Burning Bright
Page 24
Star Class Battlefortress: ODIN GEIRR
Manufactured by: Vaish Overlord Clan. Nordar - 13 - c
Branding: Vaish Overlord Clan Navy. King Tanal Vaish.
Hyperdrive: Vaish Twenty Strike Sequencer. 85 hours to 1 light year.
Warpdrive: Vaish Battlefortress Slipstream F-38. 4 light years per hour for 2 hours. 84 hour charge time.
Foldingdrive: No
Length: 4.34 kilometers
Estimated Crew: 5,480
Estimated fighter craft: 1,230
Estimated drone payload: 2,200
Heavy plasma cannons: 400
Light plasma guns: 600
Laser arrays: 120
“Damn,” I gasped after I read through Persephone’s description. This beast was all sorts of mean, and the other spacecraft flying in and out of the various ports on the fortress gave me the impression of a beehive. The battle fortress wasn’t as massive as Queen’s Hat. Although it looked like it could eat Juliette’s space station for breakfast, and then still have room for brunch.
Nikki steered Persephone through one of the hundreds of ports, and I realized the single battle fortress could probably have fit the entire Jupiter Navy armada on the inside.
“Yes, it is impressive,” Madalena said as she turned her gray eyes to me. “My father will be waiting to receive us. Do you own armor?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Put it on before you meet me in the hold.” She raised her finger and touched the massive revolver on my chest. “This sidearm is acceptable. Do you own other weapons?”
“Yeah, I keep them in our armory.”
“Arm yourself with your largest firearms and melee weapons, my lord. The next few days will be crucial for your survival.”
“What do you mean?”
“The scum has betrayed you,” Madalena said as she nodded over her shoulder at Goran’s corpse. “My father will not be pleased that I have submitted to you. The reasons are too complicated to explain at the moment, but he preferred for me to be unwed. He’ll seek to nullify my submission by arranging your death in the rites of passage. It was why I did not wish to return home until I had helped you save your friends.”
“Wait, we are married?” I asked. “I didn’t agree to that.” My stomach dropped, and I felt a lump form in my throat. “I thought I was just accepting your submission. Or whatever you meant.”
“That was what I meant.” Her eyes narrowed at me.
“But you said all of your crew has submitted to you. Does that mean they are married to you?”
“There is not enough time to explain. I will at a later time.” The warrior-woman turned back to her crew. “Someone clean up the corpse of the traitor.”
“Yes, Prime Valkyrie!” they answered.
“Josefinna, attend to Persephone’s galley and re-stock her with supplies.”
“Yes, Prime Valkyrie.” The woman had fiery-red hair a few shades brighter than Juliette’s.
“Lux, attend to Adam in the armory. Take inventory of the weapons and munitions. Re-stock with the appropriate tools.”
“Yes, Prime Valkyrie.” Her hair was a black ink swirl tied back in a long ponytail. She fixed her gray eyes on me and nodded.
“The rest of you, busy yourselves learning the technology of our Lord's ship.”
“Yes, Prime Valkyrie,” they replied.
“I will meet my father’s enclave in the hold,” Madalena said after she turned back to me. “You must take a shower before meeting me there. I can smell the fear on your skin, and my father will as well. Do not delay, though. He lacks my patience.”
“He lacks your patience?” I sighed. What had I gotten myself into?
“Yes,” Madalena said as she turned back toward the elevator. She took a few steps, paused and then turned around to face me again.
“We will find your friends after you have completed the rites of passage and joined our people. I swear to you on my life and soul, my lord. I will destroy all who stand in your path.” Her face was still emotionless, but her eyes searched mine.
“Alright. That’s what I am looking for. I need to save my friends, then I have other--”
“I have issued orders without asking you first, my lord. Do you agree with the assignments I have given Josefinna and Lux?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. You don’t need to call me--”
“Excellent. Do not delay. Take your shower quickly, arm yourself appropriately, and meet me in the hold.” Madalena spun around before I could answer, and she walked toward the elevator.
The rest of her crew, or maybe they were my crew now, moved to action. Mikhael and Nikki grabbed Goran’s headless corpse and dragged him from the bridge. Neither of them seemed upset that the man was dead.
“My lord, where is the galley?” Josefinna asked me.
“Next level down,” I answered as I turned from the corpse. The redhead nodded and then walked away from me.
“I will attend to you,” Lux said. “You must shower quickly. Do you keep your armor in your room?”
“No, in the armory,” I replied. “It is on the bottom level near the hold.”
“I will follow you to your shower,” she stated.
“That’s not necessary. I can just meet you in the armor--”
“No,” Lux interrupted me. “You are wasting time. We cannot afford to waste time.”
“Alright,” I sighed. “My room is this way.” I walked past the holomap, and the dark-haired warrior woman followed me. I saw Nikki and Mikhael holding onto Goran’s headless corpse as they waited for the elevator, and I turned to Lux.
“How long was Goran on the crew?” I asked.
“Since the beginning,” she answered plainly.
“The beginning?”
“Goran and the Prime Valkyrie are half-siblings. They grew into adulthood together. They have known each other for their entire lives.”
“Shit,” I said as my head spun. “And she just killed him?” I almost couldn’t believe it. Madalena hadn’t even shown a second of hesitation or any sort of emotional conflict.
“No one disobeys the Prime Valkyrie,” Lux answered as we reach the door of my suite.
“This is my room. I’ll take a shower and be--”
“I will watch you shower to ensure there is no delay,” Lux said.
“No, I can be--”
“My lord,” the dark-haired woman said as she placed her hand on my chest. “No one disobeys the Prime Valkyrie.” Lux pushed on my chest, and I stepped back into my room. “And no one keeps her father waiting.”
End of book 5