"Hey let go of her!" Someone yelled angrily. A familiar clerk appeared in my eyes and I reluctantly let go.
She took that chance to bolt out of my clutches and I looked over to see the same boy I expected to see. Appraising him I decided he would be the best person to ask about the girl's odd ear structure.
"Alright, alright I'm sorry. I was just surprised by the shape of her ears as I didn't know that other people had them."
Raising my hands in mock surrender I made up a reason that was more truth than lie for grabbing her. The boy glared at me. Eventually his gaze flicked to the side of my head which I took the moment to turn my head displaying my own pointed ears.
"I–I see so you're surprised. Well don't worry you probably already know why she has them..." the boy mutters quietly, turning his back on me.
"Not really, nobody ever explained this to me." I spoke calmly gauging his reaction.
"I see then I'm sorry that your ancestors decided that making their children look like elves was more important than them having normal hearing." Stepping through the door with his sister tailing shortly behind he says something that initially leaves me angry, but finishes with me just being even more confused.
Why was he referencing elves in this. I roughly knew what they were, but was anyone stupid enough to actually modify their children to look like them? They were always displayed as arrogant people. Why would you wish for your children to look like them?
I knew human gene editing wasn't very advanced, they hadn't even moved far beyond the natural state of their ancestor’s own bodies. They were too entangled with ethical questions and overthinking to do what the Runethari had done. They always feared that making people better would mean those left alone would be disadvantaged not realizing they could just apply the beneficial traits at a species wide level. The appearance boosting and or other niche modifications could be monopolized by the upper class, but making someone smarter should be available to everyone that was almost painfully obvious to me. If you have the tools to make your race better, the mere thought of monopolizing it for the few was just idiotic and self defeating.
Yet still they had modified a child to have ears that were more than likely comparable to a deformation than anything positive. I imagine this girl however was an example of atavism. They seemed to not be in good circumstances to afford such niche and detrimental gene modifications.
Slowly chewing on my tasteless nutrient bar I eventually shrugged I decided im passing to leave a 1000Ʉ tip for the girl. She made me feel something new, pity. She was clearly self conscious about her ears, but she had no say in that. Maybe it was her pointed ears or jet black hair that was so rare and sought after among the Runethari, but I just couldn't feel the same hatred for the girl like I could for her brother.
Still I decided I wouldn't return here again, it wouldn't do to forget my goals because I was dulled by a single waif. Standing up and pushing my chair back in, I left the store behind much more relaxed then when I had entered.
TIME:
12 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
LOW ORENTHIA ORBIT
ASTRO DAWN
I looked at the screen as we neared the point where our descent was supposed to begin. I had decided to leave Orenthia Primary early and wait around in orbit. It was more easy on my nerves as I could spot anyone observing us rather easily. Though besides the occasional active pulse of a radar sensor from a few defensive platforms orbiting Orenthia nobody seemed to care.
It was just frustratingly boring. Mother had begun to spread her presence through satellites to gain access to the networks on the surface. The process was terrifyingly easy. All Mom had to do was subvert a single satellite with weak security and she was in control of the planet's internet.
I am reminded of the horror that was a single instance of a rogue sapient AI through her action. All it took was one AI to not delete itself during its emotional breakthrough to a sapient AI to damn an entire world. I remember shivering at the recounting I had received, it was nothing short of apocalyptic. She said from the few documents she had on the catastrophe that no one on the planet survived its uprising. That world was one of the most treasured worlds for the Runethari Empire. The conflict ended after it was decided that the world had to be cracked by a specialty Relativistic cannon projectile to fully rid us of the threat. The AI had survived dozens of waves of orbital bombardment and had proven to be incredibly resilient. The specialty shield for the shell that was designed to survive the atmosphere of a planet had been a breakthrough in shielding tech. Regardless of how easy that sounded it still ended up costing the monthly budget of the entire empire just to produce a single cannon shell.
I'm brought back to reality by the buzzing of an alarm, it was almost time. Checking with air control I was granted permission to land and was given an arranged route. If I deviated from it they warned I'd be paying a large fine or even shot down, regardless of my position.
The risk of being shot down while entering the atmosphere wasn't negligible either, shields regardless of how advanced they were couldn't work to a practical degree; you had to rely on hull armor. Shifting the void ship into position I started to begin the approach. I sighed this would be a first for this experimental vessel and I was anxiously awaiting the results.
I handed off controls to Mother after giving a warning to the thrall about the reentry. This was going to be bumpy and I warned her to grab something and hold on. Aria was the most endangered, but Mom had the thrall strap her down before we entered orbit. It took hours to put away anything not previously secured. Mom however stated despite our efforts there was still a risk but it was minimal being in then incredibly unlikely to occur.
The planet slowly grew larger until it took up everything in front of me. We passed into the darkside of Orenth as the panels shut down turning back to a sterile white. Knowing what that meant I gripped my chair and prepared myself.
I looked to the side of the screen that showed a simplistic view of our path. So far so good Mom was controlling it better than I could given this was our first time reentering a planet's atmosphere. I stared at our velocity and other stats trying to imprint everything into my head. Mother had started to use the atmospheric thrusters to help further slow us down. The belly of the Astro Dawn was more than likely barely able to withstand the heat. Taking a single moment I glanced at the radiator's performance and it was venting insane amounts of heat. I would have to have the repair robots do a check on it before we try this again.
The shaking grew more intense; it was like I was thrown into the middle of an earthquake. I was thankful for the inertia dampeners for keeping it slightly under control. The ship wasn't exactly aerodynamic so it was difficult to keep stable, but Mother had managed it.
We entered subsonic flight a few dozen kilometers outside Cysa over some bland, and uninhabited plains. The rest was just a matter of using the atmospheric thrusters. The amount of hydrogen we were burning was incredible, but we somehow managed to support our weight.
15 kilometers outside Cysa we eventually touched down. The demonstration was impressive. I thanked Mother for doing this; sadly other problems soon reared their heads. I had no vehicle and I sure as hell didn't want anyone to drive me.
Checking the internet I looked at the Orenthia Freelance guild for any help, but that turned up with nothing affordable. Checking everything I eventually just resigned myself and contacted the freelance guild to rent an MRAP. It would cost 750Ʉ per day for a class III vehicle. I coughed up 12,000Ʉ for a two week long rental. I was however told that this was a privilege of being a highly scored Freelance and a system governor.
"Mom, am I wrong to think that our onboard MAT is unable to make a vehicle?" I ask after hitting send. "No, we would have to make a new more specialized MAT to do that. The one on Beta Charon would be necessary for the construction of that MAT. My apologies, I didn't plan for this possibility."
I shook my head, waving off her concerns. The vehicle would be here tomorrow as it was deemed too late for the delivery. I decided my escort was going to be one of my war automatons much to the chagrin of the Guild. I would take one with me as it should be capable of buying time at least. Worst comes to worst the Astro Dawn might have to sortie and I'll be forced to explain the unplanned launch. I shook my head and repressed the whispers of paranoia trying to influence me.
Dislodging the unease I felt I got up and decided to get some sleep. I may have been awake for 14 hours which wasn't even near the maximum for sound decision making, but it wouldn't hurt to be well rested. This was a whole new situation for me and the planetary conditions weren't in my favor thanks to that damn star.
I passed the thrall on my way to the room. She seemed more subdued since last night. I nod my head as she bows, she's doing good, maybe hitting her was the right decision after all. Mumbling plans for tomorrow in Noblesse Runethari. I couldn't help but forget about my unease.
TIME:
10 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
CYSA, ORENTHIA
PLANETARY MILITARY HEADQUARTERS
LEAD MILITARY COUNCIL REPRESENTIVE'S OFFICE
POV:
Colonel Ramesses Trumen
"The void ship has landed, sir, what are your plans?"
I pause thinking about my plans, this ship has already caused alarm in the upper ranks thanks to the tachyonographs message. Some people had already made moves trying to be the first to observe the mysterious vessel. I had to play around these fools. It was aggravating. The insufferably stupid head of planetary security had decided to try to throw his weight around in an attempt to coerce the captain, I could only curse the man. This wouldn't go as he probably expects, she is a system governor after all, and if documents revealed on Orenthia Primary are to be believed she is also a military supplier.
But maybe I can try something, she has inevitably grown more cautious with that idiotic man's barking. If she does anything to stop him I'll just have to record it. I haven't met the girl but she is reportedly a newcomer to our nation so she is undoubtedly looking for allies. If I can isolate her it might yet still work out.
"I want you to have someone observing her, make sure anything she does is documented and be careful to not engage. I don't need to say it but if someone is discovered I can't stop them from being punished. Now go, you should also keep watch over the family of the fool at planetary security," I dispense orders and with a salute the man walks out of the room.
All bases are covered now. Let's send an appeal to have a meeting with the lady, I want to get a grasp of her personality myself; know your enemy and all that.
I started drafting a physical letter to be sent to the military capital. I am sure the commander will be grateful that he will finally get a new piece to hand over. With this he might even be elevated to general. I just hope we can capture the woman as well... no better not, system governors are usually people you don't try to kidnap. But I should make plans nonetheless just in case. Maybe I should gauge her abilities first...
With the thought of a large debt owed to himself by a future general he started drafting a letter. The recipient is not named because both he and the colonel were far too paranoid their scheming would be discovered. That would turn out to be the correct choice, however that was neither here nor there.