Dinner With Family

by Hiroyuki Morioka

  Welcome Back to the Abh Empire!

  A refresher about the language of Banner of the Stars:

  Whenever a vocab word of the Abh language, “Baronh,” appears, it will be in italics (with the English meaning in parentheses). Whenever that particular word appears again past the first time in the original text, it will be replaced with its English-meaning counterpart in bold (but won’t be bolded if the word didn’t have the Baronh for it next to it in the original text). This is to make sure the book is accessible without losing some of that lovely “conlang” (constructed language) flavor! That being said, if a Baronh word has already been introduced in the English version of Crest, it won’t be reintroduced in Banner. This translation assumes you have read Crest.

  Baronh words are spelled weirdly. The character whose English-language spelling is “Lafier” is spelled Lamhirh in Baronh (“mh” makes an “f” sound, and the “rh” is actually a rolling “r”). Ghintec, meanwhile, is pronounced “Jint” (as the “c” and “ec” at the ends of many nouns are silent). This translation will largely be making use of accessibility-spellings for character names. Having to constantly remind oneself “Lamhirh” is pronounced LAFEERR would probably prove a tad immersion-breaking for some readers.

  Banner of the Stars is ongoing (its sixth volume having been released in 2018), and according to MORIOKA, Crest of the Stars was something of an introductory primer to this, the “story proper.” Each volume of Banner is its own episode, a snapshot in the lives of our protagonists at a certain point in the grueling decades of galactic warfare. As such, please know that unlike the individual volumes of Crest of the Stars, Volume III of Banner is a self-contained story in addition to being a part of an overarching saga. Pick it up and read at your leisure!

  I believe in the existence of universal ethics.

  I will endeavor to elevate universal ethics.

  I will endeavor to spread universal ethics.

  I place my trust in the United Humankind as the best instrument for the advancement and diffusion of universal ethics.

  I abide by the laws and principles of the United Humankind for the sake of universal ethics.

  I will obey the decrees of the United Humankind for the sake of universal ethics.

  —Excerpt from the United Humankind’s “Pledge of Citizens United”

  BANNER OF THE STARS III: Dinner With Family

  Synopsis of BANNER OF THE STARS II

  In the year 955 I.H., the Imperial Star Forces successfully completed Operation Phantom Flame and cut through United Humankind territory, thereafter, commencing Operation Hunter in order to neutralize the sectors’ remaining enemy ships. Amidst it all, Lafier, the Captain of the Basrogrh within Hunter Fleet 4, was appointed as a liege agent by Fleet Commander-in-Chief Commodore Biboth, and made her way to the planet Lohbnahss II, only to discover it was a penal planet whose population consisted of inmates forcibly sent there by the UH. Moreover, a factional conflict over the right to rule over the planet had broken out, and a portion of the administrators and inmates were requesting asylum. With the impending threat of the return of the enemy squadrons repulsed by Operation Hunter, Lafier narrowly managed to secure the citizens’ escape. During the rescue mission, Jint went missing on the planet’s surface, but following the enemy fleet’s surrender, Lafier formed a mercenary corps and found Jint safe and sound.

  Characters

  Lafier (Lamhirh)

  ... Captain of the assault ship Basrogrh, and the Empress’s granddaughter.

  Jint (Ghintec)

  ... The Count of Hyde.

  Samson (Samsonn)

  ... Main Retainer to the House of Hyde.

  Paveryua (Pabhairyac)

  ... Former subordinate of Samson’s.

  Atosryua (Atausryac)

  ... Commander of Trample-Blitz Squadron 1.

  Roiryua (Roïryac)

  ... Captain of the raid ship Sircaubh.

  Sobash (Sobach)

  ... Captain of the raid ship Flicaubh.

  Ecryua (Aicryac)

  ... Navigator of the same.

  Grinshia (Grinchiac)

  ... Inspector Supervisor of the same.

  Yestesh (Ïestaich)

  ... Examiner of the Financial Affairs Bureau of the Chancellor’s Office.

  Dehryooz (Dereuzz)

  ... Magistrate of the Countdom of Vorlash.

  Lohgdohnyuh (Logdaunh)

  ... Captain of the Baucbiruch.

  Sehrnye (Sérnaïc)

  ... Chief Executive Officer of Sehrnye, Ltd.

  Que Durin (Que is pronounced “Coo”)

  ... An old friend of Jint’s.

  Till Corint

  ... Head of State of the Hyde Star System.

  Lina Corint

  ... Till’s wife.

  Prologue

  Through no volition of his own, ever since he’d been born, Dyaho had had his place of residence changed many a time. Each of those domiciles had their own merits, and he wiled his days far removed from any desire to move to outside pastures. Despite that, he did occasionally reminisce about a former den of his, and had even felt like returning at points. And yet, the species known as “cats” was vested with a rather hazy power of recollection, making it not readily apparent whether those memories were of a place the cat’s paws had in fact once prowled, or whether it was some imagined realm it had dreamt of in a passing noonday nap.

  This time, however, that bygone house-scape doggedly refused to ebb from the recesses of his mind. There were times he deemed the palace, where both cat and human knew their manners, a comfortable den indeed. The humans were well enough behaved, but somewhere in his heart of hearts, he could still see the sights and smell the smells that were not to be had in this place.

  It wasn’t solely that the atmosphere paled in comparison. The humans here were also a careless, inattentive lot. In fact, his tail had gotten tread upon more than once.

  Even more troublesome were the cats. He couldn’t sniff out any sort of order among the cat society here. As Dyaho patrolled his territory, a wretched despondency filling the insides of his diminutive cranium, he encountered a male cat blocking the way.

  Dyaho was not familiar with this cat. In all likelihood, he’d gotten lost after getting chased or some such, and was trying and failing to find his way back.

  It was not among catkind’s virtues to show consideration to others. On the contrary — if the other party was an invader, then no value was seen in mercy.

  Dyaho’s fur bristled as he bared his fangs. And while it was unclear which had brandished his claws first, that was of little significance in feline culture. Dyaho wrestled with the tomcat and thrust his sharp nails into the intruder.

  The battle lasted some time. During their prolonged scuffle, they would at times groom each other, and even take breaks. Eventually, Dyaho repelled the young tom.

  He licked his right foreleg, bringing relief to the bite wound. Once the housemate bumped into him, he’d probably apply some kind of sticky wrap to the injury while mumbling something or other in a patronizing tone. Dyaho did grasp, albeit dimly, that that wrap made the wound heal more quickly, but even so, he couldn’t stand that odor.

  Having gotten hungry, Dyaho elected to return to his roost. All he had to help him tell the passing of time was his stomach.

  After passing through a handful of cat doors to reach his destination, he aimed to snuggle up to his favorite crevice... only to find an occupant already there.

  It was Sercruca. The white female was in a lousy mood as of late, and today was no exception; she was combative. When Dyaho attempted to enter his roost, she bared her own fangs at him.

  Dyaho could not fathom why he was receiving such poor treatment. Until relativ
ely recently, they’d shared the same crevice with good grace. Dyaho used to fear nothing besides the tub of hot water with the odd-smelling bubbles, and yet his fighting spirit wilted before Sercruca. Bemoaning the absurdity that had gripped his soul, he decided to relax in a crevice he didn’t particularly like.

  And there, as ill fortune would have it, he was discovered by the housemate. He was casually passing by when he noticed Dyaho’s foreleg. The human scooped him up, and Dyaho, knowing what was to follow, protested vociferously.

  “It’s one of the many mysteries of Abh society...” he said. “Why haven’t they developed an odorless salve for cats?”

  “If they did, the cats would end up licking the ointment,” said the housemate’s housemate. “They make it smell bad to cats on purpose.”

  “Then they should just make it taste bad.”

  “This one does taste bitter, though.”

  The housemate licked his finger. “It’s more salty than bitter.”

  “Cats don’t like saltiness.”

  “For real?” The housemate brought his finger under Dyaho’s nose.

  Dyaho repaid this act of violence by digging his claws into the human’s hands.

  Chapter 1: Gnac Martinr (Flowers of Martin)

  Like other planets of its type, it was born as a clump of boiling molten rock. When the lava covering its surface cooled, it solidified into a layer of bedrock. Then the water that poured down gathered in pools, becoming giant oceans. Within the oceans, chemicals that were as common as could be kept reacting in their run-of-the-mill way over and over again, gradually yielding proteins and sugars.

  Up until that point, the planet’s story was like that of so many others. Granted, the planet was of a rare type on the galactic scale, but in terms of overall numbers, planets in general were plentiful. A fair few even had oceans with highly active cellular structures. That in itself was no “miracle.” But in that planet’s oceans, something vanishingly rare occurred — the emergence of self-replicating molecules, which attached to cellular structures.

  The resulting primitive lifeforms absorbed organic matter, proliferated, and teemed across the waters of the world. The proliferating lifeforms competed against each other, and several species successfully incorporated enzymes catalyzing high-energy activity, thereby gaining supremacy over other, sluggish-at-best lifeforms.

  Almost no other planets had ever reached this stage of evolution. In this case, to call it a “miracle” would be no exaggeration. Furthermore, some among the primitive lifeforms acquired a special ability. Those lifeforms were traitors, in a manner of speaking, for the free oxygen they released through the process known as “photosynthesis” proved poisonous to their fellow lifeforms. The kingdom capable of photosynthesis reproduced at intense rates, polluting the atmosphere and oceans with free oxygen in no time. Consequently, scads of lifeforms met their ends. Those that escaped death were either the lifeforms that lived in environments that tenaciously refused oxygen, or the lifeforms that acquired the art of utilizing oxygen.

  After epochs that were even lengthy on the cosmic scale, another miracle manifested in the planet’s ecosystem. Multicellular structures — lifeforms composed of more than one cell — began arising. Multicellular life had existed before then, but those agglomerations of cells had no division of labor: they were just herds of cells. For these multicellular beings, on the other hand, each individual cell could not survive on its own, as it was a mere component of a larger whole.

  These multicellular lifeforms absolutely flourished. They appeared in multifarious forms, fighting for the survival of their respective species. In the shallows, fish with photosynthetic fibers resembling fur spread their hydro-wings, while in the deeps, creatures with exoskeletons strode on their eight radially-arranged legs. Soft-bodied giant coelenterates established themselves on the deep-sea floors, while extending their tentacles near the water’s surface. Spherical sea-trees rolled from the deeps to the shallows, adrift on the tidal currents, washing up on the shores of the landmasses that were biologically barren. Unequipped to survive on the land, they withered on the beaches, but the winds blew and scattered their seeds inland.

  The vast majority of the seeds that germinated failed to grow, but some did adapt to the land. Evolutionary variation ensued in the process, and they dominated the land in the blink of an eye. Particularly successful were the trees that laid dynamic seeds. Some of the seeds grew legs, while others possessed wings. The leg-seeds marched inland like a massive herd aiming to cover the whole of the ground, while the wing-seeds journeyed on the winds like little gliders.

  Eventually, other plant species timidly began to advance inland, while some of the more quick-witted animals sneaked their way in as well. That was where the curtain closed on the planet’s miracles. Of course, another miracle or two could occur down the line, but that would likely take place eons from now. The next miracles in the chain did occur on a planet far, far away. There, many species gained high intelligence, with one in particular capable of stepping forward onto the stage of the stars.

  That especially intelligent lifeform traveled from a planet characterized by a parade of miracles to pay this planet, dubbed “Martin” — a planet that was a comparatively late bloomer — a visit. The endemic creatures never came up with a name for the planet, so they didn’t object. Though of course, they didn’t exactly actively welcome it, either.

  The alien lifeform set foot upon this land not long ago. They were not hostile to the native life. In fact, they demonstrated good will, and as such, the biosphere’s cycle of life was not much disturbed. Even the more intelligent species might not have even noticed the planet had been invaded. While the indigenous species lived their everyday existences, persisting since ancient times, the aliens assiduously built up their own base of everyday life.

  Eventually, another set of aliens that shared a point of origin with the first set of aliens arrived. The second planetary invasion was also a very mild affair, but the original invaders’ pride was badly wounded. Yet there was a more pressing problem than even the blow to their self-esteem, for it was then that the first set of aliens learned that the universe was in an era of upheaval. They had to accept that their isolated and quiet lifestyle was never to return, and that they had been swallowed by that galactic turmoil without an escape rope.

  That terrible agitation had reached the carefree primitive lifeforms, as well. Many creatures that would otherwise have died in obscurity on-planet were brought to the threshold of the stars.

  “Jint, the flowers look about ready to bloom.”

  “Hm?” said Linn Ssynec Raucr Dreuc Haïder Ghintec, looking up from the dining table. “Oh, morning, Lafier. You eat breakfast yet?”

  “Not yet,” said Roïbomoüass Laburer (Star Forces Vice Hecto-Commander) Ablïarsec Néïc Dubreuscr Bœrh Parhynr Lamhirh, shaking her head.

  “Well then, how about breakfast together?” Jint gestured toward the chair.

  “Did you not hear me?” said Lafier, remaining on her feet. “The flowers are about to bloom.”

  “Yeah, I heard about it, too,” said Jint as he scooped his scrambled eggs with a sréragh (fork-spoon). Lately, he was feeling a bit sleep-deprived. His head felt numb, and he didn’t have much of an appetite.

  “Then why are you still eating?” Lafier asked, casting a look.

  “What do you mean? I’m not done eating,” he explained, clearly and concisely. Despite his status as a count, Jint was raised in a modest home, and he felt pangs of conscience at the prospect of wasting leftover food.

  “You idiot,” she assessed his character, clearly and concisely. “A flower blooms, a cat is born.”

  Jint glanced at the corner of the room where Sercruca’s labor bed was installed. The white Abh cat was feeding her three newborn kittens with her milk. Abh cats were active by nature, but they were also exceedingly docile in character. The exception was before and after giving birth. They’d expended some effort transporting Sercruca to the l
abor bed after she’d gone into labor atop one of the shelves in the commodities warehouse, and whenever they tried to touch the kittens, the cat lost her cool.

  It was on Jint to decide what would become of the kittens, as a result of his consultation with Lafier. But as things stood, it was probably wise to wait a while before finding the kittens a new owner. Besides, Jint wanted to be with the kittens for a little longer.

  Jint returned Lafier’s gaze and said: “Flowers don’t wilt immediately. Why all the fuss?”

  “Aren’t they special flowers to you?”

  “Ahh,” he said, rising from his seat. “You mean those flowers? Shoulda told me sooner.”

  “I didn’t think you were that slow. Why would I inform you about any old normal flowers?”

  “True enough, but I just got up and my head’s not working properly yet,” explained Jint. Had he been in typical form, he would have at least thought to ask which flowers she was referring to.

  “Liar. You’re always like that,” declared the Royal Princess.

  “Well, if you’re not sharp enough to know I’m not that sharp, what’s that make you?”

  “You’re so unexceptional sometimes it’s a work of art. If you’re not the sharpest, you should stay that way.”

  “That defies logic.”

  “What are you going to do? Are you going to go see the flowers, or keep eating?”

  “I’ll go see ’em,” he said, pushing away the plate.

  “Would you like me to lower it?” asked the table.

  “Yep. Please do,” said Jint, but not without feeling guilty. The center of the table, on which his plate of leftovers rested, proceeded to sink down. Jint gazed with regrets aplenty as his breakfast vanished from view.