by M J Dees
“Why did he do that?”
“Because you’re less likely to rise against him if you are all busy fighting among yourselves.”
“Well, I wouldn’t worry. We are well outside of Republic jurisdiction.”
“Herse is probably the system most loyal to the Republic in the outer regions. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kirkland turns his expansionist attention here, now that he has pacified the Zistroetoveans.”
“But I still don’t get why we need to act all guilty when we were innocent of the crimes on Future.”
“President Kirkland chose not to because he wanted us out of the way.”
“So, are we stuck with these identities?”
“For the moment, I just wish we could get these supplies somewhere else other than Herse.”
“What’s the problem?” Ay-ttho approached them.
“The Republic is on Herse, Ay-ttho. You can’t risk it, they might identify us.”
“The Mastery of the Stars won’t make it elsewhere, we need to get refuelled and restocked.”
“Even with our anti-matter drive? Just be careful,” Tori left the bridge.
“I don’t think he got enough sleep,” said Ay-ttho, watching Tori leave.
The Mastery of the Stars landed in a hanger which overlooked a city filled with elaborate architecture.
“Do we need our suits?” asked Sevan.
“No,” said Ay-ttho. “The atmosphere is almost identical to Angetenar.”
Sevan followed Ay-ttho off the Mastery of the Stars and out of the hangar to a broad avenue lined with statues of gods. Yor joined them as they marvelled at the sight.
“Those are just a few of our gods,” said Yor. “So, in order, from near to far we have Avmos, God Of the Workers of Metals, Enia, God Of Oracles, Hoorr, God Of Animals, Hedur, God Of Autumn, Iteus, God Of Rain, Edum, God Of Wisdom, Uius, God Of The Land, Wimir, God Of Destruction, Weslo, God Of Chance and Kholous, God Of Magic. You should visit our museum of deities while you are here. We also have a museum dedicated to the military actions of the Republic. You would be particularly interested in the new exhibition on the battle of Genzuihines and the wing on Penrewei is impressive.”
“I don’t know if we will have time,” Ay-ttho tried to be polite.
“Of course you will,” said Yor. “It will take time to restock and refuel your ship. Well, come and dine with us. I will send attendants to see to your ship and give you all the supplies you need. Where is your cleaner? He must eat too.”
“He’s cleaning.”
“You drive him too hard. I will send food in for him.”
“Are those Republic patrol ships?” Ay-ttho pointed to the horizon.
“You have a keen eye, Ytseb, yes they are.”
“But Herse is in the outer regions.”
“Yes, but we have a very close relationship with the Republic. Almost every resident is a retired Republic officer. Let us eat, you shall meet a few.”
Yor took Sevan and Ay-ttho to her large residence, where they had already prepared a large room for what looked like a banquet.
Scotmax wasted no time in showing Nadio around the house.
“I hope you like manirs gamma-beetle,” said Yor. “We’ve also got vitro-farmed olgirans legs and assorted mesaois rings.”
“Sounds delicious,” said Sevan, not convinced that it would be.
The room filled with retired Republic officers. One of them approached.
“You look familiar,” he said to Ay-ttho.
“This is Ysteb, she is a Saturnian missionary,” said Yor.
“Oh, I must have been mistaken. You remind me very much of someone from the battle of Genzuihines.”
“Sorry, it wasn’t me,” Ay-ttho lied.
Yor beckoned over two young officers, one of whom looked like a young Kirkland. Ay-ttho and Sevan both felt uneasy.
“Let me introduce, Matthews,” said Yor. “She is the offspring of President Kirkland and Ydna. They have sent her here for us to look after her while the president is at war with the Zistreotovens.”
“I should be with the fleet, fighting them,” Matthews complained.
“What an admirable spirit,” said Yor. “Please, take your seats.”
“Maybe Tori was right,” Sevan whispered to Ay-ttho. “It’s too dangerous here.”
“We only have to stay until they restock us.”
Sevan thought the meal was spectacular. The manirs gamma-beetles weren’t as bad as he imagined, the Vitro-farmed olgirans legs were delicious and the assorted mesaois rings reminded him of gurlan pea lozenges.
After the meal, Yor insisted they follow him on a tour of the Museum of Republic Military Actions. He took them straight to the new exhibition on the Battle of Genzuihines.
“Look at the art that has been produced celebrating this splendid victory,” said Yor proudly.
Sevan inspected a painting. It depicted Republic soldiers slaughtering creatures that Sevan remembered as the beasts that had helped him on Genzuihines. He read the title of the painting: Brave Republic Soldiers Defeat the Vicious Monsters.
“They weren’t vicious monsters, they helped me,” Sevan complained.
“You were at Genzuihines?”
Yor was almost as surprised as Sevan was that she had overheard him.
“What was a bounty hunter doing on Genzuihines?”
“Not, during the battle,” Ay-ttho jumped in. “Isn’t that right, Edicla?”
“Er... yes, that’s right,” Sevan belatedly agreed.
Yor led them to the wing on the battle of Penrewei, which contained a large quantity of images.
“The battle was particularly well documented,” said Yor.
Ay-ttho became interested in a section of images that illustrated the looting of dead bodies.
“Disgusting vermin, these looters,” Yor spat. “We shot most of them, but some of them got away, unfortunately.”
“Edicla? Come and look at this,” Ay-ttho said, pointing to an image. “Edicla!”
Sevan realised she was referring to him and went to see what she wanted to show him.
“Who is that?” she asked, pointing to a looter in an image.
“It’s D’Auria, without a doubt,” Sevan confirmed.
“Exactly. Yor? Show this image to Scotmax.”
“Okay, I’ll do that. Can you tell me why?”
“This is the thug who allegedly saved your offspring in the battle.”
“Are you sure?”
“Without a doubt.”
“But he was a looter.”
“Exactly. I assure you that if this thug saved your son, it was purely by accident.”
“Do you have time for our museum of deities,” asked Yor, changing the subject.
“That’s very kind of you, but I really think we should get back to the ship and co-ordinate the restocking.”
“If you insist.”
“I do. Thank you very much for your hospitality, Yor, and for restocking us a second time.”
“You are welcome. Any friend of my offspring’s offspring is a friend of mine.”
Scotmax interrupted them when she rushed in.
“Here you are,” she said, in a panic. “Come quickly.”
“What is it?” asked Yor.
“It’s Effeek’o’s medical ship. There’s an angry crowd around it demanding they leave.”
They hurried to where the ship was docked.
“What’s the problem?” Yor asked a protester.
“There are swordsmen of Angetenar on board. We won’t have their scum on our planet.”
“But they are here as our guests.”
“No swordsman should be a guest of Herse, they oppose the Republic.”
Yor addressed the crowd, but only placated them when he promised they would leave.
“I’m sorry,” she said to Effeek’o.
“That’s okay, I was a little dubious about the reception we would receive.”
“We will help you find a system
where your patients can receive the medical care they need,” promised Ay-ttho.
“And I will escort you,” said Scotmax. “If only this rabble realised I am a swordsman.”
“Thank goodness they don’t,” said Yor.
“I am coming with you,” said Nadio.
“But of course,” Scotmax agreed.
As soon as the three ships were refuelled and restocked, they said their farewells to Yor and set off to search for a suitable system that would accept them and had the medical facilities Effeek’o’s patients needed.
*
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Still not ready to leave Sevan?
The Star Masters
Book Six in the Mastery of the Stars series
To be released 22nd August 2021
Pre-order now
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M J Dees is the author of six novels ranging from psychological thrillers, to dystopia, to historical to humorous fiction, as well as the Mastery of the Stars sci-fi novella series. He makes his online home at www.mjdees.com.You can connect with M J on Twitter at @mjdeeswriter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mjdeeswriter and send him an email at [email protected] if the mood strikes you.
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DEDICATION
To Victor Hugo for bringing such a great story to life..
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to the following for their help: My beta reading team, especially Peggy Coppolo, Chris Wells and C Moon and my Advance Review Team.
COPYRIGHT
First published in 2021 by M J Dees
E-book first published in 2021 by M J Dees
Copyright M J Dees 2021
The moral right of M J Dees to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Cover Design by James, GoOnWrite.com
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