John Novak
Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
1
Tanix lay near the ass-end of the galaxy. It had always been a desert planet but there was a time when it was prosperous and densely populated. Tanix went to shit not long after all its hydrocarbons had been extracted and sold to the highest bidder. Studies indicated that there might be a correlation between the two events, but researchers were reluctant to claim causality. Further studies might have helped, but when the planet lost its primary source of revenue, the Department of Science was one of the first to have its funding eliminated.
Kriv economists, citing indicators and historical data, attributed the planet’s economic downturn to insufficient spending. Vrek economists, citing their own numbers, argued that excessive spending was the culprit. The planet’s population, what was left of it, couldn’t decide which group of economists to believe. Roughly once every standard solar cycle[1] the people of Tanix got fed up with the leaders they had elected to implement one set of economic policies and replaced them with leaders of the opposite bent. This kept everybody more or less equally unhappy. And it helped maintain Tanix’s status as a galactic afterthought, a cosmic dead end, the neglected third cousin twice removed of the Incorporated Planets.
But all that was about to change.
2
Rapidly approaching the planet, under considerable duress, was the Activist assault ship Regulator. Like a well-meaning federal government it had begun its life as a small, streamlined vessel, only to have its role expand steadily over time.[2] Rather than build a new ship in response to the changes, the Activists had chosen to add modules to Regulator. The result was a bloated, ungainly mess. Its first crew had numbered 100; now there were more than 10,000 personnel aboard. And that didn’t even include the many androids also in service.
Of all the additions that had been made to Regulator, none increased the power of its engines. That was why the ship could not outrun its pursuer, the IP space defender Exceptionalist.
Regulator’s only hope, then, was to outgun the other ship. But Exceptionalist was winning that battle as well. Her many state-of-the-art laser cannons had been pummeling the Activist vessel for several minutes, knocking out its weapons and weakening its shields. Soon Regulator would be defenseless.
3
Princess Kia Sedana pondered this from her command post on the ship’s bridge. Young and beautiful, clad in a gray uniform that managed to be elegant and practical, Kia ignored the cannon blasts buffeting Regulator. Her Activist comrades were set apart both by their standard-issue black uniforms and their collective cringing nervousness under fire. Kia noted their discomfort and pitied them.
For a moment.
"Why the hell have we stopped shooting?" she demanded.
"Our guns have been destroyed, Madam Princess," replied the ship’s captain.
"All of them?!"
"We didn’t have that many to start with," the captain said, averting his eyes.
Kia willed the man to look at her. "In the middle of a galaxy-wide uprising," she said with cold fury, "the flagship of our entire fleet, which is carrying out the most important mission in the history of Activism...doesn’t have enough firepower? How did that happen?"
The captain squared his shoulders and attempted eye contact, preserving a sliver of dignity. "We requisitioned additional cannon, Ma’am," he explained. "But there were delays."
"Delays?!"
"Background checks, Ma’am."
"But they aren’t legally required. Despite all our efforts the IP have consistently refused to implement those very sensible measures."
"True," the captain said, his confidence level inching upward. "But we commissioned our own checks. To show how serious we are about the importance of controlling weapons sales. And the checks took a lot longer than we expected."
"Well, the reasoning was sound," Kia said grimly, "but the timing sure sucked."
A tremendous blast shook the entire ship, knocking everyone on the bridge off their feet. The lights went out and all systems crashed. A second later the emergency lights came on and the ship regained minimal functionality.
"The defense shields," announced a computer voice, "are down. The defense shields...are down."
"Why does it put the little pauses in there?" Kia complained, as she pulled herself off the deck. "Captain!"
"Yes, Ma’am."
"Presume we’re about to be boarded and prepare accordingly."
"Yes, Ma’am. Should I prepare an escape vehicle for you?"
"Too late for that," Kia said, hurrying off the bridge. "I need to find an android."
[1] Defined as the time it took planet Crystor, the seat of government, to revolve around its sun.
[2] At first the Activists had observed galactic custom by referring to their space ships as "her" and "she." But after strident protests by the nonbinary gender faction, it was decided that the only acceptable pronoun was "it."