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Wyvern Hegemony Starship Alkonost
“Captain, three contacts just lit up at the hyperlimit.”
Alexander turned toward his sensor chief. “What?”
“They look like human designs, so maybe Lyonesse.” A pause. “No shields, no signs of weapons powering, and no targeting sensor pings.”
“Shall we go to battle stations?” Commander Prince’s hologram, floating by Alexander’s right elbow, asked.
“No.” The word came out before Alexander even had time to think. “The last thing we want to do is fight this far from home. We’ll match their actions, no more.”
“Sir.” The CIC signals petty officer of the watch raised her hand. “Incoming link on the old imperial emergency band. The Republic of Lyonesse Void Ship Serenity, Captain Al Jecks, commanding, requests a link with the captain of the Wyvern Hegemony cruiser in orbit around Earth and informs him that we are not alone in this system. A Shrehari ship appears to be loitering in silent running at the hyperlimit.”
“What?” Alexander and Taina exchanged an alarmed look. “Accept the link, and if there’s video, put it on the main display. And find that Shrehari ship.”
Within moments, the image of a lean-faced man in his early forties with a shaved head, black mustache, and intelligent dark eyes appeared. He wore Navy blue battledress with the four stripes and executive curl of a post captain on his collar.
“I’m Al Jecks. I command both the Void Ship Serenity and the 101st Task Force, including the replenishment ship Provider and the corvette Defiant. Our mission is to remap the wormhole network between the Republic of Lyonesse and Earth.”
“Derwent Alexander, Captain, of the Wyvern Hegemony cruiser Alkonost. I’m on the same sort of mission as you are, but as you can see, without escorts. Now, what’s this about a Shrehari ship running silent at the hyperlimit? We’ve picked up strange sensor ghosts several times, and in several star systems since leaving Hegemony space, ghosts we also believe could be Shrehari.”
Jecks raised an extended index finger.
“Stand by for directions to the ghost’s current position, Captain. He’s leaking emissions like someone who’s been out on patrol a little too long. Then you can see for yourself.”
A few seconds later, the sensor chief raised his hand. “Got the data, sir. Scanning now.”
“So, Captain Jecks, what will we do now?” Alexander asked with a faint but recognizable sardonic smile.
Jecks shrugged. “As far as I know, Wyvern and Lyonesse aren’t competing powers, let alone adversaries.”
“True.”
“Although your lot abducted Void Brethren from Hatshepsut.”
Alexander snorted.
“That was the doing of the mission controller, a Commission for State Security colonel named Crevan Torma. Like every other starship captain assigned to the Colonial Service for survey duty, I read the file. Our people in Repulse took good care of yours, and I have that from my current first officer, Repulse’s second officer at the time, who cared for their well-being. They received VIP treatment aboard her ship and were taken under our Void Reborn Brethren’s wing.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why should I believe you?”
“The abduction was a reaction to discovering we were not alone in surviving, nothing more. We have no reason to harm Void Brethren or anyone else. I’m sure my government will return them when possible. And now that we know of each other’s existence and see we’re not much different, we should talk.” Alexander tapped his rank insignia and pointed at Jecks. “After all, we wear almost the same uniform. Even if we don’t fly the same naval ensign, we speak the same language and descend from the same ill-fated Imperial Navy. Though I’ll concede your Void Ship, though recognizably of human design, differs from anything we build. Why that name, by the way?”
“A long story, Captain Alexander. It goes back to the years after the empire’s collapse, when every surviving ship of the Order of the Void’s fleet sought refuge on Lyonesse, bringing the survivors of various purges, pogroms, and massacres. In the following decades, we used Order of the Void Ships to scavenge, explore, rescue, and reconnoiter. From then on, every class of ship built by Lyonesse specifically to venture alone into the wilds of the old empire was called a Void Ship. Serenity is merely part of the latest flight designed by our yards.”
“Sir.” The sensor chief raised his hand. “Got the bastard right where Serenity put him. Looks a lot like the ghosts we picked up along the way here. Leaking a bit more, though, so I’d say the Lyonessers are right — it’s been out on patrol for too long.”
Alexander glanced from his chief back to Jecks. “So, what next?”
Jecks sat back in his command chair and eyed his Hegemony counterpart with a calculating gaze.
“How about we light up the Shrehari as a first step and tell him he and his friends aren’t welcome in imperial space? He doesn’t need to know the empire is gone and that we serve two different surviving governments, both hard-pressed to reclaim even a fraction of what our species once owned. Ever play poker, Captain Alexander?”
The latter chuckled.
“Our Navy forbids gambling aboard Hegemony ships, but yes. I enjoy a friendly game now and then, strictly for bragging rights. And I know the concept of bluffing. Who gets to speak with the Shrehari on behalf of a united humanity?”
“What’s your date of rank based on the old universal calendar?”
When Alexander told him, Jecks grinned.
“You draw the duty, sir. Your date of rank is two standard years ahead of mine. However, it doesn’t mean I’m placing myself under your orders.”
“Of course not. May I suggest you join us in orbit before tickling the Shrehari’s skull ridges? It’ll make our pretend unity seem more believable.” When Jecks didn’t immediately reply, Alexander added, “If you’re worried about underhanded business, keep in mind that while we’re not as far from home as you are, we still can’t play silly buggers and expect to make it back. I’m not quite at the outer limit of my allowed wormhole transits, but almost. A few wormhole termini shifted in this sector over the last two hundred years, making my voyage home just a tad longer than it would have been before the Mad Empress unleashed her Retribution Fleet.”
Jecks nodded.
“As my first officer reminded me, there’s a proverb about my brother and me against the rest of the universe, and I don’t like the idea of non-humans creeping about in our space, whether it be Wyvern, Lyonesse, or not yet reclaimed by either.”
“Agreed. I don’t know about you, but since I’m beyond my HQ’s reach, I have full authority to deal with matters at my discretion. You?”
“The same.” A pause. “So, Captain Alexander, do we form an alliance of human naval forces and eject the Shrehari from this star system before jointly exploring Earth?”
Alexander nodded. “We do. Any other course of action would be illogical. I will formalize the matter with a log entry.”
“As will I.”
The two captains considered one another in silence for a few heartbeats while their respective first officers realized both men were taking each other’s measure and liked what they saw.
“In the spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, once we’re rid of the Shrehari, I’d like to invite you aboard Alkonost for dinner so we can talk face-to-face. Or if you’d rather invite me aboard your ship, that’s fine as well.” A smile tugged at Alexander’s lips. “Or we could meet halfway in our respective shuttles and share a meal in the center of the docking tube.”
Jecks let out a bark of laughter.
“That might be a little too odd even for me, and as my first officer can attest, I’m one of the less conventional captains in our Navy. Let me just ask you one question, Captain. Do you still have any wine left in your private stock? Because it seems like my officers drank mine dry.”
Alexander nodded.
“A nice red Draconis Grand Cru, one of our better vintages.” He sensed Taina gesturing just beyond his line of sight. “Hang on, my ship’s counselor wants to say something. What is it, Sister?”
“I would enjoy meeting Serenity’s senior Void Sister. If she would be amenable, perhaps I can entertain her while you entertain Captain Jecks.”
Alexander turned back to the latter. “What does your ship’s counselor say? I assume she’s sitting by your side, listening in, just like ours.”
Jecks glanced to one side for a few seconds, then said, “Sister Bree accepts the invitation with pleasure, Captain.”
“Excellent. But first, let’s get rid of that intruder. As soon as you join us, I’ll prod him.”
***
“Alright.” Captain Derwent Alexander, Wyvern Hegemony Guards Navy, squared his shoulders as he took the bridge command chair. “Are all ships linked in?”
“Yes, sir,” the signals chief replied. “Interestingly enough, their communications technology and the primary frequencies they use don’t differ from ours. Interoperability won’t be a problem from that angle. And my counterpart in Serenity sounds like a nice guy who knows his stuff.”
“We all belonged to one big Navy before the Mad Empress tore humanity apart,” Commander Prince remarked in a wistful tone. “I’m glad we can still work together for the common good of our species two centuries later.”
Alexander glanced at her and smiled.
“As a wise man once said, there’s nothing like an external threat to unite, however briefly, those who would compete for supremacy. But if we develop this bit of cooperation into something more lasting so Hegemony and Republic can co-exist in peace, then so much the better.”
“From your lips to the Almighty’s ear, sir.”
“Let’s hope he’ll help the Shrehari realize four to one are bad odds.”
Alexander turned to his signals chief. “Ready?”
“Yes, sir. Tight beam transmitter zeroed in and tracking. If his communications system follows real space physics, he’ll realize we’re calling.”
“Then put me on.”
“Go ahead, sir.”
“Shrehari vessel, this is the Imperial Starship Alkonost, Captain Derwent Alexander, commanding. You are in our space without permission. Cease hiding and respond.” He glanced at the signals chief. “Put it on a loop.”
“You think they’ll understand Anglic?” Jecks asked.
Alexander shrugged. “Doubtful, but neither you nor I can translate messages into Shrehari.”
“A glaring oversight by both our commands. Still, who’d have thought we would find them snooping around in our star systems while we were conducting our own surveys?”
“It’s been a long time since any human spoke with them. We forgot we weren’t the only star-faring species in this part of the galaxy during our respective time of isolation.”
“True.” Jecks sat back in his command chair. “While we’re waiting, mind telling us how Wyvern survived?”
“It almost didn’t. By the way, four of the old imperial core worlds made it — Wyvern, Arcadia, Dordogne, and Torrinos. Simply put, the admirals of the 1st Fleet revolted against Dendera at the last minute and stopped an out-of-control Retribution Fleet before it could wreak utter destruction on our four planets. Draconis, the old capital, was destroyed during the fighting, wiping out the remains of the imperial government and killing Dendera. Those same admirals then set up a military dictatorship to ensure what remained would survive and began rebuilding.” Alexander made a face. “We lost nothing, but we fell into a stasis that kept us in our star systems under said dictatorship until the Hatshepsut matter woke up our current government. You might say your republic is responsible for our Hegemony returning to the stars.”
“I see. Do you want a thumbnail sketch of Lyonesse’s history, or did the abducted Brethren tell the tale?”
Alexander nodded.
“They did. In great detail, perhaps as a way of touting your republic’s superiority over our formerly ossified state. But we’re catching up.” He gave Jecks a crooked smile.
A woman’s voice unexpectedly filled the ensuing silence. “Captain Alexander, this is Edith Leung of Provider. Pardon me for stepping in, sir. May I ask, is the Hegemony still a military dictatorship?”
“Yes and no. Our former head of state, the Regent, abandoned all military titles and uniforms and is now a civilian President, theoretically co-equal with the other two members of the new Executive Committee. One member is our head of government, the Chancellor, and the other is the head of the Order of the Void Reborn, who has the title Archimandrite. Call it a first step in returning to constitutional rule. Previously, senior Guards and the bureaucracy members formed a conclave that elected the Regent for a defined term of office from among Guards officers wearing four stars. After the experience with Dendera, we consider the idea of a ruler for life anathema.
“Any Regent who refused to step down would have been immediately arrested and likely executed without trial. The conclave still has an interim role in supporting the Executive Committee, but the idea is to turn it into a senate. Whether that senate will have elected members hasn’t yet been discussed. In short, our government arrangements at the very top are in flux since we found out about you.”
“Fair enough, sir. Thank you.”
“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to exchange information on our respective political arrangements while surveying Earth, Commander Leung.”
“I hope so. We have two hundred years of catching up to do.”
“Indeed—” Alexander saw the signals chief raise a hand. “Yes?”
“We’re receiving a reply, sir. It’s incomprehensible.”
Alexander turned back to Jecks. “Are you getting this?”
The latter nodded. “Yes. I guess the Shrehari forgot their translation database at home as well. Ah, he just lit up. At least he seems to understand the intent of your message.”
“And we finally get a good look at him. CIC, are you seeing this?”
“Yes, sir. That’s a Shrehari, alright. The hull architecture closely matches what they fielded during our imperial era, and the markings are definitely Shrehari runes.”
Jecks nodded. “My people concur.”
“One mystery solved. And we can get that message translated when we reach our respective homes.”
“Sirs,” Alkonost’s combat systems officer said, “the Shrehari lit his drives and is turning away from Earth. No signs of raised shields or powered weapons.”
Alexander snorted. “Our counterpart over there figures it’s time to make himself scarce. Hopefully, he’ll let his high command know he encountered an imperial task force in Earth orbit which didn’t appreciate their presence.”
“And he just went FTL outbound in the general direction of Wormhole One,” the combat systems officer reported.
“Which still leads to Pacifica, in case you were wondering, Captain Jecks. He could be the one whose trace we picked up there. Where he’ll go from that system is anyone’s guess. A wormhole in the multi-transit branch between Pacifica and Celeste shifted, leaving him dozens of potential escape routes in red dwarf systems.” Alexander paused, then smiled. “Or he could look for more of his kind and return in greater numbers.”
“Doubtful, but we’ll remain alert.” Jecks cocked an eyebrow. “Now, you mentioned something about a Draconis Grand Cru?”
“And a meal, though I’m at a loss which one of the three it should be. What clock are you keeping in the Lyonesse Navy? Surely not Wyvern Coordinated Universal Time like us after two centuries on your own.”
Jecks shook his head.
“No. We use our own UTC based on the Lyonesse capital, Lannion. It’s currently fourteen thirty-five aboard my ships.”
“And sixteen-twenty here, so not far off, amusingly enough. Supper it is, then. You and I have much to discuss. When can you come aboard?”
“In ninety minutes?” Though Jecks kept an impassive face, Alexander knew Serenity’s captain was just as impatient to meet his opposite number as he was.
“We’ll be ready to receive your shuttle on our hangar deck in ninety minutes, Captain.”
“Until then.”
“Alkonost, out.”
Jecks’ image faded as the signals chief gave the all-clear signal, meaning the links with Provider and Defiant were also cut.
Alexander stood and glanced at Taina. “Join me in my day cabin, please.”
Once the door closed behind them, Alexander asked, “What are your thoughts about Jecks?”
Taina, who seemed a bit tired, dropped into her accustomed chair across from him.
“I sensed caution, which is understandable, intense curiosity, also not unexpected, but no hostility or intent to deceive. I’d say Captain Al Jecks is what you believe yourself to be, Derwent. A professional, conscientious Navy officer who’d rather seek peaceful solutions than confrontation.”
“Glad you can confirm my gut instinct about him. He strikes me as a likable sort.”
A mischievous smile lit Taina’s face.
“You realize he and his Void Sister are likely having the same discussion at this very moment.”
“I hope so.”
