Problems and Solutions

2001 short story by Jonathan Hicks

Thirty-five years after Episode IV – A New Hope

Fleet Commander Cathum walked with long, powerful strides along the landing bay of the ever-growing Ki-Ki Sector Flagship Fedarn’s Shining Beauty. The vessel, once the size of a corvette and used mainly for diplomatic functions, had been added to and improved so much it was now more of a huge moving space station. Extra power cores, decks upon decks of extra space, whole blocks of service tubes linking extensions to additions to extras; the vessel was now almost a kilometre long, with the old one hundred and fifty metre long vessel hidden away within the mess of modifications. All it was now was a mess of hastily cannibalised vessels.

The landing bay was large and spacious, capable of easily housing two or three freighters with a wing of fighters, but at the same time was cluttered with personnel and equipment. Ki-Ki troops stood to attention either side of his route from the shuttle to the doors that lead to the interior of the ‘starship’, three men deep and a hundred men long. They stood stiff and orderly, clutching their blaster rifles to their chests in both hands with the barrel’s pointing into the air as he went past. He swept by them with his officers and personal Prime Warrior Guard, ignoring the show of strength.

As he approached the exit blast door of the landing bay it slid open, admitting another officer and three attendants. The new arrival, appearing nervous and in a hurry, virtually slid to a stop as the Fleet Commander bore down on him.

“Fleet Commander Cathum, sir, we weren’t …”

Cathum held up his hand to cut the younger man off.

“Thank you, captain, I am aware of my early arrival.”

“Greetings from the Prime Lord’s First Squadron, Commander,” said the captain smartly and saluted. Cathum returned the salute half-heartedly and then started to walk past the man.

“Where is the bridge on this thing?” he asked, looking about the pipe-strewn corridor he now entered.

The captain smiled.

“The Fedarn’s Shining Beauty has changed quite a lot since you last saw her, Commander?”

“A lot, yes,” Cathum’s mouth twisted with distaste as he adjusted his shoulder ropes on his black uniform. “She’s bigger. Uglier.”

“The tactical bridge is on Extension Eight, but the main bridge is still on the original ship, Commander. Fleet Commander Dagger does not like our modifications.”

“I can see why, this isn’t the Shining Beauty anymore, more like the Engineer’s Mistake. Take me to the main bridge.”

The captain frowned at his superior officer’s description of his vessel and motioned for the Fleet Commander to precede him down a long, bolt-on passage that led into the bowels of the ship. They passed technicians and other support personnel who snapped to attention and saluted as the officer’s walked past. Cathum neglected to return any of them.

“How long have you been holding here?” Cathum asked as he stepped over a pile of discarded conduit brackets.

“Three standard weeks. Fleet Commander Dagger was pushing us too hard to get the additions completed…”

“The front is eight whole systems from here,” Cathum commented. “Why is the command ship sat at the back end of the invasion force?”

“We were installing a new shield system, Commander. It required its own power core and subsystems. We couldn’t take her into a war zone whilst the vessel was technically vulnerable.”

“So the fleet has been pushing forward without the flagship?” Cathum shook his head. “That’s not how it’s done, captain.”

The captain began to say something but thought better of it. They passed through what appeared to be a starships exterior airlock and into a cleaner, more ordered corridor. Cathum realised that he had passed into the real flagship, the original vessel designed as a transport for the Prime Lord and his entourage. The walls were coloured in dark blue and burgundy but were still bright, the ribs of the wall and hull supports joining at the spine in the centre of the ceiling. The corridors were slightly curved as they followed the shape of the vessel and Cathum, feeling much more comfortable now that he was in a part of the ship he knew well, increased his stride.

Before long the two men had entered the bridge, the huge window that sat afore helm controls covered with the sight of the bulging additions to the ship. Only small squares of space were visible through the mess of extensions that crowded the view port.

The man who turned at Cathum’s entrance was tall and dark-haired, and a broad sincere smile spread across his face as the large Fleet Commander approached. His hand seemed to materialise out of the folds of robes he wore and he stepped forward with it outstretched as if eager to meet.

“Fleet Commander Cathum,” the man said.

“Mister Sheu Ho-Travi, a pleasure. Please, the ‘Fleet Commander’ title is whilst I am out here. Just Cathum.”

“Ah, but protocol demands,” said Sheu, his eyes sparkling and his smile widening.

Cathum nodded and smiled back; there was something about this man that made him feel quite comfortable. He tried not to mix politics with his own militaristic work, but here he was doing exactly that. He was pleased that the Galactic Alliance representative that stood before him was likable, which would make his job a little easier.

“So,” said Sheu, “the Ki-Ki Sector and her invading force need my help.”

“That is true,” Cathum nodded and motioned for Sheu to sit down in a now defunct comm operator’s chair. He took the seat opposite him and motioned to an attending officer to bring refreshments.

“Mister Ho-Travi…”

“Please, whilst we’re being informal, just Sheu.” Again that enigmatic smile.

“Sheu,” Cathum cleared his throat. “Our representative, Ambassador Klite, says that you are in a position to help us with… legal problems we have, considering your responsibilities as a Galactic Alliance Policy Advisor.”

Shue’s eyes seemed to brighten at the mention of the Ki-Ki ambassador’s name. Cathum had heard the rumours of the relationship between Sheu and Klite. The mere sparkle in the man’s eyes seemed to confirm it.

“She has been most persuasive in her attempts to have me side with you,” Sheu said in a low voice as an officer laid a tray of drinks on the inoperable command console between them. He waited until the man had left before continuing. “She has given me quite an incentive to support your cause within the halls of the senate.”

Cathum waved the comment away.

“I’m a military man, Sheu, politics are simply the voices behind the guns. The Prime Lord has sent me to be sure that your help is secured.”

Shue’s face dropped at the comment but he continued as if unperturbed.

“Swaying the Galactic Alliance won’t be easy. I can keep them tied up with policy and committee meetings but my word is only advisory; I can’t actually tell them not to intervene.”

“The relationship between the Setnin Sector and the Galactic Alliance has always been strained. If you can keep it that way and make sure that the Galactic Alliance stay away I think we can have this business done with in no more than three years.”

“Business?” Sheu smiled. “Is that what it is called now?”

Cathum’s face darkened.

“We can make it worth your while, Sheu. I’m sure Klite can tell you that.”

“Oh, I know,” was the response. “It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with situations such as this. There is one small problem which is causing concern, and as the details of the incident are sketchy…”

With a nod Cathum leaned forward and poured two measures of the blue liquid the officer had laid before them.

“The Ki-Ki attack on Leogard and the damage sustained by the Galactic Alliance vessel the Divine. I know all about how that has affected our standing. It was a simple mistake.”

“Which resulted in the loss of Galactic Alliance personnel and equipment. I can see that forcing the Galactic Alliance’s involvement.”

“As you said, the details are sketchy, but what if I could give you information that the Divine fired first?” Cathum said with a raised eyebrow as Sheu lifted the drink to his lips.

Sheu held the cup level and stared directly into Cathum’s eyes without taking a sip. He slowly lowered the cup back to the table and frowned, the first change in expression Cathum had seen since meeting the man.

“The Divine fired first?” he asked in a small voice.

Cathum shrugged.

“I can have Captain’s reports drafted detailing that fact, recordings doctored to show that the Divine was combat ready upon arrival and fired the first shot.”

“That would keep the senate arguing for…” Sheu shook his head and appeared lost for words.

“And if that information was also leaked to the Setnin Sector it will only compound the problem for them.” Cathum took his own drink and knocked back the liquid in one gulp. He sat back and appeared pleased with himself.

Sheu smiled.

“Are you sure that politics wasn’t your first calling?”

With a deep laugh Cathum shook his head.

“I will do whatever is necessary to end this conflict as fast as possible.” His face then became serious. “I don’t want a war on two fronts, Sheu. The battle will take long enough with just the Setnin Sector as adversaries so the last thing we want is the Galactic Alliance getting in our way. The Divine firing first, even if it’s just an allegation, will only show the Galactic Alliance in a bad light. This, in turn, will slow down their decisions as they will have to make sure that anything they do won’t be construed as an act of war.”

“All too true,” Sheu nodded. “The Galactic Alliance is a government of high moral standards.”

“Exactly. In view of that, we have had our scribes draft an agreement for you to take back to your superiors. If any Galactic Alliance vessels in the Setnin Sector are either required to or forced to travel the war zone, then they must transmit a transponder code the Ki-Ki Invasion Force is aware of and have clear, recognisable hull markings. Our forces will be instructed to give these vessels clear passage. We don’t want to annoy or attack the Galactic Alliance.” Cathum smiled sardonically. “We like you.”

There was a long pause as Sheu digested the information. His face changed from concern to agreement and then to what appeared to be contentment.

“Of course, the captain of the Divine will contest the allegation.”

“It doesn’t matter if he does. The mere fact the allegation was made will, as you say, keeping the senate arguing for…” Cathum mimicked Shue’s apparent loss for words when he had made the same comment. Sheu laughed and picked up his drink.

“A toast to our new partnership, Fleet Commander. Shall we break for lunch and then discuss this in more detail?”

Cathum agreed.

“All you have to do is whisper in the right ears, Sheu. A large profit for such a small amount of work.”

Problems and Solutions

2001 short story by Jonathan Hicks

Thirty-five years after Episode IV – A New Hope

Histories – Highlighting the murky areas between black and white that litter the peripheries of the New Underworld Age and the Ki-Ki/Setnin War, this tale shows corrupt Galactic Alliance politician Sheu Ho-Travi and Fleet Commander Cathum working situations to their own, personal advantages…and Setnin be damned. By Jonathan Hicks, this plays off the 2000 story Invasion of Leogard.

Cast of Characters

Cathum