The Ties that Bind Read online

  When the Premier paused for breath, the commander simply grinned. From her venom-red lips, came cordial words of encouragement. “Please, try your best.”

  Confusion crept on Tallas’s face. He opened his mouth to reply, but she paid no heed and cut the transmission.

  “I feel sorry for the Premier; he spoke so passionately, but it was just such tedious tripe.” Then Commodore Sporr Arohn Sekpaht Penezh, Archduchess of Laitpanh, stood up from her seat.

  “Chief of Staff, was there any change in the situation while I was busy listening to the man?”

  “The astrospace of Aptic III has been totally secured,” reported Cfadiss. “Seventy percent of the fuel of the antimatter fuel factory by Aptic’s sun has been taken. Furthermore, our own ïodh hoca (mobile antimatter fuel factory) has already completed 62% of its projected deployment. The tymh (propellant refueling station) to be set up on Aptic VI has gotten 0.17% of the way there, it seems the propellant refueling station’s installation will take the longest amount of time, at around 218 hours hence...”

  “So it’s all going according to plan,” Sporr cut in.

  “Yes.”

  “From now on, you can just say ‘nothing’s changed.’ Don’t you agree it would be best if you learned how to get through things in life more concisely?”

  “Understood. I’ll be careful from now on,” Cfadiss nodded grudgingly.

  “Oh, you’re no fun, Chief of Staff,” Sporr frowned.

  What does she even want out of me? Why am I here? Cfadiss lamented inwardly, his mind turning once again to working out the contents of that letter of transfer.

  Naturally, he didn’t actually expect to be able to send out a letter of transfer in reality.

  According to Star Forces tradition, a superior could not bury a subordinate’s transfer request. After all, a starpilot who didn’t want to be there was just a liability. In addition, the higher-ups could use the knowledge of how well a commander kept hold of their subordinates as information by which to evaluate their performance.

  But in the three years he had been under Sporr’s command, Cfadiss had stumbled across a startling truth — Sporr harbored him no ill will whatsoever. Were she to receive a transfer request, though, she would.

  He would assuredly be transferred elsewhere, but only the Personnel Department could know when. Cfadiss was loath to so much as imagine what might transpire in the period between his request and his transferral.

  “Communications Officer, call up the Descfac,” ordered Sporr.

  Before long, the commandant of the recon sub-fleet Descfac, Associate Commodore Rosech, appeared before the Commander-in-Chief’s Seat in hologram form.

  “Commandant, are preparations for departure ready?”

  “Completely, Commander-in-Chief,” Rosesh replied concisely.

  “Very good,” nodded Sporr, shooting Cfadiss a glance that screamed you should take a leaf from his book. “Be a dear and depart at once.”

  “Yes.” Rosesh saluted. “As planned, the recon sub-fleet Descfac will scout out the Miscerec Star System.”

  Sporr nodded wordlessly a second time, and the hologram cut out.

  “Communications Officer, arrange a carrycraft for Fïac Glaharérr (His Highness the Commander-in-Chief).”

  “Roger.” The communications officers looked up at her. “Do we have anything in particular to report?”

  “No,” said Sporr, shaking her head. “Everything’s going swimmingly. The tedium of it.”

  “All ships of the recon sub-fleet Descfac have set sail,” reported the exploration staff officer.

  The Humankind Empire of Abh’s great counterattack would commence here, in the Aptic Star System, in this, the year 955 I.H.

  It had been three years since the Three Nations Alliance (comprised of the United Humankind, the Greater Alkont Republic, and the People’s Sovereign Stellar Union) had attacked via two of the portals in the Ileesh Monarchy, one of the Eight Monarchies that comprised the Humankind Empire of Abh.

  The Empire had taken the enemy on and won for the time being, but they had lost large swaths of territory within the Ileesh Monarchy to the enemy, and it had yet to be recovered.

  Both sides of the hostilities had sustained serious damage, and for three years, neither power could mobilize any large-scale forces. The best they could manage up until now was the small skirmishes that attended the recon-in-force of the star systems near the boundary lines of their respective zones of influence.

  This three-year lull was also time enough to rebuild the fleets and gather information. By analyzing the compucrystals recovered from the captured enemy ships, the Empire uncovered where the two portals that had been opened up in the Ileesh Monarchy, the Saudec Ceutesocnbina Céïcr (Portal 193 of Céïch [Caysh]) and the Saudec Gagamata Sibr (Portal 882 of Sibh [Seev]), led to.

  From the Central Sector of the Milky Way Portal-belts all the way to its Seventh Ring, lay the constituent interstellar empires of the Three Nations Alliance, which had declared war on the Empire, as well as the Hania Federation, which remained neutral.

  In the spaces between those powers lay seven of the eight monarchies that made up the Empire, the exception being the Ileesh Monarchy.

  Both Portals 193 of Caysh and 882 of Seev connected to a sector located between the Sïurgzedéc (Syoorgzedeh) and Rasisec (Raseess) Monarchies — a sector controlled by the United Humankind.

  And so Military HQ cooked up a scheme to sever the sector from the TNA.

  Starting from the Sïurgzedéc Monarchy’s Dreuhynh Biscaitr (Countdom of Biscaith), they’d capture star systems such as Aptic and Miskehrr and establish a main supply line across them. Then they would take the star systems near the main supply line, and in so doing build a line of defense. In the end, the line would run all the way to the Laicerhynh Üerér (Duchy of Üeréc [Wehreh]) in the Rasess Monarchy. In addition, they would try to close up the now-isolated sector.

  The name of the operation was Rainibh (Phantom Flame).

  The composition of the Byrec Rainibr (Phantom Flame Fleet), the strategy’s fleet of enactment was as follows:

  Ranking order of the Phantom Flame Fleet

  Commander-in-Chief: Imperial Admiral Abliar (Crown Prince and King of Barkeh)

  Chief of Staff: Star Forces Admiral Cénéch (Rüé Laicerec [Imperial Duchess])

  Advance Recon Corps (Byrec Casna Rainibr [Phantom Flame Fleet 1])

  Commander-in-Chief: Commodore Sporr (Archduchess of Laitpanh)

  Chief of Staff: Kilo-Commander Cfadiss (knight first-class)

  Right-side Invasion Corps (Byrec Mata Rainibr [Phantom Flame Fleet 2])

  Commander-in-Chief: Grand Commodore Lulaimh (Rüé Lœbec [Imperial Marquess])

  Chief of Staff: Associate Commodore Tlirh (Lymh Sezlainr [Baron of Sezlainh [Sezlenyuh])

  Nucleus Invasion Corps (Byrec Bina Rainibr [Phantom Flame Fleet 3])

  Commander-in-Chief: Imperial Admiral Abliar (serving concurrently)

  Chief of Staff: Star Forces Admiral Cénéch (serving concurrently)

  Left-side Invasion Corps (Byrec Gona Rainibr [Phantom Flame Fleet 4])

  Commander-in-Chief: Grand Commodore Cotponic (Rüé Lymh Ïarlymec [Imperial Baron Noble Princess])

  Chief of Staff: Associate Commodore Sescath (Rüé Lymh [Imperial Baron])

  Rear Supply Corps (Byrec Lyna Rainibr [Phantom Flame Fleet 5])

  Commander-in-Chief: Star Forces Admiral Lecemh (Imperial Duke)

  Chief of Staff: Commodore Cic (Ïarlucec Laicerec Gambr [Dukedom of Gambh] Noble Prince)

  With one hundred and fifty sub-fleets in all as their main military force, they also had seventy sub-fleets’ worth of combat ships that were part of the training fleet (in that they had yet to be appointed to specific formations) making up the rear.

  This time, the Imperial Star Forces had taken the front lines.

  “Commander-in-Chief, the star system’s Premier is asking to speak to you again,” reported the communications officer.


  “His Excellency still has something to say?” Sporr’s blaze-blue eyebrows furrowed. “I’ve lent his idle grumbling an ear already.”

  “He may not think what he has to say is ‘idle grumbling,’” suggested Cfadiss.

  “What else could it be?” She cocked her head in puzzlement. “Fine, then. Chief of Staff, ask the Premier what his business is. I’m a tad busy.”

  For a brief moment, Cfadiss stood there. “...Understood.” Reluctantly, Cfadiss turned to the Communications Staff Officer. “Send the transmission to my wristgear, if you would.”

  Soon, video of the star system’s chief of government floated up above his wristgear.

  “Your Excellency,” he said, “I’m terribly sorry, but our Commander-in-Chief is indisposed at the moment, so it’s fallen on me to ask how we might help you.”

  “And you are?” frowned the Premier, with an air of suspicion.

  “My name is Cfadiss, and I am the Chief of Staff here.”

  “Good, that’s just what I needed,” said Tallas, surprising him. “Before I speak to Her Excellency the Commander-in-Chief again, there’s something I’d like to make sure of.”

  “What might that be?”

  “You see, I fear that your machine translation might be malfunctioning.”

  “I do not believe that is the case,” said Cfadiss. “Besides, I can assure you we understand the words of you and your people without it. For us, using machine translation as an intermediary is merely to establish a fair playing field.”

  “But how can that be?” sniped the Premier. “I made it clear, on our end, that we plan to resist you to the bitter end.”

  “Correct. I, too, heard you say as much.” Upon hearing that, Tallas’s expression doubtful, his confidence deflated.

  “Then... perhaps it is our machine that’s on the fritz. Because according to it, Her Excellency issued us words of encouragement.”

  “That is correct.”

  At a loss, Tallas breathed a sigh. “It’s just... to put it mildly, this is a bewildering development, at least by our standards. We’ve made clear our intent to resist, yet the enemy commander fires back with a pat on the back.”

  “I completely understand,” Cfadiss nodded vigorously. He felt he’d found a kindred soul in this Lander he’d only just met.

  “In anticipation this day would come, I studied to deepen my grasp of Abh culture... or rather, I thought I’d deepened it.”

  You must be joking, seethed Cfadiss. It appeared Sporr’s actions had been misconstrued as the typical Abh way. “Your Excellency, I don’t know what you think of our race, but Abhs, too, have individual personalities. Had it been me, I would not have given you words of encouragement. In fact, it wouldn’t even occur to the average Abh to do such a thing.”

  “In that case...” A shine returned to the Premier’s eyes. “Then Her Excellency, she’s... well, I don’t mean to be rude, but... she’s somewhat eccentric, shall we say?”

  “Caution, please,” chided Cfadiss, despite thinking that was the understatement of the century. “I am a faithful subordinate of the Commander-in-Chief, and most crucially of all, I’m currently within her reach.”

  “Forgive me. May I ask how you would have responded in her stead?”

  Cfadiss immediately thought up a safe answer. “I believe I would have said, ‘by all means, do as you will.’”

  Tallas’s shoulders drooped with disappointment as he clicked his tongue. “That is a problem.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are you aware of what an ‘election’ is?”

  “I have read up on elections, yes...” he said, disconcerted.

  “Then it will be easier to explain.” Tallas’s holographic projection leaned forward. “To be plain with you, the voting public likes a leader who stands up boldly to tyrannical invaders. Oh, but I hope I haven’t hurt your feelings by calling you ‘tyrannical invaders.’ I mean nothing more by it than to impart a strong impression.”

  “We don’t intend to meddle in your affairs, no matter what you call us.” Cfadiss felt keenly that he was probably getting wrapped up in some absurd scenario, here. “What exactly are you expecting to come of all this, Your Excellency?”

  “I would be the symbolic representative of our determined war of resistance.”

  “Of course,” said Cfadiss warily. Not that that wariness had ever served him before.

  “As such, I’d like you very much to counsel our surrender.”

  “I... see...” Perhaps the situation hadn’t been that ridiculous before, but now that the enemy was asking to be told to surrender, he had a feeling something was definitely off here.

  “But if you reject our recommendation to surrender, then that will force us to take a certain level of action. Surrender will be demanded of your star system down the line, but at present, our fleet is intent on advancing forward, so we don’t actually wish to have a hand in subduing this or other landworlds. I’m sure you can appreciate our circumstances.”

  “Yes, naturally,” said Tallas, nodding emphatically. “We’d just hope you appreciate ours as well. Not adopting any measures when there’s a fleet of warships overhead is going to be hard to explain to my constituents.”

  “And that is a concern?”

  The Premier’s eyes reeled wide; he could hardly believe his ears. “But of course! At this rate, our numbers will be down during the next election!”

  “Ah, I see.” Though he wanted with all his heart to be freed from this back-and-forth, still he replied.

  “That is why we would be most grateful if you could just respond to our declaration of resistance with a strongly worded appeal to surrender. The idea being that I then accede, thinking tearfully of the lives of the people. Do that, and I’ll have a narrative for the voters.”

  “‘Strongly worded’ how, exactly?” Cfadiss responded robotically, not really caring to hear how, exactly.

  “Hmm... I’d like you to pronounce that you’ll launch a savage offensive against our cities, and that that is no empty threat. I’d be even more thankful if you could throw in some discriminatory rhetoric to boot. Perhaps some slurs, along the lines of ‘land swine’ or ‘mud turtles.’”

  “I’m sorry, what?” Cfadiss was unfamiliar with such colorful terms.

  “‘Land swine’ and ‘mud turtles,’” Tallas repeated. “I’m certain you as Abhs must have a fair few contemptuous epithets for landworlders, so you may use any of those, as you like. Just make sure they’re sufficiently clear-cut. It’s not that my constituents are dim-witted, but there is a cultural barrier. It’s not uncommon for more euphemistic turns of phrase to get lost in translation.”

  “I regret to inform you that our race doesn’t find railing against people with blunt invective all that elegant...” Suddenly, Cfadiss recovered his senses. “Hold on, Your Excellency. The Star Forces don’t actually have any vested interest in your star system’s coming elections. Consequently, we cannot cooperate with you on this matter.”

  “But apart from us, there’s no other force that can shoulder the star system’s affairs of state!” Tallas carped.

  “Then there’s nothing to worry about,” Cfadiss consoled him. “We need not interfere, for surely your star system’s people will make the correct choice.”

  “If every eligible voter were as wise as you, then they would,” said the Premier, shaking his head with apparent dismay. “Unfortunately, the opposition candidates and their supporters don’t recognize that obvious fact...”

  “At any rate, we cannot issue a recommendation to surrender,” said Cfadiss. If he continued indulging this conversation, he might end up even taking a liking to Tallas.

  “Is there no room to negotiate?” Tallas entreated.

  “I’m very sorry.” Pacifying the doggedly persistent Star System Premier with a few solicitous words, Cfadiss hung up and ended the transmission. He looked up from his wristgear and sighed.

  “So,” Sporr said without a moment�
�s delay, “what did the Premier want, ultimately?”

  Cfadiss relayed the contents of their discussion.

  “I say,” said Sporr, curiosity dawning on her face. “That sounds far more engaging than my chat with him.”

  A hair-raising spectacle then floated across Cfadiss’s mind. He pictured a Star Forces starpilot hurling childish threats at the enemy, slinging animal names (like “land swine” or “mud turtles”) that he’d never heard before, and wasn’t even sure existed to begin with.

  Even if, for the sake of argument, the Premier’s demands were accommodated, he trusted that it wasn’t a role his Commander-in-Chief would volunteer for. And he was also sure he knew who would have to do it in her place.

  “Sadly, His Excellency ended up undercutting himself. I hate being deceived. As such, if he’d been honest about his intentions from the outset, we might have gotten somewhere,” she said, to Cfadiss’s relief.

  “Besides,” she continued, inclining her head slightly, “His Highness the Commander-in-Chief will be coming later. We need to leave the recommendation to surrender to him. His Highness likes this kind of occasion more than anything. In the Countdom of Hyde... well, it wasn’t a countdom when he came, but did that star system’s administration give him a speech suggesting they abdicate their sovereignty?”

  “I’m afraid not,” said Cfadiss, shaking his head.

  “Well, then he did pretty well for an Abliar. He was heavy-handed, and dripping with sarcasm, but effective. Though I’m sure I would have done a more elegant job of it, myself.”

  Hearing Sporr say that, he glanced at the crest banner of the Archduchy of Laitpanh hanging on the wall behind the Commander-in-Chief’s Seat. That banner displayed a few choice words, in addition to the gatharsec golden crow (which was as famed as the crimson eyes of the Sporr). They read: “We’re not happy settling for ‘Archduke,’ but being Emperor is boorish work very fit for the Abliars! We are the Sporrs!”