Chapter 26: Kuiper System

Three weeks later the frigate entered the Kuiper system. It was the second time Dane entered the system. The construction of the Kuiper space station seemed to be complete, at least from the outside. When they disembarked, they were met by Gunny Todd Baker, who was a crew member on Dane’s sled when they rescued Duchess Sarah.

“Nice to see you again, Captain,” Gunny Baker gave Dane a big smile as they shook hands. “We are kind of short on officers, Lieutenant Dupre is getting married and Lieutenant Behr is recovering from a minor wound he received on his last excursion.”

“Nothing too serious, I hope?” Dane responded.

“Not worse than the wound that caused you to have that a nice reminder,” Gunny Behr said. “Before we can introduce you to our new toys, you have an appointment with the duke. He has been informed that you are on the frigate and is waiting for you.”

“Go show your face,” Major Gallagher said to Dane with a laugh. “We will meet up with you when you are done. Take Mister Cosgrove with you.”

“I’m used to interacting with the members of the Imperial Council, since they encounter me in the palace all the time, but I never met this guy,” Craig said as they set off for the ducal segment of the space station with one of the duke’s assistants as their guide.

“Are you nervous about meeting a mere duke?” Dane teased Craig. Over the past semester, they became friends, partly because of having the same classes, but also because Craig showed more and more interest in Aida, and she seemed to like Craig as well.

“I can understand that the duke wants to see you since you are a viscount, but it sounded as if the duke knows you.” Craig muttered. He kept his voice low so their guide and passers-by could not hear what he said.

“I was part of the team that rescued his wife and daughters from pirates,” Dane muttered back.

“Then I can understand that he would want to see you,” Craig said. “Pretty daughters?” he asked with a smirk.

“Yeah, but they are both too young,” Dane replied.

Their guide took them to the main entrance to the duke’s section and handed them over to the same older gentleman whom Dane encountered on his first visit, who acted both as butler and the duke’s personal assistant. The butler smiled big when Dane greeted him.

“This is Craig Cosgrove,” Dane made the introductions. Craig had no title, but the butler’s eyes grew big.

“I only know of one family with that name,” he said as he bowed to Craig. “It’s an honor to have you here, Lord Craig. The duke asked that I prepare a suite for you to use while you are here, Lord Galan. He was worried that the marine accommodation would not suit your status. You arrived just in time for dinner,” he added as he led them into a small suite, which was roomy by space station standards, except not quite roomy by the standards of the Pleiades Prime station.

After they freshened up, the butler came to fetch them again and led them to the dining room where the duke was waiting. Both of them bowed to the duke, who bowed back while aiming at Craig as he welcomed them. The butler must have revealed who Craig’s family was because the duke also addressed him as Lord Craig.

“Before my family joins us, I have to admit to some underhandedness,” Duke Vance said in a low voice as he served them some pre-dinner sherry. “I am still upset at the way my wife and daughters reacted towards you after you rescued them from the pirates. By the way, most of the women whom you rescued have found men willing to marry them. The only exceptions are the oldest and the youngest, and both claim that they are waiting for you to come fetch them.”

“That would be Dina, aged thirty, and Katy, aged eight,” Dane said. “I wonder if Dina had any offers which she turned down?”

“Both claim you as their guardian,” Duke Vance said. “Feel free to take them back with you if you want. They are being cared for and kept busy here, if you would rather not take them.”

“I will take them,” Dane said. “I don’t think it is fair to expect the duchess to view me differently; they did witness me killing three pirates in a rather brutal manner.”

“Life can be brutal,” Duke Vance said. “I was not expecting my oldest daughter to want to be your wife, especially since you were only a sergeant and still had to complete your marine service requirement, but for them to openly shun you was unacceptable. They will join us soon; I have not told them exactly who is our guest tonight, only that we will be joined by a senior nobleman and Marine hero. Having the brother of the emperor at my table is a pleasant surprise.”