Starblade (2 page)

Nadia gripped Sharr's gauntlet encased hand,
smiled at mention of her child. “Good. We can watch the launch
together.”

At last one of their twin daughters had
returned home.

“As many know, the
DSV Excalibur
is a
joint mission between the British Imperial Commonwealth and the
North American Imperium,” explained the BBC reporter. An expert on
the new physics of FTL theory sat beside the reporter and
thoughtfully nodded.

In her living room Frederika sat, legs
crossed in a most ladylike manner on a plush gold embroidered chair
decorated in the style of the German Empire. Coats-of-arms hung on
the walls. Swords and armor lined the stucco decorated room,
offering a militant flair beside that of the mahogany
furniture.

Frederika watched the
DSV Excalibur
leave its berth on her holograph viewer. It broke loose from the
moorings and crawled out of the well-lit orbital space dock. She
was impressed by the space battleship. The forward bridge pod
reminded her of an axe head. Sensor rods reached from the cockpit
and on a turret below the command pod were mounted the ships main
energy cannon which pivoted into alignment. Aft huge steel-gray
VASMIR
rockets charged with blue flame. Supported by three
pylons, like a halo, studded with six oval pods, an induction ring
that would fold space shined in the Sun’s rays.

“In the last two decades, Dr. Erasmus Chang
utilized the unique gravitational properties of Quantum-X which
allowed him to develop his Gravitic Fold-Engine.” Pictures of Chang
in front of his FTL engine schematics passed on a screen behind the
reporter.

“Remember J.M.,” Dr. Ian Hawkins said to the
reporter. “Q-X has many properties. Not only do we have gravitic
foldspace stardrives, but also the ability to make null-fields.
None of this would have been possible without Dr. Zuleika Mathew’s
discovery of Abraxas energy in 2012. Her findings heralded in ‘The
Singularity’ and our new age of machine-man technology.”

The reporter nodded in agreement. “Dr.
Mathews shared her discovery, which brought Earth free clean
unlimited power with TransCorp International and Dr. Chang. It has
been said the minute she turned on her Abraxas Coil a domino effect
overtook the globe.” The reporter paused and glanced at his notes.
“Like a blitzkrieg, the Technological Singularity, The
Techno-Rapture struck – that mass acceleration of scientific
development which gave birth to a Neo-human renaissance. Many
strange and original technologies have come to be. Similar to a
phoenix ascending from its ashes, we rose out of a global cataclysm
amidst a sudden and unpredictable upsurge in technology that swept
across the planet to reformat it.” The reporter met Dr. Hawkins
leveled gaze. “The phenomenon has been estimated to be nearly as
destructive in its reach as the war which preceded it.”

“My theory is that the last World War and
The Singularity were connected. One cleared the way for the other.
Of course, all this was capped off by the ratification of the
Armageddon Accords,” Dr. Hawkins said. “The phoenix is an apt
metaphor.”

“I understand Dr. Chang based his Gravitic
Fold-Engine on Miguel Alcubierre's theoretical ‘warp’
calculations.” J.M. Strathmore turned once more to his notes.

“He did. Among special relativity theorists
Alcubierre created quite a stir! Till then, subverting the light
barrier seemed hogwash,” explained Hawkins. “Even now, some cannot
accept the idea of a Gravitic Fold-Drive. Of course the ship itself
isn't moving any faster than its main rockets, space expands behind
and collapses in front of the ship to cause the effect of faster
then light travel.” A computer graphic of the foldsphere appeared
on a holoviewer between the doctor and the reporter. It expanded
and collapsed, pushing along a model ship built as a reference for
the
DSV Excalibur
across a starfield that had gone into red
shift. “Fold travel is controlled entropy. An oxymoron perhaps, but
true nonetheless.”

Strathmore returned to his data on Erasmus
Chang. “Dr. Chang constructed the first foldship probe,
Yu
Kun
in 2012 and inaugurated the age of stars.”

“
Yu Kun
, the ‘Jade Universe’ piloted
and co-developed by Chronos, an AI furnished for Dr. Chang by
TransCorp International,” Dr. Hawkins said quickly. Human bias
always pushed away Chronos's help in the project. The line between
machine and man had become quite blurred which terrified some.
“Without Chronos, there would be no space travel as we are coming
to know it.”

“Machine and man both now traverse the
stars.” Hawkins narrowed his eyes at Strathmore's disdain. “Not
only has the Imperium started a foldspace program, but a number of
smaller nations have as well. To my knowledge, even the Budjah have
FTL ships… Outside of the Imperium’s influence.” Dr. Hawkins
coughed. “As a scientific discovery Erasmus Chang ensured that his
concepts would be available in the public domain. He feared wars
would be waged in attempts to learn the knowledge of space-folding.
The AI Chronos agreed.” Dr. Hawkin’s shook his head. “Chang's good
intentions did not however avert the conflict he’d hoped...”

“There’s a legend,” stated the reporter.
“That not long after they released the information to the public,
Chang and his companion AI vanished in a black hole. Both machine
and man went missing in the vast cosmos that the scientist and AI
opened up for exploration.”

“I like to think he’s out there exploring.”
Dr. Hawkins bowed his head in reverence. “It’s to his
unconventional nature that we owe this new age, this renaissance of
the stars. The
DSV Excalibur
is the light of mankind in its
entry onto the galactic arena.”

“Captain Cole Braden has become keeper of
Chang's flame.” A biographical file of the English Captain came up
on the screen behind the reporter. “He and his First Officer
Guillaume LaSalle are doing final system checks right now.”

“T-minus four and counting until
space-fold,” Guillaume LaSalle said as the audio switched to the
inside of the cockpit. “Engines fully spun up.”

“Thank you, Commander,” Captain Braden
replied from his central command chair.

Clicks and chirps sounded when each of the
bridge's main stations checked-in.

In front of the holoscreen, Frederika leaned
close to examine
DSV Excalibur
. Not that her
Morningstar-eyes weren’t enough to pick up every tiny nuance of the
vessel from her chair. She waited for the ship to space-fold in
profound interest.

“Rika, do not stand so close to the
holo!”

Frederika narrowed her eyes. Only one person
in all Saxe-Coburg would dare address her as if she were a
child.

Oberon Werner von Kreis entered the room,
outfitted in the jet-black silver trimmed uniform of his fellow
Blackeagle Knights, the personal army sworn to the service of the
Gotha family. He held a spiked helmet under his right arm.

At her guardian’s gruff voice Frederika
smiled, and turned to look on the crusty elderly graying blond man.
Her gaze softened at his scarred cheek, which Oberon had earned in
the course of his dueling school years. “Önkel, guten morgan.” she
greeted warmly.

Very doubtful of course that Oberon
genetically was related to her, but Frederika always addressed him
as uncle since he had raised and trained her in all she knew. In
his sixties, Oberon was a veteran of the final world conflict. He
lost his eye during one of the many battles he’d engaged in and
which had brought forth the sovereign Dukedom of Saxe-Coburg. From
the Junker-class; the zu Kreis were members of the Uradel. Oberon
could trace his ancestry back to the Migration Period. His Prussian
family were infamous as mercenary cutthroats before they became
landed nobility, such ruthlessness coursed still inside Oberon’s
blood.

“The British, und the Imperium make their
first moves toward deep space.” Oberon nodded at the holoviewer.
“This action is a threat to our sovereignty. Smaller nations will
soon be put under their boot. We must nullify that advantage.”

Frederika frowned. She didn't care to
discuss geopolitical threats on her birthday, and she was also
annoyed that Oberon had yet to acknowledge today she turned
twenty.

Oberon noticed the frown, and let a brutish
grin appear under his long beard. “Und, happy birthday to you Lady
Gotha.” He smiled proud and fatherly.

“Danke!” Frederika blushed.

“I do have a gift for you, though we shall
have to wait until your return to give it to you.” Oberon
explained. “The
Nemesis
is ready.” He had designed a very
special ship for Frederika, a kind of space plane-fighter, a
prototype intended to counter the Imperium’s expansion and reach
across the globe.

“Return?” Frederika wondered.

Before Oberon could explain himself further,
the holo news reminded them that the launch of the
DSV
Excalibur
was only moments away. They both turned their
attention toward the screen. Frederika and Oberon watched the
Excalibur
engage her fold-engine. A fold-sphere erupted from
the induction ring, bent space-time around the newly launched
Destroyer. Moments later the ship seemed to turn to a globe of
light and vanish from sight.

“If the Imperium und British become a space
based power, our Reich will fall,” Oberon sighed. “Britain ran over
France easily, und they would not hesitate to do the same with
Saxe-Coburg. Even if you’re Odin’s cousin, he’d have little problem
adding this state to his empire.”

“Und here I thought England’s expansionist
polices were Lord Blud’s work.” Frederika cocked a brow. “You’ve
always told me Archibald Blud used my cousin for his pawn.”

“After the decimation of the USA by the
Eastern Alliance Prime Minster Blud capitalized on his citizen’s
fear of reprisal, reignited Britain’s fever for empire. Odin is
like you, a Morningstar, constructed to rule this planet.” That
notion actually thrilled Colonel Kreis. Long had his family
cherished the idea of Morningstar rule over the Earth as an ideal
worthy of advancement. “He’ll act on the side of strength.”

“I understand that perfectly, Önkel.” Not
that she held much affection for her cousin, born of the same
artificial womb as she, and made of similar material. “Not all us
Morningstars are power mad. Regular humans have done more than
their share of damage to the world.”

“Jawohl, girl! Very perceptive.” Colonel
Kreis grinned as he put a CD into the holoviewer's drive. “This
incident occurred three weeks ago on Mars.”

She dropped back into her chair and gasped.
A black-winged figure dressed in red armor hung in the skies of
Mars where it launched a volley of magnetically charged slugs from
a sidearm toward a settlement bellow. Budjah monks ran in all
directions, to flee for their lives while flame hailed down on
them. The dragon-winged figure soared over the mission, circled
like a bird-of-prey on the hunt, intent to rip rabbits from a
field. The Falcanian's long armored tails shot bolts of plasma from
between the bone claw. At one point an armored “Dragonmen” swooped
and gashed at the vitals of a scarlet-robed monk with a tri-claw
boot and tore off the monk's arm. The claw appeared to be most
dexterous and maneuverable, resembling a velociraptor talons.
Perhaps the boots were part of some kind of cybernetic armor?

“What are they?” Frederika asked, still
shocked her dream had manifested before her. Her emerald eyes did
not veer from the hologram, and the graceful swoops of the many
winged figures.

“Falcanian,” Oberon said. “Products of
genetic engineering.”

“Are those wings real or some kind of jet
pack?” Frederika leaned in for a better look. She noticed what
appeared to be afterburners at mid-torso on the winged Dragonman's
back. “They're hovering.”

“We're not sure.” Colonel Kreis shared her
awe. “Not much is known about Falcanian physiology. They keep to
themselves und are very selective about whom they deal with. What
we do know is they live on an island in the Indian Ocean called
Vanguard. Our spy satellites are unable to cleanly penetrate the
islands' sensor shields. All we get are distorted readings. No
clear biosigns, und aside from the expected Abraxas-energy
signature the island produces, there’s an unknown reading.” Oberon
settled himself in a chair opposite Frederika. “We want to know
everything they're hiding. The Colonel changed the image with a
remote. “This is Hawk Drakonis.” The Prussian's single-eye gazed
hard at the new image. A man of clear Anglo decent appeared on the
holoviewer, arms folded across his chest in a domineering manner.
Behind him loomed a feudal Japanese style structure as a backdrop
to frame his striking bearing. Long umber hair draped over his
shoulders. A red-brown goatee worn with no mustache framed his
bird-of-prey face. His ears were pointed elf-like. The black
high-collared uniform Hawk wore had three golden triangular buttons
which fastened up the front and under his neck. An off-white wool
embellishment trimmed the high collar. The uniform's angular plated
shoulders gave a sense of armor to the heavy fabric. If this man
had wings or a tail, they were concealed under a majestic black
duster cloak. “Not much is known of Hawk before the war,” Oberon
explained. “We estimate that he was born in the seventies, around
about 1975 or six.”

Frederika couldn't rend her eyes away from
the viewer. This Hawk carried himself as if he were a king. “How
old is that picture?”

“Recent. Taken in Osaka, Japan a year ago.
Hawk was visiting his friend Zataki Tokugawa, the Shogun.”

Indeed the old Shogun stood beside Hawk, and
leaned his small frail form on a cane.

“He looks no more than thirty.” Indeed for a
man who would be in his sixties himself Hawk appeared very well
preserved. She glanced at Oberon doubtfully. “This Hawk couldn't
have been born in the seventies. He'd be your age, Önkel.”