Dual Domains by S. H. Jucha

Author:S. H. Jucha [Jucha, S. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hannon Books, Inc.
Published: 2022-07-11T16:00:00+00:00

18: Dastert’s Discovery

ORBITAL PLATFORM

IMPERIUM SPACE

Dastert studied the governor’s report. This was the third time he’d read the lengthy exchanges between the executors and the individuals reporting the events at Helgart. The governor had informed him that the private report was sent under Executor Rebtar’s seal. The governor’s communication had ended with a warning from the executor. It said, “Take the utmost precautions.”

As the director of an Imperium orbital construction platform, Dastert understood the dire words. In the empire, there wasn’t a better kept secret than the locations of the peacekeeper construction platforms.

The marginally repaired peacekeepers from Helgart had been sailed by Dastert’s crews to the orbital station. There they’d sat.

Dastert had no intention of reconstructing the damaged sections of the peacekeepers until he could resolve some questions. He’d spent cycles studying the reports. After each reading, he’d tried to imagine the nature of the visitors. Deliberately, he’d referred to the interlopers as visitors, as the declinator had called them. That prevented forming a bias against them.

The more that Dastert pondered about the visitors, the more he imagined the opportunity presented by repairing the peacekeepers. Finally, paranoia ruled his thoughts. He considered that he might be overreacting, but anything less was risking the empire’s assets.

Dastert accessed his desk’s comm unit.

“Yes, Director Dastert,” came the answer from an on-duty officer.

“I need a repair ship augmented with a selection of techs and engineers,” Dastert ordered. “Ensure some of the engineers are comm equipment specialists. I’ll also need two minimal crews to pilot the damaged peacekeepers.”

“Understood, Director. When would you like to sail?” the officer inquired.

Dastert checked his chronometer. It was late in the evening. “Thirteen hours will be fine.”

“Destination?” the officer queried.

“Undisclosed,” Dastert replied. “I’ll be aboard the repair ship.”

There was a brief pause, while the officer absorbed the unusual directive. Then he quickly acknowledged the director’s message.

Late the next morning, Dastert boarded the repair ship and was greeted by Imperator Hargeth.

“Welcome aboard, Director. I believe this is a first for you,” Hargeth said.

“You’re one of the few individuals who would know that,” Dastert replied.

“The fortunes of being a female without a family,” Hargeth commented. “No one is expecting me on Imperium.”

“On that subject, we’re similar,” Dastert shared. He’d made an amendment to his orders soon after his call to the officer the previous evening and had requested Hargeth. Their acquaintance had stretched over two decades. More important, he believed she was the most competent of his imperators.

“We make an odd flotilla,” Hargeth said, as she ordered the pilots of the three ships to ease away from the platform. The pilots had requested coordinates for their destinations, and she directed her pilot to head toward a nearby star. Then she ordered the damaged peacekeepers to form up on her flanks.

“I’ve suspicions about these two peacekeepers,” Dastert confided quietly to Hargeth. “I need a quiet place to investigate them.”

“I assume it must be in a barren location far from any critical Imperium assets,” Hargeth replied.

“You understand me, Hargeth,” Dastert said.

Hargeth accessed her star maps and found a destination that would satisfy Dastert’s request.

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