Death to the Imperium (Imperium Cicernus) by James McGovern Page A

This thing is my own project. I’ve repaired it
with parts from other ships.”
    Alyce
stared at the ship. It was certainly a horrendous sight. No one in their right
mind would want to buy such a vessel—unless they needed it for a special
reason. Alyce smiled. It was just right for their needs.
    “We’ll
take it,” she said.
    “Twenty
thousand credits, plus your Beetle craft?”
    Alyce
nodded. “Agreed.”
    She
handed Janzley the credit bar, as well as the access key for the Beetle. Then she
shook hands with Janzley, squirming slightly at the moistness of its paws. The
Stolnite thought she must be stupid for spending so much money on such a
worthless craft. Janzley had only kept it in a state of repair because he had
won it in a game of Heartless. When you get something for free—either by
stealing it or winning it in a card game—you are guaranteed a profit, even if
only a small one.
    He
pointed upwards. “There’s a hole in the cave roof. You’ll be able to pilot the
ship through it—if you’re careful.”
    “What
kind of drive does it use?” Alyce said.
    “A
phase drive,” Janzley said, pointing a finger proudly.
    “Great,”
Alyce turned to Alyce and Tekka. “We can also use the wormhole network; I have
full authorisation. Come on. Let’s get moving.”
    They
navigated their way through piles of obsolete and broken machinery, climbing
over engines and androids on their way to the ship. The thing looked even worse
up close. The signs of repair were even more obvious, and the whole thing
looked like something a cosmic hobo would ride around in. In short, it was
exactly what they needed.
    Alyce
led them inside the ship through the creaking entrance hatch. It was quite
small inside, but there were two levels. On the bottom level were two tiny
rooms each containing two bunks, as well as the engine room. A narrow ladder
led up to the top level, which contained the miniscule flight deck and a small
kitchen. It was so tight in there that Glitz had to duck his head when passing
through into the flight deck. They all stood amidst the ship’s controls.
    “Well,
this is cosy,” Alyce said.
    “Can
you explain what all this is about?” Glitz said. “I mean, presuming you haven’t
just lost it, I’m guessing there must be a reason for this. So why a scrap
ship?”
    “The
scout ship that entered the vicinity of Chaos was destroyed very quickly,” the Captain
replied. “This suggests that the hostile forces may have some kind of threat
detection technology. Perhaps they can detect the presence of weaponry, or
maybe they respond to the serial numbers of Imperium ships. In either case,
this ship wouldn’t register as a threat.”
    “Very
neat,” Tekka said. “But suppose that they simply destroy every ship that
approaches them, regardless of its intention?”
    Alyce
nodded slowly. “I’ve considered that. And it’s a possibility. But we have to
take that chance.” She paused. “Before we go to Chaos, we’ll stop off at a
nearby planet to change our clothes. It contravenes Navy regulations, but it
might give us greater chances of survival. If we’re captured we can pretend to
be some wandering bohemians roaming the galaxy.”
    Glitz
glanced at Tekka, unable to resist a smirk. He couldn’t imagine a less likely
bohemian than Tekka.
    “Is
something funny?” Alyce said sternly.
    “Listen,
lady,” Glitz said, his temper rising, “don’t think you can talk to me like one
of your sycophantic underlings. I was a cadet in the army before you were even
born.”
    “And
thrown out before I was born, too,” Alyce retorted.
    Glitz
scowled. “What’s to stop us blasting you off into space, commandeering this
ship, and flying away to some far off galaxy?”
    Alyce
pulled out a blaster from her holster. “You aren’t holding a ZK-88.”
    Glitz
pretended to glower at her, but he felt his anger turning into quite a
different passion at the sight of Alyce holding the gun, aiming it at him with
such an