All he desired was to be the one with all the power in his domain. He pictured himself reigning over a world; a small world, yes, but a whole world.
And in that world would be Lafier. If all communication with the Empire ceased, then he would have no cause to feel inferior next to the “royal princess.” She would have no authority here.
He’d chosen only the most meek and submissive of women as his servant staff, and they revered him as a god. If the princess and the Baron ever issued contradictory orders, he knew his servants would follow his without question.
In truth, the Baron had never associated himself with Abh women. In places like the Lacmhacarh and within the military, he’d become acquainted with a number of them, but he was always nervous around them. Perhaps as a consequence of that, he would at times indulge in perversion and have one or more servants dye their hair blue and don the garb of an Abh noble. The garments and jewelry he’d collected to that end happened to come in handy for the princess’s arrival. But whenever he used them for their intended purpose, it always ended in disappointment.
Their looks, their bodies and faces, he could bear. Due to his overly-particular tastes, there were women even among the Abh whom he found difficult to call “attractive.” The real problem was on the inside — they were too humble, too modest. Nothing at all like an Abh. To be honest, he’d nearly forgotten what Abh women were like until Lafier confronted him.
He smiled as he poured himself more apple cider.
I just spoke my mind like a true Abh, and to a royal princess at that. Being in the safety of his own castle gave him that sense of security; it would have been unthinkable in the social setting of Lacmhacarh. He considered it a dry run for the kingdom to come.
And my kingdom will need successors to the throne, won’t it... he thought drunkenly.
This territory had many females, as there were no male servants. They were, however, Lander women. There was extremely little chance a baby would be born to an Abh like him and a Lander woman without genetic modification. Even if she conceived, it would probably be marred by fatal congenital defects.
Of course, the Empire hosted many medical institutions that practiced genetic modification. He himself was born of an Abh and a Lander, made genetically 100% Abh through that process. But here in the Barony of Febdash, no such facilities or equipment existed.
And Lafier was an Abh, with whom he could not take issue. Biologically speaking, he would have no trouble siring heirs through her.
Natural delivery among the Abh came with its share of dangers, as their race was an unnatural one, but those risks weren’t so high as to warrant avoiding at all costs. The Baron had read some papers about the likelihood of congenital diseases among naturally birthed Abh infants. According to that reputable research, the chances of it causing some grave ailment were about 1 in 50. Those were fairly favorable odds.
Yes... I shall spread my seed through a royal princess... His delusions were swelling without end.
It was then that the Baron began, perhaps, to harbor feelings for Lafier, though naturally, it didn’t have to be her specifically. Any genetically Abh woman would suffice.
He couldn’t find fault with Lafier’s beauty, apart from how she was still too young and childlike to have fully blossomed. Moreover, it would take quite some time for her to come of age. Lastly, their personalities weren’t exactly a match.
But those were all considerations for the far future. For all he knew, the Empire could recover this land at any moment.
That was the reason he was treating Lafier courteously — at least on the surface. It was in case communications with the center of the Empire ever resumed.
Of course, he couldn’t be said to have treated that surface-rat of a noble prince with much courtesy. But he hadn’t committed any crimes against him. He was lodging with his own father. He had a raft of defenses he could deploy.
As for the connecting vessel the two had ridden here, he sensed it could prove irksome to him, so he wanted to destroy it, but he decided against it for the time being on the grounds that that would be difficult to explain away to the Empire.
If and when he became certain that the Empire wasn’t coming back, he would deal with it as he pleased. And then, the royal princess would be much easier to handle. Even the boy might be of use to him — the seed of a Lander was needed to give rise to the next generation of servants.
The Baron’s uncertainty slipped away with each new ounce of alcohol that numbed his brain cells. He’d thought of every possible contingency, he assured himself. Even if his plans weren’t perfect, this was the best he could come up with given the situation.
Exhilarated, the Baron gulped down the rest of his apple cider and laid himself down to sleep.
The phone chose that moment to ring.
“What!?” If this was over some nonsense, they would have to prepare themselves for a dressing-down.
“This is Greda, calling from the homemakers’ office. I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour, but someone has infiltrated the connecting vessel. What should we do?”
The Baron vaulted out of bed. It seemed this bird was not resigned to languishing in her cage.
He had made an error in his calculations.
The Baron’s breathtaking handsomeness was something Landers on terrestrial worlds rarely ever saw, and it stirred up the servants’ loyalty to him whether they liked it or not. These were women who longed after the image of the Baron, to the point of worshiping at his altar. Time spent alongside the Baron was like an intoxicating drug that they competed amongst each other to obtain. They even saw the unreasonable verbal abuse and lashes of the whip as the sweetest of gifts, so long as they were doled out by the Baron. If they didn’t, they would not be qualified to be servants of the Febdash Barony.
However, he forgot to account for the fact that those ravishing looks fit for a demigod were not unique to him. Ravishing beauty was the standard among the Kin of the Stars, not the exception.
There were certainly those servants that felt loyal to the Baron as a person. These were the lovers he took with him to bed every night.
But more than half of them were not so keen on the man as an individual. Instead they were fascinated by the Abh as a race. They nearly regarded the Abh world as on par with a heavenly realm, but they knew that the Baron was not so high in the ranks of Abh nobility.
Seelnay was one of those women. Unbeknownst to the Baron, she made a hobby of gazing at holograms of Abh nobles. She felt no attraction to women whatsoever, but she couldn’t help but admire the Abh royal princess before her eyes.
She herself was astounded that she was able to carry on speaking as normal without turning into a nervous wreck in her presence. It was probably because it hadn’t yet hit her that all of this was real.
Seelnay was grateful to the Baron; he’d given her a place within the heavenly realm of her dreams, the world of the Abh, even if it was a remote region. And she had spent a long time in the Barony, long enough to come to believe in her bones that her lord’s orders were absolute.
But Lafier’s words carried a certain compelling force that electrified her soul. This was the gorgeous and elegant Abh who could one day become a commander, the Commander.
She felt like she was being pulled in both directions, and splitting at the seams, but the thought that she was assisting a royal princess during her time of need filled her with a dizzying, blissful rush that was the ultimate deciding factor.
She didn’t ask Lafier anything else; she just guided her to the departure and arrival hall, and waited faithfully for her new mistress in front of the door to the elevator tube.
At last, Lafier descended to her floor. The thigh area of her long robe was bulging oddly.
“Fïac Lartnér,” she said, kneeling.
“Gosucec (Servant) Seelnay,” said Lafier. “I want you to take me to where Jinto is. That, or bring him to me. Can you do that for me?”
“‘Jinto’?” Seelnay
didn’t recall the name. “Of whom do you speak?”
“My companion. Ïarlucec Dreur Haïder. He’s being held captive. You’ve seen him before.”
Upon hearing the title Ïarlucec Dreur, or noble prince of a countdom, she pictured a sophisticated blue-haired Abh, only to be disappointed. She meant the Lander boy who was wearing noble garb.
“You mean him, Your Highness...”
“Do you know where he’s being held?”
“I’m terribly sorry, but...”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” The royal princess’s voice was tinged with irritation for some reason.
“I’m not worthy...”
“You do know where the former baron is being held, don’t you?”
“My lord’s father?” said Seelnay dismissively. That man was Abh as a matter of social standing, but he wasn’t really an Abh. So, he was hiding himself in shame. “That man is not being held captive; he’s holed up in his retirement...”
“Then why can’t I contact him?”
“Uhm...”
Now that she mentioned it, that was strange. Since she’d never tried contacting him even once, she hadn’t realized it was impossible to do so.
“I don’t care whether he’s imprisoned or just retired. I just know that Jinto’s with him. So please, lead him out for me.”
She shrank. “I really must apologize, but... that’s not possible.”
“Because the Baron’s forbidden it?”
“Yes, but not only that. The truth is, without my lord’s permission, there’s no entry there.”
“So it’s locked out.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Can you think of any way to contact him?”
“I believe he can be contacted through the telephone in the homemakers’ office, but only a select few servants are allowed to enter.”
“Do you think it’s possible to sneak in?”
“Without being seen? I’m sorry, it’s not feasible.” There were always a few servants in the office.
“Then we must seize control of it, you and I.” Lafier pulled a gun from her long robe’s sleeve and proffered it. “Do you know how to use one?”
“No, I’ve never used one, so...” Seelnay could scarcely believe how much faith the princess was putting in her.
“It’s simple.” Lafier pulled the other gun from her sash and taught her how to operate it.
“Understood, Your Highness.” It really was simple. She had but to make sure the safety was released, train the muzzle on her mark, and squeeze the trigger.
“Let’s go.” The princess beat a quick path as she dashed forward. “There’s no time to lose.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Seelnay rushed to catch up.
Since there were several doors that needed opening on the way to the homemakers’ office, Seelnay lead the way. But when they reached the first door, Seelnay froze.
I’m mutinying against my lord! She trembled with fear. Drawn in by the princess’s jaunty demeanor, she hadn’t given her actions much thought, but now she realized that what was she was trying to do — no, what she was already doing, was treason.
She emitted her EM crest from her wrist computer and unlocked the door.
“Open,” she said, voice shaking. Then she looked back. “Fïac Lartnér.”
“What is it?” Lafier had already walked ahead of her.
Seelnay jogged after her. “I have a request.”
“Speak it.”
“Since I’ve betrayed my lord, I can no longer remain in this barony. I beg of you, Your Highness, please take me on as one of your servants.”
Lafier looked behind her at Seelnay and blinked. Seelnay feared she’d asked too much of her.
“Ah, yes, of course,” said Lafier. “But you’d be my only servant.”
“B-but that can’t be!!” She couldn’t believe that a member of the imperial family didn’t have a single servant at her beck and call.
“There are many servants at the royal household of Cryb,” she clarified. “It’s my father who has authority over them, but I’m sure he’ll understand your situation.”
“Is your father His Majesty, the King of Cryb?”
“Yes,” Lafier replied briskly.
The reality before her — that she was within reach of a girl with regal blood — seeped in, and she was filled with renewed awe.
“I have to warn you; you won’t be able to use your talents there. You’re an antimatter fuel tank technician, aren’t you?”
“I’m so honored you remembered!” She’d remembered not only her name, but even her occupation! She hadn’t thought it possible. Seelnay was so moved that tears threatened to burst forth.
“Stop that,” said Lafier, annoyed.
“Stop what, Your Highness?” She grew flustered, worried she’d fallen from the princess’s graces.
“Never mind,” she said, giving up. “In any case, wouldn’t you be better suited somewhere you could apply those skills?”
“I’m pleased beyond words that Your Highness would see after the future of a drudge like me. But I have no desire to stay here.”
“Yes, I know,” the princess nodded. “Let’s just get you out of here. I can’t promise you’ll be able to work with my family, however.”
“Your kind words are more than enough.” She would likely be able to at least take her to the capital, Lacmhacarh.
Another door. The homemakers’ office was close now. Seelnay opened it, mind racing. While a minor episode in the life Lafier would go on to lead, it would be an incident of great weight in the history of this Barony.
A Brief History of the Composition and Ranks of the Imperial Star Forces
In the present era, the Abh believed in giant warships with firepower to match, but in the foundational period of the Empire, they relied almost exclusively on high-mobility combat units that accommodated one to three people. Those units were both steered and commanded by the same starpilots.
In those times, the Star Forces were, on a fundamental level, composed of four-ship formations. Those four ships came together in a diamond-shaped formation, with the commander at the head and the vice-commander at the rear. That made the commander the vanguard starpilot, and the vice-commander the rearguard starpilot, while the starpilots to the left and right were the “linewings.”
Depending on the situation at hand, the four-ship could split into two two-ship formations, in which case the commander and vice-commander led one linewing starpilot each.
When two four-ship formations banded together, they could create a yet stronger combat unit. The commander-ships were accompanied by partner-ships, which meant they now held the reins of a battle unit comprised of exactly ten. As such, they were dubbed “Deca-commanders.”
When the city-ship, the Abliar, was all the territory the Abh possessed, combat units numbered from around 100 to 200. As such, while not totally precise, a commander leading a whole force of combat units was called a “Hecto-commander.” Several people were assigned as their lieutenants; these were the Vice Hecto-commanders.
Finally, when the Star Forces began swelling their ranks, it soon become unrealistic to expect a single Hecto-commander to lead all forces, and so the “Kilo-commander” was christened as an even higher position. It was then that the number of troops and the relationship between ranks became significantly vaguer.
After the Empire was established, they’d come to make use of a handful of mother ships. Naturally, a leader was needed to command that group of mother ships, and an Admiral was commissioned.
The number of mother ships increased along with the Empire’s expansion, and the need arose for assistants to the admiral, men and women who would preside over sub-fleets. These were the Rear Admirals.
Eventually, due to advances in space warfare technology, it was deemed more effective to reorganize the armada with larger ships rather than continue administering a great number of high-mobility units. The designations of Hecto-commander and a
ll lower positions subsequently became the names of ranks and nothing more, without any relation to their actual work duties.
The Empire only grew in size, and the scale and scope of the Star Forces followed suit.
When multiple fleets became standing fleets, there were calls for positions even higher than the admiralty. Thus were born the “Grand Admiral” and “Marshal Admiral.”
But another problem reared its head. Although the Star Forces were more than equal to the task of space combat, establishing and maintaining control over so many planets required ground combat as well — something the Star Forces were not equipped for.
Accordingly, ground forces were to be established. The “Marshal Admiral” was now the “Star Forces Admiral,” and a Ground Admiral was appointed to command all ground forces. A superior was appointed over both admirals — the Imperial Admiral.
However, the Age of the Two Armies was short-lived. Owing to the Ground Forces’s inherent nature, the majority of its ranks were comprised of surface-born soldiers. Even though they were “Landers,” those with the rank of starpilot and above were treated as gentry or nobility, or in other words, as Abh. Yet they were still not satisfied.
They staged an uprising to abolish imperial rule. It was to be known as the Ghimrÿar Rebellion, named after its main instigator, and it was the largest in the history of the Empire.
Following a period of harsh struggle, the Empire succeeded in suppressing them, and thereafter decided to dismantle the Ground Forces. From that point on, the ground-war armada became an airborne department, a branch of the military as opposed to an independent military. Soldiers now belonged to individual army bases or fleets.
The position of Ground Admiral was abolished, but the rank of Aerial Admiral remained, as did that of the Star Forces Admiral. Furthermore, with the advancement of the prominence of each department came the introduction of new ranks, such as the Quartermaster Marshal, Surgeon Marshal, and Engineering Marshal.
Note: The Specialty Branches include the Budget Department, Army Medical Department, and Engineering Department (each of which has its own Marshal as its highest rank); as well as the Armed Guard Department, Law Department, and Nursing Department (which have a Grand Admiral as their highest rank); as well as the Artisans Department, Arms Manufacturing Department, Shipbuilding Department, Engine Construction Department, Photon Department, and Navigational Department (which have an Admiral as their highest rank); and finally, the Army Music Department (with a Hecto-Commander at its head).
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