Frozen Soul, and other works: Chapter 176

(Private Vessel Eternity of Pain, Star’s Reach Gateway, Star’s Reach System)

“We’ve made it through the Gateway, Warmaster!”

Warmaster Abaddon Horusson of the Chaos Brigade nodded to the Pilot. They had conquered the dungeons that had opened to them so far, enabling them to buy and maintain the Destiny-class heavy cruiser that they had renamed the Eternity of Pain. Nothing, perhaps, compared to the power that the Black Star Navy possessed, but outside of that group, it was the most powerful warship in Nomad hands. Having been bought instead of constructed to order, they could not make it a true representation, but they were building their war chest. With hard work and skill, they would be able to commission a vessel that would be worthy of the name Vengeful Spirit, even if they had not found any sign of the Dark Gods of Chaos in this game.

In the real world, he was the leader of a miniature gaming group spread throughout the New York area. When they had heard that there was not only a Terran Empire, but some form of Space Marines, he had convinced much of the group to take their shot at being the first forces of Chaos in this new world. Two hundred Nomads formed the core of his Brigade, with some locals falling sway to their dark words. When the word had broken that the first designated Raid Dungeon had been found, and that the one who had tried to be Emperor was located there, Abaddon had convinced his fellows to make the journey as soon as the Black Stars allowed passage into the system.

Unclaimed Space

This system is not claimed by any of the recognized interstellar governments. Individual factions and governments may fight to claim any parts of this system they can hold through force of arms.

Current controlling group: Black Star Company

Abaddon smiled slightly as he saw that notification. So, if you went beyond the reach of the main governments, it became a ‘survival of the fittest’ situation, where anyone who was not strong enough to conquer either submitted, fled, or died? And until the Black Stars were recognized as the government of this area, they could be pushed out? Hmm. The Black Star ships were dangerous, but they couldn’t be everywhere at once. If they could…

“Warmaster, we’re being hailed by the BSN Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi! They are challenging us, demanding our name, affiliation, and purpose.”

Abaddon shook himself free of the fantasy of claiming the system from underneath the Black Stars. Quickly, he brought up the sensor readouts for the ship that had challenged them. Just as quickly, he buried his fantasy of taking this system and poured concrete over it to ensure that no one would be digging it up. That was a true battleship, but if even half of the weapons readings they were getting were correct, then it could easily slug it out with any ship in Known Space.

“On my screen.” His terminal’s sensor readouts were replaced by a stern-looking woman in a black star uniform. “This is Warmaster Abaddon of the Chaos Brigade. We have heard the tales of the dungeon on this world, and have come to conquer it!”

“This is Captain Virstina of the Black Star Navy ship Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi. We will be assigning you an orbital slot near the capitol of Starborn. You may take shuttles down to the planet there, and take an atmospheric flyer to Star’s Vigil, where the dungeon is located, or you can wait for fighter escorts for your shuttles going to Star’s Vigil directly. Be advised that unauthorized traffic to or from Star’s Vigil will be met with summary destruction of the craft involved, without warning. Shuttles getting ‘lost’ or taking the ‘scenic route’ will not be tolerated. Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi clear.”

As the woman’s face disappeared from the screen, the Warmaster leaned back in his command chair. “Pilot, take us to the orbital slot they have provided. Inform them that our shuttles will make for Star’s Vigil directly. Have the shuttles launch, but wait for the escorts before heading to the surface. Use this chance to get as much sensor data as you can on their ships.”

The Pilot, a local named Jack Springer before he was swayed by the preachings of chaos, looked up at him. “Course set, Warmaster. If I may, why are we putting up with this treatment? Surely there are other places we could go that would be less… adversarial?”

The Warmaster considered the man, and the question he asked without asking. The pilot would make an excellent follower of Khorne, if the Dark Powers existed in this game. He already had the proper disregard for anyone who he felt was weaker than he was, and enjoyed the slaughter quite nicely. Indeed, he was one of the first choices he had to command the Eternity of Pain once they could get the Vengeful Spirit built.

“The other dungeons have all been plundered by now, their treasures known. According to the whispers I’ve heard, this dungeon has a second level, one suitable for large groups such as the Chaos Brigade to take on, and it has not yet been conquered. It will be the most difficult challenge available to us that is still within our reach. And when we triumph, we shall be one step forward towards building the forces of chaos.”

Warmaster Abaddon Horusson, commander of the Chaos Brigade, stood tall, and hit the button to transmit his voice throughout the ship. He took a breath, and said, “Children of Chaos, hear me now! The time has come for us to test ourselves in the fires of battle once again! The dungeon below is the most advanced, the most powerful that has yet been discovered, and its most terrible trials have not been conquered! In the name of Chaos we will conquer this dungeon and turn its treasures to our own uses! Now, have all the troops prepared! We will take to this dungeon and conquer it! The loot we shall gain will light the path into our future! Soon, the Vengeful Spirit shall rise, and our fleet will grow, and worlds shall burn in the chaotic tides that follow at our heels!”

Cheers went up throughout the ship as Abaddon released the connection. Catching the Pilot’s eye, he said, “Pilot, see to a rotation, allowing those crewmembers who would test themselves against the ‘normal’ dungeon to gain experience and a taste for slaughter.” The Pilot’s smile at the thought of the killing to come was infectious.

(Private Vessel Forgeheart, Star’s Reach Gateway, Star’s Reach)

Captain Lokkud Smeltstone, leader of the Crimson Sun Company, smiled as his ‘armed freighter’ passed through the Gateway. The Forgeheart was an older design, but had been updated over the years, until Lokkud and the Crimson Suns had gotten hold of her during a… hostile takeover of the Dark Sentinel Company. While officially called an armed freighter, the Forgeheart was, in fact, a mobile production facility that could be configured to manufacture pretty much anything one could wish for. Perfect for getting in on the ground floor of a new settlement, that didn’t have manufacturing capabilities.

Of course, those production facilities would need raw materials to work from, which is why the Metaleater and Logsplitter were following his Forgeheart through the Gateway. The mining ship could start grabbing and processing asteroids, turning them into raw materials, while the other landed on the surface and began harvesting local lumber and stripping an area for resources as it cleared out space for a new settlement. Space for this kind of work was limited in the Gauz Consortium, where the major companies could lock down entire asteroid fields, but this was virgin territory! Sure, the Black Stars may have claimed the planet, but they couldn’t complain if some entrepreneurs went and started a new settlement, right?

“Captain, initial scans coming in. The primary planet is extremely suitable for life, and according to the data, there are several large asteroid fields that would be ideal for mining operations. No data on rare elements or other valuables yet, but it looks like there are plenty of choices for settlement sites. Only two established settlements on the planet, though it looks like the beginnings of a military base in a third location.”

Lokkud nodded, “Excellent. Let’s find someplace quiet and away from prying eyes. I’m sure the Black Stars are going to be upset if we don’t pay taxes or some crap, but the less they know about, the better, eh? They can’t watch the whole planet, after all.”

“Captain, we’re being hailed. There’s a warship demanding we identify ourselves and our purpose. I don’t recognize the configuration, but it looks to be a destroyer in size.”

“Hmph. Arrogant bastards. Think that, because they have big guns, they can just order us about. Send back that we are the Crimson Sun Company, and we’ll be claiming an unclaimed section of the planet for a manufacturing settlement.”

“Sir, they just responded. Apparently, the Black Star Company has claimed the entire system, and everything in it, and they are not allowing unlicensed settlements to exist.”

“WHAT? Those assholes! Typical military crap. Put me on with him!” The main screen lit up, showing a female knelfi wearing a black naval uniform and what looked like some kind of rank insignia. “Now what the hell do you mean you aren’t allowing new settlements to exist? You can’t keep us from going and making a new settlement!”

“This is Captain Naevys Elafina of the BSN Galahad. Who am I speaking with?”

Lukkud ignored the frosty tone in the woman’s voice. She was just another primitive that thought military might was all that mattered. “This is Captain Lukkud Smeltstone, CEO of the Crimson Sun Company, registered in the Gauz Consortium. We are a fully licensed settlement creation and support company with accreditation throughout the Consortium!”

“Well, Captain, you are no longer in the Gauz Consortium. You are in the corporately owned colony of Star’s Reach, which is property of the Black Star Company. As the Black Star Company has no treaties or agreements with the Gauz Consortium, your licenses and accreditation are null and void in this space. If you wish to create any business, much less a settlement, in the Star’s Reach system, you will need to stop at the capitol of Starborn and apply for a business license. Unfortunately, applications for new settlements are not being maintained at this time, to ensure that those who seek to violate Black Star corporate laws do not manage to get a foothold in the system. Ships attempting to conduct illegal mining operations or conducting illicit trades are subject to seizure without compensation and the enslavement of their crews. Illegal settlements are subject to orbital bombardment without notice.”

“WHAT? YOU CAN’T DO THAT! THIS IS A GAUZ CONSORTIUM SHIP! You would be risking trade embargoes, and perhaps open war between the Consortium and Black Star. They won’t simply allow you to get away with taking over an entire system like this!”

The captain smiled wolfishly at him, “They are, of course, welcome to try and take it from us. But to have any chance of that, they would need to come the ‘long way’. Even if they staged through Nuevo Edo or Amazon, I can promise you that we would be quite prepared for any military response they might make. And, as I said, the Black Star Company has no trade agreements with the Consortium as it is.”

Lukkud shook his head. These people were insane! How could they simply throw aside the lucrative trade deals that the Consortium offered? There was a reason why no one went to war with the Consortium. There was simply too much economic power there for anyone to overcome. These damned Black Stars were getting damn uppity just because they had some shiny warships! He couldn’t believe a fellow Nomad would be so stupid as to allow his people to just run off at the mouth like this!

“Now, with that out of the way, you may either proceed with us as escort until you reach your assigned orbital slot, where you will be under the watchful ‘protection’ of the defense platforms to prevent any accidents or people getting lost while your licenses are applied for and processed, or you can go back through the Gateway and let people know that Star’s Reach is under Black Star control and subject to Black Star’s rules, not the Consortium’s.” The captain’s voice went glacially cold, and her smile was one that promised pain to anyone foolish enough to disagree with her. “Or, you can refuse, be branded as pirates and trespassers, and become a quite permanent addition to the workforce of Star’s Reach.”