Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 01

I was sitting in the chair of my father. He had send message for me to represent the Olafson clan. He was still in the Clinic, they had no problem fixing his leg and his concussion, but the doctor told me over the PDD, before I sat down that my father was heavily poisoned by very complex and advanced psycho drugs and he had to be put in a deep sleep trance while a specialist from Med Center, via Holo Presence worked to get the blocks removed and the effects neutralized, it would take at least a week, but they were confident to get him back to normal.

Egill rose from his seat and it became silent. He then touched the spear and said." I call to order the Great meeting of Nilfeheim."

He sat back down and continued." Events of great importance have caused us to call this meeting today and not after Yuletide. Our world is under attack and our very civilization on the brink of destruction, but before we talk about what we can do to prevent that and look to the future, let us recall the past and deal with the present."

He motioned and two men carried in a stretcher with the dead assassin and another two carried a table with the mask, her clothing and her Neuro ripper. They set it up in the circle and Egill continued. "The recent murder was not committed by women of this world but by an Off -world assassin. She had Psionic powers to take control over others and posed in the guise of Sif Arnske to seed discontent. She came to this world called by Brunar Bendixen. Brunar who discovered a treasure on the bottom of the Ocean, pearls produced by a legless crab that can as far as he knew only be found at the Bendixen Grounds. This is why he wanted this part of the Ocean declared as his private real estate. He wanted to find out who killed his father and believed it was the deed of one of his rivals, namely the Lindbergh Clan."

He paused and they brought in Brunar Bendixen. He wore his Clan insignia and even his sword.

His face was stoic but his eyes full of hatred and anger. "Yes this is so! All I wanted is to protect my investment and my business. I elevated the Bendixen Clan from the shadows of many to a foremost position and I tried to reason and tried to have my rights to my discovery protected, but my own father, an Elder was murdered on the day he became a member of the Inner Circle! What I did was for my clan and this is what a Clan chief does and I should not stand accused!"

"Equipping your boats with Tech stop generators and attacking another boat is one of the accusations I level against you, Brunar Bendixen. Paying an Off World Assassin and let her commit acts of Terror is a crime against the Book of Traditions. Your father raping a twelve year old daughter of a Freeman is a crime and this is why he was killed! Low men, Free Men Clan members and Elders will no longer be different when it comes to the law. Everyone will have to abide by the rules or face the consequences."

Brunar made a hard laughing sound and said." If that is so, why could I not get a fair ruling or even a hearing? I was not out to kill at the beginning. I was out to fish pearls and sell crab meat and do so at my underwater farms undisturbed."

"One wrong does not justify another. You could have challenged Adolph or waited for the Great Meeting to get you heard. It was greed that motivated you."

"I admit to all of this, yet I am still a clan chief and I will return to my Island."

"No you are not! You have issued a Challenge and lost by fleeing."

A field screen lowered and we could all see the Challenge he issued, climbing back out of the water and pouring Bait scent into the water. I had no idea where he got this recording from or who made it. It even showed me fighting the Rock sharks, but there was no Tyr. The recording ended before that.

Brunar was biting his lip. "I did not want to end up like Steiner. I did not want to lose everything over a stupid old rule!"

"So you know already that you lost it. Indeed Brunar you are no longer a Clan Chief and your Clan will be added to the Olafson clan as Eric Olafson won the challenge."

Brunar ripped out his sword and I sighed. I knew what would happen next, or at least I thought I did.

The Bendixen man raised his sword and yelled." I will not give you the satisfaction to gloat and rule over me!"

He turned the sword and pushed it with force through his own chest! He dropped to his knees."At least I die with my honor restored." Then he slumped to the side.

The men carried Bendixen's body out and Egill continued as if nothing happened. "Clan leader of the Arnske clan, your daughter has not committed any crimes and all those accusing your daughter are silent."

Sif came in and she wore a black leather suit, with a long billowing, fur brimmed cape, also in black as well as boots and she carried a sword! While the accusation and the suicide of Brunar was accepted with little murmur and reaction from all present, seeing a girl in warriors garments carrying a sword caused a surprised uproar. She looked gorgeous! Her hair seemed like pure gold against the black of her mantle. Her hand rested on the sword hilt just as I always did emulating the pose of my grandfather.

"Quiet!" Egill's voice thundered and I was certain he used a little more than just his voice because everyone was instantly silent.

He pointed at her. "Sif Arnske could not be found because she had made a pilgrimage to Hasvik. She served the Gods with honor, while she was the first in 2000 years, there is no word and no rule that prevents a woman to pilgrimage and serve the Faceless Seven. She was trained and tested by myself and she has with distinction passed all requirements for the ancient challenge!"

This caused uproar especially among the Elders!

Egill held up an old book."This is the sacred book of traditions. If any of you can point me to the passage where it says who can or cannot take the challenge shall speak now! We Elders require that all the rules are followed, but no new ones may be added. Abide by them or declares the Book of Traditions as no longer valid, it will however also declare us Elders obsolete!"

One Elder, his hair was not even silver and still black rose and said." There are no words that describe who can or cannot take the ancient challenge, but if we accept her, then every Free and Lowman and even other girls can ask to take the challenge!"

"Exactly and that is what it was intended for. The challenge was a sacred rite, to be taken only by those who really dedicated themselves to become warriors, to abide by the code of honor and complete a pilgrimage. You have let it deteriorate, only first born sons took the challenge and no one really tested them anymore. You all simply made your mark on the document. How many first Born sons did not slay a Tyranno or a Fangsnapper the ancient way, how many have recited the Poems in the past or demonstrated their skills? Anyone can take the Challenge but only few are going to pass it and these are the warriors we meant to have, these are the warriors meant to be our police force from the start. Bound by the honor code to do right and not to tolerate others to lie, cheat or steal. That was the idea behind the Challenge and it is spelled out over seventeen pages in our sacred book. Go read it if you don't believe me."

There was a long silence; the black haired Elder was still standing. "Then let us begin today to do so! Let her be tested. No one doubts your word, Holy One and certainly not I, she might very well have slain a Tyranno but I call her to be challenged with the blade so we may see her skill so we can accept her as a Warrior indeed!

Egill spread his arms." heard the Challenge of Elder Olhilm anyone want to champion for him?"

There again was a great silence.

Egill waited for a good five minutes. "It seems you cannot find a volunteer to champion for you Elder Olhilm. However since Sif's honor is intact she still is the bride of promise to Eric Olafson and I am certain he will challenge anyone who questions the honor of his bride!"

Egill's voice reached me in my head."Now it would be a great moment to be theatrical and make your speeches. Jump and stand by her side!"

I got up drew the Olafson sword Hevnen, and jumped down in the circle and drew a slow circle with the swords tip around the assembly. "It is as the Holy one says. Come forth and utter thy challenge whoever you are. I shall not allow anyone question the honor of my bride without answering to me. Who dares to question the valor and skills of the Valkyries? Has not Freya herself also armed with a sword and stood against the hordes of Ragnaroek? The Gods wisdom is beyond ours and it is the gods who reward honor and warrior be it a man or a woman who does the deed. I vow before you all, the honored and wise elders. The mighty clan chiefs and to everyone with ears and eyes, I shall take Sif as my bride and she willstand beside me as equal, wear the Clan seal and her will shall be my will and my will shall be hers."

I put the sword tip down and rested my hand on it. "This I declare, Eric of the Olafson clan now come forth and speak or be silent and accept that she is will be my wife, not my slave or property."

Olhilm finally answered. "No one questions thy deeds. You have slain not one but two Tyrannos, answered more challenges in your young life than most will not in their life time. You wild thy sword Mördaren with great skill, but your bride she carries a cheap sword bought at the market. Never reddened by blood and now you want to raise a woman to be thy equal? What order could there be in your clan if she holds the powers of a man?"

"Elder Olhilm, I respect thy position and the fact that you have been elevated to be an Elder. You found no one to speak and challenge my bride, now you question my honor, belittle she who is my future wife and most of all you call Mördaren a cheap sword? It is the sword of my grandfather she carries. I am holding Hevnen. I am therefore must ask you to recant thy words or stand by them and I shall fulfill my oath just given!"

Sif skillfully drew her sword and placed it in the ground as I did. "I am Sif of the Arnske Clan and the Holy One himself has instructed and tested me, anyone questioning his honor again shall face me and you shall see if I am indeed a warrior born. I will not stand behind my future husband, or before him, but beside him."

Olhilm prodded his fists into his sides." You would dare to challenge an Elder?"

"I gave an oath to defend her honor and I shall do so against all Nilfeheim if I have to! Recant, name thy Champion or stand in the circle and let us put this behind us!"

He raised his hands." I am convinced it is as the Holy One says!" then he sat down.

Egill said. "I hereby openly and in front of all declare my mark of approval for both Eric and Sif. Elders speak now and declare your vote."

They stood one after the other and declared their mark.

The so stern and regal face of the eldest was suddenly graced by a warm smile. "Step forward then Sif of the Arnske Clan and Eric of the Olafson Clan you are hereby declared officially adults and warriors before all eyes and ears. Your voices will have weight, your vote must be counted and you have the right to Challenge. In Eric's case this is only a formality as he was declared so already in absence, you Sif however now are the first female warrior of Nilfeheim may your lives be long and your arm strong to uphold what is right and strike down what is wrong. So it is said so shall it be written!"

Someone clapped their hands and now everyone was on their feet and there was a frantic applause.

Until Litfas Arnske stepped into the circle. The applause and the calls ended. Litfas looked up to the Eldest." I don't mind those two marrying and I must say I am strangely enough very proud of my daughter. I just wanted to know who is throwing axes at whom now?"

A voice said." Maybe at each other after the first lovers' quarrel!"

The assembled crowd started laughing with a thunderous roar!

Then the meeting progressed and they talked how these things could be prevented. The Police force we had now was one of these measures. It was independent and not associated to the Elders or clans and should eventually enforce Union laws. It was composed of volunteers Freemen and Clan men alike, and they would not interfere with the daily lives but respond to emergencies and the Office of Colonist Affairs promised to send instructors to teach them how to be police men.

There could have not been a meeting of this size without having a big banquet after it. As we stepped out the Roundhouse, tables were put up and while every Inn and Restaurant participated, Uncle Hogun was easy to spot and he was in his element, one could see how much he loved what he was doing as he prepared no less than ten grills. The weather was not exactly perfect but that had never stopped Neo Vikings from celebrating, eating and drinking. Any affair that ended in a banquet was a good one. Sif and I stood right at the entrance and watched. Only after she kissed me on the cheek I noticed we were holding hands." You made me very proud to be your future wife you know. Not that it will ever really happen of course."

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Chapter 33: First Command

The banquet was about to start. Sif and I were the guests of honor of course. Egill came out of the round house and smiled. "Well it isn't perfect but it turned out better than expected."

Sif turned to look at him. "It is a bit frightening to be at the center of such a historic event that will most likely change our planets history."

"That is a very astute observation, young lady."

She made a gesture towards the banquet preparations. "At least they celebrate and don't prepare for our execution. I wonder who is going to pay for all this. It's going to be the biggest party our world has seen by the looks of it."

Egill pointed his thumb at me."He does. He is the hero, but no worry he can afford it, he added another clan to the Olafson holdings and thanks to his real Grandfather you will pretend to marry a very rich man."

I wanted to say something but I suddenly had Tyr's voice in my head. "Eric, someone is approaching our world with the intent to destroy it. I can do nothing out there. I can not affect what I have never seen."

By the faces of Sif and Egill I knew they heard it too. I cursed. "I wish I had asked them to put the ISAH pods on the Poseidon after all, maybe we could do something then. "I was running towards the next flier and Egill's voice said. "It is still space worthy it just can't go superluminal!"

Sif and I reached the Poseidon, Astrid was already there and so was Elena. As we run up they said. "Tyr brought us here, he thought we might be able to help!"

"Sif can you fly as well as you can steer?"

"Better than most boys."

"Well none of us was ever in space or operated a space ship but I guess space is just another ocean. Not that we stand much of a chance. Whatever is coming must be huge to destroy a planet!"

Astrid sat beside Sif and Elena took the seat of the Sonar and Sensor operator.

There was no time to lose and this time I did not care if someone saw us fly or not. "Sif get her into orbit as fast as you can!"

I was terrified, not so much about my own life but now being responsible for the lives of the girls and being the only one able to do something. I sat down in the Boat Commanders seat, and as I leaned back, I could not explain how but my doubts vanished. I realized I would be a star ship captain much sooner than I thought. Sif activated Arti-Grav and switched from propeller drive to thrusters. Two port-doors at the end of the ship opened that had not been used in over 500 years. It was the same with the Nuc-Gas fuel tanks that supplied the thrusters, but we were pushed deep in our seats, they worked just as they should and accelerated us much faster than I expected, but managed to press the words: "Computronic activate Inertia Absorbers. Switch to space operation."

The pressure that had us almost black out was gone and the systems voice said. "Craft configured to space travel. Please be advised that life support functions are limited to seven hours."

"Now I think we should be done by then, whatever it is we are going to do." I said. "Tyr was not exactly specific as to what is approaching, from where it comes or how close it is."

Sif turned."He was never in space and does not know!"

The Poseidon broke through the last layers of the atmosphere and I was in space for the first time. When I saw the endless darkness, the brilliance of the stars I was sure I had chosen the right career path. I felt really home for the first time in my life.

Elena said. "The scanners work fine, well except the sonar of course, and the range seems very limited but I am detecting only one artificial object on a straight course towards Nilfeheim and if I am right this is only a space bus. Those are not armed."

"Nothing else?"

"Not in range at east."

"I wish we could hail the Bus and see if they had seen anything, but we do not have GalNet. "I mused aloud. "Could it be that maybe someone aboard was simply thinking about destroying Nilfeheim?"

Sif shrugged. "I don't know but Tyr sounded very concerned. It is odd though, why would the space bus come on a Wednesday? Maybe we can call the space port and have them hail the Bus. The boats radio should be able to reach the Nilfeheim radio net, we are not that far out."

"Good idea!"

I activated the Radio and switched to Emergency channel. "Poseidon calling Nilfeheim Radio Central this is an emergency call; please connect us to the Space Port authority."

A voice came on. "One moment I am putting my PDD on the mike. I have them on now." "Space Port, this is the Poseidon. We are detecting a Space Bus approaching Nilfeheim and wonder if you can contact the bus and ask if they had seen or detected any other craft approaching Nilfeheim."

"There is no space bus scheduled until next week." I could hear the man speaking to someone else and then he said."We got the bus on our scanners and something that looks like a Submarine!" His voice rose a notch as if he couldn't believe what he as saying.

"The Submarine that is us! We were warned that there is someone approaching the planet with hostile intentions. Can you contact the bus please?"

Before an answer came, Elena said. "The bus has changed direction it is heading towards us!"

"Spaceport here, the bus does not carry the correct transponder mark. It is not responding to our hails. It is not one of ours. I am informing Head quarters right now.

"Astrid activate shields and charge weapons. I think Tyr was right. They are up to no good!"

I looked at the magnified image of the space bus and tried to remember everything I could about these Leyland ships: 350 meters long, five decks, regular crew compliment of 4, Basic shields, Acceleration of 250 kilometers per second, Duranium skin and frame and no weapons. I had no idea how fast the Poseidon could accelerate but she was made of reinforced Ultronit, designed to reach the deepest regions of the oceans and punch through surface ice to surface. We had two faster than light energy Cannons and four sub roc / torpedo tubes. I was not sure if they would work in space and we had old but good Duo Dim Shields. At least I hoped they were good.

The Cargo Hold of the Space Bus opened and a cylindrical object appeared.

A bright beam from the Poseidon hit the device and it blew in an enormous explosion.

"What the..."

Sif turned."Sorry I should have waited for your command, but that looked like a Planet Buster or something like that!"

"How do you know all these things?"

"You are not the only one who likes tech and space ships. I always wanted to know what boys know!"