The Swordsmen of Angetenar (Mastery of the Stars Book 5)

by M J Dees

  Sevan and Tori directed them to the cargo bays, pleased to see that they all carried bundles of bedding and food.

  Moments later, they observed a gigantic dust cloud rising on the horizon, behind which the last of Angetenar’s wealthy elite were leaving in their long range shuttles.

  As the cloud grew in size, Ay-ttho realised it was being created by a multitude of people running towards them. Ron confirmed that this was the case.

  “We can’t accommodate all of them,” said Ayttho. “Yor and Effeek’o, take your vessels into orbit, we’ll accept as many as we can and then leave.”

  “You might have a riot on your hands,” said Yor.

  “We can’t leave them all,” said Ay-ttho.

  “The ones that arrive first will be the fastest runners,” said Effeek’o. “Ironically, the most able to survive the asteroids. If only we could get the offspring and the weak, somehow.”

  “Let us worry about that,” said Ay-ttho. “Leave now.”

  Effeek’o did as she requested and took off, leaving the Mastery of the Stars to wait for the approaching masses.

  CHAPTER 14: UNDER SIEGE

  Ay-ttho began by allowing the first few arrivals straight onto the ship, but it became very clear soon that they would inundate them.

  “Shut the doors,” she told Ron, which he did, leaving an expectant crowd waiting outside. “Who do we allow on board?”

  “You should allow young partners,” said Tori. “They have a potential life of happiness with offspring ahead of them.”

  “We should allow those who have families elsewhere who can support them,” said Sevan.

  “Shouldn’t you allow any partners?” asked Ron. “Regardless of their age?”

  “What about all the sick?” said Ay-ttho. “We should take the ones to whom we can give medical attention.”

  “Whatever you decide, do it quickly,” said Ron. “We have little time before asteroid debris will hit the surface.”

  “Okay, ask the silver marauder staff to come and give them weapons, we will need them for crowd control. Ron, patch me through to the external speakers.”

  Ron did as she asked.

  “This is Ay-ttho, Captain of the Mastery of the Stars.”

  Tori and Sevan exchanged glances as if to say: ‘Who made her captain?’

  “We will begin boarding in a moment. In order to make boarding easier, we will board certain groups at a time. The first group we will board is offspring and their begetters. Any offspring that have not yet reached adulthood should approach the entrance gangway accompanied by their co-begetter and begetter. We will admit those with food and bedding first.”

  There was a great commotion outside as the multitude attempted to reorganise themselves.

  When the marauders were ready with their weapons, they opened the doors. Sevan, Tori and Ay-ttho stayed at the entrance to the ship while the marauders descended to organise the crowd.

  “There will not be much space left after we have accommodated this group,” Ron warned with a whisper to Ay-ttho on her personal communicator.

  “The next group to board,” Ay-ttho announced to the crowd. “Will be those in partnerships. We will admit those with food and bedding first.”

  There began another great re-arranging of the crowd, including many spontaneous proposals.

  “We cannot accommodate many more,” Ron warned.

  Ay-ttho summoned the marauders back to the ship.

  “Tell me when, Ron,” she asked.

  “We have space for four more couples.”

  Ay-ttho counted them in and then ordered Ron to shut the doors. The sight of the closing doors incited panic. Many tried to cling to the gangway as Ron withdrew it, and others attempted to climb onto the ship by any means they could find.

  “We should leave,” said Ron. “Fragments are already entering the atmosphere.”

  Ay-ttho went to the bridge while Sevan, Tori and the marauders attempted to organise the passengers in the hold.

  From the observation window, Ay-ttho could see asteroid fragments streaming through the atmosphere towards them. She could also see the chaos below as the multitude fought against itself to climb the ship. Some began stealing the hover taxis and sped off into the wastelands to escape the impact.

  “Let’s go,” said Ay-ttho.

  Ron fired up the engines and the Mastery of the Stars lifted off, those clinging to the sides falling off one by one.

  As they lifted into the sky, the asteroid debris struck. Within moments the city was on fire and several of the celestial missiles struck the crowd that had failed to board the ship.

  “There’s nothing more we could have done,” said Tori when he returned to the bridge. “The cargo decks are full.”

  “It was as fair as it could have been,” said Sevan. “The marauders are doing a good job of organising everyone.”

  “What is the expected effect of the impact Ron?”

  “The initial impact will create a vast fireball. Material thrown up by the impact will rain down as fireballs over a large area of the planet. The sky will look as if it has caught fire and the heat will burn anything combustible. Dust will block out starlight and plunge the planet into a winter. Any surface plants will die. Acid rain will kill marine organisms.”

  “Will anything survive?”

  “It’s possible, but we won’t know for many years.”

  The Mastery of the Stars met the ships of Yor and Effeek’o and distanced themselves from the planet.

  “Where are we going?” asked Effeek’o whose image flickered on the screen.

  “Herse is the nearest planet with a comparable atmosphere,” said Ay-ttho.

  “I don’t think we should take them to Herse,” said Yor, flickering on another screen.

  “Why not?” asked Scotmax.

  “Herse is a respectable planet, we don’t want to spoil it by dumping a load of refugees there.”

  “I bet that’s where the rich of Angetenar have fled to.”

  “But that’s different, they have credits. Refugees won’t be very welcome on Herse.”

  “He has a point,” said Tori. “There’s no point taking them to Herse if it is going to result in social unrest.”

  “We want to go to Herse,” said a voice from the entrance to the bridge.

  It was one of the hover taxi pilots that had brought the students from the temple of the Silver Marauders.

  “And you are?” asked Ay-ttho.

  “My name is Lien, I was a hover pilot and I am here as a representative of the refugees on board.”

  “On what grounds do you hold yourself up as a representative of the refugees? Have you held an election already?”

  “No, but...”

  “Sevan? Tori? Please select ten representatives from the refugees, we need a mix of age, gender and species. Have them meet me in the officer’s mess. Effeek’o? Yor? I will call you back as soon as we have assembled them.”

  Lien followed Sevan and Tori towards the cargo holds, harrowing them about who they should select.

  “I guarantee I will select no one that you propose,” Sevan told Lien. “And, if you continue to follow me, I will ensure that we exclude you from the meeting.”

  Lien reluctantly backed off.

  As Ay-ttho waited in the officer’s mess, one by one, the representatives Sevan and Tori had chosen, entered the room.

  “We don’t want to be here,” said some.

  “We don’t want to represent anyone,” said others.

  “That is exactly why you are here,” Ay-ttho explained. “Because you don’t seek power. That makes you the perfect representatives of your kind.”

  She glanced in the corner where Lien sat, representing the hover pilots.

  “We have gathered you here,” Ay-ttho explained. “Because there are differences of opinion where we should take you. The nearest hospitable planet is Herse, but there are concerns about how welcome you would be there. We are searching for a system with a hospitable
planet that is uncolonised for you to start afresh, but you must decide what you wish to do. Please return to those you represent, find out their views and return here in one unit.”

  “Can we not return to Angetenar?” one asked.

  “I’m afraid Angetenar will not be habitable for many years.”

  “Then we must go to Herse,” said another.

  “Speak with your communities first. Return here in one unit and we will decide.”

  The representatives left.

  “While you are waiting,” said Ron. “You might be interested that there has been a broadcast by Ydna Kirkland.”

  “Who is Ydna Kirkland?” asked Sevan.

  “She is the President’s partner.” Tori explained.

  “And this is important why?”

  “Do you not follow current events? Kirkland has gone to wage war on Zistreotov and while he’s away Ydna is in charge. Look, there she is.”

  Tori pointed to two figures that had just flickered into being on a monitor screen.

  “Who’s the other one?”

  “He’s Kcokaep, the President’s advisor. He helped to get Kirkland to go to war. Rumour has it he and Ydna have a thing going.”

  “You are such a gossip,” said Ay-ttho.

  “It is a sad day for all of us in the Republic,” Ydna spoke. “As you know, my partner and your president, Kirkland, is on his way to Zistreotov to reclaim the region for the Republic and restore order to that sector of the galaxy. The Zistreotoveans provoked his actions when they kidnapped Luap, my sister and the partner of the President’s co-beggoton, Sgniwef.”

  “I didn’t know that,” said Tori.

  “We have received news that, on the way to Zistreotov, our offspring... enemy forces killed Trebor in an incident in which he was trying to save his patrol. As a result, we will enter a period of mourning across the whole Republic.”

  “I wonder what happened,” said Tori when the image flickered to nothing but static.

  “Does it affect us?” asked Sevan.

  “It might,” said Ay-ttho. “Although Herse is technically in the outer regions, its inhabitants are very loyal to the Republic. If they are feeling extra patriotic, they might be less inclined to accept refugees from a system known for its insurgents and dissidents. Ron, call Effeek’o and Yor and let them know what we are doing. The patients with Effeek’o need to be represented too.”

  There was a commotion in the corridor as a crowd of refugees, not just their representatives, headed for the officers’ mess.

  Ay-ttho stood in the doorway.

  “What’s going on here?” she asked, as the crowd approached.

  “We demand you take us to Herse,” said one at the front.

  “You are not in a position to demand anything. If it wasn’t for us, you would be cooked flame dog. Where are your representatives?”

  “We didn’t choose our representatives.”

  “No, we did.”

  “That’s not democratic.”

  “This is not a democracy.”

  “You will let us choose our own representatives.”

  “You will return to the cargo hold or I will turn this ship around and deposit you all on Angetenar.”

  “You won’t do that.”

  “Watch me. Ron? Steep turn, take us back to Angetenar.”

  Ay-ttho, Tori and Sevan made sure they had something to hold on to as Ron banked the ship into a tight curve. It threw the protesters to the floor.

  “You can’t intimidate us,” said one of them getting back up.

  “I don’t intend to intimidate you. But if you don’t stay in the holds, I will lock you in.”

  “And if we refuse?”

  Ay-ttho drew her handheld weapon and pointed it at the crowd.

  Three of the crowd drew handheld weapons and pointed them at Ay-ttho.

  Sevan and Tori drew their weapons and pointed them back.

  The weaponless crowd shrank back.

  “Yor and Effeek’o are asking why we have turned round,” said Ron.

  “Stop the ship,” said Ay-ttho. “Tell them we have a problem. Masks on.”

  Ay-ttho, Tori and Sevan donned breathing masks.

  “What are you doing?” asked one of the armed protesters.

  “Now, Ron.”

  Gas entered the corridor, and the protesters collapsed before they could even think about shooting.

  “Ron, clear the gas and alert the marauders, let’s get these bodies back to the holds, then seal the holds,” Ay-ttho collected the weapons from the fallen protesters. “Then let’s meet back in the officers’ mess. We need to discuss the situation with Yor and Effeek’o.”

  “I think Herse is even less likely to accept them if they hear of their behaviour,” said Yor.

  “But who is going to tell them?” asked Ay-ttho.

  “I will. I will not let this rabble ruin my home.”

  CHAPTER 15: UNDER THREAT

  “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 Sonvaenope,” said Ron, the navigational computer.

  “Where?”

  “Sonvaenope. We are approaching Sonvaenope.”

  “Why? Why would we want to go to Son... whatever it’s called?”

  “Sonvaenope.”

  “Yes, that’s right. Why are we going there?”

  “We are going to deliver the refugees.”

  “What refugees?”

  “The refugees in the cargo holds.”

  “We have refugees in the cargo holds. How did that happen?”

  “We rescued them from Angetenar.”

  “We did? Why did we do that?”

  “Because their planet was being destroyed by asteroids.”

  “Really? That’s nice of us.”

  “Yes, and then Ay-ttho locked them in the hold for causing trouble.”

  “Oh, I better get up and see what else I missed while I was sleeping.”

  “President Kirkland has successfully overthrown Zistreotov, which is now part of the Republic.”

  “No, I meant what I missed on the ship.”

  Sevan dragged himself up to the bridge where he found Ay-ttho and Tori.

  “What did I miss?” he asked.

  “President Kirkland has overthrown Zistreotov. It is now part of the Republic,” said Tori.

  “No, I mean, what has happened on the ship.”

  “There has been trouble in the holds,” said Ay-ttho. “Thank the Giant Cup we are almost at Sonvaenope.”

  “What’s at Sonvaenope?” asked Sevan.

  “It was the nearest planet with a suitable atmosphere that didn’t have any other colonies they could upset.”

  “Oh, dear.”

  “I just hope they don’t tear each other apart when we leave them there,” said Tori.

  Yor and Effeek’o stayed in orbit while The Mastery of the Stars touched down on a vast grassy plain.

  “Open the cargo bay external door, Ron, and tell them to get out,” said Ay-ttho.

  The doors opened, and for a while, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the refugees emerged, clutching their meagre belongings. A group of children emerged on hover boards and raced each other around the plain.

  “Not the hover boards,” Sevan lamented.

  “I’ll get you some more,” said Ay-ttho.

  The refugees began emptying the cargo holds.

  “They’re taking everything,” said Sevan.

  “It’s okay,” Ay-ttho reassured him. “Yor promised us, if we follow him back to Herse, he will restock us there.”

  “And what about the patients?”

  “Effeek’o can’t leave them here. He’s going to bring them to Herse with us.”

  Before long, the refugees had amassed a mountain of supplies out
side. The Silver Marauders ensured that no-one was left in the cargo holds. Anyone too ill to leave the sick bay could stay.

  “Yor has agreed to negotiate hospital places on Herse for the sick,” said Ay-ttho.

  “They’ve plenty of resources to start a colony,” said Tori. “Do you think we should return their weapons?”

  “Don’t worry, there will have been plenty of weapons we didn’t know about.”

  Sevan wondered what kind of society they would build.

  “It would be interesting to visit them again,” he wondered aloud.

  “Feel free,” said Ay-ttho.

  Once they were sure they had unloaded all the refugees and resources, they closed the cargo bay doors and lifted off to join the other two ships in orbit.

  “I feel guilty leaving them all down there,” said Sevan.

  “Look at it this way,” said Tori. “They’ll have a better life here than they would have had on Angetenar and they can create the idealistic society they always dreamed of, now that they are free from the oppression of the rich over class.”

  “I suppose. It’s a shame the swordsmen aren’t here to see it.”

  “I’m here to see it,” the image of Scotmax flickered on a screen. “Nadio and I will monitor them. Now, let’s get you to Herse and get you restocked.”

  The three ships headed for the portal.

  Tori was looking glum.

  “What’s the matter?” Sevan asked.

  “I’ve been thinking about this plan to visit Herse. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “I was a Republic clone, there are a lot of retired Republic officers on Herse.”

  “So what?”

  “In case you have forgotten, the Republic is still hunting us. What if one of them recognises me?”

  “But you are a clone, don’t you all look the same?”

  “You miners are clones and you don’t look all the same, do you?”

  “No.”

  “And Ay-ttho was a Corporation Security Clone and you can tell the difference between her and other Corporation Security clones, can’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s because, when Barnes created us, he included deliberate differences, such as modifying skin colour to instil, deliberately, prejudice in the respective communities.”