Amantus
Copyright© 2026 by QM
Chapter 11
The Lignet had been assigned to patrol the unclaimed system of Quul, though Amantus was well aware that this was just another attempt by Third Fleet to put them somewhere that they could be forgotten. Unfortunately for the Third, the local area of the galaxy where Vreekoos was situated was entering a period of turmoil, as several local realms were now tied in by surrounding realms and had no easy way to expand, as an isolated colony became a major target for planet-raiding realms.
Most of the local realms were also too big to conquer easily, or were tied into various defensive alliances that would come to each other’s aid if requested. A few were considered too high-tech to mess with the Arconian Domain, chief among them, as they used their position and power to serve as a clearinghouse for various smugglers and planet raiders. Fortunately, for the Arconians, they were also distanced from the larger realms by other belligerent realms, who would make attacking the Domain extremely difficult and would likely invite an attack on the home territories of the realm attacking the Arconians.
‘Something’s going to give soon enough,’ Amantus thought as he went through an assignment in diplomacy as set by Captain Mance.
“So he contacted you again, granddaughter?” the patriarch enquired as he supped the newly introduced ‘tuch’ drink as they enjoyed the delights of an open-air salon. “What does he want?”
“Nothing, as far as I can tell,” Helia replied. “But there is some interesting information to be gleaned from his letter.”
“May I see?”
“Of course, grandfather.”
“Interesting,” the patriarch frowned after a rotation. “Suspicions only, though.”
“Educated suspicions,” Helia countered.
“Perhaps,” the patriarch nodded. “Still, if true, it will enable our clan to deal a devastating blow to the Yellut conglomerate and their Rentech clan owner, and also disgrace a prominent member of the Varna clan, thus weakening their hold on the Gevase sector.”
“That’s why I brought it to you, grandfather, we wouldn’t have known otherwise.”
“True enough,” the patriarch nodded. “Leave it with me, I’ll act if the situation develops as young Amantus believes it will.”
“And if he contacts me again?”
“Do not for the moment respond; the terms of his banishment are clear, and I don’t want Hachat to have a legitimate reason to target Amantus.”
“Agreed.”
“I’m picking up a distress signal,” Amantus informed Zaka as he monitored comms. “Very faint.”
“Got a bearing?” Zaka replied.
“3367.0102.7787, sir,”
“Bring us about, Lorra.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Prepare to go active, Casz.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Captain informed,” Amantus added. “He says to carry on.”
“Let’s go look, bring speed up to 2G.”
The Lignet arced around in a gentle curve as Lorra increased the drive settings and the Lignet ‘fell’ towards the bearing Amantus had detected.
Signal increasing,” Amantus announced. “Standard SOS, no indications of realm.”
“Begin scanning, Casz, ensure it isn’t a trap,” Zaka ordered.
“Active tracking engaged, sir,” Casz replied. “Nothing as yet.”
A hundred rotations passed before Casz announced a hit. “No indications of realm, it appears to be a trader, that’s all I can give you.”
“Hail them,” Zaka ordered as Mance entered the bridge.
“Unidentified vessel, this is the Protectorate Cruiser Lignet, please respond,” Amantus sent, then repeated.
“Lignet? This is the trading vessel Carrugh. Our powerplant has failed. Can you assist?” An eventual reply came.
“Carrugh, this is Lignet, we are approaching to assist,” Amantus replied. “Do you have any injured?”
“No injured, just cold and hungry, we never thought to see a vessel out here, but we hoped.”
“We’ll be there soon. Which realm are you registered with?”
“Nihoni Alliance.”
“We’ll get a message to them,” Amantus replied. “ETA approximately two fifty of our rotations.”
“Our thanks, Lignet, see you soon.”
“Open a dirac comm to Mandil and report the SOS, ask them to relay a confirmation of the Carrugh’s condition to Lexgis,” Mance ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Amantus replied.
“Casz, keep scanning. I doubt it’s a trap, but others might have heard it.”
“On it, sir.”
The Carrugh drifted aimlessly in space as the Lignet approached. Lorra used the attractor and repellor beams mounted by the Lignet to stabilise the vessel before a landing craft was used as a shuttle to take a party of engineers across, along with two troopers for security. The landing craft also contained a temporary powerlink cable that the craft’s pilot attached to an auxiliary port on the Carrugh, enabling the ship to be powered by the landing craft for basic functions.
“Looks like we can do a temporary repair on the powerplant,” Ticce reported back. “But they’ll need to replace it in Alliance territory.”
“Cause?” Mance asked.
“Sheer bad luck, captain,” Ticce replied. “Looks like they went through an eddy in XD space, and it overloaded the powerplant control matrix, controlling the core feed.”
“Reparable?”
“Not for XD travel, no, but we can bring life support functions online,” Ticce replied. “We can give them a tow if Mandil permits.”
“I’ll ask. The second landing craft can bring anything you need; it’s also carrying food and supplies for them,” Mance acknowledged.
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Amantus, contact Fleet control at Mandil and inform them we’ll be towing the Carrugh to Nihoni space,” Mance ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Amantus replied. “They acknowledge.”
It took nearly three hundred rotations to repair the powerplant enough to provide auxiliary power to the Carrugh. Ticce’s team, including Crendon, even managed to power the internal grav generators in the crew quarters and bridge. The Lignet then manoeuvred into position above the Carrugh, and the engineers extended the XD field over both ships and calibrated it for the extra mass.
“Engineering is giving us a go, Captain,” Amantus announced.
“Venn, take over comms,” Mance ordered. “Midshipman Amantus, observe Lorra as we attempt this.”
“Yes, sir,” Amantus replied, moving to the pilot station.
“Course set,” Herri informed Lorra. “Max speed is a half G.”
“Picking up the load,” Lorra replied. “Mass is stable, no slippage.”
Amantus watched as Lorra slowly brought the Lignet up to speed, carefully monitoring the centre of mass in a separate screen and occasionally adjusting the grav matrix on the Lignet to ensure the two ships acted as one.
“The trick is always to balance the centre of mass,” Lorra explained. “It’s not something you’ll do often, but it pays to know how and see it done.”
“Yes,” Amantus agreed, making mental notes.
“XD transition possible,” Herri announced.
“Transitioning,” Lorra replied.
“Beautifully done, no stress on the linking beams,” Crendon, who was monitoring the engineering station, confirmed.
“Five-day run at this pace to Nihoni space,” Herri informed the bridge.
“Stand down to normal running,” Mance announced. “Keep a close eye on the Carrugh and keep her centred.”
“Yes, sir,” Lorra replied. “That’s going to be your job, Amantus.”
“Hope it’s boring,” Amantus chuckled.
“You got that right,” Lorra smiled. “If it starts to slip, yell out, do not for the moment attempt to compensate without supervision.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Permission to return to my station, sir?” Crendon asked Mance.
“Permission granted,” Mance replied. “Thank you, Midshipman.”
“Sir,” Crendon saluted and left the bridge.
It was a long, boring trip to Lexgis, the capital world of the Nihoni Alliance, a small but influential realm surrounded by Protectorate space. As the Alliance was stable and had treaties of mutual aid with other powerful realms, the Protectorate maintained friendly neutrality toward them. ‘Biding our time, no doubt, ’ Amantus mentally chuckled.
The Lignet transitioned into the Lexgis system without issue and carefully moved towards the civilian orbital shipyard. Tugs soon appeared and requested the Lignet disengage from the Carrugh, as they took over the tow of the crippled ship, and under a politely phrased request, headed towards the military orbital station to report.
“With me, Midshipman,” Mance ordered. “You might as well observe how the diplomatic side of things works.”
“Yes, sir,” Amantus saluted. “I doubt they get many protectorate warships.”
“They don’t, but they will be passively scanning the Lignet, and they will also be observing our behaviour, so be polite.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mance, Zaka and Amantus were met at the boundary of the docking tube by a young lady dressed in uniform, though Amantus did not recognise the rank markings, assuming that’s what they were. Her features were also very different to the Protectorate norm, with her face being slightly flatter and eyes more elongated than the people Amantus normally associated with. This also made her quite exotically beautiful from Amantus’s perspective.
“Welcome to Fuji Station,” she began with a polite bow. “I am Ittok Ami ... that is to say, Lieutenant Ami of the Nihoni Defence Force. I am to take you to the base commander, Bakuri ... Admiral Moto.”
“Thank you, Ittok,” Mance replied.
Amantus was bursting with questions, though he remained silent so as not to cause any issues for Captain Mance. Ami led the way through the station, with the trio being politely observed in the wake of silence that followed in their path. Ami then knocked on a door, slid it aside, and indicated to Mance that they should enter.
“Welcome to Fuji Station, Captain Mance. The Nihoni people thank you for your aid given to the crew of the Carrugh,” A tall elderly man spoke. “I am the Base Admiral Moto, as your people would say.”
“It was our pleasure to assist,” Mance replied, as all three saluted.
“Sit, relax, I’ll have refreshments brought,” Moto continued.
“Our thanks,” Mance replied as the trio sat. “These are the findings of our engineering team,” Mance continued, handing over a data core.
“I am grateful,” Moto nodded.
“The main issue is that the powerplant control matrix of the Carrugh and possibly other ships of her class are not adequately shielded against the localised power surges caused by gravitational eddies in XD space,” Mance summarised.
“Not an issue I’m familiar with,” Moto frowned. “Still, I’ll pass on the information to the yards. Thank you.”
“May I request permission to allow my crew shore leave?” Mance requested.
“You may, though, please restrict your crew to the base recreational facilities,” Moto nodded, handing over a pseudopaper form. “I’ve noted the social mores expected from your crew on the list.”
“I’ll ensure they are informed,” Mance politely replied.
“My thanks, hopefully misunderstandings can be avoided.”
“That is my hope too, Admiral,” Mance replied as the trio rose and saluted, receiving a raised open hand to the side of the head gesture in return.
Ami escorted them in silence back to the docking tube, then bowed politely as they entered.
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