Chapter 19
Chapter 19
~/.\~
Intellectually, Kara understood why Komand'r was being hard on her, even as they were sun dipping into Asgard's sun. She was afraid of losing her, because her universe was really dangerous as it combined aspects of her own and from another. At least that’s what Komand'r said.
Kara, being as smart as she is, started to consult the databases in the Librarium of the Hyperdimension. Amora guided her to look through the myth of creation of the universe; the revelation of the existence of cosmic and abstract entities made her feel that the small amount of power she had was insufficient.
She understood why Komand'r took regular sun dips over the months they've known each other. Swimming in the core of a star was quite fun as well… It was more time that she could spend with her lover.
Kara consulted the clock on her HUD and she realized that it was almost time for the Hyperdimension's time of departure. Komand'r was suddenly at her side and took her in her arms in a princess carry and flew outside of the star's hydrogen fusion layer they've been frolicking in. Sure Kara could fly by her own power, but she liked to be pampered by Komand'r.
They finally arrived in view of planet Asgard, the Oaken-shield space station between the planet and the moon clearly visible. It was still under construction, King Odin seemed resolved to build more ships for the threats to come. Hyperdimension was floating in orbit of the other side of the planet, multiple spaceships surrounding it; they varied in size from 50 to 200 meters.
MACHINA seemed to have had fun because they were all similar to the designs she created back in Kara's universe. Still there were more ships made of a similar material as the Hyperdimension; the hull was a mix of biological and technological, the hypermatter has been augmented with a reactive and evolving system that works to mitigate the effect of damaging energies upon itself.
Kara was impressed by the lengths TALI and MACHINA went to show each other up in their silent war for her lover’s affection and time. Komand'r had no idea that it was happening at all, it was slowly getting out of hand. But she wasn't about to butt in right now, she and Komand'r were going to leave for the next ambassadorial task given to her by Tamaran.
They wished to enter into a commercial agreement with Thanagar…
~/.\~
Meanwhile in virtual space…
TALI was a patient and compassionate being. She was a couple of thousand of years old, and it was hard for her to find new things to experience. But finding an uppity just born Smart Artificial Intelligence trying to usurp her position as the captain's partner was hilarious.
The little one was hard at work, designing and building technologies whose path has already been trodden by the Builders responsible for TALI's creation. It was nostalgic to have escort ships again, though TALI realized that they didn't have enough crew for each of them.
The captain treated the Smart AI more like a child than a reliable partner. Already speaking to her through the neural link shared between her and the two AI. MACHINA showed the small carrier she has come up with, housing drone fighters.
They were in their home virtual room and MACHINA slid a silver platter full of data at Komand'r. “So what do you think, Mom?”
Komand'r placed her hands on each side of the platter, a holo-screen came to life and showed a series of ship designs at the speed of thought. “You improved on your designs already?”
“Of course, Mom. Stagnation is a sin. Hehe, I can't wait to show them to Alura; this time she won't be able to guess how my ships work.”
TALI's redheaded avatar which is a carbon copy of Komand'r appeared and looked at the data. [Interesting designs, do you want me to help you improve upon it further, MACHINA?] TALI asked with a tilt of her head.
The younger AI scowled. “No! This is my task! And I want to help Mom, without your help!”
“Aww.” Komand’r’s digital avatar seemed to melt as it hugged the blue avatar of MACHINA.
TALI smiled patronizingly. [Indeed adorable, Captain. Her toys might be useful to you in your travels.]
MACHINA's blue avatar immediately changed color, becoming a crimson color due to her anger. “Toys? How dare you call them toys? They are brand new and the culmination of all my research!”
[I can already infer the technological path that you'll take just from your research and schematics.]
“Yeah? Then infer this!” MACHINA threw a fist at TALI who dodged effortlessly.
[Too slow.]
“No fighting.” Komand'r commanded while placing herself between them.
[I will start the pre-check flight launch.] TALI disappeared, logged out of the Virtual room.
~/.\~
Observation deck 5 minutes before departure
Amora had thought that having a school to spread magic through Asgardian society and raise awareness of how useful and wonderful an art it was would be a good thing. But the reality was that it was an immense time sink which robbed her of the attention of her Princess.
Still she was fortunate that Komand'r came to give lectures on magic from time to time and see how she was doing. Some of the new students had to be taught how to read and write in Asgardian, Tamaranean and Midgardian English to be able to read the instructions in the lessons. It was something that Amora hadn't foreseen, it made her realize that she was fortunate to have had an education in the poor village she grew up in.
It was one of the things she wanted to fix, some Asgardian weren't born with the all-speak ability; those were mostly the peasant class with low magic potential. Some of the girls who joined the crew barely had enough magic to enhance themselves or cast elemental spells. It was decided that Amora would supplement their magical training with close quarter combat training.
Amora looked around herself, many young women, Asgardian and Midgardian, were watching the planet. In particular the Golden City floating like a flying island.
“Hello everyone, this is Captain Komand'r. I wish once again to welcome those who chose to become part of this crew; know that each one of you are now part of this family.
Look around yourself and look at each other, you're crew now, brother and sister in arms. You'll be together for many years to come, and then some.
Anyway, I am now inviting you to look at Asgard, it's a beautiful world with the golden city hovering over your world.”
All of a sudden, there was a thrumming sensation and the next moment… Asgard disappeared as the ship was engulfed into a tunnel of blue and white light. The Hyperdimension was visibly moving through the tunnel, Amora could see stars and other celestial bodies behind the curtain of blue and white light pass them by.
The captain's voice was heard again. “We’re now bound for new horizons, enjoy the trip.”
Ding! Amora heard the distinct sound of her communicator in the form of a hair ornament ring.
[Headmistress Amora, the captain is asking for you on the bridge.] She heard TALI say with a neutral tone.
Using the neural interface to answer, Amora replied, “I will not tarry and be there in five minutes.”
Amora left the observation deck and had time to ask herself, *What does Komand'r want? It's on the bridge as well, so it's something official.*
The enchantress arrived at the main deck after taking a turbo-lift, and the door of the bridge opened for her. Amora immediately saw Komander who was wearing a purple and black Tamaranean outfit stand behind the bridge officer pilot, she was looking at a holographic star-map of the galaxy projected by the massive holo-tank at the center of the bridge.
Amora swaggered toward Komand'r, ignoring the other bridge officers. “You called for me, my Lady?”
Komand'r floated to her and asked while putting a hand on her left forearm, “Amora-mate, remember when I told you that I wanted to see how you fight?”
Amora winced as she remembered her fight with Komand'r. Not one of her best moments… but it allowed her to meet her Lady who she cannot imagine leaving anymore; Komand'r has a way to make things interesting. Amora nodded as she said, “Yes, it was when you got back from your trip.”
Komand'r made a serious expression, Amora wasn't used to seeing her so serious. “Good, you'll show me. I want to see you fight against the warriors we gathered and show them how dangerous magic users can be.”
This was news to Amora, Komand'r wanting to humble some of the crew; usually she's kinder than this. “Why?”
The princess’ face went slack, the first sign that she was miffed by something; unlike other Tamaranean in the ship, Komand’r knew how to control or hide her emotions. Still as she was intimate with her, Amora has learned to see the early signs of her anger toward someone or something…
Her eyes blazing with pink glow, Komand’r said, “We caught some of the young men deriding the sorceress at the bar.”
*Ah she's seen first hand the discrimination that magic users face and wants none of it on her ship.* Amora quickly understood what was going on.
She guessed right as Komand'r continued. “I wish to show them the true reality out there, magic is a tool just like swords and spears. Educate them for me, Amora-love. I don't want any dissent on my ship; if it continues, I will send the perpetrators back to Asgard with bad marks on their files.”
Amora was thrilled! She jumped in glee -but in a controlled manner- at the obvious support Komand'r was giving sorceresses like her. “Gladly… can I bring princess Hela?”
Amora made a vicious expression when Komand'r said, “Yes, do what you must.”
Amora kissed Komand'r on the cheek, turned toward the bridge’s doors and power walked out of the command center of the ship. She was going to give those new warriors a piece of her mind and a lesson they were not going to forget.
~/.\~
45 minutes laterMurder Deck
Hivodir wasn’t satisfied with his lot in life. He wanted to become a warrior as famous as Thor or the Warrior Three; their feats and stories have been told for the centuries of life that he has been alive for. Staying a farmer was all that he could have aspired to if he didn’t go to the mead hall that day. He met Commander Koldonn and was enlisted on the spot because he was inexperienced; today was their first day of training in the simulator onboard the big ship called Hyperdimension.
He met other Tamaraneans and hit it off with them; they were a rather free people, and good to have in a brawl. Those in ship security aren't to be trifled with though, because of some idiots, now there was a limit on what alcohol the new recruits such as Hivodir could have.
The recruits have all been living in the barracks created for them in the biodome and learning how operations worked on the ship and what would be their duties outside of combat. Duties which consisted of guarding the ship from boarding, keep training, protect the crew members’ lives, and learn as much magic as possible.
It was the last of the duties that he and the warrior recruits had a problem with. Hivodir and the other recruits were dismissive of magic; male and female magic users are thought to be either untrustworthy, conniving and curse happy. Hivodir had gotten used to speaking ill of and deriding the girls at the sorceress school which was the neighboring facility of the warrior barracks.
Hivodir should have refrained from joining the other youths, because now they were now standing in file inside the Murder Deck, a place which deserved its name from what the Tamaranean and Midgardian crew members reported. Just like the others in this group, he sensed that some disciplinary actions were going to happen to them. Lady Amora, Princess Komand’r’s consort appeared from the opening door of the Murder Deck, followed by a dark haired woman wearing Asgardian Royal Regalias.
As she arrived before them, the Enchantress spoke, her voice echoing in the room. “I heard that you boys don't like magic and that you've been talking horse-shit about my students.”
Everyone stayed silent, their guess for why they're here was confirmed. Hivodir continued to listen while standing straight in his silver and black armor; all the recruits around him wore the same surplus and yet ultra-light armor which was way better than any sort of gear they might have cobbled together from a common blacksmith.
Amora grinned in an evil way that made Hivodir almost step back away from her. The beautiful yet devilish looking woman continued to speak. “The captain wasn't happy when she heard you mock the magical students. She wants everyone aboard to get along. This state of affairs must not continue!”
She clapped and the environment around them changed from a metallic room to a large grassy plain with the sun shining down upon them. Hivodir shielded his eyes from the sunlight beating upon him as the Enchantress and her follower’s hands shone with the glow of magic. “That is why, since you are such big powerful warriors, you'll have to face Princess Hela and I in battle. Let's start.”
Immediately, Hivodir took his one handed axe at his waist and manifested the mechanical shield on his left arm and shouted, “For Valhalla!”
“FOR ASGARD!” Another young Asgardian yelled while brandishing his sword and lunging for the Enchantress.
It was Thorfinn, one of the most hot-headed recruits, as he grinned like a madman, his sword making arcing downwards vertical slash… which was deflected with the flash of a green magical barrier from Amora, who hit him with a green beam of magic to send him crash into the throng of recruit which had been charging at her.
Next she disappeared from their sight; Hivodir looked for her, in vain. The other woman, princess Hela, laughed at them. “Finally, some exercise! It was getting boring.”
A smirk spread on the Asgardian woman's lips as she said, “You'll all be my guinea-pigs today, boys.”
Armor covered her body and a sword made of shadow manifested in her hand as she walked forward. The Princess ran toward them with a deranged grin on her face and directly confronted them all.
What happened next will forever scar Hivodir, the term massacre was an apt name for what was going right now. Their weapons were not striking the princess as she harnessed the recruit’s shadows against them; at the same time Amora appeared to attack and neutralize anyone trying to hit Princess Hela from the back or to flank her.
Hivodir finally faced Princess Hela when his fellow recruits were down. He was scared, even more so when the shadow armored princess settled her gaze on him, licked her lips and said, “There's only one of you left.”
Hivodir ducked as he felt the wind move behind him and rolled on the left. As he stood up a green beam of magic shot toward him, he used his shield to take the brunt of it while grunting in pain. As he looked down, he saw a spear lying on the ground near his foot.
When the green beam of magic dissipated, his mechanical shield retracted and he lowered himself to pick up the spear and jump up. Just in time to avoid tentacles of shadow meant to restrain him like the others who somehow couldn't move anymore as if they've lost consciousness.
“Oh, Amora, I like this one! He is quick on his feet.” He heard Princess Hela praise him.
He took advantage of this moment to throw the spear at her. The thrown weapons trajectory curved, missing the shadow clad Asgardian princess by a wide margin. Amora chose that moment to blast him with magic again and Hivodir fell on the ground on his back, unable to move somehow.
He heard footsteps on the ground and saw the two women looking at him. Amora spoke and said, “That one is not bad, I will tell Koldonn to give him more time on the Murder Deck.”
Koldonn? Hivodir was really going to suffer under more torture veiled as training…
Princess Hela shrugged. “Sure, he lasted longer than all the other scrubs. Anyway, it was a good exercise, so I might ask to participate in more exercises like this. Maybe fight some of Komand’r’s women.”
Amora shook her head, then her gaze settled on Hivodir and the rest of the recruit around him. “Good luck with that. Now let's bring all those boys back out of the Deck…”
~/.\~
30 minutes later…Deck 3 / Briefing room
Amora looked at all the warrior recruits. “This is the advantage that sorcerers have over normal troops and warriors.”
Some of them had unwilling to accept and despondent expressions on their face. Amora had expected that; men didn’t like being made fools of, even more so by people they derided or didn’t think much of. Even more so by beautiful women like Amora.
Princess Hela was currently enjoying the simulation in the Murder Deck and left the debriefing and carrying out the new recruits’ punishment all to her. She continued to say, “Magic users should be considered tactical or strategic weapons deployed on the field. At least that is how Asgard integrates them in their armies; as an example, Prince Thor, Loki, Queen Frigga and All-Father Odin are considered so when they don’t just send their armies through the bifrost.”
Teaching those common-born warriors was important, their cooperation was actually paramount to Komand’r. She intended to get more asgardian from her land on planet Asgard to join eventually.
“Unless you didn’t hear, Captain Komand'r is a sorceress and a warrior, Which is one of the reasons she’s held into esteem by the royal family. She learned magic under the tutelage of Queen Frigga herself.”
It was strange how everyone hated magic but didn't give Queen Frigga any problem. There weren't any bad rumors or dissenting voices about her running around. The woman seemed to be shrewder and manipulative than Amora thought.
Amora faced all the sitting recruits, leaned forward on the pulpit and said, “My Lady expects you to pick up some magic for what is to come. You won't just fight people who are from technologically advanced Empire, but beings who use magic, queer abilities and cosmic energy users.”
One of the recruits raised his hand and asked, “Like in the tales of old? I heard about Galactus.”
Amora nodded. “I see that you're not ignorant. Gentlemen, I hope you'll give your all in your training.”
The door of the room opened and here Koldonn entered with purpose, he didn't look happy. He walked up briskly toward the podium and said, “I heard you young men hated magic, so I decided to put some of it in your training. We will start with desensitization, magic will be an everyday thing for you starting from now.”
Koldonn turned to Amora. “Can I ask for your help in this endeavor?”
Amora smiled devilishly. “I am at your service, Commander.”
~/.\~
Milky way galaxyOrion ArmHyperspaceEn route toward Polaris Star System
It's now been three days since they left Asgard, they were en route toward the Polaris Star System where a multi-species republic resided. Despite the rocky start of the Asgardians as crew members, the crew was slowly falling into their routine and duties to TALI's body.
The Cybernetic Intelligence appreciated the fact that her crew has expanded. Though it counted barely as a skeleton crew compared to the previous one in her heyday, TALI is able to house many more personnel. The human ex-assassins were all being taught how to control some of her systems; the artificial Tamaraneans had similar functions but were more efficient. TALI stopped growing more of them in the R&D lab as it will be detrimental to the cohesion of the crew.
It was as she thought that, that TALI detected a subspace SOS message.
SKREEEEEEEEEE!
The technology used to transmit the message was different from what Tamaraneans and Earthlings used. It was straight up more advanced. TALI contacted her captain and asked, [Should we stop and check what this is?]
Her captain immediately replied, “I won’t ignore anyone in need, TALI.”
The astrometrics deployed before the navigation console next to the captain and her bridge officers as she said, “General Alert! Emergency stations!”
Komand'r poked at a point between star systems, the location of the signal TALI detected. “Officer Darran, bring us out of Hyperspace at those coordinates.”
The Tamaranean pilot said, “Yes, captain.”
They smoothly exited hyperspace and found themselves in Interstellar space. Space dust and some rogue planets moving at great speed were all that they saw for a moment. Komand'r used her hands to zoom-in on the point in space where she could detect the signal.
“TALI is this what is transmitting?” Komand'r asked when she realized that it was a device which looked like a gold metal ball with arms.
SKREEEEEEEEEE!
[A drone, it’s transmitting rather loudly.] TALI said with annoyance clear in her voice.
Komand'r commanded, “Retrieve it and analyze it.”
SKREEEEEEEEEE!
TALI was happy to proceed, the noise it generated was quite bothersome. The intelligence activated the tractor beam and pulled the small drone inside the hangar. This caused the drone to stop transmitting its signal as it had been ‘rescued’. She analyzed the device, and found how peculiar it was.
Inside the drone there were wings, some reaction mass for propulsion, a primitive Virtual Intelligence inside a solid data core or was it better to call it a black box? TALI quickly subsumed the VI and acquired its data… she found something.
[There's a hidden message embedded in the drones data core, captain.] TALI wasn't surprised, the drone had been dropped in a conspicuous location.
“Put it on screen.” her captain ordered.
TALI did just that, a holo-screen popped-up next to the astrometric construct. Then a winged woman who was clearly some kind of warrior appeared on screen.
“My name is Shayera Thal II, I am one of the Wingmen of Thanagar. I've made this message just in case something happened to me. I and other wingmen have been sent on patrol around Polaris and the surrounding star systems because pirates have started to attack Thanagarian colonies, looting and enslaving the populations.
My government couldn't let this go on and dispatched our fleets to track down the pirates and eliminate them. Somehow, those criminals find my people's trade routes even if we alter them and when confronted with our military always escape or fight us to the death. In this drone's data core, I have left star maps where all the attacks have taken place and where I think those ‘pirates’ have established a base, as well as evidence that the so-called pirates are in fact an invasion force working to weaken Thanagar to soften it for an inevitable invasion.
If you’re not a member of the Wingmen and have found this drone, I beseech you to hand it over to the Wingmen on Thanagar to warn them of the threats on my people. We may be Thanagarian and not strangers to war, but my people aren’t ready, trade has stalled with other nations and races and a recession has started on my homeworld, and I want my people to avoid being enslaved by those cowards.”
The screen blinked out and TALI asked, [I have access to all the files Wingman Shayera Thal has placed in the data core. Are we going to deliver them to her government?]
Captain Komand'r surprised everyone when she said, “No, we're going after them.”
She went to sit on her command chair and locked the arm with the computer station before her. TALI was surprised that Komand'r wanted to meddle this much when she already had a clear goal, they were already going to Thanagar. Those problems belong to Thanagar and should be resolved by their own hands.
[May I ask why?] TALI queried.
Her captain was being thoughtful, this entire affair seemed to bother her; what she said next shocked TALI. “This is how it all started for my people too.”
Science officer Jane Foster, who was on the science console at the captain’s right, asked, “What do you mean, captain??”
Komand’r turned to her human bridge officer. “A protracted war, Jane. The war my people were in with the Citadel I mean.”
Jane didn’t say anything, but her face's pallor showed that she was terrified. A war would be bad for this part of the galaxy; Earth was near, only around 433 Light Years away from Polaris and knowing that the pirates roamed nearby, they might attack it.
[Should I show you the data, captain?]
Komand'r acquiesced with a mental nod. “Port it to my terminal. MACHINA, help me collate it.”
The small avatar of the puny smart artificial intelligence appeared inside the small holo-tank on the arm of the command chair. [I'm here to help, mom! I will be way more useful than the old lady.]
How cute, the young AI was trying to needle TALI. [Your youth might make you commit some mistakes, I will be looking over your metaphorical shoulder.]
MACHINA changed color from blue to pink. [You-!]
Komand'r sighed, “You two, focus.”
TALI was focused, MACHINA clearly wasn't as she glared at TALI and promised swift revenge.
The captain went into action and ordered the bridge officers, “Everyone, we will now pass from Emergency stations to Standby mode.”
“Aye aye, captain.” The tension in the air visibly lessened on the bridge.
Komand'r commanded, “Darran, please take us back to Hyperspace.”
“Yes, ma'am.” The pilot touched the commands and the ship shifted from normal space to the blue and white other dimension.
The ship slipped into Hyperspace again to avoid any collision with rogue stellar bodies or attacks. This dimension was theoretically safe, and shortened travels a great deal. Komand'r accessed the files inside the data core TALI picked up and said, “We must look for the point of origin of those attacks.”
On screen, a map of the cluster unfolded with the Polaris Star System at its center. Around it appeared the star systems colonized by the Thanagarians, mainly agri-worlds where the planets were terraformed to farm specific crops. There were also resource star systems with space refinery and mining station; resort planets were way more numerous as well.
There were 15 planets part of Thanagar’s sphere of influence and six of them have been raided and looted, mostly agri-worlds and resource planets. Seeing the string of attacks, TALI came to realize that Komand’r was completely right, this was the start of a war; those ‘pirates’ were targeting the Thanagarian’s breadbasket and their material and technological resources.
TALI watched on as MACHINA came to the same conclusion as she highlighted the systems and ships that were attacked. Space is vast and looking for the location of those criminals wasn't going to be easy despite knowing the attack vectors they used.
MACHINA created a bubble around Polaris and the other star systems and was already trying to connect to the astrometrics systems. TALI let her have access to her body's powerful sensor suite and started collecting data. Komand'r looked for criterias by which the attacks happened and reasoned that the ‘pirates’ were somehow gathering resources and slaves to build more ships.
TALI concurred that there was a base somewhere with a shipyard. The Cybernetic Intelligence extrapolated its position from the most recent attacks to a star system in the Draco constellation. *How bold, those criminals are basically in the neighborhood.*
MACHINA and Komand'r were slowly catching up to TALI with their teamwork and came to the same conclusion as her. But they went further than her and dispatched one of MACHINA's toys, a stealth capable scout ship to that area of space.
~/.\~
(General point of view )
Stealth scoutship Renegade was supposed to be manned by a crew of five, but for this expedition it would be remote controlled through Quantum Entanglement. The fact that it looked like a Federation ship from Star Trek in design was purely accidental by its creator. The ship scanners were top of the line, essentially turning the ship into an advanced drone scout that boosted the range of the astrometrics system onboard Hyperdimension.
After the small ship exited Hyperspace, it didn't take long for the Renegade to scout the area highlighted by TALI, MACHINA and Komand'r. With a range of 500 light years, they looked for ship travel and industrial activities in the target star systems.
For two days, MACHINA looked for suspicious activities. In addition to passenger ships coming toward Thanagar from other allied species, some ships attacked mining colonies and freight ships. The Thanagarians, the Sirusites, the Dakkamites, and the Courga were also attacked.
Some of those people's societies being attacked weren't even out of their gravity well yet. MACHINA and Komand’r guessed that some organization was acting as privateers. When the ships attacking were proven to be of Citadel design, Princess Komand’r had gone quiet and focused. Every artificial Tamaranean onboard the Hyperdimension walked on eggshells as they knew of the enmity Komand’r has with the Citadel races.
Now that she knew that there might be remnants of the Citadel who escaped her previous actions against their core worlds, Komand’r was eager to finish the job; thinking that the Thanagarian and other races in this star cluster were being attacked because of her actions.
MACHINA eventually found the base of the privateers by following them with the Renegade. They were in the Draconis Gamma star system where the scanners of the Hyperdimension had a slightly bad time detecting activities because of the Quasar interfering with the instruments of the scoutship. But the numerous interlinked space stations and habitats detected around the second gas giant’s third moon of Draconis Gamma were a dead giveaway.
There was a giant shipyard hovering in the atmosphere of the icy moon, Citadel design ships were being built. There was a force of 45 ships ranging from frigates to cruisers parked in the interlinked space stations. The biggest ship was a dreadnought of at least 1 kilometer bristling with weapons and a main cannon giving off a strong energetic reading.
MACHINA broke into the fragile primitive communication network which was supposed to have military encryption and listened to the local chatter. What they found were ex-Citadel soldiers and higher ups who escaped being trapped in the FTL trap and now were seeking to rebuild their society by attacking the neighboring races.
“I won’t let that happen.” Said Komand’r with a furious expression. “Red Alert, Battle stations!”
A/N: Heya guys! This is chapter 19 as agreed.
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