Ray Gun Revival Magazine, Issue 38

Issue 38 January 15, 2008
Pg. 2
Ray Gun Revival
Table of Contents
Overlords (Founders / Editors):
Johne Cook, L. S. King, Paul Christian Glenn 2 Table of Contents
Venerable Staff: 3 Overlords’ Lair
A.M. Stickel - Managing Copyeditor
Shannon McNear - Lord High Advisor, grammar consultant, listening
5 Seismic Morality
ear/sanity saver for Overlord Lee by Richard S. Levine
Paul Christian Glenn - PR, sounding board, strong right hand
L. S. King - Lord High Editor, proofreader, beloved nag, muse,
9 Earth Watch
webmistress by Neil Carstairs
Johne Cook - art wrangler, desktop publishing, chief cook and bottle
washer
18 Featured Artist: Yun Ling
21 The Adventures of the Sky Pirate
Slushmasters (Submissions Editors): Chapter 19, Courting Danger
Scott M. Sandridge
John M. Whalen by Johne Cook
David Wilhelms
Shari L. Armstrong 31 Memory Wipe
Jack Willard Chapter 17, Takeda’s Resolve
Serial Authors:
Sean T. M. Stiennon
by Sean T. M. Stiennon
John M. Whalen
Ben Schumacher
39 The RGR Time Capsule
Lee S. King January 1 - January 14, 2008
Paul Christian Glenn
Johne Cook
Cover Art: “marine” by Yun Ling
Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host, Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com

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dante, liaison – Double-edged Publishing All content copyright 2008 by Double-edged Publishing, 
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Ray Gun Revival logo design by Hatchbox Creative
Rev: 20080115a
Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008
Pg. 3
Overlords’ Lair
S o here we are, the first issue after Christmas,

and I’m already thinking about the end of
the world. Now, to be honest, I wasn’t thinking
my hands are tied. I could bring down
the whole studio with one lawsuit if no
earthquake occurs and someone dies in the
‘Show them,’ Robin felt his breath leave
his body as the relayed image flickered
across a plasma screen. At first they were
about rogue black holes or super solar flares, panic.” only pinpricks of light crawling across the
but there are plenty of other things that also black backdrop of space. It was the sheer
qualify. “So you won’t even let me present the number of them that frightened him.
data.”
For instance, our short stories this time around He looked down at his hands and saw
have a definite theme: Saving the Earth. Finding “We can’t. I’m going to have to hang up they were trembling.
these two stories in the slushpile together is now. Good luck.”
what you call ‘a happy accident.’ Far be it from Escalating things, in Earth Watch, Neil Carstairs In The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter
the Overlords to look a gift theme in the face. imagines what would happen if the entire 19 - Courting Danger, Cooper Flynn meets
somebody even more dangerous than an
So here’s the question - if you had the planet was under attack and only a decades- unknown assassin—fiery redhead Clarissa
knowledge or ability, what would you do to old secret organization stood between victory MkDougal.
save the earth? Our stories this issue grapple and defeat.
with that question. “One more salvo,” she barked, a strand of
‘Vampires number 24,000 plus,’ a Royal Air hair blowing free and falling into her face
In Seismic Morality author Richard S. Levine Force technician reported from his console. unnoticed.
asks that very question. If you knew you could Robin smiled at the callsign given to the
predict a possible earthquake hours in advance, incoming craft. The screens were awash There was another blast from the cliffs
would you warn people? Even if your warning with red tracks, falling over the North Pole whistling toward Tanith, the cannonball
might cause a panic? narrowly missing the foremast, taking out
like a curtain over the stage of a theatre. On a spotter crewman on deck. Marking this,
Hurricane prediction is over a hundred his screen a message scrolled across from the captain looked down at her chart and
years old. You’re talking about guessing Central Command. said, “Hard a ‘port!” and the crew all leaned
whether something is going to happen and ‘CenCom authorises ICBM launch,’ he to starboard, leaning into the steep turn.
people can’t even see it.” reported. His words brought a momentary As she made the turn, she presented her
silence to the room. Anne looked up from belly and starboard side squarely to the big
“We’ve been doing 30 second earthquake cliff-side guns. By virtue of the speed of the
predictions for years now.” her console.
maneuver combined with the turn, Tanith
“I’m sorry, Dr. Erdbe. I’d like to help, but ‘Space Station has visual images.’ slowed even further and was set up, for all

Pg. 4
intents and purposes, as a sitting duck for protected you. This is why I must protect
the guns that were now primed and ready you now.” .
on the cliffs of Zempher.
Until the end of the world comes, we
“Now what, Captain?” humbly thank you for reading our simple
stories at Ray Gun Revival magazine.
“Steady as she goes, Mr. Ells. It’s up to
Alacrity now,” said she.
Memory Wipe, Chapter 17 - Takeda’s Resolve Johne Cook
by Sean T. M. Stiennon Overlord, RGR
Breezeway, Wisconsin
Sometimes, when you’re looking at the end of
the world, the most noble thing a man can do
is run off to spare his friends. And the most
noble thing they can do is not to let him.
The Lithrallian drew an ivory dagger faster
than a blink and slammed it down onto
the table. The blade gleamed coldly in
the kitchen’s stark fluorescent light. “I
slit throat with this. One stroke, clean kill.
Enough blood to drown in. It spilled on
floor but covered me.
“There is exile, and there is atonement. On
Belar was exile. I live in jungle, hunt, sell
hides and skitter organs, drink. I am no one.
When I met you I was there for five years.
When I saved you from skitter, I knew exile
was over, and atonement begun.
“I saw man in need, fleeing from evil men,
and knew I could help. Defend. Protect.”
His eyes narrowed until his irises showed
as chips of blue in slashes of white. “Save
one life. Illuminate darkness of one
murder. I thought this, and I think still. You
see, Takeda? This is why I fought with you,

Seismic Morality by Richard S. Levine Pg. 5
Seismic Morality
by Richard S. Levine
“Y ou were right! Our satellite received
another Extremely Low Frequency (ELF)
signal in the Ionosphere.”
7.0 or greater earthquake may be coming in
the next 25 hours.”
and three intermediaries before getting an
assistant to the governor on the phone. He
felt ready to jump all over anyone who picked
“Damn, we had hoped to get at least three up next.
Seymour Erdbe looked over the top of days’ notice.”
the computer monitor to see his young grad “This is Governor Dewhurst. Dr. Erdbe, is
student, Stan Presley, staring at the data “We’ve got to let people know…give them this about an earthquake? We haven’t felt
screen. He replied, “It’s a clear night, and time to prepare.” anything here.”
unlikely there’s any interference in the signal. “But the panic…I’ve seen it before with “Governor, you’ve got an earthquake
Where’s it resonating from?” hurricanes. People get killed just trying to get emergency plan, right?”
Stan turned towards him, his eyes wide. out of town, and we can’t say for sure what
“The signature is Memphis! I think it’s going to the strength of this earthquake is going to be.” “Sure. Many states have one.”
be a big one.” “If people get caught in an eight or larger, “I’m sure you’ve heard of our work here at
“If the New Madrid fault goes it could it will be like getting no warning on a category the University of Memphis. We’ve been pig-
produce an eight or more on the Richter five hurricane.” gybacking on Berkeley’s ELF research satellite.
scale.” Listen, you need to evacuate everyone from
“You’re right. I’ll call the governor.” Memphis to Knoxville and north. All the people
“Our software’s interpreting the frequency in all the towns in Tennessee and our border
Stan replied, “Good idea.” Then he turned
shift right now.” states need to use their shelters. We expect
back to working the data, his fingers racing the possibility of a 7.0 or greater earthquake
Seymour stood up. His legs felt weak, his over the keyboard. within 24 hours.”
footing unsure. He trembled, though the earth Seymour walked into his office and shut
didn’t shake, at least not yet. It had been many “But our earthquake evacuation plans are
the door. The images remained vivid in his
years since his days as a second-tier researcher only for after the event. We’ve never had a
mind, but now they turned more personal: his
in Berkeley, California. He knew what an 8.5 warning before of more than 30 seconds. Listen,
bloodied wife and child lay under rubble.
could do. I’m a practical man. What are the odds?”
He felt his own body tense up; his legs
Visions of broken sidewalks, leaning “Ninety percent chance that there will be a
refused to move. For a minute, he felt as
buildings, and people lying under piles of quake. We’ve been pretty good at predicting
though he were buried. Then he reached in his
brick and mortar filled his thoughts. He wiped them over the last few years, but like hurri-
pocket, grabbed his mobile phone and verbally
his closed eyes, hoping the images would canes, it’s difficult to predict the magnitude.
ordered, “Call the governor of Tennessee!”
disappear. Impatient, as he squeezed the top Given the pressures on this fault, its history,
of his nose, he asked, “So what’s it say? How and our measurement accuracy, I estimate a
soon is it coming?” # twenty percent chance or more of a seven or
greater.”
“Hold on. The analysis just completed. A Seymour waited through silent pauses

“Then, I think those odds are in our favor. Seymour replied, “Sure I still panic every help.”
I’ll make the public aware that they should try time I think about how they died, because I
and be somewhere earthquake safe within the didn’t act on the ELF data I had. You might be “I’d like to help, but after we did that piece
next 24 hours, but I won’t give a magnitude alarmed too if you knew what Memphis was on your ELF research, our legal department
prediction. I don’t want to cause a panic.” going to look like in 24 hours.” paid us a visit. They were worried this might
happen. They said we’d be nuts to put you on
“But if you evacuate or order people to “I’m sorry, Dr. Erdbe, but I also have to think the air if you ever had a real prediction, unless
shelters, you could save lives.” about the people who might get hurt rushing you were one hundred percent sure. It’s not
to get out of town. There just isn’t enough time like the Weather Channel showing a hurricane
“Dr. Erdbe, you’ve done some great work in to sanction a calm evacuation, especially when and some prediction graphs. Hurricane predic-
Memphis, and you’ve brought us some prestige you consider there are at least four states in tion is over a hundred years old. You’re talking
among the country’s seismologists. But we the area of the New Madrid Fault.” about guessing whether something is going to
know about your past at Berkeley.” happen, and people can’t even see it.”
“Then you’ll just warn them that an earth-
“That was a long time ago.” quake is coming, and many people are going to “We’ve been doing thirty second earth-
ignore you because they will figure it’s going to quake predictions for years now.”
“Are you telling me you no longer think be small, something like 3.1. You’ll have to live
about your dead wife and child when there’s with that.” “I’m sorry, Dr. Erdbe. I’d like to help, but my
an earthquake? You don’t panic, even a little?” hands are tied. I could bring down the whole
“I know, and I will. Goodbye, Doctor.” studio with one lawsuit if no earthquake occurs
Even twenty years ago as a seismology and someone dies in the panic.”
professor at Berkeley, Seymour had started to “Goodbye and good luck, Governor.”
make predictions based on ELF signals. Looking “So you won’t even let me present the
back, there was ELF evidence of a large quake Seymour pulled up his list of phone numbers data.”
coming to the San Francisco area, but back on his mobile. He remembered having called
then he hadn’t had enough data to support a local news channel nine a few months ago “We can’t. I’m going to have to hang up
that finding. Besides, he was just a second-tier to complete an interview on his ELF research. now. Good luck.”
researcher then. They’d be interested in a prediction, he thought.
He said, “Call News Channel Nine.” Seymour put his head in his hands and
His gut, though, had said otherwise. Every rubbed his fingers against his closed eyes.
non-scientific bone in his body had stiffened. The phone clicked. “Hello, this is Gail Golden Seconds later, he fumbled through his pants
The hairs and nerves in his arms felt on fire, at Channel Nine. Why, Dr. Erdbe, I thought we pocket to pull out his keys. He reached down
like he’d been bitten by a pack of fire ants. But finished your interview a couple of months with a smallish rounded key and opened the
he was a scientist first, an emotional person ago.” bottom right drawer of his desk.
second. He didn’t want to be seen as a mad
scientist, and even more, he didn’t want to be “Gail, I don’t have much time to explain. He reached in and grabbed a photo of his
wrong. He chose not to say anything to anyone, There’s a twenty percent chance that we’re wife and daughter. It had been his daughter’s
including his own family and friends. The next going to have a 7.0 earthquake or more on the fifth birthday.
morning, his wife took their daughter to the New Madrid Fault in the next 24 hours. The He thought, maybe the governor was
local clinic for a chicken pox vaccination, while governor doesn’t want to order an evacua- right.
tion or force people to shelters. I’ve got a sick Maybe guilt drove his actions. Maybe he
he drove to work. A 7.9 earthquake hit.
feeling in my gut. I thought maybe you could should leave decision making to people who

knew how to make decisions. Seymour knew Stan could be stubborn. quake predictions over the university website.
Sometimes it was a good trait to have around. Of course, he was supposed to run these things
Then he remembered the digital photo If Stan hadn’t insisted on using the little known, past the dean, but he couldn’t take the chance
hanging on the wall to his left showing the San but recently invented, Fishbein-Zekman prob- he’d say no. He had to get his message out.
Francisco Bay Bridge busted in pieces, with the ability distribution in analyzing the ELF waves,
city in flames in the background. Memories they wouldn’t have found the quake patterns Around chest high, he held up the picture
of crashed cars and bloodied bodies filled his hiding in the data. of the Bay Bridge in pieces with San Francisco
mind. in flames behind it.
“Well, when you say it like that, I guess you’ll
He stood up quickly. Then he slammed his come in handy. How about you continue to He said, “Hello, I’m Dr. Seymour Erdbe of
office door open with his right foot and rushed monitor the ELF data? Maybe you can pinpoint the earthquake laboratory at the University of
back into the lab. the time of the earthquake better. Also, update Memphis. To all those in the four state region
our blog immediately with our latest predic- of the New Madrid Fault, your governors are
# tions. Some of our local fans will pick up our probably warning you right now that an earth-
RSS feed update soon. Spread our prediction quake is coming in the next 24 hours. What
Seymour looked around. The lab was filled around the internet, everywhere you can.” they won’t tell you is: there’s a twenty percent
with things: computers, cables, Madrid Fault chance that a 7.0 or better is going to occur.
charts, ELF signal printouts, PhD certifications, “Sure, but what are you planning to do?” We know this based on the research we’ve
and predictions. These things were useless been doing over a several-year period. If you
Seymour looked down at the floor. He don’t go to an earthquake shelter right away,
if he just let people die in an earthquake. He remembered
walked over to Stan Presley and put his hand that the lab the interview when he was told you could die!”
was specially built. “We’ve got
on his shoulder. seismic dampers in this building. There’s a good He walked away and tapped Stan on his
A little startled, Stan looked up and said, “Is chance we can ride out this quake, right?” shoulder. “Stan, put the recording up on You
everything all right?” Tube and a bunch of other video websites too. I
“So they say. The dampers reduce building sure hope people listen.” Then he walked back
“No, Stan. But it will be. You need to get out deflection like shock absorbers in a car.” to his office and pulled out the picture of his
of town, now. In a few hours, you could be a wife and child again.
“Then I’m going to get as many people to
couple of hundred miles away.” come here as possible.” Seymour envisioned an In a whisper, he said, “What should I do
“But we don’t know when this quake is alternate timeline where his wife and daughter now?”
going to happen. It could happen while I’m were proudly standing at his side. “Where’s
crossing a bridge.” that internet broadcast setup we have for #
emergencies? We’re going to save lives. I’ll be
“I realize that. But I’m not positive the right back.” An hour later, Seymour was still in his
shelters around here are going to hold up. One office. His head on his desk, he’d fallen asleep.
of us needs to get out of here to preserve what # Still dazed, he looked up to see that only a few
we know about ELF and quakes.” people had shown up at the lab. The picture
Seymour stood in front of a camera and of his wife and child was still in his hand. His
Stan folded his arms over his chest. “It’s all attached equipment the university had given stomach grumbled because he was hungry,
online in our publications. If you’re staying, I’m him for just this purpose —broadcasting earth- but it was also because he knew he had to try
staying.”

again. the destruction. He reported that he, his wife,

and son had been safe in the capitol building’s
Richard S. Levine
He walked out to the lab and straight basement shelter.
towards the camera. He switched on the Richard S. Levine’s short stories have
equipment and waited about a minute as he Seymour’s mobile phone rang. appeared in “Ray Gun Revival”, “The Fifth
held the picture of his wife and child to his Di”, “The Martian Wave”, and several other
chest. He began, “This was my wife and my “Hello, this is Dr. Erdbe.”
daughter. I loved them, as I’m sure you love online and printed magazines. His science
“Hi, this is Gail Golden. We’d like to interview fiction short story, “A Comic on Phobos”,
your family. They died because I didn’t warn you as soon as possible. You are going to be so was nominated for the 2006 James Award.
them about an earthquake coming. I thought famous.”
people would think I was nuts to predict it. With his wife Carrie, he lives happily on the
“Gail, I need time. Please call me back beach in Florida and writes. Now, if only the
“I’m telling you right now, I was wrong. I’m tomorrow. I’ll consider your offer then.” hurricanes would go away. To learn more
not going to shut up this time. You’ve got to
take your family to an earthquake-safe shelter As people touched him on the shoulder, about Mr. Levine’s writings and his classic
immediately. Or do you want to feel like me seemingly understanding his pain, Seymour video game, Microsurgeon, please navigate
the rest of your lives—knowing that you could walked back to his office and collapsed into your browser to http://web.tampabay.rr.com/
have done something and you didn’t?” his chair. He knew he should be feeling pretty rlevine6/.
proud. Instead, tears filled his eyes. He held up
# the picture of his wife and child and said aloud,
“You saved lives today.”
Three hours and twenty minutes later, 317
people were inside the safety of the lab at the
University of Memphis when the 8.7 earth-
quake on the New Madrid Fault hit.
The lab shook hard at first, but the dampers
kicked in quickly. Some of the 317 people
screamed. Stan shouted, “Don’t worry, the
building will hold.” The shaking continued for
two minutes, but no one was injured in the
lab.
Seymour and Stan spent the next hour
calming nerves and journaling experiences.
Someone turned on the television.
The news already had images of crumbled
buildings and horror stories of people crushed
under them. The governor was seen giving
a speech about how painful it was to see all

Earth Watch, by Neil Carstairs Pg. 9
Earth Watch
by Neil Carstairs
COBRA natural sunlight, but focussed in such a way downgraded?” Prime Minister Craben asked.
that it became incredibly destructive. The best
United Kingdom Emergency Management analogy would be to use a magnifying glass “Extremely doubtful,” Dawson shook her
Command to direct sunlight as a spot onto paper and head. “We know from satellite reconnaissance
that the Caucasus and Siberian fields were
“W
causing the paper to heat up and ignite.”
e are still analysing the available data, subject to these attacks, but have no further
but for now we can categorically rule The Prime Minister was silent for a moment, information to clarify the damage sustained.
out any form of natural phenomenon.” contemplating the three plasma screens The dependency we have on fossil fuels has
relaying news footage of the destruction they ramifications way beyond simply power or
The speaker paused to search through the were discussing. Information panels at the transport supplies.”
paperwork splayed across the table at which bottom of each screen showed the location;
he sat. Major Robin Givens took the opportu- Craben nodded. “I need a working group set
one shot was of oilrigs burning in the Gulf of
nity to slip into the briefing room, staying in up to report within two hours to recommend
Mexico, a second showed the Arabian Gulf
the shadows and positioning himself against strategies for domestic and industrial power
swathed in pitch-black smoke, and the third
the wall. Captain Anne McKay eased in next production and ways to alleviate the shortfall
was sourced from an RAF rescue helicopter
to him and put her attaché case gently on the in energy we are facing.”
over the North Sea, searching for any survivors
floor. From where he stood Robin could see from what had been oil or gas platforms and
all of the COBRA team, with Prime Minister Secretaries, members of the COBRA
were now simply burning hulks.
Duncan Craben at the centre, waiting for the committee and the dozen others involved in
speaker to resume his part of the briefing. Craben asked if anyone had a question. the briefing, made notes.
When none were forthcoming he thanked
“The best information comes from two “Now,” the PM continued, “we turn to
Perrott and called forward Gillian Dawson,
sources,” Professor Raymond Perrott continued, security. General Williams?”
Special Advisor to the government on energy
“firstly, from the astronauts crewing the inter- policy. Her statement was blunt and blood- Brigadier-General Hugh Williams, Army
national space station. Their visual testimo- chilling. Chief of Staff, looked at the Prime Minister
nies show the phenomenon occurred simul-
taneously from six different source locations and said, “I have with me Major Robin Givens
“We are still reviewing the current known
approximately seventy thousand kilometres and Captain Anne McKay. Major Givens is the
damage estimates. We are also getting further
above the surface of the earth. Secondly, a United Kingdom Liaison Officer for Operation
information in from the Venezuela oil fields. At
number of satellites recorded distortion in Earth Shield. Captain McKay is his second in
this moment in time my findings would suggest
the atmosphere falling into the visible light command.”
a loss in oil production of at least eighty-five
spectrum.” per cent for the next fifteen years. Not forget- The PM’s eyes slid to Robin. “Operation
ting those who have already perished in these what?”
“What does that mean?” the Prime Minister incidents, the effects to the world economy
asked. and social structure are incalculable.” “Earth Shield, Prime Minister,” Robin said,
“It means, Sir, that the phenomenon was almost apologetically, as he stepped forward
“Is there any chance your figures may be into the light.

“And what, may I ask, is that?” may pose a threat to the population of Earth. “You can’t use nuclear weapons,” the
Operation Earth Shield was designed to at least comment came from a middle-aged woman,
Williams answered on Robin’s behalf. prepare the separate nations of our world for a whom Robin recognised as the Secretary of
“Major Givens will brief the committee; the unified defence.” State for Health.
documents that will be handed to you are Eyes
Only and classified Above Top Secret.” “Oh, my God,” Craben had opened Robin’s “We have to,” Robin told her.
folder. He spread a series of photographs
Anne was already passing out eight slim, across the table. Other members of the team “If I may interrupt,” Brigadier General
buff-coloured folders. Williams sat back, gathered round. Robin waited patiently. He Williams spoke up. “Twenty years ago I held this
allowing Robin to stand alone and exposed knew the best way to gain the attention and posting for twelve months. The war games we
before the Cobra team. He took a breath and belief of his audience was with a sledgeham- ran showed that nuclear is the only option.”
started his prepared speech. mer of truth. The Cobra team settled back into “On land as well?” the Secretary of State
their chairs.
“As background, Operation Earth Shield is challenged them.
a United Nations Security Council sponsored “Carry on, Major,” Craben said, his voice
plan to defend our planet from threat or attack weaker than before. “Use of nuclear weapons against the enemy
from external sources. It was first proposed and once they have landed falls to National Defence
emplaced by a closed session of the Security “You will see from the briefing documents Commanders, although the Theatre Defence
Council in 1954. In the intervening years the that Earth Shield allows the UN full operational Commanders hold the right to take whatever
main action plan has been refined to include all control of all National Military Land, Sea and action deemed in the best interest of all.”
the latest technological systems and weaponry Air forces as well as access to all civilian control
to formulate a full defensive strategy. As of systems. I can give you a very quick outline of This“What do you mean by Theatre Defence?”
question came from the PM.
eighteen minutes ago the Council met in closed our strategy from this point on.
session at the request of the Secretary General “We have designated six separate opera-
to initiate the first steps of Earth Shield.” “Firstly, all ICBM missile bases are currently tional
having their target designations realigned. “Anvil areas as Theatre Defence,” Robin replied.
covers Western and Central Europe.
None of the Cobra team had opened the When hard targets are identified as approach- Hammer is Eastern Europe, Russia and the
folders Anne had passed out. They simply sat ing Earth a missile launch will take place to Independent Republics. Scythe encompasses
and stared, a couple of them open-mouthed, at intercept the enemy. This first strike will China and Australasia. Scimitar is the Middle
Robin as if he had spoken in a foreign language. be nuclear. A second shield of air-launched East and Northern Africa. Spear covers Central
The PM finally shook his head in disbelief. nuclear missiles in the upper atmosphere will and Southern Africa, and Sword is North and
intercept any enemy who gets through. Should South America.”
“The UN actually believes in little green the threat persist beyond this stage we will
men?” engage with fighter aircraft using conventional “And you expect everyone to work—
missiles in the lower atmosphere. We then fight—together?” This came from the Foreign
“Yes, Sir,” Robin answered as Anne handed fall back to sea- and land-based air defence
over another folder from her attaché case. systems before, finally, land-based military Secretary.
“Certain knowledge of the existence of alien units engage the enemy.” “Yes,” Robin stated quietly.
life has existed since 1942. Their actions were
always seen as non-threatening until the early Robin could see the dawning horror on the The Prime Minister sighed. “Of all the crises
1950s. It became apparent that more than faces of his audience. that I may have faced this is one that would
one life type exists and that the latest visitors never have occurred to me.”

The door to the briefing room opened and # approaching a smile trrtxl fed the dark-eyed
a police officer entered. “There is a large press animal a titbit of crustacean, listening to the
contingent gathering outside 10 Downing Staging Post ONMCR crackle-crunch of shell as the mrgur ate with
Street.” swift bites.
Wheel Scrstr
“The Fourth Estate,” Craben said with an “Separation in five cycles,” sang a techni-
edge of malice in his voice. Robin understood High Chancellor trrtxl felt the bite of his cian.
why. The Prime Minister’s short period of office acceleration hammock as the wheel ship
had been punctuated by a series of personal squeezed through the wormhole and into Chancellor trrtxl forgot his pet, concentrat-
attacks by the tabloid press. real-time. For a moment he hung, strapped ing now on the wheel ships as they began to
like a babe in its mother’s pouch, as the craft divide and then sub-divide. The hub became
“I’ll have to speak to them,” Craben spoke realigned to its new track and the blessed return six separate craft, each of the twelve spokes of
as if to himself. “What do I say?” of gravity could be felt as the craft revolved on the wheel became a dozen, and each arch of
its axis. He took a breath of the pale, recycled rim between a spoke became twenty-four craft
“Tell them the truth,” Williams said. “Tell air that filled the cabin and called to his route- until the fleet numbered greater that twenty-
them we are facing a grave threat to our social finder. six thousand. They formed a swarm as they fell
and economic structure. Give me five minutes towards the planet below.
and we can get a speech written for you.” “Display!”
Robin nodded his agreement. “Captain #
The liquid screen ahead of him melted to
McKay will do that.” a dark schematic, before the external lenses
aligned and focussed on the planet below.
For a moment the committee members
sat in silence, until the Deputy Prime Minister “Aaah,” trrtxl gave himself the satisfaction VIPER
said, of a moment of self-praise. The planet was still United Kingdom Joint Strike Command
viable; the telemetry readings scrolling across Headquarters
“This isn’t a role for the military to his visor condensed a tumult of radiation into a
undertake.” few salient facts. Chancellor trrtxl made a note “Sword confirms targets acquired.”
“I’m afraid it is,” the Brigadier General gave to congratulate the members of the advance
assault team for a job well done. Afterwards, Robin looked at the tactical display screens
a brief, humourless smile in response. “You do
he checked on progress on the rest of the fleet. as they lit up with the tiny red “V” shapes of
not seem to appreciate what Major Givens told
Five-dozen wheel ships spun down towards the traces designated hostile. Ninety hours had
you. The United Nations protocol for Operation
the planet, the growing orb filling their vision passed since the oil fields had been scorched
Earth Shield means full military control of all
with its vistas of blue and green enwrapped by from the face of the earth and now, in the cool,
civil administrative functions for the duration
a soft cloak of white and cancerous patches of subdued light of the command centre, the
of the emergency.”
black. world was about to discover if Operation Earth
The Prime Minister sat back in his chair, Watch could come anywhere near justifying its
staring at Hugh Williams before turning to look As his hammock rocked him, trrtxl spared a existence.
at the plasma screens. His voice was barely glance at the mrgur hanging on its perch beside
him. The creature had been a companion since “Vampires number 24,000 plus,” a Royal Air
audible as he said, “God help us.”
trrtxl’s fleet had successfully founded a staging Force technician reported from his console.
post seventy-two cycles ago. With something

Robin smiled at the callsign given to the arrays,” came back the report. #
incoming craft. The screens were awash with
red tracks, falling over the North Pole like “How long?” VIPER
a curtain over the stage of a theatre. On his “Nine par-cycles, My Lord.” United Kingdom Joint Strike Command
screen a message scrolled across from Central
Command. A grimace formed on trrtxl’s ridged Headquarters
face. With a single touch of his hand pad he Robin watched the second wave of nuclear
“CenCom authorises ICBM launch,” he commanded all armada craft to increase missiles detonate with detachment. The enemy
reported. His words brought a momentary their separation. Not a moment too soon, he came on like a stampede, uncaring of casualties.
silence to the room. Anne looked up from her realised. The objects coming towards him Robin knew this was caused, at least in part,
console. began to fragment, the upper bodies disgorg- by their commitment to their course. Gravity
“Space Station has visual images.” ing multiple clusters that hung in space as the was sucking the ships in and there was little he
chancellor’s craft rushed perilously close to could do about that.
“Show them,” Robin felt his breath leave his them.
body as the relayed image flickered across a “Sword reports vampires down to eighteen
plasma screen. At first they were only pinpricks The warheads detonated in a random thousand.”
of light crawling across the black backdrop of pattern of nuclear blasts. Light and heat and
space. The sheer number of them frightened a storm of radioactive particles assaulted the Robin bit his lip. It was still too many.
him. armada craft. The outer shields of the wheel
segments began to quiver. Chancellor trrtxl The tracks of the vampires were spilling
He looked down at his hands and saw they saw the first trace disappear from his screen. across the globe, circling like so many vultures
were trembling. He heard the brief, plaintive screech of the around a corpse. An RAF lieutenant said,
commander, followed in a double heartbeat by “Vampire flight southbound over Iceland.”
# the sound of dozens more as the ICBMs took
their toll on the armada. Robin stood and walked to the lieutenant’s
console. He could see the line of RAF jets north
Staging Post ONMCR of the UK waiting for the enemy to close. With
The chancellor waited to die, and then
Wheel Segment Trwq found his craft was through the hail of missile a flick of a switch Robin put the lieutenant’s
warheads and scraping the upper atmosphere communications over the loudspeaker.
“The dominant species are reacting to our of the planet. He queried the displays and felt
presence.” a surge of relief at only losing three thousand “Tally Ho. Tally Ho.”
craft. The voices of the fighter pilots spilled from
Chancellor trrtxl had allowed his thoughts
to drift away from the task in hand. The voice “External arrays configured.” The words the speaker as they engaged the vampires.
of a specialist focussed him onto the planet. filled his ear channels. Robin watched the radar screens as missiles
Expanding his display, he watched the objects drew dotted links. Bright blobs glowed and
rising up from the planet’s atmosphere. The “Prepare to emanate,” trrtxl commanded as faded on the screens.
chancellor placed an enquiry to the sub-officer he registered the horde of flying vehicles that
milled around in the planet’s atmosphere. He “Vampire down,” an operator reported.
responsible for defence systems.
saw more objects appear, smaller missiles that The RAF jets were still closing. Robin held
“We are still reconfiguring the external closed in towards his ships. his breath as a calm voice said, “Victor Six-Six

has visual. Engaging with guns.” spraying back to fill his nostrils and eyes. Chan-
cellor trrtxl tugged at the helmet and threw it
The screen began to change, RAF jets disap- off. The command centre was in chaos. All of VIPER
pearing, the vampires coming onward. his companions were ill in some way. The pilot’s United Kingdom Joint Strike Command
hands slipped off the control column. The
“HMS Rhapsody reports contact,” came smooth Headquarters
another cool, detached report as if this was an powerfulflight of the wheel segment became a
series of turns as the craft began to “What’s happening to them?”
everyday occurrence. spin out of control.
Robin could picture the scene—a cold, Robin voiced the same question being posed
The strands of the hammock bit into trrtxl’s in dozens of command and control centres
grey Atlantic dawn split by the bright bloom of flesh, scoring the yellow hide with brutal across the world. The swarm of vampires had
launch as the Royal Navy ship fired surface to heat. The chancellor felt the pain in his head suddenly become a spiralling mass of falling
air missiles. dissipate. His eyes took in the chaos of vomit objects. Some collided; others simply plunged
“Vampire down.” and disoriented flight crew. Beside him the out of control. Hundreds had been lost in a
mrgur mewled in discomfort, its sleek fur thick matter of seconds. Flights of fighter jets from
Robin almost laughed at the report. Only with globules of puke. The Chancellor queried Western Europe formed a curtain across the
one? his defence staff. path of the vampires and had seized the oppor-
tunity to launch their attack.
# “It is the enemy, Lord. Something struck us.
We are analysing.” “Any answers?” Robin posed the question
Staging Post ONMCR to his team. All he got in response were shakes
“Be quick,” trrtxl snarled. of the head.
Wheel Segment Trwq And then it happened again. “Maybe the radiation from the nukes got to
Chancellor trrtxl was most satisfied with the Chancellor trrtxl wouldn’t have believed them?” said an army Staff Sergeant.
current situation. The toll on his armada had his stomach could carry so much. Liquid and
been greater than expected, but not so great as solid matter flew above and around him. He Reviews of the incidents played across
to cause him any amount of concern. The losses heard the distressed shouts of the wheel screens again and again, as analysts and
would be felt amongst the families and clans of segment crew. Again they lost control, turning computers processing every available piece of
those who perished, but the greater good of over twice as sirens wailed out a warning. The data in an effort to identify the cause. Robin
his kind would benefit from their sacrifice. He pilot fought them back into level flight, gaining went to stand beside Anne; her console was
fed another titbit to his mrgur and was about altitude for some sort of security even as the running links with other theatre command
to remark to his navigator-technician on the defence staff admitted once again they had no centres. He watched for a moment, glad to
vain fight the planet’s dominant species were idea what was causing the sickness. The craft find that at least the vampires had still to make
putting up when… any kind of landfall.
entered thick cloud. Chancellor trrtxl saw the
grey-white moisture as a place of sanctuary “I’ve got it!” Robin and Anne looked up. An
His stomach churned violently. A pain, and commanded his pilot to stay within it as Air Force lieutenant, her heels clicking on the
searing like a hot iron, burned behind his eyes. much as possible.
The chancellor felt bile fill his throat. He tried tile floor, ran to them. “Look. The disturbance
to swallow before he vomited violently into his coincides with this sweep of radar.”
helmet. Yellow puke spattered across his visor, #
The scene ran once more, the lieutenant

grinning as she said. Its narrow beam, an almost continuous pulse misjudged its timing and plunged past them.
of radio waves, drove them down into the sea. It splashed into the ground, a fierce fireball
“There’s a meteorological station in the The command centre erupted in euphoria. erupting from the landscape. Chancellor trrtxl
Azores, and that is its weather radar we can ordered the six hundred and twelve wheel
see.” # segments still with him to centre on his craft;
he gave them a radius and a landing pattern
“Are you sure?” Robin wanted her to be, but in the moments before they hit the ground a
why just this one radar? fraction too hard.
“I can patch us into the station control,” Staging Post ONMCR
The segment crumpled, its frame shatter-
the Staff Sergeant said, “and fix the radar to a Wheel Segment Trwq ing with a cataclysmic roar that momentarily
single beam as a confirmation.” deafened trrtxl. His hammock broke free and
Chancellor trrtxl was in communication he slammed into the back of his pilot, crushing
Robin looked at the spill of “V” symbols with his armada when all hell broke loose. He his kinsman to death against the flight display.
that still filled the screen. There was one group closed the link, but not before the horrendous Chancellor trrtxl struggled against the bonds
of fifty or more circling out in the mid-Atlantic, death screams of his kin pierced his mind like of his hammock as part of the segment shell
as if uncertain of which course to take. the sting of a strictic beetle. With his skin peeled away. The world outside was, indeed,
“Can you zero on them?” Robin asked. crawling at the memory of the sound, he heard white. It was also intensely cold. The chancellor
his defence team communicate. gasped at the touch of air to skin, reeling away
“Consider it done.” from the burst of snow that filled the cabin. He
“We know.” struggled to remain upright, feeling his body
“What’s different about this radar?” Robin
asked the lieutenant. They ran the data up to him. The chancel- begin to adjust to the temperature and gaining
lor gaped in mounting horror at what they told some crumb of comfort from the fact that he
“It could be as simple as a specific frequency,” him. He looked at his wheel segment’s opera- wasn’t seriously injured.
she said. “All radars, whether civil or military, tional status. They weren’t going to have time Now all he had to do was organise his
are given certain bands to operate in. This one to get back out of the atmosphere. His decision surviving kind and conquer this world.
is set to 3005.22 megahertz.” was simple.
“Ready for the test,” the Staff Sergeant “Take us down,” he snapped at the pilot. #
typed the final command into his keyboard.
“Down?”
“Hit them.” Robin ordered.
“Now!” trrtxl screamed with a throat still VIPER
Silence came to the command centre. sore from the effects of puke.
Everyone was focussed on the single display United Kingdom Joint Strike Command
and the flight of enemy craft. For a moment They came out of the cloud. The world Headquarters
Robin thought they had failed and that the below them was white, threaded by strands of
lieutenant had been wrong. grey. The scene canted as the pilot searched the “Where are they?” Robin asked as more and
topography for a safe landing zone. The descent more of the remaining vampires over Eastern
And then he knew she was right. was fast, the pilot firing the braking rockets as Europe disappeared from the radar screens.
late as possible. One of their companion craft
The radar blasted the aliens from the sky. “Russia,” an RAF technician supplied the

answer, “approximately one hundred kilome- “Does he know how many of them there Remember that.”
tres south of Kirov.” are?”
The wing commander bit back his protest
“Get a map up on screen.” Robin was still “He doesn’t care,” Anne said quietly. “Tank and turned to his console; within a minute
standing beside Anne. She had a full screen map and Infantry divisions were already entrained he said, “Nimrods ready for your instruction,
of the Hammer theatre and windowed quickly for such an eventuality. They are mobilising to Major.”
in on the area in question. Robin grimaced. It the area as we speak.”
was a long way from any field units. Robin felt a nervous flutter in the pit of
Robin was watching the radar. The few his stomach. The red vampire symbols were
“Offer Hammer all possible assistance,” he remaining green squares representing friendly growing in number, spilling down across the
told Anne. air assets over Western Europe were chasing Pole again and flooding east across the Atlantic.
hard to form some sort of shield against the The crews of the aircraft were between a rock
“Major?” the staff sergeant spoke in a way vampires coming across the Atlantic and up and a hard place.
that made Robin’s flesh crawl with foreboding. from Africa. Robin noticed four assets out
“Look at them.” between Greenland, Iceland and the UK. “Fire the radar—full power—now.”
The plasma screens showed an outline map “Who are they,” he asked the RAF liaison #
of the world against which the “V” symbols officer.
of the invaders glowed red. Now, ominously,
those that remained in the air were focussing “Nimrod early warning aircraft,” the wing
their flight paths onto the Kirov Oblast sector commander told him. Staging Post ONMCR
of Russia.
“Then we can use them?” Wheel Segment Trwq
“How many are still airborne.”
“They have no defensive capability, and the Chancellor trrtxl found that, after the
“Several thousand, sir.” units assigned to protect them were sucked seventh or eighth day-night cycle on this planet,
into the air battle over Scotland. If they show he was becoming immune to the searing pulses
“We need every possible ground and air themselves, then we may lose them.” of radio waves his enemy constantly rained in
radar to be set to the frequency of the Azores on his force. The pain behind his eyes was now
met station,” Robin spoke swiftly. “I need “We have no choice,” Robin was already just
FLASH messages sent to all Theatre command- gauging the relative positions of the Nimrods over,a and dull ache, his stomach no longer turned
vomit did not scorch his throat as in
ers informing them of what we know.” and the thousands of vampires coming across the early hours of the invasion. He supposed
the ocean. “Two will go to their highest
Sitting beside him Anne was talking in operational ceiling; the others will fly as low this was some sort of blessing. Instead, he had
fluent Russian. Robin waited with an edge of as weather conditions allow. Set their radar to put up with cruise missile strikes, artillery
impatience until she broke the link and looked to 3005.22 megahertz and initiate on my barrages and low-flying aircraft dropping high
up at him, her face pale. explosives or cluster munitions across his
command.” battered kinsmen. In the cold dawn he peered
“The Hammer supreme commander has “Major, I…” out from the shelter dug beneath the twisted
announced that the invaders will be driven remains of a wheel segment and wondered,
from Russian soil. They will not use nuclear “That is a direct order, Wing Commander,” again, if this would be the last time he would
weapons, but force of arms.” Robin snapped back quickly. “I am officer in see the sun rise. Not that he could see the sun.
charge of UK sector for Operation Earth Shield. Low cloud, a seemingly constant companion

in this world, filtered the light down to a stark experience had taught him better. Within “Our lines have been breached. They are
grey landscape. seconds of the artillery ending, aircraft amongst us.”
screamed low across his horizon. Cluster bombs
The whistle of incoming shells made him spilled multiple munitions in a carpet of death, Chancellor trrtxl knew as much. The harsh
slither back under cover. The barrage brought tearing at an already fragmented ground and bursts of the enemy weapons had grown closer,
the furies of hell down onto his enclave. The leaving unexploded ordnance behind to maim coming at him from all sides. He let out a sigh as
chancellor huddled, alone with his thoughts, or kill the unwary. As the sound of aero engines he pulled his heavy frame out from under the
listening to the shell bursts and constant rattle faded the chancellor could hear his warrior twisted wreck of the wheel segment. Standing
of shrapnel. This would be the precursor to commanders singing their instructions and in the cold air trrtxl made a decision and slid
another ground assault. If anything gave trrtxl above them, in a soul sapping counterpoint, out of his body armour, stretching to ease his
a modicum of satisfaction it was the cost his the growl of power units and rattle of tracks aching muscles. From his shelter qm called.
kin had inflicted upon the enemy. The land was that told him the enemy were coming.
littered with the burning hulks of the tracked “I have the Proclamation prepared.”
vehicles that led each attack and the torn Navigator-technician qm was still where The chancellor was distracted as he made
corpses of the enemy who had thrown them- trrtxl had left him, peering out across the snow his sidearm ready. Before he could say another
selves forward in near suicidal waves. and earth landscape with a weary resignation. word to qm his vision was filled with the dark
The youngster had been one of the early casu-
The balance sheet was, however, tipping in alties of the battle, wounded in all legs, and mass of an enemy machine. It leapt up into the
his enemy’s favour. Chancellor trrtxl admitted trrtxl had taken him as his communicator. Now air as if using the torn ground and wreckage of
to himself his errors. He should have continued the chancellor called out to his assistant. qm’s shelter as a springboard. The tank hung
the first attack and used it against population suspended for a beat of trrtxl’s double heart,
centres and not just energy production points. “What can you tell me?” in imitation of a bird taking to wing. Chancellor
His advance assault team had recommended trrtxl could see qm in its shadow, gazing at him
such a course of action and he had ignored “The enemy press us from all sides, my and unaware of the danger. Then the tank came
them. Chancellor trrtxl flinched as a shell burst Lord. Warrior grfth fears his defence line will to earth with a bone-shaking thump, engulfing
particularly close. The segment above him be breached soon.” the metalwork that protected the navigator-
moved ominously as a hollow boom reverber- technician and crushing poor qm into the alien
“Prepare to issue a Proclamation of Defeat,” soil.
ated through his head. The chancellor’s second trrtxl could feel the ground begin to tremble as
error, and in his mind worse, was ordering his the enemy horde closed in. Chancellor trrtxl drew himself to his full
fleet to rally to him when he made landfall. He height. He used the momentary pause of the
had no idea how many segments had been lost Even from the distance of thirty paces tank to extend his spine comb and fully inflate
trying to reach him. Many, many thousands trrtxl could see the look of shock upon qm’s his neck bladders. They expanded, a deep
had acknowledged his instruction, but fewer features. crimson to accentuate his wide skull, a sign
than two thousand had reached him. of his masculinity. Chancellor trrtxl raised his
“My Lord, you cannot do such a thing.
Now his kin had been driven back from their Think of the dishonour it will bring to clan and sidearm.
original perimeter. The survivors squeezed into family.” The tank’s machine gun opened fire,
a small pocket, on a rise in the terrain, east of a swatting trrtxl to one side. The tank moved
wide river. The artillery barrage eased away to “Follow my command,” trrtxl could taste forward, spraying snow and dirt from its tracks,
a frightening silence. Chancellor trrtxl thought the ugly aroma of burnt fuel on the air. His past the chancellor’s body as shock infantry
about crawling out from his shelter into the communicator paused for a moment before he troops followed in its wake, stumbling over the
churned snow and earth of his enclave. Bitter sang out. churned ground. One man fired a dozen rounds

into trrtxl’s corpse, two more threw grenades Neil Carstairs

into the cavity that the chancellor had used for
safety. Then they ran after their comrades and
the tank, further into the enclave, to face the Neil Carstairs lives in Worcester, England,
last remnants of the invaders.
with his wife and two young children.
# He writes as the mood (and very occa-
sionally the inspiration) takes him.
VIPER
United Kingdom Joint Strike Command
Headquarters
The January day was cold and bright. Robin
stared up at the sky. He took a breath of air.
There was a faint, distasteful tang to it. The oil
fields still burned and pollution was becoming
the second topic on news programmes after
the invasion. The common question on all lips
was “what happens next?”
Robin had no idea, and neither did Anne
McKay, who stood next to him with her ever-
present attaché case at the ready. The best
guess Robin had was a furious struggle between
civil administrations to keep their countries in
order and the UN-backed military governors. It
was the people in the middle Robin felt sorry
for. The population of the Earth living with
minimal heat and light, strictly rationed food,
falling health care standards, and the still-pres-
ent threat of another attempt at invasion.
Their car pulled up, the driver waiting for
them to get in before asking, “Where to, Sir?”

Featured Artist: Yun Ling Pg. 18
Featured Artist
Yun Ling
Name: Yun Ling
Age: 25
Country of residence: China
Hobbies: Traveling, reading Manga
Favorite Artist: Craig Mullins, William X. Chen, aka ‘wassup’
When did you start creating art? When I was 21 and a student
in the university
What media do you work in? Mostly in digital
Where should someone go if they wanted to view/buy some
of your works? Visit my site http://lingy-0.com, or my DA
gallery http://lingy-0.deviantart.com
How did you become an artist? Step by step, normally. At first,
I found it amusing, and then I could not stop.
What inspired the art for the cover? I think it’s a Starcraft®
space marine. I just found the shape when I was scribbling.
Where do you get your inspiration/what inspires you? Great
artists/movies/books/comics and nature, of course. I like to see
many interesting things.
Have you had any notable failures, and how has failure affected your work?

What have been your greatest successes? How has success impacted
you/your work? I’ve had lots of failures; I never feel successful. I just
fail and keep working.
What are your favorite tools/equipment for producing your art?
Photoshop and Wacom Tablet, white paper and a 0.5mm mechanical
pencil
What tool/equipment do you wish you had? Wacom Cintiq Tablet
What do you hope to accomplish with your art? Realism


The Adventures of the Sky Pirate, Chapter 19, Courting Danger by Johne Cook Pg. 21
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate
Chapter 19, Courting Danger
by Johne Cook
The story so far: After a bravura exhibition of subtle machi- ading my true purpose here. As the brooding
nation, Flynn had established the upper hand Rand, I drew so much attention to myself that
Cooper Flynn ‘acquired’ a holy man to see to in a war of wills with the cleric apparent only nobody thought to check my cover story.”
the needs of the crew, but found the one man to the two of them. The assassin’s real crime
with as great a force of personality as himself. was more subtle. All the ground Flynn had “So when the Grenville sailors came
Cleric Mathen Vaneras didn’t take kindly to gained had been undone by the cleric with one onboard, we got both an assassin and a spy?”
being kidnapped, and embarked on a clandes- inexplicable, selfless act, and now everyone Flynn gestured toward the agent. “What are
tine war of wills with Flynn, winning over the knew Flynn was in the holy man’s debt. His the chances of that?”
affections of the crew. competitive nature was so strong that the Harl said, “Pretty good, as it happens. I’ve
And then an assassin attacked Flynn, and thought unsettled him more than the attempt been onto Aefther for about three months now
on his life.
Vaneras, ever thinking, saved Flynn’s life. and had worked my way aboard the Grenville
Flynn sipped his kava and reflected that with the full knowledge of Captain Argen. I
Flynn suspects a scheme, and he may be right. there was briefly worried he’d elude me when you
were now two people he’d completely
misjudged, Cleric Mantha Vaneras and Agent showed up, but Captain Argen knew what
Part One – A Most Delicious Agony
Harl Uioge. It rattled his self-confidence, and he was doing. Putting Aefther into the crew
C ooper Flynn’s demeanor was remarkably among a group like this, one would sooner lose
composed considering he had just been his knife hand than his swagger.
spared from an assassin’s axe. In his time,
coming to Alacrity killed two birds with one
stone as far as Captain Argen was concerned.”
With an effort of will, Flynn refocused on Flynn snorted. “I’ll have to thank him for
Flynn had tangled with—and dispatched—
the ongoing conversation taking place around his foresight when I see him again,” he said
better assassins himself. However, his savior
him. Agent Harl Uioge was the center of their dryly.
this time, cleric Mathen Vaneras, was the last
man he’d have expected help from on the ship, attention as they relaxed, enjoying the cleric’s Harl laughed. “Captain Argen isn’t a bad
and the sudden change of fortune was vexing biscuits and kava. Now that he was no longer man once you get to know him; he’s just laced
him with a most delicious agony. under cover, the dour man with a black attitude a little straight. He’s a great sort of man to
known to them as crewman Rand was revealed have out in the world out on the front lines
No one would be the wiser to look at him to be a keenly intelligent man with an engaging of combat. Your perspective is perforce a
at the moment, reclining easily in the galley of demeanor, a completely different person. little more relaxed when you’re up here in the
the airship Alacrity with members of the crew.
Thinking along those lines, Flynn raised clouds.”
He had a mug of kava in his left hand, his right
boot perched cavalierly on nearby bench, and his mug to Her Majesty’s agent. “Harl, I hope The cleric came over and sat down. He
a lazy smile on his face as they revisited the you don’t mind that my opinion of you is much nodded at Harl. “Excellent work. You said
story again and again. However, Flynn wasn’t improved now that you are no longer crewman you were ‘onto’ Aefther. Who was he after
listening to the legend, already growing in the Rand.” initially?”
telling. The thought consuming him was far Harl Uioge chuckled. “No offense taken. I’m
different. Harl nodded at the question. “His true
pleased my persona was effective in masquer- target was the admiral of the fleet. That’s what

initially roused our attention. Captain Argen Flynn nodded. “Very well. Do so. Thank tion.”
was on his way to meet the admiral at long you again for saving my life.” Flynn gestured
last after a long winter and short spring. I was carelessly to the cleric. “And Cleric Vaneras, “That’s an interesting idea. The nearest
assigned to keep an eye on him and secured a as well.” such port is at Zempher, a very attractive target
place on the Grenville with Captain Argen’s full for this type of sortie. However, they have tall
knowledge. Aefther’s apparently sunny persona The cleric’s smile turned thoughtful, and cliffs and their emplaced guns are infamous.”
was well liked onboard the Grenville, so I took then he only grinned the wider.
“They’re facing the sea and again only have
the opposite approach. I’ve discovered if you Flynn kept the grimace from his face with so much vertical elevation. I propose to avoid
paint yourself in a certain way, people make an effort. He turned to Mr. Pitt. “Would you the emplaced guns by coming in high and
certain assumptions about you. In this case, ask Eggplant to bring some of his charts and fast before they can draw a bead on us. We
being sullen and brooding kept chatty people meet us down here?” can finally use some of our broadside guns to
away and allowed me to keep an eye on the hammer at the port-bound ships and dry-dock
assassin. Aefther hadn’t done anything to tip “Yes, Captain.” pens. We can take our time raking broadside
his hand when your airship showed up and after broadside into the port-bound ships
spoiled his ultimate plans. I think he watched “Harl, while I have you here, do you have an and emplacements without any real threat to
the democratic airs displayed by your crew and idea what you’re going to do in the two weeks ourselves or to the populace at-large. The raids
assumed he could win control of the airship if between now and then?” will provide a huge boost to our morale and a
you were out of the picture.”
“The vaguest of ideas, but, yes, I have blow against their sense of invulnerability. We
Cleric Vaneras wryly said “Admiral, eh?” something in the back of my head.” will take the war to them and the word will get
He looked at Flynn. “You should be honored out that Alacrity is a force to be reckoned with.
he came after you.” They enjoyed the cleric’s thick kava and It will be months or years before they have an
thicker biscuits until Eggplant showed up with answer for our air-borne dynamic. How’s that
Flynn was staring at his mug. He looked up an armful of charts. for an idea?”
at the cleric and snorted. “I’m not that hon-
ored—they only sent the one assassin.” “Ah, Eggplant—feel free to spread those “We’re going to need to get in some practice
out here on the tables as necessary. Here’s on those guns, then,” observed Mr. Pitt.
The cleric smiled gracefully. Bastard. what I’m looking for—at the moment, we have
the complete mastery of the skies but are Starting the next day, they practiced hard,
Flynn said, “So, Agent Harl Uioge, what running a bit light on crew to mount extensive learning to quickly load and fire the 8 pound
would you like us to do with you now that actions. We have the fastest ship in the skies cannons, getting a feel for where cannonballs
you’ve bagged your man?” and hold the vertical element. Since we’re a bit would strike when fired from 100 feet and 250
light on personnel, what can we do that would feet altitude.
Harl thought a moment. “You’re still strike hard at the heart of the enemy without
planning on meeting up with the others at As he watched the crew practicing at the
opening us up to much risk? And it occurred
Roarke’s Island in a couple weeks?” cannons and chewed over the latest twist in his
to me that we could do the sort of island raids clandestine struggle with the cleric, a morose
“Yes. We need additional crew, not to the enemy has been doing. Instead of raping Flynn reflected that he’d take a good, fair fight
mention some deserved liberty.” and pillaging as they do, we could wreak havoc any day.
on their ports from above, firing on any ships/
Harl said, “I’ll stick with the ship, then, and docks they have there, and then return to And then a sly smile spread across his face
disembark there if that’s agreeable with you.” Roarke’s Island in time to make our connec- as he set aside any pretension to nobility and

began to really scheme in earnest. everything serving to improve morale and prisoner here?”
tighten necessary shipboard knowledge.
# Above and behind it all was the unspoken “No,” grated Mr. Pitt, the single syllable as
purpose of improving skills vital to the sailors flat as a pistol shot.
The day dawned with Alacrity under full individually and to the ship corporately in the “Really? Becausethat’s how it appears
sail, making great speed north and east toward combat certain to come. from here.,” she replied hotly.
the gently curving chain of islands extended out The captain was very busy with all this
in a wide bow between Haddirron and Sylva. The discussions rankled Mr. Pitt. He could
activity and tasked Mr. Pitt as the dedicated
Roarke’s Island was the northern-most of the snap a man’s back like a twig and yet he had
liaison with Dr. Prentiss. For himself, Flynn
Haddirron isles and Lebson was the southern- to bear up quietly under these such emotional
made sure he spent some portion of each day
most of theSylvan islands. indignities. Worse, he still cared fiercely for
with the clerichimself under the pretext of her, but she wasn’t cooperating with him in the
In between lay all the loosely organized dots learning how to cook. slightest. Even worse was how passionate she
of the Free Isles, independent communities was in her anger. He wasn’t sure if he wanted
Both relationships were rocky in the early
that traded with both powers, depending on to shake her or embrace her.
going, although the former was overt while the
the goods required and the varying tradewinds, latter couldn’t have appeared more civil.
a word referring less to prevailing breezes and So he held his ground and kept his arms
more to the vagaries of constantly undulating “What happens if one of our boarding crossed. He kept his façade carefully neutral
trade agreements. As a result, Free Islanders, parties has wounded?,” asked Deena Prentiss lest his face betray his heart. “It’s really less
like Reachers, were typically very smart, fiercely of Mr. Pitt. about what you’re ‘allowed’ to do and what’s
independent, and very funny, humor being safest for you.”
their preferred and primary buffer between “You stay on board and we bring the
violence and commerce, and their insurance wounded to you.,” rumbled Mr. Pitt. She was having none of it. “It sounds to me
policy that their docks and bazaars saw brisk like it’s less about what’s safest for me and is
business in unsettled times. Deena said, “But what if they are too about power for you!”
wounded to be moved?”
The crew used the next days to discuss Pitt rolled his eyes. “Male doctors don’t
strategies of all sorts, from the upcoming cliff- “We’ll have to bring them back with us give me this kind of trouble,” he muttered
raids on the coastal villages and ports to the regardless of what happens.” under his breath. It was the wrong thing to say
invariable pitched battles with well-armed out loud, and he knew it as soon as the words
Deena turned away under the pretense escaped his lips.
ships of the line. The captain continued to of organizing tools she’d already organized
build community among his sailors, promising twenty times, fooling no one. “That makes no She stomped forward and stared up at him
them opportunities to distinguish themselves sense, especially if I am better able to meet with white fury, her pretty face angled up at him
and advance in responsibility and rank, as well their needs by going to them.” as she used to when they’d kiss, two months
as the further opportunity for personal wealth and an entire lifetime ago. “What was that?!
as a result of being privateers for Her Majesty. Mr. Pitt crossed his massive arms over his Horatio, tell me this isn’t about my sex!”
chest. “All I know is, you shouldn’t leave the
They were good days, balancing focused ship under any circumstances.” Pitt carefully grabbed her shoulders. “I
bustle and moments of play and quiet. There don’t know what it’s about! I never do with
were deck games and marksmanship competi- Deena whirled around, some of her hair women!” Her scent was intoxicating, but
tions for both smaller weapons and cannon, escaping a business-like bun. “So, what, am I

her fury equally palpable. She was a walking carnage, pretty much any carnage, and then There, suspended crazily in mid-air, drifting
enigma, far too complex for a simple man like was privately embarrassed. How such a slim, down toward the port was another airship.
himself. “I just know that the doctor rarely well-spoken woman could bring out the beast
leaves ship by long-standing tradition, which in him was beyond him, especially when he In an entire lifetime of scheming, working
every true sailor understands.” And then he prided himself on his intellect and self-control, the angles, and guarding secrets, Flynn had
said something petty before he could stop the ability to consciously counteract his tre- never been more stunned.
himself, a morsel of truth torn off his soul by mendous strength and imposing physicality. They all gathered at the rail, looking and
need and conflict. “Besides, I know very little
From the first, the captain had seen him as pointing as they made their own descent.
about your sex, and you know it!”
a quiet man of keen intellect, as dependable “It’s one of ours, Captain,” said Mr. Yhen
“ ‘Rarely!’ ” she shouted, coloring prettily as a rock, not as a hulk. Yet, despite being peering through the glass, further adding
even as she ignored the unspoken subtext. “So married, she saw him as a bull—brainless, to what was easily the weirdest moment of
it might happen?” insensitive, stupid, hulking—or so it appeared. Flynn’s life to-date.
It just made no sense. He still didn’t know
“Yes, ‘rarely,’ “ he growled in return, what had happened to cause their separation. The blood was boiling in Flynn’s head as he
“because there are no hard-and-fast rules One week, they were together and in love, strolled up. “What do you mean ‘one of ours’?
about when to go against the prevailing newly married and loving life. The next, she’d There is only one of us. We are unique. There
wisdom.” His voice raised of its own accord chosen the service instead of him, while he’d is precisely one copy of the working formula,
despite his best efforts. “You just know when remained loyal to one whom he’d betrayed and I carry it on my person. Alacrity is one-of-
something unexpected comes up!” he shouted, once already. a-kind.”
and then his own cheeks reddened. Once again
he regretted his choice of words as soon as he Mr. Pitt set his jaw. One thing was certain— Mr. Yhen was unflappable as always.
uttered them. he’d never betray Flynn again, even if it meant Patiently, he said, “Ayuh. Yet what I see
losing the only woman he’d ever loved. Even if suspended in midair, Captain, is another airship
She harrumphed as if her utterance was he could still feel her skin under his hands, and of Haddirron design, flying Haddirron colors.”
somehow meaningful, turned on her heel, and smell her scent everywhere he went.
stalked out of the room. Flynn’s voice sounded hollow even to his
# own ears. “That’s not possible.”
“And I don’t know why we’re shouting!”
Pitt yelled after her, but she was already gone. Mr. Yhen silently handed over the looking
They were approaching the tiny coastal glass, his eyes not unsympathetic.
He kept walking around the railing, lost in village of Yulni Straits when Mr. Yhen blew his
thought, needing to do something, anything, whistle. Flynn’s eyes confirmed what Mr. Yhen
to work off his emotional turmoil. This woman said.
made him feel less like a tactical genius and Flynn got there just before Mr. Pitt. “What
more like an unyoked ox. He felt like breaking is it?” As Flynn looked, Mr. Yhen said, “She’s a little
something, and Cyl help the first enemy to smaller than we are, maybe three quarters the
“Captain, you’re not going to believe this,”
cross his path. size of Alacrity. She’s trimmed right up and
said the stoic and dependable Mr. Yhen. He moving naturally. And based on what I saw
But he held his tongue and his thoughts gestured ahead of him, not down toward the of her maneuvering, I’d say they’re nearly as
to himself with an effort of will. Not for the upcoming island, but straight ahead, 200 feet comfortable aboard her there as we are here.”
first time, he found himself looking forward to in the air.

Flynn slammed the telescoping glass shut Flynn shook his head slowly. “Good more below. Yeah, their pilot knows what he’s
and handed it back to Mr. Yhen. He turned to thought, Bola. However, while there may be doing, bringing her right down into port.”
Mr. Pitt. “Get Chain up here on the double,” more to Her Majesty’s Auditor Welston Danan-
he snapped, unable to control his demeanor. strogh than meets the eye, this turnaround is Flynn paced, thinking.
A storm raged on his face. Flynn wanted to kill too fast even for him.” “Oh!” Mr. Yhen exclaimed, and looked
someone. The question was, who?
Bola said, “What are you saying?” again. Then he blinked and held out the
Flynn turned and saw cleric Vaneras there, spyglass to Flynn. “I think you’d better see the
a thoughtful expression on his face. Flynn Chain mused, “Yes, that would be far- last revelation for yourself, Captain.”
whirled around again, unable to handle the fetched, but technically possible?”
Flynn took the glass. “See what?” he said,
holy man just then. The question filled his “What would,” asked Bola, losing her scanning the deck, tracking slowly bow to
mind until it was all he could think about: how patience. stern, then stopping suddenly and backtrack-
did they get his secret formula? ing. “What the...”
Flynn said, “If we didn’t give the formula
# to anybody, and they had it shortly after we Mr. Yhen smiled. “If I didn’t know better,
developed it—I’m assuming that because I’d say her captain is ‘her Captain,’ if you take
After looking the interloper over through this other ship couldn’t have been developed my meaning.”
the looking glass, Chain confirmed what they long after Alacrity was… well, it seems there
all already knew. In conference with Mr. Pitt is another player out therethat we don’t know Flynn handed the glass to Mr. Pitt. He
and Flynn, he ticked off all they knew on this about, and they are formidable.” looked and grunted, surprised.
fingers. “The facts are these: there is no
Chain’s eyes got big. Standing in the back of the gathering
way there can be another Haddirron airship, throng, Dr. Prentiss couldn’t contain her
yet that, gentlemen, is another Haddirron Flynn said, “If you think about it, this tech- curiosity. “Who is it?”
airship.” nology was given to me, and I gave it to Chain.
What if it’s not that our technology was stolen Flynn nodded and Mr. Pitt wordlessly
Flynn paced back and forth, the facts
from us. What if the same party who ensured handed her the glass. As she looked, Flynn
warring with the reality he thought he knew
I got the formula gave it out to the Haddirron looked a question over her shoulder at Mr.
in his mind. “So despite our best efforts, our
Navy when I didn’t share it with them myself? Pitt, who shook his head. He looked rather
carefully-guarded technology has somehow
If that’s the case, and somebody else really miserable at the moment.
leaked out.”
is responsible for this, that would mean that “Well, she’s very pretty,” observed the good
Mr. Pitt asked, “How is that possible?” their technology is better than ours, and that doctor, approvingly.
their resources are out of this world.”
“That’s the thing,” said Chain. “It’s not.” Chain asked, “The ship?”
Flynn looked at Mr. Yhen. “This other
“What about the auditor?” asked Bola, airship. What about her crew? Larger than Deena was enjoying herself for the first
flipping her knife. ours? Smaller?” time since she’d boarded Alacrity. “Yes, nice
Chain and the captain looked at each other. lines, unexpected presence here, but with a
Mr. Yhen scanned the upcoming airship
“The auditor?” said Chain. certain assurance. Yes,” she said, handing the
and said, “I see maybe fifteen on board ready spyglass and a grin back to the captain, “you’ll
to tend sails and such, hard to say how many
Mr. Pitt said “Who?” have your hands full with her!”

Bola asked, “The ship?” The captain whirled around, one hand on board that ship?” he asked.
sword, eyes sparking. “Yes, who...” and then
Grinning mischievously, the doctor left the they locked eyes and recognition between Clarissa shook her head, her fiery copper
group as quickly as she’d entered it, leaving them was established. hair catching the stray rays of sunlight under-
more than a few questions and one very neath fronded palm trees. “No, it had obviously
unhappy first officer in her wake. Or re-established, in this case. “Cooper been burning for quite some time when we
Flynn!” she said, and a hushed gasp went up approached, and she sank shortly after we
“Eggplant,” bellowed the Captain. “Set us from those in the know up on the deck of arrived overhead.”
down next to that ship as soon as you can.” Alacrity.
Flynn relaxed visibly. “I know something
“Aye, Captain,” came the distant muffled “Hello, Clarissa,” he said. about that ship,” he confided. “We’d visited
response. her earlier in the week and had recruited our
doctor from her ranks, as well as some sailors.
“Who is it,” asked Bola, mournfully, never We had left her and were in the process of
one to bear up well under the ravages of Part Two - The Cliffs of Zempher making the crew at home when it became
curiosity, but the captain was already deep in
They observed the form as good Haddirron necessary to turn around and return to her.
thought, as evidenced by a certain tuneless
captains would, seated at a small café, enjoying She was already burning when we found her,
whistling.
aromatic local flavored tea, making polite small so we moved on. You must have just missed
It was another hour before they settled talk, and exchanging what news of the world us.”
down and tied off, hovering at port, just one each was current on. She said, “We scanned the surface of the
hundred yards from the smaller airship. The
They were at what would be a small ocean for survivors, but found none. I can’t
rope ladder was kicked over the edge and the
outdoor cafe in a more developed setting, figure out what might have happened to have
crew started to disembark, led by Mr. Pitt, who
but was actually just a home-built table and emptied her decks like that.”
ritually did a quick scan of every port.
some stumps out in the independent islands Flynn debated how much to tell her, but
However, he wasn’t the first to touch between countries. Still, everything was clean, resolved to be coy for the moment. “I’m just
ground this day, that honor going to the they were comfortable enough, and the place glad to see you again after Academy. I thought
captain himself, who, after making sure all was exuded a certain quaint charm for all its rustic you’d never speak to me again after I was
organized on-deck had turned and dropped appearance. drummed out in my third year.”
lithely over the rail, quickly and expertly, to
the dock, hitting the wood lightly, and striding It helped that the tea was unsurpassed. She looked at him thoughtfully from across
toward the other ship’s captain. The mystery Perhaps it was the company, Flynn wondered the simple little table. “I was very angry at
had gotten out by that time, and the crew of idlely. first, but two things changed my mind. First,
Alacrity rushed to the railing to uncover the I received a letter from Deena Prentiss shortly
Clarissa was talking about an anomaly
revelation. afterward that explained some things without
at sea. Flynn sipped his tea, trying to resist
drowning in her sassy green eyes. “The strange actually telling me anything.”
Flynn strode up to the smaller frame of the
other airship’s captain. He stopped, looked thing was seeing the ship burning in the middle Flynn started chuckling quietly to himself.
around for support, cleared his throat, and of the ocean without a single soul aboard that
spoke. “A moment of your time, ‘Captain,’” we could spy from the Tanith. It was eerie.” Clarissa looked at him oddly. “What?”
said Flynn, struggling to keep the tension out Flynn looked at her in alarm. “Did you “Deena, you say? She hasn’t mentioned
of his voice.

anything about that to me.” However, the commodore later confided signet seal on it.
privately to me how you had been promoted to
“Why would she?” active duty early, in order to serve Her Majesty It was still warm from Clarissa’s body heat
in a secret capacity as first captain of the first when Flynn carefully accepted it. He couldn’t
Flynn grinned. “It just so happensthat she’s help but note that it smelled of lavender and
prototype airship.”
onboard Alacrity as we speak.” a not-unattractive feminine sweat, warm and
The sails were flying in Flynn’s head. “I… musky and real. His head swam just a bit, and
Clarissa took that information with a raised wasn’t sure how much he would say,” Flynn he noted with a start that she was looking at
brow. “Oh? How did you manage that? After said, carefully. “That’s not public knowledge. him.
you stole her husband from the graduation As far as anyone knows, I’m a rogue privateer
ceremony and disappeared into the night Flynn chuckled to himself without comment
loosely serving Her Majesty out on the high
onboard the prototype airship, she had the and broke the seal, opening the parchment.
seas.”
commodore reassign her to a medical ship and He scanned it quickly and tossed it on the table
sailed away from port as soon as she could. I She continued. “After the ruckus died down in front of them. “Yes,” he said. “These orders
had the distinct opinion that she was as angry after graduation, I was given command of a confirm what you said.”
with you as she’d been patient, earlier, after small schooner off the coast of Rafa. It was a
your public disgrace.” short-lived command. I had only served on her She nodded and mock toasted him with
a short time when I was recalled and privately her tea cup.
“It had to be done. It was for the greater informed about the new air fleet. I was told
good.” “So,” he said, leaning forward, “how would
that you were already aboard an airship and you like to put your fancy new airship to work
“We all serve Her Majesty the Queen,” that I was the perfect one to find you. I was and go on a raid with me?”
said Clarissa, and if she was patriotic in that told we would be working as a team on the
moment, she was also somehow saucy. The front lines of a new form of conflict.” She smiled enthusiastically. “Why Cooper
effect on Flynn weakened his knees, and he J. Flynn,” she said, “are you asking me out on
She was clearly pleased with this, but the
was very glad he was seated. a date?”
underlying implication suddenly chilled Flynn.
“So now you know about me,” he lied Calmly, he asked, “We’re going to have to Mr. Pitt walked up just then. “J? Your
casually. “How did you come to command one talk about this air fleet some time. However, middle initial is J?”
of Her Majesty’s airships?” something you said has me thinking. Were you
perhaps given orders for me in the event that “Your timing is impeccable, Horatio,” Flynn
“Much the same way you did, I suppose, we found each other?” joked good-naturedly. “Mr. Pitt, you remember
“she said. Clarissa MkDougall.”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” she said. “I’ve
Flynn’s eyebrows raised. “I rather doubt been keeping them with me expecting us to She stood and gave him a crisp salute. “Mr.
that,” said Flynn, wryly, “but go ahead—tell me find each other, I mean, expecting I would Pitt.”
how you came by your commission.” catch you, that is...” She stopped stammer-
ing, looked him square in the eye, and started “Captain,” he said, saluting.
She smiled in a deprecating way and laughing to herself. Then she stopped, unbut-
confided in Flynn. “Which brings me to the Flynn reclined with his hands behind
toned the top of her captain’s coat, reached
second thing that changed my mind. I was his head, and watched the exchange with a
into an inner pocket, and pulled out a small,
extremely vexed with you after the apparent certain good-natured bemusement. “If you
folded parchment with the admiral’s own
debacle at the graduation ceremonies. two are through with the ‘Mister and Captain’

routine, you think we can plan out a quick raid Flynn looked at Mr. Pitt and back at Clarissa. HMS Tanith slowly drifted straight up the
or two?” “I do, yes, but I suspect you won’t be as excited coast, putting salvo after salvo into the three
about it as I am.” ships moored there at dock. It was too soon
# to determine much in the way of effective
“Why’s that, pray tell?” damage but Tanith was clearly wreaking havoc
Eggplant enjoyed some tea at a nearby table on the docked ships.
“Well, that would be because in order
after delivering the maps he was requested to for this to really work, we’re going to require It seemed like fifteen minutes before there
bring. something, ah, a little risky.” was any sign of life, but the bang - bang - bang
Flynn looked at Clarissa and said, “You of the Tanith’s guns were suddenly matched by
“Risky? Like how?”
recognize this bit of coastline?” a tremendous boom coming from the cliffs, the
“In order to for this to really work, we’ll cannonball ripping cleanly through the Tanith’s
“It doesn’t ring a bell,” she said, “but I need to get the attention of those emplaced top sails.
haven’t spent as much time in the indepen- guns and then take them out.”
dent islands as you have from your former life Captain MkDougall stood resolute onboard
as a trader.” “And how do we ‘get their attention’ as you the Tanith, her hands locked behind her back.
say?” she said, guarded.
Mr. Pitt leaned back and shot a look at “Steady as she goes,” she said soothingly
Flynn behind Clarissa’s that said “Trader?,” but “Decoy,” said Mr. Pitt as it came to him. to her pilot in the wheelhouse. She raised
he kept his tongue. her voice. “Continue the bombardment,” she
Her eyes flashed then as she realized the ordered, and they did, laying down another
Flynn smiled to himself. He tapped the map nature of the challenge being issued to her, and salvo into the ships docked to starboard.
and said, “It doesn’t show up on this map, but the faith placed in her. She leaned back then
there’s a coastal Sylvan town here at Zempher, and smiled the same sort of feral smilethat “Be ready to swing to port on my command,”
which is the first Sylvan outpost. They have Flynn was famous for. “When do we start?” she murmured quietly to her pilot. Two more
important dry-docks, supply warehouses, and she said. blasts echoed out from the cliffs of Zempher,
exotic vendors of all sorts.” bracketing Tanith but both missing. “One more
# salvo,” she barked, a strand of hair blowing free
“Seems easy enough,” said Clarissa. and falling into her face unnoticed.
“Ah, well, there’s one further little element Three days later, the HMS Tanith approached There was another blast from the cliffs
to this setup.” the coastal port of Zempher from due south just whistling toward Tanith, the cannonball
before dawn at an altitude of 250 feet. Captain narrowly missing the foremast, taking out a
“The cliffs,” said Mr. Pitt. MkDougall could see the port to her starboard, spotter crewman on deck. Marking this, the
and if she noticed the emplaced guns directly captain looked down at her chart and said,
Flynn pointed at his friend. “Right,” he said. in front of the Tanith at an altitude of 400 feet, “Hard a ‘port!” and the crew all leaned to
“The cliffs of Zempher are known for their she gave no indication. starboard, leaning into the steep turn. As she
emplaced guns. They’re big, they’re accurate, was making the turn, she presented her belly
and they’re not going to fall for any trickery.” The sudden concussion of the cannon and starboard side squarely to the big cliff-side
salvo jarred the sleeping denizens of Zempher
“One presumes you have a plan,” said guns. By virtue of the speed of the maneuver
awake.
Captain MkDougall dryly. combined with the turn, Tanith had slowed
even further and was set up, for all intents and

purposes, as a sitting duck for the gunsthat the masts. Ten gold pieces to the crew that can the third ship, wood splintered, sails ripped,
were now primed and ready on the cliffs of take down a mast. Let fly!” and the mainmast was hit. With a great
Zempher. creaking groan, ropes snapping like whips, the
Mr. Pitt took flags with him and asked Tanith great mast toppled onto the desk and partly
“Now what, Captain?” what her losses were as the two ships passed into the water.
opposite each other. Mr. Pitt could see down
“Steady as she goes, Mr. Ells. It’s up to onto the deck and noted the torn canvas and By the time the attack was over, all three
Alacrity now,” said she. some damaged rigging. Then he noticed the ships were incapacitated and the infamous
red splotch on the deck and had his suspicion guns of the cliffs of Zempher had been silenced.
There was a huge salvo of cannon fire confirmed—one dead. The airships had lost one crewman and some
above them and they both flinched, but it canvas sail and were out of Zempher airspace
wasn’t the cliff-side guns. Alacrity appeared “All right. Eggplant, on my mark, descend before 6am, leaving the port in shambles, but
from the north-northwest at 400 feet, gliding to 150 feet and make the turn 60 degrees to more importantly, taking the fight to Sylvan
into view a mere 100 feet away from the cliffs. starboard. I want to wind up facing due south territory.
The cliff-side gunswere in placenow to fire at so that the dock is hard a’port. Mark!”
Tanith, but were themselves out of position to Alacrity ascended to 250 feet and left the
respond to the new threat. Alacrity made her turn and Captain Flynn port behind, heading back south for two miles,
waited until the first ship was in full view. “Port then hove to and waited for the Tanith. She
Alacrity drifted directly in front of the cliff- guns! Ready? Let fly!” arrived shortly before noon and they came
side guns. “Fire at will,” bellowed Captain alongside. Grappling ropes were carefully
Flynn. “Let fly, let fly!” Alacrity unleashed a tremendous salvo into thrown over, and the ships were brought
the first ship and the mizzen-mast went down
“Twelve guns, Captain, three down together.
in the first volley. A roar went up from the
already!” shouted Mr. Pitt. gunners below deck. Captain Flynn received Captain MkDougall
Another salvo took out two more guns and and Mr. Ipness in his cabin. “Congratulations,
“Very good, men! Reload and prepare for
then the pounding of the cliffs commenced Captain—you did beautifully.”
the second ship. On my mark.... fire!”
in earnest, Alacrity rocking with each report, “Thank-you, Captain Flynn,” she said, her
smoke billowing toward the cliffs, the cannon- Cannonballs ripped through the rigging of cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. “I
balls ripping great gouts of rock and concrete the second ship and splintered the foremast, believe it is all due to your masterful plan!”
and pounding the bunkers where the cliff-side which collapsed slowly in a tangle of rope and
guns were emplaced. canvas. Flynn grinned, and then cleric Vaneras
stepped forward and spoke in low tones to
It was a bold, brutal move, and it paid “One more volley on the last ship. Reload Flynn for a moment. Flynn looked at him with
off. The cliff-side guns never got off another and prepare to fire.” calculating eyes and weighed what he’d just
round.
Captain Flynn waited as the third and heard. He reached a moment of decision and
largest ship came into view. nodded. The cleric stood and returned to the
# wall, playing the part of a dutiful crewman to
“Steady... steady...fire!” the hilt. Flynn would remember that, and hold
“Mr. Pitt, please see to the Tanith. Gunners! onto it for later.
Load up again for a thorough bombardment of With a final thunder of cannon, Alacrity
the ships to the port. Pay special attention to shuddered and bucked and rocked. Onboard Flynn turned back to Clarissa. “Cleric

Vaneras informs me that you lost a crewman.” ments. After years of skirmishes and quiet
maneuvering between the two great nations,
“It’s true, yes, Milo Geth. It happened so Sylva formally declared war on Haddirron,
fast—he never felt a thing.” and special bounty warrants were sworn out
against the airships.
“Cleric Vaneras has volunteered to stop
over and say the words, pray with the crew, All Cooper Flynn could think about was
counsel the bereaved.” Clarissa, oblivious to the growing danger.
“Thank-you, Captain. His help would be
most welcome.”
“Cleric Vaneras is also a cook of some
renown in our galley—perhaps he would favor
us with a victory meal.”
“Already prepared, Captain,” said the cleric,
grinning for the first time. “I anticipated that
the crews would be in the mood for something End of Chapter 19
celebratory.”
The Adventures of the Sky Pirate continue next
Flynn was careful not to grate his teeth. month.
“Excellent,” he said cheerily. “Thank you,
Cleric.”
The holy man bowed without apparent
guile and departed, out of sight but not out of
Flynn’s mind.
Flynn and Clarissa celebrated together that
night, telling stories, remembering the fallen,
and drinking to the future. Then they released
the lines and set the course for Roarke’s Island
three days to the south where they would take
on full crews of sailors and a well-deserved
Johne Cook
liberty.
Johne is a technical writer, help author,
HMS Alacrity and HMS Tanith turned and creative writer, and editor.
made their way back south toward Roarke’s
Island, unaware that word of the raid had been
received back in the Sylvan capital of Grendare. He likes prog rock, space opera, film noir,
The Sylvan Council voiced their fury against racquetball, and the Green Bay Packers.
Haddirron’s newest technological achieve-

Memory Wipe, Takeda’s Resolve by Sean T. M. Stiennon Pg. 31
Memory Wipe
Chapter 17, Takeda’s Resolve
by Sean T. M. Stiennon
N ew Bristol’s ever present haze of smoke and

dust made the morning light a dull, lifeless
red as it filtered in through Takeda’s window.
out for his tail. He picked up his leather armor
from the floor and put it on. “I am expected,”
he said. “And I almost had to crack earlier
“I’m...not sure if I’m going at all.”
Esheera nodded wearily. It occurred to
He blinked slowly. Real sleep had evaded him, guard’s head for job.” Takeda to wonder how much sleep she had
but in the last hour before dawn he had fallen gotten—she had still been up at two o’clock,
into a half-dreaming doze. His sheets were Takeda smiled weakly. “You’d better get watching vids. “Dare I ask what you were
tangled into one great knot by his thrashing. moving, then.” planning to do instead?”
He sat up slowly. He wasn’t tired, but there Zartsi slung his rifle around his shoulders. Takeda knew his smile looked artificial. “I...
was a cold ache in all his muscles that made His bright blue eyes fixed Takeda with unset- haven’t exactly figured that out myself, yet. But
him want to run, climb, punch the walls, do tling intensity. “Yes. But I have suspicion you’ll it’s going to involve getting off Coalsmoke.”
anything to make his limbs work. For just a be gone when I get back.”
“Sure. You probably have enough money
moment, it was difficult for his mind to lock Takeda stood, putting on his jacket. The to buy a bunk on a starliner, especially if you
onto the thoughts which had kept him awake. pistol he had taken yesterday lay where he had agree to work. I have to warn you, though: not
Sherri was imprisoned on Tong’s capital left it, still splashed with the would-be robber’s many ships make Caulthor a port of call.”
Caulthor. Probably in one of the same black pits blood. He slipped it into one pocket and left
the room. Takeda let himself take a gulp of tea before
which had contained him before his escapes. he answered. It felt and tasted hot, with a
The vidscreen had shown her for just a second, He expected to find the apartment dark— electric aftertaste. “I know that.”
unconscious on the stone floor. Esheera rarely stirred before ten o’clock, these
days. Instead he found her in the kitchen, “Then what’s your back-up plan?”
Takeda extricated himself from the covers
and pulled a shirt over his head. Zartsi’s breath seated at the table with a plastic mug of red “Like you said, I can work. I’ll get a place on
hissed softly as he lay sleeping on a narrow cot tea sending wisps of steam around her nose. a merchant ship.”
in one corner—he had insisted Takeda use the She smiled softly at him. “Morning, Tak,” she
bed. His newly acquired rifle rested close to his said. “I made a pot.” Esheera nodded, jangling the beads wound
right hand, and he still wore his carved ivory in her thick hair. “True enough. Some people do
She filled another mug with the steaming,
daggers. Takeda put a foot down on the floor think Caulthori jewels are worth the run. They
dull crimson liquid and held it out to him. He
and his sapphire eyes snapped open. tend to be front outfits for gangsters, though.”
accepted—the plastic warmed his hands and
“Going to work, Tak?” the tea’s faintly spicy scent helped clear the “Then I’ll cut a deal with them. Just as long
wad of confusion that seemed to have taken as it gets me on the ground there.”
He yawned expansively. “Today’s shift the place of his brain. He sat down across from
doesn’t start for another hour. They don’t pay her. Esheera’s tone darkened almost imper-
me any more than they have to.” ceptibly. “And then what? Go knock on Tong’s
“What time do you work today?” she asked, door and ask him if he could please let your
Zartsi rolled to his feet. He wore a loose then slurped from her own mug. friend go without a fuss? Storm in with all guns
black vest and long gray trousers, with a slit cut activated?”

“I am...fairly good in a fight.” every word, choosing them carefully. His plan stopped making any rational sense. “I...won’t
took shape only as he spoke it. let you risk your life with me. Not this time.”
“Not that good,” Zartsi said from the
doorway. “Not powerful enough to storm mili- “Then I’ll learn everything I can about “You’ll make me track you?” Zartsi said, lips
tarized base. And you said Tong has others— Caulthor. Interview people who have been splitting into a grin.
other men like you. How many could you kill?” there. Find everything I can about the people,
planetary defenses, Count Tong himself. I’ll find Takeda’s laugh sounded forced even to
Takeda drank tea to steady himself. He was something. If there’s even the smallest chance him. “No, Zartsi. I...I’m grateful for everything
tired—tired down to his chromeel-laced bones. for me to find her and rescue her...then I will you’ve done for me. I’d be dead long ago if you
The tea would help wake him and give him the take it.” hadn’t found me on Belar. I’d...probably have
strength not to shout both of them down. Lashiir’s sword through my heart, or just be a
He lifted his gaze from his tea to Zartsi pile of skitter dung in the jungle somewhere.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Not many. Not all and then to Esheera. Zartsi’s gaze was hard, There’s really nothing I could ever do to repay
of them.” Esheera’s more sorrowful. “I don’t want to you. And...thank you. But I can’t accept your
abandon you two. But neither of you can help any more.”
Esheera refilled her mug to the brim. Now convince me to abandon her.”
Takeda saw the lines of blood etched around He turned to look at Esheera. Her head
her pupils—she hadn’t slept any better than Esheera reached over her shoulder and was cocked slightly, letting the braids fall freely
he had. “Then I don’t see what good you’ll do slammed her mug down on the counter. She down her back. Takeda curled his hands into
throwing yourself to them like bacon among wiped her mouth on the back of one arm and fists and dropped his gaze to the tabletop. “You
scorwolves.” bent forward. Both hands were planted on too, Esheera. You’ve done more than I could
the table. “If you’re in a mood for ultimatums, ever have expected. I...hell, we didn’t even pay
“You still...don’t understand. In Greendome I’ve got one for you. I like you, Tak. And since I you much in the first place. Thank you.
I was no one. Almost literally no one. Sherri like you I don’t want you to vanish into Tong’s
was a beautiful woman with men lining up to “But...I can’t let either of you help me.
jaws.”
say good morning—she didn’t need me. But Not anymore. I have to this, but I’m doing it
she was kind to me anyway.” She smiled sadly. “If I thought it would hold alone.”
you down I’d chain you to your bed.”
Takeda stared into the dark surface of his He breathed in and out, slowly, before
tea, reflecting the white kitchen lights. “I’d do “Are you really going to try to stop me?” continuing. “That’s my decision. I’m leaving as
the same for you. Or Zartsi.” soon as I can—this morning—and...it’s likely
Esheera shrugged. “Yes if I could. But I that you’ll never see me again. If you do it’ll be
Gentle, hissing laughter came from the can’t.” with Sherri.”
doorway. “I am glad to hear. Tea left?”
“You place me in difficult situation, Takeda,” He let his breath pass through his teeth in
Esheera silently poured a mug for Zartsi as Zartsi hissed through a mouthful of steaming one long exhalation, trying to calm himself.
he hooked over a stool and seated himself. “I tea. “I stay here, and I am shamed. I go with It took a massive effort to twist his head up
agree with Rover,” he said, before Takeda could you, and I die.” and look at her face. Her eyes were hidden by
speak. “Suicide is not your calling.” wrinkled lids as she propped her head up on
Takeda placed both palms flat against the
A full minute ticked past before Takeda one hand. She looked...sad. More so than he
table. The plastic felt cool and smooth, like a
could speak. Despite the tea, his brain was still had ever seen her.
point of material solidity in a world which had
cloudy from too little sleep. He had to fight for

Zartsi made a stark contrast. His fierce kill them both. He was no murderer. “Who did Walking Evils. Now Zartsi was volunteering to
blue eyes drilled into Takeda’s and his teeth you kill?” Takeda asked. follow him into Tong’s open jaws. Takeda didn’t
were bared—not in a smile this time, but in think he could ever match that courage.
a half-concealed snarl. He bent forward, his Zartsi seemed not to hear him. The Lithral-
tail writhing. “Takeda...” he hissed. “I cannot lian drew an ivory dagger faster than a blink But still knew that he could never accept
accept this.” and slammed it down onto the table. The blade the Lithrallian’s help. Not now, when it would
gleamed coldly in the kitchen’s stark fluores- mean near-certain death.
He spread his claws wide, almost supplicat- cent light. “I slit throat with this. One stroke,
ing. “Takeda, when being commits shameful clean kill. Enough blood to drown in. It spilled “Thank you, Zartsi,” he whispered softly.
act, sin against the Eternal Sun, sorrow of heart on floor but covered me. “But I can’t let you come with me.”
is not enough. The act creates hole that must
“There is exile, and there is atonement. On The Lithrallian’s face convulsed in anger.
be filled...wound that requires salve. Darkness
Belar was exile. I live in jungle, hunt, sell hides Takeda hurried on. “I won’t get past the orbital
that must be lit up. There must be suffering
and skitter organs, drink. I am no one. When defenses if I charge in. I have to try to...infil-
and good works where there was selfishness
I met you I was there for five years. When I trate, somehow. I think I remember enough
and sin.”
saved you from skitter, I knew exile was over, about the security to get into the base. From
He curled his claws suddenly, as if crushing and atonement begun. there...it’s possible I can pass myself off as
some insect on his palm. “I have sinned, one of his other warriors, not Two. I’ll disguise
Takeda. There is blood on hands, old but still “I saw man in need, fleeing from evil men, myself somehow. You can’t do that.”
red. I have...rulmaga.” and knew I could help. Defend. Protect.”
Zartsi’s expression slowly melted from
He spat the word out like a rotten seed. His eyes narrowed until his irises showed as anger to sorrow, still tinged with a tense frus-
“Murder. I have murdered.” chips of blue in slashes of white. “Save one life. tration. “My atonement is not complete,” he
Illuminate darkness of one murder. I thought hissed.
His tail twisted in slow arcs and his eyes this, and I think still. You see, Takeda? This is
dropped to the floor, then back up to Takeda’s why I fought with you, protected you. This is “I know,” Takeda said. “But...you’ll have to
eyes. Zartsi looked every bit the warrior, in his why I must protect you now.” finish it somewhere else.”
leather armor, with his ivory daggers strapped
Takeda swiveled his eyes to Esheera, as if He stood suddenly, bashing his knee
against his hips. Takeda had seen him kill. He
for confirmation. She smiled very slightly and against the table. He used the flash of pain to
had slashed open that cop’s throat on Belar,
nodded. “Yes, he did tell me this for the Rover’s cut through the confusion in his mind, giving
given his uniform to Takeda, and left his corpse
price.” him strength. “I’ll leave now. There’s not much
in an alleyway. to pack. I’ll leave you some money, but I’ll need
His blades and his rifle were like limbs It had often astounded Takeda how far most of it.”
grafted onto his muscular frame. Takeda had Zartsi had been willing to go for him. There had
been no bargain between them—no money Takeda smiled at both of them. “Thank
seen danger and barely hidden ferocity in
had changed hands, Zartsi owed him nothing. you,” he said. “Good luck.”
Zartsi’s eyes, had watched him hunt...and, for
a moment, he could see murder in those bright Takeda had been helpless, lost, and broke. Then he turned and stumbled out of the
eyes and wiry arms. But still Zartsi had accompanied him through kitchen. Behind him, Zartsi growled, but he
everything, through the flight to Freedan, heard Esheera whisper something to him. He
But Zartsi had never been a killer. He had Lashiir, their journey to Nihil and their hellish didn’t bother to enhance his hearing.
fought with Takeda against evil beings trying to trek through the desert, their fight against the

# On the surface, the installation was #

nothing more than a jewel mine. Caulthor’s
Ash and hot wind swirled on the surface of constant volcanic activity produced diamonds, A steady rain was falling on New Bristol’s
Caulthor, endlessly baked by the molten glob red sapphires, silcryses, and other gems of a south port. Moisture glistened like oil in the
of red fire that seemed to fill the sky. The day size and clarity that commanded a high price dull gray light of the lamps that ran up and
lasted seventy-one standard hours, the night throughout the human Empire. The peasants down the port in endless rows. Ships clustered
nearly as long. It was during the dark hours scrambled out to gather them each night and beneath those lights, sectioned off from each
that Lashiir emerged from Despair and walked huddled beneath their domes during the day. other by seven-foot high strome fencing with
the ash wastes surrounding Tong’s fortress. Lashiir had seen signs of other things, however, slice-wire strung along the top. Water ran in
aided by Despair’s powerful sensor capabili- streams from hulls painted in dull reds, golds,
The darkness was beautiful. A haze of heat ties. There were vast deposits of metal buried and greens. Some had no paint and had been
and ash blocked out stars and Caulthor’s two beneath the mountain’s rock. There were scars left dull gray or black.
stunted moons, and the ground was as black as on the desert from weapon testing. Beneath its
the sky itself. Occasional flashes of volcanic heat rough exterior, the mountain was a fortress. Takeda crouched behind a small powerbox
and upwellings of magma on the plain formed providing electricity to most of the landing
slashes of deep red that seemed to absorb light Lashiir walked in darkness and prayed to the field’s lights. Rain had soaked through his
rather than spread it. Lashiir kept his talons only god he had ever acknowledged. Darkness clothes long ago, but he ignored the uncomfort-
wrapped in thick boots that protected them waited, and she consumed. Light could drive able feeling of cold fabric clinging to his skin.
from the searing temperatures of the ground, her back only temporarily. She filled the space He craned his head out and spotted his target
and he had discarded his cloak. He wore only between stars, the endless gulfs between five hundred feet away, separated from him
a saarath—a length of black and deep violent galaxies, the wet insides of living beings where by two fences. The Gallant Snatch was a dull
cloth knotted around his genitals—and the no light penetrated. She lurked in every crack black freighter that had none of the elegance
shoulder belt from which Tsiika hung. His black and surrounded the entire universe, filling suggested by its name. It stretched nearly two
carapace lay exposed to Caulthor’s fury. space minuscule and infinite. hundred feet from nose to engines.
Hot cinders blown by the wind stung him Lashiir had always served a master, whether He could only see one guard. The man
and the hot air threatened to steal his breath. it be the Noble Lictor or a worm like Nathan patrolled with a languid pace and his rifle was
The darkness was thick and moist, reminding Clane. He did not wish to change his habit now. slung across both shoulders. It would take at
Lashiir of the gloom found in the deepest Count Tong was strong and ruthless. And his least three seconds for him to fire a shot. But
jungles on Shii Zaksho, the Black World. He men on Nihil had been seeking Takeda Croster. there were others, including the men around
walked and ran beneath the smoldering sky Lashiir’s prayer only strengthened his suspicion the port’s perimeter with leashed scorwolves.
and prayed to the Darkness around and behind that Tong had created Takeda, made him a
and above and beneath all life. warrior of bionic metal, and that his other men He would have to move carefully. He didn’t
were similar. want to kill anyone, and if he was caught, he
The night was far advanced. Dawn would wouldn’t get a second chance at this. The
come within ten hours. Lashiir had made good Caulthor’s blood-red sun rose, and Lashiir Gallant Snatch would depart in six hours, and
use of the previous sixty, flying Despair as close made his decision. He would present himself to preliminary maintenance and fueling would
as he could to the perimeter of the Count’s Tong and offer his services and his sword. If he begin in twenty-five minutes.
fortress. Strong defenses kept had him from was refused...then he would take Tong’s head
penetrating too far. and see how many men he could slaughter The guard wandered on, and Takeda slipped
before they sent him to Darkness. out of cover, crouched low against the wet

asphalt. He rolled up his sleeves and twitched enced man. That first ship had left before the Then the Snatch was looming above him,
the muscles in his forearms that extended a idea of stowing away had come to him. water glistening on its black hull. He threw
pair of curved blades, the color of bone. There himself into a roll, entering its shadow, and
was little pain. The next three days had been spent in clawed at the asphalt with his fingers, pulling
fruitless searching for other ships, combined himself forward. There were about two feet of
The blades sharp enough to slice through with long nights spent studying whatever infor- clearance under its belly. More than enough
the fence’s centimeter-thick strome wire. mation he could find about Caulthor. Until, room to hide. Takeda pressed his chest down
Takeda jerked his arms back and forth in a that is, he had finally located the Snatch three and lowered his head, hiding the whites of his
sawing motion, keeping his eyes on the guard hours ago, just as the rain had begun to fall. eyes.
and using his enhanced hearing to listen
for others. There was one man about two The guard passed along his patrol route, “What’s wrong?” he heard a man’s voice
hundred feet distant but moving directly away and Takeda sprinted up to the next fence. He shout. “Taking the doggies for a walk?”
from Takeda. He could smell scorwolves, but hoped the hiss of falling rain would be loud
not close enough to concern him. Strome enough to cover the sound of his arm blades “They scented something,” another man
grated beneath Takeda’s blades as they sawed sawing through strome. He could only thank said, just loud enough for Takeda to hear.
through. God that the fence wasn’t electrified.
“Oh, really?” the first man called back,
He cut a hole just barely wide enough for His blades had a keen edge and matched shouting to be heard over the animals.
his hips to slip through. A sharp piece of wire strome for hardness. It took only a few seconds “Probably just the hash Jack was smoking last
tore a rent in his pants but only scraped the of sawing to cut through each wire, perhaps shift.”
flesh. Takeda rolled across the asphalt and thirty seconds to open a hole wide enough for
him to squeeze through. He rolled through and “I don’t know...” the other one said. “We
into the shadow of a sixty-foot short-range
onto wet concrete, scraping one shoulder hard. keep these mutts for a reason. And I thought I
transport. The guard ahead turned around and
The guard’s footsteps were moving steadily saw someone.”
came back along his patrol. Takeda listened
to his footsteps, faintly muted by rainwater, away from him. He turned and pulled up the “Yeah, you saw me.”
and waited until he passed by. Rain soaked his sawed away section of fence so it might look
hands and buttocks. intact at a glance. Then he sprinted towards “No, someone else. Running that way.”
the Gallant Snatch.
Five days had passed since he walked out of “It’s raining, and those dogs make you
the apartment with nothing except his newly- A strong scent of scorwolves struck his skittish. I’d get jumpy too.”
acquired gun, the clothes on his back, and about nostrils. At least four. Their cries came a
a hundred Silvers. The first day had been spent moment later, shrill barks that sounded more “I could just let them run...see what’s
making initial inquiries among the captains like screams than anything else. Loud enough bothering them.”
currently in port. It had taken a few hours to to pain Takeda’s enhanced ears.
Takeda’s gut twisted in fear. He had seen
discover that most spacers considered traders No time to worry or retreat. Takeda heaved scorwolves before: Nearly two meters of lean
who made runs to Caulthor borderline insane. himself up and broke into a sprint for the muscle beneath a thin coating of black-and-
Very few of those insane captains shipped from Snatch. His shoes slapped against the wet blue fur, with claws like knives. He would be
New Bristol. Takeda had found one of them on asphalt—much too loud. The guard would turn able to beat them, but not without revealing
the second day, but quickly found that there any moment, see him, and aim a shot. The himself to the security men and blowing any
were no berths available for less than a fortune scorwolves were coming straight towards him, chance at getting off planet.
and no openings in the crew for an inexperi- their smells and sounds intensifying.

Then the dogs’ barking subsided to low- maintenance equipment and tools, and a scant He felt for a ladder he knew must be there,
pitched growls. Takeda wondered if the smells selection of luxury goods which would sell for just above his head. His hand touched only
of the ship—oil, rust, paint, grease, cleaning tremendous prices on Caulthor. another steel coolant pipe, ice-cold, and a
fluid—might be enough to conceal his scent. He shiver of fear raced through him. What if he
lifted his head and carefully looked back over Takeda ran his fingers along the seam entombed himself in these narrow spaces and
his shoulder. The pair of scorwolves were on between the doors. They were vacuum tight found himself trapped in space without enough
their haunches, obviously tense, but weren’t and held shut by three massive digital locks. air to survive, much less food or water?
straining at their leashes. No chance of getting in through that.
Then his fingers hooked around the first
“There, see? Give ‘em some food, and But there were other openings. The Snatch ladder rung, a foot to his right. He carefully
they’ll be happy.” was a standard freighter model, and although wormed his way up the shaft—so narrow that
Takeda had only had a half hour to study its a massive ventilation duct pressed against his
“Not until the end of the shift. Boss likes to specifications, he had memorized the locations back—and crawled up into pitch-darkness.
keep them hungry.” of three panels which provided outside access
to the ship’s life support system. If something He made his way through several more
“Heh. Don’t see why. Don’t really see why went wrong with the internal controls, the narrow crawlspaces, groping along lengths of
we even keep the damn things around. Except problem could be fixed directly. cold, rough metal. The darkness was oppres-
the drugs and stuff go out in these ships, and sive and he had to fight constantly against an
the city’s in the mob’s pocket, so mob property Life support was always carefully scruti- overwhelming sensation of being trapped in an
gets guarded.” nized before lift-off. Takeda worked quickly. He endless hell of black machinery. His memory
selected a panel large enough to admit him and proved faulty more than once, and he was left
The men spent another minute discuss- studied the lock. Vacuum tight, but not half as groping for minutes to find the next opening to
ing New Bristol’s corrupt politics. Then the formidable as the system securing the cargo squeeze his body through.
one guard dragged his scorwolves back to the bay. He carefully placed a finger against it and
perimeter and the other continued his languid sent out a carefully controlled jolt of energy. At last, lying on his back, he felt a panel
stroll through the fences. Sparks flashed as he burnt through the bolt. over his head, bolted shut. If his specs of the
ship had been accurate, this panel would open
Takeda let his breath out slowly and listened He used one of his forearm blades to pry into the cargo bay. He would have to trust to
to the guard swear quietly at the rain. Maybe the hatch open and hauled himself into it. his strength to shift whatever might be stacked
this had all been a mistake. Even if he got into There was a cavity just large enough to contain on top of it, but once the ship was underway,
the ship, the Snatch’s crew was certain to his curled body, closed in by coolant and venti- he thought he would be able to worm his way
discover him during the voyage, and then...he lation pipes. Claustrophobia washed over him out for food, water, and air.
would be faced with a choice between holding in a wave, but he fought it down. He would
them hostage and letting himself be spaced. have to spend a week in similar spaces. The air He couldn’t have been the first person to
Neither was acceptable. smelled like chemicals and ancient metal. try this. Odds were good that they would check
the crawlspaces for stowaways, and if they did,
He crawled out from under the ship. The Takeda let the hatch swing shut behind him they would find him.
loading doors to the cargo bay were marked and fused it shut with another burst of energy.
by lines of bright gold paint. When opened, He hoped his touch had been subtle enough He took solace in one fact which had
they would expose an opening twelve feet for them not to think someone had welded it been drilled into his by a dozen spacers in the
by ten feet. Not large, but they wouldn’t be closed. port bars: no one except the most hardened
carrying anything larger than clothing, basic merchants went to Caulthor, and only the truly

insane stowed away to get there. wash her hair and re-wrap them entirely, rear- don’t think any amount of stalking is going to
ranging her beads as she went. Soon. bring him back.”
#
“Good summary,” she said, smiling slightly. Zartsi snorted. “Then what?”
“Others just like Tak. Soldiers who look like
Five minutes after Takeda shut the door “Look at the bigger picture for a moment.
other men on the outside, but are self-con-
behind him, Esheera got up to make another Whatever Count Tong is planning, I’d be willing
tained war machines underneath the skin. He
pot of tea. She had a feeling that, if she didn’t to bet it involves conquest within the Empire.
could do...quite a bit of damage with those.”
drink it now, she might not want to in the Perhaps even a move against the Emperor
future. She flared her nostrils as she said, “Zartsi, himself. Tak...whatever he does, he won’t bring
if you were a ruler, and you had men like that, Tong down by himself. That I would be willing
“You’ll be late for work,” she told Zartsi, how would you use them?” to stake my life on.”
who remaining sitting at the table, staring out
the window. He cocked his head. “Are you joking? I am “Is this philosophy game for you?” Zartsi
ruler, in way.” growled, his eyes locked on the tea pot.
“I will not work,” he hissed.
She smiled. “I know. So you should know “No. Bear with me and think about this:
“Then I guess we’ll starve.” what I’m getting at, right?” who knows about it aside from Tak?”
He swung his head up to look at her. “You Zartsi blinked slowly. “I would use them to “You and I.”
think I will suffer this?” infiltrate inner circles of my enemies, gain con-
fidence, and become loyal retainers. Men could “Exactly.”
She leaned against the sink, gripping its
edge with her hands and staring down into the demonstrate great combat skill and become Esheera stirred the tea with a long spoon
clear water. Her wing-flaps itched—she hadn’t bodyguards and officers. Only when command while she continued, “Zartsi, if what Tak
been bathing often enough—and exhaustion came...men would become assassins.” remembered is true—and I have no reason to
clouded her head. Her hair needed a thorough think it isn’t—Tong threatens much more than
“Perfect assassins,” Esheera said, turning
scrubbing, too...and she suddenly realized that just him. He’s a threat to the Empire itself. And
to the cupboard for another tea packet. “And
she hadn’t changed her clothes in three days. we are the only two people who know about
I can think of other uses. Terrorism, sabotage,
Had she really let herself decay this badly? it.”
hijacking...useful possibilities for an aspiring
“I don’t know,” she said. “Can I just pose a rebel.” Zartsi bared fangs. “So? I don’t care for
question to you, Zartsi?” Empire. I am Lithrallian.”
She tore open the packet—the second
“What?” of the three she had bought—and dumped “Your chance at redemption just walked
its contents into the pot. “You see what I’m out that door. I’m suggesting another one to
“What do you think of Tong?” getting at?” you.”
The Lithrallian narrowed his eyes. “If what “Not...completely. You think I should run Zartsi’s eyes snapped up to her, widened in
Takeda said of him is true, he is tyrant. And he after Takeda?” Zartsi asked, throwing his anger. “You abuse my trust, Rover!”
possesses powerful weapons.” weight forward as if preparing to dash out the
door. “I don’t think I do. I know what you did, and
Esheera absentmindedly felt her braids. I know who you are. Because of who you are,
They were greasy and stringy. She’d need to “No. If we couldn’t stop him just now...I

I know that people placed very high up in the Sean T. M. Stiennon

Imperial government might be willing to listen Sean is an author of fantasy and science fic-
to you. They might even trust you when you tion novels and short stories, with many pub-
tell them the reclusive ruler of a junk province lications under his belt. His first short story
is planning to overthrow the Empire.” collection, Six with Flinteye, was recently
The Lithrallian stared at her, anger fading released from Silver Lake Publishing, and he
to astonishment. “Why not mention this to won 2nd place in both the 2004 SFReader.
Takeda?” com Short Story Contest and the Storn Cook
Razor-Edged Fiction Contest with his stories
“You saw him. I don’t think I could have “Asp” and “The Sultan’s Well,” respective-
convinced him if I took him to a reeducation ly. “The Sultan’s Well” has been published
camp for six weeks.” in the anthology Sages and Swords. Sean’s
short story “Flinteye’s Duel” was published
“Then...” Zartsi said, hissing under his in Ray Gun Revival, Issue 01, and “Flinteye’s
breath, “you will go to capitol and demand Sabotage” was published in Issue 35.
audience with governor?”
Sean’s work tends to contain lots of action and
“No,” Esheera said quietly, setting her adventure, but he often includes elements of
spoon down on the counter. “I will demand tragedy and loss alongside roaring bat-
a formal audience for Prince-Heir Zartsi Asik tles. A lot of his work centers around con-
Hsonra, Second Son of the Serpent King.” tinuing characters, the most prominent
of whom is Jalazar Flinteye (Six with Flin-
teye). He also writes tales of Shabak of
Talon Point (“Death Marks,” in issue #9 of
Amazing Journeys Magazine), Blademas-
ter (“Asp,” 2nd place winner in the 2004
SFReader.com Contest), and others who
have yet to see publication.
Sean loves to read fantasy and science fic-
tion alongside some history, mysteries, and
historical novels. His favorites in-
clude Declare by Tim Powers,
the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
trilogy by Tad Williams, Stephen Lawhead’s
Song of Albion trilogy, and King Solomon’s
Mines by H. Rider Haggard. He has reviewed
books for Deep Magic: The E-zine of High
Fantasy and Science Fiction, and currently
reviews books at SFReader.com.

Pg. 39
The RGR Time Capsule
January 1 - January 14, 2008
Sci-Fi news from the Ray Gun Revival forums
RGR Date: January 04, 2008 There are numerous technological develop- question is: Is it true? You get pictures that are
Attack of the Sci-Fi-Themed Blogs ments that might hasten a Singularity, and Vinge so pretty that [whether] they’re true or not slips
http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1681 thinks that “right now the one that is proceeding into the background.”
http://io9.com/ like gangbusters is large computer networks and
RGR Date: January
io9 06, 2008
http://www.boingboing. The Return of the Airship
net/2008/01/01/new-sf-blog. http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/
html viewtopic.php?t=1683
My friends Annalee Newitz, http://www.popularme-

Charlie Jane Anders and Kevin chanics.com/science/air_
Kelly have just launched a new space/4242974.html
Gawker science fiction blog Always on the verge of a
called IO9: it’s lewd, funny, seeming comeback, airships
smart and irreverent are back in the spotlight, tout-
SFUniverse.com ing new technologies. The
SF Universe Defense Advanced Research
Project Agency recently an-
SF Universe - SciFi news cover- nounced funding for an in-
age for television, movies, and novative, ballast-free airship
print. technology created by Aeros
Aeronautical Systems, based
outside Los Angeles. The
their associated users waking up as a superhu- Aeroscraft ML866’s potentially revolutionary
RGR Date: January 04, 2008 manly intelligent entity.” The 2007 San Diego
Vernor Vinge Interview Control of Static Heaviness system com-
http://raygunrevival.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1682
wildfires and Google’s coverage of the disaster presses and decompresses helium in the
via Google Maps provides an excellent example 210-ft.-long envelope, changing this pro-
Shaun Farrell, who has been featured here in of these networks. “An immense amount of posed sky yacht’s buoyancy during takeoff
RGR, has interviewed Vernor Vinge in Clarkes- information was immediately available there. and landings, Aeros says. It hopes to end the
world Magazine. Vinge is one of our most It really involved all sorts of infrastructure. It program with a test flight demonstrating
progressive thinkers, and it is a fascinating involved satellites. It involved robot aircrafts. It the system. Other companies are planning
interview: involved people on the ground taking pictures. their own first flights within the next few
And it involved humans actually interacting with years. Each has a design that it promises will
http://www.clarkesworldmagazine.com/ it all to generate more information. In fact, it
farrell_01_08.html launch a new era of lighter-than-air trans-
was so good that, as often is the case, the chief portation.

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Ray Gun Revival Magazine, Issue 38

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Issue 38 January 15, 2008

Cover Art: “marine” by Yun Ling

Without Whom... Bill Snodgrass, site host, Visit us online at http://raygunrevival.com

S o here we are, the first issue after Christmas,

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

again. the destruction. He reported that he, his wife,

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

into trrtxl’s corpse, two more threw grenades Neil Carstairs

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

N ew Bristol’s ever present haze of smoke and

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

# On the surface, the installation was #

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

I know that people placed very high up in the Sean T. M. Stiennon

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

My friends Annalee Newitz, http://www.popularme-

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

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Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

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Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

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Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 38, January 15, 2008