Galactic Crash Part 1


    Shen Rae’s people had no name.  At least, officially - because throughout the history of the planet they lived on, they had to remain hidden.  The other races feared them, thought them dangerous because of their power and their longevity.

    It was through design, not through accident.  Her people decided long ago that if they maintained appearances, and had no name, their existence would be little more than myth.  They existed at the fringes of the Trading Alliance, and tried hard not to make waves.

    The biggest negative was that they tended to flee from conflict to avoid exposure.  During the Great Galactic War, She Rae’s people made their way as black market traders of everything except for weaponry.  They wanted to keep their distance from the conflict.

    And once again, Shen Rae found herself faced with her people’s legacy of pacifism in the face of battle.  It was much harder to keep that tradition alive this time, however, because her own personal power was augmented with one of the most powerful spacecraft in the Alliance.  A lot of self control was needed to keep herself and her crew in check.

    The Heart of Light was fairly rare craft in the Alliance fleet, a class known as a Light Cruiser.  It’s silver and blue uniforms, and the feathered hawk symbol on the chest, were both logs of the Company, and her clan.  It was small, sleek, stealthy, quick, and powerful - intended to cross the galaxy quickly, outrun pirates and military craft, explore without detection...and ultimately negotiate in edgy situations, including making first contact.  It’s what her people, and her company, specialized in.

    A relatively large cluster of planets within the Trading Alliance decided it wanted to more tightly control trade with its people.  The Trading Alliance resisted, so the planet cluster’s own Companies started to turn away other Alliance trading spacecraft...sometimes violently.  Shen Rae and the Heart of Light were sent to mediate.

    She met with the board of the Valia Trader’s Guild - what they voted to call themselves - to discuss the situation.  The board was made up of representatives of the companies making up the Guild.  Shen Rae came authorized to allow them to re-join the Trading Alliance as a single membership, rather than individual companies, giving them more negotiation power.

    Instead, Shen Rae found herself betrayed.  The Trading Alliance had secretly contacted the Galactic Government as the negotiations were taking place.  They moved large battleships just outside the Valia cluster, intending to intimidate them into surrendering.

    Naturally, that meant the Heart of Light narrowly escaped when the negotiation was cast aside in favor of armed conflict.

    Once her beloved Light Cruiser was clear of danger, Shen Rae was angry, both with herself, and for those she trusted.  She retreated to her office and kicked her metal desk a few times, pulling her punches so she didn’t destroy it - even the metal was fairly fragile to her.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Are you all right?”  her First Officer and best friend, Jai Yoon, asked.  If she hadn’t been the Captain’s best friend, she wouldn’t have been allowed to silently enter the office without asking first.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No.”  Shen Rae whispered as she finally collapsed onto her office couch.  “I can’t believe we’re going to watch the Trading Alliance destroyed.  I still remember when it was created...it was a shining--”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It’s not being destroyed, it’s just a little...misguided.  The conflict is very well contained.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They were new members of the Alliance.”  Shen Rae pointed out.  “None of my people live on or even trade with those worlds yet.  What kind of message will it send if the Galactic Government goes to battle with any new members who don’t like a few of the rules?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah.”  Jai Yoon sat down too and sighed.  “I worry about that too.  I worry that it might to lead to more dropping out...or at least fear, and a huge build-up of weapons in case they might want to leave someday.”  She looked at her Captain.  “Why don’t your people...your company...just take control of things?  You have the power, and the ships--”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Control by force is an illusion.”  Shen Rae replied.  “We’ve been taught that from childhood.  The harder you push, the more resistance people will give you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Through politics, then?”  Jai Yoon suggested.

    Shen Rae shook her head.  “We’re forbidden from gaining power through politics.  It puts us too much in the spotlight.”

    Her First Officer bit her lip, unsure what to suggest next.  “What do we do?  Go home?”

    That’s when Shen Rae became less sure of herself.  She spoke to Jai Yoon like her best friend, not like her crew.  “I don’t really want to go home a failure.”  she whispered sadly.  She then considered another option.  “Perhaps we can expand the Company’s trade empire.  Then we can return home sort of heroes.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What do you have in mind?”

    Shen Rae already had an idea.  A race which seemed to be prime for trade, but wasn’t eligible for Trading Alliance membership.  “Call the crew together for a meeting.”  she said.


---


    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Caph?”  Shen Rae’s Navigator recognized the planet cluster shown on the map immediately.  The Captain felt lucky to have someone so well educated in star maps as part of her crew.  “I thought they were off limits.”

    The meeting room was carpeted, and the rounded walls were plain white.  Information posted for meetings was projected directly on the walls, identically on all sides so everyone could see.  The elongated oval table was a white ivory-like material, and it was surrounded by enough matching chairs to seat the entire command crew.

    Shen Rae was sitting at the head of that table, her first officer at the opposite end.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Only because the Trading Alliance currently only allows open trade with its members.”  Shen Rae explained.  “Technically, we’ll be bending the rules to create new ones.  If we can negotiate trade on behalf of the Company, maybe the rules will change.  The Valia Trader’s Guild might be more willing to rejoin the Alliance, or at least stop fighting, if we introduce some flexibility.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It’s worth a try.”  Jai Yoon added.  “Caph is a rich world with a hearty appetite for luxury goods.  They’ve also recently allied with Plaxtragar, which needs both all kinds of good, and silent protection.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They already get that from the Thonnagarians.”  the Investigations Officer noted.  “They are off-limits, as they’re highly dangerous, combative, and tenacious.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Which is why we speak directly to Caph.”  Shen Rae replied.  “All trade will be performed through Caph, and all protection coordinated with them.  As part of the deal Plaxtragar will remain completely in the dark.  They will benefit, but they won’t understand why.”

    The Officer then reminded her, “It’s pretty well set in our laws, Captain, that we must not appoint ourselves protectors of the universe.  That attracts enemies.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m aware of that.”  Shen Rae said.  She stood, and began pacing in front of the star maps on the walls.  “And I’m not taking this lightly.  Understand, though, Caph is a fledgeling empire.  Maybe a little backwards, but it’s improving, and expanding.  Trade will save them from war, and might save us from destruction.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I say we do it.”  the Navigator finally agreed.

    Jai Yoon nodded.  “You know my vote.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“We have plenty of food and fuel.”  the Chief Engineer chimed in.  “And I hear they’re impressed by technology and uniforms...and we have both.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ll have to be the one dissenting vote.”  the Investigations Officer said.  “If anything, just to remind us that this isn’t authorized, and we could all get in serious trouble.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Noted.”  Shen Rae replied clinically.  “Launch an Anchor.  We’ll get to the Caph system and take a look with full stealth.  If we don’t like what we see...we can always change our minds.”


---


    Caph was a planet with a low percentage of water, and a very strong star.  It gave the planet a curious bright orange glow as the Heart of Light approached it from space.

    The brightness of the star and the planet both helped protect it from invaders.  If the Light Cruiser hadn’t been using refractive stealth technology, it would have reflected that light, and its approach would have easily been detected by stargazing owners of simple telescopes on the planet.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“All’s quiet.”  the Navigation Officer announced as they approached.  “There doesn’t seem to be any spacecraft.  The Caphans seem to lack nuclear or transnuclear capability.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They have a palace.”  Shen Rae recalled the intelligence report she read about Caph.  “Locate it and prepare my Energy Glider.  I’ll meet with their Emir personally.”

    The Caphans, by this point, were no stranger to visits from alien races.  They got over their fear and paranoia toward them, even when they managed to approach stealthily.  They weren’t terribly shocked when a sleek metallic spacecraft noiselessly appeared high in the sky, and descended quickly.

    As the sleek spacecraft started to approach, it cast a rapidly slowing shadow over the huge courtyard outside the palace, and the wind suddenly kicked up.  People walking around below started to look up to see what it was.

    Though they meant no malice, a contingent of male royal guards rushed outside and lined up passively along the palace steps - it was simply their job to stand between them and their leader.

    The silver Energy Glider floated down until it nearly touched the ground, but it never quite did.  It remained hovering a few inches, even as the door opened.

    Out stepped a woman who looked to be of Earth, with long jet black hair, which blew in the wind.  She wore a uniform that looked like a fitted dark blue overcoat that went from her neck to mid thigh, uniform slacks, and boots.  It had silver detailing, and a large crest across the chest that looked like a bird.  On her left wrist was a solid wide bracelet that seemed to be the same silvery metal as the ship.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I humbly request to speak to the Emir of Caph.”  she told one of the green skinned guards.  “I am Captain Shen Rae.  I wish to negotiate a trade agreement.”

    The guard said nothing, but he turned and raced into the palace.  He was not permitted to speak.

    A few minutes later, a pair of green skinned women came out.  They both seemed taken aback at Shen Rae’s appearance - apparently they had been ordered to escort her in, but were expecting something else.  Yet they still reluctantly each took one of her arms, and began to lead her inside.  

    They led her through a great hall of fountains, high ceilings, marble floors, and stained glass windows.  Then through another hall of more fountains and marble floors, yet also giant staircases this time as well.  Following a hallway to the left, they led her to a very large, heavy, tall door.

    The door opened by two guards, and Shen Rae was led inside to a smaller high-ceilinged room with tall, narrow stained glass windows that looked like it had its entire floor covered with pillows.  The door was closed behind them, and the guards stayed outside.  There was a small, short table in the center, on which another female was lighting incense.  More of them filed in, and began bringing in silver platters with fruits and vegetables, nearly covering the surface of the table.

    And then they all left, abandoning the room to silence.  Shen Rae assumed that those were servants, and they had to leave before the Emir arrived.

    The Emir entered with two guards through a smaller rear door, and then he dismissed them both.  They left quietly, closing the door behind them.  Then he offered Shen Rae a seat on the pillows, across the table from himself.  She took the offer, and then he sat down too.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I am Kiivan, Captain Shen Rae.”  the Emir announced quietly and casually, without any sense of ego.  “What do you think of Caph so far?”

    Shen Rae smiled, both out of politeness and to give a better impression.  “I like the palace.  It looks comfortable.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It’s overly extravagant.”  Kiivan protested offhand.  “I’m working to change that, but it’s difficult reversing eons of tradition.”

    Then, the Captain figured out what the Emir was talking about in a roundabout manner.  She genuinely laughed, and said, “I’m not here representing the Alliance, Kiivan.  I’m representing myself, and the Company.”

    Kiivan’s smile disappeared for the faintest moment.  Then it reappeared, much more earnestly.  “I see.  You know, you’re not the first of your kind to visit here.  Unfortunately, on the last visit our...moral standards weren’t up to yours.”

    Shen Rae shifted on the overly stuffed floor pillows.  “For membership, yes, that’s true.  You would have to be regular space travelers, and be at peace amongst yourselves and with your neighbors.  The Trading Alliance does not wish to be dragged into a war, take sides, or give a people an unfair advantage.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“We do know,”  she continued, “that Caph has finally expanded beyond...no, not expanded.  Taken responsibility for a people beyond its borders.  Stretched itself thin to take care of Plaxtragar, perhaps beyond its current feasible abilities.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And?”  Kiivan asked, anticipating the offer that was coming, and pushing her to get to the point.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And you need a trading service.”  Shen Rae concluded.  “Someone with the technology to provide regular ferrying of goods and passengers at very little expense.  And with the incentive and might to defend its market.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Defend?”  Kiivan asked, raising an eyebrow.  “From invaders?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Within limits.”  Shen Rae clarified.  “We won’t get involved in civil war, for instance.  Or fight a war for you if it’s provoked.  We won’t be used to intimidate.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“It’s an interesting offer.”  Kiivan pondered.  “But as I’ve said, I’m trying to bring change to Caph.  I’m reluctant to make a ruling until this is discussed with the elders of our villages.”

    Shen Rae nodded.  “I understand.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And though I’m trying to bring change...there is one tradition I do agree with.  I insist you and your crew join me for this evening’s feast.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Consider it done.”  Shen Rae smiled.


TO BE CONTINUED


-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2009 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin