This is a fan translation of Line of Dreams (Линия грёз) by the Russian science fiction and fantasy author Sergei Lukyanenko. The novel can be considered a fan fiction of the original Master of Orion game.


Chapter 6

"I'm asking you, Lemak," Isabella said. The Admiral, reclining in his chair, watched her from the screen. He was silent and weary, his health seemed to have seriously declined over the past several days. "Allow me to continue the operation, Admiral."

"Changes are coming, Kal," Lemak said quietly. "Big changes. I can't trust hyper-communications, but the last thing the Empire needs is a conflict with the Silicoid Foundation."

"There won't be a conflict."

"Really? Well then, I can't give orders to an ISS officer. Act at your own discretion."

"I'm powerless without your ships…" Isabella forced herself to admit.

"All ships of the line are to return to their bases. It's not my order, Kal. I can't countermand it."

"But the Hound isn't a warship."

Lemak spread his hands with a painful expression, "Kal, you surprise me… very much. What's going on?"

"I can't trust hyper-communications with this."

"All right," Lemak agreed unexpectedly. "The escorts are to return, but the support ships remain under your command. But I do have a request: if some miracle allows you to succeed, pay me a visit first."

Kal nodded.

"Just in case, I'm going to inform the marine team on your ship of this," Lemak added. "Good luck."

The screen went dark. Isabella covered her head with her hands, freezing and looking into the dead glass.

"What do the Silicoids want with Arthur Curtis?" Nomachi asked. It was just the two of them on the bridge, the only ones who knew the true purpose of their flight. "Why do you think they have him?"

"I don't know," Kal admitted. "But it's the only satisfactory option."

Nomachi cursed mentally. He was tired of his tiny cabin, which he shared with the silent Kadar, he loathed the freeze-dried food, he didn't like the mad, exhausting sex with Isabella. Deep down, he was cursing the moment he had decided to compare the portraits of Arthur Ovald and Arthur Curtis.

He really hoped that the kid had died in the hands of the Darloks or during the bombardment of Layon.


"I need to talk to Sedimin," Arthur said.

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely."

"Then repeat it loudly and regularly," Kay advised, rubbing his face with a depilatory tissue. The week-old stubble was falling off his cheeks as gray dust.

"I need to talk to Sedimin," Arthur said into thin air. He was still on the bed, having, apparently, slept fully clothed. "I need to talk to Sedimin…"

Kay was done shaving and unsealed a cup of coffee. But he did drink it, gargling and spitting it out onto the floor instead. Then he sang quietly, "Ah-a-a-a…"

"What are you doing?" Arthur wondered.

"I want to change my profession," Kay informed him. "I'm planning on joining the Imperial Opera… Ah-a-a-a… What do you think about my voice?"

"You sound like a wounded Bulrathi."

"Excellent."

Arthur continued to repeat his wish to speak with Sedimin for two more hours. Kay kept up his vocal exercises. Eventually, the door opened, and a Silicoid appeared on the threshold.

"Sedimin, the Foot of the Foundation, awaits Curtis for a conversation."

Arthur hopped off the bed and stepped towards the Silicoid. He told Kay, "This is a face-to-face conversation."

"Ah-a-a…" Kay sang. "Let me know if you manage to find the Silicoid's face. Ah-a-a…"

Curtis Jr. followed the Silicoid out with a slight feeling that his bodyguard was going insane.


The small squadron split up in the Layon System. The destroyers jumped to Dogar, while the Circle of Silence, the Hound, and the unnamed ISS corvette followed the trace of the Silicoid armada. It wasn't difficult, since the thirty-two thousand ships had left strong perturbations in space.

Kal didn't know how a planet nullifier was going to help her. But she habitually made use of everything she had on hand, which applied not only to people but ships as well.