The Star Masters (Mastery of the Stars Book 6) Read online

  “Charmed, I’m sure,” said Luap.

  “Yes, well, when does this thing start?” asked Sgniwef.

  “Soon,” said Kirkland. “As soon as all the guests have arrived and judging by the hall, I think they nearly all have.”

  An impressive feast followed the tedious ceremony, after which servants took away the food so that the guests could enjoy music and dancing.

  Kirkland first danced with his partner Ydna, then passed her to Kcokaep so he could dance with his offspring, Trebor, as was dictated by tradition. Luap danced his obligatory dance with Sgniwef and then escaped to the palace gardens for a break.

  “You don’t like these occasions?” asked Enaud, as she approached him.

  “You can tell?”

  “I’m sorry, you don’t mind if I…”

  “No, I don’t mind your company at all. It is everyone in there I am tired of.” he gestured to the great hall.

  “You know, it’s true what they say, you are the most beautiful creature in the universe.”

  “You are very brave to say that to the partner of the ruler of Ao-Jun.”

  “I am not afraid of Sgniwef.”

  “No?”

  “No, I had a dream and in this dream they promised me the most beautiful creature in the universe.”

  “Oh yes? Who made you this promise?”

  “Cevemis, God of marriage.”

  “Cevemis promised me to you?”

  “She did.”

  “And you believe this dream, do you?”

  “I do. This is why I came here.”

  “Would you like to come to my chambers?”

  “But what about Sgniwef?”

  “Don’t worry, she hasn’t visited my chambers for years. Not since Ybrad was born.”

  “Ybrad?”

  “Our offspring.”

  “Of course, sorry.”

  “I forgive you.”

  He led Enaud through the gardens and the palace to his chambers, dismissing the attendants.

  “Your partner is full of herself, isn’t she?” said Enaud.

  “Why do you say that?

  “Well, Kirkland was making a big deal about her being the ruler of Ao-Jun.”

  “What of it?”

  “Well, what I mean to say is that Ao-Jun is not much bigger than Zistreotov, is it?”

  “If you say so.”

  “Have you ever been to Zistreotov?”

  “No.”

  “You must come, it’s amazing. The wealthiest in the galaxy come to gamble.”

  “On what?”

  “On anything.”

  “Sounds dull.”

  “Oh, it’s anything but, the luxury of the accommodation, the food, the drinks, the music, the dancing. It makes Kirkland’s inauguration look like an Aukkon attempt to quantumdraft.”

  “Don’t be so rude, it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Then what are you doing here with me?”

  “I’m wondering myself.”

  “Here, let me, I’ll show you why we’re here.” Enaud closed the door.

  After Enaud had shown Luap why they were in his rooms, she poured a glass of pish each.

  “To us,” she said, proposing a toast.

  They drank, and she refilled their glasses before going to stare out of the window at the city-planet of Future, whose towering buildings stretched out way past the palace gardens until the horizon.

  “I mean, seriously,” said Enaud. “What is the point of you staying with Sgniwef?”

  “I am her partner. She is the ruler of Ao-Jun and I am also the begetter of Ybrad, heir to the region of Ao-Jun.”

  “What’s the point if you can’t enjoy yourself.”

  “I have a responsibility to my offspring.”

  “Ybrad is old enough to look after herself. Come with me to Zistreotov.”

  “Sgniwef would never allow it.”

  “Then don’t ask her.”

  “Let’s leave now, without telling anyone. No-one would notice, they’re all too wrapped up in the inauguration.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not? Give me one reason.”

  “Because… okay, I can, but I’m not going to.”

  “Why not? Wouldn’t you like to come with me to the most luxuriant system in the galaxy?”

  “Of course I would.”

  “Well, then.”

  “It’s just that…”

  “What?”

  “Well…”

  “Come on, what’s the worst thing that can happen?”

  “Okay, I’ll come.”

  “Good, get ready, we’ll leave now.”

  Luap got dressed and packed a few things before handing his bag to Enaud and following her out of his rooms and through the palace corridors to the hanger where her long-range shuttle was waiting for her.

  The shuttle was the perfect reflection of Zistreotovean value. Every detail spoke of opulence. It was decorated and upholstered with only the finest materials.

  “Don’t let the appearance fool you,” said Enaud. “This shuttle can outrun most vessels and has a formidable weapons system. You’ll be perfectly safe on board.”

  “I wasn’t worried. Should I be?”

  Enaud laughed.

  “These will be your quarters,” she said, leading him into an apartment that put his palace accommodation to shame. In the centre was a large pool, facing a huge observation window which, for the moment, was opaque.

  “That will de-frost,” said Enaud. “Once we are free of the atmosphere, the views are spectacular and it will heat the water to your preference.”

  “How does it know?”

  “The accommodation reads your cerebral waves to determine preferences and moods, adjusting the ambience without you having to ask for it. Come on, I’ll show you the bridge.”

  She left his bag in his apartment and showed him to the most extravagantly decorated bridge he had ever seen. The seats were luxurious, the controls elaborately decorated, and elegantly curved frames housed the observation windows.

  “Where is your crew?” he asked.

  “I don’t have a crew. I like to do all the flying myself. With a little help from the ship’s computer, Mada. Say hello Mada.”

  “Hello Mada,” a voice echoed around the bridge.

  “She can be annoyingly literal sometimes.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Mada,” Luap laughed, making himself comfortable in a luxurious chair. “Don’t you get lonely on this big ship all by yourself?”

  “I won’t, now that you’re here.”

  “I bet I’m not the first. What about pirates?”

  “They don’t bother me, they know we have Zistreotovean patrols which operate between here and Zistreotov.”

  “You run Zistreotovean patrols in Republic space? I bet Kirkland doesn’t know about that.”

  “He doesn’t. We are well protected, don’t worry.”

  “The Zistreotoveans take good care of their ambassadors.”

  “Do you not know? I am the offspring of Ttivert and Nomis.”

  “The rulers of Zistreotov?”

  “The same.”

  Enaud prepared the ship for takeoff. Then they lifted off, high above the city-planet, and turned to the Zistreotov system portal’s direction.

  “President Kirkland?” Kcokaep approached the president, who was still dancing with Trebor in the Great Hall. “Ambassador Enaud has left in her ship.”

  “So what?” said the President. “There’s no need to bother me with such trivialities.”

  “With Luap.”

  “What?” The President stopped dancing. “Excuse, me Trebor.”

  “Should I inform Sgniwef?” Kcokaep asked.

  “No, come with me.”

  In the presidential control room, Kirkland asked Kcokaep to communicate with Enaud’s ship.

  On Enaud’s ship, an indicator light began flashing on one of the control panels. Enaud switched it off.

  “Send for Sgniwef,” said
Kirkland.

  “I will take a patrol,” said Trebor, entering the control room.

  “Trebor? What are you doing here?”

  “I overheard. Let me lead a patrol to get him back.”

  “No, I forbid it. I will not let you go,” said Ydna, entering the room.

  “Ydna?” Kirkland exclaimed. “Is anyone left at the party?”

  “Don’t let Trebor go. It’s too dangerous.”

  “It’s not dangerous,” Trebor protested.

  “Trebor is one of our best pilots and a very good patrol commander,” said Kirkland.

  “What? This is outrageous,” Sgniwef fumed, when she arrived. “They have kidnapped my partner. You must do something.”

  “I have already sent communications to Zistreotov and we will despatch patrol ships to intercept Enaud’s ship. My offspring, Trebor, is commanding the patrol.”

  Ydna shot Kirkland an angry look.

  “I am glad you are taking this seriously, President.”

  On Enaud’s ship, another indicator light flashed.

  “Why don’t you take a swim,” she suggested to Luap. “I’ll just set the course and then I’ll join you.”

  “Sure, why not?” he left the bridge for his apartment.

  “Enaud, here,” she said after pressing the indicator light. “Yes, he’s here. No, he chose to come. They’re just trying to draw us into a war. Our patrol will take care of them. Okay, I will.”

  She pressed the light again, then followed Luap to his apartment.

  “The Zistreotoveans are saying Luap went of his own free will,” said Kcokaep.

  “That’s Galxuts Pronghorn!” exclaimed Sgniwef. “They’ve kidnapped him. No doubt about it. Has that patrol left yet?”

  “Yes,” said Kirkland. “They are in pursuit. I’ve already had a report from Trebor, they are catching Enaud’s ship.”

  “Do you think she can handle it?”

  “Trebor is my bravest pilot.”

  On the bridge of the lead Republic patrol ship, Trebor focused on the screen in front of her.

  “Will we catch them before they reach the portal?” she asked.

  “Yes, we are on course to intercept before the jump point,” said the ship’s computer.

  “Good. Ready weapons systems.”

  “Weapons systems initiated. I’m picking up signals of several ships on a course to intercept us.”

  “Tenuils pirates?”

  “No, my sensors detect they are Zistreotovean patrol ships.”

  “What are they doing on this side of the portal? They are in Republic territory. Full alert,” Trebor announced to her patrol. “We have incoming hostiles.”

  Before her patrol had time to prepare, Trebor’s ships came under heavy fire.

  “Enaud’s ship is approaching the portal,” said the computer.

  “Never mind that,” said Trebor. “We have to defend ourselves.”

  “Weapons systems compromised.”

  “Fire whatever we have.”

  The ship tipped and rocked. Flames shot out of a bank of controls on the wall.

  “Life support systems compromised.”

  “Abandon ship,” Trebor shouted.

  There was another colossal explosion.

  “Escape pods compromised.”

  “Can we land anywhere?”

  “The nearest planet is Future.”

  “Return to Future, let’s try to outrun them.”

  Another explosion.

  “Losing power.”

  “For the love of Thynas, God of the Insane, we’re going to be sitting drevvaks!”

  One by one, the Zistreotovean ships picked off the Republic ships until there were none left.

  CHAPTER 3: THE CLUE OF CALLAHAN

  Ydna and Kcokaep were walking in the palace gardens when they saw a pregnant cukid emerge from the plants at the side and look about. It dashed across the garden and was barely halfway across when two tronqaks swooped down and ripped apart the pregnant cukid, killing her and her unborn offspring.

  Callahan, the palace’s high priest, entered the garden in time to witness the carnage.

  “It is an omen,” he said, approaching Ydna and Kcokaep.

  “What does it mean?” asked Ydna.

  “The tronqaks represent your partner, the President, and the cukid represents Zistreotov. It is a sign of victory over Zistreotov. But beware, Buzotl, God of the hunt will be angry that the tronqaks have destroyed the cukid, which is Busotl’s sacred animal. She might seek vengeance by demanding a sacrifice from Kirkland. Without the sacrifice, the Republic fleet will not make it safely to Zistreotov.”

  “What kind of sacrifice?”

  “It may already have been made,” Callahan warned. “The gods often cause suffering when they meddle in our affairs. Sometimes they achieve what we want through violent means. Kirkland has already allowed pride to cloud his decision making.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “He sent his offspring, Trebor, to lead the patrol.”

  “Does that matter?”

  “One crime breeds another and provides a history of sinfulness for which Kirkland must eventually be punished.”

  Callahan left Ydna and Kcokaep wondering what he was talking about, whether there was any truth in it or whether the high priest was just mad.

  They went back to the palace where, judging by the frightened looks on the faces of the attendants as they tried to avoid Ydna, something bad had happened. Something she would be furious about.

  They found Kirkland in his control room. He looked scared when he saw Ydna.

  “What’s happened?” she asked.

  “It’s Trebor, Zistreotoveans wiped out her patrol.”

  He averted his eyes from Ydna’s horrified gaze.

  “I knew this was going to happen,” she yelled at him. “You should never have let her go. She wasn’t experienced enough to lead the patrol. You allowed your pride to get her killed. This is your fault.”

  “Ydna… I…”

  “I hate you.”

  “We are assembling a fleet; we are going to attack Zistreotov.”

  “You can kill as many Zistreotoveans as you like, but it won’t bring Trebor back. Callahan was right.”

  “Callahan? What did he say?”

  “He said you’d allowed pride to cloud your decision making.”

  “What is Callahan doing going around saying things like that, he’s a priest, not a presidential adviser, I think I should get rid of him.”

  “He said the gods would punish you for your history of sinfulness.”

  “I’m definitely going to get rid of him.”

  Ydna stormed out of the room.

  “You are making the right decision, invading Zistreotov,” said Kcokaep.

  Kcokaep accompanied Kirkland to the hanger, where his shuttle was waiting to take him to the hastily assembled attack fleet.

  In stationary orbit around Future they had assembled a fleet of destroyers, which even impressed, the usually hard to please, Kirkland.

  His remaining offspring, Xocliw and Matthews, and Kcokaep, were waiting for him to say goodbye.

  “I have a gift for you both to remember me by,” he said, taking a small piece of metal from his pocket. He handed it to Xocliw. “It is a miniature model of my fighter. Whenever you look at it, wherever I am, I am thinking of you. You will always be in my marbles.”

  “I will look after Ydna and the Republic while you are away,” promised Kcokaep.

  “Thank you,” said Kirkland, as he boarded his shuttle. “I need someone I can trust.”

  The shuttle took him to the command ship, where he immediately went to the bridge. Within moments, the entire fleet moved off in the Zistreotov portal’s direction. Fighters sped off in advance to deal with a Zistreotovean patrol that had been identified in Republic space.