by R. E. Graham
Tears began to swell in his eyes. He punched the wall in frustration, forcing himself to swallow the overwhelming feeling of regret for the dead family.
The Republic is going to come for all of us now. This is really bad. I don't know what we are going to do…
Deep down he knew that when he accepted the life of a pirate, he knew he would have to make hard decisions. Now he was going to have to face up for his crimes that sprang out of desperation.
It isn’t a question of if the Republic finds us, but when.
Chapter 3
Cycle: 434 Month: 2 Rotation: 10
Corre Republic Space
Prefecture: Siimon
Planet: Unknown
Location: Aboard the Only Hope
The blast door for the bridge slid into the wall with a whoosh. Captain Tarvus stepped onto the deck with a very sour look on his face.
Hernando and Nina looked at one another while Joker was occupied navigating the asteroid field.
The female communications officer was the first to break the eerie silence after the door slid shut. "Cap, what are we gonna do?"
Mikhail placed his hands on his hips and let out a deep breath. The bridge crew could tell he was in a furious mood. No one wanted to be on his bad side right now. They had seen what that looks like and they certainly didn't want to re-experience the memories.
"Joker,"
"Aye, Captain," the pilot called out from across the room.
"Change course towards Noire."
"Captain?" Hernando asked with a confused look.
The pirate captain strolled over to his command chair and sat down. It creaked loudly in defiance. "We have more to worry about than just the echo beacon that we found. One of the crew of the vessel was a senator."
"Senator?" Joker blurted out. He half turned around but kept looking back and forth at the screen to make sure they didn't crash. "Like an honest to All Father senator?"
Mikhail nodded solemnly.
The gunner placed his burly hands on his station as he stood. "Sir, what are we going to do with the cargo?"
"We are going to do our best to sell it to members of Onyx and pray they don't ask too many questions."
"Onyx? You can't be serious," Hernando said in shock. "They are members of the five skulls..."
"Precisely. They will have deeper pockets and will be able to pay us a hefty sum for all of the loot we took."
Nina observed the conversation but elected to not enter in too much. She leaned back on the wall behind her station and just listened. Hernando, on the other hand, had an extreme difficulty processing the situation entirely.
"But Onyx is some of the most ruthless thugs on the market right now. Why not just take the gold and get it melted ourselves?"
Mikhail stood up angrily. "And what would we do with it then Hern? You have to look at the big picture. The Republic is sure to send a patrol to investigate what just happened, and they aren't going to be too happy when they see the mess."
The gunner pursed his lips in thought. He lowered his eyes and looked at the floor.
"It won't be long before the authorities come looking for whoever is responsible. We need to cover our tracks and put some distance from this place. Noire is going to have plenty of in and out traffic to mask our entry, and we can offload the goods."
The Captain looked about the bridge to see if anyone else opposed his logic. "Alright, Joker, get us there as fast as you can." With that, he headed off the bridge with Nina following close behind.
The pair's steps echoed off the metal walls in the small corridor outside the bridge. "Cap," Nina said as she tried to catch up to the larger man.
Mikhail stopped and spun around. "Yes, Nina?"
The woman tugged at her tight orange colored vest, but her face looked concerned. "What happened aboard the ship?"
The Captain looked behind him to see if they were alone then turned back to his first mate. "We had the crew on the bridge, which was actually a family on vacation, and the new kid got jumpy."
"Lenny?"
Mikhail nodded.
"That little poosh!" she whispered angrily.
"He thought he saw a gun and shot all of them. When the lawmen get a look at the bodies, if they can find them, they are gonna start the hunt for us."
"Sir, are you sure about meeting up with Onyx though?" Nina asked as she looked up into Mikhail's light blue eyes.
The Captain shrugged. "I'm not sure about anything right now. This last raid was supposed to be an easy in-and-out. Now it has turned into something that could lead back to Largo." His mind drifted for a moment to think about Leesa and Coral back at his home and the feeling of dread if they were captured.
"Odds are that if we go to them that they won't actually give us a fair price for our haul."
"Maybe…maybe not. Either way, I don't see another option. It's that, or we head for the Rubies."
"They have an even worse reputation for rogue raiders," the comm's officer said as she crossed her arms in frustration at the situation.
"After we deal with Lord Horsh's men on Noire we need to scoot on back to Destiny and lay low for a while. At least until this blows over."
"Agreed."
"I'm going to tell Jax the plan and make sure we are ready to go the moment we touch down." Mikhail started to walk away when Nina's eyes widened.
"Jax doesn't know yet?"
Tarvus grinned as he walked backward. "He'll be fine."
Chapter 4
Cycle: 434 Month: 2 Rotation: 10
Corre Republic Space
Prefecture: Siimon
Planet: Unknown
Location: Aboard the Only Hope, heading for Noire
"Absolutely not Captain," Jax said enthusiastically. The pirate tech shook his head and closed up the last box of goods from the haul.
"Come on Jax," Mikhail said with a lighthearted tone. "It'll be fine."
"Yeah, maybe for you Cap, but those squish eaters still have a big price on my head." Jax picked up the box and headed for their hover truck. He reached up over the bed of the vehicle and lowered the container and dropped it the rest of the way. The contents loudly clanged against the metal bed.
"Listen, Jax, everything will be fine. You can stay on the ship then."
The smaller man huffed, and his shoulders sank. "What happens to me if they find out I am on Noire? I owe them a lot of cuso."
Mikhail reached up and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry, everything will be alright. We are in a bad situation, but I am going to see us through."
Jax nodded approvingly but with a bit of hesitation.
The Captain smacked the tech's left arm. "Get it all loaded up and ready. Time is going to be short once we land and I don't want to diddle around."
"Aye, aye."
Before Mikhail could walk off, he heard someone clear their throat behind him. He spun around to see the thin framed, yet muscular, Rhonda Thrice in her typical cargo pants and a plain olive-colored shirt. The pirate captain could read a slew of emotions coming from her stance and facial expression.
"Uh sir..." she started before she massaged the outside of her right arm. "I wanted to apologize for when we were aboard the vessel. Lenny's actions fall on my shoulders, and now we are in a lot of trouble."
Mikhail thought for a moment before he responded.
She needs to know I am serious, but I don't want her to beat herself up too bad.
"The kid was under your supervision, but he took matters into his own hands. I have already spoken with him, but just know that he won't be riding along after this mission is through."
Rhonda's face lit up a little from Mikhail's answer but then weakened again as he continued.
"However, we live a dangerous life out here in the 'verse. I need to know that when I assign you a task that you will come through all the way."
The female raider looked to the deck beneath her. "Yessir. It won't happen again."
Mikhail nodded th
en headed back for the bridge.
Chapter 5
Cycle: 434 Month: 2 Rotation: 10
Corre Republic Space
Prefecture: Siimon
Planet: Gallirae
Location: Prism, the capital city
A gentle melody played on brass musical instruments as a group of Siimon's most influential individuals had gathered together at Prefect Winston Haines estate in the music room. While the three female member band continued to play, polite laughter in the center of the room competed against the volume of the instruments.
“Prefect, your home is as lovely as I remember,” a male bureaucrat said trying to gain points with the man in the middle of the gathering.
Prefect Haines wore the traditional prefect attire of a long white toga with gold trim over his pure white clothing. Atop his head sat an expertly woven crown of gold which was sculpted to resemble leaves.
“Governor Darius you are too kind,” the Prefect said as he nodded his head and smiled. “It has taken my people over a cycle to remodel everything to incorporate the modern look of Prime.”
"Well, it was well worth the wait," Ms. Hydros said on his left.
Haines nodded to her as well while a servant dressed in a plain dark brown outfit approached from behind the group.
The servant gently pushed his way into the group and whispered into the Prefect’s ear. Haines’ eyes grew wide for only a flash before he caught himself and looked to the floor.
“Is everything alright lord?” another man asked from somewhere in the group.
“Ah, yes. My sincerest apologies everyone, but a Prefect’s work never stops. I shall return promptly.” The crowd around him opened so that he could head straight to the door leading out of the room and into the grand hall.
Haines turned when he reached halfway to the door. "Please, enjoy yourselves while you listen to the magical melody." He snapped his fingers and a servant waiting in the corner holding a pitcher came straight over to the group. Without a word, he began to refill any glass that was below three-quarters full with a sweet wine.
The Prefect spun on his heel and exited the room. As soon as he passed out of the place his smile instantly melted and a scowl took form. He stomped down the hall and headed straight for the interstellar room at the center of his massive compound that doubled as his personal residence.
He grumpily held his hand out to be scanned at a terminal and then his retina. The triple-layered blast doors slid open one after the other, and the Prefect entered the dark room. On either side of the room were consoles with a communications analyst stationed, but the middle of the room was where the holotable resided.
An eerie blue glow illuminated much of the room as the holotable displayed a video clip of debris floating in an asteroid field.
“You better have a damned good reason for disturbing my meeting Arcanum!” Prefect Haines shouted angrily.
The other man stood perfectly straight with his hands behind his back. His all black clothing glowed blue as he faced the video clip which played in a loop.
Arcanums were part of the intelligence branch under the Bureau of Central Intelligence. They essentially gathered and deciphered sensitive information that they intercepted throughout the Republic’s five dozen worlds. Long ago Prefect Haines found it very beneficial for him to request the aid of an Arcanum as part of his staff. He felt that it assisted his grasp on authority in Siimon as the most powerful person besides the Prefect Major himself.
“My apologies Prefect, but I felt you would want to see this for yourself immediately,” Arcanum Joyn Lin said not breaking eye contact with the footage.
The Prefect stepped up to the holotable and watched the video play through one whole time before he spoke up. He threw his hands in the air in frustration. “What in the void am I looking at Arcanum? Did you bring me all this way to look at a wreck?!”
Lin's tone stayed at the same calm level as it always did. Haines would never admit it, but he still despised the other man for his unwavering calmness. "That debris my lord is that of what remains of Senator Servius' vessel."
“Servius is dead? How does that concern me?” the Prefect asked bitterly.
"It appears that she and her family were on vacation from Paradiso when her ship was destroyed in the Anglo asteroid field."
Haines’ eyes grew very wide as his brain began to process the implications of the death of the Senator in his realm. “How do you know she was attacked? Can you truly rule out an accident?”
Lin turned his gaze back to the footage. "Her echo beacon was activated yesterday. When the Marines arrived, they found her ship annihilated. At first, they suspected that an accident occurred, and it claimed the vessel. However, they were able to recover most of the remains of her husband, and it appeared that he had been shot multiple times."
At this point, the Prefect's anger had rebuilt. "Just speak plainly!"
“Lord, I believe that they were attacked by raiders.”
“Pirates?” the Prefect asked before he scoffed.
The Arcanum simply nodded once.
“There have been pirates since before the war with the Synthetics. However, we have never had an incident in Siimon of a senator being attacked. None of them are that foolish.”
Lin brought his hands out in front of him and typed rapidly on the keyboard before him. The footage disappeared and was replaced with a map of Siimon with neighboring Republic regions, the Union of Stars and portions of the Outer Rim Colonial Alliance. He typed a few more keys and brought up rough blobs that covered many of the worlds on the map.
"This is the most up to date information we have of operations of the Five Skulls on any worlds within or near the Siimon prefecture. The Senator was attacked in the Anglo asteroid field between Destiny, Marie, and Gallirae."
The Prefect took a seat on a nearby stool but maintained his dignified appearance by tugging at his toga so that it didn’t bunch up comically when he sat.
"We know that the Rubies have connections through Paradiso while Onyx rules the black market of many of the worlds within Siimon, but neither of the pirate lords rules Destiny nor Marie."
“Do you truly suspect it was one of the pirate lords? They have been in power long enough in the shadows to know not to attack the Republic head on. Especially not by killing a senator.”
The Arcanum shook his head. “I believe that it is likely a rogue group of pirates that attacked Senator Servius’ ship. It would also explain why they killed the crew and tried to hide the evidence.”
Prefect Haines massaged his face as he thought.
If word of this gets out to the public, I am going to have a void of a time trying to keep the peace with the Senate regardless of Paradiso being in my prefecture or not. Ugh, and Prefect Seneca is going to lose his mind.
“Arcanum, I need you to get me an expert inquisitor as quickly as possible.”
Lin’s eyebrow perked up. “Lord, you wish for an inquisitor to handle this?”
"Yes, I do. If word of this gets out on the stream, then the public is going to be furious. It won't be long before the Senate finds out and my headaches really start," Haines stood up and again tugged at his toga once again. "An inquisitor is the symbol of justice to our people. Having one lead the investigation and dispensing with the criminals responsible will quell many of my outspoken critics. I also want you to transfer the 12th DSST from Leo and have them assigned to assist the inquisitor."
“The 12th my lord? Doesn’t that seem a little overkill for this mission?”
Haines swatted away the question as if it was a tiny insect. “The 12th specializes in deep strike assault missions. I want to send a message loud and clear to any other rogue bandits that the Republic will not tolerate their hostility.”
“As you wish,” Lin said as he nodded gracefully to the Prefect.
"Oh, and Lin," the Prefect said as he turned back to the Arcanum before exiting the room. "Make sure the inquisitor is one of those really ambitious types. Have th
em report here to me in person as quickly as possible. We need to get a jump on this before the media runs away with the wrong narration."
Chapter 6
Cycle: 434 Month: 2 Rotation: 12
Corre Republic Space
Prefecture: Siimon
Planet: Gallirae
Location: Prism, Prefect Haines’ residence
A black hovercar drove up the all-white stonecrete driveway of the Prefect’s personal residence. On either side of the discreet vehicle was precisely trimmed shrubs with flowers planted in front of them. The Inquisitor continued along the ridiculously long driveway until he reached the overhang that was built off the massive mansion.
As the hovercar came to a halt and lowered itself to the ground, a servant dressed in a finely pressed suit stepped out and approached the vehicle.
Not wanting the servant to open his door, Antonius Cyrus with his standard issue all black inquisitor’s uniform stepped out of his vehicle. The servant wasn’t surprised by the action and simply extended his arm towards the front double doors.
"Welcome, Inquisitor Cyrus. The Prefect is waiting for you in his interstellar room. Please, follow me."
Without a word, the Lawman followed the servant. All the while his eyes constantly scanned as he assessed his surroundings. His leather belt cape squeaked with every step.
As the two walked up to the double doors, servants on either side within the mansion pulled open the doors to create a clear entrance inside. They kept their eyes pointed at the floors which seemed odd to Cyrus.
The fresh smell of local flowers aerated the impressively crafted foyer. Marble floors with gold speckles within it extended in every direction and up the broad staircase to Cyrus' right. A statue of a faceless man wielding a sword shielded a child behind him was positioned at the center of the fountain in the middle of the room.
Seems a little over the top.
The Inquisitor continued to follow the first servant through the home. They passed by multiple other servants that cleaned or headed in different directions themselves. Some carried flowers while others looked as if they were assembling items for a party.
