Post by Triune on Jun 29, 2005 7:06:56 GMT
Ven’mere
Prologue
Space, the void between worlds. No truer silence exists. A sable unity behind the stars, endless and unbroken as the seamless flow of time itself. No tale regardless of size and significance can truly impact this unending tapestry. Neither time nor space will laud the arrival nor mourn the passing of any that dance across its stage. Despite this lack of recognition there will always be those that seek to bend the universe to their will as if trying to force it to take notice of them. Sometimes… it does just that. Fate, Destiny, these are the things that mark and define the flow of time. These are the intangible treasures for which individuals, nations even entire races struggle and strive. The twist of fate that saves one yet dooms another. The mark of Destiny that blesses one with a gambler’s luck and curses those that would give opposition. The question is does fate choose them or did they choose fate? Only time knows.
Chapter One
The Vaskaar system like so many star systems throughout this quadrant of space, a mature yellow sun beamed light across the surface of seven planets held in its gravitic sway. One planet, the second from the sun, could support life by Imperial standards… just. Swelteringly hot in the day and only roastingly so at night Vaskarr-two served as home to a handful of indigenous lifeforms and the majority of them were subterranean. Only two reasons why anyone entered this system at all, one, the planets held deposits of a radioactive substance called ‘glowstone’, a needed component for calibrating the Faster-Than-Light engines known as ‘breach-drives’ and two the four large gas giants in the outer system provided a source of cheap fuel. The collection stations that orbited around these four behemoths saw a relatively regular supply of customers. The Rim-ward Trace, one of two frontier trade lanes that fed goods to and from the Imperial Core, had many such systems along its length. All of these factors made Vaskaar useful for many reasons. Like an oasis those that would prey on travelers always lingered near.
Vaslaive’s Crossing, a senatorial cruiser and its two escorts emerged from breach-space. The rift between the two dimensions lasted only a brief instant but its closing created a telltale ripple. Like a rock tossed into calm waters that ripple expanded ever outward lessening in intensity with each mega-meter. The three ships floated along on inertia as their computers adjusted to the physics of real space. This made nearly all starships vulnerable if for that moment. They would be unable to defend themselves should an attack happen. As the moment stretched on the crews of the escorts were at the ready, men at gunnery positions, sensors searching for any sign of pirates. With a stutter the three ships powered up sub-breach engines and vulnerability passed. The crews of all ships breathed a collective sigh. On the bridge of a fourth ship someone grinned and said ‘Gotcha’.
The searing energy of a fusion cannon lanced through the underbelly of one of the escorts. Shields collapsed and hull armor buckled. The force of the attack hurled the command deck and its crew into the void of space. A single salvo rendered an imperial escort cruiser dead in space. The attacker emerged from the ebon shadows as the flash of pulse cannons illuminated the long sleek vessel. The second escort shuddered but its shields held. The Vaslaive’s exhaust ports blossomed brightly as the vessel made to escape. It had neither the shielding nor the firepower to enter battle. The second escort pivoted bringing its powerful plasma cannons to bear on the attacker. They belched out bolts of seething plasma just short of light speed. The bolts exploded on impact, blunted by the armor of the black-hulled ship. Through the spray of embers the prow of the unknown vessel emerged as the fusion cannons retorted. Many times more potent then the plasma bolts the impact on the escort destroyed the hard-mounted plasma cannons. A salvo of missiles from the interloper turned the vaunted Imperial escort into sparking debris. Like a megladon from some primal sea the sable vessel turned and chased after the Vaslaive.
Despite the speed of the Vaslaive and its head start it could not escape. The dark ship gained quickly and from its topside blue-white energy beams lanced out to strike the rear of the senatorial ship sending a crackling web of lightning over the hull. The bright plumes of exhaust energy dimmed. It was far beyond the range of anything the Vaslaive had so all the beleaguered vessel could do was run. Lashes of ionic energy raked across the vulnerable ship, shields incapable of deflecting the energy. More and more systems failed, shorting from the over charge effects of the attacks. Finally the quad of lances focused on the engineering section and an explosion announced the destruction of the ship’s power generators. Like a wolf that had dogged a wounded prey, the Vaslaive could run no further. With its weapon systems long since fried it floundered in the gravity waves produced by the celestial bodies as a launch left the black ship heading in to board.
On board the Vaslaive the crew made ready to repel the boarders. Amidst their number ran troopers dressed in combat armor replete with silver plating. The famed Imperial Guard, the best that the armies of five thousand worlds could offer, the Emperor’s Own. These were also the protectors of the High Chancellors, those senators that were the direct advisors to the Emperor. A score walked among the veteran crew giving orders and setting up defensive positions. External sensors were spotty at best but could measure the approach of the large cutter. The launch docked against the larger ship and the sound of a boring unit could be heard against the hardened airlock. Guardsmen tensed, crewmen shifted nervously until with a tumultuous clatter the airlock was blown into the ship by the boring unit. Silence, though it lasted only moments it seemed far longer to the crew as they stared at the gaping hole where the airlock had been and the darkness beyond. It was a tactic as any other in war, anything to gain an advantage especially if it is a psychological one. Only when it went beyond tolerable did the attack come. It came in the form of a swarm.
Like a wind made of silvery luminescence, it poured out of the darkness and attacked. A Nanite cloud. Nano robots powered by graviton emitters programmed for any number of tasks in this case to kill. They struck like a swarm of angry bees but instead of venom they injected themselves, feeding on the body of the host to make more. Chaos erupted after the first few men fell. The Guardsmen could not keep order as the crew broke like raw recruits. The interlopers came after the swarm, clad in black and carrying pulse weaponry they shot through the swarm without fear. Crew, already screaming fell to either the weapons fire or the swarm. The Guardsmen returned fire only to have their laser deflected by the silvery swarm. It became a slaughter.
High Chancellor Mira Tarlo swung between anger and fear as she stood in the heart of the senatorial suite. Ten imperial guards and two guards that wore golden plating stood between the marauders and the chancellor. The Imperial High Guard, the Emperor’s personal bodyguards, stood with fusion swords at the ready. These sword-like weapons produced a blade of coalesced energy that could at the highest setting slice through hardened hull plate.
“How dare they!” The Chancellor exclaimed to no one in particular “Attacking a Senatorial Vessel so brazenly not to mention killing the crew on the escorts. When the Emperor hears of this heads will roll.” The rest of her tirade was forestalled as the blast doors to her quarters shuddered as if something heavy struck them causing her to jerk. “Captain they’re at the door!” She yelped out “Do something!”
“We’ll stop them Chancellor Tarlo…” The High Guard captain soothed. He personally didn’t think they stood a chance but he saw no use upsetting the woman. The attack was too coordinated. Someone knew where they were going and had been waiting. This could not be a pirate attack but most probably a kidnapping. Before either could speak again a harsh sound of metal slicing metal echoed throughout the suite forcing many to cover their ears.
The point of a silvery blade punctured the blast doors and with a quick circle sliced through the bulkhead. It fell into the suite with a resounding clang. Bolts of charged plasma shot through the opening striking the guardsmen in rapid succession. The Chancellor screamed and ducked for cover. The combat armor could not stand up to the dual effects of plasma and ionic charge doing little to insulate them and soon ten of the Empire’s finest littered the floor. Through the breach stepped a figure dressed in a dark jumpsuit. A hood hid his face but the sword in his hand was visible enough. The High Guard leapt to action. Confident that their energy blades would make short work of the invader they moved with a predatory demeanor. In a blur they launched a dual attack. They planned to make lesson out of him in the hopes that his fellow crewmen would turn tail and run. Sometimes in the great jungle that is the Layered Galaxy even predators are prey. He met blur with blur, the odd impact of energy on unyielding metal halted the golden-armored guardsmen. Their surprise lasted only a moment as one fell to the deck his throat slit by the keen edge of that oddly shaped sword. The captain barely recovered his stance in time to avoid the same fate. Beneath his faceless helmet his eyes widened. He knew whom he faced.
“You!” He exclaimed in disbelief. That moment of surprise cost him dearly. A flick of silvered blade and another throat gurgled its last. The thud brought the Chancellor up with a small pulse pistol in her hands.
“Stay back!” She warned as she backed towards the door that led into the bedchamber of the suite.
“My dear Chancellor, where do you think you might be going?” His voice was melodious and rimed with sarcasm. “There is no exit in there the Vaslaive had the escape hatch closed up to mount that oh-so-useless maser array.” He took a step towards her. She fired. The glowing shot flashed across the space only to rebound from a luminescent patch of air that formed before him. His hand shot out and a long thin spike struck the woman’s upraised hand forcing her to drop the weapon. Men filed through the opening to take her by the shoulders.
“You’ll never get away with this, the Imperium will not negotiate with terrorists nor pay ransoms.” She lifted her chin in an expression of defiance.
“Ransom?” He chuckled “Who said anything about ransom. You’re going to arrive on time if somewhat shaken from the attack by Vangor Corsairs. We wouldn’t want that secret summit the Emperor arranged for you to attend in his stead to be delayed now do we?” He lifted his wrist comm closer and spoke “Get the repair crews working, I want this eyesore running within the hour.”
“What do you want?” She asked somewhat bewildered by his words. A smile could be seen beneath his hood.
“Why you of course.”
“But you just said I’d arrive-“ He cut her off.
“I am sorry I misspoke. High Chancellor Tarlo will arrive somewhat shaken. My High Chancellor Tarlo…” He turned as through the ruined door stepped High Chancellor Tarlo or her exact twin. The real Tarlo blinked at her double that did nothing but smirk.
“This will never work… There are scanners…” A raised hand forestalled again her complaints.
“Every test that can be arranged She…” He indicated the woman behind him “Can pass as well as you. Even better considering the retina in your left eye doesn’t quite match your right eye. That pronler syndrome you had as a child did have one lasting effect besides the scars on your left arm.” The smile returned as the real Chancellor looked at them both in stunned silence, her mouth slightly agape. The double spoke up in the full weight of the Chancellor’s voice
“I should never stand around with my mouth hanging open like that. It makes me look even more insipidly vapid then usual.” The barb fit the reputation of the sharp-tongued chancellor. Before the real chancellor could speak again the leader nodded and one of the men injected her. The woman slumped between them. He turned around and looked at the double.
“So, you’ll continue on to Joule and I’ll arrive a day later after I’ve covered our tracks.” He smiled at her “You look perfect my protégé.” She snorted.
“I look like a sagging old harridan.” She retorted though with slight playfulness. He stepped closer and kissed her.
“We have all had to play a role that was distasteful my sweet.” He smiled “Such is the way of the Ven’mere.” He wrapped his arms around her as the men went about their assigned tasks. “There is this consolation. You will never look like her not even when you are twice her age. She is but a Kyleen and you are V’lari.” She returned his kiss after a moment of thought.
“We are V’lari…” She corrected in her own silken voice. “That is enough.”
