SG Nova Roma, Chapter 3.08

8 – Into Unfriendly Waters

(Spera – Science Lab – Day 174 / 31 January 2018, 1203)

It had been a day since they had crossed into the Praedones Empire. So far, things had been quiet. Which was fine with Alec Colson, who was using the quiet to do some research. ~Why should Aranov get to have all the fun ?~ He was studying some of the artifacts that they had picked up along the way, trying to figure out how they had been made. He was not alone in the lab. Xander Henderson, Jennifer Hailey and Alison Porter were also working in the lab.

“So,” Porter began. “why do you think they have not attacked us yet ?”

“I don’t know,” Colson said. “But when they do, we will be in major trouble. So I am glad they have not.”

So Colson figured that the reason did not matter. They were in unfriendly waters now and the longer the sharks stayed away, the better. He put away the object he had been studying and grabbed a new one. It appeared to be some kind of computer component. He put it underneath a microscope and looked down it.

“It looks like an organic computer circuit,” He paused. “I wonder how much like Wraith technology it is.”

“I could run a comparison for you.” Claus said as he walked into the lab. “That is one of the things we build the new computer terminal for.”

“Go for it.”

He handed the drive to Claus, who then took it to a new scanning device. It had been build during the upgrading after the command ship attack on Earth. The scanner was connected to a database they had build out of Tau’ri, Nakai, Ursini and New Asuran information. As Claus ran the scan, Colson thought about how used they had gotten to this being a mixed crew. ~Being led by a man from the past.~ Their visit to

Earth had reminded them of that. They had also picked some interesting bits and pieces from 12 BC.

“So, Jennifer, did you meet the Colonel’s mother ?” Xander Henderson asked.

“Yes,” Hailey said. “Once the attack was over, she managed to settle in. I did a lot of explaining,” She nodded. “She is clearly where the Colonel got his curious streak from.”

“And his dad was clearly the warrior,” Henderson said.

“Yes, he always was,” Vale said as he walked in. “Even after he retired. He thought me how to fight, how to draw and everything he knew about leadership,” The look on his face made it clear that the Colonel missed his parents. “Any other painful subjects you want discuss ?”

“Well….” Henderson bit his lower lip. “…it hasn’t escaped my notice that the Praedones Empire and the Roman Empire have a lot in common. Including…,” He paused as people turned to look at him. “…you know, slavery….euhm….sir.”

“You’re right, Corporal, they do,” Vale said. “And life back in 12 BC was good. But times change and I had to change with them. As for slavery..,” He leaned against the bulkhead. “….my mother told to me imagine what it would be like to a slave. She always told me that we had been blessed by the Gods. If they had chosen to make it so, we would have been the ones in slavery. That was how Marcus Valerius felt about slavery, as for the current day me..,” He paused, looking for the right words.

“The Roman Empire is gone, the days of slavery have passed. I’m not a Centurion anymore, I’m a Lieutenant-Colonel in the United States Air Force. For better or worse, this ship is my home now. And if the Praedones think they can build an Empire based on slavery, they are living in the past,” He paused. “Okay, enough talking. Back to work, people.”

“Yes, sir.” Henderson said.

Vale walked out of the room, while the others went back to work. Which for Claus meant finishing the analysis of the alien computer drive. As he did so, he thought of a saying that Doctor Bennett had once used. ~Those whom fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.~ And that raised the question if the Praedones had learned from history. Alas, only time would tell.

(Colony World D8 – Market – Day 174, 1203)

After the meal, they had caught up on some much need sleep. They had left through the Doorway after that. The barber had given them the address of Slave Dump, which was located in the Far Galaxy. He had also given them the Imperial Doorway Map, showing every Doorway in the Empire (and even a few outside). Using that Map, they had travelled to D8. It was a tiny colony near the very edge of the Empire. And that was when they had heard the rumors. An alien vessel had entered Imperial space and Imperial Navy was sending three Certain Death-class warships to destroy it.

~Could it be the same ship that grandfather send back in time ?~ But if it was, how did they get back here ? In this time and space. Then she realized it did not matter. The barber had been right. They needed to leave the Xivolo Empire and right now, that ship was the only ‘outside’ there was. ~And if I don’t get to that ship, those warships will destroy it.~ She knew the Inner Senate wanted her alive. ~No, they NEED me alive.~ So if she was aboard, that ship would be safe. But Hazor had addressed the monster in the room.

~We know nothing about whoever is on that ship.~ Getting aboard that ship – presuming that they figured out how to get there – would be a leap of faith. But if it was the same ship that her grandfather had arranged to be send back in time… ~Grandfather sacrificed everything for these people.~ And if there was anybody who was a good judge of character, it was her grandfather. ~Yalock was a good man. Who always did the right thing.~ But if it was another alien vessel… ~Only one way to find out.~

For now, however, they had to get some food. Before her world had been turned upside down by that insane battle in the courtyard, she had been learning to become an artist. It meant that her skills were useless. But the three Guards had fighting skills and there was a local arena. The pay for winning a fight was not that impressive, but they could not afford to turn down any source of income. They were on their way to the arena when they noticed a group of people standing near the Doorway. ~No, they are standing around the Operator Device.~

She calmly made her way towards the Doorway, with the three guards following. The people were talking amongst themselves. There were three other Doorways in range of the D8 unit. And two of those were locked out, because they were beyond the border of the Empire. Or at least, that was how it had been when they had arrived yesterday. But now there were four addresses listed. ~That’s impossible. Doorways don’t just appear out of nowhere. Unless….~ She exchanged a look with Hazor, who nodded.

Taking a deep breath, she selected the new address and pressed the button that instructed the Doorway to dial. Some of the people around her gasped. And one man seemed to recognize her. So Hazor and the other two guards drew their weapons. Fortunately, there were no soldiers or police officers nearby. The Doorway finished dialing and the passage formed. It still surprised her how much the passage locked like water. ~But these might be unfriendly waters.~ Still, she dove in.