[Starhawk]

A Crisis on Valhalla:
William Ross Admiral Lord of the Icaran Empire woke up to the chiming of the com panel, he wiped the sleep from his eyes, before gently running his left hand down the naked side of his beautiful wife, a soft contented moan from her made getting out of bed even more anguishing to the Admiral, they had only been in their little cabin for a week, they had been hoping for a month of leave after their return from inspecting the newest superdreadnought to join the royal navy, their first visit to this cabin lasted only two days and that was months ago after twenty six long years in space, but as they say the navy never rests. William left the bedroom and grumpily walked over to the com panel in the small main room of the cabin so as not to disturb Lin. After a second he donned a robe and pressed the receive button, immediately Ross braced too attention and saluted “Grand Admiral!” he blurted, more then a little surprised to be seeing the Haggard face of Grand Admiral Halice, the old man was scheduled to step down in a few weeks, at the ripe old age of 168 he deserved a break, but until then he had sworn that he would do his job with as much diligence as he had when he was but 46 years old.
“Hello William.” The Admiral replied softly the set of his face serious, with an expression of concern that confused Ross, ever since the warp points to outside space had been sealed, the Admiralty had relaxed considerably, and began the process of mobilizing the smaller fleets into one massive fleet of warships that could strike at enemy systems in the blink of an eye.
“What’s wrong Admiral?” Ross asked hesitantly, a lump in his throat prevented him from speaking further as the concerned frown on Hallice’s face grew deeper.
“Maybe nothing, maybe something, we don’t know Ross, that’s the problem, Valhalla has suddenly gone quiet and the other nobles in that system are a little worried, they’ve called for a navy or SS explorative mission, I have decided we’ll send in the professionals so I’ve contacted Captain Fowler aboard Blackbird, she’ll stop by Icara to pick you up then make the jump to Valhalla to see what’s going on there.” Hallice paused and allowed the message to sink in as Ross stood stunned by his orders, he and Lin had just gotten off from duty now he’d have to leave on a stupid explorative mission of an Icaran colony that was probably just experiencing com malfunctions.
“Admiral with all due respect I am sure I’m not necessary on a mere explorative op, Miss Fowler is an excellent officer and capable of making decisions on her own, she doesn’t need me standing over her shoulder.” Ross took a pleading tone but Hallice simply shook his head.
“Sorry Ross, but Miss Fowler is not a noble, nor are most captains in the navy, you however are and you are also a Knight in service to the Praetor Saints, even a noble would have to listen to what you have to say….unless of course you prefer I send Lin instead of you since she is also now a noble and knight? Hallice shrugged, he knew Ross would never let Lin go into a potentially dangerous situation if he could take her place.
“That’s a cheap trick sir.” Ross said sourly “When do you want me ready to leave?” he resigned himself to the fact that it was either he or Lin that would be leaving, for Valhalla.
“Tomorrow afternoon, sorry Ross I know that you and Lin haven’t had much of a vacation lately but you’re the best man for this job and I need you. Hallice out.” the screen went black, after a moment of staring into the blank screen Ross turned toward the bedroom and quietly walked in, the moon shone dimly through the window into the dark room, revealing the slim fit body of his beloved wife Lin, he stood in the doorway for a moment admiring her slim beauty, her soft curves, even the sound of her breathing, a few seconds later William heard her breathing change and realized she had just awoke.
“Wil, Whats wrong?” she whispered into the darkness.
“I’ve just received orders to depart for Valhalla tomorrow afternoon, they’ve been having a communications blackout for a few days now and the other nobles are getting all nervous, they want me to go in with the i]Blackbird[/i] and investigate.” He walked over to Lin, gently kissing her on the neck. She was a naval officer herself and knew that this could happen, a fact William was grateful for, as most women would probably demand explanations or reasons before leaving the night off in an angry silence.
She grinned “Well at least we can take advantage of some of the time we have left.” he returned her grin and slid off the robe he had donned to talk with Hallice.

When Lin woke in the morning the smell of eggs met her nostrils, and she heard humming coming from the small kitchen, she smiled to herself as she slipped on some clothes and left the bedroom.
William was already fully dressed in his duty uniform as he set up the table for breakfast, he looked up at her and smiled sheepishly.
“You weren’t supposed to wake up for a little while you know?” he said cheerfully as he smiled again.
“Oh I’m sorry would you like me to go back?” She said laughing, smiling wickedly at him as she took her place at the other side of the table from her husband. For an hour the two of them ate in silence neither of them enjoyed the fact that William would be leaving for at least a few weeks to complete an inspection of Valhalla but finally William cleared his throat.
“Lin, if you don’t mind me asking what are you going to be doing while I’m away?” his voice was still sheepish as he looked into her eyes, they always comforted him, the strength, dignity and confidence they exuded had helped him through the hardest moments of his life but today they looked anxious.
“Well, I was hoping to tell you later but since your leaving this afternoon, I’ve been given a new commission Wil.” she smiled and William sat back shocked for a moment by her silence.
“Come on the suspense is killer.” he said jokingly, her shrug made him all the more curious.
“It’s no big deal” she started casually “I received word a few days ago, I’ve been given command of one of the Five Swords.” she smiled broadly and William almost fell out of his chair as he stood up to hug her. The Five Swords-often called the Five Swords of Heaven- were the most powerful warships in the galaxy and the true representation of the fighting and engineering prowess of the Icaran people.
“Which one is it?” he said, overjoyed she smiled brilliantly back.
“The Sword of Wrath.” she said, giggling like she had once when she was fifteen.
The two talked for hours before William finally left for the shuttle port that would take him to the Naval base on the southern coast of the primary continent of Icara. As he flew over the scenery below Admiral Lord Ross admired the beauty of Icara’s lush green forests and brilliant blue skies. Icara was a warm world compared to the average human world, but Ross liked it’s warmth it’s long sunrises and sunsets, the beauty of the blue-winged eagles flying overhead in the long summer season and the smell of Chacka Oranges blossoming in the pseudo spring that Icara had. It was hard for Ross to even believe that when his ancestors first landed on Icara they had to struggle just to find food, and that the pleasant warmth that he knew today was once a steaming sauna before weather grids were placed around habitable regions, and that the very heat had killed many of the weaker colonists when they first landed on Icara all those long centuries ago.

So much had changed for Icarans, they were once philosophers, poets and healers when they were almost slaughtered by the Spartans that all changed, they became hardened conquerors, they had swept across the face of Earth like a great shadow, unstoppable, unchecked until they ran against the Asian Empire, for centuries they coexisted peacefully, the Icaran military protected the Empire and the Asian Empire, though an enemy was rarely ever met on the battlefield, until the treacherous independent nations formed their own alliance, the Sol Coalition and nuked dozens of Icaran and Asian cities, colonies and outposts. Billions died in that war and left the remnants of Icara and Asia shattered and homeless, their desperation led them to Icara and Brandenburg, for two hundred years they had rebuilt and finally when they decided to reach for the stars again they again met with disaster as they encountered the Phong and the Neo-Star Empires, the war was brutal and millions died, which again ruined the possibility of peace within the Empire and the crusades began, crusades which claimed billions in a wave of fire and purification, for the first time in two decades the Icaran Empire was in a state of peace, but even in this time of peace, even now there was a crisis and Ross felt an uneasiness about his “inspection tour” of Valhalla and a touch of nerves about the future of the Empire, of a people that had seen so much death, blood and sorrow in their existence.
Ross finally reached the spaceport outside of Sagatarian city, the view was amazing, dozens of sky scrapers rose hundreds of stories into the sky, shuttles and public transports darted around like bees around a hive in an amazing buzz of activity and life. But the crowned Jewel of Sagatarian city was it’s massive spaceport, which was so large that it could land 3 dreadnought sized ships side by side and still have room for a squadron of fighters and a civvie transport or two, not that any dreadnoughts could make atmospheric entry.
Many people even claimed that Sagatarian was built for the spaceport and not the other way around, a theory Ross was willing to accept after he heard that of the 1.6 million souls in Sagatarian one million worked in some function at the Spaceport.
The transport landed silently in the eastern number two landing field, Ross walked down the ramp to find a full squad of marines waiting for him, they were all wearing full combat armor and many of them looked around nervously, something Ross found most disconcerting considering they were all on the capitol world of the entire Empire. As the confused Admiral stepped forward a Marine Lieutenant braced to attention in front of him, when Ross returned the salute the marine cocked his head.
“Lord Star Admiral William Jefferson Ross?” the Lieutenant asked, probably feeling rather stupid about asking such an obvious question, though protocol still demanded it.
“Yes Lieutenant that‘s me.” Ross said a little amused.
“Sir we are here to take you aboard Blackbird by order of Captain Sandra Fowler, please follow me.” The marine turned around stiffly and signaled the squad to move toward a landed cutter, which bore the crest of the Blackbird for some reason Ross always found that ship’s crest disturbing, it was a blackbird of old earth, wings extended to their fullest span, and a body extended as if about to land, with a sunset in the background, it always seemed like a symbol of bad luck to him, especially after Lin told him that many cultures considered a blackbird a foretelling of imminent death.
“Tell me Lieutenant why a fully armed and armored squad of marines to pick me up on our own homeworld?” Ross said politely as he followed the marine.
“Orders sir.” The marine said bluntly, Ross’ face reddened slightly at what could easily be considered a slight to his honor.
“Excuse me Marine?” Ross’ voice had a bite to it this time but the marine didn’t even flinch.
“Sir, I mean you no disrespect, but I don’t know why we were sent down in full armor or loaded out for combat but I am following my orders to the word sir, oh and sir this is not m homeworld I’m from Valhalla.” the Lieutenant said in the same unflinching tone that he would have if he were under fire from the enemy.
Ross however froze in place and instinctively reached toward his holster.
“Marine do me a favor, take of your helmet.” Ross said warily, and noticed with some bit of nerves that the other marines in the group were all looking directly at him, he wished he could see their faces, but the breather attachment and visor to infantry helmets prevented that.
“Yes sir.” The marine replied as any Icaran soldier would, instantly and without question, the helmet came off with a hiss and Ross instantly relaxed, realizing he knew the young officer, of course the man was only a private when he first met him years ago aboard the Yu Hing Pe straight out of boot camp.
“Mahony Isn’t it?” Ross said with a bit of a smile as he let his hand slip away from his holster.
The marine bowed politely and smiled “I’m honored you remember me sir.” he placed his helmet back on his head and gestured for Ross to follow him. Ross had only met the man once during the closing days of the Phong Crusade but the marine made a good impression on him.

On the ride Ross looked over at Lieutenant Robert Patrick Mahony “Hey Lieutenant, what do you think is going on, on Valhalla?” Ross knew that it was probably a sensitive question but he figured would be best to ask of a Valhallan native.
“I don’t know sir, Valhalla is as loyal and devout to the Empire as the next world, maybe even more so I don’t understand why my people would go silent like that.” the young man replied and his eyes flashed pain at the thought. The rest of the ride went in an uncomfortable silence, Ross sympathize with the young man, Ross was a native to Icara as were seventy eight percent of the human population that was his age the rest were Brandenburg citizens and Rebels, but there were a lot of people born on colonies, and to them their world was just as important as Icara it’s self. And to them the loss of their world was just as much of a nightmare as it would be to an Icaran native or Brandenburg native.

End of Part One

:As I said Looooong chapter, part two and three are going to be just as long, if not longer: