Phantom Regency
Chapter 9

SKY’S END

General

Sky’s End is the planet furthest from the core worlds. It is situated in the outer arm of the galaxy at the far end of Ostia Dominion. (See map 16:2) It is an average size planet about G+0.35 with only 44% water surface coverage. It is a cold planet. The poles are covered with vast ice caps. Barren tundra extends for several hundred more miles. The terrain around the equator is widely varied.

Government

Sky’s End is an autonomous member of the Ostia Dominion. It sends 5 guild presidents to the Ostian Advisory Council. It is also home to 3 merchant princes who rule the trade routes in and out of the planet. The planet itself has no centralized government. Its 2 orbiting and 6 planetary skyports are ruled independently. They have strong security forces that enforce free trade and collect the port tariffs. Most of the planet is largely lawless, although there are small counties and city-states that maintain some semblance of order.

Pirates

Sky’s End is well known as home to many pirates (and smugglers). All attempts by the STARegency government to step in and remove them have been vehemently rebuffed. The people of Sky’s End value their freedom above all else and are utterly opposed to outside rule. The largest pirate nest is currently that of the Dread Knights. They generally operate in the other dominions but return to Sky’s End periodically to rest and play. Their leader Captain Gaius Dread was…

-Excerpted from “The handbook of Systems” Vol. 2

Eamor’s gunboat was racing just above the surface of the vast ocean of New Galmar. The exhaust of his nova drive was causing hundred-foot-high waves behind him. To his left and his right, he could see the wakes of the other seventeen boats.

They had blasted into the system mere minutes ago. It was a tense few moments as Eamor and the other gunboats were poised to launch. They had to wait in their landing bays for the pirate fleet to fight off the Overlord defense stations in orbit. Soon enough the order came to launch. Eamor’s mission was simple enough. Pilot his strike team at full speed down to an offshore diving station, drop them, circle until they had secured the spoils, and then land and retrieve.

“We’re picking up contacts heading your way in a sub-orbital dive,” the duty officer called from the Inexorable. “Looks like a full spread of raiders. They must have been stationed on the surface.”

This was trouble. Captain Dread had not expected any resistance once they headed down. The gunboats could outrun and outfight any conventional airplanes, but the Regency’s raiders were highly maneuverable skyfighter craft.

“Mongoose, Tiny, stick with me. The rest of you peel off and intercept, break into five three-ship elements. Take them out or buy us time,” Halen’s voice ordered.

Eamor continued to soar along with two other boats as the others swooped away. His boat and the other two carried the strike forces. He watched the sensor readout as the gunboats engaged the fighters. Several blips on both sides flickered out all too quickly. He had heard that the average pilot’s combat life span was under six minutes. He hoped his would be much longer.

The station appeared on the horizon. Eamor slowed his gunboat and hung back. He was to be the last to drop. He looked ahead as the other two gunboats buzzed the station at low speed as the strike teams dropped out. They were all wearing powered armor suits similar to Captain Dread’s. These were a prize of an earlier raid on the fleet of Cayman Daxler, a merchant prince of Sky’s End and Dread’s fiercest rival. The captain had taken great pleasure in robbing from him. Eamor followed close after and dropped Cynrus and his squad.

Before he could even pull up, Halen ordered, “Turn back and engage; six of them broke through.”

As they approached the raiders, a hail of small rockets flew their way. Eamor’s gunners shot them down with ion guns as he was launching return missiles. One of the raiders burst into flame as a missile found its mark.

In seconds, he caught a visual of the enemy and began firing his M-I cannon. His gunners opened up with auto cannon fire. It was loud and chaotic as they closed on each other and then flashed by. Eamor’s gunners had already swung their turrets around to hit them going away. Tiny peeled off to swing around.

“NOO!” Halen yelled.

Tiny’s gunboat turned and rose, but the raiders were much more agile. They snapped around quickly and had a clear shot at the gunboat’s flank. It exploded into flames as it was riddled with bullets and ion bolts.

Eamor and Halen poured on the speed, luring the raiders away from the station. Their hopes were raised as six remaining boats mopped up the rest of the raiders and sped to their aid.

Eamor dodged and weaved as his gunners tried to hold off the pursuers. He fired his remaining missiles, hoping to arc them around behind him. It was a futile effort and soon they were right on his tail. Blue sparks of energy exploded out of his instruments. He had been hit with an ion bolt. He lost control of his engines and was left vainly using his wing controls to stay up. His boat shuddered as he was hit again. He began to roll out of control. Eamor saw the sea rising to meet him as the boat plummeted. He felt the impact of the crash and blacked out.

Eamor awoke to a vague awareness that he was in phantom shift. The familiar peaceful feeling pervaded his heart although his body ached. He thought about moving but a stabbing pain in his head sent him reeling back to unconsciousness.

Next thing he knew he was aware of Old Red’s voice droning on about the time he fixed a missile with spare parts from a holo viewer. Eamor must have opened his eyes slightly.

“Mongoose! Mongoose, is that you. Can you hear me?” As Eamor faded from consciousness again he heard, “Oh Sky Man, make the kid better, please. May it ever be so.”

Later, Eamor found himself struggling up the face of Yoshun’s Peak. A young man about his age was climbing as well. He saw many different phantom ships watching his progress. Some were hoping he would reach the summit first. Others wanted his rival to win what now was a race. Eamor was aware that one of the watching ships was a sleek, dragonesque alien ship like he had dreamed about in recent weeks.

The other boy reached the summit of the mountain at the same time as Eamor. He was shorter and more refined. His eyes were hollow and fearful. On the ground at the summit was a small metal sphere that glowed brightly. Eamor knew that everyone expected them to fight over it. Instead he felt a kinship with his rival. The dream ended as they were in deep and earnest conversation.

The next thing he was aware of was voices, indistinct at first but growing clearer.

“But, captain, shouldn’t our first target be more of a statement. Yoshun or one of the core worlds?”

“Jopp, we have to go to Baldar’s first.” It was Captain Dread’s voice. “I want to weaponize it as much as possible. We don’t know yet what defenses it will have. After that, I think circumstances will have to guide us. We are probably less than a year away from a declaration of independence from one or more of the Dominions. We must position ourselves to fill the power vacuum.”

“Is the timetable sound? A lot is riding on our ability to raise it in less than two weeks,” Jopp replied.

“My source tells me the procedure should only take six days. My only concern is that we will get the unique help I was promised to activate it. Now go to the bridge and relieve Keen. I want to stay with the boy.”

“Yes, captain.”

Eamor heard every word but could make no sense of it in his present state. He opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed in the sickbay of the Inexorable. He moaned weakly.

“Eamor, can you hear me?” Captain Dread asked.

“Yes, cap’n,” he mumbled. He felt a hand on his opposite shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cynrus seated on the other side of his bed.

“Cynrus has been here every time he’s off duty. You took quite a hit there, son,” Dread replied, “I think you’ll pull through. I’m hoping you’ll be up and about in a few days.”

“Huh?”

“We’re going home. We’ll be at the base on Sky’s End in four days. It will be our final break before the master operation begins. So, get your rest.”

Eamor wondered what the “master operation” was. Why were they talking about targets? How did he wind up a revolutionary pirate? Why did his head hurt so much? He was so tired. He faded out again.

Later that day, Halen stopped in to see him.

“Hi Mongoose! You don’t look too bad.”

Eamor smiled, “Coulda’ been worse. Thanks Ace for coming back for me.”

Halen looked uncomfortable. “Well, you’re too good a pilot for me to let you go. Two more kills for you on that raid. You’ve been racking them up.”

“Yeah.” Eamor grew silent. He felt a pang of guilt.

Halen waved. “Well, I’ll see you when you’re up and around. Really hate hanging out in sickbay.”

Eamor watched him walk away. He seemed so free and easygoing. Eamor always struggled with deep feelings of fear and doubt. He turned his thoughts to Sky Man for the first time in many weeks.

Who are you? Where are you? Is this my “destiny”? I need to know!

In a couple days, Eamor was up and around. He had suffered a blow to the head in the crash and had broken three ribs. He was covered with bumps and bruises. The raid had been a success. They lost eleven of the eighteen boats but were able to get the diving equipment that Dread was after.

When they reached Sky’s End, the Inexorable docked with Sky Vista City, a vast skyport orbiting the planet. All hands were ordered to three days’ shore leave in the city. Eamor had never experienced anything like it. There were so many different things to eat and diverse forms of entertainment. Most of it made him sick. He enjoyed the simple things in life. Gambling, women and cheap thrills did not appeal to him. He did win several credits in a holo-simulator game. His piloting instincts allowed him to beat several levels of ship-to-ship combat simulation.

On the second day there, he accompanied Old Red to the Thaxian Temple. Apparently almost every large settlement had a handful of people who followed Sky Man in the old way. Eamor was quite disappointed. An old robed adept led the people in several chanted sayings of the Regents and blessings of Sky Man. They professed a devotion to Sky Man and talked of the return of the liberator of all people, Yoshun Thaxius.

For Eamor though, it did not fulfill any of his heart’s longings to really talk to Sky Man, to ask him about his dreams, to ask if his mother was okay. He could not see him as just an object of religious devotion. But even Red seemed indifferent.

“Kid,” he said. “It’s been centuries since Sky Man came to anyone. We remember him. We thank him. But hope is long gone in this ol’ galaxy. Maybe Cap’s crazy scheme will give us somethin’ to look forward to again.”

“But is he real?” Eamor asked… almost pleaded.

“Depends on what you mean by that. I remember back when I was a boy in the Regency Rangers, they used to go on and on about…”

Eamor tuned out Old Red’s story. He had seen Sky Man. He had to know who he really was!

On the third day, Captain Dread took him to the docking station. They took a skyboat to the surface. Dread was anxious to get to his base and Eamor was glad to put Sky Vista City behind him. They flew down to Pinion Flats, a small frontier town at the edge of the northern tundra. It was much more to Eamor’s liking. They had lunch at a small café and Dread talked about the history of Sky’s End. Despite its distance out, it was not a recent settlement. Back in the early days of galactic exploration, a probe ship inexplicably passed dozens of systems and made it here near the edge of the galaxy. A small settlement was built, was soon abandoned, and then resettled by some of the early pirates. Over the centuries, it had boomed, filled with those seeking freedom from persecution (or prosecution) and all the misfits of the galaxy.

“Speaking of misfits,” Dread continued pointing down the street. Eamor looked and saw a man slowly walking down the street toward them. He was poorly dressed and was talking to passers by.

As he got closer Eamor could hear him. The man was exhorting anyone who would listen that “Things would not continue as they always have! Even Sky’s End is not immune to the imminent collapse of galactic society! Sky Man knows the future! Yoshun predicted the doom at hand! He will return and save us again! Do not sit idly by! Watch and seek for Sky Man! He has wisdom and power for you!” and the like.

Captain Dread muttered, “The Sky Man. Fool! You can’t change the galaxy believing in a myth. We are going to bring real hope.” Eamor had never seen such anger in his face. He turned to Eamor. “Let’s get out of here.”

As Eamor got up from the table he saw the man stoop down over a beggar lying on the side of the street. As Eamor turned to leave he saw him take his coat off and lay it on the shivering form.

Dread had been in communication with his people at the Dread Nest. He and Eamor walked to the edge of town and met a transport there. It was a large crawler with an enclosed cab and a cargo deck. They climbed up the ladder into the cab.

“Hey, captain,” a voice said as Dread went in the door.

Eamor was taken aback; the driver was Lang!

They nodded coldly to each other.

Captain Dread explained, “Lang boated down the first day to rendezvous with our people here and get the Nest ready for all the guests. All of our ship commanders and senior officers are here for the strategic meetings.”

Lang drove them out across the tundra for a couple of hours. When they caught sight of the Nest, Eamor was impressed and disappointed at the same time. It had been built into an abandoned factory of sorts. It was an ugly, hollow concrete building of enormous size. It was easily a half-mile long and a hundred feet high. Dread’s emblem was painted above the only door. It was a massive roll-up door big enough for the largest transport.

The interior shell of concrete had been painted sky blue. The vast floor was dotted with various buildings and structures. It was like its own enclosed city. Near the door were various transports and even an airplane.

Eamor had known that Captain Dread had a big operation, but this was impressive. It occurred to him how much it took to power and supply the Nest and all the ships. He saw numerous captives wearing nerve collars laboring around the transports. He had become increasingly aware of how much suffering Dread’s raids had caused. It was all explained as necessary sacrifice for the great cause. But here in the midst of it all, Eamor’s conscience was pricked. He wondered if he could continue to stomach what he was doing.

Later that day, he ran into Old Red again, who had been brought in to fix a generator. The old engineer had grease stains all over him. His long beard was tucked into the front of his dirty overalls. Eamor joined him in the large generator shed. They worked and talked together for much of the afternoon.

“Here is the part you wanted,” said a voice from outside the door of the generator shed.

Eamor looked up and could not believe his eyes. It was his Uncle Rylen! He was thinner and scruffy but it was him.

Rylen tried to subtly shush him, but Eamor bounded up.

“Uncle Rylen! Uncle Rylen!” He hugged him and wept.

Old Red was astonished. “Is he…?”

Rylen met his eye and nodded. The old engineer got up and closed the door behind them. “We’ve got to keep this quiet.”

“Eamor, I can’t believe it’s you. You’re one of them?” Rylen said holding him at arms length.

“Yes, uncle. My dreams led me. Mother…” Eamor sobbed.

“I know. I know. They let me bury her before they took me here.”

“She told me I was important, that I had a destiny. She was going to tell me who I really am. Uncle Rylen, I need to know…”

“We can’t talk now.” Rylen cut him off. “I have to get back to work. They will miss me.”

“But it’s okay. We can trust Old Red here.” Eamor began.

Old Red was staring at them with widening eyes. “His last name is Thaxius isn’t it?” he asked.

“I don’t know my real…” Eamor began.

Rylen interrupted. “How did you know?” he asked Red, his eyes narrowing.

“Eamor has the true gift. I saw it.” Old Red replied.

“Gift? What is he saying, uncle? Is my name really Thaxius?” Eamor pleaded.

“Your name is Eamor Thaxius. You are descended from the first Regent, Yoshun Thaxius, our Liberator.” His uncle told him.

“You have to escape. If Dread replaces out, he will never let you go,” Old Red said earnestly. He began removing Rylen’s nerve collar.

Eamor’s head was spinning. “But I… What can I do? I…”

“Eamor, listen to me,” Rylen said, “You are called and destined to restore the Thaxian line to the Regency. Sky Man has promised it. Red is right, you must escape. Can you replace a way to get to a skyport, get off system?”

“I… I think so. But what about you? I can’t leave you here.”

“No one is going anywhere.” Lang appeared in the doorway, sword drawn.

The three of them backed away as Lang stepped in the room, accompanied by two pirates with ion guns.

“We can’t let our prize escape. Your ‘gift’ may come in handy,” Lang sneered, “Isn’t that right Ace?”

Halen followed him into the shed. “Sorry, Mongoose. Dread’s plan is the greater good. Can’t let you stand in the way.”

Halen! How could he? He was his friend! Eamor was sick inside. He had never experienced betrayal in his life.

“Get out of here, slave!” Lang ordered to Rylen. “We have business here.”

“So do I,” Rylen said. He extended both his hands palms out. Greenish lightning leapt from his hands and engulfed the ion guns. They exploded violently, killing the two pirates. Lang was thrown face first to the ground. Halen was thrown backward into the wall and slumped to the floor.

“How did you…?” Eamor began. “Look out!” he yelled, drawing his sword.

Lang had gotten up swiftly and attacked. Eamor parried his first blow. He knew now he was a better swordsman than Lang but he was still weak and sore from his crash. Eamor circled away as Lang pressed his advantage. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Uncle Rylen scuffling with Halen.

Eamor was tiring fast. He attempted several strong thrusts in a desperate bid to end it before he gave out. Lang was up to the challenge. He had also grown in strength and skill since their first meeting. Lang landed a slash to Eamor’s shoulder, opening a shallow cut. Eamor spun away in desperation but found himself in the corner of the shed.

Lang moved in to trap him. “It’s over mongoose. Drop the sword before I really have to hurt you.”

Suddenly, Lang’s head snapped forward and he slumped to the ground. Old Red was standing behind him, a large pipe in his hand. “Now, that was fun,” he said.

Rylen walked over. He was a giant of a man and had easily subdued Halen and tied him up.

“Now, let’s get you out of here,” he said.

They heard shouts and footfalls from outside the door.

“You two go out the back. There’s a cooling vent behind the generator. I’ll hold them off if I can. Take the airplane, it was prepped for Cap to fly to Vorgan,” Old Red said, “Go now. And may Sky Man go with you.”

“I will speak to Sky Man of you.” Rylen replied.

They scrambled back behind the generator and found the vent. As they ducked out, Eamor could hear struggling and shouting. He hoped Old Red would not pay too high a price for helping them. They ran down to the doorway. As they got near the plane, an alarm sounded.

“We won’t make it. I need a couple minutes to get it warmed up,” Eamor shouted. They could already see pirates converging on the area.

“Eamor. I need you to help. Take my hand. Raise your other hand to the transports. Feel the energy in their nova reactors. The Phantom Realm, phantom energy is available to us. It can overload the energy in our universe. See it in your mind. Grab the nova energy in the transports’ reactors and squeeze it and thrust it away. Now!” Rylen shouted.

As his uncle was speaking, Eamor could feel the energies interacting. It felt like his hand was manipulating the reactors. There was a sudden conflagration as the transports exploded and rained radioactive fire into the city. The pirates all fled back, unable to get close.

Eamor ran and warmed up the plane. He had flown it on the simulator during his pilot training. He hoped really flying it wouldn’t be too different. They took off and flew low to the ground over the vast wasteland.

“We need to get to a large settlement. Head southwest,” said Rylen.