Sunderbans K: The beginning of the Ky Epic

X

Bright Stars Duchy
Bright Stars Station

Yalia walked slowly with Tagus towards the Alecto. She sighed as the ship came into view in the huge window. "I can't believe you are leaving already, you haven't even been here half a day."

"Yes, but it's for the best, you likely know what this is for." Yalia bit her lower lip and nodded quietly. "We'll be fine, it's all mapped out and-" Yalia began to cry. Tagus stopped and hugged her. "We'll be back, you'll see."

"But when?" she managed. "And what if..." she stopped, unable to say more.

"There's always ifs. And we know how to handle them." He stepped back, gently holding her shoulders.

"Promise?" Yalia asked as tears rolled down her cheeks. Tagus nodded.

"Better." She hugged him again, tightly, then quietly said, "Be careful this time." Then she stepped back and wiped the tears from her face. He smiled.

"I will." He handed her a handkerchief. She took it and dried her face, handing him back a damp cloth. He shook his head as he folded it and put it away. Captain Uthro appeared down the corridor, prompting Yalia to straighten up. "I'd better get going." But Tagus grabbed her hand and kissed her on the forehead.

Yalia smiled and started walking away, spinning about to add, "Oh, and say hi to Sina!"

Tagus laughed. "I will, but I think you'll see her first."

Yalia smiled, turned around and continued on her way, her eyes grew wide and she covered her mouth, surprised she'd said that as she turned into a corridor. Uthro approached Tagus with a serious look on his face.

"Guess you're ready to go. Supplies topped off, gunships in the hangar, full crew."

"Full crew." Tagus frowned. "All of the positions are filled. I lost so many experienced crew members, good people."

"I know, and it won't be easy, getting all these new folks rounded out quickly."

Tagus nodded, thinking about the task that lay before them, and the lack of time to prepare the crew. "There's not much time before we get into the Wilderness. And the last drills we ran were," he paused, "not so good."

Uthro nodded, understanding, "You'll have some time, after you rendezvous at Taragan."

"Not much though."

"Run sims, silent, on the way."

"Sims," Tagus scoffed. "Sims don't work like you'd hope they would. There's no real tension, no one works up a sweat, the ship doesn't even get strained."

"I know, and that reminds me that it's has been a long time since I've had a good sparring partner," Uthro winced and rubbed his right shoulder. "Next time, I shall be more prepared."

"Only if you don't use sims."

They laughed.

"You," Uthro asked, "are you still... training?" Tagus did his best not to scowl.

"Yes," was his terse response.

Uthro drew in a deep breath. "You might want to reconsider, that arm, I noticed you were favoring it."

Tagus was about to counter when he saw Chattar and Mirata approaching. They both saluted and greeted the senior officers as they sped by and boarded.

"Long sword," Uthro noted, "That makes for difficult combat in the corridors."

"Chattar handles his well. He did more than his share when we were boarded by those two cruisers."

"Good thing."

Uthro saw Commodore Tezir approaching. "And now I'll be going. Work hard and make them bleed." He stepped back and saluted Tagus.

"Until next time," Tagus replied, returning. Uthro turned and greeted the commodore, then went on his way. Tezir slowly approached Tagus.

"All ready?"

Tagus checked his pad. "Mostly."

"Good."

Tagus saw the concern in his brother's face. "So, you're worried, Retswer?"

"Yes, and even though he was prepared for trouble, though I don't think he expected something very serious."

"Well, what could have happened?" Tagus asked, and Tezir replied with a silent, yet stern look.

"I get it."

"Good. You understand your mission objectives?"

Tagus frowned, "Yes."

"Good, now keep Restwer-" he paused, "from getting into trouble."

Tagus rubbed his chin. "Kill two birds with one stone."

Tezir paused for a moment before answering with, "Something like that."

"Fine, I should be able to make sure he doesn't get into any... entanglements." But Tezir said nothing, apparently thinking about something. Tagus' pad beeped, "Time to go." He saluted as he spoke, "Commodore."

Tezir returned the salute. Then he reached into his coat and fished out an envelope, he held it, looking it over, then handed it to Tagus.

"What's this?"

"Something for you, for later."

"When?"

"When - if things get, bad." Tezir paused. He looked Tagus in the eye.

"Alright."

Then they embraced. "Goodbye. And..."

"What?"

"Don't get involved in a battle we can't win."

Tagus was surprised. "That's a new tune." Tezir barely acknowledged the charge. "Alright then." And with that, Tagus stepped onto the Alecto. Tezir watched his brother as the door closed. He sighed and returned to his office.

When Tagus stepped onto the bridge, the Mirata called attention. Tagus responded with, "As you were," then walked over to speak with Mirata and spoke several orders to him concerning undocking and proceeding to Tarragan. Tazz and Krawj were at their console, Chattar was speaking with a junior officer.

Tagus departed and went into the ready room. He went to the end of the table and began accessing the files Tezir had given him concerning the mission. As he worked, he felt the ship undock from the station and the thrusters begin to move the ship. Then he felt the pulse drives as it pushed the ship away from the station and the planet so far down below. Some moments later, he felt the main drives engage, bringing the ship to its cruising speed in less than a minute.

He smiled as the ship hummed.

Bright Stars Station

Tezir stood by the viewport and watched the Alecto as she undocked and slowly back away. He was in deep thought as he watched her begin to turn. Uthro approached and stood beside him.

"Did you tell him?"

"No."

"But-"

"He would have argued against it. Knowing him, he'd go to the brig before he'd follow through."

"Yes," Uthro replied, "that's Tagus." Moments later the Alecto disappeared, leaving only a bright spot of light that began to slowly fade. "What if he balks when he gets to Taragan?" Tezir gave Uthro a sly smile, Uthro chuckled and then walked back to his own office.

Tezir gazed at the spot that Alecto had just been in. He straightened his coat, stretching tall as he did.

"Perhaps three," He said with faint hope in his voice.