by M J Dees
The Swordsmen of Angetenar
Mastery of the Stars, Volume 5
M J Dees
Published by M J Dees, 2021.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
THE SWORDSMEN OF ANGETENAR
First edition. April 25, 2021.
Copyright © 2021 M J Dees.
Written by M J Dees.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
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CHAPTER 1: THE SECRET OF THE SATURNIANS
CHAPTER 2: THE SEARCH BEGINS
CHAPTER 3: FIGURES OF BLAZING LIGHT
CHAPTER 4: GIFTS
CHAPTER 5: THE SLAVE
CHAPTER 6: SILVER MARAUDERS
CHAPTER 7: BOTH SIDES ATTACK
CHAPTER 8: VICTORY AND TRAGEDY
CHAPTER 9: MEETING ON HERSE
CHAPTER 10: DEPARTURES
CHAPTER 11: STARSHIP SANCTUARY
CHAPTER 12: THE LAST ORDER
CHAPTER 13: THE GREAT ICE PLAGUE
CHAPTER 14: UNDER SIEGE
CHAPTER 15: UNDER THREAT
Still not ready to leave Sevan?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALSO BY M J DEES | Living with Saci
Living with the Headless Mule
The Astonishing Anniversaries of James and David: Part One
When The Well Runs Dry
Fred & Leah
Albert & Marie
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
COPYRIGHT
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CHAPTER 1: THE SECRET OF THE SATURNIANS
“Sevan, get up. Sevan, get up. Sevan, get up. Sevan, get up.”
Sevan rolled over.
“Sevan, get up. Get up, Sevan. Get up, Sevan, get up, Sevan. Sevan, get up.”
“Oh, what is it?” Sevan groaned.
“You asked me to tell you when we were approaching Lengiucarro,” said Ron, the navigational computer.
“Where?”
“Lengiucarro. We are approaching Lengiucarro.”
“Why? Why would we want to go to Len... whatever it’s called?”
“Lengiucarro.”
“Yes, that’s right. Why are we going there?”
“High Priest Brabin.”
“Who?”
“High Priest Brabin.”
“What high priest?”
“High priest of the Saturnians.”
“The who?”
“The Saturnians.”
“Who are they?”
“They worship a mythical system of Saturn.”
“Why would they want to do that?” Sevan sat up.
“You’d have to ask them that. Maybe you could ask High Priest Brabin.”
“Why are we going to see a high priest again?”
“They have a secret sideline in supplying false identities,” Ron sounded like he was getting bored with having to explain himself.
“Can’t be much of a secret if we know about it,” said Sevan, getting up. “Hold on. Why do we need false identities?”
“They classify you as ex-convicts by the Republic and cannot gain access to all spaceports in order to replenish supplies.”
“Oh, yes. It’s all coming back to me now. The trial, the acquittal, the rocket. I’ve a horrible feeling we are running out of pish. Tell me that was just a bad dream.”
“No, we are running out of pish.”
“What a nightmare! Whose idea was it to go to this planet...”
“Lengiucarro?”
“Yes, whose plan was that?”
“Ay-ttho.”
“Are you waking her up?”
“Have you lost your marbles?”
“Good point, better let her sleep. What about Tori?”
“On the bridge.”
“Okay, I’m going up there.”
When he arrived at the bridge, he saw Tori was looking glum.
“What’s the matter?” Sevan asked.
“I’ve been thinking about this plan to visit High Priest Brabin. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Ay-ttho and Brabin go back a long way. They used to work together.”
“Doing what?”
“They were thieves. Brabin taught Ay-ttho everything he knew, and there’s always been a rivalry in which they try to steal from each other.”
“You think Ay-ttho is going to steal from Brabin?”
“She might not be able to help herself. In my experience, once she starts, she finds it very difficult to stop. And that’s not all, look. Ron has detected several Republic patrol ships in the Lengiucarro system.”
“What are they doing here? We are well outside of Republic jurisdiction.”
“That won’t stop them from detaining us if they want to. If they have an excuse to arrest us, it will be a second offense and they’ll send us to Aitne prison asteroid for life.”
“But we didn’t commit the first crime.”
“That doesn’t make a difference to President Kirkland. He could have found us not guilty or pardoned us, but he chose not to.”
“So that’s why we are changing our identities?”
“Exactly, I just wish we could get them somewhere else other than Brabin.”
“You don’t trust me,” Ay-ttho stood in the doorway to the bridge.
“Do you trust yourself?” Tori asked. “You know what it’s like when you two get together. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.”
“You have little faith in me, Tori.”
“The Republic is here, Ay-ttho. You can’t risk it, we can get false identities elsewhere.”
“The Mastery of the Stars won’t make it elsewhere, we need those identities to get refuelled and restocked and repaired.”
“Just be careful,” Tori left the bridge.
“I don’t think he got enough sleep,” said Ay-ttho, watching Tori leave.
“So you used to go thieving with a high priest?” asked Sevan.
“He wasn’t a high priest then. And I wasn’t caught up in the rebellion against the Corporation. Look, we are coming up on Lengiucarro. Ron, ask for landing authorisation.”
The Master of the Stars docked in a hanger which stood above a large temple complex built into the side of a mountain.
“Do we need our suits?” asked Sevan.
“You’ll just need a face mask,” said Ay-ttho, handing one to him. “There is oxygen, but maybe not enough for us.”
Sevan followed Ay-ttho off the Mastery of the Stars into a stone courtyard, dominated by a large silver statue of the Saturnian’s god, the winged Chronos, seated on a chair and holding a knife. Descending stone steps at the far side of the courtyard was a creature which looked remarkably similar to the statue, with wings, two arms and legs and blue bug eyes set in a face surrounded with grey hair and topped with antennae. The creature carried a wooden staff.
“Ay-ttho!” the creature called out when it was still only halfway down the staircase.
“Brabin!” Ay-ttho also seemed pleased to see the creature.
“What brings you here to our temple and why have you not visited before?”
“I apologise, I have been caught up with other business. We are very low on supplies, our ship needs repairs and we need new identities, the Republic has convicted us of crimes we didn
’t commit.”
“Doesn’t it always,” Brabin laughed. “We are always innocent.”
“On this occasion we are.”
“Well, come and dine with us. I will send attendants to see to your ship and give you all the supplies you need. Is it just the two of you?”
“There is a third, Tori.”
“Tori is with you? By the grace of Saturn, how did you turn him?”
“I didn’t, we joined to fight the Corporation.”
Brabin laughed.
“Ay-ttho has become an idealist, will the wonders of Saturn never cease. Come, follow me, I will send for Tori, let us give him time to recover his pride, I expect he was not agreeable to the suggestion of coming here.”
“He was not.”
“Before we dine, let me show you something that might interest you.”
Brabin led them inside the temple building.
“In here,” Brabin gestured to the vast temple interior. “I have created the most impregnable vault in either the Republic or the outer regions.”
Ay-ttho’s antennae picked up.
“Inside is a treasure worth 250 billion credits,” Brabin continued. “It’s located under the mountain and guarded by Saturnians. There is only one way in or out; an airtight cylinder, anyone caught inside would be dead within units. Sensors line the route in and the vault itself contains hundreds of smaller vaults, and only I know which vault contains the treasure. Each vault requires the DNA identification of three individuals. The vault is sensitive to vibrations and is linked directly to Republic patrol ships. You may have seen some on your way here?”
“So, you are in bed with the Republic now?” Ay-ttho taunted.
“Some arrangements are beneficial.”
“So what do you keep in this vault?”
“Antimatter.”
“What’s the going rate for anti-matter, these rotations?”
“63 billion credits a unit.”
“So you have...”
“Almost four units, that’s right.”
“How do you store them?”
“They are in magnetic cylinders.”
“I’m sorry,” said Sevan. “But what is antimatter and why is it so expensive.”
“Put it this way, Sevan,” Ay-ttho explained. “With two of those cylinders, we could convert the Mastery of the Stars engines to matter-antimatter colliders.”
“I am none the wiser,” Sevan shrugged.
“We would never have to refuel,” said Ay-ttho, as if she was stating the obvious.
“Here is our dining hall,” said Brabin, leading them into an enormous space filled with tables occupied by creatures similar to Brabin and wearing similar robes. “I have another guest, let me introduce you to Braçilee.”
Brabin led them to a huge furry creature with a bulbous head. Like Ay-ttho and Sevan, she was wearing a respirator, which she removed to eat from a bowl of green plants.
“Braçilee is an Ized,” Brabin explained. “Voted nicest species in the galaxy three times running by Intelligence Chronicle.”
Sevan and Ay-ttho took seats next to Braçilee. Brabin sat opposite. Servers delivered bowls of green plants covered in a syrup like substance.
“Achh achh achh achh,” said Braçilee.
“She says the food here is the best in the galaxy,” Brabin translated.
Brabin lifted the bowl to the orifice that Sevan thought was his mouth and sucked in the contents of the bowl.
“What is it?” Sevan asked.
“It is the leaves and sap from a tree that only grows here on Lengiucarro.”
Ay-ttho was getting stuck into her bowl, so Sevan tried a little of his sap. It had a smokey flavour. The leaves had a pungent smell and tasted very bitter.
“Ach ach ach ach ach achh,” said Braçilee, watching Sevan wince at the bitterness.
“She says it’s best to eat the leaves and sap together,” Brabin explained. “They compliment each other.”
Sevan tried. It was true. The smokey sweetness of the sap really complemented the bitter leaves.
“Achh axg achh acg sch acgh acg?” Ay-ttho asked Braçilee.
“Ach accj accgj zchh scdh,” she responded.
Ay-ttho’s antennae picked up.
“I didn’t know you could speak...”
“Ized,” said Ay-ttho.
“It pays to know a lot of languages when you are a smuggler,” Brabin explained.
“Was a smuggler,” Ay-ttho clarified
“What did you ask her?” Sevan asked.
“I asked her what ship she had.”
“And?”
“Spiked fusion.”
“Is that good?”
“Might be.”
Ay-ttho’s responses were confusing Sevan, so he gave up.
“We will not finish servicing your ship until tomorrow so you will stay the night with us?”
“Of course, Brabin,” said Ay-ttho. “Your hospitality is unparalleled.”
“I like to think so.”
“I am enthusiastic about spending the night in your temple and exploring everything it offers.”
“I’m sure you are.”
Sevan observed Brabin. He saw that his skin had a purple tinge and that he had ears which were pointy.
“What you have to remember, Ay-ttho,” said Brabin. “Is that for a long time my people were imprisoned underground. When we achieved our liberty, we swore we would never again find ourselves in the position that had led to our subjugation. For this reason, we use any means necessary to secure our freedom, even if that means collaborating with the Republic.”
“So you keep the anti-matter for the Republic?”
“Just under half of it is theirs, the rest is mine.”
“Where did you get over a hundred billion credits worth of anti-matter?”
“My methods must remain secret, but its possession has ensured they have left us in peace.”
“So far.”
After their meal, Brabin showed them to their quarters. Very luxurious for a temple, Sevan thought. They had a large room each with comfortable furnishings and, most importantly, in Sevan’s view, a cabinet stocked with his favourite drink, pish.
Brabin wished them a good night and left them to their own devices. In Sevan’s case, this meant opening the pish cabinet. Ay-ttho waited for the coast to clear and then went for a walk, taking care not to be observed.
The next morning breakfast comprised more leaves and sap. Sevan liked it, but imagined it would become tiresome quickly. Braçilee was nowhere to be seen.
“She left very early this morning,” Brabin explained. “She seemed to be in a great hurry. I do not know why.”
Sevan could have sworn that Ay-ttho looked uncomfortable.
“And what about Tori?” he asked.
“He’s still refusing to leave the ship,” she explained.
“We have replenished your stock and made some essential repairs,” said Brabin.
“Thank you,” said Ay-ttho. “How can we ever repay you?”
“I’m sure you will find a way,” Brabin used the tone a High Priest uses when they wish to give the impression that they know more than they are saying.
Sevan saw the uncomfortable expression pass across Ay-ttho’s face once more.
When they had finished breakfast, Brabin accompanied them outside, down the stone steps and across the courtyard, past the giant silver statue of the winged Chronos towards Mastery of the Stars where Tori was waiting in the doorway.
A loud shrill alarm pierced the air and, before Sevan could realise what was happening, several Republic patrol ships had landed, surrounding them, Republic troops disembarked and pointed their weapons at Ay-ttho.
“What is going on?” Sevan asked.
“We charge you with stealing a magnetic cylinder of anti-matter,” a Republic officer accused Ay-ttho.
She reached into her suit and pulled out a shiny silver cylinder, holding it up for all to see.
CHAPTER 2
: THE SEARCH BEGINS
“As a second time offender, we will transport you to the Aitne penal asteroid where you will work until you die,” the Republic officer ordered.
“Stop!” shouted Brabin. “There has been a mistake, you have misunderstood. Ay-ttho has not stolen the cylinder of anti-matter. I gave it to her from my own personal store as a gift. Here you are, Ay-ttho, you have forgotten to take the other cylinder.”
Brabin held out another silver cylinder. He walked over to Ay-ttho and handed it to her. Ay-ttho took the cylinder despite looking very confused.
“I am sorry for your trouble, officer,” Brabin apologised. “I neglected to deactivate the security tags. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.”
“That’s alright, High Priest,” the officer laughed. “It’s nice to have a bit of excitement once in a while.”
The troops boarded their patrol ships and took off.
“You didn’t have to do that,” said Ay-ttho.
“I know,” said Brabin. “But I wanted to.”
Ay-ttho offered him the cylinders.
“Take them,” said Brabin, refusing to accept the cylinders.
“What? You can’t be serious, there are over one hundred billion credits worth of anti-matter here.”
“Use them to build your matter-anti-matter propulsion drive with the equipment you stole from Braçilee.”
“You knew about that?”
“Yes, I know everything that occurs in this temple.”
“But why are you helping me like this?”
“It is the work of Cronos, Ay-ttho. Use the anti-matter to do excellent work and leave your criminal past behind.”
“I’m so sorry, Brabin. I stole faster than light drive parts from Braçilee’s ship and then threatened her until she left. She now has a partially disabled ship. I need to find her and make amends.”
“That would be the correct thing to do. If you adapt your own drive to use anti-matter, you should have no problem catching her, if you can find her.”
“Thank you Brabin, I will make up for this, you’ll see.”
“I know.”
Ay-ttho and Brabin shook antennae, and then Ay-ttho rushed into the Mastery of the Stars.
“Come on,” she said. “We have to find Braçilee.”