[Jmenschenfresser]

Chaper 3--Part 2
2403.1

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CARNAP JENGUS
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Carnap, leader of the Rellan, sat upon his royal cushions. It was the first free moment, the first moment some logger-head lord wasn't yammering on about freedom and fair share. Those morons preached against the evils of consolidation and yet complained that they wouldn't get a fair share. It made no sense. Entitled brats propped up by society, money and name. Carnap was in no way a Republican. Like peasants can decide anything greater than the ripeness of the horse-ankle root. Carnap longed for the time his grandfather had told him about, when nobility was noble and the dynamic lords of the Rellan stood, hands raised, between the chaos of the other tribes.

The sky rumbled and he pulled a family cloak over his shoulders. Depression and exhaustion passed through his body. The sky light over his head only enhanced the gray, pregnant light filtering in. Only a few million of the other tribes remained in Spica. The Boohr occupied a nearby rock planet that had no atmosphere. BLasting out caves, they lived miles under the cold rock surface. Carnap was counting the days till they moved their leaders.

The tribes were already beginning to benefit from the new alliance with the Invexus Corporation. Carnap wondered just how long the Sa'ah would remain under this treaty. Century old mauraders don't change over night. Old warriors will tap their bare sides and with every tap you can see how it had once been a tic, a habit of making sure the short sword or firearm was still strapped to their bulging thigh. Old warriors are worse than dead warriors. The Omon had had the best luck of the draw. So far the Vellon have found only two small breathable planets. The Omon have found two large and one small one in adjacent systems. Within a decade they will be far ahead in research and have enough resource production to begin fielding a fleet of their own.

Carnap called in a short maid and asked for a cup of water. The winter was coming on.

He took up several pieces of paper. Several he was supposed to sign. Carnap looked across the room to where a grand, spralling tapestry detailing the history of his tribe and his family.

'A room full of cushions, whores and greedy lords chain me,' he thought. Light filled the room and Carnap pulled the cloak over his head. Even under the thick leather and cloth, his arms and lap were visible. A voice filled the room like fog, like deep music.

'Cease your wallowing, Carnap, Koei speaks. Your family has not finished their allotted time at the loom eternal. Stand up. Raise your people. Gather a fleet. I will go out before you. Rejoice, for this day, Koei has given a promise of blessing.'

The voice left as it came.

Carnap pulled the cloak from his head and ran from the room.