Star Feud Page 9

  Maybe not, but I had instinctively chosen the first option first, the wishy washy stay but avoid the whole issue option which wasn’t going to work.

  I was packed up, wearing a thin casual red sundress, with a dark blue cocktail dress and a white bikini in a pack. I also had an orb along, to provide shielding for the three of us if necessary. Of course, Solyra would have priority. She had a bracelet for shields too, but it wasn’t as strong.

  “You sure you won’t come?”

  She shook her head, “You need to focus on getting to know Cyn, which wouldn’t happen if I was there. Plus, I have a date, Tel’s waiting for me.”

  Was it because I loved them both, and wanted them both happy that I didn’t feel even a twinge of jealousy? I had hope that my crazy idea would work. Thank goodness this wasn’t one of my torrid romances, where the other woman was always a skanky bitch. Vik had better judgement than that, I think I’d be disgusted with him if Cyntariel had been a bitch, which would have made it all moot.

  I smiled and gave her a soft kiss, “Go have fun, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She winked and walked toward the door, and I grabbed my pack.

  I immediately felt better, when Cyntariel gave me a nervous smile as I walked over to the shuttle.

  Cyntariel and Solyra were both wearing a casual dress, as I was. Solyra looked stunning, she really was an attractive young woman. I call her young, but she’s three years older than I. She had a willowy and graceful body, and a beautiful heart shaped face. The casual white and black dress she had on was very flattering for her body type.

  If Solyra was stunning, Cyntariel looked ravishing. She had a yellow dress on that accentuated and partially obscured her curvy sexy body at the same time. She was in a single term, sinfully voluptuous. Her face was angelic, and she had long golden blonde hair that sparkled in the sun. Her beauty was the effortless kind, no doubt a perfect ten when she rolled out of bed in the morning.

  My body was more athletic, graceful in a way that was different from Solyra’s floating movements, mine was more an animalistic and predatory grace from my years of training in martial arts among other military disciplines. My body was somewhat in the middle of their two extremes.

  “You both look amazing.”

  Cyntariel smiled, “No one will even notice us with you in the room.”

  My first thought was it would because I was the freak human, but the admiration in her eyes killed my comment before it could fall from my lips. Of course, I still assumed there was some truth to the idea, if I was exotically beautiful to some Isythians, I had no doubt it was my humanity and strange skin and hair color. I couldn’t judge them for it, because I felt similarly about my exotic blue beauties.

  “Thanks, but I think you’re confused.”

  Solyra rolled her eyes, “If we’re done with the mutual admiration moment, there are drinks with our names on them waiting.”

  “Yes princess,” I said in a faux humble tone.

  I snickered when she gave me a sharp look, and we got on the shuttle, along with four royal guards. It was unavoidable, Vik wouldn’t let his little sister go anywhere without them, even with me there. The shuttle took off as soon as we were all seated, and flew itself.

  Cyntariel said, “The resort is a few time zones behind us, we should be able to get some beach time in before dinner and dancing.”

  It helped me that she was nervous, is shared nerves a thing? It seemed obvious she was, since she was repeating information we all already knew. I swallowed a number of questions, did she love Vik, did she feel ambition to become queen, was she really as nice as she seemed? Interrogating her seemed like a bad idea, but I really did want to know more about her. Has she ever been off planet, how did she meet Vik, was she aristocratic, or merely wealthy? The more I thought about it, the more I realized I only knew her in a very shallow way, how she acted and treated those around her. No wonder, since I’d been avoiding her, maybe I could find out some of that tonight.

  Solyra said, “You look like you’re plotting military action.”

  I giggled, she wasn’t far wrong. I was treating getting to know Cyntariel like I was mapping out a invasion campaign. It was what I was, and how I was trained. Plan, then execute. I needed to relax, and let it just happen. That was hard for me. I was an exemplary operative, but when it came to this kind of stuff, I was just a nineteen-year-old girl who felt even younger.

  Well, I’d figured things out with my lovers, this was just another opportunity to grow.

  “I’m quite ready to storm the beach armed with a towel.”

  Solyra smirked.

  Cyntariel said, “I can’t even imagine how you do it. I was terrified when the palace came under attack, and I was safe in my room and far from the action.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say to that. It helped being a genetically enhanced freak, trained from birth, and either brainwashed or designed into being fearless in battle.

  “We all have different gifts. What do you do, I mean…” I trailed off, and blushed.

  Cyntariel smiled, and touched my arm, “I’m an heir to several businesses and a fortune that my family have built up over the years. Right now, I’m mostly a troubleshooter for businesses that get into trouble, my parents still head the companies. It’s how I met Vik, we’ve had dealings with the royal family, though I know Solyra longer, from schooling. You’ve given me a bunch of stuff to do.”

  I tilted my head, “How’s that?”

  Cyntariel said, “Your inventions. Advances in technology always disrupts things in a capitalistic society.”

  “Sorry?”

  Cyntariel laughed, “No need to be. It’s normal, and why food and basic infrastructure is free, to balance that out. We’re in a good position, and it’s the cost of doing business. New advances mean new opportunities. Successful companies that have made credits are in a much better position to adjust and invest in new infrastructure. I imagine we’ll have made even more credits once the dust from the downturn has settled. A great number of others will become wealthy as well.”

  “So, you’ve known Vik a while?”

  She shrugged, “About ten years, but the last six he’s been in space a lot. What happened was a shock, I never thought he’d become emperor. I figured he’d be out there and eventually retire from fleet service when he was ready, you know?”

  I felt my stomach turn, she’d also answered another question, with her body language and tone of voice. She was definitely in love with Vik, I could see it in her eyes, this wasn’t a casual thing for her. What that meant for me and Vik, or the future, I had no idea. The problem was… Cyntariel was really hard to hate.

  What were her intentions toward me? It was far too early to tell.

  It was also obvious she wasn’t after power, or to be queen. She’d loved him and wanted him long before that happened, when he was still eighteenth in line, just like I had. No, she just wanted him, Vik, the man. Everything else was just… details.

  The shuttle dropped as it descended down out of the sky, to land at a hotel and resort. We were just here for the resort part, I had work the next day after all.

  Despite the revelations, I had a good time. Sun, sand, drinks, and friends. One close friend, and another friendship I was trying to build. It wasn’t easy, but it also wasn’t hard, if that makes sense. I liked her, despite myself. She had a good heart, and as far as I could tell, not a mean bone in her luscious body.

  All three of us got attention on the beach, but the royal guards ensured no one got too close.

  I tried to relax, and did, to a certain extent. That didn’t mean my mind and advanced spatial awareness wasn’t looking out for threats, or didn’t know where everyone was standing within a hundred yards. It wasn’t distracting for me though, I was used to it.

  After the beach, we got massages, spent time in a sauna, and then showered. The rest of the evening was taken up with dinner, dancing, and a very early morning return to the palace.

  Mostly, the
three of us bantered and talked about inconsequential things, and just had fun. I did manage to learn a few more things about Cyntariel though, and she’d pried more than one story about my life out of me.

  On Earth, I’d have labeled her a spoiled heiress, but that label didn’t work at all. Government, society, and economics on Isyth really couldn’t be compared to Earth’s. She was conscientious about her employees and who worked for her, and believed in a win-win culture. She was also a bit of a flirt once her nerves had dropped. She was satisfied with her position in the family business, but her aspirations were more aligned with creating a family and personal improvement. That she would one day run the company, and do her best for herself and her employees just wasn’t a thing, wasn’t in doubt.

  I’m kind of painting an impossibly pretty picture of Cyntariel, but it was all true. Of course, she was a real woman, and multi-dimensional, I was sure there were faults there, besides her fucking Vik on a regular basis I mean, but so far I hadn’t found any. That was probably typical though, I was putting my best face and foot forward in trying to develop a friendship, that kind of thing was pretty normal, wasn’t it? Humans called it the honeymoon phase, and I think it was reasonable to apply the term to both friendships and closer relationships. I wouldn’t fault her for doing the same thing and hiding her foibles at this stage of things.

  Still, if she had a fault, it wasn’t jealousy at Vik’s and my love for each other, it wasn’t greed, and it wasn’t a blinding level of ambition. That just wasn’t built into the Isyth species.

  In the end, I had fun, and hoped we’d all do it again…

  Chapter Fourteen

  I gave her a chaste hug and said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to miss you.”

  It was a week later, and we were about to go on a tour of the empire, in the new ship. Besides being friends with Cyntariel, not much else had changed. Jervistad and Tek were still leading their worlds toward civil war, but had to move cautiously or risk overplaying their hand, and the Suaterans and Stolavii hadn’t attacked yet. Vik’s ratings on Vehiri and Isyth were very high, the people had confidence in him. Strangely, he was regarded even better than that on Raitov, it seemed the bugs were kind of a hive, and followed Xylla fervently, who had faith in Vik despite his brother.

  Vehiri and Isyth had their outliers of course, much like Earth did. The small percentage who despite proof believed the false accusations, but Raitov didn’t have outliers in their society.

  Cyntariel giggled, “Me too. Keep our man safe, will you? I wish I could go along, but I have responsibilities for the family business I can’t forsake.”

  I winked, “I’ll keep him safe, and warm at night.”

  She snorted, “Wicked human.”

  Vik cleared his throat, and glared at me.

  Oh right, we weren’t alone. I laughed, especially at the appalled look on Dessia’s face. I think it had greatly disappointed her, when Cyntariel and I started a friendship. I really would miss her, but I was still a little conflicted about things. Regardless, my comment had been rather tame, compared to the rather earthy conversations we’d had over the last week. It seemed to help, facing it head on like that. I still wasn’t over my jealousy, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like Cyntariel, both the person and the company. I was starting to believe my crazy idea would work.

  Solyra said, “I wish I could go, you said it was safe.”

  Jillintara said, “We’ve tested the ship’s systems multiple times and adjusted where we found unforeseen issues. The ship is safe, but we could be attacked. It’s unlikely however, since we’ll have fifty ships with us as an escort, if there’s trouble it will be on the surface.”

  We’d also switched over to building the new ship at all three systems. With the eighty-nine destroyers made over the last month, we had four hundred and twenty-seven of the upgraded power systems type destroyers total, not including the fifty that belonged to Earth. Next month, we’d be adding a hundred and eighty of the new and terrifying scout destroyers. Vik still wasn’t sure what we’d do after that, we’d either do another month, or build out command ships versions of the scout destroyer, at the cruiser or dreadnought size.

  I’d suggested a mix, sixty scout destroyers at one facility, fifteen cruisers and six dreadnoughts at the other two. At that point, we’d have a very solid and well-rounded fleet, and could stop building depending on the risks and what threats the empire faced. We could even just cut down on production, and rent out the extra capacity for civilian vessels. Vik hadn’t decided, and I supposed we didn’t need a decision for four weeks. A lot could happen in a month, especially as we were currently facing both war from outside, and civil war on the inside.

  Vik replied, “You’re the only heir right now, it wouldn’t be wise for us to travel together. It’s bad enough we both live at the palace, but I won’t take the step to send you away. Things may come to a head when we visit Xulia and Kaprorix, you need to be here just in case.”

  Solyra frowned, “You shouldn’t go.”

  Vik shrugged, “Not much of a choice, they’re still part of the empire, at least until they declare war or secede. In person is the best way to resolve this, they need to back down, or make their move.”

  Dessia asked, “What else are you planning?”

  “Cloaked multifunction orbs,” I replied, “We’ll be doing deep scans of all the moons, large asteroids, and rocky planets in the two systems, to look for that fleet we believe they have. That will be enough evidence to claim suspected treason, and demand a referendum.”

  It was complicated, Vik was emperor, but he couldn’t just displace and replace a system governor of a member planet that was a different species. He could demand his citizens vote on it though, the people of that world would have the choice, depose their governor and replace him, or secede from the empire. I wasn’t sure Vik gave a shit anymore which way it worked out, as long as the matter was settled short of a civil war.

  The problem was, we all thought Tek and Jervistad wanted control over a multi-system empire. If it had just been about being independent, they could have seceded a month ago without fear of reprisal.

  Regardless, we were pretty sure if we ran into trouble it would be on the surface of a planet. We had the advantage in the new ship, and in our escort. I was almost positive their fleet had the now outdated technology. Still dangerous, but only at very large numbers. On the ground it would be the four of us, twenty royal guards, and three orbs. Short of a ship sized plasma blast or missile, I was mostly confident we could either meet, or fight our way out of any threat.

  It was the mostly part that bothered me, I wouldn’t underestimate our enemies if I could help it.

  We all said our goodbyes, it would just be myself, Telidur, Jillintara, and Vik on the new ship. Everyone else was staying here. Well, us four plus fifty ships, along with twenty royal guards on one of those ships.

  We took a shuttle up, and I got the first look at the new ship. I was familiar with the design of course, since I designed it, but it was different seeing it in reality. I wouldn’t call a ship a hundred yards long small, but in comparison to the destroyers, cruisers, and dreadnoughts it really was small. We landed in the shuttle bay, and disembarked.

  There were five cabins for crew, but we only needed four. The captain’s suite was the largest, but they were all fairly large, with an entry room with tables, a couch, and a desk, and a separate bedroom and bath. The captain’s quarters also had a third room which was a conference or dining room, plus the other rooms themselves were a little bigger.

  We went into the bridge, which had the normal four consoles in an X configuration, with the Captain’s chair in the center. I sat by weapons, Telidur took the helm, Vik sat in the captain’s chair, and Jillintara took the engineering station. She’d also be responsible for operations and scanning without a fifth crewmember. We’d never discussed it, and perhaps we should have, but none of us were ready to try and replace Rilok. I missed him,
the asshole.

  Vik ordered, “Set a course for Vehiri, and engage at two hundred gravities.”

  The scout-destroyer had the capability of using the wormhole drive to go directly from Isyth orbit to orbit around Vehiri, but our fifty-ship escort didn’t. We would exit the system, then use a wormhole, and then head in system. It would take just under a full day to get there. Still, it was available in an emergency, just in case we had to make a quick exit. Vik wasn’t just a captain now, he was the emperor of an empire, and couldn’t afford to throw his life away in a hopeless battle. It was a tough little ship, but could still be destroyed if we let enough ships close to plasma range. Outside of plasma range, I didn’t think we could be destroyed very easily. Our point defense was just too good against missiles, even the shielded ones I’d designed.

  Of course, we could open a wormhole for all the ships, the problem with that though is it would make us very vulnerable, sending one ship through at a time.

  Telidur replied, “Yes… highness?”

  Vik snickered, “Since I’m the ultimate authority in the empire, who would punish you for not following strict protocol on the bridge after reviewing the tapes.”

  Telidur frowned, “Yes, Vik. That seems wrong.”

  Vik said, “You’ll get used to it. If you have to, captain and sir will work fine. Regardless of what else I am, I’m still the captain of this vessel when we’re aboard her. You don’t bow and scrape when you’re guarding me in the palace, and I won’t accept it here either. Only on formal occasions, when required by tradition.”

  Telidur seemed to relax, “Yes, captain.”

  “That’s what I said last…” I trailed off, and blushed. Damn, it just slipped out. Maybe Cyntariel was a bad influence on me, she was a naughty incorrigible flirt once she opened up to me. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

  I ignored his glare, but his lips were twitching.

  It was when we finally left the system that all hell broke loose, and several things happened at once.