《Final War: Hetairoi [Progression, Sci-Fi, Mecha]》
B1 | Chapter 00: Blood and Steel
In the myth, God is Force. Until the creation of Eidolons, we did not understand those words. The discovery of Psions, the harnessing of Callandium, the forging of the first Eidolons; all of it brought us closer to the comprehension of the Myth. We believed ourselves masters of war, architects of our own ascension. But now, we have seen it with our own eyes¡ªmade manifest in one man. And so we must ask the question we fear most of all: was the knowledge worth the cost?
There had been thirty of them when the battle began.
Thirty knights of Pendragon, piloting the most advanced war machines the Grand Imperium had ever wrought. Eidolons, each one an example built from the genius of the pinnacle of human society¡¯s engineering; each one a metaphor for the intersection of war and divinity. Each machine was the size of a multi-storeyed building, standing between twenty and twenty-five meters tall.
They had come here to kill a traitor.
They had come here to kill a mistake.
They had come here to kill a man who should never have existed.
And yet, they were the ones dying.
The battlefield at the Plains of Hadrian had been a perfect choice. Flat and open ground, no terrain to use as cover, and nowhere for a lone enemy to hide or maneuver. It had been painstakingly scouted and observed, with careful attention given to any rogue elements or possible oversights in the planning. They had proceeded with supreme confidence, after confirming nothing existed that would impede their plan.
Their foe would be cut off from reinforcements. He would be surrounded on all sides. There would be no escape.
It was planned to be a massacre.
And it was. Gods above and Devils below, it was.
Just not the way they had expected.
¡°He¡¯s coming again!¡± a voice he recognized as Rael¡¯s shouted over the comms.
¡°How is he so fucking fast?! I can¡¯t track¡ªNo! NO! N¡ª!¡±
Another link went dead, and the massacre continued.
Galahad Velius¡¯ cockpit vibrated violently in the middle of the storm, his Eidolon¡¯s servos screaming as it struggled to compensate for the sheer force of its evasive maneuvers. His HUD flashed red with critical warnings while he drew in a pained breath and tried to ignore the cracked ribs he¡¯d suffered from the last impact to his hardlight barriers.
His Battle Intelligence put his situation into grim perspective a moment later, its voice a feminine chime of worry and warning melded as one.
¡°Shields are at 9%, my lord, and your chassis has sustained critical damage. None of the kinetic energy or hardlight weapons are operational, and your monomolecular blade has been destroyed.¡±
Galahad barked a bitter laugh.
¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know!¡±
¡°You can still flee.¡± she said solemnly. ¡°In fact, I would strongly recommend it.¡±
Galahad might have snarled at Corein for such words at any other moment.
However, given what they were facing, he could not fault her for them.
The black Eidolon was still coming.
It moved like nothing Galahad had ever seen before.
He had fought Aces before, in honor duels or small disputes between Core powers. They were a common thing, and the Imperator tolerated them so long as they did not harm the greater unity of the Grand Imperium. Galahad had seen knights wield their machines like extensions of their own bodies, like exoskeletal limbs moved at the behest of their natural counterparts.
But this? This was different.
This thing did not dodge gunfire¡ªit was just gone when the hyper-velocity rounds tore through the air it had occupied and obliterated stone and earth instead.
It did not counter attacks¡ªit was simply not there to be struck.
It did not fight to survive.
It fought to win.
And the worst part?
The thing that truly made Galahad feel fear?
It was thriving.
Somewhere, within that black Eidolon, whoever piloted it was not fighting for their life.
They were enjoying this.
"Regroup! We need to regroup¡ª!"
Rael Lysander¡¯s voice snapped over the comms, but Galahad knew it was already too late. The words were as hollow as the available options of his armament. His Eidolon had been built to stand toe-to-toe with the finest the Core of the Humanosphere had to offer, and now it was little more than an extremely costly prosthetic.
They were broken. Their faith, their pride, their hopes: all broken.
All their formations, their carefully orchestrated assault patterns¡ªgone.
Their perfect plan had been shattered the moment he engaged them.
No plan survives first contact with the enemy, but theirs had been atomised.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Galahad gritted his teeth, hands tight on the controls. His Eidolon was one of the finest war machines ever built. Its targeting systems were perfect, its predictive algorithms refined over generations of warfare. It should have been enough.
And yet, despite all those advantages, despite overwhelming numbers, despite the power at his fingertips and those of his allies, it had meant nothing.
The black Eidolon was still standing.
¡°Why?¡± he demanded with copper-stained lips. ¡°What makes you so special?!¡±
He got his answer a moment later.
A knight to his left¡ªSir Tristan of House Mael¡ªroared forward in a last-ditch charge, his towering white Eidolon, Durandal, brandishing its twin hardlight lances as the golden construct spears hummed with kinetic force.
Tristan was one of their best duelists. He had won the laurel crown in Sol itself.
He was a prodigy among their generation.
Galahad did not dare to blink. Not that it mattered.
Tristan never even had the chance to strike.
The black Eidolon moved, and Tristan¡¯s machine was suddenly bisected, cleaved from shoulder to hip in a scream of metal and a detonation of its emergency-safed reactor that washed Galahad¡¯s vision in white fire.
¡°This isn¡¯t possible.¡± he breathed in bloodied disbelief. ¡°This can¡¯t be real.¡±
But reality cared little for his entreaties to reassert a more conceivable truth.
The battlefield around him shuddered beneath Galahad¡¯s ravaged machine as more knights fell, and combat frames designed for galactic conquest¡ªdesigned to bring entire human nations to heel¡ªwere reduced to burning wreckage and bloodied junk.
All the while, like the Grim Reaper, the black Eidolon simply continued forward.
¡°FOCUS FIRE! ALL UNITS, FOCUS FIRE!¡±
Galahad looked up at the sound of atmospheric engines screaming as they warped gravity to propel Eidolons forward in their bipedal assault phase, and snapped his eyes to their macabre obsidian foe as the affirmations were desperately given over the communication line.
With no weapons of his own, he was powerless to do more than evade backward and watch.
For the first time in the battle, a fact that was not lost on Galahad in how insane it was, every surviving knight was able to fire at once.
Railguns, coilguns, hardlight spears, dark matter flechettes¡ªevery single weapon system converged upon a single target. It was a storm of death, a wave of destruction that would end even a Core power supercarrier if it impacted a single point. Not even the most powerful of distortion fields or hardlight projectors could withstand that much output.
And Eidolons were far more fragile than Supercarriers.
Galahad felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Could they¡ª?
¡°The enemy is still advancing.¡± Corein reported softly.
Galahad felt the embers of hope gutter out in his soul.
The black Eidolon would not be denied.
Warp fields bled around its form, kinetic barriers flaring as hyper-velocity rounds curved away from it; bending under the impossible gravity distortions its machine generated. Hardlight spears shattered on impact, their energy dispersing against shields that should not have been able to react in time. Power diffusion radiated across its body in distinct lines of angry crimson, showing the insane speed at which each system was harnessed; like a conductor guiding a symphony of energy with a speed and precision that defied logic.
The enemy advanced without hesitation.
Galahad¡¯s fingers tightened around the neuralink control orbs of his machine.
¡°You aren¡¯t human.¡± he rasped toward the looming specter of death. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking abomination!¡±
His sensors screamed with a warning¡ªsomething unnatural, something wrong.
¡°Gravity Shock detected!¡± Corein cried out in warning.
The black Eidolon disappeared.
Not moved.
Not dashed.
It simply ceased to exist.
A spatial compression wave detonated outward, the ground beneath it cracking as gravity momentarily distorted and warped. Earth, stone, and bedrock were torn asunder; destroyed Eidolons ripped to further pieces, and even Galahad¡¯s remaining shields were dropped by a full 1% just from the discharge wave alone.
If it had occurred near a city, the force wake would have killed millions.
¡°What the hell happened? Is he fucking mad?!¡±
A moment later Galahad had his answer when the black Eidolon reappeared.
Directly behind Rael Lysander¡¯s machine.
¡°The Myth¡ª!¡±
Galahad barely had time to process their leader¡¯s awed, terrified words.
The black Eidolon¡¯s warblade flashed once.
The Cyranthe, widely considered one of the greatest Eidolons ever made by House Lysander, fell apart.
Not in chunks.
Not in pieces.
It was bisected with surgical precision.
Rael Lysander never even had time to scream.
¡°Zero Shift confirmed.¡± Corein reported in a voice that showed even the battle intelligence was shaken, if that was possible.
It was a technique known, but said to be impossible to harness by all but the most powerful of Psionics.
To perform it, a pilot needed to compress localized space behind the point of their origin abutting their machine, hold that compression while simultaneously shaping it to avoid obliterating their own chassis, and then release it all at once to instantly traverse the battlefield at near-relativistic speeds to one of the positions from which the compressed space¡¯s furthest boundary originated.
Any miscalculation¡ªeven the tiniest error¡ªwould cause instant brain death from the sheer feedback of the spatial distortion, not to mention the obliteration of the Eidolon being piloted. In most cases, nothing bigger than a finger could even be located after an unsuccessful attempt.
Even high-ranking Aces across the Core wouldn¡¯t attempt it.
Yet their enemy was using it effortlessly.
He was using it like it was breathing.
Galahad felt something twist in his chest.
This wasn¡¯t just skill.
This was something beyond skill.
¡°God is Force.¡± he whispered hoarsely, realizing Rael¡¯s final words.
The black Eidolon turned toward him next.
Galahad tried to run on instinct alone.
His graviton drive ratcheted to maximum, his machine roaring backward, every single escape vector mapped out¡ªand then he stopped with a dull boom that echoed through his mind, down to the core of his soul.
¡°Gravity Shock detected!¡±
He had already been caught.
A screech of metal heralded the first strike of his enemy¡¯s blade, eviscerating the reinforced metal shielding his cockpit in his Eidolon¡¯s torso.
Galahad hadn¡¯t even seen his enemy move.
Hadn¡¯t even registered the approach.
The black Eidolon had him.
¡°Drives offline. Shields offline. Reactor levels dropping rapidly.¡± Corein reported in a resigned voice.
Something shifted, a powerful grip took hold of his machine, and suddenly Galahad¡¯s Eidolon was weightless.
He was hoisted into the air like a broken puppet.
Galahad''s vision blurred as his systems flashed red.
Corein was imploring him to object, to run, to save himself¡ªas was her duty.
But he couldn¡¯t move.
The black Eidolon¡¯s crimson eyes flashed as it stared at him through the sundered hole that had been meter-thick reinforced adamantium.
¡°In the Myth,¡± he uttered softly, ¡°God is Force.¡±
A scream of metal announced the finishing thrust of his enemy¡¯s blade.
Galahad Velius died in silence, crushed beneath the weight of his enemy¡¯s potential, and entombed in blood and steel.
B1 | Chapter 01: Graecia
Graecia was the start of everything. If I had never gone there, if I had never followed my desires as single-mindedly as I had, would things have been different? I look out at the burning Humanosphere, and I question the wisdom in all that transpired to place me there. Which tragedies might have been averted? What lives might have been saved? Blood drenches me like a second skin, and I wonder¡ How did it come to this?
The fast-packet merchant ship Enterprising Fortune dropped out of warped space with a flash of cherenkov radiation and a small eruption of displaced space. The moment it did, the eclectic bridge crew of the vessel¡ªarrayed as they were in a small horseshoe depression in front of the elevated captain¡¯s chair¡ªcalled out their reports with due diligence.
¡°Translation completed, skipper!¡± a young man called out cheerfully. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at Graecia¡¯s solward Calypso point.¡±
¡°Fuel levels are good, too!¡± called out a young woman on the opposite side of the horseshoe. ¡°The hyperlane from Korinth was pretty stable, actually. The A-Drive barely had to put in any work maintaining the warp bubble.¡±
¡°Good to hear,¡± Captain Davos Larriman, a heavy-set man with slavic features and an impressive black beard, responded with a nod of thanks. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving toward the checkpoint before the locals get antsy.¡±
The casual ¡°aye aye¡± from the helmsman at the ¡®front¡¯ of the horseshoe¡ªthe exact middle of the curve¡ªkeyed in the rest of the crew to glance up at the projected ¡®viewscreen¡¯ superimposed in a full 360¡ã across the walls of the small interstellar courier¡¯s shielded bridge. Thanks to the technological advancements of the 31st Century, as reckoned by the central Solar Calendar of Terra, the ¡®view¡¯ of the outside was linked to multiple tachyon sensors that rendered a lagless three-dimensional image of space as it existed outside of the vessel.
In simple terms, it was akin to being aboard an old-Terran wet navy ship¡¯s bridge, and looking out from within. The difference, of course, was the ability to zoom in up to the light-second mark¡ªexactly 299,792 kilometers¡ªon anything rendered by the sensors. Details beyond that were supposedly unavailable, largely because of how the sensors collated and arrayed the data for the display and the nature of preserving a lagless process.
The science of it was far beyond the foundational education most humans received outside of very specialized Universities¡ªbut it was sufficient to simply say that everything within one light second or closer could be immediately seen and analyzed by the small seven-person bridge crew of the courier.
While they busied themselves with the space around the vessel, the Captain finally turned to look at the blond man occupying one of the two observer¡¯s chairs above and to the left of the raised command platform.
¡°We¡¯ll be entering Graecia¡¯s heliosphere soon, Magellan.¡± The Captain said with an appraising glance for his tall passenger. ¡°Once the fleet clears us, we¡¯ll C-Drive to Hellas. You should be able to make those payment arrangements we discussed, now that we¡¯re within range of the Ascendancy¡¯s tachyon HoloNet.¡±
Arthur Magellan looked up from the 2D holoscreen projected off the unassuming black band wrapped around his left wrist. The information he had been perusing on the Graecia system vanished instantly, and Arthur shifted the attention of his blue eyes to the grizzled man addressing him.
¡°I sent the order while reading up on Graecia the moment we left warp.¡± Arthur said with a smile. ¡°The Ascendancy¡¯s Central Bank will transfer the fifteen thousand drachma the moment I¡¯m station-side on Port Asfal¨ªs.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, Magellan.¡± The Captain said without ire.
¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less.¡± Arthur said while standing up and moving to join the Captain. He left his jacket where it hung on the back of the observer¡¯s seat, and folded his arms¡ªthe long sleeves of his black shirt pulled up to below his elbows¡ªacross his chest.
When he did, he fully took in the view on the holoscreen for the first time, and let out a low whistle of appreciation at the images magnified across it at different points.
It was a Fleet. Not a small formation posing as one, but a genuine Fleet with full six-ship Squadrons and anchoring vessels for each Battle Group. In the thousand years since humans had first reached the stars, Carrier Doctrine still remained the core strategy of any successful interstellar military.
Four Carrier Battle Groups each composed of two Destroyer Squadrons, a Heavy Cruiser Squadron, and the anchoring Carriers themselves were each spread across the 50,000 square kilometer Calypso point in inexact patrol patterns, roughly 10,000 kilometers apart and at different elevations across the stellar plane. At the core of the dispersed formations hung the fifth and final Battle Group that actualized the Fleet, which was anchored by two Battleships and a Supercarrier between them.
Unless Graecia had vastly deviated from the normalcy of void warfare, the Destroyers would work as hunter-killer pairs to pursue and attack larger ships and support craft, while the Heavy Cruisers acted as line combat vessels to both screen for the carriers and exchange fire with a given enemy. The Carriers, meanwhile, would deploy swathes of Starfighters and other more specialized parasite craft.
The Battleships and their Supercarrier charge would be the fulcrum around which the Heavy Cruisers and Destroyers maneuvered. The two inordinately powerful ships of the line would be used as the fleet¡¯s strong center-forwards, while the Supercarrier acted as the Command and Control vessel for the entire Fleet, and coordinated its smaller siblings.
It was an order of battle that was predictable, but also inarguably effective.
Each of the vessels had been built with adherence to the cultural nuances of the Ascendancy, with an elongated spearhead style to their construction and impressive amounts of forward-facing and broadside firepower.
Most stellar warfare was conducted at distances of a few thousand kilometers, thanks to the speed and power of even the most basic human weapons systems.
When combined with the absurd nature of the available electronic counter measures¡ªwhose prolific level of advancement rendered almost all computer-guided weaponry worthless¡ªrampant throughout human space, the logic to opt for high-powered alpha-strike weaponry and destructive broadsides had become something of a universal constant among most successfully powerful stellar nations.
Given that he¡¯d heard Ascendancy warships also liked to make use of prows designed for plasma lance empowered ramming, he hadn¡¯t been too surprised by the aggressively forward-oriented ship design.
¡°It¡¯s impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡±
The disadvantage of being 6¡¯5¡± was that Arthur had to look down to continue his conversation.
¡°The fleet? Yes. They really take their Calypso security seriously.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been a lesser version of this at the last three jumps, too.¡± Larriman said quietly. The shorter man had only tilted his head as much as was absolutely necessary in order to meet Arthur¡¯s eyes, but the gesture was appreciated regardless.
¡°Oh. I didn¡¯t know.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you spent the majority of it in a deep sleep pod.¡± Larriman snorted.
¡°I don¡¯t like long trips.¡± Arthur responded honestly. ¡°Better to wake up when they¡¯re nearly done, like I did in Korinth.¡±
¡°You did mention your dislike for extended voyages.¡± Larriman conceded with an appraising eye. ¡°Though it¡¯s surprising when said by a Freelancer. Isn¡¯t your entire trade plied in voidspace?¡±
¡°So-so.¡± Arthur said with a casual wiggle of his unadorned right hand. ¡°It really just comes down to the contract and the length of service. Most clients are just looking for someone to drive off pirates in the less heavily patrolled star systems.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve had our share of run-ins with pirates.¡± Larriman admitted. ¡°Though they peel off quickly enough once we transition to the C-Drive.¡±
¡°One hundred and twenty meters of pure acceleration!¡± The helmsman chimed in happily.
¡°Hey, shut up and fly.¡± Another of the crew said without heat. ¡°You can¡¯t boast about acceleration when we aren¡¯t even past the checkpoint yet.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not my fault the Ascendancy isn¡¯t¡ª¡±
¡°Incoming message!¡± A voice called out sharply. ¡°Priority band, military IFF. It¡¯s Graecian.¡±
¡°On-screen.¡± Larriman said without preamble.
The viewscreen¡¯s seamless imagery was populated at the center a moment later by a large, rectangular digital window into what looked to be the warm glow of a populated command bridge. A pretty woman with a Mediterranean tan and brown hair tied into a single long braid appeared before them, and signs of on-going activity in her background gave the impression of quite a busy posting.
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¡°Unknown vessel, this is Ypoploiarch¨®s Cadaya Seren¨®s of the Ascendancy Royal Navy Supercarrier Ulysses.¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes ran over the woman¡¯s striking red uniform while he observed, and he noted the tabs of rank declaring her the Ascendancy¡¯s equivalent of a First Lieutenant.
He also made note of the fact that, for all that Graecia was a mid-Rim civilization, the clear use and pronunciation of the English that had become standard across the Humanosphere and their rapid act of voidspace interdiction spoke of a very well-trained military. ¡°You are currently within the sovereign territory of the Graecian Ascendancy, and this is a lawful challenge of your intentions. Please flash ident and declare your purpose.¡±
¡°Ulysses control, this is Captain Larriman of the merchant courier Enterprising Fortune, in-bound with mail and media from the Charlemagne Cluster. I am flashing ident¡ now.¡±
Arthur glanced down when Larriman accessed a 2D screen of his own via the black metal band on his left wrist, and then looked back to the viewscreen to see Cadaya¡¯s eyes shift to read something that had just arrived.
¡°We have a positive ident flash on your drive signature and hull, Enterprising Fortune, and have matched you to our records.¡± The Graecian woman said with far more warmth than had been in her initial greeting. ¡°On behalf of the Kings and Ascendancy, welcome back to Graecia.¡±
¡°Thank you, ah, Ypop¡ªYpoploi¡ª¡±
The woman¡ªwho Arthur imagined couldn¡¯t have been more than forty given her youthful features¡ªcut off the Captain¡¯s struggles with a warm laugh.
¡°No need for that, Captain. First Lieutenant will suffice. We don¡¯t expect foreigners to have an operational comprehension of Greek!¡±
¡°I see the ARN is as understanding as I remember, First Lieutenant.¡± Larriman said with a grateful laugh. ¡°My thanks for your welcome, and it¡¯s a pleasure to be back. Are we clear to proceed through the Calypso point and enter C-Drive?¡±
¡°Authorization for entry to the System-proper is granted, Captain.¡± The First Lieutenant said with a smile. ¡°Proceed through the gravity shroud at your leisure, and activate C-Drive when ready. As a note, please remember to make your way straight to Port Asfal¨ªs at Hellas-L1 for refueling, docking, and customs.¡±
¡°I understand, Ulysses control. My thanks again for your warm welcome.¡±
¡°Our pleasure, Captain Larriman. Please enjoy your time in Graecia. Ulysses out.¡±
The connection cut off a moment later, and Arthur turned to Larriman with a thoughtful look. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that.¡± He said honestly.
¡°Expect what?¡± Larriman asked with a look back up at him.
¡°How professional she was. The ARN could be any peer power from the Charlemagne Cluster in a different uniform. I¡¯d heard very different stories about the Rim nations.¡±
¡°Graecia is an exception to most of those stereotypes, though sadly many of them are true. Just be glad we didn¡¯t go to Liberty or, worse, Parthia.¡±
¡°Eugh.¡± One of the women on the bridge said. ¡°Parthians give me the creeps. They look at me like I¡¯m meat.¡±
¡°Lose some weight then.¡± Another of the crew cut in slyly.
¡°Hey, fuck you Albert! Brother or not, I swear to the stars I¡¯ll fucking shoot you!¡±
Arthur snorted in amusement when the two siblings devolved into bickering and turned back to Larriman.
¡°Isn¡¯t Parthia the nation Graecia¡¯s at a standoff with?¡±
¡°Magellan,¡± Larriman said with a level look, ¡°Parthia is at a standoff with anyone that owns an Alcubierre drive.¡±
The Alcubierre, or ¡®A-Drive¡¯, to which Larriman referred was named for the same scientist that, during the 20th century, theorized the idea of faster-than-light travel by stretching the fabric of space-time in a wave in front of a ship, while simultaneously causing it to expand behind. The ship then ¡®surfed¡¯ the bubble of re-expanding space.
Like the universe¡¯s most Newtonian-defying rubber band.
The breakthrough that Alcubierre¡¯s theory eventually provided became one of the most celebrated moments in human history. Using Alcubierre¡¯s math as a starting point, scientists had discovered that instead of creating warped space, Alcubierre drives could instead be used to access a dimension layered above and through ¡®Real Space¡¯ called ¡®Warp Space¡¯.
For most vessels across the expansive width of the Humanosphere, Alcubierre Drives were the only feasible way to move between star systems.
¡°I thought that was the norm out here, honestly.¡± Arthur said with a sigh. ¡°I guess that¡¯s what I get for being a Fringe-born snob, or something.¡±
¡°It¡¯s almost like you look at the Rim the same way the Core looks at the Fringe.¡± Larriman pointed out shrewdly.
¡°You make a good point.¡± Arthur admitted wryly. ¡°I suppose I¡¯m still adjusting to the idea that the Rim isn¡¯t some stellar incarnation of a ¡®wild west¡¯ in space.¡±
¡°The fact that metaphor has survived over a thousand years of Human expansion still never ceases to amaze me.¡± Larriman said with a chuckle. ¡°And the Rim can be bad, but the real wild west is the Frontier. Which, come to think of it, makes that analogy very pertinent.¡±
¡°Hard to keep a classic down, I guess.¡± Arthur said with a laugh.
Larriman shook his head. ¡°Or a good Freelancer, I¡¯d wager. I don¡¯t make it my business to pry, Magellan, but I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t curious as to what series of events forced you to travel nearly two hundred light years from the outer-Fringe to the mid-Rim.¡±
¡°I got involved with the wrong woman.¡± Arthur said with an honest shrug.
Larriman stared at him and then burst out laughing.
¡°I knew those fancy genes of yours were trouble, Magellan. I just never thought they¡¯d be trouble for you!¡±
Arthur smirked good-naturedly at the Captain¡¯s words. ¡°Hey now, I¡¯m more than a handsome face.¡±
¡°Yeah!¡± One of the women on the bridge cut in. ¡°You¡¯re a handsome body, too!¡±
A round of laughter filled the bridge again, and Larriman raised an eyebrow at Arthur. ¡°She may be jesting, but she has a point. You¡¯re much too purposefully gene-tailored, and far too charismatic to just be a random Freelancer, Magellan. I¡¯d pay good money to know your story.¡±
Arthur buried the spike of tense readiness that flared up at the Captain¡¯s words and instead opted for an easy smile. ¡°I¡¯ll stick to being an interstellar man of mystery for now.¡±
Larriman¡¯s expression faltered for a moment while looking at him, and the man simply nodded. ¡°Suit yourself, Magellan.¡±
Arthur let out a low breath at the man¡¯s reaction, and focused on controlling his mood and thoughts. With the level of psion density he possessed, which was rare even in the Fringe, his reaction to Larriman¡¯s words had likely been enough to give the Captain a subtle sense of imminent lethal consequence.
Not that Larriman would really recognize that, as much as he would simply have a gut feeling not unlike that of a prey animal when confronted by a predator: become small, or run.
Arthur took firm control of his mood and turned back to the viewscreen, his eyes sweeping over the colossal castle-in-space Star Fortress built atop an engine-equipped asteroid. It hung unmoving above them, its design a mix between ancient Greek domes and more Norman towers and parapets¡ªall wrapped within a transparisteel dome that contained its own atmosphere.
From their distance at the very edge of the Calypso point, it was only visible thanks to the magnification and visualization granted by the tachyon sensors.
It was still immense, and with a naked eye on the image, Arthur estimated the dome to be about twelve kilometers at its highest point, and eight in diameter.
The asteroid it was built on could probably have killed a planet on impact.
The immense Star Fortress and the Fleet assigned to it were holding static vigil over the 50,000 square kilometers within which interstellar traffic might emerge, and Arthur considered how many thousands of people must have resided within it while the Enterprising Fortune moved into and through the invisible gravity well generated by the Warp Anchor within the fortress¡¯ hidden depths.
Such anchors were a staple of any star nation¡¯s control of voidspace, and restricted access to higher forms of maneuvering like Compression Drives or¡ªin the case of Calypso Points¡ªAlcubierre Drives. The nature of a Warp Anchor was simple enough: build a gravity well generator, wrap it in a centimeter of neutronium alloy, and use a super-capital to tow it wherever it needed to go.
Then build a star fortress around it.
The reason it was called a ¡®Warp Anchor¡¯ and not a Gravity Anchor was, well, irrelevant.
People named things as they wished.
¡°How long until we breach the gravity shroud?¡± Arthur asked politely.
¡°An hour at full acceleration,¡± Larriman responded in a moderately subdued voice, ¡°and from there, it¡¯ll be about four hours from the edge of the heliosphere to Port Asfal¨ªs at Hellas-L1.¡±
Arthur nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go and make sure I have everything ready to disembark. Maybe stretch a little. I¡¯ve been asleep for¡¡± He trailed off when he realized he had no actual idea. He hadn¡¯t bothered to check.
¡°Two months, according to the Solar calendar.¡± Larriman said with a voice that gained some genuine amusement when he answered. ¡°We shaved a month off the trip by not stopping at the Nioret Cluster and using the Euclidean route instead.¡±
¡°Up and over?¡±
¡°Up and over.¡± Larriman confirmed.
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said quietly. ¡°Thank you for that. I appreciate the brevity of the trip.¡±
Larriman eyed him for a moment, and then inclined his head in silent acceptance of the unspoken olive branch.
¡°You¡¯re welcome, Magellan. Now go see to your belongings. I don¡¯t want to spend longer than I need to in Asfal¨ªs because you forgot your night light!¡±
Arthur snorted good-naturedly, shook his head, and left the bridge amid the quiet chuckles of the crew.
B1 | Chapter 02: Port AsfalÃs
If you¡¯d asked me then why I made the offer to him, I¡¯d have told you it was simply the right thing to do. With time and distance, I realize that it was so much more than that¡ªand so much more terrifying than that as well. A man¡¯s mind is the one thing he should have control over, especially in an age where maladies of the brain are eliminated¡ and yet in his presence, I was entirely outside my own good judgment. Throne of Terra, I still quail at the power he had even then¡ªbefore he truly Awakened, and everything went so horribly, horribly wrong.
Port Asfal¨ªs, to Arthur¡¯s eyes, resembled a gigantic metal umbrella. A colossal shaft of steel hundreds of feet long extended down from a circular top capped by a massive dome, and dozens of vessels¡ªmany far larger than the Enterprising Fortune¡ªsat docked in one of the endless number of carefully constructed drydock slips created to allow for rapid arrival, departure, and the loading and unloading of goods.
He had returned to the bridge near the end of the Enterprising Fortune¡¯s journey through Graecia and had been present when they¡¯d dropped out of Compressed Space with a vacuum-muted eruption of displacement.
He didn¡¯t want to imagine how long it might have taken them to move from the outside of the Heliosphere to the third planet in orbit of the system¡¯s A0V-type white star, Apollo, without the C-Drive. Being able to travel at up to 0.5c¡ª149,896 kilometers per second¡ªoutside of gravity wells or warp anchors was incredibly useful for crossing the billions of kilometers that a star system contained.
It was also a steady drain on any ship¡¯s supply of hydrogen fuel, though his understanding of the Enterprising Fortune was that for what the fast-packet courier lacked in living space, the immense engines around which the one hundred and twenty meters of its length was built greatly made up for it in terms of output and acceleration.
Then again, fuel needs were why Gas Giants were so incredibly valuable.
Arthur¡¯s eyes drifted away from Port Asfal¨ªs and fell upon Hellas.
The first thing he thought of was how stunning the Ascendancy¡¯s Throneworld was.
The first colony and official Capital of the Graecia system, Hellas orbited comfortably within Apollo¡¯s liquid water zone. At almost twice the size of Terra, Hellas was a supercontinental world with three major land masses and two moons, both of which had been converted into colossal satellite fortresses. From Arthur¡¯s research, both had been named for the twin sons of Ares; Deimos and Phobos.
Hellas alone appeared to have been named for a region of ancient Greece, while the remaining planets in the System had all received names from the classical Pantheon.
Hades, which sat in the orbital position closest to Apollo, was a sickly green toxic world that Arthur understood to be completely uninhabitable outside of very specifically built bio-domes. Above Hades and hidden from Apollo by the toxic world¡¯s shadow was Tartarus, another artificial fortress built out from a large asteroid, equipped with engines, and set into a static position to watch over the tidally locked green planet which doubled as the system¡¯s supermax prison.
If nothing else, Arthur couldn¡¯t fault Graecia¡¯s work at deterring criminals.
Hades was a permanent warning against the folly of violating the Ascendancy¡¯s laws.
Next out from Hades and between it and Hellas sat Poseidon; a storm-wracked massive ocean world that, based on Arthur¡¯s research, was purported to be home to leviathans large enough to be seen from orbit in the right circumstances¡ªand utterly antithetical to any form of human habitation thanks to the same fauna, despite its surprisingly hospitable atmosphere.
Then came Hellas, at whose Lagrange-1 point hung the immense body of Port Asfal¨ªs.
Demeter was the fourth planet out from Apollo after Hellas and was located at the outer edge of the liquid water zone, though still within its blanket. Demeter, which Arthur understood to be a dedicated Agri-World with one of the highest food productions in the entire Rim, was orbited by its single uninhabitable but mineral-rich moon Persephone.
Beyond Demeter and fifth out from Apollo lay Ares, which Arthur understood to also be the site of the largest amount of dedicated military infrastructure within the system outside of Hellas¡¯ lagrange points. The entire planet had been largely converted to steel and industry, with a breathtaking orbital ring of shipyards encircling its equator. This ring was connected to four immense space elevators that anchored it in place and provided ready transport to and from the surface.
A surface that had continent-sized facilities and troposphere-tall habitation spires visible from space.
The small, habitable planetoid Aphrodite orbited Ares, its surface an eclectic blend of blue, purple, and green that had made it famous as a holiday destination throughout the Rim.
In the sixth position of orbit around Apollo lay the super jovian Gas Giant Zeus¡ªtwice as large as Sol¡¯s Jupiter¡ªand its moons Hera, Artemis, Dionysus, and Athena. The massive harvesting ring orbiting Zeus served both as a primary fueling station for the Ascendancy¡¯s Navy, and one of the largest hydrogen extraction operations in the Rim; large enough to supply every ambition the Graecian Ascendancy might hold economically and militarily.
The last and seventh planet in the System was Hephaestus, a molten world to which all visitation was forbidden, and whose moons Aurum and Argentum had been converted into excessively powerful defensive fortifications. The entire thing screamed military research and development to Arthur, but he had no intentions of prying.
For reasons that Arthur had neither the education nor interest in understanding, Hellas had developed a superb habitation capacity; and was well-known as both a super-habitable world ideal for all forms of life, and a planet rich with a plethora of natural resources¡ªespecially metals¡ªthat had made Graecia the wealthiest star system in its home cluster.
¡°It¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Larriman¡¯s words snapped Arthur out of his ruminations and he turned back to the heavy-set man with an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±
¡°Hellas.¡± The captain said with a nod to the viewscreen. ¡°The Ascendancy was lucky that their colony ship was sent here, out of so many other options.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Arthur said with a look back to the viewscreen. ¡°Yeah. They were.¡±
¡°Port authority sends all clear, skipper.¡± One of the women manning a bridge console declared cheerfully before the pair could say more. ¡°We¡¯re being guided into slip Epsilon-Thirteen.¡±
¡°Already?¡± Arthur asked with genuine surprise while the cylindrical shape of the Enterprising Fortune made an immediate and careful approach toward one of the many docks of Port Asfal¨ªs. ¡°I expected a longer wait time.¡±
¡°You saw how efficient the Navy was at the Calypso point.¡± Larriman pointed out. ¡°Why would their primary starport be any different?¡±
¡°You make a fair point.¡±
¡°Besides, Graecia is one of the most popular refueling stops in this whole section of the Rim. You can reach most of the inner sectors on a pretty straight path from Graecia, if you allow for some Euclidean movement between layers of the Orion Arm.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t think fuel would be much of a factor.¡± Arthur said with a thoughtful look at the viewscreen, though his eyes were more focused on Asfal¨ªs and its layout. He mapped it carefully while he spoke, just in case he needed to understand the external nature in future. ¡°Most inhabited Systems have at least one nearby, from my understanding. It¡¯s always part of the consideration for the Terran colonization authority, from what I¡¯d read.¡±
¡°That¡¯s usually true,¡± Larriman conceded, ¡°but there are always exceptions. This isn¡¯t the Fringe, Magellan. It¡¯s a much wilder section of space, for all that I said it wasn¡¯t the wild west. The wars are long and brutal, and any trader worth their license knows it¡¯s best to identify a reliable and affordable fueling stop on their first trip in.¡±
¡°Are the non-standard routes that inefficient?¡±
¡°It¡¯s rare to get stuck without hydrogen for the Alcubierre,¡± Larriman said conversationally, ¡°but not unheard of this far out. Especially with how unstable some of the hyperlanes are. The amount of fuel you need to burn to keep the warp bubble stable enough for travel can be exponential in some micro-clusters, and if you get stuck between fueling stops without enough hydrogen to make the next jump¡¡±
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¡°Game over, unless someone finds you first.¡± Arthur said with a quiet sigh. ¡°I get it. You¡¯ve had to learn where to expect consistency.¡±
¡°In essence.¡± Larriman nodded. ¡°The Hyperion Cluster is better than many others for variety, though Graecia is the usual go-to for most people.¡±
¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡± Arthur said with another easy smile.
¡°I¡¯m surprised at how much of a show of force they¡¯ve been giving off, though.¡± Larriman said with a grim glance at the viewscreen and the warships they could both see prowling the space around Asfal¨ªs. ¡°Things with Parthia must be worse than we¡¯d heard.¡±
Arthur observed the screen while a formation of three cruisers and a light carrier sailed past and entered C-Drive with a blaze of their plasma engines, hyper-accelerating into specks of distant light almost instantaneously with a small discharge of force-wake. ¡°I thought it was just hyperlane control tensions and resource disputes, plus what you said about Parthia being the Cluster¡¯s bully.¡±
¡°So did I, but¡¡± He nodded to where the task force had just vanished from. ¡°The ARN has the home fleet out in force across the entire System. The last time we were here, half of these ships were probably in drydock and uncrewed to save costs.¡±
Arthur frowned at the screen thoughtfully while Larriman spoke.
¡°Something¡¯s ramping up, Magellan.¡± The Captain said with grim confidence. ¡°And for all that I enjoy Graecia, I¡¯ll be happy when I leave this Cluster. Rim wars are¡ a different beast.¡±
¡°You said that before.¡± Arthur noted. ¡°What makes them so bloody?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve done the research, I¡¯d hope.¡±
¡°Some.¡± Arthur affirmed. ¡°But you sound like you¡¯ve had experience.¡±
¡°Unfortunately.¡± Larriman said with a nod. ¡°And all I can really tell you is that it¡¯s a stellar bloodbath. The people out here fight hard to claw their way up toward the inner sector standards, and they¡¯re more willing to start shooting for it than anywhere else. Ambition creates aggression, and make no mistake, the Rim nations are the most ambitious. They were settled far later than the Fringe, and they¡¯re far enough away from Terra to feel as though adhering to the ¡®natural order¡¯ may not always be to their liking.¡±
¡°That¡¯s just inviting Censure from the Grand Imperium.¡± Arthur muttered.
¡°It¡¯s happened a few times. Most of them just don¡¯t care, though. They want to claw their way up to parity, and they¡¯ll go through anyone in their way. I¡¯ve seen inner-Rim nations go to war with outer-Verge powers, despite the insanity of the logistics involved, and nevermind the technology disparity.¡± The Captain said, and shook his head while he continued. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the Rim sector, and don¡¯t underestimate the Hyperion cluster.¡± Larriman warned. ¡°You¡¯ll live longer if you respect their ambition for what it is.¡±
¡°I suppose it¡¯ll mean plenty of work for me,¡± Arthur murmured with a thoughtful look at the military vessels displayed on the screen. ¡°Assuming I can find an employer worth the time, anyway.¡±
¡°On that front, Magellan, I think you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Larriman said more evenly. ¡°Graecians are nothing if not broadly honorable. It¡¯s a cultural thing.¡±
¡°Sounds like a good place.¡±
¡°Better than many.¡± Larriman agreed.
Minutes passed in silence after that while the Enterprising Fortune was settled into its assigned dock with a careful application of maneuvering thrusters. When the docking clamps took hold of the courier with a rumbling thud, Arthur stepped back and Larriman rose from his seat.
¡°Let¡¯s get you aboard Asfal¨ªs, Magellan.¡± The Captain said with a smile. ¡°And let¡¯s get me paid!¡±
Arthur smiled wryly and turned to the rest of the crew. ¡°I didn¡¯t really get to know any of you, but best of luck! Stay safe out there.¡±
¡°Yeah, you too, tall, blond, and handsome!¡± The same woman from earlier shouted, and drew forth a laugh from the rest of the crew. ¡°If you ever need a tour guide, feel free to give me a call!¡±
Arthur snorted and threw a wave at the crew, before turning to retrieve his jacket and backpack and pull both on one, after the other. From there, he followed the Captain out of the doors to the bridge without a second look back.
¡°We¡¯ll be in dock for two days, Magellan,¡± the Captain said while they moved through the linear, cramped corridor threading through the main body of the ship. ¡°If you decide you want to join us on the return trip, you have until then.¡±
Arthur raised a surprised eyebrow at the bulk of the other man, though it went unseen, and responded with a guarded sense of wary surprise. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m not planning on it.¡±
¡°I thought as much, but the offer¡¯s there.¡± Larriman said over his shoulder.
Arthur considered the shorter and heavy-set man thoughtfully, and then let his curiosity triumph. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d want me around, given I¡¯m ostensibly running from something.¡±
¡°I may not be overly fond of what manner of supposed ¡®woman trouble¡¯ would send a man as clearly capable as you are running, Magellan, but I also felt your psion density on the bridge. I left it alone, but I¡¯m not like the rest of the crew. I have insights in that sort of thing, and you¡¯re no ordinary Freelancer.¡± The Captain shrugged while he walked. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t pry too much on that front. I have a feeling it¡¯s better for my health if I don¡¯t.¡±
Arthur frowned at the man¡¯s certainty while they walked, and assessed the swarthy Captain with a more critical eye. Was Larriman truly picking up on his psion density, or was there something else at play? He didn¡¯t want to accuse the merchant of anything incorrectly, but if there was something else going on¡
He quietly started checking the corners of each area while they proceeded forward.
The Captain seemed satisfied enough with what he¡¯d already said to continue their progress without further comment, and the pair proceeded in silence.
It took Arthur and Larriman all of six minutes to move steadily from the bridge to the large, singular docking airlock connecting the courier¡¯s superstructure to any external vessel or station that sought entry. There were other access points, but those served a solely maintenance function and only opened one way.
When they arrived at the large metal doors, the pair stopped together and Arthur turned to face the wider, but notably shorter merchant.
¡°Thank you for your hospitality and the safe trip,¡± he said without preamble. ¡°The drachma will be deposited into your accounts the moment I step foot onto the station.¡± He waved his left wrist and the omni-comp on it idly. ¡°It¡¯s already been set up, as I promised.¡±
The Captain simply nodded at the reassurance, cast his dark gaze at the docking umbilical connected to the airlock, and then turned back to Arthur. ¡°Two days we¡¯ll be here for refueling and to take on mail and media.¡± He said simply. ¡°If you decide you want to return with us, send a message by HoloNet.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Arthur assured him firmly. ¡°Though I have to say I¡¯m surprised, again, that you bothered to remind me of that offer. Your insistence is a little suspicious, to be candid, given your assertion that I¡¯m ¡®no ordinary Freelancer¡¯ as you put it.¡±
¡°Sometimes you just need to trust your gut.¡± Larriman responded with a shrug of his shoulders. ¡°I know you¡¯re not just a Freelancer even if you won¡¯t say what you are, Magellan, because I¡¯m not just a fat merchant.¡± Instead of elaborating further, and with seemingly no reaction to the coiled tension that entered Arthur the moment the words were said; the Captain instead rolled up his right sleeve to show what appeared to be an intricate tattoo of metallic platinum wrapped around his forearm.
Arthur, however, knew better. His eyes narrowed with immediate recognition.
¡°Callandium?¡± He asked rhetorically. ¡°That explains your confidence, at least.¡±
¡°To a point.¡± Larriman responded with a nod. ¡°I have enough compatibility for a few matrices, but bugger all for psions to fuel them. Your density makes mine look laughable.¡± He said with a shake of his head.
¡°I only opted for this one to gain some rudimentary capability as an empath to help with business deals, and even then, I¡¯m only Theta-ranked.¡±
Arthur¡¯s expression slowly morphed from open wariness to a more subdued caution, but he nodded at Larriman¡¯s explanation. ¡°That would explain it.¡± He said carefully, though he didn¡¯t let his guard down. Larriman could be lying, after all. ¡°I take it you were tested for the Academia Psionica?¡±
¡°Deemed incapable, despite my compatibility.¡± Larriman said with a shrug. ¡°Low psions.¡±
¡°So they granted a license for a single matrix as consolation.¡± Arthur surmised.
Larriman nodded and rolled down his sleeve. ¡°The Paladins took me for testing when I was fifteen, though I can¡¯t say it was too much of a surprise. I¡¯m no Coreblood.¡±
The moment the Captain said the word, Arthur felt a sharp spike of irritation, though he couldn¡¯t have explained why. Other than his own biases against Coreworlders, there was no real reason for him to react to a slur meant for people from the innermost Sector of the Humanosphere.
Despite those facts, the epithet had engendered a feeling of anger in him he couldn¡¯t quite quantify.
Instead of addressing it, Arthur simply offered his hand out for Larriman to shake.
¡°I appreciate what you¡¯ve entrusted me with, Captain.¡± Arthur said politely. ¡°And I would like to say it¡¯s been a genuine pleasure to have been your cargo, inasmuch as I was also your passenger, but this is most definitely where we part ways. I wish you luck.¡±
Larriman eyed him for a moment, but shook his hand regardless. ¡°You really are set on this, then?¡±
¡°Very much so.¡± Arthur confirmed. ¡°Graecia is where I need to be.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ll tell me why?¡± The Captain asked when their handshake ended.
¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t.¡± Arthur said with an apologetic smile.
¡°I thought as much, but it never hurts to ask. You stay safe, Arthur Magellan, until next we meet.¡±
¡°Until then, Captain. Godspeed.¡±
Arthur turned and started toward the docking tube and umbilical.
Larriman didn¡¯t stop him and Arthur hitched his backpack firmly onto his shoulders. Without a glance back, he stepped from the true steel of the Enterprising Fortune and onto the flexible plastisteel of the docking umbilical.
Port Asfal¨ªs lay ahead, and Arthur knew in his core it was where he had to be.
He also hadn¡¯t lied to Captain Larriman.
He truly couldn¡¯t tell the other man why he had to be in Graecia. It was not a conspiracy nor some great secret opportunity that drew Arthur onward toward the immense star port. No family awaited him, and no clandestine forces for him to command or guide lay lurking around a corner.
The simple truth was that Arthur had a compulsion that urged him onward to Graecia, a compulsion that encouraged, the demanded he comply.
It was a compulsion whose source he couldn¡¯t identify.
In Graecia, he hoped to find answers.
No matter the cost.
B1 | Chapter 03: Vasilikós Kidemónes
Had we known then who it was that had arrived among us, we might have acted differently. Chosen differently. I cannot say for certain if the decisions we made were truly what was in the best interest of Hellas or humanity as a whole, but I am glad we made them. I am glad we chose faith over hostility. I shudder to think what the consequences might have been, had we chosen wrong. We had received the living embodiment of Pandora¡¯s box, and I thank all the gods that we handled it with proper care.
Arthur strode along docking umbilical with a silent assessment of the area he could see beyond. The immediate station was seemingly abandoned, with the occasional holographic infomercial decorating the plain white walls, and filling the area with the subdued sounds of consumer advertising. From perfumes and sprays to weapons, armor, and even the occasional marketing campaign for a new type of commercial starship dominated the various appeals to new arrivals.
The interior was quite conservative, and seemed entirely built purely to house passengers, crew, or other such personnel for a single ship or transport. The small white seats, cramped area, and tell-tale domes of hidden automated turrets set into the ceiling told Arthur all he needed to know.
His booted feet transitioned from plastisteel to true metal and he stepped out into the receiving area. The moment he did and his vision was no longer obscured by the narrow docking umbilical¡¯s walls, he found a lone young woman in attendance.
She was attired in the abiding red of the ARN, had short blonde hair, brown eyes, and based on her single upward-facing chevron and lack of medals or pins, was one of the Navy¡¯s enlisted. His eyes met hers at the same time as hers met his, and Arthur smiled while she blinked at him in momentary surprise, and then recovered.
¡°Welcome to Port Asfal¨ªs, sir! I am Naftis Kiara Larsen. Do you require any guidance?¡±
Naftis. An equivalent to an Aurelian ¡®Spacer First Class¡¯. Bottom of the ladder.
¡°Nice to meet you, Kiara.¡± Arthur said with a casual confidence that he knew instinctively would make her more comfortable. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what manner of knowledge fed him that awareness, but neither would he question its veracity. It felt right.
¡°My name¡¯s Arthur. Arthur Magellan.¡± he continued with a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s my first time in Graecia, and I¡¯m trying to figure out what happens next.¡±
¡°Oh!¡± Kiara said while staring at him with what Arthur classified as a deer-in-headlights look. ¡°A newcomer? That¡¯s¡ªthat¡¯s awesome! I mean, that¡¯s wonderful! Ah¡¡± she patted down her pockets, paused, and then seemed to realize what she was doing. A moment of blatant embarrassment followed, and she instead took a moment to center herself with a quick breath in and out.
¡°Everything okay, Kiara?¡± Arthur probed gently.
¡°I¡ªuh¡ªyes. Sorry, sir. I wasn¡¯t actually paying attention to the fact anyone docked, and¡ I¡¡± she trailed off at the exact moment that Arthur saw her eyes widen with realization of her admission of not paying attention, and her face turned red. ¡°Um. I don¡¯t know why I said that. Sorry? Wait. I¡ªI mean¡ª¡±
¡°Naftis.¡± Arthur said with confidence and an injection of authority he knew she¡¯d respond to positively. ¡°I just need to know what my next steps are. Perhaps you could tell me where I should go from here to find passage down to Hellas?¡±
The very young enlisted, which Arthur decided was the most plausible explanation for her flustered state, looked mortified when she nodded, and answered with only a mild stammer. ¡°Y¡ªyes sir! Um. Out? Out! Yes. That way. Uh. Customs. Customsisthatway!¡± she finally blurted out, while pointing to the only real door within the small boarding and disembarkation area. It lay directly opposite the one he¡¯d stepped through from the umbilical behind him.
¡°Thank you, Kiara.¡± Arthur said with a suppressed twinge of annoyance. He didn¡¯t blame her, necessarily, for her lack of togetherness¡ªbut there was definitely a degree of impatience for her lack of decorum that bothered him.
He had expected better from the ARN after what he¡¯d seen in space.
Kiara, despite all convention, saluted at his thanks.
She looked frozen with shock after she did, and her eyes focused determinedly on a spot somewhere over his shoulder.
¡°E¡ªenjoy your stay in Graecia, sir!¡±
¡°Thank you, Naftis.¡± he said with a bemused smile. ¡°And take care of yourself.¡±
Arthur left before he could be engaged in further awkward discourse, and moved quickly across the boarding area to pass through the pair of blue-marked double doors, and into the Port-proper beyond.
Immediately when he did, he noticed that security in the area¡ªwhich was still mostly devoid of passengers or traffic¡ªwas far more extensive.
The first indication of that was the pair of power-armored guards standing with professional vigil outside of the doors leading to the embarkation lounge of the Enterprising Fortune¡¯s docking bay, their hands devoid of any obvious weapons.
Even a quick glance told him that they likely wouldn¡¯t need weapons to handle him.
Arthur¡¯s loose study on Graecia and the Ascendancy which ruled it allowed him to identify both men as members of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes. In English, it quite literally meant ¡®Royal Guardians¡¯. They were identifiable not merely by the rich blue cloaks that covered their shoulders and necks and fell to trail a few inches across the ground, but by the immaculate silver paint that covered their armor.
Their kit was clearly modeled off of Ancient Greek Hoplites, though the metal was painted silver where historically it had been distinctive bronze, and where their armor might have once had necessary gaps; tightly woven nano-threaded mesh strong enough to withstand limited direct fire from most ballistic and energy-based weapons covered what might have otherwise been exposed skin.
Their helmets were made in the Corinthian style of their Hoplite forebears, with a metal ¡®plume¡¯ in place of the horsehair one they may have had in a more classical time. Where the helmets would normally have T or Y shaped gaps for the eyes, nose, and mouth; black glass occupied the space between the metal instead.
Despite the occasional mesh-covered joints foregoing armor over their elbows and knees for the sake of mobility, Arthur knew from his limited research that the mesh itself was rated for vacuum and could protect the Kidem¨®nes from gaseous or liquid attacks as well.
Despite his fascination with the blatant throwback to Ancient Greek culture, however, Arthur also recognised something else.
They were soldiers, and he was an unknown.
As if in confirmation of that thought, both men turned to face him when he drew closer, and their hands rested on the all-too-functional sword hilts that their shift in position made visible upon their left hips.
¡°Welcome to Port Asfal¨ªs,¡± the Kidem¨®nas on the right said in polite standard, his voice vaguely distorted by the speakers built into his hermetically-sealed helmet. ¡°I am Endymion Chloros of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, and this is Perseus Andino of the same.¡± Endymion¡¯s voice was a deep bass, and even with the distortion he managed to sound both gruff and professional all at once. That was a neat trick. ¡°Welcome to Hellas, mister¡?¡±
¡°Arthur Magellan.¡± Arthur said with a polite smile and nod, while extending his arm and shaking both mens¡¯ hands companionably. ¡°I¡¯ve heard good things about Graecia.¡±
¡°Well met, Arthur.¡± Endymion rumbled cordially.
¡°Well met.¡± Perseus responded as well, his voice notably calmer in tone.
¡°What brings you to Port Asfal¨ªs?¡± Endymion continued.
¡°I¡¯m looking for transport to Hellas, and couldn¡¯t find a direct flight to the Iris.¡± Arthur explained with a nod back toward the umbilical. ¡°The Naftis manning the lounge said this was the only way in.¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Endymion grunted with a nod. ¡°Travel to and from Hellas proper is restricted to citizens with class three security passes, Ascendancy-licensed merchants, and Graecian military. All out-System traffic and visitors have to go through customs here on the orbital station.¡±
¡°Ascendancy policy is to instruct new arrivals to stay aboard their vessels until we¡¯re ready to receive them,¡± Perseus continued in Endymion¡¯s place, ¡°which isn¡¯t usually more than an hour or two, but we had no reason to do so given the current lack of traffic.¡±
He gestured to the area around them when he finished, in order to illustrate his point.
Arthur nodded in understanding, and glanced around at the largely empty station section. Even with multiple other embarkation and disembarkation lounges, no one else was present in the area. He only saw a small smattering of other Kidem¨®nes, some civilian staff, and the occasional member of the Navy.
¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised, given what I¡¯ve seen coming in from Korinth.¡±
¡°No trouble, I hope?¡± Perseus asked carefully.
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Arthur had not expected the Kidem¨®nes, who were by all rights elite warriors, to engage a random traveler in such direct and seemingly genuine discourse¡ªbut some buried instinct whispered to him that such an interaction would be to his advantage, and so he crushed his doubts and simply embraced the opportunity to learn what he could.
¡°No trouble.¡± Arthur said with a shake of his head. ¡°But certainly an escalated naval presence. It¡¯s not difficult to see that things with Parthia are getting worse, even for someone from out-Cluster like me.¡±
Perseus nodded at his words and sighed audibly.
¡°The usual traffic has slowed to a crawl, and most of the merchant and trade vessels that do still come have a stake in Graecia already.¡± unspoken was the implication that Arthur was no merchant, and that the guardian was very much keyed into that fact. ¡°It¡¯s only been couriers and civilian transports that make use of Asfal¨ªs lately.¡±
¡°My understanding when I left Aurelia was that the disagreement was over hyperlanes and mineral rights, or something to that effect.¡± Arthur said with a helpless shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve come to understand how woefully misinformed that was after visiting.¡±
The pair of Kidem¨®nes fell silent for a moment and turned to each other at the same time, which was followed by the occasional sound of muted clicks filtering through to Arthur¡¯s genetically enhanced ears.
With experience and discernment telling him that they were communicating on a private channel, Arthur chose to wait patiently rather than be obtuse and interrupt them. He was a guest in Graecia, after all, and the extent of the Kidem¨®nes benevolence was an unknown factor for him still.
Captain Larriman had been right about things being calmer when closer to the Core, though, he reflected while he waited.
The Core of the Humanosphere was controlled by the Grand Imperium, and humanity¡¯s only true hegemony did not tolerate excessive violence within its sphere of influence¡ªeven if that sphere extended far beyond the two hundred light years it officially controlled.
Out as far the Fringe and especially the Rim however, the Humanosphere was bereft of the Grand Imperium¡¯s unilateral enforcement of peace and almost obsessive interventionism.
Its Star Marshals and the Peacekeeper Battle Groups, whose impressive flotillas roamed in and around the few hundred light years closest to Sol, didn¡¯t range nearly as far as even the inner-Fringe.
As a result, the multitudinous star systems of humanity often found ways to indulge in their species¡¯ natural drive toward violence thanks to the knowledge that they were mostly safe from the Imperator¡¯s wrath. After all, distance was a kind of shield all its own, and while the Imperator could project his Grand Imperium¡¯s power all the way to the furthest reaches of explored space, almost nobody had ever been foolish enough to act in a way that warranted such a heavy-handed response from Terra.
Though from Arthur¡¯s conversation with Larriman, the fear of that Censure was definitely eroding across the Rim.
Arthur¡¯s focus returned to the moment fully when the calmer of the two¡ªPerseus¡ªaddressed him again.
¡°You¡¯re from the Fringe?¡± Perseus asked with what Arthur thought was wary curiosity.
¡°I am.¡± Arthur confirmed with a nod. ¡°I¡¯m a Freelancer looking for work, and somewhere to stay for the length of whatever contract I find.¡±
¡°A Freelancer¡¡± Endymion muttered grimly. ¡°That makes more sense. I suppose it stands to reason you¡¯d come out here if you wanted to earn some drachma, given how peaceful the Fringe is.¡±
Arthur didn¡¯t miss the mild disdain tied to the word ¡®peaceful¡¯, but chose to ignore it.
¡°The Fringe has its share of conflicts, but I find that life there can be somewhat sedentary at times.¡± Arthur responded carefully, and without overtly lying. ¡°I came to the mid-Rim because I felt like it was where I had to be, and I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve regretted the choice yet. My limited experience with Graecia has shown me how wrong people can be about Rim nations. Your homeland is incredible.¡±
Both Kidem¨®nes glanced at each other again at his words, and then turned back to him.
Perseus was once again the first to speak.
¡°It¡¯s refreshing to hear that coming from a Fringer.¡± the more junior Kidem¨®nas said in a markedly warmer tone. ¡°I can imagine what is said about us out in the Rim, and I appreciate your open mind, Magellan. Plus,¡± he added with a small chuckle, ¡°I can¡¯t deny it¡¯s mollifying to see Freelancers choosing Hellas over Xerxes.¡±
¡°Says something that even Mercenaries recognize how slimy Parthians are.¡± Endymion growled approvingly.
¡°Charlemagne has a lot of Greek and Roman influences across the Cluster, if we¡¯re speaking in terms of the Terran cultures that preceded us.¡± Arthur said honestly. ¡°Graecia just felt like the more natural fit.¡±
The compulsion notwithstanding, it was true. Graecia was far closer to what he was used to in Aurelia. Admittedly, there was a lot more Franco-Roman influence to Aurelia than Grecian, but the overarching aesthetic remained similar and constant enough to breed a comfortable familiarity, if nothing else.
If Arthur still felt oddly out of place in both nations, well, that was just him.
Arthur had never truly felt like he fit in on Aurelia. Graecia was likely no different.
¡°Do you have a sponsor here, Magellan, or is this strictly a blind disembarkation?¡± Perseus asked while shifting to a more relaxed and companionable stance.
¡°Blind.¡± Arthur confirmed with a wry smile, and idle demonstrative hitch of his backpack. ¡°Just the clothes on my back, and anything I could easily carry.¡±
¡°You¡¯re a brave man.¡± The Kidem¨®nas observed thoughtfully. ¡°Not sure I could do that.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re yet to step into a true war, Andino, despite your skill with a blade.¡± Endymion growled with a hint of mirth, and then turned to Arthur. ¡°Not like this one. He¡¯s seen that kind of death before, and plenty of it. Am I right, Magellan?¡±
Arthur¡¯s expression tightened a little at the senior Kidem¨®nas¡¯ words, but he saw no point in deception and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen my share of battles. Freelancing can have a lot of non-lethal contracts, but sometimes even those turn bloody whether you want them to or not. All I can say is that I¡¯ve survived this far, so I like to believe I can hold my own.¡±
Endymion nodded sharply with what Arthur thought might have been approval. ¡°That¡¯s a veteran¡¯s answer. No boasting, no bragging, just truth.¡± he reached out and clapped an armored gauntlet on Arthur¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll do fine here, Magellan.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen you compliment a stranger.¡± Perseus said with genuine surprise. ¡°Are you feeling well, brother?¡±
Endymion turned his helmet toward the younger Kidem¨®nas and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll feel better when you aren¡¯t pointing out idiotic details.¡± he growled.
Arthur did notice that the hand dropped away from his shoulder quickly, though.
The disdain and irritation for Perseus¡¯ observation were evident¡ªand familiarly hollow. It was the empty recrimination between friends, diametrically opposed in personality, but friends nonetheless.
Arthur couldn¡¯t help but feel strangely envious of their clear camaraderie.
¡°He does enjoy trying to crush my spirit.¡± Perseus said while turning his helmeted head back toward Arthur. ¡°But secretly I think he just likes me being socially functional enough for the both of us.¡±
¡°Shut up, Andino.¡± Endymion growled.
¡°No need to pretend, brother.¡± Perseus said mildly. ¡°Magellan understands. Don¡¯t you, Magellan?¡±
Arthur chuckled despite himself. ¡°I get it.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re done gossiping Andino, I think we should probably let Magellan be on his way.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°You¡¯re after Customs, I take it?¡±
¡°I am.¡± Arthur confirmed with a nod to Endymion. ¡°I assume I¡¯ll find it eventually if I just follow the pathways here.¡±
¡°All roads lead to bureaucracy!¡± Perseus said with a laugh.
¡°Just follow the signs.¡± Endymion agreed. ¡°You¡¯ll find it easily enough.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡± Arthur said with a grateful smile. ¡°I appreciate the guidance, and the chat. You two have a good, uh, day?¡± he glanced down at his left wrist the moment he realized he didn¡¯t actually know what the time was.
¡°Day.¡± Endymion confirmed with a quiet snort before Arthur could open his holoscreen. ¡°Definitely day. You sure you can find your way to customs, Magellan?¡±
Arthur¡¯s smile turned wry. ¡°I think so. I¡¯ve just been a little distracted, I suppose.¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t we just take you?¡± Perseus asked with what Arthur suspected was an impulsive thought.
¡°We aren¡¯t tour guides, Andino.¡± Endymion grunted.
¡°We also aren¡¯t doing anything here, brother.¡± Perseus pointed out with a sigh. ¡°There are two Hexarons in this section alone, and we¡¯re due to be relieved at the top of the hour anyway. Let¡¯s just call Vicente and Morello and let them take the watch until the relief team arrives.¡±
¡°They aren¡¯t even part of our Hexaron.¡± Endymion growled.
¡°Our Hexaron is split over three different duty stations across the entire system, brother. We aren¡¯t exactly spoiling for options.¡±
Arthur remained silent as the pair conferred, and idly adjusted his backpack.
A Hexaron was the six-man squad Kidem¨®nes operated in as standard, he recalled.
¡°Perhaps.¡± Endymion said after a moment of silence. ¡°Check the schedule, first.¡±
¡°I did! There are no other disembarkations slated for the next few hours, and we¡¯re superfluous here as it is.¡± Perseus said confidently. ¡°Besides, Magellan¡¯s not like the rest of the tourists that come through. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t feel it, Tacticus! This whole meeting is like a¡ª!¡±
¡°If you say a sign from the gods, Andino, I swear to Zeus I¡¯ll hit you.¡±
The taller but more junior Kidem¨®nas shrugged in an exaggerated manner.
¡°You said it, brother, not me. Besides, you¡¯ve been more social with Magellan than you are with most of the Navy. That merits at least some investigation, right?¡±
Arthur felt a strange sense of deja vu at Perseus¡¯ words, but dismissed it. He¡¯d never even been to Graecia before that moment. Still, something about what Perseus said had felt¡ odd. It was as if he should understand or know what was going on, and why Endymion was more openly social with him.
A subtle wave of focus swept his concerns away, and he dismissed the thoughts immediately.
The ¡®why¡¯ of it didn¡¯t matter.
Only answers mattered, and if the Kidem¨®nes wanted to take a liking to him, that just helped his purpose for being there in the first place.
¡°The Navy are blowhards.¡± Endymion continued while oblivious to Arthur¡¯s thoughts.
¡°And Magellan is a Freelancer.¡± Perseus pointed out with clear amusement. ¡°Weren¡¯t you ranting about mercenaries just last¡ª¡±
¡°Fine, Andino.¡± Endymion cut in with a snarl. ¡°We¡¯ll take him to customs, but we only go as far as customs.¡± he continued firmly. ¡°No further.¡±
¡°Sure.¡± the younger Kidem¨®nas said with a laugh. ¡°Whatever you say, brother.¡±
B1 | Chapter 04: Knight-Errant
Even then, despite my brother¡¯s recalcitrance, I knew we¡¯d made the right choice. His presence, his manner, the way in which he interacted¡ªall of it felt different to me. Special. I didn¡¯t know if it was divine intent or mere happenstance, and the underlying presumption of a universal plan; but I understood to my core that we had been meant to meet him. For me it was a simple matter of following what I knew to be true. Looking back, even with everything that¡¯s happened, I still believe I made the right choice.
Arthur fell in with the two Kidem¨®nes when they set off, and carefully remained half a step behind.
Enough for them to lead, but not enough to look as if he were being forced to follow.
He didn¡¯t want to look like he thought himself their peer, but neither did he wish to be antisocial or appear to be. It was a delicate balance, especially given the blatantly abnormal level of favor they were showing him.
Something about their willingness to help him tickled Arthur¡¯s deeper-rooted sense of caution, but he couldn¡¯t quite place what it was. He felt as though he should have known the answer, but every time he tried to focus in and find it, his mind slid away from the thought and put him right back to his state of mild vexation and answerless suspicion. They shouldn¡¯t have been so willing to help. He knew that.
Then again, people did strange things for strange reasons.
It was very possible they truly were just bored.
¡°What did you think of the System when you came in, Magellan?¡± Perseus asked while they walked.
¡°You¡¯re resource rich and know how to exploit it.¡± he said candidly. ¡°I respect the sheer ambition of the Ascendancy. With what you have here, you could rival some of the outer-Verge nations given enough time. You¡¯ll climb to parity with them faster than some Fringe powers will.¡±
Endymion grunted at that. ¡°That¡¯s a rare sentiment from a Fringer.¡±
¡°I suppose I¡¯m a pragmatist.¡± Arthur said wryly. ¡°And I know how to acknowledge true potential, no matter which sector it¡¯s from.¡±
Perseus and Endymion glanced at him, and the senior Kidem¨®nes inclined his head.
¡°I apologize.¡± he rumbled quietly. ¡°The insult was uncalled for.¡±
Arthur shrugged a little and smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t blame you for it. I can imagine what manner of bullshit people from the inner sectors give you.¡±
¡°I suppose you can.¡± Perseus said with a chuckle. ¡°The Fringe was the Rim before the Rim existed, after all.¡±
¡°And the inner sectors never let us forget it.¡± Arthur agreed with a nod.
¡°Shit rolls downhill.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°The Core gives it to the Mantle, who gives it to Verge, who gives it to the Fringe, who gives it to us.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t give it to the Frontier, though.¡± Perseus said conversationally.
¡°That¡¯s because the Frontier¡¯s too busy killing itself with a violence we couldn¡¯t hope to match.¡± Endymion snorted.
¡°I had heard it was pretty bad out there.¡± Arthur stated quietly.
¡°The stories don¡¯t do it justice.¡± Perseus confirmed with a shake of his armored head. ¡°We get the occasional Frontier trader out here, and other than some special clusters, it¡¯s bad. Local warlords and failed states bad.¡±
Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose in genuine surprise at that.
¡°What makes this wave of colonization so much less stable than the last few?¡±
¡°Distance, so people think.¡± Perseus said grimly. ¡°The Rim only barely feels the Grand Imperium, but we at least understand that Censure has happened. The Frontier? The Core may as well be a distant and irrelevant boogeyman to them. Imperial Censure is almost pure legend a dozen light years further out from Graecia, let alone the two hundred from here to the Frontier.¡±
¡°It¡¯s worse the further you go, too. Every dozen light years is a devolving level of civilization, and the outer-Frontier may as well be a permanent warzone. What few colonies do survive are¡ª¡±
¡°Better not spoken of.¡± Endymion interrupted with a rumble.
¡°Nobody has tried to help?¡± Arthur asked with a twinge of anger. For some reason, the idea of such unpoliced chaos struck a chord of rage in him he hadn¡¯t known to exist until that exact moment. Chaos, his mind told him, was antithetical to everything he believed in. Why that was, he was unable to say.
Perseus glanced at Endymion, and the older Kidem¨®nas sighed and gestured for him to go on.
The pair of them led him through a chair-populated waiting area and toward a large, white-painted metal opening with the words ¦§¦¨¦§ ¦ª¦¡¦© ¦¥¦¨¦©¦¬¦¡ in bold, blue-lit letters on the panel above. A galactic standard translation of CUSTOMS was lit below. Arthur followed the pair through the long access gate quietly while Perseus continued.
¡°Everyone¡¯s tried, but with no true hegemony in the Rim, it¡¯s not plausible.¡± Perseus said with a turn of the helmet back to Arthur. ¡°Even Graecia, for all that we¡¯ve actively sent aid and help out there, just can¡¯t afford to send proper expeditions. We could restore peace across many Clusters, and pretty easily at that thanks to our stability and economy, but¡¡±
¡°You¡¯d be making yourselves too vulnerable to your enemies.¡± Arthur guessed.
¡°Those Parthian animals would be pounding at the gates within a month.¡± Endymion growled.
¡°And without a guarantee of safe borders,¡± Arthur surmised, ¡°moving fleets that far out is just asking for any deployed forces to lose logistical support.¡±
Perseus nodded and continued with a tone of regret. ¡°We wish we could help. Honor would demand we should, but our people have to come first, and we simply can¡¯t run the risk of exposing ourselves to Parthia.¡±
¡°What a mess.¡± Arthur muttered.
¡°It sucks.¡± Perseus agreed sadly.
¡°The trickle-down enforcement used to work.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°The Core checked the Mantle, the Mantle checked the Verge, and the Verge checked the Fringe.¡±
¡°But the Fringe largely broke that cycle.¡± Arthur said with a glimmer of sudden insight. ¡°They¡ªwe¡ªdidn¡¯t properly do for the Rim what the Verge did for us, because the emphasis on a peaceful outer sector had eroded so much with time and distance.¡±
¡°And as a result, the Rim has abandoned the Frontier entirely.¡± Perseus said with a resigned nod. ¡°It¡¯s a failure in the chain of responsibility, but that¡¯s what distance does. The Grand Imperium cares about peace enough to enforce it, but send people far enough from the immediate range of those enforced ideals¡ª¡±
¡°And it all goes to donkey shit.¡± Endymion said flatly.
Arthur would have smiled at that, if not for how depressing the topic was.
¡°The chaos benefits Parthia, regardless.¡± Endymion continued disdainfully. ¡°Those slaving bastards will raid the Frontier semi-regularly for new batches of people to put to work, both for their mining operations and to use in their planetary exploitation programs. They work them to death, and then just go and steal more people.¡±
¡°That¡¯s terrible.¡± Arthur said with a deeply-rooted sense of something being wrong. He felt as if he should have been able to do something about Parthia¡¯s actions, despite all logic to the contrary. He supposed it was guilt. The idea of humans being enslaved was in opposition to everything he believed.
At least, that was what he felt.
It felt strange that he couldn¡¯t say with certainty.
A subtle compulsion soothed away his wonder about the matter a moment later.
¡°It¡¯s the Humanosphere.¡± Perseus said resignedly while Arthur refocused on the Kidem¨®nas. ¡°All we can do is try to make our own slice of something better than the rest. It¡¯s the most simple, and most ruthless truth of human existence: There are the powerful and the powerless, and there¡¯s always a bigger star nation.¡±
¡°Unless you¡¯re the Grand Imperium.¡± Arthur said with a core-deep certainty.
¡°Unless you¡¯re the Grand Imperium.¡± Endymion agreed with a grunt.
Arthur looked around after they emerged from the long corridor they¡¯d entered, and the conversation momentarily lapsed when he did.
The area they had entered was far larger and more populated than the one they¡¯d started in, and Arthur realized quickly that it was some sort of ¡®nexus¡¯ point for multiple different arrival areas. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people filled the space even with the relative statement of ¡®low traffic¡¯ by Graecian standards, and he could see long lines of people with a wide and eclectic variety of attire waiting in front of dozens of gated customs stations, manned by men and women in the scarlet colors of the Ascendancy Royal Navy.
¡°Wow.¡± Arthur said with genuine surprise. ¡°This is Customs?¡±
Advertisements played in a myriad of competing volumes and with a plethora of colorful and exciting holovids that reeled across monitors, along walls, and hung suspended by anti-grav motors across the waiting area. It was immense in scale, and seemed to be able to easily house several thousand more people, even with the crowds that were already present.
¡°One of the checkpoints, anyway.¡± Perseus said in a satisfied tone. ¡°Asfal¨ªs has several customs areas scattered across the station.¡±
¡°How many people live here?¡± Arthur asked in wonder.
¡°A few million on the station proper.¡± Perseus said with a sense of pride that was nakedly apparent. ¡°It¡¯s one of the largest stellar habitations in the Rim.¡±
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
¡°Graecia has a lot of things called ¡®one of the best in the Rim¡¯, I¡¯m learning.¡± Arthur said wryly.
¡°We aim to impress.¡± Perseus laughed.
¡°Clearly.¡± Arthur said with a low whistle while he looked around, and let the ugliness of their previous conversation wash away with the spectacle. ¡°Though now I¡¯m curious about you two.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Endymion asked gruffly.
¡°My understanding was that your division was part of the Royal Guard.¡± Arthur explained while the two resumed walking toward one of the distant Customs desks. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you guarding a docking umbilical, honestly.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a common misunderstanding.¡± Perseus responded without any sound of offense and a half-glance back. ¡°The Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes are tasked with the security and safety of the two Kings, yes, but we¡¯re also posted to the most critical locations across the Ascendancy.¡±
¡°I knew that, and it makes sense you¡¯d be aboard Asfal¨ªs as a general posting.¡± Arthur responded conversationally. ¡°But the docking bays seem a little rudimentary for the Royal Guard.¡±
¡°What did you expect to see?¡± Perseus asked without offense.
¡°I thought I¡¯d see some Royal Marines.¡± Arthur answered honestly. ¡°Or even standard station security officers, especially given how little traffic there is.¡±
¡°Your guess makes sense.¡± Perseus said while coming to a halt¡ªEndymion with him¡ªand idly gesturing to the colossal area around them rife with noise, activity, and throngs of humanity.
¡°The Marines tend to focus on shipboard defense and security, and garrison the less important stations and stellar facilities; and we have normal police forces for the various municipal districts on our worlds and orbital habitats, including Asfal¨ªs¡¡± He gestured over for indication toward where Arthur did, in fact, spy what appeared to be blue-uniformed police officers speaking to some irate looking people. ¡°But strictly speaking, even though we technically share space with the Navy and other elements of the government; Asfal¨ªs and other militarily or politically important areas are firmly our jurisdiction.¡±
¡°How does that work with contravening authority?¡± Arthur asked with interest.
¡°We tell them what to do, and if they know what¡¯s good for them, they do it.¡± Endymion said with a snort. ¡°If they get lippy, well, there are ways of handling that.¡±
¡°Endymion likes to go above them while they¡¯re standing there.¡± Perseus laughed.
¡°It¡¯s about sending a message.¡± the senior Kidem¨®nas said shamelessly.
¡°I can see the logic.¡± Arthur said with a laugh of his own. ¡°Though it¡¯s definitely a little vindictive.¡±
¡°Well, perhaps a little.¡± Endymion admitted with a hint of amusement.
¡°Thanks for explaining it.¡± Arthur said with a nod of thanks.
¡°No problem.¡± Perseus said easily. ¡°It¡¯s not like you couldn¡¯t have found it out with a quick sweep of the HoloNet.¡±
¡°Better from the source, though.¡± Arthur said simply.
¡°Always is.¡± Endymion agreed grimly. ¡°Too many idiots on the ¡®Net.¡±
¡°Which begs the question, Arthur, as to whether there¡¯s anything else you want to know before we part ways.¡± Perseus said with a gesture around them again. ¡°This is Customs, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s in my interest to push my surly brother too far.¡±
Endymion snorted at Perseus¡¯ words, but didn¡¯t deny them.
Arthur smiled at them both, and took a moment to seriously mull over Perseus¡¯ offer. Was there something else he wanted to know?
He thought back to what he¡¯d read, and then to Captain Larriman, and then looked up at the Kidem¨®nes. He pondered over how bold he felt, before simply deciding to risk a question he wished to ask. The worst they could do was decline to answer. ¡°There is one thing.¡± He said carefully.
¡°I can already hear the hesitation.¡± Perseus said with a laugh, and a friendly slap to Arthur¡¯s wider shoulders. ¡°Go ahead and ask, Arthur.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re sure.¡± He said with a smile before proceeding. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s another element to your force. The Myrmid¨®nes?¡±
Endymion looked at him and sighed. ¡°Of course that¡¯s your question.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve done your research.¡± Perseus agreed with amusement.
¡°Not enough, I¡¯d say, but some.¡± Arthur said lightly.
¡°Curiosity isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡± Endymion rumbled dourly.
¡°But it isn¡¯t a crime either, eh?¡± Perseus said with a laugh.
Arthur smiled at them both, and Perseus continued a moment later.
¡°Myrmid¨®nes are Kidem¨®nes that have matriculated through the Academia Psionica. It¡¯s a pretty popular point of pride for us to work with them, despite my brother¡¯s surliness. The Grand Imperium¡¯s Paladins have a Fortress-Monastery and garrison force for it on Hellas, like they do in every other stable system in human space, but this far from the Imperium psionics are more or less allowed to defer joining if they don¡¯t want to.¡±
That was a surprise. Arthur hadn¡¯t thought the Imperator would ever be so liberal.
¡°That¡¯s unheard of for anyone above Delta rank in the Fringe,¡± Arthur observed with interest, ¡°and it¡¯s even less tolerated toward the Core, from what I¡¯ve heard.¡±
¡°The Myrmid¨®nes have an understanding with the Paladins,¡± Perseus explained while they chatted and the odd passersby threw them curious looks, which Arthur ignored. The Kidem¨®nes were the only ones of their kind in the Customs area, surprisingly enough, and Arthur wasn¡¯t unaware of how odd it must have looked for them to be casually standing around chatting with him.
¡°They are free to serve the Ascendancy and fight for their homeland, and in return, they will answer the call if the Paladins ever need them.¡± Perseus continued while oblivious to the attention they garnered on occasion. Or seemingly oblivious, at any rate. ¡°Terra¡¯s power is respected even this far out, as unlikely as it might be for the Imperium to project power. Nobody wants to make the mistake of being the star system that pushed the Imperator too far.¡±
¡°Even with them being so disconnected from the Rim?¡± Arthur asked curiously.
¡°Everyone in Graecia knows what happened to the Morlane Confederacy.¡± Perseus said with a shake of his head. ¡°An entire inner-Rim nation powerful enough to be a true multi-stellar state, and with the economy to challenge the outer-Verge powers just¡ dismantled.¡± he shrugged and continued. ¡°All of it happened within the span of a few Solar months, and the timeframe was only that long due to the Imperium¡¯s forces having to travel over a thousand light years.¡±
¡°It might have been before we were born, but we¡¯ve met people from Morlane.¡± Endymion added grimly. ¡°Most Rim citizens have. You don¡¯t forget stories like theirs.¡±
Arthur was careful to nod seriously, but otherwise avoid overt reaction.
¡°And Myrmid¨®nes¡ª¡± Arthur said while shifting the topic back for the sake of his own clarity ¡°¡ªare something similar to Aurelian Chevaliers, I¡¯m guessing?¡±
¡°In essence.¡± Endymion agreed with a slight shrug of his armored shoulders. ¡°They are independent investigators and enforcers, tasked with rooting out spies, traitors, and extremely dangerous criminals or dissidents. Their psionic gifts make them particularly skilled at the work, and give them formidable capabilities in battle.¡±
¡°Their Callandium compatibility must be high.¡± Arthur murmured half to himself.
¡°It is.¡± Perseus confirmed. ¡°They have a generous helping of psions, too. None of them are above Delta in strength, and most are apparently Epsilon or lower. Otherwise I don¡¯t doubt the Paladins would have forced them into service already¡ though I¡¯ve heard a rumor their Strategos is on the cusp of Beta.¡±
¡°Andino!¡± Endymion growled.
¡°It¡¯s just a rumor¡¡± Perseus grumbled.
Arthur held up a placating hand. ¡°I get it, Endymion. Thanks for answering at all.¡±
¡°It was our pleasure.¡± Perseus said a moment later with genuine warmth. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting man, Arthur. I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve met anyone as effortlessly charismatic in a while.¡±
¡°Just good genes.¡± Arthur half-joked.
¡°We did notice that.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°Symmetrical features, powerful frame, not a blemish or flaw to be seen, and you move like a man that can and will leap to violence quickly if properly provoked.¡± he folded his arms and shrugged shamelessly. ¡°Part of why I consented to escort you was to observe your nature for myself. You could do a lot of damage very fast if you wanted to, I¡¯d wager.¡±
Arthur¡¯s eyes tightened a little at Endymion¡¯s assessment, but he didn¡¯t try to deny it.
¡°You¡¯ve got me dead to rights, it seems.¡± he said with a half-hearted smile.
¡°Not quite. You could be a Parthian spy.¡± the senior Kidem¨®nas said flatly. ¡°But I doubt it. You¡¯re not the type they¡¯d want. There¡¯s too much to notice about you, and you¡¯re too easy to like. We¡¯re extensively trained in Parthian tactics¡ªand they haven¡¯t tried to trojan horse us in decades.¡±
¡°What happened to the last one?¡± Arthur asked despite his better judgment.
¡°Defected to Graecia.¡± Perseus said with a laugh. ¡°Hilarious when you think about it. I heard the Parthians were livid. We landed a whole cache of intelligence as a result.¡±
¡°Normally I¡¯d reprimand him for that, but it really was decades ago. It¡¯s history at this point.¡± Endymion remarked gruffly. ¡°And as I said, you¡¯re too easy to like. I almost felt your anger at the idea of Parthian slavery, odd as it is to say. I can tell you¡¯re not like those animals on Xerxes.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ genuinely flattering, Endymion.¡± Arthur said with a wry smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°Mm.¡± Endymion grunted.
¡°Before we go, Arthur, would you answer a question of my own?¡± Perseus asked curiously.
¡°By all means.¡± Arthur said permissively. Turnabout was fair trade, after all.
¡°Which sort of Freelancer are you?¡±
Arthur hesitated for a moment at Perseus¡¯ question, and then felt a small encouragement erode his natural wariness. He¡¯d kept his skills under wraps during his negotiation with Larriman, but something¡ªinstinct or otherwise¡ªtold him it was important he be honest with the Kidem¨®nes.
So he was.
¡°I¡¯m a Knight-Errant.¡± Arthur said as calmly as his spiked heart-rate would allow. Despite his mind telling him it was the right thing to do, a deeply rooted part of himself balked at the idea of giving away that information. ¡°I can pilot and build Ninth Generation Eidolons.¡±
Both men went very still when he said that, and then turned to one another rapidly.
The clicking was rapid-fire almost immediately upon them turning to each other.
Engineered Interaction Dual Origination Linear Operation Neuralink Weapons, also simply called Eidolon Weapons or Eidolons for short, were the hardest to pilot and most difficult to master warmachines in the Humanosphere. They stood on average between 15 to 25 meters tall, with the ability to transform between a highly maneuverable starfighter and powerful humanoid form.
Eidolons were easy enough to build. Finding pilots was a far more difficult prospect.
The largest reason, of course, was that the people that could even be considered as pilots were one in a million, while only one in ten million might be considered truly formidable.
And beyond those, perhaps one in a hundred million would be classified as a prodigy.
Capability was only one part of it, of course. The other factors were far more esoteric. The mental bandwidth required to operate one of the machines was hard to gauge without simply putting candidates in a cockpit with a neuralink to test them, and the result could range anywhere from a failure to move the training machine, to the too-common-for-comfort cases of sudden-onset brain death.
And the likelihood of which result would manifest was difficult at best to predict.
¡°Arthur.¡± Perseus said after several long moments of silence. ¡°Are you telling us that you are a trained and veteran Eidolon pilot from the mid-Fringe with the capability to replicate mid-Fringe technology?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Arthur said simply. There was no point lying, for all that part of him was raging at his own stupidity. The urge to be honest remained, but another part of him was livid for agreeing with that urge. He couldn¡¯t have explained the compulsion if he¡¯d wanted to.
¡°You realize what that means, right?¡± Perseus asked skeptically.
¡°I¡¯ve got a pretty good guess.¡± Arthur replied with resigned amusement.
¡°We¡¯re going to have to ask you to follow us.¡± Endymion said grimly.
¡°You¡¯re not in trouble, Arthur, but if what you say is true¡¡± Perseus trailed off.
¡°It¡¯s going to cause a whole fucking circus of bullshit.¡± Endymion said flatly.
¡°Yeah.¡± Arthur said simply. ¡°I figured.¡±
¡°Hey, there¡¯s a bright side to this.¡± Perseus said while Endymion signaled to some nearby officers, and started barking orders for them to clear a path through the crowds after they ran over.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Arthur asked skeptically.
¡°If all goes well, you¡¯re gonna find that work you wanted, and then some!¡±
Arthur couldn¡¯t help himself at that.
He laughed.
B1 | Chapter 05: Kingmaker Theory
Knowing what we do now, the entire situation on Asfal¨ªs could have ended in catastrophe. We were shielded as much by our own ignorance as we were by our erstwhile companion¡¯s desire to skirt past our notice. Part of me wonders if it would have been better to let others handle his case. How different might our lives have been if we had simply walked away? Would Graecia have been safer if we had deferred the responsibility? We may never know, but still¡ Still, I wonder.
Arthur followed calmly behind Endymion and Perseus, and maintained his look of casual interest in the finery of Port Asfal¨ªs while they passed through it. It was an act of kindness on the part of the two Kidem¨®nes, Arthur assumed, that they had not taken up a more blatant detaining posture.
Their trip through the customs barrier, the ¡®first border¡¯ between interstellar space¡ªat least on paper, given there were other planets closer to Graecia¡¯s two Calypso points¡ªhad been simultaneously eventful and completely devoid of surprises.
Endymion and Perseus had simply rolled over the questioning Naval staff and officers by sheer force of presence, and despite a commendable interrogative by the more senior officer near the end of the Customs area, the two Kidem¨®nes had ushered him through the gate and past the staring eyes of dozens of people without so much as a backward glance.
The elevators behind the Customs Officers had carried the trio from the arrivals area to somewhere far deeper into the immense space station, and they¡¯d emerged into a very different environment.
The inner heart of Port Asfal¨ªs was built shockingly similar to a true ocean-bound terrestrial port, and it took Arthur¡¯s breath away. He¡¯d seen images, but they hadn¡¯t prepared him for the sheer scale to which the Ascendancy had constructed their station¡¯s inhabited interior.
Buildings in the style of Ancient Greece with modern amenities and materials dominated the space, creating wide and spacious lanes of traffic.
Many of them were occupied by pedestrians traveling through carefully demarcated sidewalks while small vehicles¡ªgrav-bikes, in most cases¡ªtraveled to and fro amid the hum of repulsor engines, which illuminated the bottom of their vehicles with soft blue light.
While the structure of Port Asfal¨ªs externally resembled a massive umbrella cast in steel, its gargantuan domed top made far more sense when seen from within. The Port was not merely a middle point for travelers, but a living and breathing city-station all on its own.
While guests were plentiful, it was not difficult to spot more casually dressed civilians or¡ªstrangely more commonly¡ªuniformed members of the Ascendancy Royal Navy.
Kidem¨®nes like Endymion and Perseus were present while the trio moved through the streets, though they were often accompanied by blue-uniformed police officers, armed with far lighter versions of the Kidem¨®nes¡¯ power armor and absent the helmets or cloaks that completed the guardians¡¯ austere appearance.
¡°We¡¯ll take transport from the nearby security station.¡± Perseus said while they walked, and drew the occasional curious or surprised glances from passersby. ¡°I understand you probably would have liked to explore Asfal¨ªs more, Arthur, and we¡¯ll get to that after we take you where we¡¯re going. It¡¯ll be worth it, though, I promise.¡±
¡°Can you tell me where exactly it is we¡¯re going?¡± Arthur asked with a glance down at the taller of the two guardians.
Perseus laughed.
¡°The Rear Admiral in charge of Port Asfal¨ªs. If we didn¡¯t, she¡¯d likely send a Hexaron to break down your door the moment she learned you¡¯d slipped through her fingers.¡±
Arthur chuckled at the seemingly light-hearted comment, and decided not to dwell on what that eventuality would look like. He was beginning to suspect that the Kidem¨®nes were modeled more heavily after the Hoplites of Ancient Greece than he¡¯d properly suspected, though there was definitely a more generally Terra-European bend to their structure.
Mostly Greek, but with some external modifiers in the mix, it seemed.
¡°Why would she want to do that, out of curiosity?¡± he asked while they walked.
¡°Because your arrival could change the fortunes of some very important people.¡± Endymion said with the most intensity Arthur had ever heard from him. ¡°And I intend on making sure you have the chance to choose the right ones. Not just for them, but for the Ascendancy as a whole.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen him so passionate about something like this.¡± Perseus admitted without any attempt to be subtle. ¡°And that alone makes me want to help. My dour brother is rarely so animated, so it moved me when he insisted we take you to see the Ypon¨¢varchos.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said with a mix of faint amusement and lurking wariness. ¡°I¡¯ll try not to run for the hills yet, then.¡±
¡°I¡¯d catch you.¡± Endymion said firmly.
Arthur and Perseus both laughed at the statement, though not out of lack of belief.
Something about the normally taciturn Kidem¨®nas¡¯ statement was just funny.
Their journey continued in comfortably calm silence from there and Arthur spent time simply admiring what he could about the streets and Port Asfal¨ªs as a whole. It was a truly beautiful locale, and the rampant greenery offered a cleanliness to the air that was difficult to attain with air scrubbers alone. The faint scent of olives was everywhere, mixed with the subtle aroma of retsina, scents of lamb and garlic, and other myriad smells that were highly indicative of the Ascendancy¡¯s Grecian heritage.
It was a small paradise in space, and Arthur felt something in him yearn for more.
There was a part of him that, in defiance of all reason, felt at home in Graecia.
But he knew, down to the depths of his soul, he had never belonged in a place like it.
Arthur¡¯s quiet admiration and peaceful enjoyment of a seemingly idyllic society was only damaged, in fact, when they drew closer to the mentioned security station. The sounds of raised voices and metal on flesh reached his ears, and he automatically tensed for confrontation while some part of him he didn¡¯t recognize began rapidly assessing escape and attack routes.
It was only when he and the Kidemones rounded a final corner and came within sight of the immaculate police station that the source of the commotion revealed itself.
Several blue-uniformed peace officers were in the midst of restraining and corralling a group of men in unassuming attire, each of them bearing similar features that only truly became apparent in their uniformity when compared to one another, and their difference to the Graecians when compared to the mass of officers around them.
¡°Parthians.¡± Perseus said with quiet disdain at Arthur¡¯s side. ¡°Spies, most likely, trying to infiltrate Hellas through Asfal¨ªs.¡±
¡°They do not appear to be trying very hard to blend in.¡± Arthur observed while steeling himself against the surprising urge to intervene against the over-enthusiastic police officers.
Another baton smashed into the ribs of one of the Parthians, and he grimaced in disapproval.
¡°They likely were smuggled aboard a trade container using Callandium obstruction matrices.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°The Parthians have some few skilled psionics. I would not be surprised if one of their so-called Immortals was behind the scheme.¡± his voice was not disdainful, as much as it was cold¡ªas if he were commenting on the habits of animals, rather than people.
¡°Parthians have neither honor nor compunction when it comes to such things.¡± Perseus said as if it were fact. ¡°They would sell their own mothers for benefit if they believed it would get them ahead.¡±
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¡°This is why we maintain our presence throughout Asfal¨ªs.¡± Endymion said on the heels of Perseus¡¯ words while turning toward Arthur. ¡°We cannot afford more of this filth infesting our home. They are a malcontented, vile, and repugnant people. Slavers and rapists run their nation. They are the opposite of everything Graecia stands for.¡±
Arthur¡¯s gaze shifted from Endymion and Perseus to the Parthians, and despite their words, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder at the complete veracity of their claims. He did not believe the Kidem¨®nes were overtly lying, but it seemed mildly absurd to him that the Parthians were simply a massive collection of evil, slaving, mustache-twirling psychopaths.
After all, history often warned of the ease by which entire cultures could be vilified.
How he knew that, however, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to explain. He simply did.
Silence fell over the trio once again when they crossed the street, and Arthur looked away with a frown when the Kidem¨®nes saluted the police officers in approval of their actions. He liked Endymion and Perseus. They were, based on his instincts, genuinely good men with good hearts.
But he could also see where hatred and bias had warped their sense of perspective.
Parthians, to the Kidem¨®nes, weren¡¯t people any more. They were just targets.
It was a very dangerous mindset to encourage, and he had no doubt it was encouraged. Very likely by authorities far, far above his new companions¡ªand with a very specific agenda in mind, as well. It took two nations to agitate tensions, after all, and for all that Graecia claimed to be the subject of Parthian aggression, Arthur wasn¡¯t quite sure that was entirely true.
Not after the unvarnished loathing he¡¯d seen and heard in the course of the day.
By time he managed to fully parse through his thoughts on it all, they were airborne.
Arthur¡¯s eyes widened when the aircar Perseus had commandeered for their shared transport banked across the metropolitan expanse of Asfal¨ªs, and offered him his first unobstructed aerial view of the Port. Thoughts of Parthian and Graecian conflict went to the back of his mind, and he simply focused on drinking in the view offered to him by their flight.
Beautiful had been an understatement.
As if in homage to the land from which Graecia had drawn its cultural heritage, Asfal¨ªs was seemingly designed as a massive tribute to everything classically Greek. A beautiful man-made river as blue-green as any one might find in the Terran Mediterranean ran through the city.
Its forks and branches were numerous, and the entire construction of the city itself was built in professionally asymmetrical partitions that lended the illusion of a city built around the river, instead of an artificial ecosystem placed within the station interior.
Olive trees and various other traditional Greek flora and fauna were evidenced, and Arthur could even spot large fields of greenery at several locations across the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis where no elevators had been built.
¡°It¡¯s gorgeous.¡± he observed appreciatively with his eyes transfixed by the city below.
¡°Our ancestors came from many places to claim Hellas and create what would become the Ascendancy, but they all agreed that our heritage was the most important thing to keep constant.¡± Endymion said quietly from beside him. ¡°Wherever we can we honor the souls of our ancient home, we do so. Even here, nearly twelve hundred light years Rimward from the cradle of humanity, the legacy of men like Pericles, Leonidas, Plato, Aristotle, Diogenes, and Alexander live on.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a noble aspiration to want to honor the past.¡± Arthur agreed with a look back to Endymion¡¯s armored head. ¡°This isn¡¯t something I expected to see, honestly. I knew Graecia and the Hyperion cluster were more advanced than most Rim nations, but this level of artisanry is stunning.¡±
Endymion grunted in acknowledgement. ¡°The Hyperion cluster defies what many consider normal for the Rim, as you said. If only we had been founded earlier, many of the misconceptions and enforced limitations we suffer through might not have been given a chance to take root.¡±
¡°Time is often the greatest barrier.¡± Arthur said with a thoughtful nod.
¡°Yes.¡± Endymion agreed fervently. ¡°Our comparative age to the Fringe, especially given how large the time gap between our colonization and theirs was, means they have had centuries, in some cases, to out-develop and out-build us. The staggered nature of human colonization as a whole has left a diaspora of colonies that seem to have been intentionally forced into tiers of capability.¡±
Arthur hummed in thought at Endymion¡¯s words and turned to look out of the window in thought. The sentiment struck a deep chord within Arthur, one that reminded me of something he¡¯d largely let lapse into his suppressed memory. He never forgot things, after all, thanks to his gene-tailoring¡ªbut he did lose sight of things that were not immediately important.
Gene-tailored memory was very difficult to explain, he¡¯d learned already.
The idea of a grand design behind human expansion was a very commonly held theory, however. The fact it had never officially been confirmed was almost irrelevant given how widespread the belief was, especially in the Fringe and apparently the Rim too, if Endymion was any indication.
¡°Kingmaker theory?¡± Arthur asked when the name came to him.
¡°It would make sense.¡± Endymion growled with a nod. ¡°It was Terra that initiated the expansion in earnest eight centuries ago. Why did they only send out the colony ships in waves, and why take such care to ensure that each cluster even within the Core held largely homogenous populations across each planet of its habitable systems? Populations whose cultures, in many cases, had rivalries and natural frictions dating back to the bronze age of our species and beyond?¡±
¡°I admit I¡¯ve heard the same in Aurelia before.¡± Arthur said honestly while turning back to Endymion. ¡°The Charlemagne cluster contains Aurelia, Svartheim, Colchis, and Rasputin just to name the major four. If I named all twelve, it¡¯d be a checkerboard of conflicting ideologies and values. There does seem to be some measure of commonality in how naturally in-conflict each cluster¡¯s colonized star systems are.¡±
¡°And what better way to ensure that no one can ever rise to challenge Terra¡¯s primacy than to make common purpose a doomed dream?¡± Perseus asked conversationally from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°It¡¯s an open secret that the Grand Imperium has access to some sort of interstellar communications array, and yet the technology has never been shared.¡±
That, Arthur knew, was a sore point even in the Fringe.
Some glimmer of understanding surfaced within him when Endymion mentioned the technology, but that understanding vanished as quickly as it appeared.
¡°It¡¯s brilliant in its own way." Endymion continued while oblivious to Arthur¡¯s thoughts. "Create the seeds for inevitable conflict, and disallow anything approaching real-time communication between star systems. It even limits most militaries from waging overly ambitious wars, given that logistics and a command and control loop become harder and harder to sustain over longer distances.¡±
Arthur smiled wryly despite the topic. ¡°You almost sound like you approve of it now, Endymion.¡±
¡°I¡¯m a warrior, Arthur.¡± The Kidem¨®nas said firmly. ¡°More than anything else, I respect the bold brilliance of what has been done. Terra has castrated the greater Humanosphere¡¯s natural cooperation enough that we will never be able to dream of challenging its power with any sort of united front, but has left us with enough capability that we will be too busy warring with our neighbors over resources and territory to truly care.¡±
¡°Designating a galactic standard language seems to play into it as well, I suppose.¡± Arthur admitted with a sigh. ¡°A universal tongue for communication allows the hundreds of nations of the Humanosphere to negotiate, argue, and cycle through periods of peace and war¡ªbut it is never quite enough of a bridge for true understanding en masse, because it¡¯s outweighed by the sheer immensity of cultural opposition in each cluster.¡±
¡°So you do understand.¡± Endymion said approvingly.
¡°I do.¡± Arthur said while turning back to the view, and feeling a stirring of discontent within himself he couldn¡¯t quite identify. ¡°I just wish it didn¡¯t make so much sense.¡±
¡°As do we, Arthur.¡± Endymion growled. ¡°As do we.¡±
Silence reigned within the car again while Perseus guided it toward their destination, and it wasn¡¯t until almost ten minutes later that it was broken once more¡ªthis time by the younger of the two Kidem¨®nes.
¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Perseus said while smoothly landing the vehicle.
Arthur took a moment to just see the building.
It was built not unlike an Ancient Greek temple, with twelve marble steps twenty meters in width leading up to a set of open double doors, and an overhang connected to a set of colonnaded white columns built of the same marble as the steps.
A massive golden eagle perched over the doors, and appeared to be gripping three lightning bolts in its talons, while its eyes stared down as if it could see Arthur.
He shivered for reasons he couldn¡¯t quite define and looked at Endymion.
¡°Is me going in there looking like I just stepped off a starship going to be an issue?¡± Arthur asked while gesturing to his combination of boots, jeans, long-sleeved shirt, and jacket.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect so.¡± Endymion said while opening his door and stepping out.
Arthur opened his own door to step out, and Perseus turned to him when he did.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about the clothes, Arthur. You¡¯re still better looking than most living humans in Graecia regardless.¡±
¡°What the hell, Perseus?¡± Endymion said in surprise.
¡°It¡¯s just the damn truth, brother. He may as well go in there with confidence. I certainly wouldn¡¯t want to meet the Lion Duchess while worrying about my appearance.¡±
¡°The Lion Duchess?¡± Arthur asked curiously.
¡°You¡¯ll find out.¡± Endymion said gruffly. ¡°Come on.¡±
Arthur eyed the eagle hesitantly, but followed the pair inside regardless.
In the back of his mind, the compulsion urged him on.
B1 | Chapter 06: Atreus
I should have been able to tell, then. I should have seen it in how my brothers reacted. I should have noticed the signs, but I was blind. Arrogant. We had been taught we were the apex Predators, second in might only to the vaunted Paladins of Terra themselves. We had been taught to hold pride in our supremacy. What fools we were. We had mistaken a lion for a lamb, and none of us had any idea what it was that we welcomed into our midst.
Twenty minutes later, after a process of introductions and explanation of circumstance which proceeded with surprising levels of cordiality; Arthur was led to an office possessed of only sparse decoration. The room was adorned across the middle with a large circular rug in the spartan crimson of the Ascendancy Royal Navy, while white walls hung with various banners denoting different subdivisions of the Navy framed the interior.
Photos sat upright upon the desk at the far end of the room, and a high-back executive chair took pride of place behind it. One which served as the makeshift throne for an irrefutably beautiful Graecian woman.
She was dressed in the uniform of the Ascendancy Royal Navy, with a crimson overcoat buttoned in gold on the right side of her body, black coloring over her shoulders and upper arms, and two golden stars of rank decorating each of those same dark patches on her uniform. The black material of her high collar, reaching midway up her throat, bore the same two stars in paired formation.
Her black hair was tied back into a professional bun, with streaks of silver rising from her temples toward the tied mass of midnight above. Her eyes were a stormy gray, and even at what Arthur estimated to be middle age¡ªaround one hundred or so years old¡ªshe had the look of a woman that both genders would walk into inanimate objects admiring.
The amount of duty tabs on her jacket, overshadowed only by the golden Graecian eagle above, was enough of a point of emphasis to warn Arthur into respectful silence.
A single black beauty spot sat on the left side of her face, above her full lips, and when she appraised him he was reminded of nothing so much as a she-wolf observing a potential conquest.
And not in a fun way.
¡°Have a seat, Kyrio Magellan.¡± the woman said in a tone that was one half invitation, and one half command.
Arthur took note of the formal use of address and filed it away while he complied with her order and settled into the provided chair opposite her. Endymion and Perseus, having accompanied him in the room, took up deceptively casual positions on either side of the door.
He appreciated the gesture, for all that it was purely that.
¡°I am Ypon¨¢varchos Cassandra Leos. Asfal¨ªs¡¯ defense is my responsibility, in addition to the normal requirements of an Ascendancy Flag Officer.¡± the woman Perseus had called the ¡®Lion Duchess¡¯ said in accented English.
Somehow, even her voice managed to sound beautiful. A mix between a purr and caress.
¡®Lion Duchess¡¯ indeed.
Cassandra leaned forward when she spoke and braced her elbows on her desk, bridging her fingers together and narrowing her eyes at Arthur above them. ¡°Which brings me to you, Kyrio Magellan. Based on the reports supplied by Kidem¨®nes Chloros and Andino, paired with the travel receipts provided by the Enterprising Fortune; you are what you seem to be¡ªand that is precisely where my interest lies.¡±
¡°You¡¯re looking for an Eidolon pilot.¡± Arthur guessed with a shrewd assessment of the Rear Admiral. ¡°One that isn¡¯t a native.¡±
¡°Quite so.¡± Cassandra confirmed with approval. ¡°You arrive on our proverbial doorstep, fully prepared with the skills and knowledge we need moving into this period of heightened tension within the cluster, and seemingly absent any complicating fealties or associations that would pose an impediment to our ability to hire you.¡±
¡°Which is a little too convenient.¡± Arthur guessed.
¡°Which is much too convenient.¡± Cassandra clarified. ¡°There are only three possibilities here, Kyrio Magellan. Either you are exactly whom you say you are, in which case we of the Ascendancy would be thrilled to put you to work¡ªsomething I intend to see done personally, if such is the case¡ or you are an agent, sleeper or otherwise, sent by Parthia to infiltrate and sabotage or frustrate our most critical military infrastructure. The final option¡ Well, I don¡¯t wish to be rude, but¡¡±
¡°You¡¯re wondering if I¡¯m a fugitive.¡± Arthur surmised.
¡°Or a runaway Lord.¡± Cassandra said with a discerning gaze.
Arthur opened his mouth to respond, and then winced. A small throb had spiked in his head abruptly, and he reached up to massage it.
¡°Is everything alright?¡± The Rear Admiral asked carefully.
¡°Yes. Sorry.¡± Arthur said politely. ¡°Mild headache. I think it¡¯s just the result of two months of deep sleep.¡±
¡°Ah. Not a fan of long travels?¡±
¡°Not really, no.¡± Arthur admitted without embarrassment.
¡°I can relate. I despise long journeys.¡±
Arthur took a breath and pushed on. ¡°So what I¡¯m hearing is that you need to, for your own sake, make sure I¡¯m neither a liability nor a foreign asset.¡±
¡°That is correct.¡± Cassandra said.
¡°Though, that assumes I even want to work for you.¡± Arthur said mildly. ¡°Which, with all respect to you, I have no idea of yet. My only experience with you has been Endymion¡¯s insistence on coming to see you.¡±
¡°Ah.¡± Cassandra said with a small smile. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you about my family?¡±
¡°No.¡± Arthur said with a shake of the head, and another mild grimace at the lance of pain through his head that followed. ¡°But the fact that Endymion, who I¡¯ve learned in my short time with him is the most surly Kidem¨®nas alive, wanted me to meet you says you¡¯re someone important¡ªnot just to the Ascendancy, but to its people as well.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve a mind touched by Athena herself.¡± Cassandra said wryly.
¡°It¡¯s a simple deduction.¡± Arthur disagreed with a mild massaging of his temple.
¡°Not one for flattery, I take it?¡±
¡°No, your grace.¡± Arthur said with a shake of his head. ¡°Not one for flattery.¡±
Cassandra grinned openly at his words.
¡°You really might be what I¡¯m looking for, then.¡±
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¡°Assuming I¡¯m not a spy, fugitive, or political refugee.¡± Arthur observed.
¡°Assuming so.¡± Cassandra agreed.
¡°And you need to be certain.¡± Arthur said with a sigh of annoyance at his head. ¡°Beyond reasonable doubt.¡±
¡°I must.¡± Cassandra agreed with an intense look before turning to the Kidem¨®nes. ¡°Could one of you please retrieve a glass of water for Kyrio Magellan?¡±
¡°Yes, your grace.¡± Endymion said immediately and stepped out through the door.
¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± Arthur said with a glance back in surprise at Endymion¡¯s rapid obedience.
¡°You¡¯re evidently in some small measure of pain. It¡¯s the least I can offer.¡± Cassandra said simply.
Endymion returned a moment later with a tall glass of water, and set it smoothly into Arthur¡¯s hand. He glanced at the Kidem¨®nas in surprise again, but inclined his head in thanks. A paranoid part of him wanted to check for some sort of chemical in the water, but he doubted that was in Endymion¡¯s character.
And if they really wanted to hurt him, they were wearing power armor.
With those facts in mind, Arthur took a grateful sip of the chilled liquid.
It helped. Somewhat.
¡°Better?¡± Cassandra asked with a smile.
Arthur simply nodded and set the glass onto a coaster on the desk.
¡°Thank you.¡± he said with his full focus back on the Rear Admiral.
¡°Do you have any questions regarding what I¡¯ve said so far?¡± Cassandra asked when he set the glass down.
¡°No. I¡¯m mostly just interested in getting the ¡®potential spy¡¯ part of the equation out of the way. I can¡¯t imagine that is going to be good for my prospects, as far as employment in Graecia goes.¡±
Cassandra laughed warmly. ¡°No, I can¡¯t say it would. I am glad you understand that. It will make this much faster, and likely far less unpleasant. We have an easy way of qualifying your nature, in fact...¡±
While she spoke the doors to her office opened when she trailed off, and the sound of heavy footsteps followed their parting.
¡°To that end,¡± Cassandra resumed, ¡°I took the liberty, after being informed of your coming here by Kidem¨®nas Chloros, to request the services of someone uniquely suited to resolving this matter quickly.¡±
Arthur shifted in his chair to look to his right at the same moment as a new figure came into view, and his heartbeat sped up in response to what he saw. The new arrival wore armor of a similar design to Endymion and Perseus, but where theirs was silver and they bore thick cloaks of luxurious cobalt, the figure that entered was bedecked in plates of matte black.
A cloak of spartan crimson covered the warrior¡¯s pauldrons and fell across their back like a river, trailing down upon the floor as they walked. Their right hip bore a Greek Xiphos with a hilt suitable for one or two-handed use, and a blade built to a larger scale than was tradition.
When the Myrmid¨®n¡ªfor that was the only thing they could be¡ªcame to a halt and turned to face him properly, Arthur felt a small chill roll down his spine at the symbol proudly rising from the center of their chest: the ¦«. Lambda.
The symbol for ancient Laconia.
The symbol for Sparta.
¡°Thank you for joining us, Lord Atreus.¡±
The Myrmid¨®n reached up and removed his helmet without replying and set it on Cassandra¡¯s desk, revealing the face of a man that looked to be in the prime of his life. A well-kept black beard lined his face, and onyx hair cropped with military precision covered his head. His eyes, which were a bronze that seemed to match well to his olive skin, remained fixed on Arthur even when he at last chose to respond.
His voice was like the rumble of a mountain.
¡°It is my honor to serve the interests of the Ascendancy, Ypon¨¢varchos. That said, I can scarcely believe so much pageantry and commotion has arisen from the arrival of a single young man.¡±
¡°You and I both, my lord.¡± Cassandra said with a twinkle in her eye that Arthur couldn¡¯t quite parse. ¡°Were it not for the insistence of the Kidem¨®nes, I would not have believed the matter as important as it is.¡±
¡°That is assuming this Freelancer speaks the truth,¡± Atreus said coolly, ¡°and does indeed possess the skills he claimed.¡±
¡°That¡ª¡± Cassandra said decisively ¡°¡ªand his intentions and allegiance, if any, are what I am hoping you will be able to discern.¡±
¡°Then let us not waste any more time.¡± Atreus decreed.
Arthur looked from the chiseled features of the tall Myrmid¨®n to Cassandra¡¯s beautiful, and decidedly iron-willed features, and then steeled himself mentally. ¡°May I ask a question?¡±
Cassandra raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow, and then nodded for him to proceed.
¡°Once this is done, will there be any lingering side effects? As an Eidolon pilot, my mind is my most important asset.¡± He looked between them critically. ¡°I¡¯m not educated beyond rumor and supposition on what Lord Atreus intends on doing, but I am concerned about endangering my only marketable skill in the process. The fact I¡¯m here at all is only thanks to my trust in the Kidem¨®nes behind me, and that¡¯s only going to extend so far.¡±
¡°You think you can just leave?¡± Atreus asked with what Arthur thought was genuine interest.
¡°I think I haven¡¯t done anything that warrants a mental probe without my consent.¡± Arthur said with a steadier voice than his pounding heart might have permitted normally. ¡°And while I will consent in order to get this suspicion dealt with, I want to know I¡¯m not ruining myself in the process¡ªor risking that happening.¡±
Atreus raised an eyebrow and let out a low rumble of thought, but said nothing.
Cassandra, meanwhile, gave him a long and unreadable look before nodding.
¡°The concern is valid. My interest in you would be for naught, as well, if your worries came to pass.¡± she turned to the tall Myrmid¨®n and smiled. ¡°Perhaps our Myrmid¨®n can shed some light?¡±
Atreus grunted in response, but spoke after sending a very pointed look at Cassandra and then turning back to Arthur with a narrowing of his eyes. ¡°It is a baseless concern, but forgiven due to your ignorance. The only risk lies in whether or not you attempt to fight my investigation. Should you do that, I cannot speak to the results.¡±
He shrugged his massive shoulders and then continued.
¡°If you cooperate? The most you will feel is a mild headache, and even that is unlikely. Your implied certainty in being found truthful does you credit, too. It should mean a lack of resistance, which would¡ªas stated¡ªmake the entire process smoother.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said with a careful look at the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s expression, and a steadying sip of water. He was nervous, of course, but not because of the probe per se. He simply wanted to get it all over and done with. He hadn¡¯t left his home cluster in search of answers just to lose his skills to the admittedly understandable paranoia of a mid-Rim star nation.
¡°Mm. You¡¯re not scared. That¡¯s a good start.¡± Atreus said unabashedly. ¡°You also seem to have made a good impression on both my Kidem¨®nes brothers, if their mild anxiety on your behalf is anything to go by.¡± he glanced at Endymion and Perseus, and then back to Arthur. ¡°I will be extra cautious, Knight-Errant, for the mere fact that you have so easily earned their affection.¡± Atreus smiled mirthlessly. ¡°It is a rare feat indeed to have such a quick impact.¡±
¡°I aim to please.¡± Arthur said with a flicker of amusement before the smile he managed to summon faded once more. ¡°And I am also ready, Lord Atreus.¡± he took a breath and sighed. ¡°Or as ready as I¡¯ll ever be for this sort of thing.¡±
¡°Very well.¡± Atreus said with what Arthur almost thought was veiled amusement, before he stepped forward and extended his right hand. ¡°This will be over quickly. For you.¡±
Arthur¡¯s brow furrowed in momentary wonder at the man¡¯s words, though before he could put a voice to his thoughts, he felt something akin to pressure surrounding his skull. Seeping past the surface. Digging toward his mind. His consciousness.
His instinct, initially, was to fight. In fact he started to do exactly that, until a hand on his shoulder drew his attention back to Atreus¡¯ face, now far closer.
The grip, Arthur thought idly, was quite powerful.
¡°Let me in.¡± the Myrmid¨®n instructed in a surprisingly soothing voice. ¡°If you are no foe, Arthur Magellan, then you have nothing to fear. Let me in.¡±
Arthur hesitated despite the man¡¯s words and his own resolve to do exactly that, fighting against some instinct or deeply rooted part of himself that urged¡ªno, demanded he deny such a pervasive intrusion. It was a primal urge that implored him to fight. To rail against the submission requested of him.
With an act of will, Arthur forced that internal resistance away. He suppressed it. He pushed down his need to defend himself and, in what he could only describe as a deeply unsettling act, he exposed his mind to Atreus.
The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s power entered his mind like an opened sieve.
Arthur¡¯s eyes lost focus. His muscles spasmed.
He felt a strong hand take hold of his head, and then everything faded.
Darkness offered him its embrace, and Arthur fell into it gladly.
B1 | Chapter 07: First Revelation
The day he walked into my office, I believed we had merely inherited a problem. How foolishly optimistic that was. His presence had the feel of a neutron star, condensed and silenced, and even without any talent with the Veil; I could feel his pressure. His presence. At the time, I had assumed it to be the Myrmid¨®n, yet in hindsight perhaps that was little more than wishful thinking. We had embraced a supernova, and none of us had any idea of what lay in store for us as a result.
¡°For the sake of what we must do, you cannot remember this conversation. Not until the time is right.¡±
Arthur frowned at the words of the blonde woman opposite him and watched her critically from across the table between them.
¡°I am not sure how comfortable I feel with the necessity of this cloak and dagger, Inquisitor. Even for an agent of the Throne, this is a level of paranoia I am unaccustomed to.¡±
¡°I assure you, my lord, that this request comes from the highest levels. While I understand this may be confusing, I must impress upon you the need for such drastic measures as I am suggesting.¡±
¡°You are suggesting wrapping my very psyche, memories, and sense of self into layers, Inquisitor. Layers that I have neither the recollection to identify nor the power to unravel!¡± Arthur narrowed his on her, blue eyes meeting brown, and scowled. ¡°More than that, you are asking me to flee to the middle of a backwater mid-Rim nation with no more than what I can carry, and some fabricated backstory with more holes in it than my lecherous cousin¡¯s good sense!¡±
¡°I am but the messenger, my lord Zacaris. Pendragon has ever been a loyal part of the Imperium, and your noble bloodline a treasured branch of¡ª¡±
¡°Spare me the flattery, Inquisitor. Please. It does neither of us honor to indulge in such theatrics. Instead, tell me why. Why me? Why now?¡±
¡°Because you alone are capable of doing what must be done.¡±
¡°That is not an answer.¡± Arthur said with a scowl.
¡°It is as much an answer as I can give, my lord. I must ensure that we compartmentalize things as much as possible.¡±
¡°You want to bury these secrets in sequence?¡± Arthur asked incredulously.
¡°That is the easiest way to ensure you only discover what you must, when you must.¡±
¡°This is sounding more insane by the word, Inquisitor.¡±
¡°Necessity is often married to insanity, my lord. It makes it no less important for those affected.¡±
¡°And whom is it, precisely, we are doing this for? Terra? Pendragon?¡±
¡°The Humanosphere, my lord. The entire Humanosphere.¡±
¡°I find that difficult to accept.¡± Arthur said with narrowed eyes. ¡°Especially since you are proposing a psionic castration of the very strength that I could use to help it!¡±
¡°Only temporarily.¡± Nataliya said calmly. ¡°Only until it¡¯s necessary to unleash it.¡±
¡°You need to give me more than that.¡±
¡°I cannot.¡± She said firmly.
¡°Inquisitor, if you expect me to¡ª¡± Arthur began heatedly.
¡°I cannot, my lord. I cannot take the risk of revealing too much before you are ready.¡±
¡°Throne of Terra, it cannot be that cataclysmic. You are acting as if we are all under imminent threat of destruction.¡±
¡°Not all threats are so easily quantified, my lord. Not all threats are so easily understood.¡±
Arthur growled under his breath and leaned back in his chair while folding his arms over his chest, and staring out of a nearby window in thought while his gaze roamed over the levitated spires of Camelot. The Inquisitor seemed content to let him do so, and after some five minutes of rumination he finally spoke again. ¡°How long would I have?¡±
¡°You must depart before you are inaugurated as your father¡¯s heir.¡± the Inquisitor said with her hands¡ªeach one shimmering platinum with inlaid Callandium sigils¡ªextended to him in entreaty. ¡°Before the necessity of your pursuit transcends the recapture of a wayward scion and instead becomes the rescue of a stolen inheritor.¡±
¡°That¡¯s in five days!¡± Arthur exclaimed while looking back at her.
¡°So you must leave within four, then.¡±
¡°That¡¯s madness. I couldn¡¯t possibly¡ª¡±
¡°I will see to the arrangements, my lord.¡± Nataliya said with utter confidence.
¡°You wish me to be seen as a coward.¡± he seethed. ¡°You wish to dissuade my father from any pursuit out of shame.¡±
¡°That would aid greatly in our purpose, yes.¡±
¡°Do you not realize how antithetical the very idea of flight is?! I am a Knight of the Round!¡±
¡°And the child of a concubine.¡± Nataliya pointed out without concern for the insult it paid him. ¡°One that has had to prove their worth in the eyes of everyone. This world has never been kind to you, my lord. It will happily believe you a coward, if you but give it the excuse.¡±
¡°I fought, bled, and killed to disabuse them of that notion!¡±
¡°And still they are ever-so-ready to believe you weak and incapable. You owe them nothing, my lord. You are being called to a higher purpose.¡±
¡°You are asking me to give up everything I have worked my entire life for.¡± Arthur snarled. ¡°You are asking me to lie to myself, and enable you to make me believe it!¡±
¡°I am.¡± She said resolutely.
¡°I am the rightful heir to House Zacaris! I am the progeny of an inviolate bloodline!¡±
¡°And before that,¡± the Inquisitor reminded him, ¡°You are a son of Terra.¡±
Arthur opened his mouth, closed it, and then let out a ¡®tch¡¯ at her response, his gaze upon the spires resumed with a renewed frown of brooding skepticism.
¡°Let¡¯s say I do agree. What manner of impact would I have with none of my skills available to me? You intend on armoring me in ignorance and lies, and sending me to a backwater hole of civilization with no more than the clothes on my back¡ªclothes that, frankly, are an insult to my lineage! You must tell me something, Inquisitor.¡±
¡°Your body will remember what your mind does not.¡± Nataliya assured him. ¡°And that will be enough to ensure your survival until your memories properly awaken.¡±
¡°How delightfully unhelpful.¡± Arthur said snidely. ¡°And still you give no answers!¡±
¡°The answers must come when you are ready to receive them.¡± the Inquisitor replied. ¡°Telling you now would be inviting disaster, if not outright sabotaging your chance at survival.¡±
¡°Your continued abeyance from specificity does not inspire confidence, Inquisitor.¡±
¡°I understand, my lord. Truly I do. This is, however, the nature of the calling. Your calling.¡± her tone hardened as she said it. ¡°Terra summons you to serve, Lord Zacaris. Will you answer?¡±
Arthur stared at the spires for another long and ponderous minute as a thousand different reasons to tell the Inquisitor, powerful and indomitable as she was, to go to the deepest void of the frontier rolled through his mind. A dozen different ideas for escape, up to and including summoning other Knights of the Round roiled through his mind.
A coward, his father had often called him. A son of a whore with no spine. A bastard absent the drive, the passion, or the will to succeed. Arthur had proved him wrong with blade and machine both, and devastated those sent to crush him.
He had won his laurels, his rights, and his recognition at the edge of his sword. He had been fighting hatred since his birth. Even his name, Arthur, had been a mockery¡ªthat was why they had paired it with his middle name.
The traitor. The abomination. The fiend.
Arthur sighed, and closed his eyes to listen.
To listen to his father¡¯s voice, claiming he was a coward with no resolve.
Stolen novel; please report.
To listen to his grandfather before him, mocking his abysmal Callandium capacity.
Arthur let out a low, resigned breath in surrender and forced himself to be calm.
None of them would ever imagine him capable of what Nataliya asked of him.
Arthur¡¯s eyes opened, and he locked his gaze on the Inquisitor¡¯s own.
¡°Yes, Inquisitor.¡± he said at last. ¡°I, Arthur Mordred Zacaris, will answer the call.¡±
Arthur¡¯s mind returned to him slowly. It grew from a spark of awareness of self into a slow and consistent ember, which continued to gather momentum and strength from there.
Distantly he felt as if he could hear voices, though in his mental fugue all he could parse was vague intonations and the implication of urgency from the unclear nature of tense intonations.
¡°...risks are¡ªfind out about¡ªkeep it to ourselves¡ªwrath on us all¡ª...¡±
¡°...cannot tell¡ªwe investigate further¡ªthe interim¡ªenough caution for belief¡ª¡±
A low groan escaped Arthur¡¯s lips when the ember of awareness erupted into a blaze of cognizance, and he felt his mind snap back into equilibrium.
And with it, the awareness of Arthur Zacaris once more.
His true self. His true mind.
Information, awareness, and knowledge hammered into his consciousness with the thunder of an avalanche. The half-heard and distorted words of those around him faded to nothingness under the deluge, and Arthur snapped back to consciousness with a sharp intake of air, and a surge of shock.
The Inquisitor had erased him. She had replaced everything he was with a fabrication, one designed to obfuscate and perfectly suppress everything he knew to be true. She had deleted him. She had removed him as if he¡¯d never been. It was perverse. It was infuriating.
It was existentially terrifying.
Worse, he had agreed to it.
Arthur felt his heart race while memories long forgotten surged to the fore of his mind, escaping from where they had been buried beneath layers of psionic power. His entire life in Aurelia was a lie. The information would pass any manner of investigation, because Nataliya Verchenko was nothing if not thorough like all her ilk, but he¡¯d never truly existed there. He had never lived there. He had never even visited Aurelia, really.
Arthur Magellan was a complete fabrication.
He was Arthur Mordred Zacaris, of Pendragon.
He was the most lethal Knight of the Round Table.
He was a Coreblood of the most celebrated lines, bred in pursuit of perfection.
Another moment of thought crashed into him, and he shuddered while reaching up to grip his head. He remembered more. He remembered his staggeringly low Callandium compatibility. He remembered his father¡¯s disappointment. He remembered the mockery, the vitriol, and the shame over an accident of birth he could no more have controlled than he could have willed a star to die.
More than anything else, he remembered himself and was able to view that remembered self more objectively. With only the limited insights into himself, and with the false but still existent medium of Arthur Magellan, he realized something quite immediately.
Arthur Zacaris had been disturbingly self-entitled and arrogant. The very idea of it unsettled and disquieted him. For all that he knew it was who he had been and perhaps even still was under it all, he wanted nothing to do with that particular element of his memory.
He¡¯d come to have respect for Graecia, for Aurelia, for the struggles and realities of the outer sectors and their people. He momentarily wondered if perhaps that had been Nataliya¡¯s plan, but the truth was that he had no context with which to weigh it. He recalled himself, yes, but so too was so much still missing.
For a start, he had no recollection of how to recreate technology before the Fringe. He remembered using the technology, but the same way a man might remember using a sword he had no part in forging. He knew what it felt like, what its strength was, and how to wield it¡ªbut he could no more rebuild those weapons and drives than he could sprout wings and fly.
Additional to this was the fact that, in truth, Arthur Zacaris had been a bitter and cruel man. Forged by his environment perhaps, and created through a series of horrible and abusive events that had¡ªto what little recollection Arthur had¡ªshaped him into the selfish, arrogant, and fundamentally spiteful creature he¡¯d experienced in the memory. He could empathize with Arthur Zacaris, but in that moment, he came to an immediate realization.
He had no desire to become him again.
At least not in the way he remembered.
¡°He¡¯s waking up!¡± a familiar male voice warned.
Arthur¡¯s eyes opened and he looked up with a sharp gaze to see Cassandra watching him with an impassive and focused expression, her gray eyes drilling into him with searching intensity.
Atreus flanked her to her left, and both Endymion and Perseus had joined her to the right with their visored helmets turned toward him in silence.
Cassandra¡¯s expression softened when his eyes met hers, and she spoke in a perfectly calm and controlled manner.
¡°Welcome back, Kyrio Magellan. The impact of Lord Atreus¡¯ investigation seems to have taken a toll on you. How do you feel?¡±
¡°More myself.¡± Arthur answered with a small slur. His accent had even been changed, and he felt his remembering mind fighting with false muscle memory to build words in a way he was no longer used to.
¡°Are you sure you are quite alright?¡± Cassandra asked carefully.
¡°I¡ªI will be.¡± Arthur said while still attempting to master his rebellious tongue. ¡°May I ask what happened?¡±
¡°Your psyche collapsed under the strain of the probe.¡± Cassandra answered while Atreus watched on. Clearly she was the ¡®designated speaker¡¯ in the present case. ¡°Lord Atreus has assured me that you will be back to your normal, healthy self in a matter of minutes.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said carefully, while forcing his tongue to cooperate and quietly reaching out to sip the glass of water still left on the coaster. Much of its perspiration was gone, due to the length of time it had sat idle, and from that he could gauge that he had been unconscious for more than the perceived few minutes of the flashback. ¡°How long have I been insensate?¡± He asked slowly.
¡°Two hours.¡± Cassandra answered with an appraising look. ¡°Though I¡¯m told that¡¯s not unheard of. It seems your psions simply disliked the stimulation that Lord Atreus enacted upon them through contact with your mind.¡±
¡°I¡ don¡¯t really understand what that means,¡± Arthur admitted with the same deliberate speech, ¡°but I¡¯m going to optimistically hope it¡¯s irrelevant to me.¡±
¡°As far as I understand it, it is.¡± Cassandra said with a wry smile.
Arthur grunted when a small lance of pressure passed through his mind, and lowered his palms to compress his upper neck and the back of his head while slowly rolling both hands from side to side. The memories in his mind were like blades, each stabbing at his brain in a manner he found exhausting.
It took him almost a full minute before he spoke, and to their credit nobody seemed interested in rushing him.
¡°Did you find what you were looking for to satisfy your concerns?¡± Arthur asked carefully, and while looking up at Atreus specifically.
¡°In every way that matters.¡± the Myrmid¨®n confirmed coolly. ¡°Though there are extenuating factors we must discuss.¡±
Arthur grimaced and blinked against the pain in his head, and then nodded his assent. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the statement. He¡¯d suspected something would come of the probe, though he was hoping it wasn¡¯t a revelation of his true origins. Something told him that Nataliya would have planned for that much.
And from what he could recall of Nataliya Verchenko, she was incredibly powerful.
¡°I am all ears, my lord.¡± Arthur murmured with a grimace of pain.
¡°All Eidolon pilots possess psionic talent to some capacity, which is what allows them the prescience, spatial awareness, and almost supernatural reaction times required to be combat effective in what would otherwise be very expensive prostheses.¡± Atreus said without taking his eyes off Arthur. ¡°Though this is hardly news to you given your status among their number, what is surprising is that while your testing records results show you at a Callandium compatibility of forty-two percent; my delve revealed an oddity with your psion levels.¡±
¡°Please enlighten me...¡± Arthur said while massaging his temples gingerly.
¡°Your psion density is, frankly, factors larger to the point that I¡¯d suspect it of being false, no matter the fact it¡¯s impossible to falsify.¡± Atreus said with focused intensity. ¡°I¡¯ve seen high numbers, but this is beyond the pail. You don¡¯t have the highest ever recorded in Hyperion, but you¡¯re in the top twenty at least.¡±
¡°Well, I suppose there are worse things to hear.¡± Arthur muttered with a slow roll of his neck and another grimace of pain. ¡°Though with my lack of Callandium compatibility, I¡¯m hardly about to start crushing buildings.¡±
¡°Your psion density is irrelevant in the larger scale, because you cannot handle the Callandium required to catalyze them safely. Yes.¡± Atreus agreed tersely. ¡°However, it does mean your reflexes, spatial awareness, and neural bandwidth ratings are likely all rated higher than almost any operator in Graecia¡ªto say nothing of your passive ability to inspire comfort, familiarity, and even loyalty in others, as you did unwittingly with my Kidem¨®nes brothers.¡±
The last part of course was enough to give him pause. It was not as if he¡¯d actively manipulated either Endymion or Perseus, but the simple reality was that someone with psions as dense as Atreus claimed his were could make even the most well-trained mind bend and yield toward disproportionate magnetism. Humanity had often wondered as to what charisma truly was, and in psions, they had found their answer.
People with high psion density were essentially magnets for positive interaction.
The only redemption for such effects was that they could not control them at all.
¡°You were not honest with us, Arthur.¡± Atreus continued heedless of his internal thoughts. ¡°You are not merely an Eidolon pilot.¡±
Arthur eyed Atreus carefully, but said nothing. He waited to see what the Myrmid¨®n believed was the truth.
¡°You were an Aurelian Champion, weren¡¯t you?¡±
Had his true memories been revealed to the Myrmid¨®n, then the questions Atreus was asking would have been far more probing and far less courteous, but that was not the case. The tall spartan was rolling with the only logical assumption which the identity of Arthur Magellan allowed: that Arthur was a member, either retired or deserting, of the Aurelian Star Kingdom¡¯s elite Eidolon operators.
It was not too far from the truth, though if he revealed the whole truth he had a feeling he¡¯d give the Graecian soldiers in the room apoplexy.
Aurelia might have been distant and powerful, but being from the Fringe power¡¯s elite was at least something they could logically accept.
Being a Knight of Albion?
Not just that, but a Knight of the Round Table?
He might as well have said he was Achilles reborn.
B1 | Chapter 08: Negotiations
Negotiating with him was like dancing with an inferno. His power affected me in ways I did not imagine, and even with the Myrmid¨®n close, I still wonder if perhaps I didn¡¯t act in a way that defied all reason. We had no concept of what he would become at that point, of course. We merely thought salvation for House Leos had been dropped in our laps. I saw the chance to save my family, and I took it without hesitation. Perhaps it was the selfish choice, but I don¡¯t care. It was my duty, and I did it gladly.
Arthur took a moment to collect his thoughts before answering.
¡°I was never a Champion,¡± he began with complete sincerity. ¡°I was trained by someone of a similar caliber¡ª¡± also completely sincere, if not in the way they expected ¡°¡ªand benefited from those lessons, but I have never officially been part of the Star Kingdom¡¯s forces.¡±
Atreus¡¯ expression had become a frown when Arthur had denied the tall Myrmid¨®n¡¯s assertions, and the glance he gave Cassandra showed that as expected, his residual contact with Arthur¡¯s mind had likely allowed the Myrmid¨®n to discern that there was complete truth in the answers provided.
Even if that truth only existed for wildly more deceptive reasons.
¡°That is unexpected.¡± Cassandra admitted. ¡°We had thought you a renegade or exile in over your head, but directly asking a Fringe nation about their most elite forces¡¯ internal politics is courting trouble no one in the Ascendancy wants or needs.¡±
¡°It does raise even more mysteries, though at this point I believe we are erring between caution and paranoia.¡± Atreus said brusquely. ¡°My delve was neither resisted nor defended against, and I have satisfied my immediate need for certainty. I officially declare you clear of immediate suspicion, Arthur Magellan.¡±
Arthur relaxed into his chair at the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s words, and let out a sigh of relief.
¡°Does that mean we can begin talking about remuneration?¡± he half-joked while sitting back in his chair and attempting to relax.
Perseus and Endymion had been entirely silent through the entire affair, though he assumed that to be a matter of station more than anything else.
Atreus, he suspected, outranked both Kidem¨®nes by a small but notable margin.
¡°Almost.¡± Cassandra said with a smile that seemed equal parts rueful and bemused. ¡°First however, there is the matter of your psion count.¡±
Arthur raised his eyebrows at her words and glanced from the Admiral to the Myrmid¨®n. ¡°I had thought that explained, Admiral.¡± he said carefully.
¡°The circumstances, certainly, if not the origins. It is impolitic to ask after the biological history of a person absent just cause, however, and I have a feeling that there are truths there that none of us will feel comfortable airing.¡±
She was likely suspecting him of being the bastard child of a very powerful member of Aurelian nobility, which is exactly what Arthur would have guessed. While she was wrong, she was closer than he wanted to admit, and it was better to let her believe whatever she wished instead of correcting her.
After all, the truth would only serve to complicate matters even further.
¡°The simple reality, Magellan¡ª¡± Atreus¡¯ lack of honorifics was strangely relaxing to Arthur, if for no other reason than the fact it elucidated on how bluntly honest the Myrmid¨®n was ¡°¡ªis that you are now simply too valuable to be treated as another contractor. We have also noticed that despite your now partially confirmed skills, you are ostensibly without an Eidolon of your own.¡±
Ah. There it was. The missing piece that all the Graecians were likely curious about.
What manner of successful Knight-Errant didn¡¯t own a personal Eidolon?
¡°About that. Regretfully I¡ª¡±
¡°Let me stop you there, Arthur.¡± Cassandra cut in firmly. ¡°To be candid, and despite the fact it may be an entirely innocent tale; I believe that not knowing the reason a pilot of your caliber is bereft of an Eidolon to be in the best interests of the Ascendancy, and my own. What we do not know, we need not lie about when making denials.¡±
Arthur paused and then nodded with understanding. It was a sensible approach, and when combined with the fact it saved him some very carefully worded truths; Arthur was not about to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth.
¡°I take it this is going to be a bit of a different contract than the usual Freelancer fare?¡± he asked her with a half-smile.
¡°Yes.¡± Cassandra said with a dazzling smile of her own. ¡°While most Knight-Errants are contracted for the span of two Solar years by the nations that retain them to fight on their behalf, it is rare that those Knight-Errants feel any true measure of loyalty or belonging to those nations.¡±
Knight-Errants. It was a colloquialism for Eidolon-piloting Freelancers, hearkening back to adventuring Knights in legends and tales from Terra. It was a universally accepted term, though often spoken in different names by different stellar cultures. With English being the ¡®common¡¯ language of human space, however; it made for an easily understood term.
¡°As such¡¡± Cassandra continued. ¡°With Lord Atreus¡¯ blessing and under my own authority, I would like to make you two offers.¡±
The Ypon¨¢varchos lifted her hand and Arthur¡¯s omni-comp vibrated against his wrist. He glanced at it and then back to Cassandra, and she nodded for him to proceed.
The requirements of basic social courtesy met, Arthur casually flicked his wrist and tapped the black band of metal to activate the two dimensional projected screen. A tap of perplexingly empty-solid digital projection later, and he navigated to his mailbox. Within he found and opened two contracts, which he immediately began reading.
¡°The first contract is a standard fare; two Solar years¡¯ exclusive operation as part of the Ascendancy Royal Navy¡¯s Eidolon Corps, with a standard retainer and bonuses per enemy defeated and battle won.¡±
¡°Contingent on participation, I take it?¡± Arthur asked with an upward glance.
¡°Of course.¡± Cassandra confirmed with another smile.
¡°Sounds right. My apologies for the interruption, and please continue.¡±
The Ypon¨¢varchos waved her hand dismissively at his apology, and continued as if the question had never come. ¡°The second contract is somewhat more atypical, and I have made some last minute modifications since we no longer need the deniability clause for worry of Aurelia coming looking for a deserter.¡±
Atreus snorted, and Arthur chuckled.
¡°This contract,¡± Cassandra continued unaffectedly, ¡°offers you a place within House Leos as one of our Hetairoi, to fight with us and serve us in the capacity of a sworn Knight. You would answer only to my husband, Menelaus Leos, the Duke of Pallik¨¢ri. In return, House Leos would not only give you a home, a very lucrative stipend, and address any desires you may have within the bounds of law, honor, and tradition¡ªbut would also fund, with our considerable resources, the creation and development of your very own Eidolon.¡±
Arthur¡¯s eyebrows had risen slowly when she¡¯d begun, and by time she was finished they were in his fringe. ¡°That¡¯s¡ very generous.¡± he said while being careful not to insult her accidentally. ¡°May I ask, my lady, if there is more to it?¡±
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
¡°Of course there is.¡± Cassandra said with a warm bell-like laugh. It almost made him shiver. She was ridiculously attractive, in both voice and features. ¡°Per the terms of the second contract, you will be required to share with House Leos any Eidolon technology you include in your design, though you will receive the rights to any patents¡ªshared with the House¡ªthat emerge as a result of your efforts.¡±
Arthur took a moment to absorb her words, and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when he did. Cassandra was a truly shrewd woman, and it only took him a few moments¡¯ puzzling to understand it. She wasn¡¯t just beautiful, she was brilliant¡ªand her rise to Ypon¨¢varchos suddenly seemed far less than she deserved.
¡°So you give me a blank cheque for Eidolon development, let me keep the income from any technological leaps I desire to patent, and benefit as a minority shareholder in those patents at the same time.¡± he listed off while ignoring the faint throb in his head. At least it was no longer sharp blades. ¡°You do all of this, while also maintaining plausible deniability if anyone from the inner sectors comes knocking.¡±
¡°In essence? Yes.¡± Cassandra confirmed shamelessly.
¡°That¡¯s a good offer.¡± Arthur said bluntly. ¡°Too good of an offer.¡±
¡°Ah. You caught me.¡± She said with a wry smile. ¡°I suppose it was too much to hope that you wouldn¡¯t.¡±
¡°I dislike being deceived more than I dislike flattery.¡± Arthur said without ire. Cassandra had been honest and honorable in her dealings with him thus far, inasmuch as he could tell. The fact she hid something wasn¡¯t what concerned him. Hiding things was what aristocrats did. He had certainly hidden his fair share of things in Pendragon.
At least, he assumed so. It felt like he had.
His concern was the gravity of what she was hiding, and whether or not it made the deal untenable.
¡°I understand that.¡± Cassandra said with a genuine smile. ¡°And the truth is, Kyrio Magellan¡ª¡±
¡°Just call me Arthur.¡± he cut in impulsively, and with no real understanding of why other than the fact it was exhausting to be referred to by formal titles constantly.
¡°Very well, Arthur.¡± she assented with a smile that, surprisingly, seemed warmer as a result of his request. ¡°I will be candid. My family is currently in a somewhat dire position, and your addition to our ranks would be¡ªin all honesty¡ªsomething of a miracle we are desperate for. I am afraid, Arthur. I am afraid for my husband, for my daughter, and for all those that depend on us; and I have neither the power nor the means to protect them.¡±
Cassandra¡¯s stormy eyes focused on him unerringly.
¡°In you, however, I see a chance to change that¡ and I will do whatever it takes to seize it.¡±
Arthur listened to her in silence and, when she was done, sat up straighter in his chair. His eyes moved across Cassandra¡¯s face, over to Atreus, and then toward both Perseus and Endymion.
When he spoke, it was to the older of the two non-psionic Kidem¨®nes.
¡°Is this why you brought me here, Endymion?¡± he asked in a measured tone.
¡°Yes.¡± the Kidem¨®nas said with unashamed pride.
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said while looking back to Cassandra. His mind was working rapidly over everything, from the return of his memories and all that they carried with them, to the new realities of his situation, to the truths the Lion Duchess¡ªa fitting name, in truth¡ªhad given him, and finally to what he was even doing in Graecia. Again he wondered why Nataliya had sent him. Again he wondered what it was she expected him to accomplish.
He found nothing in his mind. No hints, no inklings, no idle thoughts or implications.
If he wanted to learn more, though; he knew he¡¯d need to stay in Graecia.
To do that and be able to truly find what he was sent to find, he needed allies.
To that end, a Dukedom he personally saved from imminent destruction would be perfect. He¡¯d never need to worry¡ªat least in the immediate future¡ªof being easily betrayed or abandoned, not if he single handedly brought them back from the brink of devastation.
¡°Very well, Lady Leos.¡± Arthur said while hiding his thoughts. ¡°You¡¯ve given me much to think about. Before we move forward, are there any other details I need to be aware of?¡±
¡°Well, firstly, I would highly suggest that you have a solicitor look over these contracts before signing them.¡± Cassandra said with a smile. ¡°As much as I would like to believe you¡¯ll help me, I also see intellect in your eyes, and I do not want you going in blind.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± Arthur said genuinely.
¡°You are welcome.¡± Cassandra replied before continuing. ¡°As for your question, there is one more detail to be aware of¡ªbut it is not for me to say.¡±
Cassandra instead gestured to Atreus, and Arthur¡ªwith a mild apprehension¡ªturned his gaze to the tall, black-haired Myrmid¨®n.
The Spartan¡¯s golden eyes met Arthur¡¯s unblinkingly.
¡°Given your experience, origins, knowledge, and ludicrous combat potential in or out of an Eidolon; we cannot simply let you wander around unprotected.¡± Atreus began blithely. ¡°When news eventually does break regarding new strides in our technology¡ªand no matter how hard we Myrmid¨®nes work, it will break¡ªand our enemies and other powers begin probing around to find the source of those changes, you will immediately become a target.¡± his expression turned grim. ¡°One that the Ascendancy cannot afford to lose for the foreseeable future, if you prove to be the asset the Duchess believes you can be.¡±
Arthur¡¯s eyes narrowed in consideration of Atreus¡¯ words, but he didn¡¯t interrupt.
¡°Thereby and given your value, talents, and psionic gifts; I have decided to personally attach myself as your protector, citizenship sponsor, and cultural mentor. Additionally, Tacticus Endymion has agreed to commit himself and Kidem¨®nes Andino to aiding me. Their Hexaron is deployed elsewhere, but in time they too will join us.¡±
Arthur looked toward the two Kidem¨®nes at Atreus¡¯ words and they offered him nods in turn as if confirming the black-armored man¡¯s words. Arthur hadn¡¯t realized with immediacy that Endymion was the leader of the Hexaron he and Perseus belonged to. That put a lot of things into clearer context, too.
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said slowly while turning back to Atreus and Cassandra, and splitting his attention between both Graecian officials. ¡°And why is it that Duke or Duchess Leos cannot sponsor my citizenship?¡±
¡°You are not sworn to House Leos,¡± Cassandra said simply, ¡°and I did not want to coerce you into it by making that a contingent part of your ability to remain within Graecia.¡±
Arthur¡¯s eyebrows rose at that, and he folded his arms in genuine surprise. It was entirely possible Cassandra was manipulating him, of course, by pretending to be the kind and noble Aristocrat¡ªbut truthfully, he didn¡¯t even care. Whether she was genuine or not, the intelligence on display if she was manipulating him would have impressed him just as much as if she was being honest.
Which, truthfully, he actually thought she was.
That alone was rare enough, given his own experiences in Pendragon.
Arthur peered at the assembled quartet quietly, and then spoke again to Cassandra.
¡°Let me understand this, then. I give you technology, and in return you help me build whatever Eidolon I want within the limits of your manufacturing abilities, provide me the highest level of protection one can find within the Ascendancy, and you give me whatever I want within the confines of the Law, Honor, and Tradition¡ªbut not at the expense of your national security, nor your nation¡¯s relationships with older star nations that may theoretically have a bone to pick with me.¡± he said while ticking off his fingers. ¡°Is that about the gist of it?¡±
Cassandra nodded with an approving smile of her own. ¡°Precisely. If there are demands to hand you over, and they come at the end of a proverbial sword; we are not prepared to go to war with a Fringe power just to retain you.¡±
¡°Not yet, at any rate.¡± Atreus rumbled from beside her. ¡°If you prove to us you¡¯re worth it, both with demonstrable knowledge and demonstrable loyalty, that may change..¡±
¡°Reasonable enough.¡± Arthur conceded with an approving nod. He liked their terms. They were pragmatic, honest, and most of all respected his ability to think critically. They didn¡¯t treat him like a fool, and that alone was a massive boon for their attempts to convince him. ¡°I take it that the mentioned loyalty would be born of service?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Cassandra confirmed. ¡°Fight for us. Show us what you can offer House Leos, and the Ascendancy at large. In return, and once we have had time to integrate any potential upgrades to our technology that you may or may not produce, which may or may not hypothetically allow us to comfortably stave off a Fringe power¡¡± the dangerously beautiful Rear Admiral smiled in a predatory manner.
¡°Well, that gives us options.¡±
¡°I understand.¡± Arthur said with a smirk. ¡°And I only have one more question, really.¡±
¡°Yes, Arthur?¡± Cassandra asked with a small smile.
Arthur adopted a wry expression, and gestured idly with a hand.
¡°Could you recommend a good lawyer?¡±
B1 | Chapter 09: The Lion Duchess
My relationship with Atreus might have been the reason he agreed to take Arthur to Menelaus. I could not say for certain. Truthfully, I can¡¯t think of a reason to care. What mattered was that I had consigned my family to a fate that even then I had no capability to recognize. In the days, months, and years to follow I would ask myself¡ªrepeatedly and often¡ªwhether or not I had missed the window wherein I could reverse the clock, change my decision, and ameliorate the pain that followed. To this day, I still wonder.
¡°That man is going to be trouble, Cassandra.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re handling him, Atreus?¡± the Ypon¨¢varchos asked with clear amusement.
¡°As amusing as it is to see you as happy as a kitten with cream, Cassandra, this is not the time for your predatory amusements.¡± Atreus responded with long-suffering exasperation. ¡°We have just inherited a potential problem. Arthur Magellan may be the answer to your woes, and he may also be the prelude to House Leos¡¯ final destruction.¡±
¡°It is not as if we are blessed by a bevy of options.¡±
¡°I am aware.¡± Atreus sighed while settling his armored weight against her desk.
¡°Then you know that Menelaus and I are running out of time, Atreus. Houses Drakos, Gataki, and Onasis are looking for any excuse to erode our family¡¯s position, and to compromise our daughter¡ªeither through enforced marriage to seize our assets, or through an ¡®accident¡¯.¡±
¡°Your husband needs to force her to accept some bodyguards.¡±
¡°You know what she is like, Atreus. Circe is headstrong, proud, and fiercely independent. She¡¯ll never consent to what she sees as babysitters.¡±
¡°That reminds me of someone else I know.¡± the Myrmid¨®n said with a meaningful glance down at the Rear Admiral, and a small quirk of his lips. His duty meant that Atreus often schooled his emotions behind a strong and largely indomitable mask, but alone with the few who knew him well¡ªlike Cassandra¡ªit was easier to let his guard down to some degree.
¡°I am painfully aware of the mirror that my daughter has become when it comes to myself seventy years prior Atreus¡ª¡±
¡°Seventy? I would have said thirty.¡± he interjected with a snort.
¡°¡ªand while I appreciate the amusement it no doubt engenders within you, I must stress that I cannot afford to let the just desserts of my own youthful misadventures inform the fate of House Leos¡¯ only heir. The primary line has existed since Hellas was settled, and if Menelaus were the one to fail to continue it¡¡±
Atreus sighed subtly under his breath and turned to extend his right hand to rest on her shoulder. ¡°I understand your worry, Cassandra. The problem is not your attempted use of Magellan, if indeed he is as powerful as we believe him to be¡ªbut instead the consequences for your House if the inkling of the other touch I thought I sensed turns out to be a true residue.¡±
¡°It seems unlikely.¡± she said with a frown and look up at him.
¡°Unlikely? Yes. Improbable? Definitely. Impossible, though?¡± Atreus shook his head and downturned the corners of his lips to demonstrate his consternation. ¡°A Terran Inquisitor leaving a mark on his mind is not fully outside the realms of possibility. There is something about Magellan that despite all answers pointing to affirmation of his identity, I cannot help but believe it is false.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t truly think he¡¯s a Parthian spy, do you?¡±
¡°No. Nor do I think he¡¯s an enemy, nor an agent of one of your political opponents. But does that mean he is not a risk? That he is not hiding something?¡± Atreus¡¯ eyes shifted toward the door through which Arthur had departed with Endymion and Perseus and his frown grew.
¡°My concern Cassandra is that the boy will prove to be not an enemy, but someone far greater in importance than we imagined. Even the implication of an Inquisitor¡¯s touch¡ªand I only know of one order with close to the psionic power to leave the kind of ghosted residue I might have sensed¡ªinfers the involvement of not just the Grand Imperium, but of Terra itself.¡±
¡°What could the Imperator want with Graecia, Atreus?¡± Cassandra said in what Atreus knew was an attempt to soothe his worries. ¡°There could be many reasons Arthur might have interacted with an Inquisitor of Sol, and none of them mean anything targeted at our homeland. In the grand game of interstellar politics, we are a small factor by any stretch of the imagination.¡±
¡°It is my duty to consider the worst possible scenario, Cassandra.¡±
¡°And mine, as your friend, to remind you of what is truly important. The potential of a galactic conspiracy centered around a single Eidolon pilot and a mid-Rim nation, no matter how advanced we are for our position, is not within that scope.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Atreus asked with another glance back at her. ¡°We are friends now, are we?¡±
¡°While my clothes are still on.¡± Cassandra said with an amused smile. ¡°Certainly.¡±
Atreus felt his heart skip a beat at the heat in her voice, and he growled under his breath. ¡°Menelaus warned me you were incorrigible of late.¡±
¡°My time away from my husband has made me voracious, it is true. It is hardly my fault you are the only one I can turn to for succor.¡± she demurred.
¡°I did not agree to be your enkekrim¨¦nos erast¨ªs just for you to use me as you see fit, Cassandra.¡±
¡°You agreed because you would have been my husband were your path different, Atreus, and you agreed because you love Menelaus as a brother. You are the only one we can trust to tell us the truth of the Kings¡¯ courts.¡±.
¡°I skirt my oaths to do so, Cassandra.¡± Atreus reminded her grimly. ¡°Oaths that have dire consequences when even loosely circumnavigated.¡±
¡°And I love you for the risk you take on our behalf, my Knight. Agreeing to validate Magellan was more than I might have asked for. The fact you are willing to stay with him is more than I ever expected.¡±
¡°His presence threatens to destabilize all of Graecia, if not the Hyperion Sector at large.¡± Atreus said grimly while looking toward the door through which Arthur had exited only minutes earlier, and once again recalling the ghost of an impression he¡¯d felt during his delve. The power residue there had been catastrophic. More than even the Strategos of the Myrmid¨®nes could hope to wield.
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¡°We have survived worse than one pilot.¡± Cassandra said reassuringly.
¡°If only it were honestly that simple.¡± Atreus said with an exhale of the frustration he felt. ¡°I cannot describe to you what he is, Cassandra, because I cannot make you think as I do¡ªbut he has enough psion density to make me want to help him. Even knowing what is happening, and even with my own Callandium-empowered defenses in play; I still feel that compulsion even now.¡±
¡°If he truly is so powerful, then why let him go?¡± she asked with an idle rest of her chin on her beautiful fingers. ¡°Why not lock him in a cell, or vent him out of an airlock and be done with it?¡±
¡°Forgetting the strictures of honor that compel us to do nothing of the sort,¡± Atreus began with a flat look at his beloved, ¡°the reality is that Magellan is hiding something. Something big. Something he thinks he pulled over me. For now, I am content to let him dwell in that false blanket of security. It will make him more liable to reveal whatever it is he¡¯s hiding.¡±
¡°You¡ you don¡¯t think he¡¯s an agent of Terra, do you?¡± Cassandra asked in a voice that told Atreus he¡¯d finally managed to break through her indefatigable confidence. ¡°Because the only reason Terra would send an agent, would be¡ª¡±
¡°¡ªCensure.¡± Atreus finished grimly. ¡°If they were looking at us for Censure.¡±
¡°We haven¡¯t done anything to warrant that.¡± Cassandra said with what Atreus sensed as a spike of uncertainty. ¡°We¡¯ve abided by the unspoken mandates the Imperator enforces across the Humanosphere. There are Fringe and Verge nations far closer to Terra with far broader ambitions than us. True Multi-Stellar states, at that.¡±
¡°I agree it isn¡¯t entirely rational.¡± Atreus said in his calmest voice. ¡°But neither is it something we can entirely rule out. A pilot of Arthur¡¯s caliber could change the balance of power across the entire sector. If you give that man a machine of worth, he¡¯ll win wars by himself¡ªor as close to that as an Eidolon pilot can get.¡±
¡°Is there truly nobody in Graecia that could match him?¡±
¡°With the right machine? I doubt there¡¯s anyone in the Rim that could match him.¡±
¡°Not even Circe?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Atreus admitted.
¡°And he¡¯s definitely a Freelancer?¡± Cassandra pressed.
¡°He was not lying about being a Knight-Errant.¡±
¡°...Hm.¡± Cassandra said at Atreus¡¯ words, at the same moment as her uncertainty was subsumed by what he had come to understand was a feeling of calculation.
It was a feeling that often gave him cause to worry.
¡°Cassandra.¡± he said warily.
¡°He needs to accept my offer...¡± she muttered.
¡°Cassandra.¡± he said more intently.
¡°I would need to make sure he¡¯s handled properly, of course¡¡±
Atreus turned and placed his forefinger under her chin, lifting it up so he could look down into her eyes, each one like thunderstorms made into a window to the soul. ¡°Cassandra.¡± he growled. ¡°What are you scheming?¡±
¡°My House needs a Champion, Atreus.¡± his lover responded while reaching up to gently stroke his armored hand. ¡°My husband needs a Hetairoi. My daughter needs a Knight. House Leos needs a Protector. We cannot afford to let any opportunity pass us by. House Drakos has all but defenestrated our ability to even approach Eidolon pilots to fight for us, and here one of the greatest in Graecia¡¯s history has just fallen into my lap.¡±
¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. We were just speaking on whether he was an agent of¡ª¡±
¡°If Graecia is to be censured, we can do nothing to stop it.¡± Cassandra cut him off firmly, and lightly pushed his hand away. ¡°If Terra wants to make an example of us for whatever slight the Imperator might concoct in his Callandium-mad brain, that¡¯s Terra¡¯s business. I cannot¡ªI will not, in fact!¡ªlive my life like a child scared of their absentee father¡¯s ire!¡±
¡°He could be the end of everything, if he¡¯s here for a nefarious purpose.¡± Atreus warned.
¡°He could be the answer to everything if he isn¡¯t, and if we ingratiate House Leos to him and his theoretical puppet masters from Terra come calling, well¡ that is an advantage I¡¯m willing to take as well. You saw how well he responded to my offer, and my honesty. Arthur could fix everything.¡±
¡°This gamble could cost you and Menelaus everything, Cassandra.¡±
¡°It could.¡± she agreed. ¡°But not doing anything will. We have nothing left, Atreus. There is only Circe to fight for us, and I will not see my daughter destroyed by our enemies if I can stop it. I cannot sit back and wait for my family by birth and by marriage torn asunder because I was too worried to act.¡±
Atreus stared at her in silence, debating what to say, how to say it, and what words would have the best impact. He considered which examples to use, which caveats to raise, which cautionary tales to wield¡ªand then, as if from on high, a realization pierced the nebulous web of his own rapid thoughts.
If she did nothing, she truly would have nothing by the end.
Atreus sighed when he realized he would not be able to change her mind, and he settled back against the desk. ¡°I can see you are set on this.¡± he rumbled. ¡°And I understand why, even if I worry for your safety¡ªand for Menelaus and Circe¡¯s as well.¡±
¡°You have done all you can to protect us within the confines of your oaths, my love.¡± Cassandra said warmly. ¡°You would have been Menelaus¡¯ Strategos, had your calling not taken you elsewhere. You know that. It broke his heart when the Myrmid¨®nes took you.¡±
¡°I know.¡± Atreus said with a ghost of old regret. ¡°I remember.¡±
¡°Good. Then when Arthur is gone, I will ask Menelaus to keep you apprised of¡ª¡±
¡°There will be no need.¡± Atreus interjected while the decision was already resolving in his mind. With things as they were, he realized that sitting back would never be an option. ¡°Regardless of where he goes, I will stay with him. Once you enact your schemes, and if they work to convince him, I¡¯ll go with him to Laconia¡ªto House Leos¡¯ grounds, instead of the Fortress of Ares.¡±
Cassandra looked up at him in surprise. ¡°Just like that?¡±
¡°There are many reasons to watch him, but if you truly plan to recruit him, and he is to do what I could not and become Strategos? Well, that is a compelling one.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll need to send a message to Diogenes before he reaches him, then.¡± Cassandra murmured. ¡°The changes I¡¯ll need to make, I¡¡± she paused and looked back up at Atreus. ¡°Really, though? Just like that you¡¯ll go to Laconia?¡±
¡°If he is to ensure the safety of my vaptistik¨ª?,¡± Atreus said stoically, ¡°I cannot afford to let him do so absent guidance.
¡°And in the act, you have the time to visit your metamor.¡±
¡°Menelaus tires of my warnings faster than you do, Cassandra.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never fucked him.¡±
¡°You¡¯re being crass.¡± he scolded without heat.
¡°So punish me.¡±
¡°Cassandra¡¡±
¡°Atreus.¡±
He sighed at the shit-eating grin on her face and pushed himself off her desk. ¡°I only have an hour at most before my Kidem¨®nes brothers will wonder at my tarrying.¡±
¡°And I have schemes to concoct, my handsome Knight.¡± Cassandra said with a distinctly predatory and heart-breakingly beautiful smile. ¡°So, let¡¯s not waste a second.¡±
Atreus couldn¡¯t help but let loose a low, bass chuckle.
¡°As you wish, Lady Leos.¡±
B1 | Chapter 10: Diogenes
When I learned what it was that Diogenes had devised, I thought myself lucky. I considered myself a cunning manipulator, even. Gods I was a fool. How does one think themselves the victor, when placing their heart ¡®twixt the claws of a lion? How could I have ever thought myself brilliant, when I had invited a cataclysm into my home, and set it on a path to pull all of Graecia into hell with it? My husband and I needed a Champion. My daughter needed a Knight. It seemed so perfect. So clever. Now, I weep at my own stupidity. Even now Stars burn across the humanosphere, and I weep.
True to his request and with a commendable level of honest assessment, Cassandra had in fact recommended Arthur to one of the best legal practitioners on Asfal¨ªs, and perhaps within the Ascendancy as a whole. The journey to the quaintly named offices of ¡®Diogenes Legal Services¡¯ had been largely uneventful following his departure from the Ascendancy Royal Navy¡¯s headquarters, thanks partly he was sure to the intimidating appearance of his two companions.
As if the soft hum of movement from both Endymion and Perseus¡¯ power armor was not enough, the sheer presence exuded by the pair was such that passersby actively moved away from the trio while they traversed the streets of Port Asfal¨ªs.
It had taken only a little convincing for the two Kidem¨®nes to consent to allowing Arthur the chance to see the artificial port city from the ground, and only cost him the concession of not drifting off from their vicinity.
Given they seemed to subconsciously adjust to his every subtle shift in direction without issue, that was a small ask indeed. The Kidem¨®nes were the elite royal guard, after all. It made sense that they had a knack for bodyguard duties.
A pleasant revelation from his time with the two was that both Graecian natives appeared to genuinely share his appreciation for the city¡¯s beauty, and Perseus especially was more than happy to serve as a font of information and insight; pointing out every important landmark, explaining cultural oddities Arthur couldn¡¯t quite understand, and even explaining some of the inspirations from human history that informed many of the statues, sculptures, and pieces of art displayed proudly throughout the city.
Their journey passed quickly in that way, and before long Arthur had found himself approaching the very legal offices within which he sat at that very moment, opposite from what might have been the most interestingly unassuming person he¡¯d ever met.
Diogenes Carius, the owner, operator, and sole solicitor of Diogenes Legal Services was a short and portly Graecian man of advanced age. His hair, as wispy and silver as any Arthur had ever seen; was neatly brushed everywhere save for the sides of his head where it seemed determined to puff out as if the elderly lawyer had been electrocuted.
His simple brown suit and neat gray pocket square seemed oddly appropriate for the offices themselves, which were painted a faded cream color that somehow granted an homely or comforting feeling to the entire premises.
In fact were it not for the clearly modern holo screens, autoprinters, and AI assistant hologram manning the front desk; Arthur might have thought himself stepping back in time to the 20th Century.
¡°This contract does look quite generous.¡± Diogenes said in a voice that might have once been bass, but was now softer from the passage of time. ¡°My only point of contention on your behalf, dear boy, would be the lack of an exit clause in the more lucrative of the two offers.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that to be expected?¡± Arthur asked while looking into the other man¡¯s startlingly blue, exceedingly sharp eyes. ¡°One does not simply swear an oath to a House and walk away absent cause.¡±
¡°Cassandra Leos is the daughter of an ancient and deeply venerated military bloodline. I am not remotely surprised that she is seeking to tie your fate to her House¡¯s own in whatever manner she can. Sending you to me, however¡¡±
¡°A mistake?¡± Arthur asked with a searching gaze.
¡°No. Very much intentional.¡± Diogenes said firmly. ¡°I believe that we are seeing the separation of role and person. The Lion Duchess may need to do whatever is in her power to tie you to her bloodline, but Cassandra¡ªthe woman¡ªis seeking to give you the chance to build your own future.¡±
Arthur frowned at the seriousness of the elder man¡¯s tone, and looked to where the contracts floated between them in holographic projection. ¡°I didn¡¯t really think it was such a dramatic action.¡±
¡°And that is precisely why she sent you to me, my boy. As you rightly stated, you cannot join the world of the Eupatridae and leave at their leisure. Hetairoi usually serve for an agreed-upon term, but this contract has no term limit. Usually Hetairoi swear to abide by a specific timeframe, and those oaths are quite binding both legally and morally.¡±
¡°So if I¡¯d signed the contract, I¡¯d have been indentured then and there?¡±
Diogenes chuckled dryly. ¡°No, hardly that. You would, however, have been legally tied down so firmly that you¡¯d have never been able to charter legal passage out of Graecia, let alone operate an Eidolon independently again. I suppose the difference could be seen as semantic, but the devil is often in the details as the saying goes.¡±
Arthur leaned back in his chair¡ªwhich had a feature that adjusted it to fit his posture perfectly each time he moved¡ªand reached up to rub his temples. He was no stranger, according to his murky memories, when it came to legalese or complicated matters of law and contract; but part of him had not thought a mid-Rim star nation to be anywhere near as capable of ruthless legality as his homeworld in the Pendragon System.
Yet another baseless assumption that might have gotten him into trouble.
He made a mental note to not allow his resurfacing memories to encourage them.
¡°So what are my options, then?¡± Arthur asked with a frown. ¡°The second deal is evidently the only feasible one. I can¡¯t pay for nor earn enough drachma to fund my own Eidolon without House Leos¡¯ help, and I definitely have no interest in flying a stock Rim machine.¡±
He paused.
¡°Ah, no offense¡ª¡±
¡°You have no need to apologize.¡± Diogenes said without missing a beat. ¡°Your honesty does you credit, and your assessment is correct: The first offer is little more than a formality. It is even structured to be a formality, and attempting to make it anything more would be a fool¡¯s errand.¡±
Arthur sighed. ¡°Okay. So what do I do? I wasn¡¯t entirely certain a true counter-offer was actually on the table.¡±
¡°In many ways it isn¡¯t, no. House Leos clearly wants you, and their desire to keep you firmly tied to their bloodline is not something that will subside easily. However¡ There is room to play within that minefield. Especially since the honorable Duke Leos himself must consent to your appointment, no matter what contract you sign.¡±
¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± Arthur said while leaning forward again.
¡°Serve House Leos with the explicit intention of representing their interests, in return for all that was promised¡ªas well as an open endorsement from the House Head, at the time of your term¡¯s expiry, patronizing your right to create your own Eupatridae House. You would never be able to serve as a Knight-Errant in the same capacity, but in many ways you would enjoy far more freedom regardless.¡±
Arthur listened to Diogenes carefully and frowned while he processed the older man¡¯s words, his fingers tapping on the armrests of his chair in thought.
Hetairoi were the storied companions of Alexander the Great, and served as his Knights and champions. It stood to reason that the translation, while not so directly exacting, would infer something equivalent to a sworn Knight. ¡°So I would use my combat skills for House Leos, to then buy the political capital to ennoble myself with their sponsorship?¡±
¡°Yes. We Graecians still retain a great swathe of our classical roots, and among them is a heavy Spartan influence upon our martial and ruling echelons. While Attica and Laconia both play host to the seat of one of the two Kings, it is currently Sparta that enjoys the greatest influence upon the Ascendancy.¡±
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¡°Because of Parthia?¡± Arthur guessed.
¡°Because of Parthia.¡± Diogenes confirmed simply. ¡°With war ever-looming, the citizens look ever-more to King Leonidas, while King Pericles is content to allow his counterpart the scrutiny. The power of Athenai has always been commerce and social engineering, where Spartan might is drawn from manufacturing and the military. Once there was some balance, but in recent decades it is Sparta that has ascended to primacy.¡±
¡°Leonidas and Pericles¡¡± Arthur repeated thoughtfully. ¡°I understand them to be names taken upon ascension?¡±
¡°Indeed. The Kings doff their born names and moniker themselves after the greatest legends of each city-state. Leonidas is the fourteenth to carry the name, and Pericles the seventeenth to bear his.¡±
¡°What does swearing to House Leos entail?¡± Arthur asked carefully. ¡°Forgive my wariness, Diogenes, but I am cautious of anything that has oaths of service in a society where they are upheld with such dire, and literal emphasis.¡±
¡°Your caution is warranted.¡± Diogenes reassured him calmly. ¡°To be candid, House Leos is one of the best you could ask for, in terms of opportunity, treatment, and reputation. The process is simple enough, as well. You will arrive, be vetted by the Patriarch, demonstrate your skills, and either be offered an official appointment or sent away.¡±
¡°That is simple, and you sound familiar with them.¡± Arthur observed.
¡°Well, yes.¡± Diogenes chuckled. ¡°I represent them.¡±
Arthur smiled at that wryly, and leaned back in his chair with a resigned chuckle.
¡°She really did think of everything, didn¡¯t she?¡±
¡°Of course she did.¡± Diogenes said with his first proper smile. ¡°That is why she chose me to take care of your needs.¡±
¡°Oh? Here I thought I was just being maneuvered by her.¡±
¡°Well of course you are.¡± Diogenes said with an owlish blink. ¡°That is the nature of these games, dear boy. Everyone is a piece on the board. In your case, it just so happens that while I may be assisting a long-term client and ally, I am also looking out for your best interests.¡±
¡°Is that so?¡± Arthur asked skeptically.
¡°It is indeed. House Leos is one of the most storied and well-respected bloodlines in Graecia. They¡¯ve recently fallen upon hard times, given that their last Hetairoi died valiantly in combat against pirates of all things some five decades hence.¡±
¡°Cassandra boasted wealth, influence, and power. What manner of hard times could they truly be suffering if she can make me such a lucrative offer?¡±
Arthur had his suspicions, of course. If his assumptions about the requirements to become an Hetairoi were accurate, he could perfectly understand why House Leos was desperate to have him.
¡°Because all the drachma and land in the galaxy means little if you cannot enforce your dominion. Hetairoi are the means by which most inter-House disputes are settled, dear boy.¡± Diogenes said, and confirmed Author¡¯s assumptions in the act. ¡°Not to mention, being unable to supply bannermen when called upon by one¡¯s sovereign does not look good. Surely you saw much the same in Aurelia.¡±
¡°And elsewhere besides.¡± Arthur said noncommittally.
¡°So you understand.¡± Diogenes said with satisfaction.
¡°I do. Am I to also understand then, as a matter of certainty, that being an Eidolon pilot is a requirement for becoming an Hetairoi?¡±
¡°Indeed so. It is the only unequivocally universal requirement, in fact.¡±
Arthur had suspected as much. The existence of Eidolons and the rare, special breed of soldier that piloted them meant that most higher society factions across human space settled their disputes with ritual duels between champions, usually to disablement, though sometimes even to the death.
It was a tradition that had been pioneered¡ªeven aggressively pushed¡ªby the Grand Imperium since the creation of Eidolons, and had become a universal cultural norm across all of human space. Eidolon pilots were as intrinsically tied to the cultural traditions of most societies as the worlds upon which they resided.
The idle wonder of why gigantic robots had been pushed as the chosen form of resolution between the aggrieved upper crust of mankind presented itself, but Arthur chose to defer the question for later rumination. It was not one he was likely to find an answer to soon, regardless.
His focus was needed in the present.
¡°So House Leos lacks Hetairoi.¡± Arthur said instead, and while giving no indication of his cultural ruminations. ¡°Cassandra wants me to fix that... And she mentioned her husband?¡±
¡°Yes. She is the Patriarch¡¯s wife, though she and he share a great grandfather. She was from a branch line of the main family, though close enough in relation to be worth bringing into the main line.¡±
¡°Ah. Gene-potency, I imagine?¡±
¡°Exactly so.¡± Diogenes said with a nod. ¡°Their daughter, Circe, is the most gifted Eidolon pilot in House Leos¡¯ history. One of the most gifted in the cluster, truth be told.¡±
Arthur mulled on that for a moment and realized quickly the problem. While the heiress might have been capable of taking on a Knightly role, the reality was that the path was saturated by the possibility of death, or worse.
¡°They can¡¯t afford to risk her in the role of a Hetairoi, I take it?¡±
¡°That is correct.¡± Diogenes confirmed without hesitation. ¡°Lord Menelaus Leos had an unfortunate accident shortly after Circe was born, and is unable to bear more children. Circe is too important to risk on a Hetairoi¡¯s lifestyle.¡±
¡°And from the sounds of things, they¡¯ve had no luck recruiting other Hetairoi.¡±
¡°No, they have not. Sadly it appears that those seeking an end to House Leos¡¯ primacy in their areas of dominion are working hard to throttle their ability to find adequate champions.¡±
Arthur reached up and idly massaged his temples.
His headache had gotten better, but now and then it still spiked.
¡°You¡¯re being paid by Cassandra,¡± he said with a glance up at Diogenes, ¡°but can I assume you are still my lawyer?¡±
¡°Yes. I take my obligations very seriously, Ser Magellan.¡± Diogenes said with a firm and no-nonsense look. ¡°I will not twist my advice to a client for anyone¡¯s benefit, irrelevant of my relationship with them.¡±
Arthur blinked when a blur of color penetrated his vision, almost as if anchored around Diogenes, and then blinked again to clear it.
When he was done, they were gone.
He was going to need some sleep, if he was starting to hallucinate.
¡°Are you alright, Kyrio Magellan?¡±
¡°I¡ yes. Fine. Sorry. Okay, so you won¡¯t lie to me. Somehow I feel like I can trust that. So¡¡± he leaned forward and focused on the wizened lawyer. ¡°Why House Leos?¡±
¡°They honor their accords, they treat their vassals with respect, and they will give you a powerful shield against others who may seek to use you for their own ends¡ªand against your best interests.¡± Diogenes said immediately and with confidence. ¡°Lord Atreus, whom I am given to understand is your sponsor¡ªwell done with that, by the way¡ªand your Kidem¨®nes escorts will help, but they are strictly apolitical and cannot shield you from threats that do not fall within their purview.¡±
¡°So I need a political shield.¡± Arthur said with a nod of understanding.
¡°And sword.¡± Diogenes agreed. ¡°House Leos can be both, while the Myrmid¨®n and his brothers keep you safe from other concerns.¡±
Arthur sighed again and looked up at the ceiling in thought. It was a risk. It was a huge risk, in some ways, but¡ Something about the situation called to him. Whether it was Nataliya¡¯s wytchery, the effects of his time around Cassandra and her evident sincerity and love for her family¡ªa love he knew he had never seen from his own family¡ªor the simple reality of wanting to belong to something¡ He didn¡¯t know, nor did he truthfully care.
Becoming House Leos¡¯ Hetairoi might serve a personal purpose in giving him later political liberty, but it also answered a yearning within him that he could not deny.
Arthur hungered for purpose.
Becoming House Leos¡¯ Hetairoi gave him that.
All he had, thanks to his abysmal Callandium compatibility, were the passive abilities his dense psions offered him; charisma, spatial awareness, heightened reflexes, moderately accelerated healing, and a deep and abiding ability to sense when he was in danger or when something could truly benefit him.
There was no sense in not trusting those abilities now.
If he managed to save House Leos from the edge of calamity, they would be indebted to him for the remainder of his life. Based on everything he¡¯d learned, that was not an obligation they would ever take lightly¡ªand having a Duke in your corner, no matter if it was the Rim or the Core, was never a bad thing.
¡°Alright, Diogenes. I¡¯ll take the bait that has been so reasonably dangled.¡± Arthur said with an injection of mirth. ¡°Rework the contract and prepare it for me, with the stipulation for Lord Leos to sponsor my own House down the line if I choose to pursue it.¡±
¡°I shall see to it.¡± Diogenes promised with a smile.
¡°And I assume there will be more to this than just signing the paperwork?¡±
¡°I would certainly presume so. Most likely you will be escorted to the House Leos holdings of Pallik¨¢ri in Laconia, on Hellas, and brought before Duke Menelaus and Lady Circe. Whether or not Cassandra joins you is a wholly different matter upon which I cannot comment.¡±
¡°Well then. All this has made me extraordinarily hungry.¡± Arthur said with a wry smile and buried concern while rising from his chair. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know somewhere nearby I can find some good food?¡±
¡°Well now that depends, my dear boy.¡±
¡°On what exactly?¡± Arthur asked curiously.
¡°On how you feel about garlic yogurt and lamb.¡±
B1 | Chapter 11: Passionate Proselytization
I had never seen Endymion so passionate as when he sought to convince our charge of the merits of House Leos. I knew he was Laconian, but I never dreamed he¡¯d hold any one family in such high regard. I wonder if that was the start of our mistakes. I wonder if that was where our turning point was, and it was that moment which sealed Graecia¡¯s fate. I may never find out the answer.
Arthur sat down at the table indicated by the waiter with a smile of thanks, and set his backpack down beside him when he did. The restaurant that Diogenes had sent him to, named the ¡®Delight of Dionysus¡¯, was apparently one of the best for day-meals and casual luncheons on Asfal¨ªs. It had only taken a quick aircar trip to arrive, and thanks to the parking priority claimed by the Kidem¨®nes they had not had to worry about finding somewhere to stow the aircar first.
When both Endymion and Perseus took up guardian positions nearby, Arthur glanced over at them. ¡°Not going to join me?¡± He asked curiously.
¡°We were instructed to watch over you while waiting for Lord Atreus.¡± Endymion rumbled gruffly in response.
¡°And that means you can¡¯t do that while enjoying a meal?¡± Arthur questioned skeptically.
¡°It would be inappropriate.¡±
¡°Do you really think someone¡¯s going to attack me here, Endymion?¡± Arthur pressed with a mild amount of amused exasperation. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of Port Asfal¨ªs, I can see police nearby, and there are cameras and people everywhere. Not to mention the fact that nobody even knows who I am. Standing there like silver-and-blue ¡®look over here!¡¯ signs is just going to draw more attention.¡±
¡°Us eating with you could be just as strange a sight.¡± The Kidem¨®nes said dubiously.
¡°Could be. Probably less obvious than standing guard as if I¡¯m royalty, though, right?¡±
¡°He has a point, brother.¡± Perseus said with a small chuckle. ¡°We look very conspicuous standing guard over him.¡±
Endymion turned his helmet to Perseus, and then back to Arthur, and finally let out an audible sigh. ¡°Very well. You¡¯ve made your point, Arthur.¡± The more senior Kidem¨®nas said while moving to join Arthur at the table, and reaching up to remove his helmet with a hiss of depressurizing air.
The face that was revealed was both expected and unexpected in equal measure.
Endymion appeared to be in his prime, with close-cropped brown hair and a beard that erred toward red, which was meticulously maintained to surround his mouth. His eyes were a deep brown and surprisingly soulful, giving Arthur the impression of an artist or scholar more than a warrior.
Were it not for the military haircut and powered armor, in fact, Arthur would have mistaken him for a very fit librarian or poet.
¡°You don¡¯t look like what I was expecting.¡± Arthur observed thoughtfully.
¡°I¡¯ve heard that before.¡± Endymion muttered while setting his helmet aside on the table. ¡°And it¡¯s irritating every time.¡±
Arthur smiled at him in amusement.
¡°The look of annoyed sufferance is certainly very you, though.¡±
Endymion just grunted and looked at Perseus when the younger and taller of the two Kidem¨®nes joined them both, and similarly removed his helmet.
Perseus looked far more like the poster boy for Graecia¡¯s classical heritage: olive-skinned, curly black hair falling to his shoulders, an easy smile, and a strong and handsome jaw. Someone could have taken his face and put it on the poster for a movie about Hercules, and Arthur would have thought they¡¯d actually gone and found the man.
Mythological or not.
¡°Endymion¡¯s only setting is ¡®professionally dissatisfied¡¯.¡± Perseus said while easing himself into the chair and setting his helmet on the table.
¡°I thought it was ¡®annoyed with everything¡¯.¡± Arthur jested with an ease that surprised him. His regained memories told him unequivocally that he was not a person prone to jesting, yet he found it shockingly easy to do around the two Kidem¨®nes.
¡°Currently, my setting is ¡®wondering why I am here¡¯.¡± Endymion griped while picking up the laminated menu with a faint whine of his gauntlet¡¯s servos. ¡°Though I will admit, I enjoy the food here.¡± He muttered. ¡°The Delight is one of the best places for day-food on Asfal¨ªs.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what Diogenes told me.¡± Arthur agreed while picking up his own menu. ¡°Though I¡¯m surprised it¡¯s a physical menu.¡± He commented while wobbling the laminated material in amusement.
¡°Plays into the classical vibe.¡± Perseus said with a laugh. ¡°Though since I don¡¯t think they had laminated paper in the old world, it¡¯s just more ¡®classical¡¯ than holo screens.¡±
¡°Classical vogue, then.¡± Arthur laughed in kind.
It felt good to laugh, he admitted to himself.
Arthur Zacaris, he knew, had not had very many opportunities to laugh freely.
Endymion set down his menu at the same time as Arthur turned to look at his own properly, and perused the options without any idea of what to pick.
¡°Can either of you recommend something?¡± he asked idly.
¡°Lamb.¡± Endymion said with surprising zeal.
¡°Lamb is good.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°Steak is good too.¡±
¡°You have Lamb and Steak on the station?¡± Arthur enquired. ¡°Is it imported from Hellas, or is it vat-grown?¡±
¡°Graecia only does vat-grown for rations.¡± Perseus said with a shake of his head. ¡°The restaurants and day-to-day stuff are all genuinely farmed. It¡¯s considered pretty prestigious to be a proper farmer in Graecia. Macedon, the third continent of Hellas, is almost entirely dedicated to farming and food production. We also get a lot of things from Demeter.¡±
¡°I had heard you had an impressively well-developed Agri-World.¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Perseus said with a nod. ¡°Largest supplier of food in the cluster, actually. We got real lucky settling in Graecia. The System is absolutely stacked with resources and vital world-types. With access to proper terraforming technology, we¡¯re hoping to be able to make more of it habitable. Zeus and a couple of the other worlds are exceptions, but the gas giant has its own benefits.¡±
¡°Like free hydrogen fuel for the fleet.¡± Arthur guessed.
¡°And a lucrative income from merchants stopping in to refuel, too.¡± Perseus agreed.
¡°Do the other nations not have gas giants?¡±
¡°Byzantium does, Parthia does, but Espania, Temujin, Liberty, and Sicilia are all pretty out of luck as far as that goes. I think Liberty and Sicilia share one at the gateway system between them and us, but their entire sub-cluster only connects to Hyperion through a single hyperlane.¡±
¡°I¡¯m surprised Graecia doesn¡¯t control it.¡± Arthur commented while perusing the list of drinks instead, and putting off his meal choice for the immediate moment.
¡°We provide security for the merchants, given the size of our military, but we agreed to make it neutral territory early on in the colonial development. We ended up becoming one of the two big nations in the cluster, but we¡¯ve stuck by the treaty.¡±
¡°The star map of Hyperion is pretty rigid.¡± Arthur said while deciding to go with some sort of mango-vanilla hybrid drink. ¡°I saw several micro-clusters connected to Hyperion¡¯s main hyperlane network, and several of them were colonized by small nations.¡±
¡°There are ten star nations in the Cluster.¡± Perseus said with a nod. ¡°But of those, Liberty, Sicilia, Iroquois, Bretonnia, and Madrid are minor players. Liberty tends to puff up now and then, but it¡¯s mostly just to show they aren¡¯t willing to be bullied by Graecia¡ªnot that we even care to do that.¡± Perseus finished with a sigh.
¡°So Graecia, Parthia, Byzantium, Espania, and Temujin are the major players?¡±
¡°Temujin¡ Well, sort of?¡± Perseus said with a look at the still-silent Endymion, who caught the glance and sighed.
¡°Temujin is borderline as a major player.¡± Endymion said with a resigned grumble. ¡°We rate the power of a nation based on its capability for projection, its population, and its gross system product. I¡¯m sure Aurelia was similar.¡±
Arthur simply nodded in agreement and continued listening.
Truthfully he had no real idea, but it seemed consistent with his false memories.
¡°In terms of projection, Temujin falls far short. Its military is second-priority to its conservation of the natural elements of its systems, and the Khanate places a lot of impetus on ensuring the preservation of the natural environments of the worlds that come under its control.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sensing a but.¡± Arthur said, and shared a look of amusement with Perseus.
¡°But¡ª¡± Endymion said with an annoyed glance at both of them ¡°¡ªTemujin is rimward of Parthia, to the galactic north as reckoned by Sol¡¯s relation to us and the galactic center.¡±
¡°So they¡¯re a nature-loving coalition of nomads, if my historical context is correct.¡± Arthur said while thinking back to what memories he had of his education on Albion. It was strange, he could remember the knowledge he gleaned from that education in sudden and unpredictable surges that came while he spoke to people, but he could recall nothing of the actual process of education, nor what his schooling had even looked like.
It was incredibly off-putting. He knew it had happened. He knew he had the knowledge. He simply couldn¡¯t remember any of it with specificity. Shelving the disconcerting reality of his butchered memory, he focused on the immediate moment and finished his thought.
¡°And they¡¯re cornered by an imperialistic and hyper-aggressive neighbor?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Endymion grunted. ¡°Temujin holds its own, thanks largely to its wealth of mineral resources and highly professional military, but if Parthia decides to really hammer them, they¡¯ll need help.¡±
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¡°Graecia isn¡¯t willing?¡± Arthur asked with surprise.
¡°Temujin isn¡¯t willing.¡± Perseus said with a sigh. ¡°They keep refusing our offers of aid, saying they don¡¯t want to be in our debt, basically. They¡¯re stubborn.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not uncommon, especially for some of the more culturally introverted nations.¡± Arthur said while using the knowledge provided by the memories Nataliya had fabricated. ¡°The Fringe isn¡¯t much different either. Rasputin is downright xenophobic.¡±
¡°Sounds like Iroquois.¡± Perseus muttered. ¡°They¡¯re so jaded they might as well post ¡®fuck off and die¡¯ signs across their Calypso points.¡±
¡°Andino.¡± Endymion growled.
¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Perseus said defensively.
¡°Just because it¡¯s true doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s okay to say in public, brother.¡±
¡°Politics.¡± Arthur said dryly. ¡°They¡¯re always the same no matter where you are in the Humanosphere: a fucking headache.¡±
Perseus burst out laughing at his words, and even Endymion allowed himself to snort in amusement.
¡°So of all these powers, it¡¯s just Parthia that¡¯s a pain in the ass?¡± Arthur asked after their laughter subsided.
¡°Essentially. Liberty and Sicilia depend on us for trade, Iroquois is isolationist, Temujin has a tenuous armistice with Parthia and uses their lanes for trade shipping¡ªwith a hefty tax, so I hear¡ªand commercial travel. Bretonnia and Madrid are at a kind of permanent war footing with each other, and spend most of their time shooting one another over the same three systems in the same micro-cluster.¡±
¡°Waste of human life.¡± Endymion growled.
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty bad out there.¡± Perseus said with a sober look. ¡°As for Byzantium and Espania; they¡¯re located Solward and just sort of exist. They¡¯re too weak to challenge us or Parthia and historically they¡¯re pretty close allies. Both the Byzantine Basileus and Espanian King are actually cousins, funnily enough. Their royal families are pretty heavily intermarried after centuries of peace.¡±
¡°What if they merged?¡± Arthur asked with interest. He¡¯d definitely heard of it happening between smaller nations in Rim sectors, and even the Fringe and Verge had examples of it¡ªthough in almost every case, it was due to one side gaining pre-eminence over the other, and the lesser of the two powers seeking to preserve some measure of identity or influence when faced with a neighbor¡¯s inevitable victory.
Planets didn¡¯t fall often or easily in the Humanosphere, but a blockade would kill a civilization just as easily.
He didn¡¯t even need to worry which memories that knowledge came from.
It was just such a constant for the Humanosphere that it didn¡¯t matter.
¡°A merger could happen.¡± Perseus said with a thoughtful tone. ¡°But probably won¡¯t. I think they enjoy their individual independence too much, and alliances are a far cry from assimilation. Not even sure who¡¯d be qualified to take over the other, honestly.¡±
¡°Could just do two monarchs like us.¡± Endymion muttered.
¡°Assuming they could find a way to meld the two constitutions as well.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°Byzantium is a lot less democratic than Espania, and a lot more brutal on dissidents to boot.¡±
¡°Nothing compared to Parthia.¡± Endymion snorted.
¡°Nothing compared to Parthia.¡± Perseus agreed.
¡°Parthia can¡¯t be all that bad, can it?¡± Arthur asked carefully.
Both Kidem¨®nes stared at him flatly, and Arthur raised his hands peacefully.
¡°Hey, I¡¯m not from here. I don¡¯t have generational loathing. I¡¯m asking objectively.¡±
His companions looked at each other for a moment, and then Perseus spoke.
¡°They¡¯re not mustache-twirling holovid baddies.¡± Perseus admitted. ¡°And they are pretty economically solvent, with a booming population to boot. The problem is that¡ª¡±
¡°They¡¯re slaving, pillaging, honorless scum.¡± Endymion interjected flatly. ¡°Parthians only put value on their nobles and serfs. The rest of the population are seen as chattel for their imperialism, and used as disposable assets. They use state breeding programs to inflate their birth rate, and then send children as young as fifteen to go fight their wars in mass-produced and cheaply built warships.¡±
¡°It¡¯s numbers and fusillades for Parthia.¡± Perseus agreed grimly. ¡°They¡¯re the other big power in the cluster, but their strength has been built on a callous disregard for their own citizens¡¯ lives.¡±
¡°And nobody has bothered to rebel?¡± Arthur asked with a disturbed look. The very idea of a nation like that not simply persisting, but thriving made his skin crawl.
¡°It¡¯s been attempted.¡± Perseus said sadly. ¡°Their propaganda is extreme, though, and their narrative is impeccable. Most Parthians are highly xenophobic, and genuinely believe the rest of the cluster¡ªhell, the rest of the Humanosphere wants to destroy or enslave them. It¡¯s classic despot stuff.¡±
¡°Another tragedy to lay at the feet of Terran selfishness.¡± Endymion muttered. ¡°With no FTL communications, nobody can truly show Parthians differently. Merchants are kept well away from the population at large, and with how they curate their pleasure stations, most don¡¯t care enough to rock the boat.¡±
¡°The ones that do, well, they don¡¯t generally last very long.¡±
¡°And there¡¯s no Solar Marshals here to do shit about it.¡± Endymion growled.
Arthur fell thoughtfully silent at the Kidem¨®nes¡¯ words, and the pair seemed content to let him. Parthia had been a sore topic since he¡¯d set foot on Asfal¨ªs, and the one interaction he¡¯d seen between Graecians and Parthians had left no illusions as to the Ascendancy¡¯s stance on their sector contemporaries. It reminded him of Pendragon, he realized with sudden clarity, and his own home nation¡¯s abject dislike for several of its rivals within the inner Core.
More interesting was the fact that it seemed to be a very pointed dislike.
He¡¯d seen no such vitriol when the Kidem¨®nes were speaking of other nations, even those that were clearly thought of as the sector¡¯s problem children. The more Arthur considered it, the more he came to wonder what exactly had happened¡ªor was still happening¡ªthat made Parthia so immensely reviled by people who, in his limited experience, seemed relatively reasonable.
Even with the knowledge of their Frontier raiding and slavery, there had to be more.
It was a matter that merited future investigation, though at a later date.
Instead, he broached a topic he was more immediately intent on.
¡°So, I have news about House Leos.¡±
Both men turned to him in surprise at the sudden statement, and likely at the unexpected change in topic.
¡°...go on.¡± Perseus said carefully.
¡°I¡¯m about to sign a contract to become one of their Hetairoi.¡± Arthur said honestly.
Endymion spat out his water, and Perseus¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°Well now.¡± he said with a look of eager interest. ¡°That is quite the juicy revelation.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to do what?¡± Endymion asked incredulously.
¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted, Endymion?¡± Arthur asked carefully. ¡°You did lead me there.¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Endymion said with a cough. ¡°Yes. Yes! It wasn¡¯t a negative reaction, Arthur. It was just something completely unexpected. I thought you¡¯d need more time to decide!¡±
¡°I¡¯m not from Laconia,¡± Perseus admitted, ¡°so Endymion is more qualified to speak on this. It¡¯s still pretty juicy, though.¡±
¡°Endymion?¡± Arthur prompted.
¡°House Leos is the Blood of the Lion.¡± Endymion said without any preamble, and with a gleam of intensity to his brown eyes. ¡°They claim descent directly from the original Leonidas, from Terra, and have been one of the pillars of Graecia since the Ascendancy¡¯s founding.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t tell me much about them that I couldn¡¯t have learned with my omni-comp, Endymion. Nor does it explain your insistence on my meeting with Cassandra.¡± Arthur pressed.
¡°Hmph. Right. Well. Let me then say this: if you truly are to be their Hetairoi, Arthur Magellan, I will make it my personal mission to ensure nothing threatens your life, with the gods as my witnesses.¡±
Perseus hissed in air in surprise, and even Arthur had enough social awareness to recognise a rather intense promise.
¡°That serious, huh?¡±
¡°House Leos is one of the last truly honorable bloodlines left in Laconia.¡± Endymion continued unabashedly. ¡°Especially when compared to some other Houses, which I won¡¯t name¡ª¡± he shot a meaningful look at Perseus with that, who laughed while Endymion continued ¡°¡ªbut who, I will say, are far less deserving of the Lambda. Menelaus Leos is a hero, and his family has been tormented and abused to an extent that is unconscionable.¡±
¡°Tormented how?¡± Arthur prompted while absorbing the information.
¡°Every attempt at recruiting Hetairoi has been cut off at the knees. They¡¯ve been backed into a corner of their enemies¡¯ devising, and nobody seems to be able to help. Even King Leonidas, at whose pleasure I serve, has been perplexingly silent on the matter. I would never dream to question our sovereigns¡¯ will, but the utter lack of any action on the Kings¡¯ part¡ªespecially Leonidas¡¯¡ªis extremely odd.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Arthur asked with extreme focus while Perseus listened quietly.
¡°Because House Leos is a Great House. They¡¯re not just part of Laconia, they help define Laconia.¡± Endymion said passionately. ¡°The whole Ascendancy has benefited from their dedication to the ideals and spirit of Graecia¡¯s founding principles. They don¡¯t just give lip service to the creed, they live it. Duty is everything to House Leos. They¡¯re a bloodline that puts the ¡®noble¡¯ into ¡®nobility¡¯.¡±
¡°I heard that Menelaus and Circe are both skilled pilots. Is that not enough?¡±
¡°Of course it isn¡¯t.¡± Endymion growled dismissively. ¡°Menelaus was named the Sword Saint for his capability on the battlefield when piloting the Ares Martialis, and Circe has been heralded as the embodiment of Athena herself¡ªbut neither of them should be risking their lives in an Eidolon, not when their entire bloodline is at stake.¡±
¡°Plus, didn¡¯t Duke Leos sustain an injury that ruined his piloting ability?¡± Perseus asked.
¡°Yes.¡± Endymion confirmed with a growl. ¡°Yes he did. The claim was an enemy ambush, but many of us suspect foul play.¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t investigating that fall under your¡ªah.¡± Arthur cut himself off when he realized the answer to his own question. ¡°The Myrmid¨®nes.¡±
Endymion simply nodded and said nothing.
¡°Diogenes told me that their ability to uphold their dominion is at risk.¡± Arthur said carefully when Endymion remained silent. ¡°He believed that my addition to House Leos would help stabilize that.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re even a quarter as powerful as Lord Atreus led us to believe, Arthur, it absolutely would!¡± Endymion growled fiercely. ¡°You cannot comprehend how important House Leos is to those of us born and raised in Laconian tradition. For them to wither like this, to evaporate like this¡ it¡¯s wrong. It¡¯s just wrong.¡± he finished angrily.
¡°Then you think my joining them to be a good idea?¡± Arthur asked with a wry smile.
¡°I think it¡¯s a privilege, Arthur.¡± Endymion said with an earnestness that Arthur had not heard from him. ¡°I think you¡¯d be a bloody fool to pass on it. Even forgetting my passion for House Leos, and putting aside any political reasoning; you becoming their Hetairoi and bringing them out of their crisis would be an act of unbridled might. You¡¯d make yourself a legend.¡±
¡°It¡¯d certainly help you find your own space in Graecia.¡± Perseus agreed. ¡°With or without Leos as your overlord.¡±
Arthur leaned back at their words thoughtfully and folded his arms, his eyes shifting away to stare at the sky above without seeing it. His purpose in Graecia had demanded he find some way of ingratiating himself to someone with power, and certainly this seemed to fit the bill. Whether or not House Leos was a calculated risk or a certainty, however, was yet to be seen. He could always decline the engagement, after all, as long as he hadn¡¯t sworn an oath.
Endymion¡¯s words stuck with him as well. The passion. The zeal.
He¡¯d seen that before in his home system, when people spoke of House Zacaris.
His eyes lowered to look at the people passing in the street, and Arthur made his decision.
He would go to House Leos as planned, and if they proved to be all that Endymion had said, he would offer them his blade.
And then, he would give them back their future.
In the process, perhaps he¡¯d learn more about his own.
A smile spread across Arthur¡¯s lips at the thought. Perhaps it was the Knight of the Round in him. Perhaps it was the classical and romantic nature of Graecia. Perhaps it was just his own muted, abused, but still-there desire to be a hero.
Whatever it was, one thing remained constant.
He really did love fairytale endings.
B1 | Chapter 12: Departure
The ease with which he integrated among us should have rung my alarm bells, but I was either too arrogant or too na?ve to notice. It is odd to think of myself that way, but I had been the one shepherding him¡ªand for all my vaunted power, wisdom, experience, and insight; I had thoroughly misjudged the gravity of my newest charge. The signs had been before me, but either wilfully or fearfully I had ignored them. Now I must wonder: did he know? Did he understand what it was he was doing? The thought he did unsettles me, but the thought that perhaps he truly did not¡ªthat he did it all unconsciously? That thought terrifies me.
Arthur settled into his seat aboard the small interplanetary shuttle with practiced ease, and leaned back while the automatic safety belts snaked across his torso in a criss-crossing X formation to brace him within the comfortable leather.
The shuttle was a small craft, no more than twenty meters from nose to engines, and equipped with only six passenger seats behind the cockpit¡ªdivided into two sets of three with a spacious walkway between them. An on-board lavatory was at the back of the shuttle, and what Arthur assumed to be supply lockers were built into the walls framing the currently unsealed pilot¡¯s access.
The only passengers aboard were himself, Atreus, Endymion, and Perseus; with the last of the three serving as the ship¡¯s pilot. Endymion was seated in the co-pilot¡¯s chair casually, while Atreus stood behind them both with his feet firmly planted and arms folded over his power-armored chest.
Arthur had not balked at being told to strap in and take a seat, and it wasn¡¯t as if the armored Kidem¨®nes needed to be away from him to hide conversation. The hermetic seals of their combat helmets did that easily enough.
Besides, the distance between the passenger area and cockpit was a matter of feet.
Instead of watching the trio of companions he¡¯d ostensibly fallen in with, Arthur turned instead to look out of his window. It was a small luxury that few spacecraft enjoyed, given the obvious concerns around the vulnerability of what was essentially a missing piece of hull armor; but in the case of the shuttles used by the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, it was not an overly large worry.
Primarily because only the extremely brave or stupid would even think to take a shot at them.
The view outside the shuttle was no longer of the wide-open and beautiful vista of the city-interior of Port Asfal¨ªs, but instead the cold steel and curated cylindric interior of a restricted docking bay within the bowels of the station proper.
Few to no maintenance workers had been visible while his escorts had led him down carefully veiled elevators and through meticulously clean and eerily vacant corridors painted in sterile white. When they had emerged from the blast doors within a zero gravity docking bay, Arthur had been thankful they¡¯d also kitted him out in a basic shipsuit and retractable helmet.
¡°It¡¯s normally several hours from Asfal¨ªs to Hellas due to approach procedures, Arthur, but we should be able to skip most of the traffic control measures that enforce that time delay.¡± Perseus said from the cockpit.
¡°That¡¯s a long time.¡± Arthur said while turning toward the cockpit door. ¡°Aren¡¯t we at the closest of Hellas¡¯ lagrange points?¡±
¡°We are.¡± Atreus confirmed in Perseus¡¯ place while turning to look at Arthur. ¡°But normally the home fleet will check and verify every spacecraft on approach to Hellas, and clear them for entry to the shield Iris. With our credentials, however, we¡¯ll bypass that need. It is prudent to explain, however, that you may not enjoy such a swift approach each time.¡±
¡°Given I¡¯m supposed to be under your careful eye for the foreseeable future, I doubt I¡¯ll have to worry about that any time soon.¡± Arthur said with good humor.
Atreus grunted in what sounded like amusement, and turned back to observe the silver-armored pair manning the controls.
Arthur counted the interaction as a win.
Perseus and Endymion were largely known elements to Arthur by that point, insofar as how his mind categorized them, and neither of the Kidem¨®nes were particularly surprising any longer when it came to their interactions. He could rely on Endymion to be surly, blunt, and grouchy¡ªwhile also being honest even when he shouldn¡¯t be. In much the same way, he could rely on Perseus to be cheerful, optimistic, and more eloquent in how he explained things¡ªthough like Endymion, he would not shirk at being honest even if it was an uncomfortable truth.
While Arthur knew that ¡®friends¡¯ might have been too strong a word by then, especially given that all of them were now irrevocably aware of the fact that their initial unification had been in large part thanks to Arthur¡¯s impressive psion density and the supernatural charisma it enforced; they were certainly at least friendly.
Atreus, meanwhile, was a study in enigmatic indifference coupled with leonine intensity. What little Arthur had managed to glean from the trio¡ªmostly Perseus¡ªcombined with his pre-existing knowledge of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, from his study prior to arriving in Graecia; informed on a sense of distinct capability difference between the three.
The ¡®regular¡¯ Kidem¨®nes like Endymion and Perseus normally operated in teams of six, called ¡®Shield Squads¡¯ or ¡®Hexarons¡¯, and had a doctrine not unlike a pack of wolves. They used coordination, skill, and borderline religiously drilled cohesion to take down foes of the Ascendancy and defend their areas of responsibility with ruthless capability.
The Myrmid¨®nes, conversely, appeared to be far more lonesome.
If the regular Kidem¨®nes were wolves, the Myrmid¨®nes were lions.
One Myrmid¨®n was considered the equivalent of a full Hexaron of Kidem¨®nes or more, depending on their veterancy and power, and were almost exclusively tasked with the most dangerous and most deep-reaching investigations throughout Ascendancy space. They operated somewhat akin to the Inquisitors of the Grand Imperium, from what little he could recall through the fractured kaleidoscope of his memory; and specialized in the hunting and ¡®handling¡¯ of threats considered beyond the capabilities of ¡®regular people¡¯.
When asked about the relationship between Paladins and Myrmid¨®nes during their transit to the shuttle, Atreus had simply said that it was an agreement of mutual respect and left it at that. Any further attempts to glean information had been fruitless, and when not given taciturn refusals for elaboration; had been met with outright silence from the towering spartan.
It was a puzzle that Arthur¡¯s dogged mind had only grown more interested in solving.
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His thoughts, however, were interrupted a moment later when a rumble of ignition abruptly brought the shuttle to full life and he felt the plasma thrusters at the rear of the vessel hum with ignition.
It was a stark reminder of the technology differential between the Core and the Rim, one that jump started a spark of memory within him that until that moment he had not actively been aware of. The Fringe, he knew, was already well-equipped with proper Impulse technology, and the inner parts of the Verge had graduated very recently to Antimatter Engines.
Only the Grand Imperium and its Core-spanning Empire, insofar as Arthur¡¯s limited recollection told him, had graduated beyond conventional thrust entirely.
The thoughts naturally led to his considerations for what manner of Eidolon he would build.
Plasma thrusters on his Eidolon would be extremely undesirable, Arthur knew instinctively, due in no small part to the sheer inefficiency of the technology when compared to higher forms of technology. While superior to ion thrusters, the fuel requirements, heat issues, and power sinks made plasma unacceptable for his purposes.
With the holes in his memory as it related to inner sector technology, he could reliably bring his machine to parity with the Fringe. He was confident in that much.
Anything beyond that, though, was an exercise in guesswork at best.
It was extremely frustrating to know the knowledge existed, but was inaccessible.
The rumble of acceleration drew his attention back to the shuttle and the space around it a moment later, however, and Arthur turned his full attention back to the window looking out the docking bay¡ªwhich was even then rapidly receding.
Moments later the ship passed through the open bay doors and into the space around Port Asfal¨ªs, and Arthur let loose a low whistle at what he saw.
Graecia had truly redefined the meaning of civilization in its area of space, so many hundreds of light years from humanity¡¯s cradle.
Port Asfal¨ªs was a bustling hive of activity. He¡¯d seen evidence of that on his approach with the Enterprising Fortune. Now though with a different angle of sight, and while departing from what Arthur recognized as the upper part of the colossal ¡®rod¡¯ that was the lower half of the station¡¯s design, his shards of memory only helped to reinforce his scope of reference.
Hundreds of vessels traversed the space around the starport like a colossal swarm of fireflies, lighting up the void in coruscating flashes of azure plasma. Some were close enough to be discerned as freighters, haulers, or luxury civilian transports¡ªothers instead so far away that all Arthur saw was the flare of their engines.
All of them had been invisible due to the space station¡¯s immense bulk.
The bridge crew of the Enterprising Fortune had never bothered to angle the sensors enough to see the other side of the starport, and so Arthur only then witnessed the activity for the first time himself.
Seated where he was in the sleek shuttle of the Vasilik¨®s Kidem¨®nes, Arthur was treated to an unobscured vision of prosperity while their ship accelerated to speeds close to or even in excess of 500 m/s2. Based on Arthur¡¯s extensive understanding but limited experience with plasma drives, he knew that the acceleration would be reversed via turnover¡ªliterally a flip in space to face the engines toward their destination¡ªjust before the halfway mark between their origin and destination; allowing the shuttle to ¡®decelerate¡¯ toward Hellas using inverted forward momentum until it came to a stop relative to the planet¡¯s Docking Iris.
The alternative was slamming into the near-impenetrable energy shield that was a standard part of any colonized world¡¯s defenses, and being atomized on impact. The shield, after all, was designed to stop everything from stray kinetic munitions traveling at velocities close to the speed of light constant¡ªalso called c¡ªto world-killer asteroids.
A single shuttle would prove little more than a gnat by comparison.
¡°We¡¯re approaching the Navy¡¯s home fleet flagship.¡± Atreus cut into Arthur¡¯s thoughts suddenly. ¡°Given you will be fighting for the Ascendancy, you may as well know her on sight. The King Alexander has been the name of every flagship since the first hull was laid in the yards above Hellas.¡±
¡°Alexander?¡± Arthur asked with a hint of wry amusement. ¡°That¡¯s not subtle at all.¡±
¡°Subtlety has its place. Projection of force is not one of them. The name has intent.¡±
¡°Hard to argue with that logic,¡± Arthur conceded with a shrug while looking at Atreus. Another flash of memory came to him, and he continued with a small nudge of impulse he couldn¡¯t quite identify, but felt compelled to obey. ¡°Alexander is still one of the most prolific names in human history, even with the Humanosphere¡¯s expansion. I think the only martial records more lauded by military education are the actions the Geneticists took to wipe out the Transhumanists.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know you were formally educated, Arthur!¡± Perseus called with a tone of pleased surprise. ¡°At least not in martial curriculum. I took you for some sort of noble¡¯s kid!¡±
¡°He probably is.¡± Endymion growled from beside Perseus. ¡°That¡¯s probably why he has that education, Andino.¡±
¡°Sure, whatever, but that still means I can pick your brain about the ethics of¡ª!¡±
¡°Focus on flying, Andino.¡± Atreus cut in coldly. ¡°Leave Magellan to me.¡±
The youngest of the three Kidem¨®nes shut up immediately, and Arthur couldn¡¯t help but smile regardless of Atreus¡¯ words. The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s insistence on dealing with Arthur himself was hardly a surprise. Atreus, Arthur had realized, was professionally paranoid as a matter of course¡ªand greatly disliked not being in control.
Still, Perseus¡¯ enthusiasm for discourse and debate was equal to Arthur¡¯s own, and he understood implicitly that he enjoyed the act of both. It was something he¡¯d retained even in the false guise of Magellan.
Though truthfully, Magellan seemed more real to him in some ways than Zacaris.
It was a strangely ambivalent realization to have.
Understanding logically that his personality had been fractured was one thing, but the dissociative effects of experiencing it in real-time were far more visceral, and far more unnerving. On one hand he was almost pleased with the chance to objectively assess the bitterness, anger, resentment, and cold indifference to human life with which Zacaris had operated. It let him put things into perspective, and even glean a greater level of insight into his own motivations.
On the other hand, the comparative simplicity and even enforced naivete of Magellan had created a kind of shock-effect that manifested every time Arthur received a new batch of recollections or particularly graphic memories from his true¡ªor perhaps former¡ªself. He wasn¡¯t certain what manner of person he would become in the long-term, but the marriage between Zacaris and Magellan didn¡¯t merely seem inevitable, it seemed necessary.
There were strengths he could take from both to balance the weaknesses of each.
¡°We¡¯re coming up on the King Alexander now.¡± Atreus said with another look back at Arthur. ¡°Here is your chance to see it for yourself.¡±
Arthur didn¡¯t hesitate in doing as advised, and turned to look out of his window while Perseus gracefully banked the shuttle. The younger Kidem¨®nas must have greatly decreased the vessel¡¯s acceleration somehow without Arthur realizing, because when the King Alexander came into view, it did so slowly and with cinematic grace.
Even with his fractured memories of the Core, he couldn¡¯t help but be impressed.
The Supercarrier was one big bastard.
B1 | Chapter 13: King Alexander
Showing our newest recruit the King Alexander had seemed like a simple and relatively unimportant, but well-repaying act. If we impressed upon him the power of our nation¡¯s military, surely it would awe even a man of the Fringe¡¯s great star nations. Looking back on it now, I wish I had never ordered my brothers to grant such a view. How idiotic we must have seemed to him, lauding our triumph as if it were not but a gnat before the gaze of an apex predator. He may as well have been a nascent god in that moment, and we the ignorant primitives exclaiming with wonder at our discovery of fire.
The first detail that struck Arthur was the ship¡¯s color: a flawless, reflective bronze which gleamed like the polished arms of ancient Greek hoplites he¡¯d seen in historical holodisplays¡ªa hue that whispered of antiquity, tradition, and war. The second, washing over him with a wave of quiet awe, was the sheer and breathtaking scale of the vessel looming before him.
Even if reckoned by the Fringe instead of the Mid-Rim, the flagship was monstrous.
The King Alexander hung in the void like a colossal spearhead forged for the stars. Its prow was a wicked, ornate blade that echoed the predatory grace of the ships he¡¯d glimpsed at the Graecian Calypso point, and promised a hateful wrath for any that dared challenge its dominance. Her hull stretched vast and unbroken, a bronze titan that Arthur estimated at nearly 1,500 meters from stem to stern.
At her widest point, swelling near the rear where her form flared into angular wings; she spanned perhaps 800 meters¡ªa rough guess, but one honed by memories of void warfare even then reawakening within his mind. The shuttle¡¯s lazy arc around her revealed a topside bristling with armament: ten triple-barreled plasma batteries per flank, their barrels built with staggered layers to weather the recoil of their immense projectile blasts, and each one linked in clusters that warned of apocalyptic fusillades.
Between these juggernaut capital weapons sat rows of double-barreled laser cannons; anti-starfighter defenses built at a 4:1 ratio to the main guns¡ªtheir sleek forms glinting faintly under the distant starlight.
As the shuttle looped languidly over the flagship, Arthur¡¯s gaze caught on a peculiar detail: the ship¡¯s center wasn¡¯t a solid mass. Instead, her hull split along a tapering seam¡ª reminiscent of a paper airplane¡¯s folded spine¡ªand widened as it swept back toward the stern. Within that divide was built a colossal cylindrical structure, shielded by the overhanging halves.
¡°A launching tube,¡± he murmured quietly, its scale dwarfing anything he¡¯d imagined Graecia capable of.
The massive central construction ran the majority of the length of the ship, and if his guess was correct; housed multiple squadrons of interceptors, heavy fighters, and bombers that the warship could deploy at a moment¡¯s notice.
Given the style of the design, Arthur also assumed it to be one of the special deuterium-infused hyper-acceleration catapults used to launch Eidolons.
While all starcraft could use such constructs to launch and land, it was the nature of Eidolons that required such construction. The war machines were not ostensibly difficult to build, but given that fully capable Eidolon pilots were such a critically rare minority of any population, it was seen as foolish bordering on idiotic to not mitigate risks when it came to their preservation.
An Eidolon was rarely more vulnerable than when on approach to an enemy starship, and thanks to their distinctive energy signatures, size, and dimensions; they were priority targets for any enemy within the battlespace. An Eidolon¡¯s power was in the speed of its combat maneuvers, and that meant the machines often sacrificed redundant plating or defensive technology for greater burst acceleration.
It also made them extremely dependent on not being hit.
The solution was elegant in its brutality, and paired well with the madness inherent to most daredevils that called themselves Eidolon pilots: launch them fast¡ªfaster than any targeting system could track. When ¡®fired¡¯ out of a launching tube with comparable velocity to a railgun, that goal was far more easily achieved.
¡°What¡¯s her classification?¡± Arthur asked out loud while the shuttle looped under the colossal flagship and gave him a view of the matching sets of turrets mounted on her ventral hull. The bottom of the vessel was another flat plane, dispelling any idea of a keel. Given the time for the loop, he further estimated the Graecian flagship to be nearly 400 meters high from its bottom-most surface to its topmost.
¡°She¡¯s no Carrier,¡± he continued as the realization bloomed alongside a flood of voidspace tactics he hadn¡¯t possessed even moments before. ¡°Even with that Supercarrier-sized catapult, that prow¡¯s built for ramming.¡±
¡°Well-observed.¡± Atreus replied, his tone carrying a flicker of approval¡ªor perhaps satisfaction¡ªas he shifted his attention from the warship back to Arthur. The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s black armor caught the shuttle¡¯s dim light, a stark contrast to the bronze beyond the viewport. ¡°The King Alexander is the title ship in our Basileus line of Super Dreadnoughts. You see how the catapult is smaller in profile than the highest points on top and below?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Arthur said while his eyes traced the split hull¡¯s overhang.
¡°The two sections of hull can close like a seal,¡± Atreus explained with evident pride in his nation''s achievement, ¡°shielding the catapult and creating an unbroken spearhead. At that point, special emitters built into the prow create a plasma lance she can use to punch through just about any ship in space.¡±
¡°They come together?¡± Arthur asked with genuine surprise. ¡°Like, what, two halves of a paper airplane?¡±
Atreus snorted, a rare crack in his stoic facade. ¡°Yes, Magellan. Like two halves of a paper airplane.¡±
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Laughter rolled from the cockpit¡ªPerseus, no doubt¡ªand Arthur¡¯s lips quirked into a wry smile.
The example had made sense to at least one other person, at least.
¡°And the bridge?¡± Arthur continued without preamble a moment later. ¡°Where is that?¡±
¡°Two-thirds back, in the most heavily armored part of the King Alexander.¡± treus answered after a brief pause, as if weighing how much to reveal. ¡°Only the Alcubierre Drive, Compression Drive, and Conversion reactor are more heavily shielded.¡±
Arthur nodded, his thoughts spiraling as fragments of knowledge¡ªunbidden, instinctive¡ªcoalesced into clarity. The more he learned, the more his mind seemed to key into what he needed to learn next, and the questions he asked were spurred on by the veritably thirst for information his compulsion to know more created.
¡°Would it be too much to ask, Atreus, about which factor of drive you¡¯ve iterated?¡±
Silence stretched after the question was poised, heavy and deliberate.
Atreus¡¯ hesitation was palpable, and Arthur understood why. Though his path seemed tied to Graecia, he could still walk away¡ªcould still carry secrets to another power. The Myrmid¨®n was likely calculating: was this knowledge too proliferated to matter, like the Basileus-class details he¡¯d already shared? Arthur doubted anything about the King Alexander would surprise rivals like Parthia, but drive factors were another thing entirely.
Arthur very much doubted any of what Atreus had told him about the King Alexander would be a surprise to the other nations of the Hyperion Cluster. Especially not Parthia.
A few more moments of deliberation later, Atreus finally answered.
¡°Sixth Factor.¡± The tall and black-armored Myrmid¨®n said simply.
That was a critical piece of information that Arthur made sure to file away.
While the Alcubierre drive was a crucial piece of technology that almost all of humanity made use of, it was the ¡®Mass Factor Rating¡¯ which stood as one of the most defining elements in the military and economic power of different star nations¡ªit defined their hierarchy when compared to peer powers, and was instrumental in a cluster¡¯s power standings.
The insight hit him as naturally as his own pulse.
More information came, and he reflected on it hungrily.
Mass Factor Rating, or ¡®Factor¡¯ in the shorthand, determined the tonnage a drive could warp, a multiplier of maximum warpable mass (wm). Every colony ship launched from Sol carried Third Factor blueprints¡ªwm ¡Á 3, or 300,000 cubic tonnes, given the baseline of 100,000 tonnes without exotic matter coils
Warpable mass, Arthur remembered, was controlled by specific and carefully curated exotic matter coils. These coils interacted with the Alcubierre drive to create a larger bubble of warped space without compromising its stability, though the technology was limited both by understanding of the exotic matter¡¯s production, and the various minutiae of the Alcubierre drive¡¯s development.
Maximum warpable mass without the coils was fixed at 100,000 cubic tonnes.
A Third Factor drive¡¯s coils could thereby warp up to 300,000 cubic tonnes.
A Sixth Factor drive¡¯s coils in comparison could warp up to 600,000 cubic tonnes.
¡°So she¡¯s at capacity,¡± Arthur surmised with a steady voice as the numbers clicked into place in his mind, and his eyes¡ªwith new knowledge and understanding blooming behind them constantly now¡ªswept over the King Alexander with critical analysis.
¡°Including the interceptor, heavy fighter, and bomber squadrons as well as her shuttles, supplies, crew, and deployable escort craft?¡± Atreus clarified gruffly. ¡°Yes.¡±
¡°What¡¯s her unburdened weight?¡±
¡°Five hundred and sixty thousand tonnes.¡±
Arthur let out a low whistle, genuine admiration breaking through to show on his features while he turned back to Atreus. ¡°Impressive. Especially this far Rimward from Sol.¡±
¡°The Ascendancy may be a minnow in the humanosphere,¡± Atreus said while his voice warmed with quiet pride, ¡°but in the Hyperion Cluster, we¡¯re a whale.¡±
¡°So I¡¯m learning,¡± Arthur murmured, his mind alight with returning fragments¡ªhistory, tactics, technology¡ªand each piece slotting in like puzzle pieces fitting togeter to fill his artificial void of understanding.
The Inquisitor truly had done a number on him.
The last views of the King Alexander filed past his window while they spoke, and the last Arthur saw of the flagship was the blazing luminescence of her plasma drives pushing her through the patrol path she occupied; each one housed within a hexagonal thrust cone depressed into the rear of the gargantuan flagship.
Five main thrusters comprised her rear complement, with smaller honeycomb patterns of sub-engines patterned among the larger majority. It was a popular design choice among stellar warships, and followed the logic of using many individual smaller thrusters linked to a central control so as to avoid losing a large amount of propulsion from a single strike at the engines.
The fact that thrusters were depressed into the rear of the hull under the watchful gaze of her rear guns and a plethora of dedicated point defense lasers surrounding the ¡®rectangular maw¡¯ of her engine block certainly helped.
That strike, of course, would still need to penetrate the attached battle group of battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and corvettes patrolling in formation with the monstrous flagship.
Not to mention what Arthur assumed was more than a few squadrons of starfighters.
The King Alexander was a colossus, but she didn¡¯t stand alone.
¡°The King Alexander almost never leaves Graecia.¡± Atreus commented while Arthur watched the colossal starship fade from view. ¡°She¡¯s the fulcrum upon which our home fleet is centered.¡±
¡°Because the star fortresses can¡¯t move to interdict starships,¡± Arthur said when the clarity of thought came to him. ¡°Though that assumes an enemy breaches the Calypso cordon and penetrates past the warp anchor before you can respond.¡±
¡°No bulwark is impenetrable.¡± Atreus said in a sober and pragmatic tone. ¡°There is a reason we named our border fortress at the Korinth Calypso point Thermopylae. Our ancestors learned the price of prideful presumption well.¡±
¡°Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,¡± Arthur said quietly, the words a reflex from a life he could almost taste again.
¡°And be ready for the catastrophic.¡± Atreus intoned with a hint of approval.
With that, Arthur realized, both Magellan and Zacaris whole-heartedly agreed.
B1 | Chapter 14: The Iris
In ancient history, it¡¯s often called ¡®crossing the Rubicon¡¯ when one takes a step beyond the point of no return. In future, perhaps they will look back at our guiding him to Hellas as Graecia¡¯s Rubicon¡ªperhaps even humanity¡¯s Rubicon. They would be wrong. The point of no return was not taking him to Graecia, it was failing to end him the moment we had an inkling of what he might have been, as implausible or improbable as it was. I was the one who declared he was no threat. I was the one who vouchsafed his stay. In the end, I will be the one solely responsible for the end of mankind as we knew it.
The journey toward Hellas proved far less eventful after the sight of the King Alexander and its escort fleet, and it was only when the shuttle was truly closing in toward the planet over an hour later that Arthur realized something had been bothering him since the pass over the Ascendancy¡¯s flagship.
¡°Atreus, I have a question.¡± Arthur said while turning to look where the black-amored Myrmid¨®n maintained his vigil over the two Kidem¨®nes occupying the cockpit.
¡°Go ahead.¡± the spartan responded with a helmeted glance back.
¡°It skirted past my immediate attention earlier, but now that I¡¯ve had time to reflect, I need to know¡ how did the shuttle slow without contravening thrust?¡± It had been bothering him since he¡¯d noticed it, though he¡¯d only just fully realized what it was that had been nagging at his mind.
While quite far ahead of ancient technology like chemical or even ion thrusters, Plasma-based propulsion was still relatively constricted by the laws of physics in that¡ªto the best of Arthur¡¯s knowledge¡ªthey could not properly create an inverse thrust strong enough to bleed momentum in a vacuum. With no air resistance to speak of in space, it was thereby required that all ships equipped with such technology make a ¡®turnover¡¯.
In essence, they pivoted 180 degrees in space to face their thrusters toward their destination at the halfway mark, and used the same thrust that had accelerated them to instead slow them down gradually, reaching ¡®zero relative thrust¡¯ upon reaching their destination.
The shuttle had not done any such manoeuvre when slowing to give him a view of the King Alexander.
It was utterly perplexing.
¡°I had wondered if you¡¯d even noticed.¡± Atreus admitted without an immediate answer, though he did turn to regard Arthur properly. ¡°In truth I was worried you weren¡¯t nearly as skilled an engineer as we¡¯d hoped. I am pleased to see my assumption was incorrect.¡±
¡°Thanks for the faith.¡± Arthur said dryly. ¡°Though that isn¡¯t an answer, Atreus.¡±
¡°I suppose it is not.¡± Atreus said with a hint of amusement. ¡°Very well. I am not familiar with the scientific principles behind the technology, but the essence of it is a form of spatial manipulation. Special additions to the drives create an intangible ¡®mass anchor¡¯ at the rear of the ship, and force a rapid¡ªby the standards of space flight¡ªdeceleration.¡±
¡°A mass anchor? Huh¡¡±
Arthur¡¯s mind puzzled over the concept after Atreus¡¯ explanation, and he found himself genuinely surprised. He had expected something far more rudimentary like forward-facing thrust cones, but not something he¡¯d never even heard of. Even the Grand Imperium hadn¡¯t invented a means to decelerate a vessel at speed reliably until they¡¯d started breaching the realms of Graviton technology.
The more Arthur thought about it, though, the more it made sense.
Much like the wet navy vessels of old Terra, the Graecians had in essence recreated the idea of a deployed ¡®anchor¡¯ to slow or even hold in place a starship. The fact it was both intangible and only affected the vessel from which it was spawned only served to confuse Arthur further.
He had the knowledge needed to create a suitably powerful Eidolon, but the idea of a ¡®mass anchor¡¯ was not part of his own scientific understanding. The advantages of a gene-enhanced memory made it so that ¡®forgetting¡¯ was an impossibility, other than cases where external influence¡ªlike the Inquisitor¡¯s¡ªforced a lapse. He may not have immediate recollection, but he knew that he could access anything he¡¯d learned, experienced, or otherwise with enough focus.
The fact he had no recollection of a ¡®mass anchor¡¯ led him to an interesting thought.
It might actually have been a genuine first in terms of galactic innovation throughout the known nations of the humanosphere, and that alone was worthy of immense praise.
It also put the sheer might of the Ascendancy into better perspective, when viewed from the lens of their preferred style of stellar warfare within their sector of space. They never needed to expose their vessels to danger with ¡®turnover¡¯, and as such could fearlessly engage any foe with neither hesitation nor concern for their entirely forward-and-broadside vessel designs.
It also held the potential for an entirely new lane of technological development outside of the usual path of Plasma, Impulse, Antimatter, Dark Matter and Graviton technologies.
Not that he actually remembered the specifics of the latter three.
Arthur immediately had to wonder if the Ascendancy even realized that they¡¯d innovated something completely outside the scope of expected development or not, and couldn¡¯t help but to shake his head in disbelief.
The idea of mass manipulation brought up incredible possibilities.
¡°I can see that you have an appreciation for the technology.¡± Atreus said suddenly. ¡°That is good. If we can garner that much surprise from a Fringe-trained engineer, then perhaps the technology truly is worth exploring.¡±
¡°It absolutely is.¡± Arthur said with a partially distracted amount of excitement. ¡°The possibilities that mass manipulating technology opens are¡ Well, they¡¯re multitudinous! You could invalidate the usual constraints of shipbuilding! You could actually make use of Neutronium!¡±
That alone would be a victory outside the scope. The manner of creating Neutronium had been understood for centuries, but its density, weight, and incredible mass made it impossible to work with as more than the body of a Warp Anchor, or the rare piece of redundant hull on a star fortress¡ªand even then, it required extensive thinning and a minimum station mass in the megatonnes to be even feasible.
If the Ascendancy managed to find a way to reduce the effective mass of the neutron star material, they could create ships that even outer Verge powers would have to take seriously. Ships that would let them completely outclass everyone and everything their peer powers anywhere in the Rim could field.
They wouldn¡¯t be enough to do more than slightly even the playing field against the Mantle and major Verge powers, or the Grand Imperium whose technology had already surpassed the need for things like super-alloys; but against Rim or Fringe nations?
Neutronium warships would be a complete upending of the galactic power dynamic.
Arthur couldn¡¯t help but whistle in disbelief at the prospect.
The Coreblood in him knew that the Imperium would almost certainly be investigating such a development with critical assessment, especially if the Imperator¡¯s intelligence network wasn¡¯t already aware of the Graecian innovation¡ªbut another part of him, the newer blend of both Arthurs, wondered at the what he¡¯d learned from his conversations with Endymion and Perseus.
Would the Imperator even care, given how far the Rim was?
Terra certainly seemed content to let the usual enforcement of peace lapse considerably across the Rim and Frontier, even with their intercession against the Kariston Confederacy¡ªwhich Arthur had later learned had more to do with the fact they were actively trying to raise resistance to Terran supremacy.
The Imperator would not tolerate overt challenge. Mass Manipulation technology, though¡ Well, that was more ambivalent.
¡°We¡¯re approaching the Iris, Arthur.¡±
Arthur¡¯s attention snapped back to Atreus while the spartan continued.
¡°Come and see, if you wish for a better view.¡±
Curiosity and interest as to why the Myrmid¨®n would make the offer warred with patented disinterest over seeing yet another Docking Iris within Arthur, until finally curiosity won out. Arthur let his straps retract a moment later, and stood to make his way to the unsealed access hatch leading to the shuttle¡¯s cockpit.
Atreus stepped aside to let him pass, and Arthur came to a halt with his hands on the back of Endymion¡¯s chair.
What he saw dashed his thoughts of ¡®yet another Iris¡¯ almost entirely.
It wasn¡¯t just the Iris he¡¯d been invited to see. It was Hellas itself.
The superhabitable world was a colossal ball of life that seemed to shine with vitality. Its seas were a beautiful shade of sapphire in some places, and a radiant type of emerald in others; clear and free of even the hints of industrial pollutants that obfuscated the skies of some other heavily developed worlds.
Its three landmasses were a mix of greens, browns, whites and even reds from orbit; with the greenery being the predominant shade of color across nearly seventy percent of their visible surface. This close to the planet, only a third of the total landmass of the planet was visible at all¡ªwith only the lower fifth of the topmost one discernible.
Hellas, due to its size, had a forty-eight hour day cycle from what Arthur had read¡ªone that was accounted for by simple creature comforts to simulate night time within dwellings, and artificial sunlight to light up cities even through the long nights. It was that same cycle that allowed Arthur to take in a barely-moving view of the majestic world that the Ascendancy had claimed as its capital.
¡°Even living here all my life, it still never ceases to amaze me when I see it.¡± Perseus said conversationally from his right.
¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Arthur admitted genuinely. ¡°I expected to see more ice up north, though.¡±
¡°It¡¯s much more visible from closer to the poles.¡± Perseus explained. ¡°We¡¯re toward the lower part of the equator at present. We may be able to take you to visit one of the ski resorts at a later date.¡±
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
¡°That would be pretty nice.¡± Arthur said with a laugh. ¡°Though I might embarrass myself.¡±
¡°Unlikely, with those Eidolon reflexes.¡± Endymion snorted in disbelief.
Perseus laughed, and even Atreus grunted in amusement.
¡°How harsh is the gravity?¡± Arthur asked with another smile.
¡°Roughly twice Terran-standard. We usually keep off-worlders in the tourist areas with gravitational equalizers, but the locals have mostly adapted to the change.¡±
¡°What about where we¡¯re going?¡±
¡°House Leos sits on an island off the southernmost peninsula of Laconia.¡± Endymion explained gruffly. ¡°They very specifically don¡¯t have one because they believe in authentic experiences.¡±
¡°No need to pretend you are concerned, Arthur.¡± Atreus said while stepping up behind Perseus and resting a hand on the younger Kidem¨®nes seatback. ¡°Your gene-tailoring probably allows you to move freely in up to three times Earth¡¯s gravity, does it not?¡±
Arthur¡¯s mind filled with knowledge the moment Atreus said it, and he nodded automatically.
¡°It does.¡±
In truth, Zacaris¡¯ memories told him even six times gravity wouldn¡¯t be too much.
¡°Then you will be fine.¡± Atreus said simply.
¡°And Graecians are born for it!¡± Perseus added in with a laugh. ¡°We were adapted early.¡±
¡°Higher muscle mass and bone density, right?¡± Arthur asked conversationally. ¡°I¡¯ve read about initial colonization. The geneticists that came with the Olympus colony ship didn¡¯t want to give up on Hellas despite the force of gravity, so they engineered micro-tailoring as soon as they could.¡±
Perseus laughed. ¡°Very true. The first decade was miserable for the colonists, though. The VidLogs are pretty damn clear about that.¡±
¡°Our people are stronger than the average human in the cluster, but do not grow very tall.¡± Atreus added in calmly. ¡°You will need to remember that and be polite in how you interact with others, Arthur. If you are seen to be lording your height over the common people, it will create problems for your sponsors in House Leos.¡±
Arthur¡¯s mind worked at that problem calmly before he responded. ¡°Keep a step back, lower my center of gravity, talk to them side-on and try to avoid looming?¡±
¡°Now you¡¯re thinking!¡± Perseus said with an approving chuckle. ¡°Gotta account for us short stacks, Arthur!¡±
¡°You¡¯re not that short.¡± Arthur said with a glance at the Kidem¨®nas.
¡°Not that short, he says.¡± Endymion grunted in amusement.
¡°Arthur.¡± Perseus said jovially. ¡°It isn¡¯t as if none of us have noticed you have half a foot on even Atreus, and he¡¯s considered quite tall by Graecian standards.¡±
¡°Oh.¡±
¡°The average Graecian height is 5¡¯9 for men, and 5¡¯3 for women.¡± Atreus said simply. ¡°You will need to remember that during your time with the Ascendancy. As your volunteer guide to our culture, your failure to understand these things will reflect on me poorly if you fail to understand.¡±
¡°That explains why you¡¯re being so forthcoming.¡± Arthur said with an appraising look at the taciturn Myrmid¨®n.
¡°I take my obligations seriously.¡± Atreus stated firmly.
To that, Arthur could only smile. It was strange, but he had a feeling that the Spartan''s words were as close to ¡®I do not disdain you¡¯ as Arthur was probably going to directly hear.
¡°Are you enjoying the flight so far, Arthur?¡± Perseus asked a short time later while they began to more sharply vector through thickening traffic.
¡°Very much.¡± Arthur said with a grin. ¡°You¡¯re a good pilot, Perseus.¡±
¡°Ha! I know. That¡¯s why Endymion makes me do all the flying. He claims it¡¯s because of seniority, but he really just hates to fly.¡±
The only response from the older Kidem¨®nas was a shake of his helmeted head and a disapproving click of his tongue, though it lacked the same bite as earlier reprimands. Perhaps Perseus had hit the proverbial nail on the head.
Outside of the projected viewscreen of the cockpit the spaceborne traffic had become a dizzying spectacle of thruster lights and patrolling stellar ships as the Ascendancy Royal Navy¡¯s orbital patrols organized the hundreds of starships seeking entry to the system capital and settled many into safe holding patterns.
This close to the planet, it was primarily Corvettes and Frigates that did the proverbial heavy lifting, accompanied by fighter patrols acting as direct-contact and eyes-on security for any potential threats or unwanted visitors within the milling tide of arriving vessels.
That was only half the picture, though.
While the incoming traffic was organized to their right, the outgoing traffic was organized to their left, and though it was only half as populated; it was clear that such an event was largely due to how smoothly the planetary controllers were coordinating the movements.
That was largely thanks to the intricate network of tachyon relays spread throughout the system and linked into a central receiver array built on the surface of Hellas itself, Arthur knew. The array, if it were anything like those on other planets, would have an entire city¡¯s worth of power generation dedicated solely to its operation¡ªand a literal city of staff, defenders, and maintainers whose singular purpose was the immense structure¡¯s continued operation.
Every planet had a SYSCOM¡ªSystem Communications Array¡ªsomewhere within the heart, which allowed it to transmit in real-time to everything up to and slightly beyond a star system¡¯s Calypso points, outside of the Heliosphere.
Without such technology, even the most rudimentary communications between in-system planets and starships would take hours.
Arthur knew better than to ask where the Ascendancy¡¯s SYSCOM was located, however. That information was hardly relevant to him, and more than that was considered a faux pas in most civilized star systems. It was like asking someone where their vital weak points were.
¡°Incoming transmission from the docking authority.¡± Perseus said abruptly. ¡°They¡¯re hailing us.¡±
¡°So late?¡± Arthur asked.
¡°We sent the flight path ahead, but there¡¯s too much traffic to worry about us until we¡¯re in range.¡± Perseus explained without missing a beat. ¡°Besides, Kidem¨®nes vessels sometimes like to take random detours. The Iris authority won¡¯t bother with most ships until they¡¯re close enough to bother with. The Navy handles the ones outside that scope.¡±
¡°Put it on screen.¡± Atreus commanded.
¡°Yes, sir.¡± Perseus replied dutifully while reaching out to flick one of a multitude of switches on his console.
The image of a professional brunette woman with a uniform very similar to that of the Asfal¨ªs police officers appeared in the center of the screen, and she swept the four of them with alert eyes. Her gaze settled briefly on Arthur in what he registered as genuine surprise before moving to instead focus on Atreus, at which point he saw her visibly stiffen when the Myrmid¨®n¡¯s presence fully registered.
¡°¦¡¦Ñ¦Ö¦Ï¦Í¦Ó¦Á? ¦¬¦Ô¦Ñ¦Ì?¦Ä?¦Í¦Å?! ¦¤¦Å¦Í ¦Å¦Í¦Ç¦Ì¦Å¦Ñ¦Ø¦È?¦Ê¦Á¦Ì¦Å ?¦Ó¦É ¦È¦Á ?¦Ò¦Ï¦Ô¦Í¡ª¡±
¡°Per design, Anthypoploiarch¨®s¡ª¡± a rank which Arthur mentally translated as ¡®First Lieutenant¡¯ in English ¡°¡ªand as was necessary. Your lack of information on my travel plans should be as expected, given the necessities of my station. Are we clear to proceed into the Iris?¡±
Another look of surprise stole over the woman at what Arthur assumed was Atreus¡¯ very intentional use of English, and she glanced at Arthur again in clear wonder before turning back to the Myrmid¨®n. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± She responded in kind. ¡°There are three vessels currently making the transition, but the restricted lane is free of traffic per your request. The Navy didn¡¯t like it, but¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure you handled them admirably.¡± Atreus said coldly. ¡°That will be all, Anthypoploiarch¨®s.¡±
The woman snapped a salute at Atreus¡¯ clear dismissal. ¡°My lord.¡±
The line terminated a moment later, and Arthur glanced at the tall Spartan thoughtfully.
¡°You¡¯re pretty terrifying, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°When I need to be.¡± Atreus responded in a tone that was almost amused.
¡°I¡¯m going to need to brush up on my Greek.¡± Arthur said half to himself.
¡°I¡¯m surprised you don¡¯t have a proper translator device yet.¡± Perseus said from nearby while manoeuvring the shuttle.
The knowledge hit him this time like a freight train, and Arthur knew that he didn¡¯t have one because he¡¯d never needed it in the Core¡ªwhere English and Terran were mandatory tongues¡ªand had not had time to correct the lack during his journey to Aurelia, and subsequent linking up with the Enterprising Fortune. That was partially thanks to Aurelia¡¯s own language preferences, of course.
¡°It was never necessary in Aurelia.¡± Arthur said a moment after the memory crash settled. ¡°The mother tongue there is English, and the only other thing spoken nearly as much is French. Both languages are similar enough that I never needed to worry about it.¡±
¡°Greek is absolutely not similar to English.¡± Perseus laughed.
¡°It definitely isn¡¯t.¡± Arthur agreed.
¡°A translator device will be waiting for us when we land.¡± Atreus said simply. ¡°I¡¯ve sent the message ahead. It was an oversight none of us caught.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Arthur said with a glance at the Myrmid¨®n, and a nod. ¡°Thanks, Atreus.¡±
The tall Myrmid¨®n simply grunted in response and Arthur turned his attention back to the viewscreen while their destination drew closer.
The Iris.
Focusing on it for the first time, Arthur had to admit that the Graecians had built their version of the universal construct with style. Two massive steel renditions of both Leonidas and Pericles¡ªthe namesakes of both the Kings of Hellas¡ªlay on either side of the Iris¡¯ ¡®space-side¡¯ ring, and ¡®atop¡¯ the Iris relative to Hellas¡¯ northern pole lay a beautiful rendition of the ancient goddess Hestia, the lady of the hearth and home.
It was a beautiful example of culture married to form.
The Iris itself was a colossal ring structure that lay in permanent fixed position above a planet, held in place by the immense power of the world¡¯s protective shield. The diameter of the circle was close to ten kilometers, and the thickness of the metal was such that even the King Alexander would have trouble damaging it in a meaningful way without considerable time and focused effort.
Its outer layer sat ¡®atop¡¯ the shield by way of frequency-plating that allowed the alloy it was built from to ¡®match¡¯ the unique signature of a planet¡¯s shield, thereby allowing it to make contact without being summarily detonated by the raw energy.
For the purpose of security, there were quadrillions of different frequencies for a planetary shield¡¯s energy signature, and even within those quadrillions lay pentillions of different combinations one might use to make it further unique.
For that reason, deciphering the frequency of a planet¡¯s shield¡ªand thereby making it useless¡ªwas essentially impossible, even with the most powerful military-grade AI in the humanosphere working at it for a hundred years straight.
While the top of the Iris, a circular structure not unlike a massive gate with three shielded ¡®prongs¡¯ extended into the void sat atop the shield, its lower half was partially submerged inside the shield¡ªwhich was an energy barrier several dozen meters thick. This lower half of Iris formed an accessible ¡®gate¡¯ around its interior, which was safe from the effects of the planetary shield and could allow traffic to move freely in and out of the planet¡¯s protective blanket.
That was not to say that the Iris itself was lacking in defenses.
Enough plasma turrets, point-defense batteries, and electromagnetic rail cannons were built into the ¡®prongs¡¯ and outer circle of the entrance point. At a moment¡¯s notice, the Iris could unleash a fusillade of fire strong enough to kill capital ships in moments¡ªand that was to say nothing of the two lunar fortresses orbiting protectively around the shielded planet even then.
All told, the Iris was both the single most vulnerable point to a planet¡¯s defenses, and its single most vital point of control. If the Iris were destroyed or rendered inoperable, the only conceivable way to escape from Hellas would be to disable the shield from the planet¡¯s surface, which would open the entire world not simply to the possibility of mass invasion and bombardment; but potential catastrophe in the form of forgotten kinetic munitions or random spaceborne debris.
Even starships accelerating too fast toward its surface.
The planetary shields had been a crucial necessity for interstellar colonization, especially after more than one human world had been killed by each of the aforementioned cataclysmic occurrences several times in their species¡¯ history.
The age of interstellar madness, during the Transhumanist-Geneticist wars of the 22nd Century, had taken lives in the tens of billions before the end.
¡°We¡¯re being guided into the priority access line at the top of the Iris, my lord.¡± Perseus reported while the shuttle soared toward the only accessible entrance to Hellas.
¡°Take us in, Andino.¡±
B1 | Chapter 15: Arrival
I will never forget the first time I saw him. The first time he saw me. The first moment our fates were forever intertwined. It was not a bang, nor explosion, nor grand trumpets of destiny. It was an aberrant reaction, a whimper of discordance, and a sudden crashing dive from full awareness to his being utterly insensate. It was the whisper of Doom, and the subtle gong of Armageddon. Something in him awoke. Something in me awoke. I have never felt such rage as I did at that moment. Oh, how foolish I was. I had no idea of the ways in which that man would break me. In that sense, I think; Humanity and I share common ground.
Passing through the Iris was a wholly mundane affair once all was said and done, and Arthur had experienced such passages innumerable times both at home on Albion and elsewhere in the Galaxy. It had been the Iris itself, and its design and parameters which Arthur had been truly interested and amazed by¡ªand the sheer density of traffic that flowed into and out of it.
Traffic that not even its mid-Rim location nor new war-footing seemed to fully deter.
Once they were past the yawning maw of the massive orbital construct and under the protective barrier of the planetary shield, Arthur was already back in his seat and he heard as much as felt the tell-tale indications of gravity asserting control over the shuttle. The sudden sound of the engines transitioning from plasma to chemical thrust, and the hum of the anti-grav technology lifting the transport away from the terrain below filled him with an indescribable elation.
There was just something about the roar of engines in the atmosphere which spaceflight, for all its own mystique and wonder, could never truly imitate.
When the shuttle peeled away into the blue skies of Hellas, Arthur activated the omni-comp on his left wrist and pulled up a positional map of the planet. Based on the immediate registry of location supplied by the tachyon HoloNet, he knew with immediacy that they were headed for the easternmost supercontinent of the planet, which he knew to be named Laconia.
The supercontinent upon which the megalopolis of Sparta had been built.
The shuttle winged its way toward the colossal surface area with a clear destination in mind, and Arthur changed his omni-comp¡¯s view to tourist information about Sparta and subordinate cities while sinking back to simply enjoy the primal roar of the engines and the jostling of turbulence that battered at the sturdily-built craft as Perseus guided them in.
He let his mind fully focus on absorbing what he read, and the minutes quickly blurred together as they made their descent through the azure expanse.
It was only when he felt the tell-tale sensation of final approach deceleration¡ªsomething he could identify instinctively as a pilot himself¡ªthat Arthur closed the 2D projection from his omni-comp and looked outside his window.
The view below was a stunning overview of what appeared to be a blue-green body of water girding a colossal island-bound town built under the shadow of what he could only describe as an ancient Greek palace rebuilt from inspirational images of history and greatly enhanced by the capabilities of modern technology.
The palace sat upon a raised plateau that appeared at least partially artificial.
It was the center of the town, with multitudinous dwellings varying from large villas built in a ring within an area one kilometer in diameter from the furthest of the palace¡¯s walls, to more reasonable and decreasingly ostentatious homes that expanded out toward the island¡¯s watery surrounds. The entire island, which itself was a vaguely circular shape, appeared to be perhaps forty kilometers in diameter in total.
Dozens of boats from small dinghies to fishing trawlers and even luxurious yachts filled the waters around the island, and Arthur spied what he believed to be a full military base and naval facility built into the northernmost end of the island, facing toward the main body of Laconia visible in the distance.
Perseus seemed to have no doubts about his destination however, and Arthur observed the town ever-more-slowly passing by beneath him as the shuttle continued its deceleration toward what looked like a specifically designated landing area near the rear of the palace-proper, where several powerful-looking ground-to-air batteries were even then tracking their approach.
Arthur¡¯s attention was pulled from his assessment of the palace¡¯s defenses and the vague hints of people assembling to greet them by Atreus¡¯ voice a moment later.
¡°House Leos is one of the most ancient and respected dynasties in Sparta.¡± The Myrmid¨®n said, having turned to face Arthur with his helmeted gaze. ¡°Despite their distance from the capital, and their current hardships; the family remains deeply and powerfully entrenched within the schema of Ascendancy politics, especially when it comes to the military.¡±
¡°Casandra made that clear.¡± Arthur agreed. ¡°The Rear Admiral was quite impressive.¡±
¡°She¡¯s cut from the same cloth as most of the clan, though I will admit she¡¯s risen higher than most.¡± Atreus rumbled. ¡°The rest are mostly officers aboard starships or serving in safer roles planetside. Some have chosen civilian pursuits, but the family chooses to treat that more as a tolerated eccentricity than anything else.¡±
¡°Not fans of civil service?¡±
¡°House Leos believes duty is how they prove their worth.¡±
Arthur nodded at that. The Knight of the Round Table within him could relate easily.
¡°And the Patriarch, Menelaus?¡± Arthur continued. ¡°What of him?¡±
¡°Menelaus was a very talented Eidolon pilot until he was involved in an extremely ill-fated ambush during the last Parthian Conflict, and suffered irreparable radiation damage to his lower body. While most of his superficial wounds were healed, he was rendered incapable of having any more children as a result of the injury.¡±
¡°Which is why Circe, as the Heiress, can¡¯t be risked even temporarily as an Hetairoi.¡±
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
¡°Your reiteration of the obvious makes this easier, at least.¡± Atreus said coolly while the shuttle commenced its final descent with a deactivation of its engines and a complete reliance on the steady depowering of its anti-grav coils.
¡°Why did Circe never seek military service, then?¡± Arthur asked while he readied himself to disembark.
¡°She is the sole heiress to the title. She needs to marry and birth an heir¡ªprobably several, in fact, before she could be considered able to risk herself, even if the posting might be a safe one. Which is unlikely, given her disposition.¡±
Arthur nodded thoughtfully at Atreus¡¯ words. The political nuances of Aristocracy were something his memories told him he had extensive experience with.
Though in Zacaris¡¯ case, Athur knew he had solved his issues with a sword edge.
¡°You would do well to remember your interactions with Lady Leos, and her implacable power of will.¡± Atreus warned him. ¡°Circe takes heavily after her mother.¡±
¡°Any advice on dealing with her?¡±
Atreus turned his armored head away for a moment, and then turned back to him.
¡°Treat her like a warrior, not a silk-adorned damsel. Respect her as an Eidolon pilot. Do not simper nor veil your words with platitudes. Circe values directness, honesty, integrity¡ªand more than anything else, she values strength. Not just physical, but personal as well. She will never accept a weak-willed Hetairoi, no matter what her parents say.¡±
¡°So she¡¯s a regular warrior princess, then.¡± Arthur said half to himself.
¡°As much as it pains me to admit it, you have the right idea.¡± Atreus said while they touched down with a quiet thud. ¡°I suppose I may not have cause to deem you an irredeemable waste of my time, if you continue with such insights.¡±
¡°Comedy isn¡¯t your strong-suit, Atreus.¡± Arthur said with a look outside of the window at the people gathering beyond the clean white landing pad. He only had a few seconds¡¯ time to steal glances at the blood red armor of what looked to be an honor guard among the greenery of the reception area before the flood of gaseous coolant obfuscated everything.
That was the problem with combustion engines and orbital descent, after all.
It made both the shuttles and the pads they landed on rather hot.
¡°Andino will handle your possessions, Arthur.¡± Atreus said matter-of-factly.¡± Your task will be to make yourself known to your soon-to-be liege, his staff, and his family. Before any of this can be made official, you will also need to demonstrate your skills with an Eidolon.¡±
¡°After I build one, you mean?¡±
¡°No. We have arranged for a training model to be delivered for your use.¡±
¡°I take it I¡¯ll be granted time to look it over, first?¡± Arthur asked wryly. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly looking forward to piloting a strange Eidolon whose design and function I¡¯m not familiar with.¡±
¡°Most likely.¡± Atreus said without acknowledging the event. ¡°Lord Leos is by all accounts a reasonable man. I see no reason for him to deny you such.¡±
Arthur nodded and rose when the belts keeping him safe retracted, his eyes sweeping the shuttle interior once out of habit and then coming to rest again on Atreus.
¡°I suppose we should be about it, then?¡±
The Myrmid¨®n¡¯s head tilted slightly as if he were eyeing him up and down, and then he simply nodded. ¡°The traveler¡¯s clothes will suffice, poor though they are.¡±
¡°I had just stepped off an interstellar freighter, Atreus!¡±
¡°They possess some measure of ragged charm, I suppose.¡±
¡°You mean rugged?¡±
The Myrmid¨®n simply glanced back at him silently before opening the hatch to exit the shuttle, and Arthur glanced down at his shirt and jacket before adjusting them surreptitiously. His boots were unmuddied. His jeans were well-made.
He did look presentable, damn it.
Atreus¡¯ descent down the accommodating set of unfolding stairs set the path for Arthur to follow, and with a glance toward Endymion and Perseus¡ªboth of whom nodded to him with encouragement¡ªhe took a steadying breath and stepped out into the brilliant sunlight of the Hellenic day.
The first thing he noticed when he stepped out of the shuttle was how clean the air was. Even in an age of atmospheric scrubbers and environmental preservation, and even having benefited from the greatest advances of climate science in the humanosphere; the air on Hellas simply felt different.
There was a vitality and purity to its nature that no machine could ever truly, fully recreate. It was intoxicating in its own way. Enough so that he actually paused upon the edge of the first step down, and simply breathed in the air with a heartfelt smile.
It wasn¡¯t until his eyes descended from admiration of the naked blue sky and the deceptively small metallic sheen of the Iris far above, to look down upon the assembled party of individuals awaiting him and Atreus¡ªwho had halted at the bottom of the stairs and was looking back up at him silently¡ªthat Arthur remembered himself.
His first steps down toward the surface of Hellas were accompanied by his first look at the people with whom his fortunes would be intertwined for the foreseeable future.
When Arthur¡¯s eyes met the gaze of the man that must have been Menelaus Leos, judging by the black toga emblazoned with a rampant crimson lion, and the golden adornments on his wrists and biceps; there was a distant sense of immediate kinship between them. Menelaus Leos had golden eyes, silvery-golden hair the opposite of Atreus¡¯ own, and olive skin natural for an island-born Lord.
His eyes, Arthur noted, were also bereft of haughty calculation or self-serving indifference.
In the Lord of Leos, Arthur saw a man that greeted him not as a tool to be used, but a possible friend worth cultivating.
It was when Arthur¡¯s eyes moved to the tall woman to Menelaus¡¯ right¡ªArthur¡¯s left¡ªthat things went wrong.
He barely had time to take in her full lips, smoldering dark gaze, and athletic physique before colors exploded around her like the birth of a star.
A rainbow, a corona, a supernova of vibrancy erupted into being between them and Arthur felt something within his mind break. A metaphysical tendon. A muscle whose origins he could not have placed even had he attempted to for a hundred years.
A nebulous infinity of spectrums assailed his awareness, his vision was utterly obfuscated by the kaleidoscopic insanity of it all, and Arthur felt something deep within him uncoil from hidden depths he¡¯d never known himself to possess.
Arthur¡¯s equilibrium abandoned him, his stomach rebelled against his control, and he felt his legs lose strength and his feet lose purchase. His hands feebly sought the railing of the stairs in vain from under the drowning tide of pressure burning within his mind.
The sky became the earth, the earth became the sky, and Arthur felt himself slam into something steely and unyielding while voices lost to the encroaching void at the edges of his vision called out in alarm.
The last sight he could remember was the woman¡¯s eyes.
A vibrant shade of emerald, like polished jade.
Two sets of warm fingers gripped his shattering skull.
Searing pain lanced through his mind.
The world turned white, and Arthur¡¯s awareness fled deep within the peaceful void.
B1 | Chapter 16: Revelation II
Seeing him as I did, witnessing what he did, and what effect he had¡ not just on me, but on my very perspective on reality¡ Gods help me, what could I have done? Even in that moment I knew I was lost. This being, this mystery, this harbinger of doom¡ªhe had coiled us all around his orbit as surely as a Sun demanding the adherence of enslaved planets. He was gravity made manifest, and when he cast his gaze upon us, we were already lost. Had I known then what I know now, I might have run screaming instead of drowning in the depths of his gaze. What a fool I was. What a fool I still am.
¡°You said something about a first trigger, Inquisitor,¡± Arthur Zacaris said while staring out from his towering balcony, across the expansive vista of his land toward the near-distant floating spires of Camelot. Albion¡¯s Capital was a beautiful blend of technology mixed with nature, and the main palace sat upon a levitated landmass with immense bridges connecting it to the far more expansive, out-spread megacity surrounding the floating central fortress-citadel.
¡°When you meet someone that resonates with you, it will happen.¡±
¡°What does that mean, exactly?¡± Arthur asked while turning to rest his back against the colonnaded balustrade of the balcony.
Nataliya looked at him from where she sat at the luxurious tea-table at the center of the balcony, her cup of Albionian Dry Leaf Tea in her hand. ¡°Resonance is the connection between¡ª¡±
¡°I know what resonance is, Inquisitor,¡± Arthur said impatiently. ¡°I am not a fool. I am asking you, specifically, what you mean by that. I¡¯ve resonated with several people in my life, and it has never been a cause for much interest.¡± he continued disdainfully. ¡°It simply means our consciousnesses are compatible. It¡¯s quite good for finding women to take to bed from among Eidolon pilots eager for some recognition, but I see little value beyond it.¡±
¡°You are a man hardened by pain and molded by suffering, my lord. Your value in the concept of companions outside of the physical pleasures associated with the word was eroded many, many years ago.¡±
Nataliya¡¯s voice was calm when she spoke, but a subtle chill raced down Arthur¡¯s spine at the intensity of her blue eyes.
¡°I am speaking not of what you think of resonance as, but what it should be seen as.¡±
¡°And what is that?¡± Arthur asked again, albeit with perhaps a touch more respect.
Not because he was afraid, of course.
Never that.
¡°It is the understanding of a potential ally. It is the recognition of someone that can stand by you, and aid you. It is the compounding realization that you are not alone, and that those you can trust to be at your side have made themselves known.¡±
Arthur¡¯s expression twisted at that, and he narrowed his eyes.
¡°Trusting people to that extent only allows them a chance to betray you. The contravening stories are all hyperbole and naive optimism. If I had trusted any of the people that I resonated with outside of the women I¡¯ve fucked, Inquisitor, I¡¯d be dead with a knife in the back a dozen times over.¡±
¡°That is the sad reality of Pendragon, yes,¡± Nataliya said with an acceding nod. ¡°But it is not the true reality of everything everywhere.¡±
¡°Elsewhere is not my concern, Inquisitor.¡±
¡°It will be when we move forward, my lord, and when it is you must remember this conversation. Resonance is not always to be feared. It is not always to be seen as a vulnerability. It is the key to finding allies that will be critical to your future.¡±
¡°So anyone without this resonance is not to be trusted?¡±
¡°Now you are leaping to the opposite extreme,¡± Nataliya said with a quiet sigh that set Arthur¡¯s irritation spiking. She was looking at him like he was a pitiable child, and it rankled. ¡°Not all people who resonate will be trustworthy, and not all people who are trustworthy will resonate. It is a potential bond, my lord, not one of predetermination. To your point, Pendragon has proven this true with remarkable cruelty.¡±
Arthur narrowed his eyes at that and drew in a steadying breath. ¡°Perhaps, Inquisitor.¡± he said while wrestling down his temper. ¡°That does not change the fact that resonance is just as much a key to finding your greatest adversary.¡±
¡°But also a key to finding your greatest allies.¡±
¡°And how am I to tell?¡±
¡°Simply be open to the idea,¡± Nataliya said with a smile. ¡°The rest will fall into place.¡±
¡°And what of my other task? The one you said I must undertake with more immediacy?¡±
¡°The package?¡±
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¡°Yes. You have spoken much of how I must find comrades, build a home, establish a belonging, curate an¡ an investment in this backwater technologically deprived armpit of a nation, and yet somehow you have studiously avoided what you seemed to think was one of the most imperative parts of this little adventure.¡±
¡°I cannot tell you what it is, my lord, only its importance.¡±
¡°Then how am I to¡ª?¡±
Arthur fell silent when Nataliya drew forth a simple black omni-comp, not unlike the black wristband already wrapped around his left forearm, and held it up.
¡°This is your charge.¡±
¡°An omni-comp?¡± he asked skeptically.
¡°A key, my lord.¡±
¡°A key to what?¡±
¡°The future,¡± Nataliya said with a fervent certainty.
¡°My future?¡± Arthur asked while moving forward to take the device carefully.
¡°Not just yours, my lord,¡± Nataliya said as he did. ¡°Humanity¡¯s as a whole.¡±
Arthur awoke to the sound of birds and the warm glow of sunlight on his features. A couple of slow blinks helped draw him further out of the vivid dream he¡¯d been immersed in, and his gaze settled on the canopy of silk above him suspended by four imitation greek pillars attached to what his immediate mind told him was a very luxurious four-poster super-king sized bed.
His arms shifted at his sides and he immediately realized two things.
First, he was lying on and under what felt like pure silk or velvet.
Second, he was utterly and completely naked.
A moment of panic gripped him and he reached down to feel for the omni-comp at his wrist, and only relaxed when his fingers made contact with it.
¡°Nataliya Verchenko¡¡± he muttered to himself in remembrance of the woman in his mind, and the meeting that until then had been utterly absent from his memory. His arms came up beside him and he pushed himself upright on the bed, and pressed his back against the ornate headboard¡ªmade of some fine and likely expensive varnished wood¡ªwith a frown.
Why had he remembered the conversation now? Had he resonated with someone?
Arthur¡¯s left hand rose and he examined the inconspicuous black device banded around his wrist thoughtfully, his attention focused on it with a look of frustrated lack of comprehension. What was it about the device that was so special? For all that the conversation with the Inquisitor had come back to him, he felt¡ªand knew thanks to the snippets of memory¡ªthat he was still missing potentially massive chunks of detail.
¡°Layers¡¡± he murmured while rubbing his right hand over the metal band in contemplation. ¡°The memories will come back like pieces of a scattered puzzle. Great.¡±
Speaking out loud might have seemed odd to others, but Arthur had always found it a fine means of contemplation in the past. Something about the act of vocalizing his inner thoughts allowed him to better comprehend and parse them, and in doing so to process whatsoever was going through his mind as a result.
At that moment, it was mostly the question of why.
Why had Nataliya Verchenko chosen him?
Who was it that had triggered his latest recollection?
Why had it been Graecia he was sent to?
And most importantly; why was he naked in a luxurious bed?
The final question was the one that finally spurred Arthur into decisive action. His legs swung right and he pulled himself from under the covers to the rightmost edge of the bed, braced against the heavenly soft mattress and pushed himself to his feet while sweeping his eyes across the room.
The interior of the bedroom was a perfect complement to the bed itself, of course; with a spacious interior that must have been nearly fifteen meters long and ten wide. A fireplace and a pair of luxurious reclining chairs sat at the far end of the room from the bed, along with what appeared to be a small drinking table between them and before the fireplace.
The design of the entire room fit a Greek aesthetic, with marble and stone painstakingly carved across the breadth, width, and height of the interior. Behind him on either side of the bed were inlaid two large, partially opaque floor-to-ceiling windows which he recognized as having smart-glass which could be set to either a complete blackout or to total transparency.
Useful on a planet with a 48 standard hour day and night cycle.
The cold marble under Arthur¡¯s foot was a soothing comfort while he padded away from the bed and toward the distant, welcoming archway to what he gleaned to be a private and rather well-made bathroom.
A steady stride took him across the length of the room, and over the smooth and comfortable pelt of some great cat that looked remarkably like a Lion mixed with an Elk, and then he stepped through the archway into the bathroom to see to his ablutions and the call of nature.
Thirty minutes and a pleasantly scalding shower later, Arthur took a moment to examine his features in the expansive smart-mirror above the classical-style basin, complete with taps and bronze faucet.
Rich blond hair cut in wavy strands fell down to frame the face that looked back at him, with the edges of each golden strand of hair curling upwards slightly at the bottoms. His jaw was strong and squared, with high cheekbones and a pair of bright azure eyes that he¡¯d been told were mischievous, charming, discerning, or ruthless depending on who he¡¯d been speaking to.
A light shadow of growth adorned his symmetrical features in a perfect distribution across his jaw¡¯s surface area, all of which he knew was the result of generations of painstaking genetic tailoring and selective breeding on his homeworld.
His shoulders were broad and defined, and his frame¡ªat just shy of six and a half feet¡ªwas well-chiseled and naturally combined natural athleticism with a genetically bulky musculature that he knew was neither coincidental nor difficult to maintain.
Arthur¡¯s natural metabolism and physiology made maintaining his physique barely an effort.
His hand reached up to feel the smooth stubble shadowing his jaw and he clicked his tongue in annoyance at its presence. ¡°I need a shave or I¡¯ll end up looking like a drop trooper at this rate.¡±
A quick glance around the vanity guided him to a waiting drawer, and Arthur grinned in victory at finding a las-shaver.
Two minutes and a few passes of targeted lasers later, and Arthur was able to run his hands over smoothly shaven flesh once more.
He was only thirty-five, after all. He¡¯d save the beard to celebrate his first century.
It seemed better suited for a ¡®middle aged¡¯ thing, anyway.
¡°Right. Welcome back, Arthur.¡± he said to his reflection. ¡°Time to find some clothes.¡±
Arthur wrapped his towel around his waist out of habit, and a pivot on his heel took him out of the spacious bathroom once more. Arthur set his sights on the large closet he¡¯d walked past upon stepping down from the bed.
If there were clothes to be found, they¡¯d be in there.
It was a perfect plan, right up until he stepped out of the bathroom and very nearly lost his head.