Chapter 36

Sanctify, like Asha, was a natural world and hence, unlike most Imperial worlds, had access to a lot of real estate in the shape of unusable star systems located between the two. Not that they’d remain unusable in the future, should the Empire keep expanding. Most had a planet that could be terraformed should the Empire want to. One at least was being mined for lantinium ores that were there in amounts large enough to justify the operation, though not terraforming ... yet.

The welcome, as was the norm now, was huge and further increased by elements of the 2^nd Gershonian Royal Fleet who were using the military station for re-supply and replenishment as they pursued various planet raiders in the systems of the Diadem Republic.

“I never get tired of watching this,” I said in an aside to Amanda as we watched the colourful swirl of the ships of our honour guard.

“It’s quite beautiful, yes,” she murmured as she snuggled into me.

“Wonder how long the Gershonians intend to stay?” Verlig commented.

“Not for much longer. They’re negotiating terms with the Republic to compensate for their losses,” Amanda replied.

“Ah, did wonder,” he nodded as, on our final approach to the station, we could see the observation decks packed with welcomers.

“Comes through on my daily update during my study time,” Amanda explained. “Mostly it’s just various reports from areas within the Empire, but occasionally I get information about stuff out here.”

“Sounds boring,” I chuckled.

“Can be, but I need to keep up-to-date in case I’m ever asked.”

“Can’t imagine a newsie ever asking about trade differentials between sectors,” I chuckled.

“Neither can I, but if they do...” she giggled.

The main station, where we were staying to acclimatise, was a new construction and held no surprises as to the interior or build. The ‘wedding’ station was quite different we were told and orbited like a decorative bauble around the moon of Sanctify. It earned a small but steady revenue stream for the planet by way of food and staffing imports to feed and look after the visitors and parties who came to be officiated and blessed in the place where Amantil herself had wedded her somewhat distant husband in order to further steady her reign by providing official heirs of her body. This condition was the result of an Imperial mandate from the time of Amantus the Great, first of that title and founder of the Empire itself. Little was known of that time as it was in the distant past and although records existed, they were vast and only really checked over by the AIs and determined historians. Hence what schoolkids learned was a very abridged version of the past as there was simply too much of it to learn.

“No plans to visit the wedding station?” I asked.

“Not this time, the main objective is to visit the planet and meet the people,” Amanda replied.

“No requests to officiate at a wedding?” I chuckled.

“If there were, they never reached me,” she replied with a smile as the docking tube attached and we then bade farewell to the crew.

A massive roar of welcome greeted us as we emerged and waved to the crowds before being greeted by the station Commander and being introduced to her senior staff. She then escorted Amanda down to meet and greet the crowds as I stepped back slightly to record the scenes on my pad. Many in the crowd were also waving small flags with some sort of symbol on it and a quick question to a Liaison Officer informed me that it was a Retulan bloom, a symbol of the planet that was both rare and very beautiful.

“I take it it’s a protected species?” I enquired of the young man.

“Very much so, though our rebels tried to destroy a sanctuary where it bloomed to prevent the Empire from having it.”

“Stupid and petulant,” I sighed.

“It was. It turned many of the people against them, particularly when the tri-dees showed Imperial Troopers defending the area whilst not trespassing within it.”

“Are they that fragile?” I asked.

“No, but the sanctuaries are regarded as sacred ground by many, though we don’t have religion as such,” he explained.

“Seems a remarkably counterproductive thing to do by the rebels,” I mused thoughtfully.

“Apparently they had a stock of seedlings and planned to re-introduce the Retulan after they’d driven the Empire off,” he replied with a wry smile.

“I take it you’re a native of the planet?”

“I am, though joined the station command when I came out of education.”

“Enjoy it?”

“Yes, so many interesting things happen here,” he enthused.

“Yes, the stations are,” I nodded and handed over a sketch.

The walkaround was, as ever, fun and the reception was enjoyable. The only thing of note being that Amanda had it confirmed that the loosening of restrictions on the natives had been carried out. This meant there were, to their surprise, a good few of them at the reception, though all appeared to enjoy it. Nor were there any surprises during the planetary visit or, unlike Asha, any signs of protest. The Governor and AI both confirmed that no restrictions had been put on any dissident groups, but that they simply were now in too small a number to mount any sort of meaningful demonstration. Even my sketching forays were devoid of any unpleasantness and indicated a great deal of satisfaction with what the Empire was up to with regards to the happiness of the people.

“Totally different from Asha,” I commented once we all were back on the Gloriana.

“Yes,” Amanda nodded. “I even probed the AIs under higher protocol mandates to check to see if there was any interference going on with them.”

“I think it’s down to the fact that Sanctify was a conquered world by the Republic, unlike Asha which was settled by colonists,” Torric added.

“You may be right, though it was over two hundred years before the Empire took over.”

“Yes, but you could tell even now that there was a lot of underinvestment in infrastructure, no civilian space station and a lack of manufactory output. Essentially it was just there to give the Republic access to the Gullen Realm.”

“So, when the Empire took over and started investing and what rebels they had started threatening the national flower...” I mused.

“Yes, the natives’ ... or original natives’ support went immediately behind the Empire,” Torric nodded.

“I’m glad it did,” Amanda agreed. “I loved the visit to the sanctuary to see those flowers, though I did check to make sure it was allowed.”

“I think that impressed them too,” Verlig added. “Making sure you didn’t trample over social mores.”

“I wouldn’t want to do that anywhere I visited,” Amanda replied.

“Well, they were loyal, now they are super loyal,” I chuckled, making her smile.

“I’m glad. I’m also glad Asha is coming out of a dark phase as well.”

“Yes, means the Empire can focus on growing the economies there, not keeping rebels suppressed,” Haelee agreed as we were informed the ship was now beginning its return to Vreekoos.

It was shortly after dinner that we were informed that the Gloriana had detected a distress signal and was dropping out of XD space to investigate.

“Could it be a trap?” Trusha asked Captain Ferg as she stood by Amanda’s side.

“It’s always possible, though we are nowhere near the Republic anymore, bodyguard Trusha,” he replied.

“My bodyguards have their armour loaded. They can assist, if necessary, Captain.” Amanda offered.

“Thank you. Accepted, Serenissimé,” he replied. “We only have two Troopers aboard as we aren’t equipped for standard Fleet duties.”

“Liono, Larre, if you please,” Amanda ordered.

“Serenissimé,” they both replied before heading to their room.

Thirty rotations later the Gloriana had dropped out of XD space and was approaching the location of the distress signal. Finally it was close enough to bring the source up on screen and we all wondered just what the hell it was we were looking at.

“Looks like one of the early Trippari Class colony ships,” I finally opined as the shuttle set off from the Gloriana to approach the vessel which, whilst under some power, was not moving.

“We were almost on top of and past them when we detected an early version of a grav pulse used as a communicator,” the Comm Officer on the Bridge informed us. “It’s not a Trippari Class colony ship though, but probably an earlier version, perhaps over three hundred years old.”

“Wonder what it’s doing out here?” Haelee pondered.

“Well, if there’s anyone alive on it, we’ll no doubt find out,” Amanda replied as she watched the shuttle’s feed on a tri-dee screen.

“Probably Mk 1 XD driven; slow as hell and normally used stasis chambers for transit,” Verlig informed us from where he was viewing a separate information feed.

“That’s no more than one light year per binary cycle,” I mused. “Assuming the drive system is well maintained.”

“Safer than a jump drive, though not as fast,” he nodded.

“It’s why people started using them, the risks in jumping were remote, but...” Amanda agreed.

“We have found a docking port,” Larre informed us. “Attempting access.”

“No Comms detected,” the Officer informed us. “Just the grav pulse.”

“Standard hatch controls, unpowered though.”

“Should be an auxiliary power port somewhere for just this scenario,” the Comm Officer stated.

“Found it, don’t recognise the script though,” Larre replied and showed us the power port with the unknown language.

“It’s Seneci,” Amanda informed us. “That ship really is old and out of the way.”

“Language is Seneci, the trade language of the Senec Confederation and the basis of most known basic tongues,” the AI confirmed. “Clip the power mantle onto the three tabs and set transfer rate to five hundred latteens.”

“Complying and it’s opening. Looks like there are people on the other side too.”

“Be careful,” Amanda warned. “I doubt they can hurt you in your armour, but they are, as yet, unknowns.”

“Serenissimé,” the reply came back.

The four men in armour were now in the sealed airlock as the shuttle pilot moved the craft away from the side of the vessel to take station at a safe distance while we watched the inner airlock hatch cycle open to reveal several haggard and clearly starving people.