."
"Nonsense, no one would.." Cold steel at his throat cut him off midsentence.
"Oh but we would."