by Ryk Brown
“If the safety of Rakuen is what you hold dearest, then you must train Nathan Scott.”
Makani looked suspiciously at his former employer. “I do not see the connection.”
“If you do as I ask, I will push for the training requirements that you hold so dear.”
“You said they would strangle the Gunyoki races.”
“That was then, long before the jump drive. Our economy is booming, and more people can afford to attend the races. We are holding them twice-monthly now.”
“Enforcing my training standards would slow down the enrollment,” Makani reminded him.
“We would phase in the requirement over time,” Ito explained. “Besides, we can afford it. The Gunyoki races are now the number one form of entertainment on all of Rakuen. And with the jump drive, we have people attending from all over the sector. Improving the quality of the pilots will only enhance the product that we offer, making it more exciting. Don’t you see, Mak, you can finally get what you wanted. The rebirth of the Gunyoki, in all their former glory. And all you have to do to make it happen is teach one man how to fly a Gunyoki fighter.”
“And if he surprises you, and wins the event?” Makani wondered.
“That’s not going to happen,” Ito insisted.
“But if it does?”
“I am not asking you to teach him how to win, Makani. I am only asking you to teach him how to fly.”
Makani Koku, the last of the true Gunyoki, and the only Gunyoki master who refused to sell out for the profit and power the races offered, was being given a chance to resurrect all that the Gunyoki had lost, and all that he had once held dear.
How can I turn my back on such an opportunity?
* * *
“Loki wasn’t kidding about the engine nacelles,” Nathan said to Jessica as he sat on the sofa in his hotel room, studying the Gunyoki operations manual. “About eighty percent of its in-flight maneuvering is accomplished using them. Its attitude thrusters are generally used for docking. It’s a wild system.” When Nathan got no response from Jessica, he turned to look at her, sitting at the desk on the other side of the room. “What are you reading?”
“Everything I can find on the net about the history of the Gunyoki, and their races,” she replied. “Did you know the races weren’t even a big thing until about forty years ago?”
“I did not,” Nathan admitted as he continued to study.
“They were just regular military exercises, conducted once per month, so the Gunyoki could keep their skills up, and maintain a level of deterrent that kept the Nerameseans from raiding their water,” Jessica explained. “They nearly had to give it up due to some accident in which eight Gunyoki died.” Jessica turned to look at Nathan. “Did you know they’re not even a military organization?”
“I did not.”
“They were originally just a bunch of wealthy men who funded the construction of their own fighters to defend their world during the Water Wars with Neramese. Their ships were handed down from father to son over the centuries, continuing to participate in the monthly training exercises until the accident. That’s when the Rakuen government stopped funding the Gunyoki.”
Nathan realized that she wasn’t going to stop, and put down his data pad. Truth was, he needed a break anyway, and her diversion was at least along the same lines. “How did they become such a big thing, then?”
“Get this,” Jessica began enthusiastically. “Ito Yokimah proposed turning the training exercises into racing events, using attendance and viewing revenue to fund the ongoing Gunyoki operations without using government funds. But, apparently, the Gunyoki objected to the idea of turning their training into a spectacle, primarily because the proposal required lifting the training requirements to become a Gunyoki.”
“Why did they decide to lift the training requirements?” Nathan wondered.
“To be successful, they needed more entrants. So, instead of requiring years of extensive training, they changed it to simply being able to pass a flight test, which was something that anyone with enough aptitude for spaceflight could learn to do using a simulator.”
“So, all they had to do was fly a simulator, and then they could race?” Nathan questioned.
“No, you can learn on the simulator, but you still have to pass a flight test in the real thing before you can race,” Jessica explained. “Yokimah even started a loan program that enabled newly certified Gunyoki race pilots to purchase their own Gunyoki racer.”
“So, any fool with a Gunyoki rating gets an armed fighter? That’s insane,” Nathan exclaimed.
“Not really. Yokimah thought of that, as well,” Jessica continued. “The power levels of your weapons systems are controlled by the Gunyoki Council. During races, your weapons only have the power necessary for that level of the race. As you advance, so does the power levels of your weapons.”
“Then, if they had to really defend Rakuen, their weapons would have full power,” Nathan surmised.
“Precisely.”
“I have to give it to Yokimah,” Nathan said. “It was a pretty good plan.”
“It’s how he became so rich and powerful,” Jessica added.
“I thought his money came from manufacturing water purification systems?” Nathan said.
“It does now, but back then, he was just a junior executive at a banking firm. Somehow, he managed to get the funding he needed to make his idea work, and to start his own racing team. His team has won more Gunyoki championships than all the other teams combined.”
Nathan shook his head in disbelief. “Something doesn’t track here,” he said. “Why would he bet all his ships?”
“Because he’s sure you’re going to lose?” Jessica said with a grin.
“Thanks,” Nathan replied, noting her sarcasm. “Although you could be right, I don’t think that’s it. Yokimah doesn’t strike me as the type to take such risks.”
“You saw the size of his office,” Jessica said. “I’m sure he can afford to buy new racers.”
“You’re probably right,” Nathan admitted, “but I still think there’s more to it. Ito Yokimah is not the type of man who likes to lose, especially in such a public fashion, even if he can afford it.”
“Well, he gets a full third of the profits generated by the races, so he stands to make a bundle, regardless of whether he wins or loses,” Jessica explained. “I’d call that pretty good motivation. Hell, he’ll probably make enough to buy a hundred racers.”
Nathan sighed. “You don’t risk that much, just for profit,” Nathan insisted. “Not men like Ito Yokimah,” he added, returning to the sofa and picking up his data pad. As he sat, the view screen on the wall came to life, displaying the image of one of the hotel staff.
“You have an incoming call,” the voice announced.
“Accept call,” Nathan instructed, facing the view screen. “Hello.”
“My apologies for the intrusion, Captain Scott,” the hotel staff member on the view screen said. “You have numerous messages, but in particular one from Miss Hia Donti, from the Rakuen National News Service. I have examined her credentials and find them to be authentic.”
“Did she leave contact information?”
“Indeed, she did, sir.”
“Why notify me of this message, and none of the others?” Nathan wondered.
“This was the first one from a well-known, well-respected agency,” the staff member explained. “I thought you might be interested. I can connect you, if you wish.”
“One moment please,” Nathan told the staff member. “Mute call.” Nathan turned to Jessica. “What do you think?”
“I think the less attention you draw to yourself, the better,” Jessica replied.
“I thought the purpose of getting me involved in the rebellion was to use my reputation to legitimize it, and help with recruitment. This could be our chance to do exactly that.”
“It could also be our chance to attract the attention of people we’d rather not notice us,�
�� Jessica argued.
“I’m pretty sure we’re passed that point already,” he told her. “Continue call,” he instructed, turning back toward the view screen. “Please send the contact information to my room terminal, along with all the other messages, if you will. I’ll contact Miss Donti myself.”
“As you wish, sir.”
The image on the view screen disappeared, and the contact information, transferred to the room terminal, displayed for a few moments to confirm that the data was now available to him.
“Miss Donti probably slipped her a few credits to push her message to you,” Jessica warned.
“Probably,” Nathan agreed. “That doesn’t mean she’s not legit, though. It just means she’s determined.”
Jessica sighed in resignation. “Well, if you’re going to do the interview, we’d better review what you’re going to say, first.”
“I’d rather just wing it,” Nathan insisted.
“Bad plan, Nathan. Very bad plan.”
* * *
“XO, Sensors,” the intercom on the captain’s ready room announced.
“XO, go ahead,” Cameron replied.
“Two contacts just jumped in. Ranni shuttles.”
“What about the Reaper?” Cameron asked.
“Just the two contacts, sir.”
“XO, Comms,” another voice interrupted. “Flash traffic…”
It was too late. Cameron was already out of her seat and headed for the hatch.
“XO on the bridge!” the guard at the door announced as Cameron stepped through the hatch onto the Aurora’s bridge.
“What’s the traffic?” Cameron inquired from the comms officer as she passed the comms station, and came to stand next to Lieutenant Commander Vidmar at the tactical station.
“Mister Sheehan, sir,” the comms officer replied. “He and Josh are piloting the shuttles. He is requesting that you meet him in the hangar deck.”
“Did he say anything else?”
“Negative, sir. But he did use the flash traffic hail, and he sounded urgent.”
“Any other contacts?” she asked.
“Negative, sir,” Lieutenant Commander Vidmar replied. “Threat board is clear, and long-range patrols have no contacts.”
“How long until they land?” Cameron asked.
“They’re on final now,” the lieutenant commander replied.
“You’ve got the conn, Lieutenant Commander,” Cameron ordered as she turned and headed for the exit. “I’ll be on the main hangar deck.”
“Aye sir,” the lieutenant commander acknowledged as he exchanged glances with Lieutenant Commander Kono at the sensor station. “This does not bode well,” he said to himself as Cameron left the bridge.
Cameron moved quickly aft, turning left then right, and then down the main ramp to the flight deck below. It took all of a minute and a half for her to get from the bridge to the main hangar deck at no more than a brisk walk. She didn’t like the urgency of the situation, nor did she like not knowing what was going on. But there was a reason Loki had not broadcast an update over comms, and there was also a reason he requested to speak to her as soon as possible.
Cameron entered the flight deck, heading immediately aft, across the cavernous hangar, toward the smaller transfer airlocks at the far end. By the time she got halfway across the massive deck, the first Ranni shuttle was rolling through the airlock doors.
The small, odd-looking, rounded shuttle cleared the airlock door and turned to the right, rolling forward to provide room for the other Ranni shuttle waiting to cycle through the airlock, as well. Before it could come to a stop, the shuttle’s hatch split laterally across its middle, and opened up like a clamshell. As the shuttle rolled to a stop and its systems cycled down, Loki came quickly down the air stair, jumping the last half meter to the deck, obviously in a hurry.
“Captain,” he called to Cameron as he walked toward her.
“What’s going on, Loki?” Cameron asked. “Where are Nathan and Jessica?”
“They’re still on Rakuen, Captain,” Loki replied.
“Why?” Cameron asked, pretty sure she wasn’t going to like the answer.
“You’re not going to believe this, but Nathan’s going to fly in a Gunyoki race.”
“Again, I have to ask…why?”
“He made a bet with… I can explain it all in detail later, but first, I have to pass Nathan’s orders on to you.”
Cameron was beginning to get nervous. “And they are?”
“He wants you to move the fleet to the Rogen sector, immediately, so the Aurora can go to Rakuen.”
“Did you tell her?” Josh yelled from the boarding hatch of his shuttle as it came to a stop behind Loki’s shuttle.
“Of course I told her!” Loki replied, somewhat annoyed.
“Did you tell her what he bet?” Josh asked.
“I was getting to that…”
“Maybe we should go someplace else to talk about this,” Cameron suggested.
“Can we get something to eat first?” Josh begged. “We didn’t have a chance to pick up any snacks before we took off.”
“But you’ve got to get the fleet moving first, Captain,” Loki insisted.
“It’s not like I can snap my fingers and get them all to jump to the same place,” Cameron reminded him. “But I will get the process started,” she assured him. “Meet me in the command briefing room in fifteen minutes.”
“You might want to have General Telles and Deliza there, as well,” Loki suggested.
“And Vlad,” Josh added.
“General Telles is on the Glendanon right now,” Cameron told them. “Better make it thirty minutes.”
“Yes, sir,” Loki replied.
Cameron tapped her comm-set as she headed back forward, walking alongside Josh and Loki. “Helm, XO. Plot a fleet jump course for the Rogen sector and feed it to all ships. We’re jumping as soon as the fleet is ready.”
“Helm, Aye.”
* * *
“Good afternoon, Rakuen. I’m Hia Donti. Joining us today from a remote location on Rakuen is Captain Nathan Scott, otherwise known as the savior ‘Na-Tan’ from the Legend of Origins. As many of you may know, Captain Scott led the rebellion against the Takaran Empire, defeating the forces of Caius Ta’Akar, and liberating all the worlds of the Pentaurus cluster. He then returned to the Sol sector and drove their enemy, known as the Jung, from not only Earth, but from all the original core worlds of humanity. Those worlds now enjoy a tenuous peace, made possible only by Captain Scott’s sacrifices. Captain Scott, welcome to Rakuen.”
“Thank you, Miss Donti,” Nathan replied politely toward the view screen in his hotel room.
“The question on everyone’s mind is obvious. Why have you chosen to enter the Gunyoki races?”
Nathan took a deep breath, pretending to contemplate the answer, despite the fact that he had already rehearsed it with Jessica several times over. “There are two reasons, actually. The first is simple: we need the Gunyoki ships to fight the Dusahn.”
“In the Pentaurus cluster?”
“Correct,” Nathan confirmed.
“We, on Rakuen, were under the impression that the Pentaurus cluster was part of the Sol-Pentaurus Alliance. Shouldn’t the Alliance be providing forces against the Jung?”
“Technically, yes,” Nathan explained. “However, since the assassination of Casimir Ta’Akar, the rightful heir to House Ta’Akar, and the true leader of Takara, the relationship between the Sol and Pentaurus sectors has suffered to the point of only a formality. In addition, the Sol sector believes that it faces a renewed threat from the Jung Empire.”
“The empire to which your surrender secured a peace?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, the Jung Empire is still quite strong, and has considerably more ships than the Alliance.”
“But they don’t have jump drive technology yet, do they?”
“To our knowledge, they do not. And that is providing the edge the Alliance needs to ma
intain control, for the time being. Unfortunately, this means the people of this quadrant are left to deal with the Dusahn threat on our own.”
“You use the term ‘our’,” Miss Donti pointed out. “Do you consider yourself a citizen of this quadrant, and not of Earth?”
“I have been living in this quadrant, under an alias, for the last five years. So, yes, I do consider this area of the galaxy my home. And I am willing to fight for it, as well. Which brings me to my second reason for entering the race.”
“Which is?”
“To demonstrate to those on Rakuen who believe the Gunyoki can protect them from the Dusahn, that they are sadly mistaken.”
Hia Donti looked skeptical. “Captain Scott, the Gunyoki have protected Rakuen for over three hundred years, during which time we have enjoyed a level of peace that is unprecedented in this quadrant.”
“I understand that,” Nathan assured her.
“Do you realize the Gunyoki accomplished this with fewer than fifty ships, and that they now number over five hundred?”
“I do.”
“Then how can you possibly think they are incapable of protecting Rakuen from the Dusahn who, I should add, are more than three hundred light years away and, by our understanding, have neither the ability, nor the desire to attack the Rogen system.”
“Because I know the Jung,” Nathan replied.
“But the Jung are nearly thirteen hundred light years away from the Rogen sector.”
“The Dusahn are merely a rogue caste of the Jung Empire, exiled centuries ago to wander space in search of an empire of their own. The only thing that kept them from being a threat to anyone was the limitations of linear FTL systems. Now, with jump drives, they are a threat that you cannot imagine.”
“Captain, many Rakuens believe the best way to protect ourselves from the Dusahn is to pose no threat to them. In fact, many believe the Dusahn would be just as willing to accept us as allies, since their own forces are limited.”
“For the moment,” Nathan pointed out. “What happens when their forces have doubled, or tripled?”
“That could take decades,” Miss Donti said.
“The Takaran and Corinairan industrial bases are capable of doubling the Dusahn forces in only as little as five years,” Nathan insisted. “And when they do, they will expand their empire as they see fit.”
