The Anvil of Dust and Stars (Dark Seas Series Book 1)

by Damon Alan

  Someone knocked on the door.

  Like this is my room…

  “Come in,” Sarah called.

  The door opened and Queen Halia Artan Werringtin walked into the room. Alone. The Queen gently closed the door behind her.

  Sarah leapt to her feet and dropped to a knee. Her head bowed toward the floor.

  The Queen sat on the bench. “Oh, get up. I put up with that nonsense in public, let's just you and I have a talk.”

  Sarah looked up, a bit stunned. The monarch patted the bench next to her. Sarah rose and sat.

  Next to the Queen…

  Sarah smiled. “It's an honor, your majesty.”

  “More nonsense. Tell me about Captain Sheffaris and this treason he supposedly committed.”

  Sarah explained the situation. The Queen listened quietly, Sarah gained no information from the Queen's face as the story was told.

  When Sarah was done with the telling, the Queen rose. “Come with me, Lieutenant. We have business.”

  “I've been ordered to remain here, Your Majesty, to testify.”

  The Queen smiled at Sarah, amused. “And who is this person whose orders supersede mine?”

  Sarah's eyes widened. “Of course. I'm sorry.”

  The Queen took Sarah's hand and stepped into the hallway. Outside two dozen of the Queen's Palace Guards stood in the hallway decked out in body armor and combat rifles. A man walked up to the Queen and spoke to her informally. “This is the young lady who wrote me?”

  “It is.”

  “You're K?” Sarah asked.

  The man took Sarah's hand and kissed it. Sarah blushed. “Prince Consort Karl, my lady. It's my honor.”

  Shit… I have poked the snake…

  Sarah's face must have been beet red. “Uh… the honor is mine, Your Highness.”

  “Oh Karl, enough, we have business,” the Queen said. She led them down the hall and through the building toward the courtrooms.

  Sarah noticed the uniforms of the Royal Guard at all intersections and hallways of the building. The Queen had the place locked down. Several guards with standard Security Enforcement Division uniforms stood with their backs against walls, at attention. Sarah noticed the SED men were all disarmed.

  Four other people joined them on the way, two had cameras.

  The Queen answered Sarah's question before she could ask.“Journalists. Less verminish than most.”

  After several turns the entourage arrived at the courtroom where Captain Sheffaris was being tried. Two SED soldiers stood guard at the doorway.

  “Open this door, gentlemen,” the Queen ordered.

  The guards hesitated but a moment. That was all it took for four Royal Guardsmen to step forward and disarm the SED guards. The Royal Guard then opened the door. The Queen's procession headed into the courtroom.

  The presiding judge rose, angry. “What is the mean… Your Majesty.” He dropped to a knee behind his bench.

  The courtroom stood as one and then dropped to their knees as well. The Queen's invited journalists began recording. Sarah looked at Captain Sheffaris, who peeked up at her. His face was rife with uncertainty, something Sarah didn't know was even possible.

  Sarah smiled, hoping to share with the Captain that good things were about to happen. Instead he looked puzzled.

  The Queen's presence dominated the room. “Everyone return to you seats, please. Which one of you esteemed gentlemen is Flotilla Captain Harom Darro Sheffaris?”

  Addressed by name, the Captain stood. “I am, Your Majesty.”

  Sarah noticed the calm expression now on his face. She was also aware that inside he had the same self-doubts she did. She admired his self-presentation skills.

  The Queen grabbed Sarah's hand again, and led her to the front of the courtroom in front of the bench. The cameras followed every step. “Lieutenant Sarah Dayson, honored friend of mine, has agreed to bear witness for what I'm about to do here today.”

  The Queen paused and turned toward Sarah and whispered. “You do, dear, don't you?”

  “Of course, Your Majesty,” Sarah answered.

  The Queen smiled and turned back toward the courtroom observers. “Captain Harom Darro Sheffaris, please step forward and kneel before your monarch.”

  Captain Sheffaris rose from the defendants table, walked forward and knelt before the Queen.

  “It's come to my attention that this man has done some services for the monarchy. I am here to make clear these things are approved of by my house, and none shall judge this man badly for what he has done. This is not a pardon, this is an absolution.”

  Sarah watched as the face of the prosecuting military officer fell. It was a joyous moment.

  The Queen gestured to the side and the Prince Consort drew his sword, handing it to her hilt first.

  The Queen held the sword out in front of her, arms extended, sword in her palms. “With this sword, Sir Sheffaris, I recognize your service to your monarch. I recognize your service to the people. I recognize your service to humanity. I entitle you Knight Captain Harom Darro Sheffaris, Protector of Korvand, and Defender of Her Majesty Halia Werringtin.”

  “That's me,” the Queen whispered to the Captain. “Stand up now.”

  Sarah's Captain rose and stood before his monarch.

  “I don't know what to say, Your Majesty. This is not what I was prepared for when I woke up this morning.”

  A voice broke from the audience. A Royal Navy admiral stood. “That rank doesn't even exist any more, Your Majesty. It hasn't existed for four hundred years.”

  The Queen looked to the side, over Sheffaris's shoulders.

  “I deem it to exist again. Are you the one who started this mess, Admiral?”

  “I.. I am just trying to serve the needs of the Royal Navy and the people, Your Majesty.”

  “Of course you were. And this is no time for recriminations. I demand that all charges against any and all members of the Third Flotilla be dropped immediately.”

  The man bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

  “I believe this is yours now.” The Queen handed the sword to Captain Sheffaris then turned to her consort. “Give me your scabbard, Karl, the man might cut himself.”

  The Prince Consort unhooked his scabbard and handed it over to the Queen, who handed it to Captain Sheffaris.

  The Captain sheathed the blade and put the assembly on his belt. “You do me an honor greater than my life deserves, Your Majesty.”

  The Queen smiled. “I doubt that, Captain. I would like for you to continue to protect the crown.” The Queen turned to the judge. “Get the dismissal of charges from the prosecutor, and then end this trial.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” The judge looked at the prosecutor.

  The prosecutor stood and stammered, “The state moves that, uh, all charges regarding Captain Sheffaris and, uh, any crewmen of the Third Flotilla be dismissed immediately.”

  “Charges dismissed, this assembly is dissolved.” The judge slammed his gavel.

  Cheers broke out with some of the observers.

  “You two walk with me as I leave,” the Queen said to Sarah and her captain.

  They walked to the outside of the building silently. Several cars of the Queen's cavalcade waited there. Behind them, sitting on the lawn of the courthouse, two lifters sat idling on the grass.

  The Queen turned and spoke to the journalists. “The military feared the public would lose faith. They feared the perception the military would no longer defend the public if Captain Sheffaris wasn't prosecuted for his decision. You, by now, know what that decision was. Knight Captain Sheffaris returned not only the entire Third Flotilla, but also the ships of the Srarach Planetary Patrol back to Korvand. It must have been an excruciating decision to make, but it's a decision of which I approve. He could have done the easy thing, but he did not. He chose a better defense for Korvand. I will not see my people scapegoated for making the tough decisions.” The Queen raised a finger and pointed it at the camera.
“Anyone who fears the military won't defend us… well, this man was willing to throw his career and potentially his life away to ensure you were defended. So if you have a problem with the military, I suggest you rethink. They weren't disloyal. They were ultimately loyal. I'll stake my life on that.”

  The Queen stopped talking and the journalists asked a few questions.

  “Your Majesty, how strong is our navy now?”

  “I don't know the exact way to answer that, but with recent launches from the Royal Shipyard and the fifty-three ships Knight Captain Sheffaris brought back from Srarach, the number is over three hundred combat ready vessels. We've got dozens more in the shipyard under construction.”

  The reporter pressed. “Will that be enough?”

  “It must,” the Queen answered.

  The other reporter pushed in and asked her question before the first reporter could follow up. “Your Majesty, you said the Hero of Zelan was your friend. Your personal friend?”

  The Queen turned toward Sarah. “We haven't had the occasion to spend time together of any quantity, but it has been quality. Yes. I consider Lieutenant Dayson to be my friend. I hope she honors me the same.”

  Sarah owed this woman everything. It seemed she was destined to be in the company of great leaders. “Of course I do, Your Majesty.”

  The reporter moved on. “Cap…, er, Knight Captain Sheffaris, what will you do now?”

  Captain Sheffaris extended his hand to Sarah, who took it. “Defend Korvand,” he said as he shook Sarah's hand. “Every soldier and sailor in the Royal Services will defend Korvand.”

  “That's enough questions,” the Queen said. “This matter is closed. I must return to the capital.”

  The Queen's entourage filed into the ground cars and left. The reporters left with them. Four Royal Guards remained.

  “What now?” Sarah asked.

  One of the guards spoke. “We will take you to the spaceport so you can return to your fleet, sirs.”

  Sarah and her captain walked toward one of the lifters, the soldiers followed behind.

  Knight Captain Sheffaris walked quietly until the halfway point before he spoke. “Don't think I'll treat you any different on the bridge, Dayson.”

  Sarah chuckled. “Why would I think that, sir?”

  Chapter 19 - A Way Out

  32 JUNI 15316

  Sarah leaned back on the couch in her apartment. Her legs were intertwined with Vonn's, both had glasses of wine in their hands. Sarah gestured at two expensive tickets laying on the coffee table.“Vonn, I'm not arguing. You're going to get on that ship with Jac. By the time the Hive spread far enough to reach Tulanin, Jac will have grandkids.”

  Vonn raised an eyebrow. “No, I'm not. We have no idea when the Hive are going to attack Korvand. The Hive have to make ships, make supplies… we've got time.”

  Sarah balled a fist and shook it at Vonn. “Why the hell will you not do what I say?”

  Vonn put on his stubborn look. “The Hive always send probes to map out a system before they attack. You said that yourself. We can go then.”

  Sarah paused a moment to consider her tone and let her temper subside. “Do you seriously think you'll be able to buy a berth on a ship for any price once those probes show up?”

  “Hmmm. That is a good point.”

  “I know.” Sarah waved her glass at the tickets. “You need to—”

  Koltorba's Second Orchestra began playing, overriding the music the couple was listening to.

  Incoming holophone call.

  “Active,” Sarah said.

  The wall opposite Sarah's couch turned into the image of an older gentleman, squinting into the holocamera he'd called them on.

  “Vonn Elander and Sarah Dayson?” the old man queried.

  “Yes,” Sarah answered. “Who's calling?”

  “Hold a minute please, the Prince Consort Karl Werringtin would like to speak to you.”

  Vonn and Sarah jumped to their feet, setting the wine glasses on the table in front of them. Sarah looked at Vonn and mouthed, “Is my hair alright?”

  Laughter came from the holoscreen. “Hehe… I love when people do that,” the old man said. “Here he is, the Prince Consort.”

  “Hello, Lieutenant Dayson, I'm glad to finally get a chance to speak to you. And thank you for the role you played informing the Queen about Knight Captain Sheffaris's predicament.”

  “It was my honor, Your Highness, you did me the favor,” Sarah said.

  “Not at all. Your friend, Queen Halia, would like to provide you with a proper reward for your service.”

  “I serve the crown for duty, sir, not reward.”

  “And, pleasantly, I believe you. That is not often the case. But the Queen is concerned that your fear for your family and their safety might hinder you should an attack on Korvand come.”

  “I do fear for them, Your Highness. I am trying to get my stubborn husband to—”

  “Then let me make an offer that will keep family harmony and set you at ease, Lieutenant Dayson.”

  “Sir?”

  “The Queen would like to request the presence of Vonn Elander as the overseer of the Queen's spaceport. Sir Bennamin died just last month, and we have yet to find a suitable replacement. You'll have to suffer through a substantial pay raise and free board in the Queen's civil servant apartments, but I'm sure a stout man like I see before me could tough that out in service to the monarchy?”

  “I could do that, Your Highness,” Vonn said excitedly.

  “And, Lieutenant Dayson, your worries will be resolved as Mr. Elander and young Master Jac will have a reserved berth on the Villotte, a comfortable passenger ship reserved for the servants of the Queen in case the the palace is evacuated, galaxies forbid. The vessel has an FTL collar at the orbital shipyard.”

  “That would make our family time much more settled, Your Highness,” Sarah said.

  “Good, that's resolved then. A driver shall be sent for you at the conclusion of Lieutenant Dayson's shore leave, Mr. Elander.”

  “I'm grateful, Your Highness. Indebted,” Vonn replied.

  “Her Majesty is always thoughtful of those who serve her faithfully. You can thank your wife, sir.”

  “And I will,” Vonn answered.

  “Best of evenings to you both,” the Prince Consort said.

  Vonn and Sarah bowed as the holophone closed.

  They looked at each other briefly, then smiles slowly spread across their faces.

  “Yes!” Sarah bent down and picked up the wine glasses from the coffee table.

  Vonn pointed to the table where the two tickets lay. “Can you get your money back on those?”

  “If not I can sell them. There isn't a passenger liner leaving this planet that isn't full,” Sarah answered. “You have a ride.” Sarah beamed at Vonn. “And the Queen says I'm a friend.”

  “Snoot,” Vonn answered, then took her wine glass and set it gently on the table. He grabbed her hair and dragged her down to the couch. “Let me show you my appreciation. By orders of the Crown Prince.”

  Sarah giggled as he kissed her.

  Chapter 20 - Probed

  19 MAI 15318

  The sensors section addressed the captain on the open bridge channel.“Incoming reports of hostile contacts, Captain.”

  “Type?”

  “Hive light probe, orbital, over Tinnit.”

  The captain's face remained emotionless, Sarah hoped hers was the same.

  “They're mapping the system.” Captain Sheffaris tapped the flotilla intercom. “Battlestations. This is not a drill. All G-Ks and grapplers scramble. Stand by for individual orders via your ship ops.”

  “Comm, order the other flotillas to scramble. I want everything out there looking. Let's try to keep the enemy in the dark. Kill those probes.”

  “Yes, sir,” comm answered.

  “Lieutenant Dayson, plot a spread for our ships. Set a course for us toward the outer system, and keep a plot for FTL back to the planet if
we need it.”

  “Comm, tell the other fleets to do the same. Orbital defenses will cover Korvand while we search.”

  “Right away, Captain,” comm answered again.

  The Captain raised his voice so everyone heard him over the bridge noise without using his mic. “Ideas, people. If you have ideas, I want to hear them. We can't miss anything here. This is it.”

  Sarah jumped to the task of plotting the path for the Third Flotilla outbound. She laid out a dispersal patterns for the ship that would allow them to rejoin the fleet quickly, and also maximize their search capability.

  Six minutes later Sarah reported to the Captain the plot was done. The Captain hit the flotilla intercom. “This is the Chimera. All ships are getting navigation data as I speak. Within four minutes we will be entering our burn to the outer system. All personnel to their gravity couches immediately. Sheffaris out.”

  Sarah checked her couch. Systems green, it would keep her healthy.

  The Chimera burned outward from Korvand. Reports started to come in from various bases scattered among the six planets and four asteroid belts of the star system. Probes were being destroyed in large numbers, but nobody knew how many probes there were. The navy might be killing them all, or it might be missing the majority. It was just as likely the Hive probes were looking for data on military numbers…

  They're mapping ships and our response, not planetary bodies…

  “Sir,” Sarah said, breaking into the bridge common channel.

  The bridge grew quiet a moment and only Captain Sheffaris spoke. “Lieutenant?”

  “They're mapping our flotillas, sir. Not the planets. Not the bases. Our ships.”

  “What do you mean mapping our ships?”

  “They're going to know how many probes they lose, and some of those they lose are going to give data on our ships before we destroy them. Even the fact that the probe was destroyed is valuable information. I think they're studying our response. That's why they jump in system with probes first.”