Ancient Hunter

I stood on the bridge of the Valorous Star it was quiet. It had been a hectic last few days. I trained with Freyhilda and her squad and let’s say I had some more intimate training with Jervic. I was glad of that my romantic life was back on track. All that training had been interspersed with drills. In a couple of hours we’d be exiting the wormhole and preparing for the last jump through hyperspace. As fast as wormhole travel was it was reliant on set routes. Our destination wasn’t at the end of that route hence the travel through hyperspace. It would have taken us months to get here by hyperspace. Xenai had assured the crew they’d be ready. No one wanted a repeat of the hull breaches and the creatures that had boarded the ship. They had wreaked havoc tearing through bulkheads like they were paper. Xenai had agonised over the death and casualty count. It had taken a lot to bring the creatures down. I know I killed two to my regret there had been no other way of dealing with them. It was worse that they had Landottir DNA, my DNA. Xenai had reluctantly concluded there had been nothing she could had done any differently. Even Admiral Komana the head of the Alliance had assured her she had done the best she could in the circumstances. Alliance was my word for the TCA (Terran, Confederacy Alliance).

I on the other hand felt less comfortable being here. I put that down to the combat armour I’d been stuffed into. It was in the grey and green patches the Confederacy painted their armour in. Strapped to my chest was a Coil Assault Gun, I turned my attention to the bridge. It was running with a minimal crew but it would get busy before we exited. I was assigned as Thorda’s Security Officer. She had her long blonde hair done up in a bun. She turned to me as I shifted around trying to find a more comfortable spot. The armour was chaffing in places I didn’t want to chafe me.

“Will you stop fidgeting Gwen?” She said in good humour and not a reprimand.

“As much as I’d like to this armour is rubbing in all the wrong places.”

I saw her eyebrow flicker and a slight smile appeared on her face. “Get an armourer to adjust it.”

“They’re aiding the engineers in the ship repairs,” I replied.

“Most of the vital of work is done.” Thorda looked me up and down. “Francine has your measurements does she not?”

Francine McAlester was as she called herself a seamstress. The Valorous Star was an ex-Imperial capital ship. In the Empire capital ships were often sent on diplomatic missions and as such there was a seamstress or a tailor as part of the crew. She had run up my disastrous Gala dress. She did apologise for that and had made me a few more that were in a better taste. My current Alliance uniform had been hand made by her as was all of Xenai’s uniforms.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Not so formal,” Thorda said to me. “Its not like the bridge has it full compliment of crew.”

“Sorry,” I apologised. She had saved my ass by punching Lieutenant Gant before he could have me arrested. He was carrying Admiral Komana’s orders too far to the letter. I was sure he had issues with me anyway. Thorda hadn’t suffered because of her actions and Gant was on Demeros far out of either of our ways.

“That’s better, We’ve only got another hour until shift change.”

Thorda began her rounds of the stations on the bridge checking the system while I stood beside the door. An hour passed Thorda looked towards me as the door slid open. Xenai stepped through the door I instantly stiffened into a salute.

“Attention!” Thorda called out. “Captain on bridge!” And saluted. “Ma’am all running well.”

“At ease Lieutenant,” Xenai said returning Thorda’s salute.

A Marine followed her through the door my replacement.

“Well done.” Xenai complimented the crew.

I think she was trying to booster the morale of the crew. I suspected she could sense there unease through her telepathy.

“Dismissed!” Xenai said to the crew as others filtered in behind her taking the places of those of who were leaving.

I followed Thorda out spotting Kelli waiting in the corridor. She was wearing her Medical Gauntlet. I knew she had been waiting for me.

“Guess what?” she said to me with smile.

I just sighed knowing what was coming next. “Get it over with.”

Kelli laughed. “You love the attention secretly.”

She expertly waved her gauntlet over me like she had done this a thousand times before.

It certainly felt like that to me. “Better now?”

“Much better,” Kelli agreed. “I’m always happy when you have a clean bill of health.” She smiled at me. “Captains orders I’m to escort you to the armoury no deviations on the way. Xenai was firm on that.”

I was surprised by that Thorda had only mentioned it. “I’ve only spoken to Thorda about that?”

“I guess Thorda must have been concerned about that enough for Xenai to pick it up from her mind?”

“Ok I get it!” I said exasperated. “I’m only supposed to have only one mother!”

Actually that was a lie both Thirika and Gudbjorga had adopted me as their daughter.

Kelli put her hand on her chest a smile on her face. “I’m glad you think of me that way.” she quipped.

I gave her a glare but it was impossible for her to see it I was still wearing my helmet.

“Hop to it daughter!”

“Ok I’m going!”

We headed down to the armoury located deep within the bowls of the ship. It was large room two thirds of which were behind a mesh screen. Here I’d been issued with my combat armour and Coil Assault Gun. The Seven Double ‘M’ strapped to my waist was the weapon Captain Jean Gardner had loaned me of the Ariadne. She’d latter gave it to me in Copper’s village. A weapon I trusted my life with and the one I was most confident in using. I felt uneasy when the only armourers here where two T’Arni males. It looked like I was too Valkyrie seeming to be picking up their habits and mannerisms. I blushed red from head to toes and I had to strip to my bra and panties. The one thing I was glad of was that I wasn’t wearing those Confed fatigue uniform the one the called ‘Skinnies.’ Those garments were all too figure hugging often showing more that they hid. I was forced to wait in my underwear while the two made adjustments to my armour. The only thing that held me there was that Kelli was with me, a chaperone I guessed. Finally they finished and I could put my combat armour back on. I grudgingly had to admit that it fitted perfectly without any chafing. The two T’Arni to my relief hadn’t commented on my state of dress and acted professionally.

Kelli followed me back to my temporary quarters.

“Am I going to have you trailing me everywhere I go?” I shouldn’t have snapped at her like that. “Sorry,” I apologised to her. Kelli was a good friend and a caring one.

“I have to I’m under orders to keep an eye on you.”

“By whom?” I dreaded the fact that I already knew the answer.

“Xenai.” Kelli paused giving me a look. “She’s concerned for your well being. You did have an episode at the autopsy. That wasn’t how you normally act now was it?”

Kelli was right about that. I had been close to cracking up I had to get my head back in the game. “I’m sorry I’ve been acting like a pain in the ass?”

“But you are our pain in the ass.” Kelli said with a laugh.

We walked on finally halting in front to the door to my quarters. Kelli turned to me.

“You be careful Gwen,” she said seriously.

“And you too Kelli,” I replied.

Kelli frowned. “This is way too sloppy. You’re making it sound like a trailer for some low budget vid?”

I regarded Kelli closely. “Yes it’s not like I’ll won’t see you a few hours.” I took that as time to go.

I entered the quarters I shared with Freyhilda to find her waiting for me. My quarters were still without a door and a long way down on the repairs list. I noticed Freyhilda and her squad were in PT gear. It consisted of grey shorts and vest with grey shoes on their feet. This wasn’t what they’d be wearing if it were an all Valkyrie ship. Training butt naked was their way. I knew that all too well I’d trained like that on Alfheimir.

“Out that armour,” Freyhilda said as soon as she saw me. “It’s training time.”

“I need to make a few reports to the Silvers as soon as we exit the wormhole. We can train afterwards.” I ‘d mentioned the Silver Guard as this would make more sense than anything else.

“Training is important for a Clan Mother,” Freyhilda said.

That was a new one to me. I didn’t know that the Clan Mothers trained. Mother Ronja appeared as if she worked out on the other hand Mother Hardgera looked as it she didn’t. Then I might have been biased since Hardgera had exiled Ljufu the Valkyrie I considered a friend. “The Elders haven’t said anything about that,” I countered.

“No, but it’s only a formality everyone on Alfheimir knows that.”

I didn’t have anything to day to that. So I stripped out of my armour and dressed in more comfortable shorts and a vest top.

I spent the rest of time before exit doing chores around the quarters. Xenai might have given me the rank of Lieutenant but that didn’t mean I could lord it up in front of the Valkyrie. I suspected even the Clan Mothers were expected to do chores. We secured all loose items in preparations for exit. Suddenly the PA system ran out.

“All hands brace for exit!”

Where as exit via hyperspace was a leisurely event coming out of the wormhole wasn’t. I leapt in to my bunk and gripped the sides of the bed hard. There was no warning but suddenly the ship jerked nearly throwing me out of the bed. We were back into normal space. I was relieved that we were. There was an hour window before we made the jump to hyperspace time was at an essence if I was to get my reports out. My comms pinged it was Xenai.

“You have your hour!” Xenai told me over the comms.

“Thank you captain,” I replied. I had to adhere to naval protocol with Freyhilda and her squad listening in. I headed over to the comms terminal Freyhilda and her squad left the quarters to give me a bit of privacy. I appreciated her thoughtfulness I wasn’t looking forward to this.

“Computer,” I addressed the comms screen. “Person to person call to Thirika Yanik, Alfheimir.” I sat back and let the comms do its thing. Thirika’s image appeared on the screen. She wasn’t alone with her were several unfamiliar figures all dressed in those tight fitting black jumpsuits with a silver band around the waist. Others of the Silver Guard I guessed.

“Report Initiate,” Thirika said taking a formal tone but her eyes told me she was glad to see me.

Quickly I spoke detailing Jennifer had told me and what had happened without saying Jennifer’s name. I suspected Captain Skerifa Samdar had already reported to the Elders but then she didn’t know what I knew.

Thirika’s expression was grim. “It will take at least ten weeks to reach you.”

“I know.” I replied.

“Even so the Elders are gathering a fleet.”

“Not enough to help us.” I understood what she was saying, enough for vengeance. It was the Valkyrie way. I completed my report hoping it was enough.

“May you find your way to the Mother’s arms,” Thirika said as I finished.

“May your enemies tremble at your coming,” I said to her. It wasn’t quite the correct quote but I considered it close enough.

It really wasn’t looking forward to talking to Mother Ronja. My message was for Miranda and I hated what I was going to tell Mother Ronja to send onto her.

“Mother Ronja,” I said as she appeared on the comms. She was in a blouse and skirt in halves of red and silver her long blonde hair over her shoulders Martin Clan colours.

“I take it you have the report of what happened here?” I asked her.

“I have Gwen and I truly sorry for that.”

“I’m afraid it gets worse.”

“Tell me.”

I told her the best I could watching the angry expression on her face grow.

“The Elders have a lot to answer for we cannot let this stand.”

“I don’t want another civil war!” I said.

“There was nothing civil about the rebels. But I do know what you mean. There isn’t much we can do here. But know this Gwen, call for us and we will be there not just the Martins but all the Clans. The Valkyrie are going to war!”

I didn’t like the sound of that but there wasn’t anything I could do about that. I signed off I had one more vital call to make. Despite of my current situation I was still a child of the Empire. My last call was to Lady Broaden the Empress’ mother and head of her intelligence service. I had expected to be put through to one of her lackeys but I found myself speaking to her. Lady Broaden listened without comment. At the end she said thanks and cut the comms. I had done all I could. The lights flickered saying we had jumped to hyperspace. There would be no further communications the die as they said was cast.