expeditions,” the Emperor said. “As I recall, you still have yet to here word from any of them.”
“They were sent without that expectation. But that is just another reason to send out expeditions. If they have settled their planets, then they will probably have developed technology divergent from our own and that is potentially very beneficial. If they have not settled, we need to know what happened to them anyway, so that we can avoid such fates in the future. Our destiny does not lie in this one small system.”
The Emperor leaned back, taking a deep breath. “A lovely speech, and a most intriguing prospect. Are you confident in the newest series of Archimedes drives though?”
“As much as any of us can be without actual tests outside of the system,” Michael grinned. “However, we have gotten the last few production lines so accurate that our courier ships don’t need to use Gates to navigate between the various outposts and colony clusters. We should be able to keep in better touch with anyone we send out.”
“I will consider this. As should we all. If this possibility is truly as good as Michael says it is then we all stand to benefit. Now let us move on to more… terrestrial things.”
*****
The spear rebounded off his great round shield, scoring an abundance of sparks off the surface. Arkadios was surprised at his opponent; the man was almost as resilient as a Spartan. Granted, Telamon had warned him that the Samurai were tough. Worthy opponents he had said. Unfortunately, Arkadios hadn’t thought he’d have a true challenge. Give it to a humble Samurai to reveal a Spartan’s one true weakness – pride. Interestingly the Spartans who had been humbled in their lifetimes were the ones that were most effective; accomplishing the most missions successfully and surviving most often.
Kiyoshi whipped his spear, his yari, across his chest, turning aside Arkadios’ own blade. Arkadios moved forward with his attack, bringing up his shield to push back the Samurai. He spun on his heel, whipping his spear’s butt spike around to shatter one of the lacquered wood panels making up Kiyoshi’s breastplate.
Pressing his advantage, Arkadios jabbed with the spear. Kiyoshi was not as off-balanced as he appeared, and caught the spear blade inside the right-angled tines of his yari. Kiyoshi wrenched both weapons as hard as he could, and was rewarded with the snap of hardened ash from the Spartan’s spear. Unfortunately, the force needed to destroy his opponent’s weapon, had also fractured the bamboo shaft of Kiyoshi’s own yari.
Arkadios immediately hopped back, drawing one of his short swords from it’s sheathe in his shield. Kiyoshi tossed the broken shaft of his yari at Arkadios, blocking with his shield. The Samurai used those precious few seconds to draw both katana and wakizashi.
The two warriors circled, each testing the other’s defense. What few attacks got past his heavy bronze shield, Arkadios’ sword easily handled. Comparably, the Samurai’s two swords defeated each of Arkadios’ attacks in turn. A low blow deflected by the Spartan’s round shield ended up cutting a line on his upper arm.
Arkadios pushed with all his might, the Samurai stumbled, fell. Kiyoshi rolled back to his feet, ready once again for the onslaught.
*****
“On a brighter note, in working with the Corporations, we’ve managed to reclaim almost fifty percent of the irradiated regions in North America.” Michael reported, glancing at the dossier in front of him.
“One wonders, if this technology might be made available to my people. We’re still struggling with the greater area of China, and it would be nice to be able to produce more food for those depending on me,” inquired the Emperor.
“Aye; and I do it gladly. Nothing would please me more than to see the Earth whole once more. We’ve already adapted some of the techniques to help the Zulus recover land from the Sahara and make it arable.”
“And we
“They were sent without that expectation. But that is just another reason to send out expeditions. If they have settled their planets, then they will probably have developed technology divergent from our own and that is potentially very beneficial. If they have not settled, we need to know what happened to them anyway, so that we can avoid such fates in the future. Our destiny does not lie in this one small system.”
The Emperor leaned back, taking a deep breath. “A lovely speech, and a most intriguing prospect. Are you confident in the newest series of Archimedes drives though?”
“As much as any of us can be without actual tests outside of the system,” Michael grinned. “However, we have gotten the last few production lines so accurate that our courier ships don’t need to use Gates to navigate between the various outposts and colony clusters. We should be able to keep in better touch with anyone we send out.”
“I will consider this. As should we all. If this possibility is truly as good as Michael says it is then we all stand to benefit. Now let us move on to more… terrestrial things.”
*****
The spear rebounded off his great round shield, scoring an abundance of sparks off the surface. Arkadios was surprised at his opponent; the man was almost as resilient as a Spartan. Granted, Telamon had warned him that the Samurai were tough. Worthy opponents he had said. Unfortunately, Arkadios hadn’t thought he’d have a true challenge. Give it to a humble Samurai to reveal a Spartan’s one true weakness – pride. Interestingly the Spartans who had been humbled in their lifetimes were the ones that were most effective; accomplishing the most missions successfully and surviving most often.
Kiyoshi whipped his spear, his yari, across his chest, turning aside Arkadios’ own blade. Arkadios moved forward with his attack, bringing up his shield to push back the Samurai. He spun on his heel, whipping his spear’s butt spike around to shatter one of the lacquered wood panels making up Kiyoshi’s breastplate.
Pressing his advantage, Arkadios jabbed with the spear. Kiyoshi was not as off-balanced as he appeared, and caught the spear blade inside the right-angled tines of his yari. Kiyoshi wrenched both weapons as hard as he could, and was rewarded with the snap of hardened ash from the Spartan’s spear. Unfortunately, the force needed to destroy his opponent’s weapon, had also fractured the bamboo shaft of Kiyoshi’s own yari.
Arkadios immediately hopped back, drawing one of his short swords from it’s sheathe in his shield. Kiyoshi tossed the broken shaft of his yari at Arkadios, blocking with his shield. The Samurai used those precious few seconds to draw both katana and wakizashi.
The two warriors circled, each testing the other’s defense. What few attacks got past his heavy bronze shield, Arkadios’ sword easily handled. Comparably, the Samurai’s two swords defeated each of Arkadios’ attacks in turn. A low blow deflected by the Spartan’s round shield ended up cutting a line on his upper arm.
Arkadios pushed with all his might, the Samurai stumbled, fell. Kiyoshi rolled back to his feet, ready once again for the onslaught.
*****
“On a brighter note, in working with the Corporations, we’ve managed to reclaim almost fifty percent of the irradiated regions in North America.” Michael reported, glancing at the dossier in front of him.
“One wonders, if this technology might be made available to my people. We’re still struggling with the greater area of China, and it would be nice to be able to produce more food for those depending on me,” inquired the Emperor.
“Aye; and I do it gladly. Nothing would please me more than to see the Earth whole once more. We’ve already adapted some of the techniques to help the Zulus recover land from the Sahara and make it arable.”
“And we
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