"Einstein once said that
reality 'might be an illusion,
albeit a persistent one."
I tend to agree with him."
Vision-of-Faith III
Keeper of the Way
CY 10087
Chapter Five
Tyr and Harper joined Dylan as they travelled over to the Starhammer. They rode in one of Andromeda's own shuttles, Dylan had thought the Maru didn't look professional enough. It took only a few minutes for the shuttle to approach the massive Star Destroyer. The bone white hull of the craft shone in the reflected light of the sun as it orbited the planet.
Tyr piloted the small shuttle beneath the mighty bulk of the vessel, as he had been instructed. They passed directly beneath the bow and proceeded down the mid-line of the ship. Near the forward docking bay, Tyr strayed of course and followed the ship back behind the larger aft bay. A huge spherical bulge protruded behind the landing bay and Tyr circled back directly beneath that bulge, approaching the forward hanger from behind and passing directly beneath the aft hanger.
Inside the aft hanger they could see dozens of docking bays and hundreds of small craft, all seemingly open to space. Inside those bays, just visible, were what appeared to be people.
"Andromeda shuttle," an Imperial operator hailed, "Power down your engines and will bring you aboard."
Tyr looked unwilling to shut down the engines and gave Dylan a questioning glance. Dylan simply nodded his accent to the request and Tyr brought the shuttle to a stop.
With little warning the ship began to vibrate and rattle as if some invisible hand had grabbed them.
"Mr. Harper?" Dylan said expecting a report.
"I dunno," Harper responded, "Some kind of focused AG field, maybe. Its real strong."
"They're pulling us in," Tyr told them.
Moments later the shuttle was settled down safely with the hangers of the Imperial cruiser. Dylan straightened out his uniform as he approached the hatch, both Tyr and Harper had elected, with some prompting, to wear cloths with something of a military cut and they stood close behind.
The hatch opened and standing not far from the egress ramp stood Captain Meduk, with General Prinster, Colonel Milnan, and another officer in similar uniform. All around the shuttle stood row after row of white armoured soldiers carrying carbines over their chests, like the body guards Meduk had brought with her to Andromeda. Among them were soldiers in black uniforms with flaring black helmets and pistols strapped to their thighs.
It was one of the most impressive honour guards Dylan had seen since the last time he had visited the Imperial Gardens in Meshana-Tarn on Tarn-Vedra. The shock of it must have been obvious as Dylan walked down the ramp. Harper gawked at all the armoured troops and Tyr let a quiet growl escape.
"Welcome aboard the Starhammer Captian," Meduk said with a slight smile, "I have already introduced General Prinster and Baron Milnan to you, this is my first officer, Lt Commander Kelar."
"A pleasure gentlemen," Dylan responded, "This is my tactical officer, Tyr Anasazi and my chief engineer, Seamus Harper."
For once Harper had the sense not to hit on the pretty woman in front of him, perhaps it was all the armour around.
Meduk escorted them directly to a conference room not far from the hanger bays. They took their seats in the large room around a oversized conference table. Two of the white clad stormtroopers took up positions on the inside of the door and Meduk took a seat at the head of the table.
"The Empire wishes to discuss the purchase of slipstream drive from your Commonwealth," Meduk began without preamble, "I have been authorized to determine a fair price for the system and for its installation into one of our ships."
The directness of the proposal was a surprise to Dylan, perhaps he had spent to much time around diplomats.
"The Empire already seems to have a viable means of faster then light travel," Dylan responded, "You were able to travel the distances between our galaxies, why would the Empire want slipstream?"
Meduk considered her answer for a moment.
"Hyperspace is to slow for travelling between galaxies, the gravitic fold conduit can appears to limit us to one distance- one hundred million light-years. How long does it take you to travel between your galaxies Captain?"
"Not long at all," Dylan responded.
"And to travel one hundred million light years?" she asked.
"Without knowing the route, I'd say a few weeks or months."
"That is why we want slipstream drive."
The room remained quiet for a few moments as Meduk allowed her reasons to work there way in. The silence was soon broken as klaxons began to blare.
"Captain, we are under attack," a voice came from over the intercom.
Meduk activated a monitor in front of her, studied it for a moment and began to stand.
"I apologize Captain Hunt, it seems your Magog have chosen this moment to attack. I'll have you escorted to a observation area, you'll be able to assess your ship there."
Dylan Tyr and Harper were escorted to an large chamber dominated on one side by large viewports and on the other by displays and computer consoles. Dylan and Harper cautiously approached the window as the large blast doors close behind them, Tyr went straight to the consoles to watch the battle on the sensor displays.
"Isn't it a bad idea to stand by a window in the middle of a battle?" Harper asked.
"Yes," Dylan replied, "But our host don't seem to be worried about it. Remember Kefreion, the swarmships just impacted on the hull and were vaporized."
"Dylan," Tyr called from across the room," You may want to come and take a look at this."
Dylan crossed the room and stood beside Tyr, Harper followed close behind. Tyr stood staring at one of the sensor displays, riveted by the scene. Dylan studied the data for a moment and it quickly dawned on him just what he was seeing.
"Its all in real time," Dylan said incredulously.
"Of course its in real time," Harper realized, "Sensors and communication systems work on the same principles, one would naturally lead into the other."
"It seems that we are going to have to amend our proposal."
The first swarmships had passed the outer defences and were now coming into the range of the Star Destroyer's weapons. Green bursts of energy hurled themselves at the oncoming craft as they raced for the massive bulk of the ship. As had been the case at Kafreion, the swarm was no match for the turbolasers of the Empire. The Star Destroyer shook with the power as Magog ships were vaporized in single shots as precise energy bolts found their marks.
The battle would be short.
"Beka, the Starhammer reports fifty swarmships have entered the system," Rommie reported, "Captain Hunt and the others are safe and are awaiting the end of the skirmish."
"Battle stations," Beka responded, "Launch slipfighters, and arm all defence stations. Let's do our best to help. Oh, and have the Victory do the same thing."
"Something weird is happening to the Starhammer and the other Imperial ships," Trance reported, "Some kind of energy field is forming around their hulls."
"It is extremely powerful Beka," Rommie said, "over 7*10^23 watts."
"Continue scanning," Beka ordered, "And prepare a full spread of missiles. Open fire when the Magog enter combat range."
The Andromeda's and Victory's missiles blew past the Star Destroyer before it could even fire its turbolasers, striking down swarmships from a great distance. The fighters launched from Andromeda, nearly five minutes after the TIE fighters from Starhammer, arrived before those TIEs and were already involved in battle with the Magog.
By the time the Starhammer could engage in battle five swarmships had already been taken out by the High Guard. However, with the Star Destroyer fully engaged, the Magog were quickly and soundly defeated.
Within a half an hour Dylan was again seated in the conference room.
"Captain Meduk," he began, "We have anticipated you offer, "In exchange for slipstream drive, the Commonwealth asks for your faster then light communications and sensor technology."