Planetary Takeover of Improcco and Asation...















Oro - Aridia Cluster - Outlying Regions



"My Liege, the Guildway has been rebuilt." came the report from the rather young officer. They are all young these days..

The aging man who sat on a throne, who's meaning had fled the Aridian people's mind, contemplated the words with both a mixture of anticipation and fear.

The Guildways were what connected the planets of the Aridia Cluster together. Powerful energy emitters that allowed vessels to travel within the Cluster (or rather, within the Guildway Network). The Cluster contained not the proper materials to build the reactors that other factions in the galaxy designed and so none of their vessels contained an internal engines but relied on the power of the Guildways. To have no Guildway was to be cut off from the Cluster and the Galaxy at large.

Until now..

Yes, this was a time the liege lord had looked forward too having had promised his followers grand things.


The Kingdom of Aridia had governed their star system in a feudal manner for over a hundred years. The current King had granted trade with an obscure Imperial Legion based on a nondescript planet on the outskirts of their system called Arcadia.

The Aridian Kingdom had known of the Empire and allowed the use of the planet Arcadia. Being outside the Guildway Network there was no way for the Aridians to keep the planet safe from those who would prey on the colonists there.

It was the Legion that had fortified Arcadia which impressed the King given the state of affairs within the Empire at the time.

Arcadia had come to be a base of sorts while the Legion acted to find it's place in their fractured government and protect (as best it could) the dream that was once The New Order.

Still, it was that remnant left on Arcadia who began to form a relationship with the Aridians.

Unfortunately, some within the Legion began to meddle in the designs and ambitions of the Aridian feudal lords. The King's War that broke out effectively ended the Aridian Kingdom as they knew it. For a war broke out among the Legion as well with the fate of the Aridian people lying in the balance.

The two civil wars were connected and yet separate.

However, as with all wars, one side must win while another loses. The defeated were banished to the world of Oro and their Guildway destroyed. The Aridian Civil War continued...


But to what end? After five bloody years, surely the war has ended?


"Major Wil?"

Major Heth Willam, formerly of the 3rd Armoured Regiment of the 256th Galactic Imperial Legion, now Leige Lord of Oro, looked at his officers as they stared at him expectantly.

He grinned, "With any luck, Colonel Kaine perhaps may have gotten himself killed. If he hasn't, it's time we put him in his grave and take our places as Kings of the Aridia Cluster.

The Empire is gone but the Emperor's legacy can live through us!

The Guildway links us to the planet Fero." Of which he was thankful. The other planets of the Aridia Cluster had the good sense to dismantle the Guildways on their side...but there is always someone foolish... It seemed the Planet Fero had not gotten around to it. "As memory serves, Fero is an agriculture planet."


"Bloody grains and rice.." someone muttered.

"Forget that for now. The only thing of importance is Fero's Guildway Control Center. From their we can take control of Fero's System and access the rest of the Cluster."

"We hang by a string in planning. We cannot simply move over to Fero and conquer it." a former Private Bester spoke up. "We need to assess. Move people into place on all worlds to find allies. There has to be a feudal lord or two who will wants to improve his station in life.."

The others laughed at that.


Major Willam allowed the laughter to continue for it boosted the men's moral. "Do not underestimate the Aridians. They may be backwards but they are clever devils. And we need them," he cautioned after the laughter died down. "But we do need to move quickly while our Guildway is still active. Who knows how long that will be, so first things first. Bester? Do you have your men ready?"

"Just give the command lord." and Willam nodded. He could always count on Private Bester though the man was a bit on the cautious side.

Caution had it's advantages but there was a time and place for it.


"You move in two hours."


Willam turned to the rest while Bester rose to carry out his Lord's orders, "As for you... this is what I want.." and he told them.

How easy everything seemed then. How simple. But then, doesn't everything when you are young?



The holonets had claimed him dead. But then, people had thought that once before and were proved wrong.

Why should now be any different?


Because, you old fool. You ARE old. We are OLD. Our usefulness is at an end.


It was strange that he should be sought out after so many years. But the man's life was a mystery clothed in more mystery. With a shroud of lies to boot. The man inwardly cackled at his own joke.

That someone had made the connection and ... and to come all this way just to talk to him was truly amazing.


Still, though, not out of the realm of possibility. INS was, if nothing else, thorough.

However, what was really ironic that a he.. HE would have a hand in shaping the life legacy of a man he had fought with and hated for so many years.

And with a prospect like that, he felt that he just might end up with the upper hand.


That upper hand was just an illusion. What use was that at the end of one's years? Especially knowing you'd never get those years back?


Would tarnishing the other's legacy bring everyone back? Would darkening an already dark image bring her back?


The madness in the old man's eye returned briefly as he contemplated that thought.

Oh yes, no one knew about her...


If things had been different... if things had turned out different, how would history had been changed?


He left himself wrapped in the secure knowlege that things would have been different..


But looking out at the Black Fleet from his vantage point in the aging orbiting station's lounge....

..it was enough to give doubt.


He bottomed up his glass and ordered another round. It wouldn't be long until the INS man came back to hear the rest.




About what was almost started... what almost triumphed decades ago on Oro.


His mind drifted to the others... some living.. most dead now and wondered without emotion when his time would come.


He had come close.... astonishingly close..


Especially given that Themian Affair.

Hell, the entire galaxy almost went to hell then...


Yet here he was... decades later etching out his meager existence under the shadow of failure.


And in a place cut off from the rest of the Empire. He wasn't even allowed to see Imperial Center.


Exile from the rest of the New Order for crimes unknown to the New Order... for the crime of failure.


Yes, he thought as depression began to set in, things would have been different if he had succeeded.



"To hell with the Arridians," he rasped and drowned himself in liquid oblivion.

Arcadia



"The account is sketchy but it seems Zsinj was destroyed at Slaggis." began the rather tall Ibren Chandler, Captain of the 256th Tactical Support Wing.

Colonel Kaine drummed his fingers on a wooden table the Warlord had granted Kaine for his victory along the Outer Rim.

All in all, a victory over pirates deserved no greater reward and the Colonel was able to keep his regimental strength secret from the man.

It galled the young leader to have to pay some sort of homage to the self proclaimed warlord in his efforts to find the 'true' remnants of the Empire. Reports were scattered and with the holonet system shot to hell, who knew what was true and what was verifiable.

Ysanne Isard was supposed to have held onto Imperial Center but had all but fled in her Super Star Destroyer letting the Rebels claim victory over the capital of the Empire.

That the Director of Imperial Intelligence had even contemplated the move drew Kaine to anger.

His cold eyes gazed at the report fragments and let out a disgusted sigh. "Everyone seems to have a Super Star Destroyer but no one is willing to use it. And those that do use them..."

"..lose them?" Offered Chandler, handing a glass of Aridian Wine to the Colonel.

"Exactly! With only a regiment, there is not much we can do. We are stretched thin as it is."

"Especially given Major Willam's mutiny."

Kaine's eyes hardened. "There is that." and he went to his feet and started pacing.

"We are reasonably secure here, Sir. We have supplies and good support crews for our fighters."

"We need capital ships! We need intelligence, reliable intelligence and .."

"..we need men." Chandler continued. "All the hardware in the world gets us nowhere without them manned." He eyed Kaine. "That is why you only marooned the Major and his men and didn't kill him."


"I need to keep my options open. Mutineers they may be but they are skilled. One of the few that we truly had." Kaine stopped pacing and turned back to the table and picked up a report.

"A trader gave us this intel regarding a freighter fleet making for Varonat."

"Varonat? That's pretty far off the usual lanes."

"But not enough for what I have in mind. I want your wings to attack them in system."

"Won't that draw the .."

"Defending cruiser. Yes. As soon as it arrives, move your fighters off but keep them visible."

"You want the cruiser to remain."

"Yes."

"From?"

And Kaine smiled. "A Loronar in for repairs here. We put our assault shuttles here and .."

"Take a cruiser with no crew? We've good soldiers, Colonel but your Navy men will be on distraction duty."

"One team to liberate the cruiser. Another team to free crewmen of the Imperial Navy imprisoned."

"So that's the little detail our friendly trader sold?"

"Yes."

"And he's trustworthy because?"

"He has a cousin imprisoned as well. Mutual benefit."

"He could be lying.."

"Which is why I want you to lead the task. If you feel it's too hot, pull the plug and head back here."

Captain Chandler nodded looking over the details of what he'd need for the mission. "And you?"

"I want to see if I can get a shipyard from these Aridians."

"And if they won't give you one?"

Simon's eyes narrowed. "Then maybe I could take one. Make no mistake Captain, without ships, our regiment is as good as done for and I won't have that."

"But to what end, Colonel? The Empire is.."

"Not out for the count yet! Fractured yes. On the run? Perhaps. But it is still alive. And as long as it's alive.."

"I understand Colonel. We'll get the ship."

"Only if viable, Captain. I don't want to lose the regiment for a cruiser. As you said, an empty ship is a worthless ship. Get the men first. If you can take the cruiser do it... But get our men out of prison."

*



The old man could see that the INS reporter was drifting and the thought angered him.

What did the young pup want? Sordid tales with some teenage popular singer that will outlive her usefulness as a plaything for a powerful Admiral or Moff who would deign to take 'pity' on her?


"Am I boring you?"


The INS man looked up and grinned unashamed. "Quite frankly, sir. Yes. Calling something the 'Guildway War' in no way enhances it's appeal to the audience, you know."

"That is what the locals called it, you know?" the old man shot back dryly.

The reporter shrugged, "The Empire is no concerned with insignificant disputes with some out-of-the-way star system."


The old man brashly gazed back, "How do you know?" and allowed the question to linger before continuing, "So what..? Do you want me to discuss my affair with Grand Moff Zell?"

And the young man suddenly sat straighter, his eyes narrowing and the old man saw the younger's interest pick up. "Are you saying that Zell is ..."

"A faggot?"

"..a Homosexual?"

The old man leered, "Now wouldn't that suit your faggot fancy." and he struck the young man's knees as if to push him away.

"The Empire does not look well on homophobia.."

"Then why does what Zell fucks create such sensationalism for a serious journalist as yourself?" the old man shot back with venom.

"You are baiting me.." the younger man complained, sighing and the older man grinned harshly.

"Stupid little sod. All of you! You never ask the truly important questions!"

"And what questions are those?" came the sarcastic reply.

The old man's eyes suddenly gleamed, "Why do those lesbians who so hate men take the time out of their fucking liberated lives from the tyranny of man to cut their hair like a man's? To dress like a man? To act and play the 'man' in their fantasy family life?

Why do some men," he shot the name out contemptuously, "who are fags..." the younger man glared at him, "act like little girls? Dress like women? Are so in-touch with their sensitive side and weep with weak minded fools?"


The younger man flushed, "You make it sound like a perversion.."


The old man grinned, pushing buttons, "Isn't it?"

"NO! And if you are going to bring up religion, I'll..."

And the old man laughed. "There's another fucking irony for you! If religion is so against these people, why do the fags claim to be religious? To rewrite your own religious book seems, to me, to render said religion rather moot."

Before the reporter could sputter an incoherent reply, the old man charged ahead, "If a woman loves another woman, fine. But don't claim to be religious. Don't claim to hate, call down evil on, or deride men if you intend to pattern your life after them. Stupid bitches." the old man coughed, "And if a man loves another man, fine." He pointed an age spotted hand at the young man, "But don't go claiming to rewrite religion just because you like to stick your thing somewhere else. Do not talks us to death about the joy of loving another man if you intend to dress and act like a woman. It merely cheapens your stance and makes one feel you settled for a cheap imitation copy of a woman..." the old man's eyes narrowed, "probably because you could not get a woman."

His grin was a truly horrifying site of ugliness.

"And it is a perversion." and before the young man could shout back, "It's a perversion against biology. Nature intends one half to be on the giving end.." and his cane struck the young man's crotch. "..and one half on the receiving end." and he struck the journalist's bottom as he was moving away.

"Nature did not intend your partner to be same sex, a fat goat, or a skinny jawa." He grinned, "That was man's idea."


"WHAT'S YOUR POINT, OLD MAN!" the young man shouted.


And the man with the aging spots sat back, "Only that these diversions from our biologically intended course, these stupid, small, same sex issues affect a great number of people. The people are led by the nose to whatever self centered aim they wish to pursue."


"The people want to be happy." the reporter retorted, obviously hurt by the words of the old man.


".. and when that is taken away?" the old man suddenly asked, softly. "When someone calls down evil on your way to happiness? When someone tears and rips at the little illusions of happiness we create around us?"


"Then Emperor help those who do!" the young man said sharply. Too sharply.


"And what do you think happened during this 'guildway war'? This insignificant dispute of some distant star system?"


He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing, "We are still feeling the effects."


"What are you talking about?"


"This Guildway War was the turning point. It was the fire that forged the steel. And I?" he placed a hand on his chest, "I had the privilege of lighting the fire."

The Past...



Colonel Kaine was shown into the King's presence and Agreon was once again taken by how young the Colonel seemed.


Not seemed. Was!


So young and yet so serious.


What manner of empire turns out such soldiers?


The young man looked resplended in the gray hues of his Imperial uniform.

He noted that the Colonel travelled all the way from his base at the edge of the Aridian System in a transport shuttle and so had few men with him.


The Imperials had knowledge of technologies only hinted about by the King's men and the more Imperials that were in residence on Aridia, the better the chance his people might be able to learn a thing or two.

The young man was either very shrewd or had too little men to waste.

The Colonel was being escorted by the King's Guard and he saw that his Guard took nothing for granted. Major Willam's near coup still left a sour taste in the mouths of the Aridians but even the King could not dispute the fact that the young Colonel marching before him had saved the Royal Family. That his regiment held off the rebels led by one of their own.

It was truly a balancing act.

The power these Imperials represented set against the very real Royal power held by the King.


And what of the people of Aridia? What of their power?


Behind closed doors there were advisors that cautioned him to slit the Colonel's throat and bury him forgotten.

But who would stand against Major Willam should he somehow escape from his exile?

That the Colonel had allowed the rebels, especially the traitor Willam to live had impressed the King and his family. Such acts of mercy befit able and good leaders.


But the hard, practical side of the coin had to be considered as well. Was the Colonel merely being pragmatic in allowing Willam and his ilk to live?


Did this Kaine maneuver to keep the threat of Willam's escape viable so he (the King) would be less likely to think about disposing of the Imperials?


Wheels within wheels. A plan within a plan.

Such thoughts led to merely sleepless nights. What good was the effort of wondering if you would truly never find out?


Soon, I would be spinning fantasies in to reality.


He heard an approach come from the resident area and the King turned. He noted his daughter eyeing the young Colonel as he passed being directing to his own room to freshen before attending an audience with the King.


Agreon's eyes narrowed in discomfort as he noted the look on his daughter's face. It was a look that had taken root when the Colonel and his men held the Royal Hall separating the frighteningly intelligent Major Willam and the rebels from total capture of the throne. They had stormed the King's Residence with frightening speed and in the midst of the fire fight, the young Colonel stared back at the rebels with a look of cold calculation.

As if possessed by demons, he threw his men and the Royal Guards into the infernal....No. He led them into the inferno and only by luck survived.

His daughter had taken it upon herself to tend to the wounded when Kaine had come out of the smoke with the remainder of the defenders exhausted but triumphant. She had turned to look upon and him and her face changed.


The King saw it then and he saw it now.


Being of the Royal Family, his daughter had not had the exposure most daughters did and though she had a sharp mind in her own right, she was not experienced. Her innocence was unshattered.


And, to be honest, he did not want it shattered.


Too many reports had filtered into the Cluster. Stray signals.

The Empire this Colonel spoke of was truly fightening in scope and power. But what was even more frightening was the fact that it had fallen.

That there were hundreds of mini-empires fighting for control.


It was the eternal problem of the outside world encroaching on an isolated society.

His people were content with their own internal concerns. He was content.


Could this Colonel ever be content with that?


He would have to wait.


"Don't just stand there Mya. Get the hosts ready to receive our guest." he gently chided shocking his daughter out of her reverie. She was both embarrassed at being caught and grateful to be given a task to distract her from breathing.


He had enough time to get in a meeting with his advisors before receiving the Imperial.

Colonel Simon Kaine was shown into his guest room and he began to strip off his trademark black gloves and toss them onto the bed. A well made and comfortable bed.

Too comfortable.

The ease with which the people of Aridia lived seemed to make Simon uncomfortable.. especially given the way of life he and his men had lived for the past two years since Sotel.

Since the Empire fell apart.

Was it really worth it? His devotion, a devotion some called sad, to a fractured Empire that may never be put back together?


Was he pushing his men to fight against the inevitable?


Their discipline was the only thing holding the corps... holding the regiment together and after Major Willam's rebellion, it was holding things by a mere thread.

With the warlord destroyed by the New Republic forces and with Isard abandoning Imperial Center to the Rebels, it looked hopeless. There had been no response on any coded transmission burts sent to the few Imperial strongholds that Kaine had known about.

If they were not answering, perhaps the Empire was in retreat.

But to where?

Can the Empire rally after being pushed out of the Core?

Resources were scattered along the Rim and to put together any sizeable campaign would be an undertaking so massive that it staggered the mind.

Especially with the Rebels hot on their heels.


In a way, he envied the luxury that King Agreon had built for himself. A calm empire, a loving family... all the right ingredients for a happy and successful future.

He sighed as he began to disrobe for the ritual bath before dinner. Traditions on Aridia were old and very deliberate in their observances.

All Kaine had was a tradition of pain.

From his family being ripped apart by the Rebellion to his own personal hell on Arcadia.

The tiny skulls of the creatures he'd learned to hunt conspicuously absent from his neck. Such experiences were not for the people here.

A palace servant had drawn the hot water and all was prepared for Kaine as he stepped into the water, the heat running off his skin like so many massages and he slowly felt the stress vanish from his shoulders.


It was here where the walls he'd built up around his heart began to melt away with the pure and simply joy of being alive. Appreciating the tiny fact that was the culmination of so many dangerous actions.


His thoughts began to lose clarity and his eyes grew heavy as he slipped off into a sleep, the hot water doing it's work.


His last thoughts before drifting away were on the girl's eyes that watched him come and go.

"Mya, Mya, Mya.." the old man whispered in lamentation. "A remarkable woman that ended up seeing what no one should ever see.."

The INS reporter looked at his timepiece but the old man knew the movement was feigned. He had grabbed some sort of interest.

"Which was..?" the reporter finally bit at the bait and the old man smiled having been proved right.


"That the world is what it is. Not what we would like it to be." he rasped out coughing slightly.

"Some might like it the way it is.." the reporter countered trying his hand in the game of ambiguity.

The old man sported a grin that would do a lecher proud, "And if the world was as she would have liked it, I wouldn't be mourning her would I?" he sneered.

The reporter threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Tell me, INS, why do you wear that symbol?" the old man suddenly asked, eyeing the cheap jewelry on the agent.

"It's a symbol of 'The Way', the Imperial sanctioned..."

"I know what 'The Way' is." the old man interrupted harshly. "I just don't know why you are wearing it's symbol."

"Because I am a member. Because I am a believer. I believe in the son of God that came to die for our sins..."

"..on which planet?" the man asked sardonically.

".. and pave the way for us to have eternal life." the INS reporter finished.


The old man was attacked by another violent round of coughing leaving visible a trail of saliva from his lips to his hand-held cloth.

He weakly looked up, his tired demeanor not yet conquering the fire in his eyes, "But you're a faggot." he stated.


The reporter's eyes lit up with a fire of their own but he reigned it in, "I am a homosexual. This is true."


"A Wayist Homosexual. Now there's a contradiction in terms." the old man remarked and the INS Reporter's anger flared up once more.

"I RESENT.." he started to say but the old man cut him off.

"Spare me your self dellusions of your 'happy-happy-joy-joy' visions of fantasy land! The God of the Lesson, that old book that this 'Way' is founded upon had numerous accounts of God destroying the faggots, faggot!"

He grinned, spittle drooling slightly. "Faggots and Fuckers will not inherit the kingdom of God." the he shrugged, "or so sayeth your fucking religious book."

"God loves me! I know it!" the INS reporter shouted back.

"Loves you faggots so much he destroyed how many old cities with fire and brimstone?" the old man quipped back. "Face if faggot, you shitheads may find a place for yourselves in politics but not in religion."

The old man grinned again, "You can't have everything."

"Why not?" the INS reporter asked bitterly, "You heterosexuals do."

The old man moved closer, "Then have a faggot receive visions from God, have him write a book and have it aged two thousand years so faggots then can claim a religion all their own. Then have some faggot put to death for faggot-land and then.. THEN you can have your personal fucking savior! 'Us' heterosexuals put in the time and waited the 2,000 years, had a savior die for us; so if you're so fucking big on equality, you do the same!

But no! You want the fucking easy, lazy ass ride trying to mold the works of heterosexuals into something for fags. It doesn't work that way you lazy fucks!"

The INS reporter stared at the old man for a long time before replying, "The Imperial Government must approve new ideas to be incorporated into the state religion."

The old man stared back at the INS reporter and quoted a passage from the Lesson: "If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you.."

"Oh, fuck you!" the INS Reporter shouted and the old man laughed.

"You're learning, faggot. You are learning." the old man clapped his hands lightly together and then turned mournful once again. "One never knows truly how a person will react when the world they'd like is replaced by the world that is."

The reporter looked up, "And this, Mya, didn't take to the revelations well, I take it?"

The old man became distant. "At first she did. But then she really didn't believe. She thought that if one wanted something bad enough, 'love would conquer all'. And she honestly believed it." the old man's eyes watered. "If there were ever an innocence to cherish it was hers."

"And later?"

"Later? Love did conquer, my boy. Love did conquer. Love is the greatest fucking power in the galaxy."

The old man looked up. "It has the power to destroy an entire star system."

The old man and the INS reporter sat silently each in their own contemplation. The old man weakly stood and walked over to the window overlooking the Nexus, the main control center for the remaining Gree gates under control by those loyal to Kaine, the 256th.

"You know, young man, none of this would have been possible without him. If you were smart, you'd grovel at your Emperor's feet thanking him for each new day of life you have." The old man sighed. "And you know what the ironic thing is?"

The INS reporter's eyes drew the unspoken question.

"If not for Zsinj, none of this would be here either. No fortress world here, no Endgame, no Imperial Center, no defeat of the Jutraalian Empire... nothing!"

"Zsinj?" the reporter blurted out. "He died with his ship on Dathomir."

"But.." the old man's eyes gleamed, "But not before issuing an order to his foolish cousin trying to cobble what was left of the fiasco at the Kuat Drive Yards and the Razor's Kiss."

"Zsinj had a cousin?"

The old man grinned, "Well... not anymore. But yes, he did. And what a part he played!"

The old man hobbled back to his seat and groaned as he sat down. "You see, faggot, Zsinj's cousin was the bridge. A bridge from the Kaine of yesterday to the Kaine of today."

"Talk sense old man."

The old man coughed a bit but delighted in seeing the interest in the reporter's eyes beginning to kindle.

"The 256th was growing tired of the warlord, Zsinj. Captain Chandler was off on a mission to procure equipment that they would use to launch their search for the New Order and the Colonel? The Colonel was securing the regiment's power base within the system."

"What good would the people of the system do if all they had as a means of travelling from planet to planet in their system was by means of their guildway? They had no hyperdrive correct?"

"Correct. All stellar traffic moved along the guildways. Without the guildways, no planet within the Aridia Cluster would have been able to travel to another. But the capital had resources. It was the Colonel's intention to try to build a viable shipyard within the system and from there, a Naval Base under the protection of the 256th and the Aridian Monarchy. Unfortunately, Major Willam had other ideas for the Monarchy and Zsinj had other ideas for the 256th. And when rival ideas clashed with the ideas of Colonel Kaine..."


"But the Colonel had no assets! He had few men! Captain Chandler was out of the picture with nearly half the regiment. How could Kaine oppose both Willam and Zsinj?" The reporter blurted out.

The old man smiled.

"By using his knowledge of the two men."

*






The evening was fast approaching and Colonel Simon Kaine watched the lights of the boosters that propelled both civilian and merchants ships to the planet’s massive guildway station. From his window overlooking a vast valley, noting several buildings scattered here and there, he could see the station in orbit with the naked eye and marveled at how long such a construction project would have taken.


Guildway One.


Two was stationed farther out and Three was under construction.



Three was the key!



His thoughts drifted to his Second in Command, Ibren Chandler and the dangerous mission he had been sent on.


Were such sacrifices worth it?


With an Empire that seemed to all but succumb to anarchy with former Admirals fighting over its bones like dogs?


What if there was no more Empire?


What would his men do? What would he do? … without purpose?




“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” came a small voice behind him and Simon turned, startled. He saw that the daughter of the King was on her way to the dinner when she must have seen him out on the hall balcony. She was dressed, while expensively, in a manner that hinted at practicality and simplicity.


“It is,” he agreed, his eyes taking in the valley noting it’s aesthetic value for the first time. However, he spoke too quickly and she caught it.


“You do not see the beauty?” she asked pointedly. Probing.


The tone of her voice caused Kaine to flush a little. As if he had overlooked a detail of great strategic importance. “I only noted the industrial capacity of the valley and it’s defensive capabilities.” he confessed.


For some unspoken reason, for the first time, it seemed his observation just wasn’t quite.. up to par. But the young woman simply looked at him as if running something through her mind. Digesting not only the surface value of his words but also the meanings behind them.


Kaine expected her to reach a decision about his lack of admiration for aesthetics and turn abruptly away which would have suited him just fine. He had no time for fools… even pretty ones.



Now where did that thought come from?



But before his mind could address it, she spoke, her inner decision readily evident in her eyes.



“What do you see?” she asked, interested and his eyes registered surprise.



The question did surprised him. He'd never quite been asked that before and never by anyone of the fairer sex. But then the cold calculation of his mind overrode all other thought as he focused on answer to her question. “I see where your people have put up at least six different power stations.” He pointed out to her what he was talking about stretching his hand over the horizon, “These stations put out an impressive amount of power but only a fraction of your industrial sectors are tapped into them. Several of your stations," his hand gestured to their complex facilities just in sight, "there and there, are allotted to residential areas and, truth be told, residential areas simply do not consume that much power. You should link them here, and shoot their output through the valley into your heavy industrial sectors beyond.


You could produce three times as much just with that simple logistical adjustment without needing the proposed new power generator to be built on the other side of the Industry Sector.”


“The power generator project has been approved.” She commented quietly knowing that the proposal was a source of much angst with her father's advisors.



“I know." Kaine allowed, revealing to her that he did keep up with the political decisions the Aridian Monarchy made. "It should be used to power defensive weapons systems and converted into a shield generator.” Kaine sighed glancing briefly at the sky, “Your industrial sectors are ripe for strikes being directly under the guildway station transit ports.”


“All it takes is one vessel powered independently of the Guildway System, like your shuttle, to smash us.” The young woman concluded and Simon turned to her surprised.


“That is exactly right.” he said, impressed at her grasp of at least the principles of what he was talking about. And she smiled a knowing smile.


“What good are aesthetics if they cannot be protected?” she asked and Simon began to wonder if women always spoke good sense or if it was just her.


“Unprotected beauty does not remain. In fact, there is no beauty in such vulnerability.” He said looking at her strangely and her smile brightened. A disarming smile.


It stirred something ... gallant... in the young Colonel. “As long as I am here, you are protected.”



He wasn’t sure why he said it but it sounded appropriate. In any event, she slipped a hand under his arm and allowed her self to be guided away from the balcony and towards her father's Grand Dining Hall.


His mind was a mass of confusion and so he focussed merely on escorting her to the Hall.


Mya felt the conflict within the man. So young and yet his eyes were so dark. Had seen too much ugliness. This was the longest they had both spoken amid stolen glances. But the man fascinated her.

He was different.

Quiet and sharp and he knew more than he let on with her father. She was sure of it!



The man was not a romantic. He was a soldier.


And he hurt. She felt that as well.

Left unspoken.



But, in his own way, he had told her he thought she was beautiful.

For as long as he drew breath, he would protect her. She would not be vulnerable.


And as her mind settled warmly on his words, her heart was in turmoil.


For her heart belied that claim even as she calmed herself walking, in arm, with this quiet, strange and fascinating man.



For she was!


Oh, gods, she was!

*





Aridia


Agreon had taken a bite from his plate when the business owner, a friend and frequenter to the King's table, asked his question to the young Colonel. With his mouth full, he could do nothing but gaze at the youth who might, through inexperience in the finer points of diplomacy, make his job as liason between the Imperial and his men that much harder.

"Tell me, my young Imperial, just how do you propose to carry out your proposal of building a shipyard?" he asked bluntly.

True to his nature, and cementing Agreon's worst fears, Kaine replied bluntly back. "The Third Guildway is not near completion. It can be converted without too much trouble."

"I KNEW IT!" the businessman cried, disturbing the King's family and the man pointed to Agreon. "You would hand superiority over to these... Imperials?"

The King bristled at the accusation but it was Kaine who quickly interjected, "What is your definition of superiority? Money in your pocket?"

The businessman, named Frey, turned back and laughed. "Don't try that card with me, boy! You want us to slit our own throats by giving you a powerbase right at our capital, no less. Why would we do that?"

"Because sooner or later, more will come. You will be easy pickings for any expanding government because of your dependence on the Guildways."

"Expanding governments? Like your own vaunted Empire?" Frey shot back and Agreon's irritation soon turned to curiosity as he realized his friend was voicing everyone's concerns regarding Kaine's audacious plan.

"Basic military strategy, sir." Kaine replied coldly. "If I outfitted my shuttle with turbolasers, I could lay off your Guildway Line and blow your shipping to hell! Not even your military craft would be able to engage for they'd be subject to the Guildway."

Kaine leaned forward, his eyes blazing, "Or better yet! I could blow your Guildway stations apart grounding your entire fleet!"

Frey laughed good naturedly, "Come now, Colonel. I grant you that you could ambush our Lines like mere pirates but our Guildways are not lightly defended. They have their own weapons and are in orbit. Our fleet is able to achieve and maneuver in orbit. We'd destroy your shuttle in seconds."

Frey pressed his point. "Any fleet that wants to attack our planets has to be in orbit for bombardment, no? Our Space Corps would overwhelm their ships before ..."


"Just what do you have against breaking your dependence on the Guildways?" Simon suddenly asked changing tactics.


"Of itself? Nothing." admitted Frey, "But we've never needed to before. You or anyone can create an imaginary need but, in the end and in this case, the reason is more self serving to you than to us. So, I will ask you, Colonel: Where is the benefit to Aridia if your shipyard is built?"


Kaine narrowed his eyes and Mya saw that he was losing the diplomatic battle. She cleared her throat drawing her fathers friend's eyes.

"Noble Frey," she started, "Surely you have not forgotten the tragic attack against the Royal Family?" Her voice was soft and she saw that Frey's face flushed as he remembered those days. Frey himself had also led a portion of the Royal Guards to stop the Imperial Major and the Aridian traitors.

"We have too many real internal enemies for us to worry about the Colonel inventing outside ones." she continued. "Major Willam and those that 'employed' him..." Frey winced for the traitors had been mostly heavy industry leaders seeking to overthrow the Monarchy, "...evaded our forces through the use of a ship that travelled outside the Guildway. There is a.." she paused as if trying to think of the right word, "..tactical," she supplied, "..advantage to using such vessels. And if the Family does not move to create their own, how long until another attempt is made at our lives, this time with more ships?"

Frey looked at the King's daughter realizing that she was no longer the little girl he had bounced upon his knee but had, overnight, grown into a woman with a frightening intelligence. "You make good arguements, Mya." he conceded. "But if we kill Major Willam on Oro, which the good Colonel didn't, we will solve that particular worry.."

"Come now, Uncle." she gently chided, using the blood title even though her father's friend was not blood. "Science cannot be killed. And the realization of the ability and what it's capable of is out there. How long until Aridian's figure it out? Such knowledge is not limited to Imperials alone. We can either be ready to take the lead in such knowledge or be led." her voice was firm and despite himself, Agreon applauded his daughter's skill.

Frey flushed again but nodded. Whether her points had gotten through or not was not quite evident to Mya but she took him at face value. She leaned back evidently satisfied at saying her peace and Frey suddenly grinned at Agreon. "Watch her! She's a devil in disguise and I bet her husband will have a hard time pleasing her!"

Agreon chuckled along with his wife as his friend laughed at his own joke. Mya turned red and looked down at her plate while Kaine simply, slowly worked on his meal in quiet contemplation.

Perhaps of her words! She wondered as she stole a glance at him.



King Agreon saw the glance and sighed inwardly. The fact that she and the Imperial Colonel had entered together, the young man escorting her arm in arm was not lost to him.

He felt a stirring of his mind as if a sixth sense was try to warn him of something.


Was the Colonel even aware? The young man had a intelligence, a shrewdness about him but the man was so cold; rarely smiling at all. Too much seriousness spoke of an unrelenting focus. But on what?


The young man was not even royalty. Agreon shrugged that tiny arguement dying in his mind as too ridiculous even for him. As things stood, the young man was the highest ranked of the Imperials and represented Imperial power in Aridia. His authority over his men rivalled even Agreon's and the technology under Kaine's command? The only aspect favoring the King in all this was that Kaine's numbers were limited which, in turn, limited his options for action.


The King saw Mya's eyes dart again over to where the Colonel was seated and he looked down to take another bite of his food.


As he drew up again chewing he saw that his wife noted their daughter and their eyes locked. Something was happening but what was to be done?


He could not help but feel a father's forboding.