“Hold on,” Hiro said as he took another cooking apron off the hook, “You present my team with a proposal to buy 51 per cent at market value, I want to meet these workers, and I want every one of my buildings renovated and inspected. I see any red lampshades, vibrating beds, or theme rooms, the deal is off, and you have to repair them to my standard.”
“Would you mind if I purchased more buildings?”
“No. You can expand the company. But you must guarantee the loans, and the company must expand and continue to make a profit without reducing my percentage of ownership or income.”
“Yes,” Kaede said.
“Good. Now, if the company is going to collapse, you will buy me out, payment in full and pay me compensation for lost profits for a business life cycle. I remind you that the current cycle ends in thirty years, and a standard cycle is one hundred years.”
“I know that!” Kaede muttered.
“What was that, son?”
Kaede bowed and said, “I accept your terms.”
“Good, now pay attention. I will show you how to make my special beef noodles.”
“While you are in Alcyone, I want you to take a full sensor scan of the clouds both in normal space and in hyperspace. My agents will make sure only I see the data.”
Hiro glanced at Kaede and nodded. Alcyone has more gold than all the Empire, if such a mining operation were possible, that’s more wealth than all the Empire. My father will be furious. “Is it true you beat my father at Go?”
“Yes.”
“You know he hates losing.”
“He should be used to it. Kenta beats him often at Go.”
“Yes, he does. Have you seen how moody he gets after that?”
“When I first beat Grandfather, he knocked the board over. But he is improving. Last week he sat there for a couple of hours and obsessed over the board.”
Hiro laughed and said, “For my father, that is an improvement.”
✽✽✽
December 20, 11,571 The People’s Palace, New Roma, Capital of the Ogre Alliance.
Caesar Giovanni Pilu stood on the marble balcony of his mountainside mansion. A tall Ogre in his mid-fifties, he wore a blue military-style suit with many ribbons on his chest and upon his head an olive leaf crown made of copper and gold.
Giovanni looked out over a vast field and watched as a stallion pranced past a mare, her reigns held by a stable boy. He watched as the animal mounted the mare. She reared up and threw off the horse and knocked over the stable boy. Giovanni laughed as the mare ran around the coral, chased by the horse and the stable boy. He held a large glass of red wine up to the stallion as he ran past.
Giovanni cared not for the fruity aroma or taste. He swilled it down like a pig and sloshed a good portion of it over his clothes. He refilled the glass with wine from the jug from the table beside him. Giovanni had a strong body. He was in his fifties, not as ugly as most Ogres, as he only had a slightly disfigured face. Like all Ogres, had a flat head and oversized hands and forearms. He had the smile of a piano with broken keys, and he smelled of wine and vomit.
Two guards led a cloaked figure to him. Giovanni quivered as the Nāga slithered towards him. Why is a Nāga coming here? In the daylight? After all the bullshit, they drone on about how secrecy is more important than success.
“Leave us,” an intoxicated Giovanni muttered.
The figure waited until the guards had departed before she removed her hood. The Nāga glared at Caesar Pilu for a few seconds, then said, “We demand you hand over your cousin. Now!”
“If I had that double-crossing piece of shit, I would,” he spat.
She moved towards him; her nostrils flared. “He killed one of my sisters,” she hissed. Her forked tongue darted in and out of her mouth as she looked around. She had claws for hands. She wore boots, and her cloak covered most of her body.
“The Brotherhood swears they are not hiding him, and I believe them,” Giovanni said to her face.
Giovanni stank of wine. Not just his breath, but his whole body. He is well dressed. Maybe his mother dressed him. She smiled and said, “We don’t trust you. You have been building our vessels.”
“Ha. You speak of trust?” Giovanni spat. “I have known you for thirty years, and you do not tell me your name.”
“You cannot pronounce it.”
“Did you give the locations of my secret shipyards to the Imperial Navy?”
Tempted to bite his neck, she licked her lips and said, “If we wanted them destroyed, we would have done it ourselves and sold the captured ships back to you.”
Caesar Pilu poured another glass and said, “I still do not see how Andre lost our best ship to a civilian transport.”
“You let him escape.”
Caesar Pilu took a sip of the wine and said, “Your people experimented on him, and left. I assumed they wanted to see how long it took him to die, so I left him there.”
“Really?”
Caesar Pilu took a step towards her. Still steady on his feet, she raised an eyebrow and was ready to spring at him. But he leaned on the balcony and said, “If you didn’t give the Elves the location of my shipyards, then the information came from Andre. They captured his ship and broke the encryption on his navigation computer.”
“I agree. Our experts believe they altered Andre’s memories. Our people believe there was no hijacking of the Exodus ship. We believe he contacted the Elves and sold us out.”
“How could he fool his bridge crew?”
“He betrayed them. I do not doubt that he docked with a Transport, along the route we provided. However, it was not a civilian ship, but one carrying a full company of Elven Knights.”
Caesar Pilu shook his head. “Why would Andre betray me?”
“Every man has his price, and the Elves have more gold than morals,” she replied, she pointed at Pilu and asked, “Are you covering for him?”
“No. We will find Andre, but I have more pressing concerns. It will take us over a decade to rebuild the lost shipyards after the Elves hit us, the Dökkálfar struck a dozen more before we could change recognition codes,” Giovanni said.
“That is why I’m here. I am offering you a solution.” The Nāga spoke with a saccharine voice, she slithered over to the jug, picked it up and topped up Caesar Pilu’s glass.
“We cannot afford to buy more ships.”
The Nāga put down the jug, slithered over to Pili and ran her hand down his chest and said, “Let the Elves think they have won. No rush, take your time, make them sweat, but eventually sell them oil and agree to cut back on the piracy.”
“So, I can put them to work?”
“No. Pull back from all forward positions, consolidate all positions, and hold firm in the dozen systems you hold. We will send ships to reinforce only those systems with a conjoined star.”
“Why?”
“We need the exotic matter and other rare materials from the Dark Nebula,” she replied as she leant on the wide stone balcony ledge.
Giovanni was a violent misogynist who had only married his first wife because she was rich. The media reported that she had killed herself after a year of marriage. The Nāga knew that he did not murder his wife but beat her so bad that she took her own life. The Nāga had framed him for his wife’s murder and held it over him. That didn’t stop him from bashing his second wife. He threw her down a set of stairs after an argument, and while she lay injured; he stomped on her and left her for dead. He told the public it was a skiing accident, not that most cared. She knew the truth; she saved Giovanni’s wife and put her into a care facility, but the Ogress was paralysed from the waist down.
The Nāga hated Giovanni, and would gladly kill him for losing ships, but the Brotherhood had eyes on her, even now. To them, he is a hero.
“How generous of you, what is the catch?” Giovanni asked.
“You owe us. Not just for the ship, but all those you built with our resources, that you lost to the Elves, instead of destroying the Dö
kkálfar and for failing to retrieve the Sword of Souls. The Dökkálfar now have control of a third of the nebula.”
“We need ships now, not in ten years.”
“You only need to keep them occupied until we are ready to wipe them out.”
Caesar Pilu pondered, and with a smile, said, “It will be a pleasure to crush the Dökkálfar, and make the Night Queen my slave. But to do so, I need enough ships to take on the Empire, do that, and I will make you Queen of this entire sector.”
The Nāga smiled. Kali will have my head if I dare consider it, but I will promise this fool everything today and get rid of him once we are finished using him.
“That will cost you more than you can afford.”
“Name your price,” Giovanni growled.
“Double production of antimatter.”
“Double?”
The Nāga hissed and jumped off the railing and got in his face. “Do you need a picture book? They towed our ship to Haven. We think they used the sword as bait, meaning your cousin has been one of their agents for a long time. Within ten years, the Elves will have tens of thousands of advanced ships. We need to double production.”
“Andre is too stupid to pull that off. It is more likely they found him in an escape pod.”
Frustrated, the Nāga wanted to punch him in the face. “Are you that stupid? The passengers of that transport were all given a new home, a job with the Hashimoto Corporation, and compensation for their loss. Most of the crew of that ship are now working at the shipyards in Haven.”
“How does antimatter help you build more ships?”
The Nāga wanted to strangle him for asking such a stupid question. She clasped her hands to stop herself from tearing his hair out and said, “The Emperor has a huge research centre guarded by a small army. He has gathered experts on magical items, fusion, fission, gravity, exotic matter, and lasers. You handed him a thousand years of research.”
“I need more cloning tanks.”
The Nāga poked Pilu in the chest and said, “Defeat the Dökkálfar Sisterhood, and we will clone and train an army for you.”
Caesar Pilu laughed out loud and nodded. He picked up the jug of wine and slurped it down, spilling most of it over himself.
The Nāga teleported to an immense battlecruiser that was located in a high orbit over the planet. A portal opened before it, and the craft slid in.
Chapter 9
Hiro sat in the pilot seat of a shuttle on the launch pad when an Inquisition officer came aboard, and said, “captain, your son requested we issue you with Omega clearance,” as he handed a black access card to Hiro.
“Thanks.”
“Welcome to the club,” she said.
Hiro sighed and said, “This is embarrassing.”
The officer stood to attention, extended her left arm and thumped her chest. Hiro returned the salute. The officer said, “Good luck, captain.”
Hiro smiled as the officer left, the rest of the flight crew and passengers boarded. Lady Fukuhina sat in the co-pilot’s seat and said, “I have new orders for you, captain.”
Hiro looked at her; she had four stars on her collar. “Really?”
“You are to deliver the Night Owl to Haven and transfer her to the Navy.”
“The Navy?”
“Yes, Crown Prince Kaede is selling her and other older scout ships to the Imperial Navy. You can transfer the name to your new ship.”
“Since when can my son sell my ship?”
“Since the Crown Prince owns her and other ships.”
“I never received a notification.”
“Your father is transferring the ownership today.”
“First, my father, now my son, is meddling in my career.”
“My only concern is to ensure the success of this mission.”
“Did he send you to spy on me?”
“I am here to ensure a complete scan of the stars and inner system are completed, including collecting mineral samples, in absolute secrecy from all prying eyes, not just the Navy.”
“I can do that.”
“Once finished, I shall secure all the data. Neither you nor any member of your crew shall inform your father or the Navy of the survey. Nor shall the survey and many other tests appear in the ship’s logs.”
“Do you have any experience on the bridge of a starship?”
“I graduated top of my class, but not all Imperial Knights are professional bodyguards.”
“That’s a no.”
“I am a pilot, and I have flown a shuttle before. I am a professional chef and trained in combat. In Haven, a team of computer experts will join the crew, but you will log nothing about them or our mission. Not even in your private diary.”
“Is my father messing with me?”
“No. You are not to tell your father the true nature of the mission.”
“My son owns a research company. My father is using Kaede to make it look like he is a genius selling information to him, when, in fact, the information was stolen from other companies by his spies. You can lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me.”
Fukuhina, angry, stepped forward and said through gritted teeth, “Kaede Research is the largest research company, and he owns a dozen companies. If it has not escaped your notice, your son speaks several languages and holds a couple of university degrees. He is aware of your father’s attempts to use him. As a representative of Kaede Enterprises, your son has given me the authority to remove you from command and exile you in Haven if you do not cooperate.”
“Really?”
In a soft voice, Fukuhina said, “I would rather not do that. Your son loves you and informed me that your familiarity with Alcyone Prime is vital to the success of this mission.”
Hiro took a deep breath and said, “I told my son I would do it for him, and I will.”
“Good. Kaede wants detailed scans of the clouds, samples of many asteroids, and a detailed map of the inner system. He is sending two dozen supply ships with drones, navigation beacons, and vital supplies. They will be waiting for us on the far side of Alcyone Prime.”
“That might not be enough. It will take many orbits to scan the surface of the star.”
“We have many more ships. Draw up a plan and request resources through me.”
“It is dangerous to even be near the vortex connecting the stars. If we get too close, it will be like a rowboat trying to outrun a tsunami.”
“I am aware of the dangers. That is why your son had Izanami Robotics provided us with the latest in autopilot systems to pilot the latest surveillance craft. They will be launched from our support ships from a safe distance and transmit all information to us in real-time. Each shuttle will scan the surface of the stars while avoiding solar flares.”
“You have no idea how powerful the vortex is.”
“They have briefed me on the anti-gravity device, which we shall activate before we are near the star. It will keep us from being pulled into the vortex, and before you complain, it has been tested on the vortex.”
“What about the scans inside the Vortex?”
“First, we scan the outside of vortex. Once the navigation computer has the information needed, we will enter the Vortex.”
“Inside a Vortex? It is made of plasma. It will melt us instantly!” a panic Hiro exclaimed.
“Like a hurricane, it has an eye. Once we know the size, speed, and direction of the vortex, the pilot only needs to activate the hyperspace portal generator and enter. The intense UV will slow us down, but our shields will cut a path for us. We will see the eye as a huge spherical void.”
“Do you know this, or you were told this?”
“I have seen images from inside the vortex; the test crew tell me it is safe, as long as we stay inside the ship,” Fukuhina calmly explained.
“Safe?” a shaken Hiro asked.
“Yes. I have the Kaede Corporation training manuals. The ship’s computer has simulated intelligence; it will dramatically improve our chances of survival
by preventing us from doing anything that will endanger the ship.”
“Chances?”
“By the time we get to Haven, you will become familiar with the new scanner, portal generator, shields, anti-gravity field generator, gravity pulse engines and simulated intelligence. I am confident you will teach the system all it needs to ensure our survival.”
“All this from the Warship we captured?”
“You are confused. We did not capture any ship. You found us adrift outside the nebula. The ship I was on was disabled after it had rammed a pirate vessel, which broke up and drifted into the cloud.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I strongly suggest you reacquaint yourself with the official records of my rescue or face disciplinary action.”
“I see.”
“Your son has a contract for you to sign. He is offering you payment in full for fifty-one per cent of your company and needs your approval for a takeover bid for various Hashimoto Resorts, Teahouses, Hotels, Casinos and other establishments.”
“I see.”
“You will need a gaming licence and a brothel operator’s licence.”
“I can do that.”
“You will need to help dispel the rumours that HIS technology was stolen from the Ogres.”
“His technology?”
“Yes, and you are to show your son a level of commitment beyond that of a proud father. He needs your help, unwavering loyalty and guidance.”
“To do what?”
“To be Emperor. Many people do not have faith in Takahiro. It is not just the fuel crisis, but many incidences that have many believing he will continue to act in his financial interests and not in the best interests of the Empire.”
“Is this your opinion?”
“The Prince is offering to double your income, and no harm will come to your father. But rather than me tell you, you need to see for yourself how your son intends to replace him as the richest elf.”
Hiro smiled and said, “I am on team Kaede.”
Fukuhina took the co-pilot seat and said, “Aye-Aye captain. I shall prepare for launch.”
Chapter 10
In the dark, Kaede stood beside Takahiro on the northern shore of the island in the underground cavern of subbasement 20. Out of the water came the head of Raijin, the 3m round Dragon turtle.
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