In unison with the record from what occurred inside the freighter, the entire CID shifted, displaying the external sensor logs from just before the asteroids arrived. They rotated slowly through space, just like normal asteroids, but when the freighter adjusted its course to move out of their path, the asteroids would alter course as well, until they were within only a few hundred meters. The asteroids then slowed rapidly, clasping onto the hull with hidden arms, the timestamp matching when the first Schnac'lasis appeared inside the hull.
“So that's how they did it,” Yukie whispered
“Toonga! Let father know...it's the asteroids! They're hiding themselves in the asteroids!” Yukie shouted. Regalia still didn't understand what was going on, and before she could voice her question, Yukie turned to her, Ori the catillian dancing and hooting on her shoulder.
“It's why all the fleets were called to “The Wall”! We knew they were breaking through, but we couldn't figure out how,” Yukie explained rapidly.
Regalia nodded slowly, thinking to herself what this meant. If the ASU had found a hole in “The Wall”, they could sneak millions of these asteroid starships into NHA space, and combined with the HDP weapon they seemed to have developed, it could mean the end of the NHA, the end of humanity. But another thought struck her as she watched the asteroid starships accelerate away.
“Mother! Where are they going?” she asked desperately, both Yukie and Belia staring at her in surprise. After a few seconds the projection on the CID zoomed out and the trajectories of the asteroid starships were plotted. She went white.
“Heclutia...” Yukie whispered under her breath as the destination became clear. Regalia could sense the tension in the air multiply as others echoed the words across the bridge, verified by the sensor crew below.
“Captain Daiyu! Pursuit course! Inform the assault shuttle to follow at a safe distance!” Yukie shouted as she rushed around the CID to lean over the railing overlooking the bridge.
“You heard Empress Yukie! Helm, plot an intercept course based on estimated trajectory of the enemy starships. Hopefully they haven't adjusted course,” Captain Daiyu ordered as Regalia moved to the station adjacent to her mothers, squeezing her cold, clammy hands, her cheeks still unnaturally pale.
“It will be alright, Mother,” she smiled kindly as she kissed her cheek.
“I know, dear,” her response was barely audible, showing no emotion.
“Course marked in, Captain!” the helmsman responded.
“Empress...do we have permission to ignore speed safety protocols?” Captain Daiyu asked, voice leaking some of her own suppressed excitement.
“Of course! I will not allow the ASU to harm any more of my dear subjects! Especially the ones just freed by Sasha and Trent!” she shouted. Regalia tensed.
“Very well...Helm, Full Burn! Let's see if we can break the Universal Speed Record!” At the captain's words the ABF Sasha shot off, leaving the smaller shuttle in her wake.
“I love you, Regalia,” her mother's voice trembled as the universe started to warp.
“I love you too, Mother,” so did hers as she hugged her mother close, noticing Yukie, who stilled leaned over the railing overlooking the bridge, appeared as if she would jump through the viewscreen to catch the responsible ASU starships by herself.
*********
Asteroids continued to float past the patrolling ABF battle groups at an abnormally high rate. Knight Commander Eyulclia, the current fleet sensor officer, verified the sensor data filling her station from each of the sensors officer's within the fleet. She expertly manipulated the data, feeding the relevant trajectories into the CID to verify the fleet's patrol waypoints were well outside the asteroids projected paths.
A warning flashed across her station, reporting two of the larger asteroids collided, ricocheting into a dense field of smaller asteroids, scattering them in all directions. She sighed, noticing that two of the redirected asteroids would intersect their current course, forcing her to again forward a required course change to Knight Admiral Bhool for approval.
When the ABF first arrived at “The Wall”, over three periods before, to begin patrolling the sector of space in which they were assigned, she'd been perplexed by the sheer number of asteroids passing slowly through the tightly packed sensor and weapon platforms that made up “The Wall”. Initially, she assumed something was amiss, the asteroids being unnatural, or so her gut told. But after downloading the logs from “The Wall's” sensor platforms, she realized it was actually a rare phenomenon resulting from a rogue pulsar passing close to young star system.
The rogue pulsar, ASU-P-R0034A, a rapidly spinning neutron star with an immense gravitational field, was passing within only a few billion kilometers of the star system, ASU-RE5498F, which was just beyond “The Wall”, within ASU space. This neutron star destabilized the star system and had caused it to jettison asteroids from its massive belts. Normally, this would cause the asteroids to scatter randomly in every direction, but because of the way the pulsar was spinning, the asteroids were being flung towards “The Wall”. The majority floating past the sector of space they now patrolled.
After verifying the asteroids were not a threat, they had begun searching in earnest for how the ASU had been sneaking forces into NHA space. But, like the millions of other NHA fleets now patrolling “The Wall”, they had found no signs of attempted intrusions. Normally, an ASU incursion attempt involved a fleet of ASU starships, usually around 25,000, rushing a section of “The Wall's” weapon platforms, which surrounded all of ASU space. The enormous platforms, super-massive LPAs would devastate the enemy starships at range. Then, after the ASU fleet sustained a certain amount of losses, it would retreat. Or so they were meant to believe.
ASU infiltration ships would hide within the debris of the destroyed starships as they floated on their momentum into NHA space. But this time, nothing. Not a trace. The platforms sensor logs returning no reports of enemy starships coming within range for well over last 10 periods. But the facts were clear; ASU starships were somehow breaching “The Wall” and attacking border colonies. So the only option left was to order all Emperor's Wall Fleet and galaxy 189 battle groups to patrol “The Wall”, the idea being that human eyes may be able to see what the automated sensors could not.
She scanned another wave of asteroids that had just past into NHA space, finding that none would intersect their new course and, like all the others over the past few periods, returned no anomalies.
“Eyes? Everything alright?” Knight Admiral Bhool asked from Eyulclia's right, where she continued to play with her catillian while she lounged in her elevated command chair, having accepted Eyulclia's latest course alteration.
“Yes, Ma'am. Just beginning to wonder when this special alert level will be rescinded. I worry about the Alutia Duchy in our absence,” Eyulclia said, having overheard a few disturbing rumors.
Knight Admiral Bhool sighed. “Me as well, eyes. The latest reports are very disconcerting,” Eyulclia couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the Knight Admiral's unusual candor. “Apparently, a newly appointed Alutia Grand Marquis is missing and presumed kidnapped by a Duke Zehman loyalist, a Marquis Rostil. But that is only part of the story,” she leaned forward, Eyulclia and the rest of the fleet officer's ears twitching. “The ABF Sasha, rushing to save him, engaged our old friend, Rear-Admiral Quo'Nup, in direct combat, with the empress onboard no less.” Eyulclia spun away from her station near the head of the CID, directly beside, and a little below, Knight Admiral Bhool, gaping at her in disbelief.
“Ma'am...you can't be serious?” Knight Lieutenant Romiss, the current fleet communications officer, responded first.
Knight Admiral Bhool smirked, but her eyes showed no amusement. “Oh...I am completely serious, com. And when I return I plan on having yet another serious discussion with our dear grand duchess and grand duke about the term...restraint...” she seemed to tense as if a horrible memory rose to the surface. “Did I mention that while the battle
was taking place in space, our rational rulers were personally leading an uprising on Alutia V5432 in an attempt to save the grand marquis and Lady Vickie, who had also been kidnapped?” the fleet officers gasped as one, many showing the disbelief that Eyulclia knew must be plastered on her own face. It wasn't possible, her mind screamed, a grand duke and grand duchess would never personally land on a petty planet to lead an uprising against their noble master. It was beyond ridiculous.
“That doesn't make any sense, ma'am,” Eyulclia questioned without thought, regretting her words immediately. But the knight admiral didn't respond, or take offence, just leaned back, crossing her legs while casually accessing the command BAP. A two-dimensional projection appeared adjacent each of the 20 fleet stations that surrounded the CID, displaying an orbital view of a unique shuttle hovering directly over a landing pad. It appeared two people were being held captive, their heads covered and arms bound, surrounded by combat armored guards who stood at the ready on the surface of the landing pad.
“That is what I thought after I first received the report as well, eyes. But then I witnessed the record and reviewed the proclamations of our honorable leaders after the uprising was successful,” Knight Admiral Bhool shook her head as the record began to play.
The shuttle extended a combat tube onto the landing pad, but before anyone could exit, a laser bolt shot across the sky, striking the side of the shuttle. It was knocked at least 50 meters from its hovering point, but surprisingly, the armor held. As the shuttle tried to recover, the combat tube went horizontal, and the two poor guards who were about to exit first were almost thrown free. But they held on, one grasping the edge of the tube while holding onto the other, who dangled precariously below.
“And this is why I plan on attaching at least a five battle group escort to their personal starship and commanding them personally!” Knight Admiral Bhool stood with a shout, appearing to lose control of her temper, which she rarely did in front of her staff. But Eyulclia couldn’t understand. Why would the knight admiral lose her composure over an assault shuttle being ambushed while landing?
“Ma'am?” Knight Lieutenant Romiss asked carefully, obviously confused like her. Knight Admiral Bhool's gaze passed over each of the seated fleet officers, seeming to take in their confused looks as she allowed her anger to drain.
“Forgive me. I forget that most of you only met them briefly during the Battle of Earth. These individuals hanging from that tube are your noble leaders, the Grand Duke Trent Alutia and the Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia.” The gasps of the fleet officers were so loud that the bridge officers seated below the fleet command deck went silent.
“Knight Admiral...Is everything alright?” Knight Captain Shelvy questioned carefully from the bridge below.
“It is nothing, Captain...just a realization of the possibility of future difficulties,” Knight Admiral Bhool responded, before turning her attention back to the record.
Eyulclia barely heard the response, her full concentration on the two nobles hanging from the combat tube, trying to recall their faces from when she had met them briefly to receive her commendation for actions taken during the Battle of Earth. But before she could verify for herself that it was indeed the noble couple she remembered, the record continued and the two were thrown clear after a second laser bolt stuck the swaying shuttle.
“Oh no...” she didn't recognize the voice, but it said what she and everyone else on the fleet command deck were thinking. The two bodies tumbled through the air, crashing through some sort of shield barrier and into what appeared to be a desert or barren landscape. One of the two activated their combat armor's thrusters too soon while pushing the other away, whose own thrusters activated a moment later, allowing an almost gentle landing.
“That would be Grand Duke Trent,” Knight Admiral Bhool answered the question on her tongue, unable to stop shaking her head as she watched. The image faded as a cloud of dust filled the projected screen.
“Are they alright, ma'am?” Knight Lt.-Commander Harlie asked, voice tense.
“Sir Trent was severely injured by all reports. But apparently was still well enough to lead the petties in an uprising to overthrow Baron Tuhbil, who... as we all knew...was still loyal to Duke Zehman, and then...disband the petty system.” Eyulclia almost missed the last part, the knight admiral seeming to mention it after the fact.
“They did what?” a junior maintenance engineer, who was working on a faulty PDU on the far side of the CID, shouted in disbelief. Everyone turned in his direction. The man went pale, then dropped to the floor.
“I'm sorry, ma'am! I...I forgot myself...please...please forgive me,” the man groveled.
“Stand, crewman,” Knight Admiral Bhool instructed, voice of unquestionable command. The crewman stood, trembling, unable to look Knight Admiral Bhool directly in the eyes. “I do not tolerate outbursts on my fleet command deck. But.......I will forgive you this time and only this time. Do I make myself clear?” Knight Admiral Bhool stared daggers at the terrified man.
“Yes, ma'am,” the junior maintenance engineer saluted, obviously relived.
“And to answer your question...and just in case anyone else did not hear me clearly the first time. The petties are now free in Alutia. This includes not only those who currently reside in Alutia, but also any who are allowed to immigrate. I've only received a preliminary report, but apparently all petties will be provided a full, common level education in any discipline or trade of their choice,” the crewman's eyes went wide as he stared at Knight Admiral Bhool in disbelief. But Eyulclia tensed, knowing what must be on the mind of every officer within earshot.
“What about the fleet, ma'am?” she asked. The knight admiral sighed, petting her hooting catillian, before returning her stare to the nervous crewman.
“As I mention, I've only been provided a basic report. But it did state that all petty jobs will be changed to common, along with increasing pay and safety across the board.”
It made sense, Eyulclia thought, knowing the petties were considered the backbone of any duchy and never fully understanding why they were treated so poorly.
“The nobles will be displeased with this, ma'am,” Knight Commander Unilecia said, her unemotional tone making Eyulclia think she may be one of them.
“Be that as it may, it is of no concern to the fleet. Remember, our job is to protect and promote not only the will of the NHA and the emperor, but also that of our sovereigns, Sir Trent and Lady Sasha, no matter what we or other nobles may think, say, or...do,” Knight Admiral Bhool explained clearly. Unilecia looked away, apparently not pleased by the response. Eyulclia, however, couldn't help but grin.
She'd almost regretted following Knight Admiral Bhool to Alutia after the Battle of Earth, and the horrors she witnessed during that time, having come to realize that the leaders of her newly adopted duchy had no fear of angering the powerful traditionalist nobility. But now she knew she'd made the right choice, being able to witness historic changes first hand.
But only if I live through it, she reminded herself.
The asteroids closest to “The Wall” began to vanish, replaced by clouds of debris as they were blasted to pieces by the surrounding weapons platform's thousands of super-massive LPAs. It took her mind a second to register what was happening. Why would the platforms target... recognition stuck her so hard she almost fell from her seat.
“Ma'am! It's the asteroids! They are using the asteroids!” As she shouted the CID shimmered, the previously grey asteroids now being displayed as hundreds of thousands of enemy signatures, many of which were floating casually past their fleet of three ABF battle groups, or 150 starships.
“Sound Battle Stations! Eyes, help tactical with target priorities! Com, Inform Knight Admiral Quinn and Vice-Admiral Sys'Kol to tighten formation and fire-at-will! I don't want any to break through!” Knight Admiral Bhool shouted as her command chair hovered, then rose sharply, flying over the immense battle-space being projected by the CID.
“M
a'am! They're moving! They're trying to ram us!” Eyulclia shouted over the fleet officer's com channel as the closest asteroids, a dense field of about 20,000 of varying sizes, started accelerating in their direction.
“They're closing too fast!” Knight Commander Unilecia shouted from the fleet tactical station. Eyulclia tensed, watching as the fleet’s LPAs started picking off the smaller asteroid ships by the hundreds. But the larger ones continued to close, their dense armor seeming to shrug off most of the connecting fire. A group of five of the smaller asteroids ships broke through the coordinated defense fire, slamming into a frigate and corvette who couldn't readjust their targeting priorities in time to protect themselves. Both starships lost.
“All ABF starships...engage-at-will! Repeat! Engage-at-will!” Knight Admiral Bhool's rapid orders erupted over the fleet command channel. The ABF starships broke formation, all starship target priorities released to local, allowing each to designate immediate threats to help them stay alive, or so they hoped.
LPAs streaked in every direction, painting space green as the ABF starships maneuvered away from a dense group of 15,000 asteroid ships that were now less than a 1,000 kilometers off their flank, with another 25,000 or so at 10,000 kilometers in all directions, circling, waiting to attack.
There was no escape.
The ABF Sasha concentrated its fire on the largest asteroids, its thousands of LPA beams blowing chunks of rock free, the enemy starships having no energy shielding, relying solely on stealth. Eyulclia noticed a group of 20 smaller asteroid ships had targeted an isolated corvette, closing rapidly. She switched her station to local tactical, increasing the priority of the enemy starships and watching as the ABF Sasha's LPAs cleared the threat with the corvette picking off the stragglers.
A frigate vanished a moment before she could readjust the target priority of the LPAs, cursing under her breath as she found another group of three frigates being herded away from the fleet. The asteroid ships swooped towards the frigates whenever they tried to maneuver back. Eyulclia watched the pattern repeat, then, just as the frigates began to maneuver, she increased priority on the group of asteroid ships that went to cut them off. Two of the frigates blew through the opening, but a third was caught by one that she'd missed.
The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2) Page 63
