Unity
Despite her hate for the Union, Aster had to admit, they were incredible engineers. She had seen plenty of Union stations, made of standardized sections constructed in the core and shipped across the galaxy. But Unity was on a whole different scale.
It was the size of a small moon, but unlike a certain moon sized planet killer, this station was hollow on the inside and home to half a billion people. It was a mega-project that tried to encompass everything the Union stood for, commerce, protection, and the peaceful inhabitation of every species. Almost every known species in the galaxy called Unity home, and the station went out of its way to accommodate all forms of life. Including the rare Lithoid and Toxoid species.
As the Astaroth exited the immense inter-sector gate their entire field of vision was filled with the flow of millions of ships. Their scanners became so full of contacts that the screen was totally filled. It was like a massive school of fish all swarming around one object. There were a few big bare patches were a massive multi-kilometer super freighter was maneuvering, and from a casual glance Astarte guessed there were at least a hundred of those slowly drifting into port. Standing still like buoys, Union cruisers gently corralled the streaming ship traffic into several generalized directions. And on the edges of all the action, Union Battleships stood guard over the station and its nearby space. Piracy was a rampant concern in the Union, and it was impossible to patrol all possible targets, so the Union just focused its efforts around focal nodes and cleared hyper-lanes.
At the center of all the chaos was Superstation Unity. In-between two relatively quiet stars that orbited each other in a stable binary pattern. It was impossible to clearly make out the polyhedral shape of the station because the whole thing was covered in solar collectors and massive skyscraper sized algae farms. Long spindly arms stretched far away from the station and made stable points for Super Freighters to dock and off load their cargo. The only clear portions of space were the two pentagonal holes that filtered in natural starlight, and smaller incoming ships.
All Union stations had internal berthing for ships smaller than the colossal super freighters to better protect from hit and run pirate attacks. That way any would be raider had to get through the station before they could hit their target. It also made for a more efficient offloading process. Cranes, cargo trains, and ready warehouses could offload a ship in only a few hours.
The Astaroth called into the busy space traffic controller and quickly arranged for a berth large enough, and an indeterminate stay. Then they slowly boosted into one of the traffic lanes and began the slow crawl towards the station. Speed was tightly controlled since one miscalculation could cause a hundred catastrophic collisions.
Aster and the rest of her bridge crew tensed up as they slowly passed only a hundred meters away from a Union cruiser. But the cruiser had no reason to suspect them. Most ships were allowed to fly armed as a deterrent against pirates, so it was perfectly legal for an armed warship to pull into port.
An hour later the ship approached the massive atmospheric retention field and passed through the electric blue layer of energy. Entering into a whole different world.
Above, below, across, and beside them was a megacity on a scale unlike anything Astarte had ever seen. The station was made of thirty-two flat sections, twelve pentagons, and twenty hexagons, forming a truncated icosahedron. Or at least that’s what Karega had called it. Each hexagonal section was home to a massive city. Apartments, utilities, offices, and shopping centers were densely packed onto their plates and connected with the most intricate transit system in galaxy. While the pentagonal sections played host to industrial sectors. Manufacturing, smelting, refinement, ship building, and warehouses. It looked like the shortest and flattest part of the station, but Astarte knew that those buildings went straight through the plate and poked out of the station’s exterior.
On a hexagonal section directly above them a massive silver tower that elevated a smaller hexagonal section into the center of the vast space. This smaller section was covered in wide open green spaces and a massive lake that made for a confusing view as it was directly above them. That was the Core, and it was supported by the Silver Tower that housed the station’s anti matter reactors, gravity generators, and control centers.
The Astaroth pulled in through the rest of the yawning portal and leveled off, now pulling horizontal with the current pentagonal section they were over. She felt an uncomfortable shift in her gut as the station’s gravity briefly interfered with the ship’s. They had booked a berth in industrial section 7, which meant they had to fly over three hexagonal plates.
Her ship was by no means small. The Astaroth was much longer than the original Missouri, or even the Bismarck. But she still felt minuscule against the backdrop of the industrial section, and even smaller against one of the mega-towers of Unity’s habitation sectors. It somewhat reminded her of that time they had dived into the upper atmosphere of a gas giant. Which she realized was the intent.
This station was massive, and a marvel of engineering. But it was also inefficient as fuck with its usage of space. There was so much empty space! A normal constellation array of standard Union stations would have been a much more efficient use of materials. But that was the point.
Like the monarchs who built grand monuments in their own honor. This station was built to aggrandize everything the Union idealized, wealth, power, and vanity. It had been around since the founding of the Union and had been growing with the Union. It had just finished a massive redesign and expansion by the time Earth made first contact, and in another hundred years it would have another.
This was the kind of foe they were facing, one who could waste this much time and resources to make a monument like this. It really hammered home just what kind of opponent they were facing.
Karega stepped up to her side “Impressive isn’t it.” he remarked.
Aster nodded; her normal snark kept in check. “You’ve been here before, right?”
He nodded, which jingled the golden frilly earrings he always wore. “Once, when my parents were still alive. We met with people who had more wealth than some planet’s GDP. At the time I could only marvel at how great the Union was, but now I see something different.”
“Oh?” Aster asked, it was rare to hear her lieutenant to be so introspective.
“Imagine how great things would be if the Union actually stood for the ideals they were founded by. If they really wanted to create one single prosperous galaxy where all sapient creatures could thrive then Earth would never have fallen like it did. We would have been better off without ever meeting the Union. What kind of Utopia is that?”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Aster snorted “I never understood Utopia’s. A world where no one killed, stole, or lied always seemed like a fantasy to me.”
“That’s because you’re a street rat who delights in her vices.” He retorted.
“And that’s the thing, there’s always going to be people like me. And when you concentrate all this wealth and power into one place those people are going to flock to it like moths to a flame, or rats on a corpse. Power doesn’t breed corruption; it just concentrates the inherently corrupt into one place.”
“Ever the pessimist.”
“Expect the worst, hope for better.” She retorted.
They remained in companionable silence as the ship made its way slowly across several city sections before they were above their berth. As they landed Astarte got a glimpse of some dark figure waiting at their mooring ramp. “Looks like we have a welcoming party, anyone you recognize?”
Karega looked out and scowled “Boogieman.” He muttered.
“I’m sorry what?”
He shook his head, “That’s just how Kora described them to me when I was a kid. Officially they’re the Anti Deathworlder crime Unit, a division of the Unity SS built specifically to handle deathworlders. They always where those big black coats and hide their faces with privacy filters, Kora told me to think of them as boogiemen and to never be alone with one. They’d beat a human’s face in for the crime of sneezing.”
“Hmm, I think I should go out to say hello.” Aster said, a mischievous grin pulling at her lips.
Karega sighed “I’ll rouse the horsemen.”
~~~*~~~
The Arbiter had sneered at the Astaroth after seeing its photo in the file, but they had to admit the real thing was very intimidating. Something within the Arbiter’s human instincts recognized that this ship was deadly. The ships lines were sleek like the edge of a blade, like it could cut through any enemy. The top deck bristled with cannons, auto turrets, and missile launchers. Their first impression of danger was only confirmed as the words on the side became visible, BC-01 Astaroth the Indomitable.
The Arbiter recognized the style of lettering from old photographs of human warships, the bold sharp lettering gave the Arbiter a strong impression of authority and power. This was a warship through and through. Which begged the question how space pirates had gotten their hands on something this imposing?
Could the shape and name be some sort of façade? Was it all for show, or did this ship have the power to back up its threatening visage? The Arbiter had met more than a few lowlifes who had tried to look tough but didn’t live up to their thuggish persona. The Arbiter wanted to believe these pirates were putting on a show and didn’t actually have any power, but some deep primal instincts warned that this ship was dangerous.
Dread stood to the Arbiter’s side; their cloak hiding every aspect of their Balikstro physiology except the height. A low growl that came out and was distorted by the collar “Are you sure these are just merchants?”
The Arbiter glared at the ship as it landed. “No, we have reason to suspect this ship for nefarious business, but those details are classified. For now treat this ship of Deathworlders as highly dangerous and volatile. As soon as it lands we will board and attempt to search and impound them. We can’t let them run about the station as they please.”
Dread tensed even more. They both knew exactly what wasn’t being said, but Dread knew that the Arbiter wouldn’t say anymore.
They and the other ADCU officers stood their ground as the dry dock’s mooring ramp linked with the ship’s upper deck, the moment it touched down the Arbiter stormed forward. But as soon as their foot touched the ramp a hatch on the ship swung open and a tall human female strode out and stood at the end of the ramp.
The women in question wore a maroon plate armor in the style of samurai armor the Arbiter had only seen on display in their parents’ home. She even had the two swords at her hips, a katana and wakizashi from the looks of it. She had dark black hair that fell like black silk and her eyes were deep black pools of midnight. One of her eyes was crossed with a crooked scar, marring her otherwise beautiful porcelain doll-like face. She wore an amused smirk as she stood in the Arbiter’s way, and the Arbiter could have sworn the woman’s eye had flashed red for a second.
First the ship had tipped off the Arbiter that something strange was afoot, but this woman confirmed that these deathworlders weren’t your average criminal. The women’s appearance and get up should have looked comical, but much like the sleek grey ship she gave off an air of danger. The samurai armor should have looked out of place, but instead the woman wore it like it was the most natural thing to wear in the age of faster than light technology. And the noticeable cuts, scrapes, burns, and dents told the Arbiter that this armor had seen more than its fair share of battle.
And those swords. The Arbiter had seen Judge practice his sword play plenty of times to know that in the right hands they could be deadlier than a gun. And something about how the space pirate walked told the Arbiter that she knew what she was doing.
The woman stopped in front of the boarding ramp, her feet slightly apart, and her body loose in the way that said she was ready for a fight.
The Arbiter continued their march before stopping in front of the woman, mere centimeters between them. “Move aside” the Arbiter ordered.
A slim eyebrow crept up, “I’m sorry but who are you? Because unless you are port officials here to check our cargo I’m afraid your trespassing.” She said smoothly. Her tone was polite, but unyielding.
“I am Officer Arbiter of the Anti-deathworlder crime unit.” The Arbiter began.
“I see, and where’s your warrant?” the pirate interrupted.
The Arbiter blinked in shock under their privacy field “What?”
Her eyebrow crept up a little higher “Well you can’t board my ship without a warrant, and I don’t see a warrant.” Challenge now creeped into her voice, and the Arbiter felt a familiar unease in their stomach. This women was just as tricky and crooked as Alexandra, twisting words to her own intent.
“If you do not move aside I will charge you with obstruction of justice.” The Arbiter growled. They hadn’t had time to attain a warrant, and if this women didn’t step aside they would have to arrest her and continue with their search. It would add a load of paperwork onto the Arbiter’s desk, but so long as they found some evidence of piracy then they could lock these scum up and be done with the whole thing.
“Obstruction of what justice” a new voice croaked out. From the shadows of the hatch an old and withered human male stepped out. He wore a grim gray set of robes that reminded the Arbiter of grave keepers and undertakers. “Because unless you have a valid reason then I’ll have to ask you not to threaten my clients with illegal arrests.”
The Arbiter shifted their glare “And who are you?”
“Mr. Famine will do, I am a recognized personal defense lawyer and I am officially warning you that everything on this deck is being recorded.” The man said softly as he soundlessly stalked over to the women’s side.
Dread stepped up “We are here to carry out an investigation, step aside”
“I see” the lawyer said amiably “Well as soon as you can produce a warrant we’ll be happy to stand aside.” No one moved. “No warrant, well then I’m afraid that we will not allow you to step aboard this ship without one. And since there are no evident crimes being committed in plain view you cannot legally arrest my client since there’s no justice to obstruct.”
The Arbiter felt their anger burn brighter, if there was one thing they hated above all else was people using the law to shield their illegal actions. The law was there to protect normal people and punish criminals like these humans, it wasn’t meant to be a shield against law enforcement. “Why are you acting so suspicious” the Arbiter growled. “if you have nothing to hide then there’s no reason we can’t come aboard.”
The women focused her two black eyes on the Arbiter, and they could have sworn that one of them flashed red “We have nothing to hide, but there’s also no reason for you to come aboard. And I’ll remind you that the assertion of my rights is not probable cause.”
The Arbiter scowled uselessly at the women before promptly turning around and walking down the ramp without a final word.
They could have arrested the two of them and proceeded with their search, but that interaction told the Arbiter something very important. These pirates weren’t stupid, and there likely wasn’t anything for them to find. If they didn’t find anything then these pirates would have all the ammunition they needed to restrict the investigation against them. And if the department tried to back up the Arbiter’s action then the courts would force them to reveal the details of the case and why they suspected this ship of illegal activity. Which would have tipped off Kenzo.
This investigation was getting more and more complicated by the day.
~~~*~~~
Astarte watched the ‘boogiemen’ stalk away angrily. She had used the UV ability of her eye to peer through the holographic privacy screens to look directly at their faces. The lead one, the Arbiter, was a pretty African women with features that seemed more common in western Africa than the East where Astarte grew up. The one on the left had been a Balikstro without any of the traditional bone plating they wore. The rest were Carkic and Kaydic, but since they hadn’t spoken Aster hadn’t tried to memorize their faces.
Karega stepped up to her side “That was suspicious.”
Aster nodded “They were definitely too forceful; I think they know something. Massacres tend to stir up trouble, they may have learned our names from investigating the massacre of our insurance company.”
“Yeah, unfortunately we’d have to break in to learn what they know. We’re good, but we wont be able to sneak in unnoticed.”
Aster agreed, but the idea of probing the SS for info stayed in her mind. “Too messy, not while we still have other options. Are things all set on your end?”
Karega smiled “Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Heart were happy to hear I’ve come back to Unity all grown up and they’re very interested in our company’s growth.”
She sighed “These people better be worth the hassle.”
“They’ll be closer to the heads of Amaterasu than our under-world connections.”
“I wouldn’t doubt the shadow league if I were you. They likely already know we’re here and why.”
“I promise it’ll be worth the hassle.”
“Whatever, I need to go freshen up. Can’t have the high society of Unity see me in my armor.”
“Oh yes, whatever will they say when they see your wearing last season’s armor” Karega said with mock snobbery.
Aster snorted.