judicator

Here is the next installment of the rough draft. Feel free to comment/review/critique to your heart's content.

Chapter Three


The Redstorm’s powerful ion drives blasted blue-white energy in their wake as they wound up to flank speed. The immense starship climbed out of orbit from Paldar and made for deep space, preparing for acceleration to FTL speeds.

Aboard the bridge, the ship’s navigator, Lt. Gewere, made calculations for travel to the Core worlds. He frowned at overlapping star charts, using a lightpen to draw paths through solar systems and around asteroid belts. After ensuring that the star charts were as up-to-date as possible, he entered the data for the new course into the ship’s nav computer.

From his command chair at the center of the bridge, Khan Sandoval tracked the navigator’s progress on his personal holoscreen. He had specifically instructed the officer to choose a route that would take them to Hil’Hanna with maximum speed.

“We are almost to the first FTL jump point, Khan Sandoval,” Lt. Gewere said. “This leg of our journey will be the longest, approximately 19 hours. It will bring us to the Ubrecht system, only 5 hours from the Core.”

The Khan’s first officer, Captain Trakoh, gave his report. “All shielding systems are green, and acceleration boosters are charged. Fighter squadrons and other heavy equipment are secured for transit.”

“Very well, proceed with the jump,” the Khan ordered. Lt. Gewere passed on the order to the navigation crew members and to engineering. Within seconds, the deck shuddered slightly as the Redstorm began accelerating faster than it seemed possible for a ship of it’s mass.

Then the FTL shields began to glow, fighting the chaotic energies beyond the lightspeed barrier. From the bridge viewport, Khan Sandoval saw a black hole appear in the vast array of stars ahead. The black hole sprang towards the viewport until it blocked out all else. Everything seemed to stretch as the strain of crossing the barrier became felt by the entire ship.

For a moment, there was a sensation of crushing weight, at the same time a feeling of hanging over an impossibly high cliff. Then the Redstorm leaped into the utterly black void.

* * *

The brig of the Redstorm was spartan and cold. Currently, there was only one occupant. She was standing behind the force-field that so far had proven strong enough to retain her. A pair of guards sat nearby, cradling particle beam rifles, watching her with mildly guarded interest. Prisoners were rare aboard the Redstorm.

A chime sounded, and the guards stood to attention as a pair of visitors entered the cellblock. The first man was the Khan himself, clad in an informal uniform with a minimum of rank insignia. He carried no visible weapons, and he seemed quite cheerful.

The second man was the enigmatic Samuel Krey, walking alongside the Khan with an air of familiarity, but also deference. He wore a tunic with no markings whatsoever, and carried a wakizashi sheathed on his belt. The two man strode purposefully towards the lone occupied cell.

The Judicator Talia stared them down as they stopped within a few feet of the forcefield. The only sound was the low hum from the wall of energy between them. The Khan mused to himself how ironic the situation was, the invincible Judicator who had toyed with him so carelessly in his own quarters was now at his mercy.

“Talia, I hope that your accommodations are satisfactory,” he said. “After all, the Ungifted are not knowledgeable about the comforts that Judicators typically desire.”

She simply stared back, her face devoid of expression, but with eyes that were filled with plans for cold-blooded murder. She assumed, correctly in fact, that her every move was being recorded for later analysis. If she succeeded in escaping from the cell block, the data would be preserved for future encounters with her race.

The Khan’s main concern, however, was that once she got aboard the Redstorm, it wasn’t clear how she planned to leave once her mission was accomplished. Stealing a shuttle or dropship was not as simple as it might be assumed. Besides, none of the transports or fighters the Redstorm carried had FTL capabilities.

The only way to quickly and safely leave the ship would be to meet another starship, or land on a nearby planet or starbase. Now, while traveling faster than light, escape was impossible. Khan Sandoval and Samuel Krey were here for answers.

“How are you feeling, Talia?” The Khan asked. “I trust that you have suffered no side effects from the little jolt you received during our scuffle?”

“I am quite well, Khan,” she said. “Although that ‘little jolt’ might well have killed a lesser being.” She stretched her left arm, rubbing it absently. “Don’t think that I will forget your trickery, either.”

“I am gratified to hear that you are all right,” the Khan said. “I do not regret my actions, you should know that I could not tolerate such a breach of security aboard my vessel. The very thought of you running freely about, watching the every move of my crew is enough to make my skin crawl.”

“But then, to invade the privacy of my quarters, and to brazenly propose a scheme of open rebellion to the Khagan, that was too much.”

She stared at him with an expression bordering on pity. “It is sad to look upon a man with such a lack of will. I believe that, in your heart, you desire to accomplish everything about which we spoke.”

“I recall that you told me that everything outside the affairs of your own race is a game,” the Khan said. “But what you fail to take into account is that we are all pawns in a much larger game. And it is entirely possible for the Judicators to be used to further the goals of the Ungifted.”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “We are a patient people, Khan. We are aware of all that takes place among your politicians and generals. No one takes advantage of us. The big picture that you describe was drawn with the hands of Judicators.”

“A patient people, yes, but also prideful and overconfident. If you continue to lash out at the Coalition, we may be forced to launch attacks against your colonies. I don’t think that your numbers or abilities are enough to hold off a sector fleet at this point.”

She turned away from him, staring at the blank wall of her cell. “Why are you even bothering to speak with me in this fashion?” she asked. “Either torture me or kill me and get it over with. This is a waste of time.”

“Very few torture techniques known by my troops and I are effective against Judicators. And even those are difficult, clumsy, and risky. As for killing you, the thought never entered my mind. You are far too valuable to lose, and your usefulness as a bargaining chip is growing by the hour.”

“The primary reason I came here is to learn what I can about a nagging little detail: How did you get aboard this vessel? Our security systems are programmed to detect your kind, and I would certainly expect someone to notice you while you were stalking the corridors.”

Talia fixed him with an icy glare. “We did not get to where we are today by freely giving away our secrets. Maybe someday you will learn the full extent of the power of a Judicator. For now, be content that I boarded this warship with the intent of recruiting you for our cause, instead of simply killing you in your sleep.”

The Khan shook his head. “It won’t do you any good to fight me, Talia. I’m the only thing standing between you and a lifetime in a Coalition laboratory. They’ll pick you apart, a little at a time. Eventually, they’ll know everything they need to make war upon your people and force them into submission.”

Just for an instant, he saw something in her eyes. Was it fear, maybe hope? Or was it a hatred deeper and hotter than he thought possible? It disappeared before he could be sure. The Judicator looked away without a word. This interview was over, any further questions would be pointless.

The Khan looked at Krey, who merely shrugged. They both turned on their heels and marched out of the cell block without looking back. The guards returned to their chairs, once more alone with the most powerful human within half a dozen star systems.

* * *

In his quarters, the Khan gazed at the holo-image of Ba’ator. Once more, the moon Elizon hung as a shadow over the valley. He reminded himself that, whatever else happens, he needed a new security system. At least, the bridge needed to be secure. Then the rest of the ship could be prioritized for retrofitting new sensors.

If only I could find some way to get her to talk, he thought to himself in the silence. I think it would be a mistake to use aggressive torture. So much could be gained from a willing cooperation. The question is: How?

He activated his personal terminal and checked the ship’s navigational status. They were two-thirds of the way to the next jump point. Within a few hours, the Redstorm would be in Core territorial space. He had to make a decision about the Judicator before they reached Hil’hanna.

Another thought came to him without warning. Why not go along with her original plan? If the Judicators are half the tacticians they seem to be, it might actually work. A military coup, flawlessly executed, and I will hold the reins of power. He closed his eyes and considered his options.

* * *

As the ship sailed through the blackness of FTL space, inside the brig was a darkness deep enough to swallow the light of a star. Talia lay on her cell’s narrow mattress and dreamed of revenge. She was all alone aboard a powerful enemy warship, and there was no fear in her heart.