What Needs Defending Read online

  Welcome Back to the Abh Empire!

  Welcome “back”?

  Yes — to fully enjoy Banner of the Stars, you need to read the three-volume Crest of the Stars first. (It’s soon to be out in print omnibus form!) It explains the ins and outs of the fictional future MORIOKA has crafted, as well as our protagonists’ backgrounds and shared bond. More to the point, it’s a great story, and worth your time.

  For those of you who have read Crest, but would like a refresher:

  Whenever a vocab word of the Abh language, “Baronh,” appears, it will be in italics (with the English meaning in parentheses). Whenever that particular word appears again past the first time in the original text, it will be replaced with its English-meaning counterpart in bold (but won’t be bolded if the word didn’t have the Baronh for it next to it in the original text). This is to make sure the book is accessible without losing some of that lovely “conlang” (constructed language) flavor! That being said, if a Baronh word has already been introduced in the English version of Crest, it won’t be reintroduced in Banner. This translation assumes you have read Crest.

  Baronh words are spelled weirdly. The character whose English-language spelling is “Lafier” is spelled Lamhirh in Baronh (“mh” makes an “f” sound, and the “rh” is actually a rolling “r”). Ghintec, meanwhile, is pronounced “Jint” (as the “c” and “ec” at the ends of many nouns are silent). This translation will largely be making use of accessibility-spellings for character names. Having to constantly remind oneself “Lamhirh” is pronounced LAFEERR would probably prove a tad immersion-breaking for some readers.

  Banner of the Stars is ongoing (its sixth volume having been released in 2018), and according to MORIOKA, Crest of the Stars was something of an introductory primer to this, the “story proper.” Each volume of Banner is its own episode, a snapshot in the lives of our protagonists at a certain point in the grueling decades of galactic warfare. As such, please know that unlike the individual volumes of Crest, Volume I of Banner is a self-contained story in addition to being a part of an overarching saga. Pick it up and read at your leisure!

  We join our protagonists three years after the main events of Crest, in the year 955 I.H. (Imperial History)...

  “Just this once, I shall grant the right to refuse, for though the structure you are to build would be necessary to defend the lives of our brethren, it is also an abomination.”

  “No, I shall do it. It would be enough for me if you could, in your magnanimity, see to it that my name is not preserved for posterity.”

  “...Very well. The name to be tarnished shall be my own.”

  ・Excerpt of a conversation between the 11th Emperor, Dugnac, and an anonymous figure

  “If you don’t go to sleep, I’ll have the Abh take you away.”

  ・Traditional parental threat used on the planet of Lesh in the Archduchy of Rapohk

  “I won’t say ‘go to hell’ is meaningless... After all, there’s no way you weren’t expelled from the pit yourself. Bastards like you oughta slide straight to the Abh Hell!”

  ・Excerpt from a play entitled “Kevin and Cshatoria”

  BANNER OF THE STARS II: What Needs Defending

  Synopsis of BANNER OF THE STARS I

  In order to take back the star systems and planets annexed by the Three Nations Alliance (with the United Humankind at its head), the Humankind Empire of Abh launched a large-scale military strategy named Operation Phantom Flame. Amidst the large armada formed for that operation was a ship named the Basrogrh, which the royal princess of the Empire, Lafier, boarded alongside Jint.

  Lafier and Jint’s first official battle ended with them narrowly escaping with their lives when the first iteration of the Basrogrh exploded, but the overwhelming victor of the grand clash at the Aptic Portal-Sea was the Empire.

  After being ordered to serve as temporary Lady Agent of the conquered Aptic System and fulfilling her role without incident, Lafier was assigned to the new Basrogrh that arrived from the imperial capital, again alongside Jint.

  Characters

  Lafier (Lamhirh)

  ... Captain of the assault ship Basrogrh, and the Empress’s granddaughter.

  Jint (Ghintec)

  ... Clerk on the Basrogrh, and the Count of Hyde.

  Sobash (Sobach)

  ... Navigator on the Basrogrh.

  Ecryua (Aicryac)

  ... Gunner and Communications Officer on the Basrogrh.

  Samson (Samsonn)

  ... Inspector Supervisor on the Basrogrh.

  Doosanyuh (Dusanh)

  ... Crown Prince of the Abh Empire, and the Imperial Fleet Commander-in-Chief.

  Kenesh (Cénéch)

  ... Overall Chief of Staff of the imperial armada.

  Neleth (Nélaith)

  ... Commander-in-Chief of Hunter Fleet 4.

  Nefeh (Néféc)

  ... Chief of Staff of Hunter Fleet 4.

  Sporr (Sporh)

  ... Commander-in-Chief of Hunter Fleet 1.

  Cfadiss

  ... Chief of Staff of Hunter Fleet 1.

  Georr Maydeen

  ... Chief Executive of the planet Lohbnahss II.

  Yuri Dohkfoo

  ... Representative of the Lohbnahss II Central Correctional Center.

  Lara Bay Shungarr

  ... Representative of the Lohbnahss II West Correctional Center.

  Meekeh Anguson

  ... Representative of the Lohbnahss II East Correctional Center.

  Prologue

  At the moment, he wanted nothing more than to groom the short fur characteristic of so-called Abh cats.

  The place? An area of the Royal Palace of Clybh named the Camhac Deucer — the Cats’ Refectory, where they were always provided with the most sumptuous fish and meat, and where order was maintained to perfection by that venerable elder of a fellow cat, Horia.

  His stomach was filled to bursting, and he was feeling moderately torpid. Life was great. And at times like these, his fur wouldn’t stand on end even if humans or other cats drew close, which was why his temper remained as even as ever as the young human male approached. And though the human’s embrace was sudden, it was not unpleasant.

  “That must be you, Dyaho,” he said, tranquilly stroking the cat’s head.

  Everyone who lived here in the Royal Palace of Clybh knew how to handle their feline compatriots, and the young male was no exception. Dyaho’s general listlessness wavered just long enough for him to purr the purr of unadulterated satisfaction.

  Pointed ears poked out from underneath the male’s indigo blue hair. His jet-black eyes were trained someplace far away, while his striking facial features (which could always pass as those of a beautiful maiden) were tinged by the melancholy of the moment.

  Dyaho remained in the male’s arms for what seemed a long while, as the male never made to release him, so the cat began squirming.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were uncomfortable.” Yet he still opted not to let him down. Instead, he started stroking him even more gingerly, on the throat. As a result, Dyaho’s worldly cares abated, and he began to purr anew.

  “Has any thought crossed your mind as to what His Excellency the Count of Hyde is up to right now?” he spoke.

  The world of cats was too rooted in the pragmatic to comprehend a title like Dreuc Haïder, but perhaps due to his inborn intuition, Dyaho was dimly aware that the male might be referring to his one-time housemate. And yes, the housemate’s whereabouts did weigh on his mind a tad bit. Was he getting his fill of prey? Was he successfully defending his territory? Unsurprisingly for a cat, however, Dyaho didn’t make a habit of worrying about faraway humans.

  “Are you bidding the cats farewell, Duhier?”
spoke a second, different voice.

  Before Dyaho knew it, another human male was here in the Cats’ Refectory, standing nearby. And this male’s gait smacked of the human whom this room was originally meant for.

  The boy named “Duhier” turned around, and grinned. “Why ever did you think I was here?”

  “I was right, was I not, my son?” the male adult smiled back. “You oughtn’t take your father so lightly.”

  “I never have.”

  “Good, then.” He proceeded with effortless poise to grab Dyaho by the scruff and snatch him out of Duhier’s arms.

  As far as Dyaho understood things, this man was of the highest esteem in the pecking order of the Royal Palace. Most of the humans here addressed him as Fïac Lartr: His Highness the King.

  “This is the cat that Lafier gave the Count of Hyde, if I’m not mistaken?”

  “Yes. He is Dyaho.”

  Then, when Horia rubbed herself against his leg, the King let Dyaho free and caressed the aging cat’s throat.

  “I can’t say I approve, Lartsoc (Prince). While he may have been born in our manor, Dyaho was only left here temporarily by the Count. We can’t treat him like our own. I do not wish to be called a cat thief.”

  “I don’t wish for that, either,” he said, taken aback. “It’s just, he was by Lafier’s side, so...”

  The King raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So?”

  “I mean, uhh...” Duhier became tongue-tied.

  “I see you’re struggling to put it into words, sareucenonn (clever one).” The King rose to his feet and looked into Duhier’s eyes. “Am I wrong to assume something is troubling you? And I think that in your shyness, you sought to consult not with a human, but with a member of a species that’s not quite as talkative. An animal that’s accompanied Lafier.”

  “That isn’t it,” said the boy, his lips pursed tightly.

  “Hmm...” The King stared at Duhier’s lips, and suddenly laughed.

  “You and Lafier share the same reaction whenever I hit the bull’s-eye, oh steel heart.”

  “No, I swear! I was just wondering how Lafier is faring, so I thought I’d strike a conversation with Dyaho, who’s like a living memento.”

  “If you have Lafier on the mind, she’s currently been foisted with serving as the Lady Agent of yet another territory-nation, and it seems she’s disgruntled to no end by it.”

  “That, I know.”

  “Right. Those tidings reached you as well.” The King chuckled. “But you share another trait with her — you’re a poor liar.”

  “I am not lying, Father.”

  “You’d best concede defeat and confess.”

  The boy breathed a sigh. “I... I’m not like her.”

  “I thought that might be the source of your distress. Now out with it: What difference between you two has you so concerned?”

  “Father!” Clearly he wished to object, but then he thought better of it. “...When she was my age, she was already a trainee starpilot. Meanwhile, I’m only just about to enter an academy.”

  “So you’re worried about lagging behind her?”

  “Yes...” Duhier nodded. “On top of being born after her, I’m beginning academy life later than she did, too...”

  “There’s no need to fret over it. She’s special, that’s all. I, too, was enrolled into academy life at your age.”

  “But...”

  “What? Are you dissatisfied with being on par with your father? Remember, even being about average among Imperials is elegant in itself. The King ruffled the boy’s indigo blue hair. “You and Lafier are different people. If you and your sister grew up exactly the same way, then what would be the fun of being a parent, nadaugec (dear child)?”

  “But I’m not just ‘different.’ I can’t compete with her. She’s obviously just better than me.” His manner of speaking couldn’t conceal his stubborn streak.

  “You are wrong, Secasiac Ablïarser (Hope of the Abliars),” he said, shaking his head. “I may have indulged myself too much with her. It seems the amount of fun I had raising her equaled the amount that she resented me for it. That is the reason she strove to ‘come of age’ and gain her qualifications so quickly. I do reflect on my actions from time to time, and when it came time to raise you, I did so a little less flippantly.”

  “I tried to come of age as early as she managed to, as well.”

  “Which means you acknowledge you are not yet of age, asaugec (small one). Don’t preoccupy yourself with self-evaluations until after you have come of age. Whether or not you make me proud will be determined down the line.” He ruffled Duhier’s hair once more.

  “But...”

  “Yes? What?”

  “No... it’s nothing,” he shook his head. “I’ll work hard to make you proud of me, Father.”

  “As well you should. I’m glad I was able to chat with you like this. We might not have much opportunity to talk much from here on out.”

  “We won’t be that far,” said the boy, another little smile playing across his mouth. “While it’s true that once I’ve entered the academy, I won’t be able to return here very frequently, we’ll still both be in Lacmhacarh.”

  “Have you forgotten that I have returned to active duty? In fact, it appears I must make for the warfront sooner rather than later.”

  “Will you be in the field of battle?”

  “Why the look of surprise? Did you honestly think I’d be content to sit here with my thumb in my mouth while sending just my children to fight?”

  “No, of course not...”

  “So you understand. But do enjoy your feline farewell tonight. Tomorrow there won’t be any time to, with all the preparations and the feast and such.” And just as quietly as he’d entered the room, the King departed, with the boy staring at his back as he headed through the exit.

  Duhier scooped Dyaho into his arms a second time. “Father... am I not just my sister’s shadow...?” His arms squeezed Dyaho tight. The cat, for his part, could sense the boy’s somber and serious mood, but he had no way of answering his query, so he played it off with a small meow.

  Chapter 1: The Ciïoth Lobnasr (Lohbnahss Star System)

  The most powerful empire in human history was at present, expanding its sphere of influence even farther. In the year 955 I.H., the Humankind Empire of Abh tore a line through United Humankind territory via the Operation Phantom Flame. That same year, the Imperial Star Forces, having concluded that strategy with aplomb, moved to the next. They would now focus on squashing disturbances in isolated, helpless sectors. And the name of that mission was “Blaigh (Hunter).”

  It was, in actuality, nothing more than the military attending to a backlog of sorts. The two rabbit holes (Portal 193 of Caysh and Portal 882 of Seev) that led to one of the Empire’s regions, the Ileesh Monarchy, had already been divided from the hub of the enemy by Operation Phantom Flame. It was only a matter of time before the United Humankind “Peacekeepers” that occupied that portion of the Empire would fall to pieces. In any case, in order to enact the new operation, the Imperial Fleet Commander-in-Chief (aka Imperial Admiral) cum Crown Prince of the Empire cum King of Barkeh, Ablïarsec Néïc Lamsarr Larth Barcœr Dusanh, dissolved the Phantom Flame Fleet he’d commanded, only to reorganize it as the Byrec Blaigr (Hunter Fleet).

  The fleet flagship Sancaü was currently moored at one of the new territory-nations of the Empire, the Lœbehynh Darmaper (Darmap Marquessate). Up until that point, the main planet of the now-marquessate had been called Darmap IV, but the Abh took no account of the residents in naming the planet “Saibac” among themselves. Of course, the people living there hadn’t cottoned onto the fact that their planet had been rechristened; since land peoples and the Empire not calling the same celestial bodies by the same names was common enough, the Star Forces neglected to inform the residents.

  The planet Saibac had such a large moon, that it was perhaps appropriate to call the two twin planets. That moon was also given a new name: Mutilaubh.
In orbit around Mutilaubh were thronged many a Star Forces ship and facility, including the patrol ship Sancaü. And recreation facilities were being constructed within the lava tunnels that ran the length and breadth of Mutilaubh’s underground, leaving this space as the Abh campsite. Whether to make the place a permanent military base in the future was currently under discussion.

  Dusanh sat upright in his Commander-in-Chief’s Seat and gazed at the tide-of-battle diagram. At this state of the game, there wasn’t much the Crown Prince could do, and he welcomed that fact. That he wasn’t very busy meant the strategy was proceeding smoothly, and moreover, he did have his less sedulous side.

  On the diagram, half of the sector, which had been named the Blaighac (Hunters’ Battlefield), was colored in blue, representing the zone the Star Forces already controlled.

  One of the thornier problems of interstellar war was how slowly information and messages reached their destinations. When information did arrive, it was processed and brought before Dusanh instantly, but it still took time for news from the front lines to roll in, since the fastest way to port information from star system to star system was via conveyance ship. Presently, there was a time gap of 317 hours between this point and the farthest front. It took around thirteen days for reports to make their way to the command center, and another thirteen days for orders to make it the opposite way. Command couldn’t even be sure if it was still, in fact, a 317 hour gap.

  Just then, a conveyance ship came through the sector, a development reflected by the diagram. The protruding arm of the blue zone stretched yet further into the red-colored enemy zone.

  Twelve fleets had been sent to take over the Hunters’ Battlefield. And the zone occupied by Byrec Gona Blaigr (Hunter Fleet 4) was jutting so far into enemy territory that it could spell trouble.

  “Fleet 4 is helmed by Commodore Biboth, of whom I know you’re fond,” Dusanh teased his Chief of Staff, Star Forces Admiral Kenesh.