From the bridge of the Baucbiruch, Jint gazed on as warship after unfamiliar warship emerged from the Vorlash Portal.
“Could you get me in touch with the Commandant right away?” he asked the Ship Commander of the Baucbiruch, Logdonh.
“Let’s try.” Logdonh nodded at the Communications Officer.
“Trample-Blitz Squadron 1 is currently in communication with the Vorlash Count’s Manor using all lines except for the emergency line,” reported the officer. “Shall we use the emergency line?”
Logdonh shot Jint a questioning look. Jint mulled it over. He had something to grill Commandant Atosryua about, and preferably sooner rather than later. But did it warrant using the emergency line?
The reason Trample-Blitz Squadron 1 was using up the regular lines was to make arrangements for supplies. They must be in quite the hurry to resupply. And that wasn’t all — exchanging such huge amounts of information meant that not only were they rushing, but also that they were going to receive massive shipments of supplies. Resupplying at normal volumes already took time. Jint was a quartermaster starpilot, so he knew that better than most.
In any case, he’d have plenty of chances to talk up until the time Squadron 1 finished resupplying and left the territory-nation.
“Let’s wait,” said Jint. “As it stands, the Commandant must be busy. Just let her know that I’d like to speak with her, through the Vorlash Count’s Manor.”
“Then shall we wait for a message from the other end to respond to?” asked Logdonh.
“No. I just expect the Commandant to be curious enough to reach out to us in between calls with the Count’s Manor.”
Come to think of it, he thought, there are two counts’ manors in this territory-nation now: the one that’s supposed to be here, the Vorlash Count’s Manor, and also the Hyde Count’s Manor.
“Dropping them a line first is the thing to do. As soon as a line becomes free, try calling the Commandant. I’ll be waiting in the conference room.”
“Do you want to make the call confidential?” asked the captain — the final question.
Jint nodded. “Please do. Can’t hurt to play it safe.”
And so he waited for Atosryua in the conference room, together with Lafier and Yestesh. The air was heavy and awkward, as none of them were conversing. At last, Jint’s wristgear rang.
“The line has been put through. Are you free?” came Ship Commander Logdonh’s voice.
“Of course.” Jint got to his feet.
Lafier and Yestesh also got up and straightened their postures. At once, a hologram of Atosryua appeared.
“I apologize,” said Atosryua. “I should have prioritized paying you a call, but it’s all been so hectic I neglected to do so.”
“We’re just pleased to see you in good health, Lymh Faibdacr,” said Lafier, calling her by her noble rank.
“I thank you kindly, Your Highness. It’s lovely to see you in good health as well.”
“It’s been too long, Commandant Atosryua,” said Jint, calling her by her military title and bowing before the hologram.
“It hasn’t been so long,” she said, shrugging slightly and staring at them in turn. “I did expect to meet you again someday, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.”
“Me, neither,” said Lafier. “What a huge coincidence.”
“Coincidence?” Atosryua suddenly laughed. “Well, I suppose you can certainly think of it that way, Your Highness.”
“What other way is there to think about it?”
“I can’t say. There’s no punching bag here for me.”
“What do you mean?” asked Jint, but all she returned was a smile, so he dropped the subject. “Congratulations on your promotion.”
“Thank you,” smiled Atosryua. “It’s such a pleasure to see my former subordinates are doing well out there, and that’s all the more true with you two. I’m reminded of the dinner we enjoyed together; it almost feels like I’m paying a social call to a couple of friends. Like the war is over. The idea we’d cross paths so soon after never even crossed my mind. By the way, who is your companion?”
Yestesh introduced himself.
“A pleasure,” said Atosryua. “Now then, on to business. I have an idea what you’ve called me for, but allow me to ask.”
“First, a question,” said Jint, keeping it brief. He knew she was busy. “Entry to the Countdom of Hyde has been cut off. Could you tell us why?”
Jint had actually been happy to hear this “Trample-Blitz Squadron 1” was going to resupply at the Vorlash Countdom before setting out for Hyde. Jint had been planning to revisit his home aboard the Baucbiruch, but only because he’d had no other choice. Martinh likely lacked the firepower necessary to take down the Baucbiruch, but he couldn’t shake his anxiety completely. But now he’d been told Squadron 1, a corps comprised of bleeding-edge ships, would be stopping by as well. The Baucbiruch had been a first-class patrol ship before the lion’s share of its armor and armaments had been removed, but he felt much safer on a state-of-the-art warship, and for good reason. The safer the ship, the better. In fact, if at all possible, he’d have liked the “raid ships” to accompany the Baucbiruch so he could use one when communicating with the landworld. Alas, the conveyance ship that had brought them news of the coming of Trample-Blitz Squadron 1 also notified them that entry into the Hyde Countdom was forbidden for the time being. Those orders came from Military Command Headquarters, lending them the same weight as an edict from the Empress herself. Even Jint, as Lord of the Countdom, couldn’t overrule it. To make matters worse, they had been given neither a reason nor a timeframe. And needless to say, knowing when they could enter was crucial, as they had schedules to draft and plans to implement. If they were barred from entry for a sufficiently long period, then they had no choice but to board one of the ships of Squadron 1.
Unfortunately, because they didn’t know the purpose behind the squadron going there, they didn’t know whether there was even time to talk, either. For all they knew, the squadron’s objective was to launch a space-raid on the planet. Maybe they were to burn down the hybrid-functionality buildings all Martinese lived in. If so, they had to prevent that at all costs.
“Your soldier number-codes,” said Atosryua.
“Huh?” Jint hadn’t expected that.
“Pull yourself together. You’re not currently my subordinate. In other words, you’re an outsider to me. I can’t just chuck out military secrets like they’re nothing. I need to check your clearance.”
“01.00.093768,” said Lafier.
“21.17.839951,” said Jint.
“It’d be pointless for me,” said Yestesh. “I’m a reserve officer, so I’m not privy to military secrets except in special circumstances.”
“I’m sorry, Investigator Yestesh,” said Atosryua.
“Please, don’t mind me. If I can’t enter the Countdom of Hyde and fulfill my work duties, then so be it. And it’s the job of Lonh-Dreur to speak to the Commandant at any rate.”
“I’m afraid it seems I’m not allowed to tell Lonh-Dreur Haïder, either,” said Atosryua. “Quartermaster Rearguard Starpilot Lynn isn’t cleared to know. We can tell you after we’ve entered the Countdom, though.”
“You can’t be serious,” said Jint, astonished.
“I’m really sorry. But I know you realize there’s nothing to be done. You’re a soldier, too.”
“What about me?” asked Lafier.