Shadow Sun Progression: Shadow Sun Book Four

by Dave Willmarth

  While he’d been talking, Allistor pulled up his Quest tab again and offered the elf a quest to do what he was planning to do anyway. Smiling, he sent it over. A moment later, L’olwyn actually chuckled. “Very good, sire. I shall endeavor to accomplish the task in a timely manner.”

  “Take your time, my friend. My mother loved to garden. I think the attraction for her was more about the peaceful hours she spent tending the plants, and less about what actually grew. Enjoy yourself. I’m off to talk to Harmon about buying defense satellites for Earth.”

  The elf froze, his eyes widening. “That would be… premature.” He made his clippers disappear into his inventory and turned toward his employer. “You were able to install the system on Orion as its Emperor and sole planetary authority. Here, you are simply a Planetary Prince. And though you are the only one on Earth at the moment, putting such a system in place would be overstepping the boundaries of your authority.”

  Allistor hadn’t considered that. He was so used to the other leaders he’d encountered following his lead, or being killed… “I suppose the system would consider that as me somehow trying to limit settlement of Earth?”

  “Very likely, yes. Also, it is not only common for the Council of a planet’s Princes to discuss and approve such an undertaking, but to share in the cost.” The elf’s smile barely missed being condescending. “Such a network is designed to encompass an entire planet, after all.”

  “Thank you, L’olwyn. I clearly have much to learn. I’ll put this issue on the back burner for now, and move on. Also, thank you for your assistance in locating class trainers for us. Master Longbeard told me all of you pitched in.”

  “It is my pleasure to serve, sire. Allistor.” The elf blushed slightly. He was starting to relax around Allistor and the others, but his reserved and formal nature were deeply ingrained.

  A question occurred to Allistor, but he was immediately hesitant to ask the elf, remembering his status as unhoused. After a few seconds, he decided to just go for it.

  “One other thing, L’olwyn. As I’m sure you’re aware, Master Longbeard has recruited a significant number of dwarves to join us here in Invictus. And we have tens of thousands of beastkin already. I’m told that Selby is considering inviting some of her family, assuming I live through the next few months. I hope I don’t offend you by asking if there’s anyone you’d like to invite as well?”

  The elf’s eyes lowered immediately, as did his hands. His normally perfect posture sagged slightly. “As you know, other than my ship’s crew, none of my House survive.”

  “Yes, and I’m sorry if it pains you to discuss it. I just thought there might be…” Allistor paused, then rephrased. “I wanted you to know that you’re welcome to invite friends or… whomever you think might be a good fit, and willing to join us. I didn’t want you to feel left out.”

  L’olywn continued to keep his gaze lowered. His voice was thicker and slightly raspy when he responded. “I appreciate the thought, and the gesture, Allistor. Truly. I shall… consider it.” He produced the clippers from his inventory again. “If you have no further immediate needs, I should like to make a little more progress here before I rejoin Master Longbeard and the others in the trainer recruiting efforts.”

  “Certainly. I’m sorry to have interrupted. I hope tending this garden brings you the same peace it brought my mom. Have a good day, L’olwyn.” Allistor turned around and headed back to his own lobby, his reason for visiting Harmon now moot. He felt bad for… how did that guy in one of his favorite old vids put it? Harshing the elf’s mellow. Which is why he didn’t ask about auctioning bits of Orion. It could wait.

  Back inside, he returned to his usual spot and called out to his ever-present AI. “Nigel, you heard my discussion with Master Longbeard about housing and other facilities for the class trainers?”

  “Of course, sire. Would you like me to repeat some of it back to you?”

  Allistor shook his head. “No, I remember it well enough, thank you. I was wondering if you had a blueprint for the type of facility he described. Some combination of housing and training facilities? I’m assuming they would include some fighting arenas, open spaces for shooting and spell casting, reinforced rooms in case of explosive enchanting experiments, that kind of thing?

  “I have three options that fit my understanding of your needs. If you’d like to return to the conference room with the pedestal, I can display holograms for you.”

  “Great! I’ll uhh… meet you in the conference room.” Allistor felt silly even as he said it. Nigel was everywhere, all the time. “Would you ask Longbeard if he has time to meet with me as well?”

  Allistor headed for the elevators, and by the time he rode up to the conference room floor, Longbeard was already waiting for him. The offices and quarters the analysts had claimed were only two floors down.

  The two of them sat at the table, and Nigel displayed a blueprint above its surface.

  “This first option is actually a military compound, but quite closely fits your needs. It features one or more barracks buildings, within which the size and function of the residential rooms can be adjusted. There is a wall around the entire complex, which also includes a large kitchen and mess hall, armory, medical facilities, and several combat arenas.”

  Allistor studied the hologram that rotated slowly in front of him. It looked like some of the gladiator ludus he’d seen in movies, rather than any modern military complex. He thought it was kind of cool. Looking through the hologram, he saw Longbeard nodding his head in approval.

  “This is cool, but it may be that some or all of these trainers will have families, or just won’t want to live in a barracks. What else have you got, Nigel?”

  The hologram went dark for a moment, and the ludus design was replaced with a much larger display.

  “This one is actually a design for a guild or crafter’s village. There is a central square surrounded by shops that could be converted to small training facilities for more… sedate class activities or skill training. Surrounding the central square are concentric rings or blocks of individual housing units. This could also be modified to more dense residential structures like apartment buildings if space is limited. Large outdoor combat arenas, shooting ranges, and similar components can be added in at will. And, of course, the entire village can be surrounded by a wall.”

  Allistor liked this one much better. The small town aesthetic appealed to him. “Very nice, Nigel. I suspect this is what we’ll go with, but you have another one to show us, right?”

  Once again the display changed. This time Allistor was seeing a large dome. After a few seconds, their perspective zoomed in through the surface of the dome to reveal its contents.

  “This one is generally used in contested territories where attacks by enemy factions are likely. Class trainers are a resource that must be protected. Failure to do so can negatively impact a faction’s reputation considerably. Toward that end, this structure features a reinforced dome with more extensive defensive measures on the exterior. The interior generally only accommodates one or two large, open spaces or arenas for combat training. The housing is built up against the lower surfaces of the dome itself, much like your design of the Stadium Stronghold. Space is at a premium, and your hundred plus trainers would likely need to share training facilities with those of similar or complimentary classes.”

  Longbeard nodded his head. “Aye, buildin’ underground, or in this case under a dome, makes fer tighter quarters. Ye make the dome too big, it be less sound. Ye could easily expand the available space by creatin’ a second level under the first.”

  Allistor shook his head. “I don’t think we need to go to all this trouble, do you? After all, these trainers will be our citizens, not guild contractors. And I’ll protect them in good faith, just as well as the rest of my people. With shield domes and anti-aircraft batteries and such.”

  Longbeard chuckled. “Aye, ye do tend to go all out when it comes to defense. I agree the dome be overk
ill. At least fer the current situation. If ye were to, for example, annoy the Or’Dralon… well then I’m doubtin’ a dome would help ya anyway!”

  “So I think we’ll go with option two.” Allistor tried to ignore the idea of an attack by the powerful elven faction he’d already angered once. “And let’s say we include housing for… five hundred. There will be a hundred and fifty or so trainers to start, but we will surely need more in the future. And there should be room for support people. Shop keepers, cooks, healers, crafters, I don’t know what else.” He looked at the dwarf. “Master Longbeard I’ll need a list from you of which trainers are coming alone, or with families, and how many in those families. So that we can be sure to construct proper houses to fit their needs.”

  “Ye need to think larger, Allistor. Ye be runnin’ a whole planet, plus a large chunk o’ this one already. I expect that’ll grow, based on what ye’ve done so far. The size ye propose be fine fer now. But leave yerself room to expand. Or create more than one compound.”

  “Speaking of room to expand, where should I put this thing? I don’t think here in the city would be wise. I mean, all the hunter and ranger type classes would need a forest nearby to train in, right?”

  “And the alchemists will need to find and harvest herbs and other ingredients. Ye could grow em inside the walls, but that’d take more space.” Longbeard stroked his beard. “If there be a place near mountains or a mine, that’d help as well. Both fer trainin’ and for resource gatherin’. Yer crafters will need materials ta train with.”

  “Well, the first place that comes to mind is the Wilderness Stronghold. Deep in the forest, near the mountains. But I doubt Master Daigath would appreciate all the explosions and people running around his home gathering herbs and shooting animals for crafting bits.” Allistor thought it over for a while. “I’ll talk to Helen. She’s my minister of parks n stuff, she should know a good spot. And I like your idea of having more than one compound. We could have training rooms and residences reserved for visiting trainers, and let them move around some. I still plan to take them traveling with me to visit other human survivors. Maybe some of the larger human settlements, or friendly off-world factions, will get the same idea and hire trainers that might travel to visit us.”

  Allistor was getting excited about the prospect of training up all his people. Making the human race in general stronger, and better prepared, would speed up his plans to take the fight to the aliens who’d nearly wiped humans from the face of the earth. Just the few spells Daigath had taught him already had made a huge difference in the last battle.

  “Master Longbeard, you mentioned before that you thought most of the dwarves would want to settle on Earth. Is that still true? And if so, will they want their own separate community? Or would they be willing to mingle with us humans and beastkin, join some of the existing communities?”

  “I’ll make sure me own family spreads out a bit. You humans are a bit strange, but friendly enough.” He winked at Allistor. “But I be thinkin’ most o’ the others would prefer a community o’ their own, at least to start. We can work on integrating them over time.”

  “Alright, then if you can stay for a short while, we’ll get Helen up here and discuss locations.”

  Longbeard just nodded, getting up and heading for the door. “Be back in a jiffy. I’ll just be poppin’ down to visit lady Meg n beg some o’ them tasty pastries. Can I bring ye some back?”

  “Always.” Allistor grinned. Fuzzy snorted his agreement, getting up to follow the dwarf. The bear never missed an opportunity to visit the kitchen. “Nigel, could you ask Helen to join us if she’s not busy?”

  “Of course, sire.” Nigel answered as the village concept hologram reappeared above the table. A moment later, it shrank to half size and another hologram appeared next to it. This one showed a map of the former United States, with green highlights indicating each of Allistor’s parks and properties. Seeing it visualized in this way, he was surprised by the sheer quantity of land he was responsible for. Something regarding the parks niggled at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

  Helen and Longbeard got off the elevator together and joined him. She already had a half-eaten scone in hand. Using her elbow to point toward the dwarf, she said “I like this guy. Every time I see him, there’s treats!”

  They took a seat, and she got right to the point. “Beardy here told me what you’re looking for on the ride up.” Longbeard gave her a sideways glance for calling him Beardy, as she looked up at the holo-map and her eyebrows bunched together for a moment. “There are lots of parks in the mountains. The biggest and most obvious being Yellowstone. But that one is, you know, basically a giant volcano. That’s actually how I thought our world was going to end. Massive eruption, ash cloud covers the earth, blocks out the sun…”

  “Uh, okay. That’s terrifying.” Allistor interrupted her.

  Longbeard chuckled. “Do no’ worry, Allistor. Me people can work with ye to relieve the pressure in a volcano. We can even make use o’ the stored power ta run mining or manufacturing operations. We’ll not let our new home perish so easily.”

  “Okay, good. Does that mean your people would like Yellowstone? It has mountains, forests, fields, natural springs… though I’m told it does get very cold in the winter.”

  “That would seem to be a likely option.” The dwarf mused. “Be it large enough for several thousand of me people?”

  Helen snorted. “Nigel, please zoom in on Yellowstone.” The hologram obligingly adjusted the display so that the park filled most of the image. The nearly square park in the upper left corner of Wyoming began to show its mountain ridges, rivers and lakes. Longbeard’s eyes widened as Helen added, “It’s roughly two million acres, so you tell me.”

  “Haha! Aye, that be just enough.” He winked at her. “If ye’ll let me do some explorin’ with a few o’ me cousins, we can select a proper location in a day or two.”

  Allistor said, “Take one of the goblin colony ships we captured. That way you can load it up with supplies, droids for security, one of the juggernauts, whatever you need. When you establish a location, we’ll create a Citadel, install a teleport pad, and so on. If you need a pilot…”

  Helen interrupted. “Actually, I’d like to go. I’ve been studying under Kira, and I can pilot one of those ships now. Assuming Gene and his guys have labeled the controls in English, and put in proper sized seats. Unless you need me for something the next couple days?”

  Allistor was slightly jealous. He hadn’t learned how to pilot anything other than airplanes so far. And he kind of wanted to tag along himself. He loved the idea of exploring the majestic park, of getting away for a couple days and creating a new home for the dwarves. “Nope. Well, except before you leave, we need to select a location for the class trainer village.”

  The three of them returned their gazes to the map, and Helen pulled a few of the park service books from her inventory. They began to discuss locations and their features as described in her books. The map was surprisingly detailed, and a question arose in Allistor’s mind.

  “Nigel, these maps. Where did you get them?”

  “Alpha from Phoenix, and the other ships’ AI’s, shared their data with me, sire. I have complete scans of the planet’s surface. Minister Helen provided the information on the parks. Thanks to the orbital defense satellites, and the survey that Master Longbeard shared with me, I have even more detailed information on Orion.”

  Allistor leaned forward. “Nigel… can you use the images you have of Earth to locate likely human settlements?” There was a pause, and the holo-image shifted to a representation of the globe.

  “I do not have detailed scans of Earth, but the goblin ship that you captured in Cheyenne did complete a few passes above the planet under cover of night before landing. I have located several places where significant light sources were detected, implying human habitation at that time. Without a more complete scan by one or more of our ships, that is
the best I can do.” The globe lit up with hundreds of points of light, mostly north of the equator. Allistor’s Stronghold locations, minus those in New York, showed up among the others.

  “Master Longbeard, I spoke with L’olwyn this morning about my intent to place defense satellites around Earth. He informed me that I would be exceeding my authority if I did so. But what if I were to place a sensor satellite of some kind? One that could scan the planet?”

  “Aye, that would be within yer rights as a Prince. As long as it has no offensive capabilities, the System will no’ object.”

  Allistor’s excitement was building! Now he could put in place a means to locate other human settlements. Or friendly alien settlements, for that matter. He was about to take one more step toward uniting the human race!

  Chapter 13

  Allistor left Helen and Longbeard to plan their trip after they’d agreed upon a location for the trainer’s community. He was tentatively calling it Skill School, a name which nobody else liked so far. After authorizing Helen to create a Citadel on Yellowstone, and making sure she and Longbeard would take along sufficient resources that the system would allow it, he was going to take his own little adventuring party and go establish the Skill School.

  But first, he was headed back across the courtyard to see Harmon.

  Stepping into the shop, he was greeted by Scrit, the same imp that had escorted him on his last visit. The little creature bowed deeply, one arm behind its back and the other sweeping outward in front of him, just as before. “Welcome, great Prince, to our humble establishment. How may we serve?”

  “I’d like to talk to Harmon so I can give him a whole bunch of money?” Allistor ventured, watching for the little imp’s reaction.