When a person is happy, or proud of something, a smile appears on their face almost instinctively.
I’m no exception, although in my case the smile has to stay in the imagination: as I watched the UNSC frigate in orbit through the window of the PDO space station—which, besides being a station, works as an orbital defense platform, also of our own design, expanded to house five full frigate hangars—I felt a pride too big for my chest.
My face is metal, completely smooth, without a single feature that could betray an expression.
So I expressed my happiness the only way I know how to do it well: with a little victory dance.
“You really do look happy, Samuel.”
I nearly tripped over my own feet.
Charlotte was behind me, and my dance was cut short halfway through a particularly enthusiastic move.
I couldn’t help thinking about how we had met, on that trade world called Kazande, and how she had completely changed my fate: from almost certain death, mine and that of all my metal companions, to a life of peace, with the chance to contribute everything I knew how to do.
I had been by her side since she was a little girl, through thick and thin, and seeing her become the woman she was now filled me with something I can only describe as pride, even if I couldn’t put a technical name to it.
Time flies, I thought.
That little girl was now a beautiful twenty-one-year-old young lady, with hair as golden as the sun, just like her mother’s, and deep red eyes inherited from her father.
She gave off an air of nobility she hadn’t had before, though, to my relief, her personality was as energetic as ever.
“The truth is, I am excited,” I admitted.
“This is my first voyage on ships designed and built by us.”
“Oh, is that so?
Then it’s fine that you are,” she said, and immediately turned to a nearby terminal.
“Aine, is everything ready for the trip?
My parents have already arrived.”
A golden holographic projection rose from the terminal.
“Young miss, the preparations and the cargo are ready,” Aine replied.
“Your parents are on board, along with your sisters.”
“Thank you very much, Aine.
Come on, Samuel, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”
She turned and started walking, and I fell in beside her without saying anything more for the moment.
Aine is an artificial intelligence I designed myself, meant to take command of all operations on the planet should my masters and I ever happen to be absent at the same time.
The first time I introduced her to my masters, they were so pleased with her capabilities that she was given an official place in the chain of command: House Sorofia, represented by Victoria and Marcus, at the top; me, as second in command, thanks to the absolute trust they place in me; Aine in third place, and behind her, the planetary council.
“I’m leaving the planet in your hands, Aine.
We’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t worry,” she replied.
“You can leave it to me.
Have a good trip.”
A few minutes later we were on the frigate’s command bridge, ready to depart.
In plain view, Charlotte, of course, had already installed herself in the captain’s chair, with an expression that made it clear that seat was hers and no one else’s.
I let my shoulders drop in resignation and took my place beside her.
Her parents and sisters occupied other seats on the bridge, watching everything with curiosity.
The first destination would be a world near ours; the second, in another system, would be the Akio trade station.
The bridge was so utterly silent you could have heard a pin drop.
All eyes were on Charlotte, sitting in the captain’s chair, waiting for her orders.
“Oh, yes, sorry, Mom,” she replied, straightening up in her seat all at once.
She shot me a glance, and I answered with a simple nod: she could begin.
With my young mistress’s approval, I began issuing orders to the fellow automatons operating the controls.
“All ships: activate slipspace drives.”
The ships began to move, pulling away from the station.
A moment after the order to depart was given, a blue portal manifested in front of the frigates.
One by one, they vanished into it, and the portal began to close as soon as the last ship crossed to the other side.
One week later
Back on Reach, having successfully completed our first voyage using the slipspace drive, we were able to confirm that its performance far exceeded what the Federation had to offer: more speed, greater range than any previous model.
And, best of all, I no longer felt those damned whispers that had bothered me so much on the previous trip.
A complete success, without a doubt.
Charlotte was impressed, and her sisters enjoyed every minute of the journey.
But I noticed something about Charlotte’s parents that left me thinking: alongside the obvious joy, excitement and fascination on their faces, there was also some uncertainty, anguish, even a hint of panic.
I didn’t understand why.
Victoria asked me to explain how the drive worked so she could draft a detailed report.
I explained the whole process: how its components were contained, the theory behind the jump.
Shortly afterward, I received an alert from Aine: Victoria had sent a message to her family, with the blueprints for the interstellar communication terminals and a full report on the slipspace drive, though without including the technical blueprints of the drive itself, using an astropath to transmit it.
Eight months later, a gigantic ship appeared in orbit around the planet, with the crest of the Sorofia family engraved on its hull.
It carried the patriarch of House Sorofia.
Four months earlier
Sofia, capital world of House Sorofia
In the palace was the current patriarch of the house, Bruce Sorofia, a man who had already lived more than fifteen hundred years.
He was in the astropaths’ communication chamber, making sure everything was in order, when he was interrupted by an executive from the corporations of Confederate Earth, who was seeking to establish a formal alliance with House Sorofia.
“Have you thought about our proposal, Patriarch?
It would benefit both parties.”
“I’m still considering it,” Bruce replied, without taking his eyes off the terminal.
“What else is there to consider?
We’re giving you access to the latest technologies Earth has to offer.
All we ask is that you review the terms of the agreement.
Part of your council of elders already agrees.
All that’s missing is your approval, Patriarch.”
“Even so, I’m still considering it,” Bruce repeated, in a tone that was beginning to border on annoyance.
He could read this man’s intentions like clear water: the terms, yes, would benefit them, but they would also bind them for life.
And what these Terrans were really after wasn’t the agreement itself, but something far more ambitious: to use it as a gateway to establish contact with the Aeldari, specifically with the trade ship Ulthwé, and thereby gain access to their warp portals.
House Sorofia had been on good terms with them for generations, something that held to this very day, and that was precisely what the Terrans coveted.
“Patriarch, I’m receiving a message.
It originates from Reach: it’s from your great-granddaughter, Victoria Sorofia.
She has a message for you.”
“Open it.”
The message unfolded, revealing two files: one with blueprints and a technical report, and another with a report accompanied by video recordings.
“Let’s see what this girl has been up to now,” Bruce murmured, opening the first one.
“Oh.
Interesting.
A new means of interstellar communication.”
“Isn’t that wonderful?” Carter cut in, making no effort to hide his enthusiasm.
“I didn’t know she was researching that kind of technology.
Not even on Earth is there anything capable of transmitting messages so quickly without them taking an eternity to reach their destination.
She’ll earn great merit if she reports this to Earth.”
Bruce, annoyed that Carter was still there, merely nodded and opened the second report.
His expression changed completely within seconds.
“This is incredible.
A means of travel like this would change the history of humanity as we know it,” said Carter, practically vibrating with excitement by now.
“Yes.
This is incredible,” Bruce repeated quietly, stepping away from the terminal and gesturing thoughtfully with his hands.
“We have to inform Earth.
I have to report this to my superiors, Patriarch.
I’m heading back to my ship.
Think about our pro—”
Before he could finish the sentence, a burst of laser fire rang out across the chamber.
The bodies of Carter and his escorts dropped to the floor, each with clean laser-shot perforations.
Bruce made an almost imperceptible gesture with his hand, and several black-clad figures materialized out of nowhere, as if they had been there the whole time.
“What are your orders, master?” one of the assassins asked.
“Destroy his ship.
Leave no survivors.
Make it look like an accident,” Bruce ordered, with a calm more terrifying than any shout.
“And prepare my ship.
We’re leaving for Reach.
It’s time for a family visit.”
“As you command, master.”
English is not my native language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or inconsistencies you may find in the text.
Thank you for your understanding!