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Commander Daggen
Chapter 3 –Being brought up to Speed

Chapter 3 –Being brought up to Speed

An illuminant path guided my way to where our family’s lightship awaited. It was roughly 10 meters in length and width as well as 12 meter in height. To the less educated, it resembled an egg and those very same individuals might presume it just as fragile. However, they would be deathly wrong. This was a military craft awarded only to Houses close to the Emperor. Several automated Sun variant weapons were hidden just below the surface in compartments ready to emerge at the slightest provocation. Although, the craft was of an ancient design showing just how far our family have fallen from the Emperor’s favor.

Actual human guards on the ship only served to heighten the importance placed on the light craft. After all, most humans could only be found working in foundries producing constructs to serve as our first and greatest line of defense. The Empire suffered greatly in the eternal war losing more than three-fourths of the empires population in the process. Every human consumed only strengthen the enemy forcing the Emperor to enact the Eternal Legion initiative.

Millions of constructs linked together to massive hive AIs slaved to the will of the only human elements of the legion. The AI’s were too methodical to handle the wispkin alone. They were incapable of adapting fast enough to their whimsical nature leading to heavy loses if a human wasn’t overseeing their tactics. A human legionary could take on a dozen wisplings easily, but a single Gen 1 battle construct would struggle with just a few wisplings according to the rumors. However, the ratio of Gen 1 battle constructs to human legionaries were 100 to 1 evening the odds rather nicely. Humans couldn’t be everywhere, but constructs could.

‘Quantity has a quality of its own.’ I mused as I approached my family preparing for departure. Mother seemed to have already boarded the ship while Father was talking to Syrus, the head of the estate’s guard. A brute of a man wearing his grey cloak. Grey cloaks symbolized the wearer as utterly steadfast in their loyalty to the Houses they guard. Every House guard was required to possess a grey cloak. After all, they were commoners taken from the slums at a young age to be trained. Loyalty was essential in their posting. They weren’t as skilled as legionaries, but were useful in suppressing the occasional riot. However, if the wispkin somehow broke out of their prison, then the House guard wouldn’t even serve to slow them down.

‘Of course most people didn’t know what they looked like including me’ I thought sourly as I got close enough to over hear their conversation.

“Syrus, are you sure that these rumors are widespread?”

“Yes, My Lord”

“Damn, triple the guard then while we’re gone and be ready to open the armory at the first sign of violence” Syrus nodded before bowing to him and departing quickly.

“Father, is something wrong?”

“No” He sighed “Just tiresome rabble rousers causing trouble as they are prone to do. Come! We have must to discuss on our way to the Emperor’s Palace” He motioned me forward as we both entered the ship through a nearby unsealed hatch.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

A short journey through a cramp corridor brought us to a refurbished traveling compartment. Several white chair were arranged around a windowless room with an ancient holo-table in the center. Mother was already seated waiting for us.

“Orlando, your mother will give you a summary of what to expect while I oversee our journey from the bridge” He paused momentarily to rest his hand upon my mother’s before heading through a door hidden out of sight behind her. I sat down across from her as she activated the screen and pulled up several pictures. Her face deadly serious as she said.

“As you know, there are a total of 50 noble Houses spread throughout the Empire. However, only one can lead the Legion. The Daggen House has been passed over for thousands of years due to the failure of our disgraced ancestor Hilden at Black Well.”

Mother tapped an icon near her causing a 3D representation of Hilden to appear in from of me. She looked to be in her mid-thirties with long black hair and a tall face. Her whole manner practically screamed of her desire to be somewhere else.

“What happened at Black Well?”

“Unknown, all other data about her and the incident was expunged from the House’s archives. The only thing that remained was very basic information.”

Without a glance towards me she continued

“The House has lost a lot of status and power due to her. Luckily, your Father and I were able to pull some strings and get you selected as the next legion commander” She looked me dead in the eyes as she said.

“It took every scrap of power our house had left to secure you this position. Do NOT mess this up” Before I could reply she continued. The figure of Hilden disappeared.

“Candidates from Houses Lyrin and Fiolo were both passed over for the position and will not be happy with us. They will be attending the ceremony, but don’t let them provoke you. Interact with them as civilly as possible. We would rather not have a House feud on our hands.”

Two crests highlighted in red appeared before me. One was a hand grasping the sun and the other was a tall tree breaking into the clouds.

“Of course, we will have an ally there as well. Members of House Zalerus will be the only ones there who you can put any level of trust on.”

Another crest appeared alongside the other two, but this one was highlighted in green. It depicted a crying eye looking upwards.

“Next is the ceremony itself. The Emperor himself will preside over it while remaining in plain view of all. The rest of the royal family will be mingling with the Houses. Be careful of who you talk to and remember to show everyone respect.”

She paused to make sure I was paying attention before continuing.

“The ceremony itself will be a quick affair. You will approach the Emperor when summoned and kneel before him. He will do most of the speaking. All you have to do is wait until he says “Do you accept this most difficult of tasks?” and answer in kind “I will not fail you”. Afterwards, you will meet with your Father and me to be congratulated before your send off to the Academy for training.”

Mother visibly relaxed and leaned back in the chair. Her eyes, no longer serious, softened.

“It’s an easy post and I’m sure you won’t let us down. All the same, I’ll still be worried about you.”

“Mother, I’m being posted at the Heavenly Gates. It’s the safest post in the entire prison. Not to mention that Steerly the Hero was sent to drive back the wispkin.”

The mention of Steerly caused us both to breathe a sigh of ease. Steerly was a legendary commander who drove off a Whisplord. A feat only ever done by our House’s Founder. Not to mention that he’s the cousin of the Emperor himself. There’s no way he could fail.

Suddenly, the crest hovering idly above the table were replaced with the figure of my Father startling me.

“We are nearing the Palace with an hour and a half to spare. Be ready to disembark at once.”