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It was a thing of beauty.
Not for the first time, Solman Dirn walked around his new starfighter. The smooth lines, the elegant curves, and the massive guns were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
The customized Starwolf-class starfighters he had flown when the Unity had been the Venture - and still part of the Nebula Conglomerate StarForce - had been impressive. Despite being a generation older than the more modern Scimitar class, they’d be excellent weapons.
This, however, was mind-blowing.
The IITA had taken delivery of the first joint-venture starfighters created in conjunction with the Xorcerizts. The next-generation starfighter had already been in the works, and its construction had been accelerated and altered to incorporate the new technologies.
Dirn and his squadron had received their new Starhawk-class starfighters less than a week ago, and he was already in love.
Faster, better armed, stealthier, and more maneuverable than the Scimitars, it took some getting used to. Their capabilities were that much greater.
Fortunately, Dirn was becoming a pro at handling change.
He had agreed to resign his commission with the Nebula Conglomerate StarForce and sign on with the IITA. With that came his new rank, Flight-Captain.
Technically equal to a captain, Dirn was identified as a starfighter pilot. Similarly, Tudya Murn had become ranked a Flight-Commodore. While Dirn had command of the three squadrons aboard the Unity, Murn commanded all the IITA’s starfighters in battle.
Rumor had it that the first new command carrier capital ship was being laid out. Dirn had heard rumors that Dromm would assume command of it once it was complete. However, he’d also heard other rumors that Dromm intended to remain aboard the Unity, especially now that it had completed its rearming.
The process had been much faster than anyone had expected. The new weapons required their own unique power supplies, which were smaller than those the Nebula Conglomerate used. The Xorcerizts, Dirn had learned, had far more ready access to Universal Source Energy power supplies.
Since he’d seen the Xorcerizts up close and in person more than once, he presumed this had to do with their own part-energy existence.
Dirn had assigned more simulator time to his squadron. The Starhawks were considerably different from their previous fighters, and Dirn felt it was in all their best interests to be prepared.
While time and fuel for training in the actual fighters was plentiful, it was still not the best idea to train in them.
Normally, it wouldn’t matter. But not only were the Starhawks uniquely maneuverable, they also employed an usual variation in weapons.
Basically, there were two separate weapons systems. The first were conventional—albeit more powerful than previous models’ guns and missiles. These were intended for pirates and conflict with forces within the galaxy.
The other set was for use against the Ditufgne. Much more powerful energy weapons that could get through their defenses, as well as specially designed missiles.
It was, however, possible to trigger between all the weapons. Getting used to them was another matter. What was more, the guns used against Ditufgne ships fired quite differently than conventional laser cannons. The beam was emitted for a longer time and took a few seconds between firings to reset.
While the weapons designed to take on the Ditufgne could be used against conventional forces, it was an unspoken agreement that they should be held in reserve unless absolutely necessary.
Though not yet tested, it was believed a Starhawk could destroy a conventional capital ship on its own. That was unprecedented firepower.
Just another aspect of the new starfighter Dirn admired.
“She’s a beauty,” someone nearby said, taking Dirn out of his reverie.
He turned to see a man in civilian clothes. But he knew a starfighter pilot when he saw one. “That she is,” Dirn agreed.
The man held out a hand. “Jeck Murtsharn.”
“Captain and pilot of the Dawnstrider.” Dirn had been briefed about him. He took his hand. “Flight-Captain Solman Dirn.”
“I’ve heard your name,” Jeck said. “One of the few survivors of the early Ditufgne attacks.”
“Truth,” agreed Dirn. “I saw the footage of your escape from their staging area. You flew like that in a bloody old freighter. I can only imagine what you are capable of with a starfighter.”
Jeck grinned. “Thank you.” He touched the fuselage of the starfighter. “What are they calling these?”
“Starhawks,” Dirn replied.
Jeck nodded. “Damn pretty. This thing fly as good as she looks?”
“Better.” Dirn grinned.
“Last ship I flew was the third-gen Scimitar,” Jeck said.
“I’ve flown those,” said Dirn. “My last bird was a super-modified Starwolf.”
“Seriously?” Jeck said, turning to face Dirn. “I was told they were excellent birds overall, but a bitch to maintain.”
Dirn chuckled. “In their original configuration? I have no doubt. Ours were...shall we say, unique?”
Jeck grinned. “That’s cool. You’ve been with Admiral Dromm since the start of all this Ditufgne madness, right?”
“Yeah,” agreed Dirn.
Jeck nodded, turning back to examine the Starwolf. “I was forced to resign my commission not long before they showed. My former squadron, in fact, wound up getting attacked and mostly wiped out by them. Lost my former wingman in that one, I learned.” Jeck turned back toward Dirn. “You had to face them again, right?”
“Yeah,” Dirn replied. He paused a moment. “I was on a patrol when they came. We had some experimental missiles on our starfighters, and my wingmen and I got a punch in and took one of them out. Then the Xorcerizts arrived.”
“They have a knack for that,” Jeck agreed.
Dirn recalled another memory about the man before him. “You were there, with Avra, when the Xorcerizts made themselves known on the satellite, weren’t you?”
“Yes,” Jeck said.
“You’ve seen them as up close and personally as I have,” Dirn said.
“That I have.”
“What do you make of them?”
Jeck looked around a moment, and Dirn recognized that movement. Jeck was making sure they were out of the earshot of anyone else in the bay.
“Captain, I wish I knew. I just sat in on a most distressing meeting with them. Probably more than I should say, but, hey, I’m no longer military.” Jeck paused, and again reached out to touch the Starhawk. “But then, they help us build these. If they had untoward motivations, they would not be helping us in this manner.”
He turned back to face Dirn again. “I think a part of why they make most of us uneasy is because they are us. We know that they used technology and some sort of unusual lost art or science to combine the DNA of Human, Ravusq, Doolari, Zathru, and the asexual Yalifira to become Xorcerizts. They are both us and not us, and a partial reflection, as such, of an evolutionary step forward.”
“I never thought of it quite like that,” stated Dirn. “But then, I don’t think I have been quite as close to them as you have been.”
“It’s funny,” Jeck began. “When I was a major in the B’bornatt forces, I met a few non-Humans. But nothing like life aboard the Dawnstrider. Sometimes we deal with more non-Humans than Humans. I have met members of the five familiar races, and members of a number of other, less familiar ones. Despite all of that, the Xorcerizts are something else.” He chuckled. “I don’t know if that answers your question, Captain.”
“No, I think it does,” Dirn said. “You’ve expressed what I have been feeling. There is nothing wrong with the Xorcerizts, per se—just something that remains unsettling. And I think you’ve nailed it.”
“Besides,” Dirn began, gesturing to his fighter, “anyone helping to build something this gorgeous can’t be a bad associate, right?”
Jeck chuckled. “Right. I love my crew, but damn do I miss flying one of these.”
Dirn leaned in conspiratorially. “Wanna get some simulator time in, see if I can get you certified to fly a live bird?”
Jeck’s grin was a little sad. “Maybe. But when it’s time to face the Xorcerizts again, I need to be on the Dawnstrider.”
Dirn understood that. Jeck Murtsharn might no longer be a soldier, but duty was duty. Dirn had instant respect for the man. “Understood. Maybe we can do it anyhow. As a matter of professional courtesy, Captain?”
“I think I’d like that, Captain.”