"Admiral Wilkar's perimeter defense is about as worthless as a priest's vow of chastity," Tyscio Zier remarked looking over the reports. The outer Corporate Sector had yet to be explored, the Caprician representatives pushing for an exploration of the Elrood Sector instead. Those politicians opposing the move had argued that their resources should go to exploring their own backyard and with good reason. Scipio's encounter with Sparthios was proof enough of the opposition stance but to the Caprician way of thinking, if you have enough funds, why couldn't you do everything?
But sometimes, too much was a bad thing.
For when you fund everything at once, amazingly, nothing gets done in a democracy! Also, rather than creating priorities and benchmarks, you suddenly find yourself without any, spreading equal importance over everything. And nothing in this life was ever equal. Especially where credits were concerned.
But the Capricians got their funding for the Elrood Sector and the relatively minor conflicts with the locals that went along with it and the exploration of the Outer Corporate Sector, even though equal in priority on paper, got put in the backburner by those agencies that found other uses for their share of the funds.
While democracy worked, it was far from perfect.
"The next Session of Congress will not go well," Gomorran commented abstractly staring intently at a flat two-dimensional map.
"If the last one was any indication, politicians will care more about the name we give this operation. As long as it's nice and fluffy, we should be fine." Admiral Zier dismissed the political body without effort.
"Politicians may make mountains out of minutiae but when it comes to working for their constituents, they grab onto things with the grip of a carnivorous razorback," Gomorran chided.
"Assuming their constituents are the people and not corporations.." Zier retorted sardonically.
"From your mouth to the Clannus Prime's ears.." murmured Gomorran in response.
Tyscio Zier moved a hand through his lengthening white hair hiding his close observation of his friend. Gomorran had been Regent of Capricia at one point and was thought to have died during the Yuuzhan Vong's Second Invasion. Then, like a ghost from the past, he returned to lay claim to the World Council Seat representing the Capital Province of Capricia. Technically, he was a politician himself but he had also lead soldiers and had fought two wars which made him one of the few politicians who knew how to actually work.
He represented Caprician Noble Clan and was military family no matter what a docket listed as his public credientials as far as Zier was concerned.
"The outpost on Duroon has stopped transmitting," Zier began but Gomorrown waved it down, frowning.
"You make it sound like they did it by choice. No Ty, I think they were silenced by these interlopers," He also had a report on Wilkar the Lesser's adventure at Kirima, "and we had better move something out there fast.."
"Did you see those numbers? We don't have a force that big to marshall just now." Tyscio started hotly but again Gomorran waved his objections down.
"I know, Ty, I know. But we cannot forget that we may have people still on Duroon who may have escaped the outpost's destruction and they will need rescuing."
"Unless," Gomorran added, "We are going to hope these invaders are going to adhere to some sort of rules of war?"
The Admiral winced. In his experience, with the enemies he was used to fighting, there were no rules of war. "Your point is taken, Gomorran. I'll see what I can throw that way."
Councilman Gomorran Kay nodded, "I just hope it's enough."
**
Science ship, Scion
Theorist Lyrian was dressed in his usual simple gray garb of the old Leantre Clan and wore an antiquated pair of eyeglasses. He was balancing his weight on a black cane and, even though slightly bent, it still seemed he was at eye
level with everyone and was not afraid to look his opponents in the eye.
In this case, his opponent's eye was holographic in nature.
"What do you want, boy?" he growled, clearly irritated that his studies had been unceremoniously interrupted by the Commonwealth Admiral.
In spite of himself, Admiral Zier cringed recalling his time at the Caprician University studying under Lyrian's tutelage. Or, as the Theorist liked to call it, trying to grab morsel's of genius through osmosis.
"I have need of the
Scion, Theorist."
The old man stamped his cane impatiently, "Of course, you do!" he snapped as if there was any question. "My genius is one of the most sought-after commodities within the Commonwealth!"
Admiral Zier coughed slightly and cleared his throat, "Ahh..What I mean to say, Theorist, is that I require your ship to travel to Duroon to pick up some personnel."
"What.. What? What is this? You want me to be a ferry?" The Theorist squinted as if Zier's hardlight hologram had started to fade.
"Without getting yourselves blown up in the process," the Admiral continued and Lyrian's features brightened as he chuckled.
"Ah.. yes, you've heard about our experimentation with Tachyon Theory and Black Hole..." his voice trailed off at the Admiral's clearly befuddled expression.
Lyrian's features darkened again. "Blow up how?"
"From the people who blew up the base on Duroon to begin with," the Admiral answered deadpan.
"Does this have anything to do with Kirima's bug infestation?" the Theorist asked and the Admiral's eyes widened.
"How did you?"
"I can read a map," the old man snapped.
"Will you do it?"
The old man pondered, "I suppose we are the only ship available and the fate of the universe hangs in the balance?"
"There are plenty of ships available," Admiral Zier remarked, "But you are the closest. And certainly the fate of an unknown number of citizens, formerly of the Duroon base, certainly hang in the balance."
Lyrian's face turned crafty, "If I do this.."
"A bottle of Alderaanian liquor will be yours." Zier announced grandly and the old man spat.
"Is that all?"
"Hey! It is over a 500,000 credits a bottle and once it's gone...!"
Lyrian scoffed indifferently, "Just because something is expensive and no longer available does not mean it doesn't taste like crap. The Alderraanians should have stuck with pacifism and left the brewing to those who could!"
"Don't speak ill of the dead, Theorist."
"I am not, young man!" Lyrian snapped back, "I am speaking ill of their liquor!"
"So you will.." Zier prodded.
"Yes, yes! We'll go. We'll be there today."
"Theorist, you have the gratitude of an entire Commonwealth.."
"Bah! What I need is funding! Now get out of here while I figure out how to meet an enemy fleet with an unarmed science vessel!"
The Admiral wisely vanished and a grumbling Lyrian put out a call for a meeting with all Department Heads.
***
***
The Victory Class Star Destroyer, internally redesigned to allow the vessel to serve it's primary duty as a science vessel, was named after a fallen battleship in the Second Invasion. called the
Scion, and it would have been the template for more similarly retro-fitted ships if the Design Board of the new Commonwealth hadn't sunk down more credits to redesign a science ship from the keel up adding a bit more versatility and function to starships designated: Science Ships. The VSD design was years old and antiquated anyway, or so the justification went.
Still, the ship was one of a kind. Almost a microcosm of a world as departmental corridors became borders separating hypothesis, theories, and intellectual conceits that rivaled any cultural differences between two cultures, species or genders. And while no deaths resulted in the inevitable conflicts the battles were, if reports are to be believed, very heated.
The impending meeting was no exception.
Duroon
Atrius glanced up from the latest scanning of the region when his comm chirped. It was from his Second in the Fleet and he knew what the call would be about.
"Force Leader," the Second intoned, saluting. "The enemy base has been destroyed."
"Good," Atrius merely acknowledged. "Were they able to signal for help?"
"Yes, Force Leader."
"Even better." Atrius was pleased with the smoothness of the operation. "Prepare to deploy the fleet."
"Sir.." the Second said but his voice trailed off as if wanting to ask something that the Force Leader might become incensed about.
"What is Tam?" Atrius stated his Second's given name to indicate he was not offended. Questions were how one learned after all.
"I seek clarification of the enemy still on the planet."
Atrius laughed. "Tam, you want to question my decision in letting those who escaped the base live?"
The Second said nothing but even that was an answer of sorts.
"Tam, you noticed that they were evacuating prior to our arrival in orbit."
When the other nodded, he continued, "So it stands to reason that if a rescue ship enters the system, they should be able to determine whether or not the base has been destroyed. And, since it has, in order for the Commonwealth vessel or vessels (hopefully) to continue into our trap, they need enticing. They need proof that their sacrifice will not be in vain. They need proof of life. By leaving the enemy base personnel alive, they will be able to anser the rescue vessel's attempts to determine if there is anyone alive and, therefore, worth the risk. If everyone is dead, there is no reason for risk and the ship flees."
"If the ship flees, we will chase it and destroy it." the Second merely stated.
"And we may yet have to do that. However, I would like to know the quality of our enemy. I would like to see if they fall into our trap like baka beetles on the Mashing Grounds."
Tam let out a sly grin as if he was being clever, "We will stamp them!"
"Indeed," Atrius acknowledged. "Now, have the fleet prepare our own Mashing Ground."
The Second straightened, "At once, Force Leader!"
The signal ended and Atrius sighed. The Second might not be the brightest of the bunch but he was fiercely loyal to his Column and once he grasped how letting the enemy live might bring more glory to the Column, he would fiercely carry out his charge taking care not to execute the enemy until Atrius ordered it or die trying.
That sort of loyalty was hard to come by especially when your numbers went to replenishing the Scourge and trying to indoctrinate and train from the new 'recruits'. They usually did that through fear and fear was not the best slate to engender loyalty.
Which is why only those from the Homeworld had the decision-making positions within the Iron.
Lur System
Commander Thraes slammed his fist down on a consol in frustration. "Is there a presence there or not!?" he yelled.
He had sent three landing craft to the surface to establish an onsite communications tower to break through the planetary interference and all three ships had disappeared from the Iron's scopes as soon as they passed through the atmosphere.
Thraes had been steaming on his Command Deck ever since and his patience had almost reached it's limits when their comms picked up a signal from the surface. From Landing Party Number Two.
The monitor revealed what they could all see from orbit: That snow blanketed everywhere and the officers of the landing party were huddled around the comm unit.
"Frreee.---ing." one managed to get out his shivering almost making Thraes believe the comm unit itself was shaking.
"Get into your ship and leave." the Commander merely stated through gritted teeth.
"Sh...ship.. In.. Inop... erabl.. Fr... ozen."
"Bah!" Thraes cried out banging his fist against a consol again.
This world was worthless!
But did he dare risk more landing craft to the conditions of the world to save those already on the surface?
He came to a decision.
"Your sacrifice is noted," he remarked to those of Landing Party Two and cut off communications. "Prepare to break orbit. This system is secure.
We push onward!"
