The Togar glanced over my s

-- The Togar glanced over my shoulder at the field screen image my PDD projected. It came from Mao, who had taken a surveillance post just 5000 meters from the regional district head-quarters and it was still over 500 klicks from our current position. The images relayed came from the high power optics of Mao’s battle suit and showed a force of about a thousand infantry soldiers riding on one hundred armored personnel carriers accompanied by fifty battle tanks and 50 Mecha walkers with missile launchers. All the tech displayed was clearly of Kartanian origin. Above the troops hovered maybe fifty armored flyers. The Draak army had just reached the demolished installation and we could see the soldiers dismounting their vehicles and swarming over the place. The Togar groaned and then said. “They know we hide in the Old Vaselkis-scrap field forests as we call this valley. It is big but they will find us, we will fight but and then this will be the end.” I said. “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win, as a wise Terran once said.” Har-Hi looked at the images as well. “Don’t worry Togar, we already got enough fire power down here to defeat an army ten times that size and judging by their primitive equipment, it won’t even be much of a fight.” I nodded and flicked the image to map mode and expanded the scale to see a bigger picture of the situation and overlaid it with a tactical map I had the Computronic generate. While I did that I said to him. “Defeating them is not the problem, Ninety. Doing it without them suspecting Union Involvement and going into General mobilization, that’s the goal we want to achieve; Even better if we can defeat them and use the victory as tool for our goals.” While I was studying the map and formulated a plan in my mind I could hear the Kartanian whisper to the Togar. “Are they serious? What army did they bring to defeat that?” I turned and grinned. “I brought my friends, my crew and I got fifty Marines.” Looking back on the map, I said. “You could defeat them even without us. This Scrap field of yours is huge! Almost three hundred square miles of grass forest and ship wrecks of all sizes strewn in between, they would need serious sensor technology or a whole lot more men to find anyone in here. It is also a perfect environment for guerilla wafare. Aurellius lost legions of Roman soldiers against a German barbarians because he had to fight them on their turf and that is what we make them do as well.” Ninety spread his big, golden fur covered arms .”I am trained at the War Academy for Space Combat on Togr and I don’t understand what you intend to do to defeat that force.” I said .” If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.” Har-Hi added. “She is quoting Shin-Zu again, that is an ancient Terran who wrote a book called the Art of War.” The Kartanian flickered his black round tongue and said. “Did you say the Art of War? Music is art, paintings is art, dancing is art but war?” My Dai friend said, looking at them both. “I graduated from the United Stars Fleet academy not so long ago, before I believed we Dai were the most warrior like species, then I learned about the Terrans. They have war gods, war music, war dances and yes even though don’t admit it, they raised war to their highest form of art.” I interrupted them with a slightly annoyed tone in my voice and said. “We can compare civilizations at another time. I have a plan and we better get started.” They all paid attention and I said. “ We give them a bait and lure them between the wrecks. Without their Sky stations we don’t have to hold back using real weaponry. Their tanks are next to useless in this environment and we going to clean their bombers and flyers out of the sky.” I pointed at several space ship hulls. “ Ninety you take the bulk of your men out there and make sure they see you, then you retreat to here.” I pointed at a spot of the map. “We will take care of their heavy equipment and then we attack here, but before we do all this. I want you to make a broadcast. I want you three to tell them to surrender.” Ninety opened his maw and said. “We will do what?” “I want everyone on Itheamh hear you. I mean you, the Kartanaian and the former Ithe commander. I will arrange that images of the fight are broadcast and show you win too.” The Togar said. “I do whatever you say we should do, but would that not make the Draak even angrier and ask for even more Kartanian help. Thousands will go to the smelter Moons!” I grinned. “I am counting on that.” The Kartanian said. “I do not understand but we are already wanted criminals and they know us, but it is them who control the airwaves.” “Not much longer. I have very talented people in that regard. We must win this war fast and decisive and in order to unite this planet we need to galvanize the masses. I told you I have a plan and it becomes clearer by the minute.” -- I was wearing an Atlas type battle suit in full Infantry configuration, this unit was hand checked by Circuit and I was certain it would not malfunction. The weapons at my disposal was frightening and I was quite certain I could have stopped the enemy army all on my own. Not to mention that there were all my marines deployed as well, each of them fully equipped and eager for a fight. Of course that was not part of my plan, but we were there to make sure Ninety and the Rebels would wind gloriously, with as few casualties as possible and everything in full color, high definition on every visual broadcast reciever on the planet. My suit was fully cloaked and I hovered 300 meters over the ground of the plain, the former regional Head quarter 3000 meters to the south. Elfi’s symbol blinked and I activated the comm-link by looking at it. She said.” Captain, I got Lt. Bergdorf. He and his team have infiltrated the enemy Command post and are reporting in.” “Patch them through.” The Mini Terran officer said.” Captain, the enemy force is commanded by General Bruk Kning. He was holding manouvers with his unit nearby, they more or less stumbled on the destroyed camp. He was ordered to kill every civilian in the entire district. He is very confident, but he does not know he just uploaded a Trojan horse into the entire military communication network as he called his superiors.” Elfi still listening in said. “Shea and ship are ready to activate the broad cast at your command.” I switched to the scrambled radio band I used to communicate with the Rebels and said. “Ninety are you guys ready?” “Yes Captain!” The suit system linked with the Tigershark and in doing so I could see what every Ithe who was watching. Ninety, the Kartanian and the former Ithe Commander along with the Mountain man tribe leader appeared standing before a colorful flag and Ninety said. “Itheamh hear and see! Some of you have heard of me, I am Ninety and these are Nefkin Boneface, Draak Commander Jutika and the village elder of the Oote Mountains. We are the Instigators and we are the Voice of Freedom. We speak for all Ithe, for all Draak and everyone else living on this planet. To those in power and oppressing us with an iron fist and the backing of your puppet masters the Kartanians. Itheamh is yours no longer! We will stand and fight and sweep you away! The time of slavery has come to an end. The Smelter Moons will no longer run on Ithe and slave blood. We hereby declare the Oothe Mountains and the entire East plain district as ours. The troops currently here have one hour to leave or we must destroy them.” I snickered inside my helmet. The Draak would scramble and try to locate the source of the broadcast and all they could find would be the Command Post of the Admiral and the equipment there. The magistrate would think that his own General was in cahoots with the rebels, and the General would be afraid to go back as he could not explain what happened and would have to fear for his own life, oh what a wonderful dilemma. To Ninety I radioed. “Now take the Bait group out so they can see you!” From the tall grass trees and onto the dusty plane came a force of about five hundred rebels. They were riding an assortment of captured vehicles and animals. A force of fifty Gryther riders appeared as well. The enemy General and his forces almost immideatley spotted them. Yet there was confusion as the General barked orders in his Communication Devices but the soldiers heard something completely different. Elfi had much fun redirecting and mixing his orders. The enemy General ordered his flyers to open fire but what they heard was. “Hold your fire and stay back.” His ground troops got the order to advance and arrest the rebels on the official channels and with the General’s voice. I almost felt sorry for the General and wondered what he was thinking as he saw his forces move. I gave my own invisible marines the order to take out the tanks as soon as they reached the forest. Har-Hi, Mao, Krabbel and I engaged the flyers and shot them down. It was not a fight, it was slaughter. The Draak flyers had no chance. Their shields formidable to deflect rocks, simple projectiles and weak laser blasts, collapsed with the first TKU blasts. My wrist cannon in Computronic assisted targeting mode roared and bolts of superheated plasma accelerated to near light speed ripped the enemy air force to shreds. It took no more than maybe 30 seconds and there was no flyer left. I turned and accelerated like a projectile towards the forest. It was a rush like few to fly that fast and that close to the ground. I misjudged my speed and crashed like a cannon ball through several tree trunks and created a deep furrow into the ground. Yet I felt nothing. The Suit protected me completely and was not damaged in the slightest. My Marines were much better trained with the suits and tore through the enemy battle tanks using their chain swords and the augmented strength of their suits to tear the tanks to scrap. The main fight however was done by the Rebels themselves, and they fought with utter determination. Now they fought on even ground. They had energy weapons and did not have to fear sudden death from the sky. They fought like demons let lose. My plan was to make prisoners and let as much of the soldiers live as possible, but there was no stopping the rebels. They had lost family members and their homes by the hands of these soldiers and they let them have it. To my surprise it was Ninety who curbed them and ordered to show mercy. It was over faster than expected and of the thousand soldiers three hundred had survived and surrendered. Among them was the enemy General. -- Ninety had a hard time to make them calm down. A large group of rebels had gathered inside the freighter wrecks engineering section. The mood has changed completely. There was laughter, there were lively discussions, men telling other men about the battle and the fights. I was back in my leather suit, Har-Hi, Shea and Narth stood next to me in the back. The Togar finally managed to get them quiet enough to speak and he said. “This my friends was only one fight and I am sure many will follow before we can lay down our weapons and built us a free society where no one has to live in fear or hide.” He paused then threw his arms in the air and yelled. “But we won. Hope is no longer a fools dream!” They yelled and chanted and again fell suddenly quiet as two Ithe warriors dragged the Draak General in. “One of them yelled. This is the butcher of Uthoo, he murdered and executed thousands and send many more to the Smelter Moons to a slow death.” The Admiral’s leather coat was ripped to shreds and so was the rest of his uniform and he showed signs of rough treatment. Har-Hi leaned over and said to me. “It happens faster than I thought it would. While I can understand them, this world will not see peace for a long time.” I wondered if he was right but I somehow had a feeling, the Togar, even though he was no Ithe would remain a leading force and as much as I hated to admit it, this Togar was as honorable as can be and had a sound set of morals guiding his actions. It was the Togar who stepped forward. “Yes he is a butcher and deserves death, but we must not become the new Draak. We must resist to go down the same road. We can only do what we need to do if Ithema speaks with one voice and that includes the Draak.” To the Draak he said. “General Kning, you know who I am you have killed and tortured many trying to find me and this hide out. I was Ninety of the Instigators. We are the Instigators no longer, we are Ithe. I am Togar by race, I am Ithe by creed and soul. That Kartanian is Ithe by creed and soul and so is everyone here. We are the first voices and we won’t rest until this world speaks with one voice to outsiders, but where every single person speaks with his or her own voice without fear.” He gestured to the Ithe who held the General and it was evident that even they accepted Ninety as leader and instantly and without arguing let the Draak General go. The Ithe was a solider and officer I could tell, as he straightened his stance and tried to gather his shredded mantle into a more dignified appearance. “Yes I know you, and I don’t know how you did what you did, but I assume you found some kind of alien device in one of the wrecks to create havoc with our communications and disable the Sky punishers. I applaud your persistence and ingenuity. I am prepared to die, my life is worth nothing anymore. If I would return I would face a firing squad for failure, so if you kill me or not ,makes little difference. The magistrate has twelve Kartanian Ognix Mechas and I am sure they are already on the way. They can’t be stopped by your communication tricks or your captured weapons. You don’t fight the Draak who for the most part are as tired of the fighting and not being masters of our own world as you are, you fight the Kartanians who use this world and won’t let go. They will come and retaliate even if you manage to flee from the Ognix and hide. Many more will die.” Ninety looked into my direction and I simply nodded. Not that I had any idea what an Ognix was. Narth’s voice explained in my mind. “Eighty meter tall robotic machines, steered by the disembodied brains of Kartanian soldiers. These machines are heavily shielded with good Kartanian force fields and are armed with four large caliber Force projectors. The machines are incapable of flight and are currently marching in this general direction.” I turned. “Not that I think we can’t handle them but when you said steered by brains, do you mean the actual biological brains of a living being?” “Precisely that, captain.” “And here I am having a Narth with tremendous psionic powers. Wouldn’t it be a shame to waste such talents in a situation like that?” I could feel Narth’s amusement as he responded. “You have a particulary wicked mind.” The Togar in the meantime said to the General. “We do not fear your Magistrates terrors. We lived under them for so long, one more terror makes no difference, but we will no longer be the victims. We will fight, it is better to die fighting for your freedom than to shiver in fear and hide like a coward and live.” The General said. “Then let me fight with you. My life is over, what does it matter if I die by the hands of a lynch mob or if I die fighting?” “There won’t be any lynch mobs. We are not the Draak. The only ones who must die are the ones in the Magistrate tower. They are beyond mercy.” Ninety then came over to me and said. “I do not fear whatever it is they are sending and I have seen with what ease your invisible forces have rendered battle tanks and flyers to scrap; what do we do against those things?” I put my hand on his shoulder and had to reach up to do so. I said.” Ninety, I don’t want to sound arrogant or ring our bell. I don’t want make light of the situation as it is as serious as can be and we are at the beginning of what we want to do, but let me assure you there is nothing in the arsenal of the Kartanians we can’t handle. Now you may not believe me, but there is nothing in the Kartanian Arsenals that can really stop a determined man with a plan and cool head. Everything can be overcome if the cause is right.” He straightened. “You are right Captain. I am so long a rebel I forgot that was a Togar Commander and fought in many battles. I am a warrior born and your words ring with truth, strength and confidence.” He looked over my friends and then added. “I also know now why they follow you, Dai Than, Nul and even a Y’All, Captain Velvet, because I too will follow you.” Har-Hi who had his arms crossed smirked while he gave me a side glance. “Yes our captain has that effect on the strangest people, we keep collecting all sorts of strays and odd balls and haven’t even really started on our actual mission.” He spread his arms. “Come Captain and bring your friends and officers. Let us share a meal and then face what is coming.” I said. “The approaching machines are no problem and we will deal with them and make sure they won’t be used by anyone again. So let’s eat and then get started on phase two.”

-- We gathered at the tables in the community room and I told my friends to be careful with the served meat and politely declined and asked for porridge only. Across from me sat the human boy and while I had little time in the last hours. I did notice his continuous stare, by now he should have been getting used to another human being and I said pointing the spoon at him. “Listen, buster, I know you have not seen another human and I tried to ignore your staring until now, but it is getting ridiculous you even forget to chew. Either say something and get it out of your system or get over whatever is bugging you!” He blushed deeply and to both his ears as he lowered his head and stared at his plate. Shea giggled and I watched Narth as he actually held a spoon with a piece of the horrible meat. He probably didn’t want to scare the locals with an open display of psionics. I almost gagged as I saw Mao helping himself to a big chunk of the meat while he chewed with full cheeks. “Captain that stuff is delicious! It tastes like the most intense goat I ever tried.” Mao instantly became the center of attention of several Ithe. Shea leaned over and whispered. “That poor kid, you scared him half to death. He isn’t much older than you were when you left Nilfeheim.” I pushed the plate away and sipped at the tea mug and said to her. “Yeah maybe I was a little rough, but he keeps staring at me with an intensity that creeps me out.” Shea padded my hand and said. “Pirates, monsters, generals and aliens don’t creep you out. I am sure he could care less if you were your old Eric self, you not only the first human he has ever seen, but the first girl just a few years older than him and you know yourself you look drop dead gorgeous and your choice of dress leaves little to imagination.” I got angry and felt the blood rising to my cheeks. “I haven’t picked this outfit. It was you and Cherubim and besides I am not…” I stopped as she looked at me with a deep smile. “Yes you are. You no longer refer to yourself as he and you haven’t used your old name. I think your transformation is almost complete and what you have called your old problem has vanished.” “There is too much on my plate right now to think about all that. I got a mission and we are straying further and further away from it. Next stop is Tana Shoo and not where the Red Dragon wants to go.” She also wrinkled her nose and pushed the plate away. “That is worse than anything I remember eating even as a girl on Sin 4.” To the boy I said. “I think your name is Mel right?” He nodded without looking up or saying anything and I felt rotten for what I said. I asked him. “So how did you end up here?” He spoke with a meek tone as he answered my question. I was able to hide on an ingot transport from Olx and it stopped here.” “Olx is a smelter moon, right?” “Yes.” “So escape is not impossible?” He shook his head and said. “No it is not impossible, there are scrap and ore transporters and there are now too many slaves and not enough overseers.” I now felt even more guilt for snapping at him and tried to sound friendlier. “I guess I don’t mind if you stare at me.” He did not move his head. I sighed and said. “Now that explains how you came here to Itheamh but how did you come to Olx. From what planet do you come originally?” He did raise his head now and looked at me with sad eyes and he said. “I was born on Olx, I think. I was raised by several slave women and I think one of them was my mother. When I was old enough to work the overseers pulled me out of the breeding cages and stuck me to a work gang unloading scrap metal and sorting the bad pieces that not supposed to go into the smelters.” I could not completely hide my feelings and felt a tear roll down my cheek. Compared to this boy, my childhood was paradise and I remembered Egill saying to me that there was always someone who had it worse, when I complained about my lot in life. Back then it was just another saying of a grumpy, wise old man. Now it became reality.” Being female had not only positive sides, it seemed to affect my emotional balance somehow and I hoped no one saw the tear. When I was a kid I knew Viking boys don’t cry. Now it was imperative that as a Captain I would not show such displays of strong emotion, at least not in public. To Mel I said. “We will find out where you belong to and I am sure there is family for you somewhere and we will find it.” He cramped his fist around the wooden spoon utensil and actually broke it doing it. “My home is Olx and I will return there as soon as I can.” That statement surprised me even more. “Why in Odin’s name would you want to return?” He said while he touched his neck. “I am still getting used to walk without restrictor cables attached to my feet. I still can feel the steel collar scraping my neck sore, even thoug it is gone. I am still amazed about open sky and I can’t believe how big and clear it is.” He pointed at the food bowl, ”or eating food that is not mud like soup with ground up bits of brothers and friends floating in it.” Mel’s eyes glowed with a fierce fire and he said. “I am going back there and kill the Overseers, free my all friends of my work gang that are still alive and then we going to kill more Overseers.” I said to him. “This is something we will rectify before we leave.” Just then my wrist Com chirped. It was Elfi and she said. “Captain I got Admiral Stahl standing by. I told him you are on an Away mission. Do you want to take the call?” The blood that had just rushed into my cheeks now sank to the bottom of my stomach and I said to her. “Yes, Elfi. I am going to take the call.” --“”— I went to one of our landing tanks and took the call in the small cockpit. The secure transmission established and I noticed it was not just Stahl, but McElligott and mysterious Cherubim were there as well. The three immortals sat, as it looked like in Stahl’s office aboard the Devi. The eternal solider looked at me with his ice gray eyes and then he said. “We had a quiet meeting and my old friend thought it might be nice to call you and catch up with our special crew and Captain.” He gave McElligott a side glance and then added. “Somehow I have a feeling you have quite a report for us.” I straightened myself in the compfortable seat of the tank and said. “Yes, Sir. I think I do” I told them everything what happened so far and I left nothing out. While I spoke I uploaded my log book entries and also the reports of my departments. They did not interrupt and I finished saying.” Sirs, I am in a dilemma and I know it, but I made the decision to help as much as I can. I also must somehow go to Tana Shoo. Har-Hi is more than a friend to me and I could not look into his face if I did not do something to help the Dai Than. I know how important the Seenian depot is and the Red Dragon issue and I assure you I will find a solution to it, but it eludes me at the moment.” Even though I had finished talking there was silence. The three immortals looked at each other and I was sure there was some sort of communication going on. It was McElligott, the Admiral of the Fleet who folded his hands before him and leaned forward saying. “We send out a young crew, with untested officers on an mostly untested ship and all under the command of the youngest Captain in fleet history. We did that, mostly because my old friend here saw something in you.” My stomach knotted as he paused for a moment and then he continued saying. ”We thought it be a nice easy assignment for a young crew: Act like pirates and suppress pirate activity. Little did we know you went out to change Galactic history.” He sighed and then smiled. “Your mission is not set in stone, Captain. You are out there all on your own. You are in command because we trust you to make those decisions and you did. We won’t hang you for that, or strip you of your command. The Fleet you serve has many reasons to exist and many tasks. Protecting the Union from outside threats is one, exploration is another but our single most important task is to help others. It is not written, not mentioned anywhere in basic training or the manuals you have read so far, because it is expected. You are no longer in Free-space where Fleet operations are prohibited. That you are technically undercover is a fact and a problem, but you are doing the right thing by helping.” Stahl said. “These things are discussed in Command school but you did not have the benefit to go there yet. You did not spend years as the XO of another Captain and yet you do what we expect you to do. So I am very proud of you, girl.” Now it was Cherubim’s turn to speak and she said. “Your XO is right however when he says nation building is very difficult, rarely successful and opens a can of worms of problems. Not many would try it, and even less on a schedule of a little over two weeks.” She held up her hand signaling to me that she wasn’t finished as I tried to say something and she continued, saying,” you are a very unusual individual Captain Olafson with a command and lead style all your own and you have the great fortune of having a crew who not only is second to none but virtually worship the ground you walk on. Your science officer and your ship AI have prepared the most comprehensive political situation report I have seen in ages. Your intelligence officer and your special envoy from the Golden prepared a detailed intelligence dossier all this is very helpful for us to develop a course of action.” Stahl also leaned forward in his seat. “What my shadowy intelligence friend tried to say is that you are not alone in this. I know it must feel like this for you to operate under cover and without the benefits of regular fleet contact. We will discuss this and see what we can do from our end. In the meantime go and contact our Intelligence contact in the Iteamh government. We sending him a message and transmit details to you as well. When you made contact we will contact you again and tell you what we can do to help you.” The kilt wearing Admiral of the fleet said. “Carry on then Captain Olafson. We put a big load on your small shoulders and you somehow have the talent to stir up things wherever you go and increase that load beyond anything we had foreseen. Now take care of your business and be assured you are indeed not alone in this and that we are very proud of you.” They saluted me and the screen went dark. I rarely felt more release of tension and stress than I was feeling right now. Having the blessing of the eternal guides and more so having their backing made me feel a million pounds lighter, the Old Admiral of the Fleet was right, It really felt like a big load I had carried. Shea stuck her head in and said. “Captain, you may want to tune in to the local propaganda channel.” I did and saw towering machines that remotely looked like mechanical versions of a Kartanian being, stomping through a small town, releasing rays of energy, crushing and burning houses and the clear images showed scores of panicked people dying. Others were rounded up by soldiers. A voice only commentator spoke of the glorious victory of the government law and order against a hotbed of rebellious activity. Shea said. “That town and many other communities had open protests on the streets. This is the answer of the magistrate.” I said. “I am done playing it subtle.” I activated my wrist com and said. “Marines, men saddle up. Full Destroyer Suits authorized. One platoon stays here, the rest follow me.” -- Without restriction I let my marines loose, but we used the cloaking technology of our Atlas suits and protected the outer image of Ithe warriors in simple battle suit frames. Of course no initated observer would believe that the carnage and destruction we dealt out to the Draak shock troops could have possibly done by Ithe manufactured exo frames. Despite the fact, I had an incredible arsenal of weapons to my disposal, I mainly used my strange axe. I knew it was not just my Neo Viking roots that made me favor a seemingly simple bladed weapon. There was a connection between me and that axe, that went beyond preference. This thing was part of me and when I swung it, I felt more complete than ever before. This time there was no black out. I recalled every moment of my fight attacking and slaughtering Draak soldiers and I knew the vicious, intense and brutal way I was ripping through men and hardware was nothing the old Eric would have done, whatever was sleeping inside me was slowly but surely fusing with all all other aspects of my complicated self. I could not stop it, suppress it, forget it or ignore it. I could feel the entity that was inside me and it was colder than the coldest ice winds of Nilfeheim, it had no shape form or name. It was more like an intense emotion, comparable to a feeling of fear or anger that begun collecting somewhere below the stomach. It was as if staring into a mirror in a very dark room and only seeing bits and outlines, the reflection looking strange and alien and yet I knew the reflection was me. I always liked the crisp clean feeling of cold water, of cold wind and there was a new desire of mine to embrace that coldness and make it rise and come to the foreground. While I was contemplating my own condition; the augmented muscles of my Atlas suit made me jump on the top of a ten storey building. Concrete and brick shattered upon my impact and I jumped again, dispensing a dozen Dragonfly Seek and Destroy Intelli-projectiles from the launcher mounted into the knuckle area of my left gauntlet. The projectiles programmed to seek out and kill anyone fitting the brainwave patterns of a Draak. The SII-Geisyr gatling on my left shoulder obliterated several Draak flyer with light speed accelerared plutonium pellets over seven klicks away. At the apex of my leap, my boot thrusters came on and with my axe raised, I collied with one of the towering robotic war machines. Its force field collapsed in a crackling display of lightning bolts. The Draak soldiers sitting behind the cannon controls of the Ognix, screamed with primeval fear as I ripped the protective armor of their gun mounts to shreds and grabbed one of them by the short throat popping his head right of his shoulders while my axe, spilt the other. From there I fired my Main weapon and the TKU blast of my chest cannon cut to the center of the Ognix with the core heat of a white star vaporizing the command brain and much of the upper structure of the machine. My battle optics identified Narth floating not far from me. He too wore an Atlas suit. Two of the giant machines abandoned their attack on the civilians and turned to fight each other, while a third one, thousands of tons begun to rise into the air, its armor crumble as if an invisible fist was squeezing it. Then it crashed with force and head first into the ground. It was not just I who was growing and changing. Narth’s powers clearly grew as well. A beam of energy so bright, my optics almost overloaded zigzagged in an impossible pattern through the chests of three Ognix machines. No weapon beam I knew off could change its direction like that. Narth mental voice gave me the answer. “That’s Ensign Three-Four, our Non-Corp. He decided he could do more damage not wearing his suit and it is evident he is quite right.” It was over soon. Looking at the carnage I realized just how formidable the crew was I commanded. But it was not just my crew and my marines who fought. I saw Ithe picking up weapons and storm a city square where soldiers had rounded up civilians to be shot and turn the table on the soldiers. -- I used the confusion of the local forces to have the Tigershark land among the wrecks. Shea and Ship had programmed a new Janus mask and the ship looked like a burned out, rusty hulk and looked as if it was lying there for hundred years at least and even I could not tell her apart from the other wrecks and scrap ships. Ninety walked over and gestured to my ship with disbelieve saying. “You flew with this thing?” I said. “Remember my story about the |Trojan horse? It’s something like that.” He was still looking at the ship as he said. “After the broadcast you had me do last night, there are open revolt in several cities now and the Draak are holding back. They are afraid that if they act, they will get the same treatment as the troops and Ognix got last night in Craha city.” I said to him. “Those are good news indeed.” He now focused on me. “It is still a different story in the Captial of course. I have heard the Kartanian are sending a small fleet with Oghr troops and the Draak prepare a large shipment of prisoners to the smelter moons. My sources say they have over 10,000 prisoners and want to use them to show the Kartanian that they still loyal and useful.” “Wonderful, that is what I hoped for and will help me with the next phase of my plan.” He spread his arms in a confused gesture. “I used to be a Togar Commander and yet I cannot see what you are planning. All I know is that what you did so far worked and I am fully behind you.” “Do you think it would possible to go to the capital city undercover? I need to see the space port and gather some intelligence.” He said. “It will be difficult and dangerous but possible, I am sure. The authorities try everything to play down the events and especially in the Capital and surrounding districts.” The Togar said. “It will be best you go just before dusk so you arrive when it is dark. I organize a guide and disguises for you.” -- I felt like coming home stepping into my quarters and I realized how tired I was. I hadn’t slept in quite a while, eaten very little and had only the most rudimentary hygienic care. After checking with Circuit who currently held the Conn and a very short department meeting, I had a long and relaxing bath and almost fell asleep doing it. I could not believe how dried out my gills felt as rinsed them with fresh cold water and hoped I would find for an extended swim in our pool as soon as this was over. I did not dress again. I sat down wearing a dressing gown and made a log book entry when the door chime announced a visitor. I expected Shea, but to my surprise it was Mr. Eeeryt carrying a tray and he said. “SHIP told me that you haven’t eaten in days. So I made you this Tyranno Fin steak. I have a few portions in my stasis freezer saved for you.” I said. “Mr. Eeeryt, how thoughtful of you.” The savory smell of fried fish and mashed seaweed buds wafted into my nose like the finest scent in the Universe as he uncovered the dish and put the tray down. “You must take more care of yourself, Captain. SHIP and I are concerned.” He rushed to the door and added saying, “enjoy”. Before he left. I doubted Odin and the Aseir ate better food at the eternal banquet of Valhalla than the fish that was just melting on my tongue. There were few pleasures more satisfying than the simple act of eating ones favorite food after not having it for a long time. The taste conjured images and memories of Uncle Hogun, Elena, father, old Egill, the Elkhart the first keeper and of course of Midril and the kitchen of our burg. “SHIP, we are still in regular GalNet range right?” “Yes Captain, especially since Alvor’s Cove just came online with a transponder station a few days ago.” Only my AI would add such small talk information and I was very glad it was so. I said. “See if you can tune in on Nilfeheim Radio. It is almost yuletide and they play nice old music around this time. I think Egill told me in his last message that Nilfeheim Radio now has a GalNet channel.” “Yes Captain he did and I saved the info.” The sweet music of an old Yuletide song filled my quarters and I allowed myself a bottle of beer and felt quite content for the moment. I knew it would not last of course but that didn’t bother me right now. After finishing the plate and leaning back with a cigar and a glass of Aquavit. I reflected on the recent events and developments. Yes there was something happening to me, but as I listened to the music and remembered Nilfeheim, sitting here as Erica and even though I would not return being Eric as he was; I knew Eric and Nilfeheim would always be part of me, the part that defined my core. It was a good realization and as I laid down to sleep a few hours, I did so with a contend mind.

-“”-

He pointed to the city in the distance. We will walk until we reach the Croi district, there we will find you suitable disguises and take the Underground train.” We started walking over the burned ground. Every step kicked up ashes and every once in a while a still glowing amber. The raging fire inferno had also caught local animals. We did see several armadillo like about one meter long blackened carcasses. We also found the body of a man, from what I could gather he was human. I knelt down and used my PDD in scanner mode and the device chirped as it found an active CITI chip and with it a name and the citizen’s public record. The Kartanian said. “We knew him only as Blisters as he was covered with them the first day he had to work the furnace blast door, he was a good friend.” I got up and recorded the location of the body. I planned to collect the remains and if I could return them to whatever family he had. After waking about six or seven kilometers an unpaved road had stopped the fire from spreading any further and the Togar said. “I think it is safe now to us it, to reach the main road.” I asked. “What is it with this clandestine behavior? I was under the impression this is an independent planet. Are you wanted by the local law or something?” The Kartanian said. “ Yes Itheamh is a free world and its people are a former colony of this star system’s second planet, but they barley reached Techlevel 4 on their own and Arkalon and the Kartanian Cooperation is only nine light years from here. The Ith of this world do not want to make the Guild masters angry, while the Ith are openly claim not to be associated to anyone, it is the Guild masters who hold the strings. The events at the Tavern back there have every Ith soldier and policeman there by now to investigate and we do not want to draw to much attention to ourselves. The Ith allow anyone who works and obeys the rules to settle and live here, but they do send escaped slaves back to Arkalon.” We soon reached the paved road and I for one was glad, silently cursing my impractical heels. The next time I would wear All Terrains, fashionable or not. Walking over uneven and unpaved ground in those boots was anything but pleasurable. Har-Hi kept an eye on his suit sensors and said. “I might not get an answer, but I have the impression it is not impossible to escape these Smelter Moons.” The Kartanian again answered. “No it is not impossible, there are scrap and ore transporters and too many slaves and not enough overseer, but it is dangerous and if they suspect any slaves aboard they expose their freight to space and that has ended the lives of many, as long as they have plentiful bodies to replace the ones that die and the few that manage to get away, they don’t even care much. Of course their punishment is death if they catch an escaped slave.” The Togar said. “I am still getting used to walk without restrictor cables; I am still amazed about open sky or eating food that is not mud like soup with ground up bits of brothers and friends floating in it.” We had reached an industrial warehouse area and the towering buildings of the city were close. The Kartanian said. “One time long ago, my name was Duntremo, but now I am Ninety. Part of the number they branded on my back. My Togar listens to the name Little Runt, even though he is big and strong now, everyone called him Little Runt as he grew up around us. He was one of the children that were born into slavery.” The Togar looked away and his growling deep voice sounded even rougher. “Many children never make it past their tenth birthday. There are mothers who kill their children to spare them a short life of misery.” Ninety said. “We have told you much about us already, yet we know very little about you. You are not members of the Sinister Alliance I am sure, you know too little about this place and you do not act like the ones we have seen and observed.” “I am called Black Velvet and we had some business with the Red Dragon, but no we are not part of the Sinister Alliance. My companion is also my First Officer. His name is Har-Hi.” He pointed at a simple looking one story building with a few large windows and a cheap looking sign, reading ‘Scraper Gear’. He said. “There we will buy you workers coveralls, the Underground trains are filled with thousands of beings wearing work coveralls working on one of the many scrap yards and dismantling companies. Once we all wear blue coveralls and work boots, we will disappear and become as good as invisible, without it leather clad masked woman and a Dai in Battle gear would be remembered by everyone.” We purchased and put on primitive, simple one piece suits of a drab, somewhat stiff fabric. Har-Hi found one big enough to put over his battle suit. The Kartanian handed us thick leather hoods out of tan colored leather and said. “These are Torcher hoods, many wear them when they use torches too cut the scrap, and it will obscure your identities and the fact that you are a Dai.” The hoods left the eyes open and to complete our look we bought torcher goggles, gloves and a large Tool bag for Har-Hi’s swords. The shop owner accepted my Union Credit strip without hesitation or signs of surprise. Our two guides had dressed themselves similar hiding their mostly shredded and burnt clothing. Outside the Kartanian tossed dust and sand all over us and was satisfied after we all looked dusty and dirty. We didn’t have to go far and followed them and dozens of other beings of all sizes down a flight of stairs that was right there on the sidewalk. In an underground tunnel dimly lit, by a few light elements were hundreds more waiting at a ledge. They all were dressed like us, carried tool and lunch boxes. There was an invisible cloud of sweat, oil and rusty metal smell over it all. It was also quiet, not many talked and those who did kept their voices down, Ninety said. “Most of them are very tired of a long day of physical labor. They are not slaves and get paid but very little.” Har-Hi said. “Could that scrap not be processed by robots and Nanite factories? I wager a gang of S-55’s could do the same as all the beings here, and around the clock too.” Ninety made a nodding motion with his head. “I suspected it and now I am almost certain you are or were from the shiny paradise shores of the mystical Union. It is the same question almost every Union slave I ever met asked the first time they see the Smelters. There are not many robots on this world and very few are used by my people even building space ships. No one could ever really explain to me what a Nanite Factory is, but I am certain it is technology beyond Kartanian capabilities.” A long segmented vehicle squealed to a stop and sliding doors opened all along its side. Our guides went in and we followed. We found seats and the Togar grunted in a low voice as the train started moving. “I can’t understand why you are pirates and turn your backs on that Union of yours, if you come from such a wonderful place?” The train passed into a dark long tunnel and made lots of noise while doing it. It was somewhat akin to a Trans-planet mover, but it was neither very fast nor smooth. While I observed our surroundings I wondered what to answer to that and then said. “We all have our reasons I guess.”

--

We had traveled a good hour on that train, as the thing stopped frequently but finally we were back on the surface and in what the Kartanian called the workers amusement section of town. They had taken us to a bar that was filled with blue dressed workers and found us a table at the end. The Kartanian said. “Wait here and we will talk to the others and see if we can arrange a meeting with our Dai friends. So just keep a low profile and have a drink or two and we will be back shortly.” I said to him. “We wait an hour. If you don’t show up by then, I will assume you rather do not want any further contact and we will leave.” The Kartanian agreed to that and the two left. We just had ordered something that looked like beer, when a fight started at a neighboring table. An Oghar and a strong looking Togar male started exchanging blows and kicks. The situation escalated to other tables fast. It was all fine until a strong looking Oghar insulted Har-Hi and sloshed the content of a beer mug all over my friends face and calling him a coward and other names.” My friend tried to stay calm and out of it, but after he had to block a fist aimed at his temple he got up and of course I had to keep his back. About five or ten minutes later Har-Hi held the dazed Oghar kneeling before my friend, by the throat and poured a glass of beer slowly over the greenish skull of his opponent. I looked around but no one was left standing. Except for the painful groaning of a human worker who hung over a support beam above the tables, it was very quiet. The frightened bar keeper slowly appeared behind the bar counter and made big eyes. Har Hi pushed the Oghar away and the big being slumped to the ground, twitched a few times and then lay silent. I approached the shaking bar keeper. He had humanoid features and I wondered if he was an Oghar-human hybrid of sorts as he had features of both species. He was at least two heads taller than me and yet he was clearly frightened and as I begun to speak he twitched, I said. “Sorry about the damage. I think this got a little out of hand. How much would I owe you for the cleanup?” He blinked with his reddish colored eyes and then said in a meek voice that didn’t really fit the tall muscular body. “You didn’t start the fight, saw it. I don’t want to…” “I am not going to hurt you; I really want to pay for the damage.” He looked around and said. “I guess 25,000 Huthkarta or 2,000 Union Credits would do the trick. I can’t process Togrs.” I handed him the credit box. “Unions okay?” He became all busy and friendly and deducted the sum into an ancient looking Union Bank Transferomat, but the thing pinged and he now appeared really happy. “They tear up the place almost every week; it’s the first time someone pays. I get the place cleaned and throw the dead into the Composter and no worries the Law never comes here.” I looked around and said. “I don’t think we killed anyone.” Har-Hi grunted and motioned me to follow him outside and he pointed at a Togar worker sticking head first in a hole in the wall and said. “He doesn’t look to fresh and the one you threw over the rafters isn’t moving either. Maybe this isn’t what he meant by keeping a low profile.” I looked at him with guilt in my eyes and said. “I think they live and you should not talk. What you did to those Oghar and that Jooltar wasn’t exactly pulling punches either.” He grunted something and then said. “We better get out of here before they call the local law enforcement and we have to explain who we are. “ We left through the front door, where we were intercepted by the Kartanian. Quick come and follow me.” We rushed across the street and followed him into a small alley between two masonry buildings. There he stopped and said. “Who are you really? How can a human female and one single Dai fight twenty seven brawlers and knock them out like it was nothing?” I noticed two shadows peeling from the drop shadow of the walls and one of them said in Dai language. ”Because he is a Dai Prince, twenty seven or twice as much would have made no difference, Ninety. I watched his style. “He bowed before Har Hi Both Har-Hi and I had our hands on our weapons the second the shadows had moved, but the Kartanian said. “These are the Dai you wanted to meet. Let us go inside and you can talk.”

Sin 4 is no more. Children of the Conck