Center Worlds - Spark

by Tim Morrison

Chapter 3.4

  Clan War - Clanworld Michelab -17 BA

  The TGX-2 hung overhead as Ryo flew down towards Clanworld Michelab in a shuttle, escorted by a full wing of armed fighters. The procession was tracked by the weapons from the TGX, which was on battle alert, prepared to fire upon anything that targeted or attacked this small flotilla.

  The shuttle touched down, and Ryo stepped out, to be greeted by seven Michelab guards, weapons drawn but not aimed directly at him.

  "Your Clan is not welcome on this world, Lord Camelin, why are you here?" Came the challenge.

  Six of the guards crumpled instantly as weapons fire mowed them down. Ryo walked towards the one remaining standing, and firmly took the firearm from his shocked and limp fingers.

  "I do not have patience for pandering, or sycophants. Take me to your Clan leader before I reduce this world to a charred cinder."

  Within minutes they were walking towards the First House of Michelab, where although it was the middle of the night, the building was ablaze with light at this unexpected and dangerous visitor.

  Ryo was surprised as he entered the main hall to see not Myo Michelab, but the former Captain Kerilac.

  "Where is Clansman Michelab?" Ryo said as he walked up to the table where Kerilac sat, flanked by armed guards, who had their weapons squarely aimed at Ryo's midsection.

  "I am the Clansman for Michelab now, my predecessor has voyaged to Pangea. Terrible accident he suffered, truly terrible. Why are you here?" Kerilac replied.

  "Then I will hold you responsible for the attack upon my world this day, Kerilac. Good people died today, because you continue to fight a war a thousand cycles dead." Ryo stated, resting his hands flatly on the table.

  "What, pray to the Gods, will you do, Lord Camelin?" Kerilac said smugly. "One word from me, and you will be gunned down, ending the line of Clan Camelin in one move."

  Ryo leaned a bit closer. "One word from me, Clansman Kerilac, and this world is reduced to a broken glass sphere, glowing with radiation for ten thousand cycles."

  Kerilac guffawed. "Even the full power of your TGX battlecruiser could not do that damage to this world before the rest of the Confederacy turned on you, Camelin. I call your bluff..." He paused as one of the guards leaned down and whispered in his ear.

  "Your man is most likely informing you that there are now four TGX cruisers in orbit. Three others having just dropped into high orbit, and they are taking up equidistant positions. You are right that my one ship could not easily glass this planet. Four TGXs' on the other hand, can reduce it to shiny cinders in a matter of moments." Ryo said, standing up again.

  "I can still kill you, and end the reign of Camelin, to ensure that the other clans will stop Desinlo from spreading through the Confederacy." Kerilac said, his confidence shaken, but his plans still somewhat in place.

  "You do not have the strength in numbers to bring down Clan Camelin. I have allies with seven of the twelve Clans, none of which are amused by what you did this day on my world. The smart thing to do would be to put down the weapons and start negotiating, before I lose what little patience I have left." Ryo stated.

  "You want me to negotiate? For what?" Kerilac said, then got to his feet. "I will negotiate only this. You leave here, unharmed, and do not return. Otherwise, I will ensure blood will be spilled, Lord Camelin."

  Ryo folded his arms and looked squarely at Kerilac. "Blood has already been spilled this day. You do not even begin to understand what it is you face, Kerilac. It is not just me that you have impacted this day, you have brought the entire Confederacy to the brink of civil war, and the other Clans don't want to fight your war. I told you this in the Great Hall some time ago, No More."

  A sudden explosion ripped through the room as Ryo said these words, and the ceiling dissolved into a swirl of broken glass and plasteel, swirling up into the dark night sky that was suddenly fully lit up. As Ryo stood, surrounded by a column of golden light, the room seemed to dissolve, until Kerilac and his guards were left standing in the remains of the house as it was torn apart and fine dust and debris scattered all over the grounds.

  Kerilac signalled the guards and they fired at Ryo, but the bullets were deflected by the column of energy, then the weapons themselves were pulled free of the guard's hands to join the swirling mass of debris still flying through the air.

  Just as suddenly as the noise began, it stopped, and the debris settled down in a cloud of fine dust. Kerilac looked at Ryo as he stood there, still in the column of golden light, then became aware of the sound of booted feet walking, and turned to see Lord Emperor Tyo Masilec, along with the assembled Clan leaders walking towards them with a full Palace Security detachment to back them up.

  "Lord Emperor." Ryo said, bowing slightly.

  "Lord Camelin." Tyo replied, also making a perfunctory bow. "My fellow Clansmen, you have witnessed, have you a decision?"

  The clansmen all huddled together, then one stepped forward. "Aye, Lord Emperor, we have. Upon review of the actions taken today we agree to strip Clan Michelab of lands and powers through the Grand Council. Travel will be restricted to approved routes only and all members of the Clan shall be returned to homeworlds for a period of one Grand Cycle."

  "You can't do this!" Kerilac shouted. "I am Clan Leader of Michelab, I have a say, and I will be heard!"

  "Then speak, Lord Kerilac, of Clan Michelab, by all means. Say what you need to." Tyo said.

  "What I ordered was just. Clan Desinlo, and through their actions, Clan Camelin have betrayed the Confederacy. Desinlo took over government in a bloody coup and ruled the Confederacy for hundreds of cycles. They ordered the killing of my entire planet. Camelin now harbours these criminals and they need to pay for their crimes. Desinlo and Camelin must now pay for those crimes, in every way possible. It is the law!"

  "Not my law, Clansman Kerilac." Tyo replied calmly. "Confederacy law states that once the Grand Council has voted on an action, that matter is closed and will not be opened again. You are now committing treason yourself for violating our law. You will remain here, the Clanworld will be isolated, and Kerilac can figure out how to explain to the billion and a half citizens of Clan Michelab why they can no longer trade or get goods with the rest of the Confederacy, or even with their own colony worlds. I think you will find that the wisdom of the Michelab crowds will give you summary guidance."

  Tyo turned and walked back towards the waiting shuttle, along with the other Clan Leaders who also turned their backs on the now impotent Kerilac who stood there in the remains of the house, fuming angry.

  "Tell me, Commander Camelin. What happened to the team I sent to deal with the traitorous bitch Desinlo?"

  "I had them hulled on the trip here. Would you care to join them?" Ryo replied, stone-faced.

  Kerilac staggered back and fell to his knees.

  “Camelin!” He shouted, Ryo turned to him.

  “I will not rest until I have your head, traitor. Your days are numbered, Lord Camelin.”

  “Then, Clansman Kerilac, we are at war. The next time I step foot upon this world, you will swear fealty to me.” Ryo turned and walked away, the golden cone of light protecting him until he was at the shuttle which he boarded.

  The shuttle lifted and quickly exceeded velocity as it flew towards the orbiting battlecruisers. As it passed the outer hull of the TGX-2, Ryo spared a glance at the space where the five men had been secured. Nothing remained now except the cargo mounts. Their bodies had been eroded by the trip through the vortex. From the inside-out as the exotic particles ate their way through the living tissues and dissolved them into nothingness.

  The shuttle docked and Ryo made his way to the bridge of his ship. Kalen was waiting for him.

  "Good news, Commander. Aya has been stabilized and the doctors feel there will be no permanent damage. The bullet broke bone but did not break any synapses."

  Ryo nodded, a touch of relief amid a day of disaster was a glimmer of hope.

  "Get us underway, we have a
funeral to proceed with, and a Clanworld to honour."