Cowboys and Aliens Ch. 32

Zyton said, "Well since we're breaking new ground, I'm OK with trying to have a meeting this way. Shall I be the moderator and we raise our hands to speak?"

Mark and Morlan agreed on that format, so Zyton asked Morlan to explain the Empire first and foremost.

Morlan started his explanation, "This is only what I've heard from others that have been with the Empire far longer than I have, I cannot confirm if it is true.

Around 150 years ago, Norlgar, Ragnor's father, encountered some Athosian ships out among the stars, he tricked them into a meeting to find their planet and then decided to attack them just for fun.

Athos has never been the militant aggressor planet they have been made out to be. From what I understand Norlgar and his friends visited the planet on a fairly regular basis and traded shots with the little Athosian ships, then before they took too much damage they would retreat and make repairs, claiming that the Athosians attacked them.

Then a few months ago they ran into King Phoenix and the Federation at Athos. From what I heard, the King gave them plenty of opportunity to retreat, but they attacked anyway and a single shot from one of the larger Federation ships took out Norlgar's ship.

That was around the time that Mark guy came to our planet with those construction devices. Ragnor saw Mark and his construction devices as a way to destroy Athos and avenge his father. So he made up the story about the Athosians having new weapons and that they were more a threat now than they ever were and that we needed that Mark guy and his devices to build up the fleet."

Mark put up his hand, so Morlan suspended his explanation and President Zyton asked Mark to speak.

Mark had Cricket display the wanted poster for Sebastian and asked, "Pardon my interruption, but is this the man you know as Mark?"

Both Zyton and Morlan nodded the affirmative, so Mark set the record straight, "This man's name is Sebastian. He is wanted across the Federation and even on some non-federated planets for murder, abduction, rape, theft and a host of other crimes. He's even tried to assassinate me... twice!

I just wanted to set the record straight about Sebastian and confirm my suspicions about how you got so many ships so fast. Please continue Master Morlan."

Zyton gestured for Morlan to continue, so Morlan picked up where he left off.

"So after Norlgar's demise, Ragnor and his cronies with Mar... err, Sebastian's guidance and council had built 100 ships and have taken control of the Empire. I've heard they recently found a planet and have started enslaving the people there. Sadly, I do not know where this new planet is, I've just heard this from a friend of mine who is a technician on another ship."

Zyton said, "Please hang on, I'm going to call Ragnor."

Morlan and Mark waited silently as the president made the call and eventually Ragnor answered, "President Zyton, this is a surprise!"

Zyton simply asked, "I've heard from multiple parties now that the whole story about Athos was in fact a lie and that we were the aggressors all along! Then, with the recent attack by the Agonoids, why did you not defend our planet? Explain yourself!"

Ragnor seemed nervous as he frantically glanced to someone off screen is if asking what should he say. Suddenly a shot rang out and Ragnor fell down and out of the view, as Sebastian took his place.

Zyton asked, "Sebastian, what is the meaning of this?"

Sebastian smiled, "Ah, so you know my real name. I'm guessing someone from the Federation has talked to you?"

Zyton was visibly upset, "Yes they have, at least they came to our aid when we were being attacked by the Agonoids. Why weren't the rest of our ships here to defend us?"

Sebastian smiled, "They are no longer your ships, they're mine, in fact, the entire Empire is mine."

Zyton shouted, "Sebastian, what do you think you are doing?"

"I built all these ships, therefore they are mine. Ragnor was a mindless fool, he was just doing what his father had told him to do, he was rather dim witted when it came to thinking for himself after his father died."

"Those ships may be yours, but the men on them are citizens of Maaku, they must be allowed to return to Maaku and their families. Men, siding with this known criminal will only see yourselves declared accomplices to his crimes, making you unable to see your families again, except from prison. Return home now before it's too late."

Sebastian then cut off the call, but it was a good thing the Empire communications system was more of a public broadcast system. After Sebastian had ended the call, 10 other Masters joined the call and said they would be returning home immediately.

Zyton thanked them for their loyalty and said they would see them soon.

He then returned to the conference call with Morlan and Mark, "Well it looks like Sebastian is now a wanted criminal by the Maaku also!"

Mark asked, "Morlan, do you know where they were broadcasting from?"

Morlan said, "They just built a Star Hunter near one of the asteroid belts on the outer edge of this system. The Star Hunter is a new super ship that Sebastian created with the help of some Silicans. I've personally never been aboard it, but the thing is gigantic and apparently it's got shields, lots of different weapons and the Silicans had been building some sort of super weapon for it."

Mark asked, "Who are the Silicans?"

Zyton interjected, "About a year ago, one of our reconnaissance missions found a planet called Silica. They are a very nice people, very smart! They have a basic space exploration program, but they are not aggressive. However due to being attacked a few times, they have some very effective planetary defence weapons."

The president then gestured to Morlan, who continued, "Once the Star Hunter was built, Ragnor and Sebastian invited the technicians from the company up to check it out. They then captured them all and are forcing them to enhance the Star Hunter and develop a ship based version of their planetary defence weapons."

Captain Kôté then connected to the call, "Master Morlan, could you send the star charts to the asteroid field to my ship?"

Morlan looked to the president for permission, who nodded and he then turned to talk to someone offscreen, as Zyton said, "I should contact the Silicans and offer my apologies."

Cricket notified Mark, "Captain Kôté just received the all the star charts from the Empire, in all their years, they really haven't discovered that many planets. I see 5 habitable planets in their database and I've already redirected seeding ships those directions."

Mark added, "Once the Cleito gets here, we should probably visit the Silicans also. They're likely going to be leary about meeting with anyone else on a ship, so maybe you would like to accompany us when we meet with the Silicans?"

Zyton then said, "That is a possibility. Which brings me back to something I've been wondering about, why were you at Maaku in the first place?"

Mark said, "We have deployed many sensor ships beyond our explored space, searching for habitable planets and looking for Sebastian, that's how we found Athos. Then a few months after Athos, we encountered Ragnor and his buddies threatening another new planet called Magellan. Wisely, they retreated rather than trying to attack, so we sent ships in the direction they left, which brought us here to Maaku.

I will admit, our initial goal was to confront the Empire and hopefully find a peaceful way to prevent them from attacking other planets and then to liberate any planets they have enslaved. Obviously, the Empire isn't exactly what either of us thought it was."

Zyton looked relieved, "So you're not here to force us to join your Federation?"

Mark answered, "Of course not! We would like to talk to you about joining the Federation, but we aren't about to force anyone to do anything. At the very least, we would welcome the chance to open lines of communication, tourism and possibly commerce between us."

President Zyton said, "I really wish we could sit down and talk some more, I'm sure you are a busy man, as am I and I have duties to attend to. Master Morlan, you are hereby promoted to Grand Master and are now in charge of the Maaku space fleet, please attend to the returning ships and we'll meet with the Federation Ambassador when they arrive. King Phoenix, I look forward to sitting down and meeting you at some point in the future. Be well my friend... if I may call you that!"

Mark replied, "I consider you a friend as well, I will depart for Silica soon, maybe we can meet there? Be safe my friend!"

The conference call was ended, Cricket cloaked the Sentinel as Mark called Captain Kôté, who soon appeared on the screen, "Captain, I know what you are thinking, but I do NOT want you to go to the asteroid field and confront what's left of Sebastian's 'Empire'. I want you to stay around Maaku until the Cleito shows up and then head back for some rack time. I've copied the star charts that Morlan sent you and I will send the Sentinel that way. If that Star Hunter has some sort of super weapon and new technology we haven't seen before, I would rather send an unmanned ship in to check it out."

The Captain nodded, "As you wish, my King!"

Since the minelayer ship was small, sub-light and unarmed it was completed in the time it took for the battle and the meeting. Once the minelayer was cloaked and deployed, the Sentinel took off in the direction of the asteroid field.

Cricket disconnected the connection to the Sentinel and turned off the privacy on the windows. Temporarily blinding Mark as his eyes adjusted to the light after being in a dark room for a couple of hours. Annabelle and Rayven came into his office immediately, apparently Cricket had locked the door to his office and had informed Annabelle that Mark was remotely manning a Sentinel.

Annabelle came in and jumped on Mark's lap in the chair and gave him a big kiss, as she ran her hands all over his chest and face and said, "My King has returned from battle and appears to be completely unharmed!"

Mark and Rayven both laughed as Mark's stomach then growled, prompting Annabelle to say, "But alas, apparently there was no food after the battle and our King is dying from starvation... our King needs sustenance, pronto!"

They laughed again as they exited the office and went downstairs and outside, where they grabbed some tacos from a street vendor.

Seriously, street tacos rule! Why hasn't someone taken the ice cream truck concept and driven up and down residential streets selling tacos? They would make a fortune around meal times! Anyways, I digress!