A War Most Modest (JNC Edition)

by Hiroyuki Morioka

  After the ambassadors reluctantly left, Lamagh called for a video representation of all the flat space discovered so far to be projected across from the platform on which she sat.

  Within charted space, there were around 30 million gates. Those gates’ normal space entrances were always within the Érucfac (Milky Way). This phenomenon likely spurred from the decoupling of normal space and flat space after the fluctuation of the cosmic sparks that originated the galaxy. However, the positions of those gates and the positions of the galaxy’s stars did not correlate. The greater number of normal-space-side gates seemed to be located in the spiral arms.

  The coordinates of the gates could be likened to a ripple. The circle at the center was surrounded by a great multitude of spéch (rings) that constituted groupings of gates.

  The center circle was so crowded that space-time bubbles couldn’t penetrate. The space-time particles, expelled by innumerable proverbial “volcanoes,” formed dense currents headed toward the galaxy’s fringes.

  Outside the central circle existed a narrow gap, past which one would run into a round band of gates. That was the Spéch Casna (First Ring). After that came a slightly larger gap, followed by the Spéch Casna (Second Ring).

  Thus did the gate-belts of the Milky Way — otherwise known as the saudelach érucfar — radiate from the center toward the periphery, in alternating gaps and rings.

  Furthermore, the farther out the rings, the bigger the gaps that separated them. In addition, each ring contained an almost equal number of gates, so the gates in the outer rings were much more spaced out.

  The gates that humanity made use of were mostly within the dense Ssorh Bandacer (Central Sector) — the sector within the Spéch Dana (Seventh Ring). As such, if one secured a closed gate within normal space and entered flat space from there, there was a naturally high probability they would emerge in the Central Sector. Humanity expanded its domain by establishing gates near the center as footholds and forging normal-space paths to the next closest gate, and so on.

  Even in the space spanning the Spéch Gana (Eighth Ring) to the Spéch Loceutena (Eleventh Ring), once referred to as the Ssorh Cairaza (Uncharted Sectors), gates to inhabited star-systems were scattered about as a result of humanity’s insatiable drive to expand.

  The Empire was composed of eight faicec (monarchies), each with a larth monarch. Lamagh herself was still the Larth Crybr (Monarch of Crybh) until she finally handed that position down to a descendant. However just as grandees did not govern their territory-nations, so too was the title of monarch mostly a formality. The lords of the various territories included in each monarchy were not vassals of their respective monarchs, but rather of the emperor or empress. As such, the monarchies were not so much administrative divisions as they were regions on the map.

  Of the eight monarchies, seven were nestled up close to the Central Sector, resulting in complex borders with other nations based largely on regional power and influence.

  The other monarchy, the Faicec Ilicr (Monarchy of Ilich), was located in the Spéch Romata (Twelfth Ring).

  Each of the eight monarchies had a corresponding gate in the imperial capital of Lacmhacarh. The eight gates were built into the city-ship Abliar, and when they were opened, in accordance with the laws of probability, seven of them linked to the Central Sector, but the Saudec Ilicr (Gate of Ilich) was the outlier, linking instead to a quite remote frontier.

  The Empire regarded this as a rare and curious opportunity, and consequently set themselves to seizing the Twelfth Ring as their own. They invested nobles with fiefs, and constructed military bases. Just before the last step in the process, the completion of the route encircling the Twelfth Ring, a forgotten but peopled world called the Hyde Star-System was discovered.

  The Ilich Monarchy was shaped much like a pair of arms embracing the Milky Way Gate-belts, and so it was often called the “Bar Saidac” (Arms of the Abh).

  That moniker was ill-fitting now that the two hands had joined, however.

  Within the generally sparsely distributed gates of the Twelfth Ring, a relatively dense grouping of gates had been observed. It was thought that that grouping comprised a sector that overlapped with the gate-belt ring that corresponded to a different galaxy entirely.

  Humanity had not reached that level of exploration yet, but the door to a galaxy beyond lay open before them...

  ...A door open only to the Abh Empire. For so long as the Ilich Monarchy was there, no nation besides the Empire could hope to reach outside the galaxy. Of course, that would change if one or more gates linking to a place further out than the Ilich Monarchy were to be discovered.

  That sensation of confinement might have factored into the Four Nations Alliance (FNA)’s determination to wage war.

  How inane. There were yet many worlds of which humanity could avail themselves.

  The Sfagnoff Marquessate had been part of the Ilich Monarchy. If the enemy took Sfagnoff, it would chop off one of the Arms of the Abh.

  “Faramunsh, are you indisposed, or can you come?” Using her rüé-greuc (imperial command staff), Lamagh drew the pattern of summons.

  “Your Majesty.” The hologram appeared by the map of flat space. His blue-gray hair was braided, and suspended down his front from his shoulders. He was Üalodh Rÿazonr (Military Chief of Staff) and Imperial Admiral Faramunch Üémh Razas Rusam.

  “Were you listening in?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “How much of what they said do you think was valid?”

  “I believe we can take them at their word that they opened the gate. That being said, I think the reason they sent a military fleet was to sever the connection between Vorlash and Sfagnoff. They must have already explored the surrounding area in secret years ago.”

  “Did the Spodéc Rirragr (Information Department) not notice?”

  “Unfortunately, that is the case.”

  “That is quite the blunder.”

  “There is no excuse I can provide.” Faramunsh lowered his head, though he was not obsequious in his humility.

  “Has the Empire, in its age, become the sick man of the galaxy?” muttered Lamagh.

  Faramunsh didn’t deny the possibility. “It could also be that the idea they’d do something this elaborate never occurred to the Department. The enemy did keep an impressively tight lid. And while it is not my intention to provide excuses, might I suggest that the Gaicec Scofarimér (Ambassadorial Office) also failed to catch on?”

  “True,” Lamagh nodded. “The only reports We’ve received from that office of late warn of the possibility of ‘large-scale military action,’ nothing more.”

  “It’s clear that much effort was spent to drum up a unified front — which is a feat indeed for a patchwork army like theirs.” Faramunsh’s tone of voice betrayed some measure of exhilaration. Trade, commerce, those were everyday sport. War, on the other hand, was a rare treat of a game, and that much more enjoyable for it. And Faramunsh was hardly the only one whose heart thumps fast upon acquiring a worthy opponent.

  Lamagh’s position was a different beast. In the end, as Empress, she was forced to wager not only her own life, but her subjects’, too. She was excited by the prospect as well, of course; she just felt somewhat guilty that she did.

  “As for our felled ship,” said Lamagh, turning to the matter that weighed on her most of all, “it was patrol ship Goslauth, correct?”

  “Yes,” said Faramunsh, his face mournful. “There is a higher than 90% chance it was the Goslauth. We can’t pinpoint the gate they used as of yet, but in any case, it’s the only ship that matches the details. You have my condolences.”

  “Spare your condolences,” she said, shutting him down. “It is an Abliar tradition to be the first to the frontlines of battle.”

  “Yes, but Hecto-commander Captain Lexshue was an outstanding starpilot even among the Star Forces. I believe she would have been sure to send the young Viscountess of Parhynh away to relative safety. Her Highness is a trai
nee starpilot, after all. Any pretext would have sufficed.”

  “You needn’t console me with platitudes. If that were the case, news of Lafier being unharmed would have reached these ears.”

  “My apologies, Your Majesty,” said Faramunsh, looking abashed.

  “Although...” Lamagh proceeded to mutter to herself. She had always liked Lafier. Dubyus (Dubeus) had not been a good son, but it seemed he had some surprising talent as a father. If only she hadn’t fallen in battle while bearing some half-baked title like “trainee.” If only she’d died a full-fledged starpilot. Then they’d all have been readier to swallow her death.

  “Fïac Lartr Crybr (His Highness the King of Crybh) must be deep in the abyss of grief as well,” added a sudden voice besides Faramunsh’s. “He lost both his lover and his daughter of love at the same time.”

  “Larth Barcér (King of Barce, BARKEH).” Lamagh frowned when she spotted the voice’s source. “I don’t remember summoning you.”

  “This is a serious affair concerning the Empire; please pardon my impertinence, Your Majesty.” So said the hologram of Imperial Admiral, Imperial Fleet Commander-in-Chief and Crown Prince, Dusanyu (Dusanh), King of Barce, before bowing.

  “If you wish to console Dubyus, then you ought to go to his side, Fïac.”

  “No, Your Majesty, I shall do so on another occasion. Unless, of course, you decree I should depart by imperial edict. I have come here to see whether you might.”

  “No, you shall wait.”

  “I shall wait?” His features, too perfectly arranged for a man, formed a quizzical look.

  “Faramunsh,” said Lamagh, prompting the Military Chief of Staff to do the explaining.

  “Honored Fleet Commander,” Faramunsh addressed his high-ranking colleague. “It has been established that the enemy invading the Sfagnoff Marquessate is proving surprisingly slow to act. I hope the only reason for that is an undersized force of arms.”

  “You mean it might be a diversion, Lonh?” Dusanyu stroked his chin.

  “What else could it be? You can be apprised of all the details if you visit the Rÿazonh (Military Command Headquarters)...”

  “No, Lonh, that won’t be necessary.” The Crown Prince stopped Faramunsh with an outstretched hand. “I know battlefield analysis is your forte. So, what’s their next move?”

  “Their target is probably here. Lacmhacarh,” he said.

  “Their ardor is certainly alarming, Fïac.”

  “Hmm... so they aim to capture the capital in one fell swoop...” Dusanyu’s expression lit up attentively. If the capital fell, the eight monarchies would no longer be linked together, thereby horribly weakening the Empire.

  “We don’t know whence they’ll invade. For the seven monarchies at the Central Sector, they could strike from anywhere.”

  “Do you understand, King of Barce?” spoke Lamagh from her temporary replacement throne. “Our forces cannot move rashly. We must have you helm the defense of the capital. Faramunsh, orchestrate the fleets We shall entrust to the King of Barce, and quickly. We leave his forces’ scale to Command Headquarters. We do, however, expect it to be historic in size.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Have you any other orders?” Faramunsh asked the throne.

  “No. Do it at once.”

  “As Your Majesty commands.” Faramunsh’s hologram cut out.

  Dusanyu’s did not.

  “Is there something else you wanted, King of Barce?”

  “Forgive me. I was just contemplating your words regarding the ‘fear of evolution.’”

  “How like you, Fïac Dusan. You would rob us of our time through your ceaseless philosophizing.”

  “You enjoy it, too, do you not, Your Majesty?”

  Lamagh could only smile wryly at his perspicacity. “We do.”

  “Is there not a possibility that humanity would benefit from our defeat in this war?”

  “Oho. And what makes you say that?” Lamagh knitted her brows.

  “Were we to win, all humankind would, under order and serenity of Abh rule, give in to a ‘peace’ that’s eerily akin to an everlasting slumber. A peace that would hamper human evolution.”

  “Which means if they win, the power of evolution would be unleashed? We trust you heard the ambassadors’ words: they fear evolution more than we the Abh do, claiming that even the slight genetic modification of our children we practice ought to be abolished.”

  “I am aware, Your Majesty. However, their victory would assuredly lead to an age of chaos. They may be four consolidated nations now, but were they to lose their common enemy in us, they would certainly begin jostling for power. That would in turn shroud all of humanity in disarray — a return to the era when humans were powerless, knocked out by the stormy waves of evolution.”

  “Is that what you desire, Fïac?”

  “No,” he shrugged. “They say we Abh are long-lived, but ultimately, we aren’t long-lived enough to be able to see where evolution will lead us. Of what concern is it to us what happens after we die?”

  “Then why are you contemplating that?”

  “Sometimes, I find I dwell on humanity’s future. That is to say, not on what we should do for it, but on how it will unfold.”

  “Fïac Dusan,” she said gently. “The Emperorship will be yours after us. If you would like to cast humanity into chaos after securing your seat on the Jade Throne, then by all means, do so. However, so long as this staff remains in my hands, we will aspire to peace, whether or not it spells humanity’s slumber. And you shall exert yourself to the fullest in furtherance of that goal.”

  “That cannot be disputed,” said Dusanyu, bowing elegantly. “No matter how it may affect humanity’s destiny, I would hardly be pleased to lose to the likes of the Four Nations Alliance.”

  “We are relieved to hear that. For We know you would never neglect what would or would not amuse you, regardless of humanity’s or the Empire’s fate.”

  “Of course,” he said, as though that went without saying. “And there is revenge to be had, as well.”

  “Oho...” Lamagh was taken aback. “We didn’t realize your heart was so troubled over Lafier.”

  “Yes, Fïac Lamhirr must be avenged, but more personally, there was another aboard that ship with whom I shared a bond.”

  “Ïarlucec Dreur Haïder.” Lamagh was even more taken aback now. “You are exhibiting a most unexpected side of you, Fïac.”

  “Did I take you by surprise?” Dusanyu smiled. “I pride myself on as good as creating that countdom and its noble house. His estate could use at least one person here at the seat of the Empire worrying about it.”

  That was what transpired 18 hours after intel confirming the fall of the Sfagnoff Marquessate reached the Imperial Palace.

  Chapter 10: The Raïchoth (Inspection)

  Now that they had a means of getting around, they no longer had any need to focus on the small city of Lune Beega. Jinto directed the car’s automatic destination driving function to the city of Guzonh (GOOZOHNYUH), the capital of this state named “Loehow” (LOW HOW, spelled Lohaü in Baronh). According to the latest info the hovercar had to provide, it was a large city whose population exceeded the 2,000,000 mark. Of course, that meant the military presence there would be that much denser, but that would only distract the attention they’d otherwise be receiving as outsiders.

  As they drove down the road, the scenery they could be forgiven for thinking might stretch on to the other side of the planet did change. There were different crops on display, and the seemingly boundless plantations were periodically interrupted by prairies and wooded areas, only to come back strong later. They passed a town even smaller than Lune Beega, and rolled right by a number of isolated homes.

  The hovercar was handling like a dream. Jinto’s formerly foul mood had gradually taken a turn for the optimistic. What if they never holed up in a city, and instead just stayed on the road?

  No, they couldn’t.

  The trio of hooligans will ha
ve reported their car stolen by now. They’d be needing to ditch this car before the local police came for them.

  Jinto braced himself.

  I can’t forget, we’re criminals now. The “enemy” isn’t our only enemy anymore. We’ve gone and pissed off the police, too...

  “Why do you look so glum?” asked Lafier. She examined Jinto’s expression curiously, holding on to her hat with her left hand so the wind wouldn’t take it.

  “Do I look that grumpy?”

  “Yep. That grave look doesn’t suit you. I’d be more relieved if you went back to your usual, more flippant face.”

  “So I always look super lax, is what you’re saying.” He stroked his face, frankly wounded.

  “Right. As long as I look at you, I can forget I’m on land.”

  “I guess that should make me happy.”

  “Feel your feelings as you will. They’re your feelings.”

  “You can be brutally honest sometimes, you know that?”

  Guzonh was close at hand. If the map was to be believed, it was a city surrounded by a forest.

  A moment or two after entering the forest, they suddenly heard a beeping noise, accompanied by the hovercar losing speed before their very eyes.

  “What happened?”

  “Beats me.”

  But soon they would find their answer.

  Another hovercar was parked in front of them. Scratch that, there were dozens of them, all in a line. Jinto stood up in his seat, trying to determine what was jamming the traffic.

  There he saw a company of enemy troops. Right by them, a vaguely predatory-looking lump of metal crouched, half-concealed by the trees. It was most likely a weapon for land wars.

  Jinto clicked his tongue. “Damn...”

  C’mon, think, man, think.

  Were they hunting for the bausnall laburer (Star Forces soldier) that had evaded the intercepting fire of three enemy ships and scurried onto the surface? If they were, they had no way to know what that soldier looked like. However, if they discovered the compuwatches or phasers on their persons...