"Respected member of the Institute of Order and Investigation, we notify you that your services in the Capitolium are no longer needed. The Emperor, in his everlasting grace, granted you the title of Governor of the Top Excursion Zone Z1E1 as the payment for your services during your time in the Capitolium. In addition, you are granted over the naval elements currently residing in the Zone and the Top Region's 46th Punitive Regiment. We hope that your retirement will pass in peace and prosperity. Sincerely, your friend. Kervetal di Zulorv from the Ministry of the Institutes."
Swain hated Kervetal for what he had done to him. He still was looking forward to a successful carrier in the Institute after defeating all his rivals before the evaluation and schemed to place himself in the Higher Echelons of the Capitolium. Yet that pompous, privileged Kervetal cried to his uncle before Swain's promotion. And now he was cruising through the void in his retirement gift towards the Top District of the Empire.
If he was exiled in the Eastern Zone or Northern Zone, he would have returned to the Capitolium after a few decades, but those privileged nobles sent him to the most underdeveloped district in the Empire. Even though the other districts each were governed by one Regent, the Top District was governed by the Cultivation Union, a vassal of the Empire. Even the Higher Echelons and the Imperial Patheon was afraid to intervene in the messy political situation of the Top District, and Swain would rather not enter the District, but the Emperor had given him this title.
"Governor de Peck, we arrived at the Central Travel Hub of the Top District of the Empire of Our Glorius Emperor." said his ship to him. "We began checking for clearance and we are expected to get our pass in two imperial hours. After that, another hour of travel, we will enter the Top Excursion Zone Z1E1. The holo-cinema is filled with the newest dramas and the documentary of the War against the Celestials to watch while we arrive at our destination."
Swain groned a little then shook his head.
"I don't need entertainment. I will head to my private cabin for light sleep and wake me up when we leave the Travel Hub. During the last stage of my journey, I will like to have a small dinner with some wine. Not from the expensive kind, just a slip of fruit wine. And request data from the Central Hub's computer pertaining to the changes in the Excursion Zone."
"As you command, Governor de Peck. Please have some rest." messaged the computer and turned the lights to dim.
Swain laid down in his bed and thought: 'How wonderful would it be that all this relocation and retirement nonsense was a nightmare. I would wake up and dress up in my uniform. I would read reports behind my titanium white desk and probably found another reason to send another one of those privileged bastards before the Institute of Judgement and Punishment. So beautiful times.'
He sighed a light one then punched himself in his throat. Questioning the word of the Emperor even as a joke. Punishment: Light physical trauma. 'Another case cracked', scoffed inside Swain. He closed his eyes and slept his first not necessary sleep in a century...
Swain opened his eyes a moment before them sirens of the ship started beeping. The light changed into a yellow phosphorescent background light, as the ship charged up its shield and cut all non-essential devices off its power grid.
"What is happening? Are we still at the Travel Hub?" shouted Swain as he sat up.
"Governor de Peck, three ships started to manoeuvre in a way that they are now on our intercepting path. They will reach us in three standard minutes." answered the computer. "And we are still in the Travel Hub, but more than four hours elapsed. All defence vessels nearby to us are leaving and the Control Tower cut of my transmission."
Swain started to put on his old uniform and picked up his walking cane. The cane was given him by the Minister of Left Hand after Swain removed one of his political enemies through a series of high profile investigations. It mimicked an old animal from far ago, called mastiff, which had the best nose among its species. Also, it was one of his limited self-defence weapons, so Swain never left his safe rooms without it.
"What kind of vessels are those? If they are weaker than B grade military cruisers, we would definitely leave them behind," asked Swain as he walked toward the main hall of his travel cruiser. "What are the odds that the noble families send their dogs after me?"
"Quite high. I calculated that these are vessels related to the di Zurlov family, and probably to their ducal branch. According to my estimation, after they reach maximum speed, they could overtake us easily. So the best chance for survival is to take a stand and wait until the Commodore commanding this Station have to step in. But even this way, we have less than ten percent surviving against these ships. I estimate them to be at least Zakimov class cruisers."
"Oh. Kervetal definitely hates me after what I did to his corrupt mine but sending three of his uncle's Zakimovs? He is not that decisive." grinned Swain as he sat down into his cushioned chair. "Calculate now, knowing the fact that those ships are definitely not Zakimovs."
"Calculating." answered the ship.
Swain looked on the arm of his chair and then he stroked it with his right hand. This chair was the biggest victory against those privileged thicks. This chair belonged to the founder of the di Zurlov family, after rendering meritious service to the Emperor, during the War against the Oracles. Yet now he owned it. He confiscated it during a crackdown on an illegal shipyard of the di Zurlovs and returned with it to the Capitolium to show his victory over the di Zurlovs.
Yet maybe this chair will be his downfall on this day. However, if he could choose, he would self-destruct with his ship, this chair and his other spoils than let them return to the nobles' hands.
"Prepare painkillers and activate self-destruct protocol AZ5, code name M.A.D. Deactivate the weapon systems and strengthen shields. Get me a direct channel towards the Head Judge of the Institute of Judgement and Punishment and get ready my most expensive wine." ordered the ship Swain with his resolve steeled.
"The bottle from the past?" asked the computer for confirmation.
"Yes, that bottle," said Swain as he injected painkillers into his right thigh.
The constant excruciating pain was a blessing in disguise, but at times where he had to concentrate to the absolute maximum, it was a little too much.
"I would rather die by a firestorm and be remembered for millennia, then lay my life down in silence. I would rather have the whole noble faction as my funeral pyre than this measly ship." roared Swain into the air.
"Governor de Peck, before I could finish my recalculation, I could identify the three vessels."
"Oh, they are soo confident that they aren't even using cloaking systems. Are they really Zakimovs or other C class cruisers?"
"They aren't Zakimovs, neither are they C class cruisers." answered the computer. "Furthermore, they aren't the usual ship of our Empire."
"Are they some hidden ships of that old fossil? Maybe he thought I can't reach the Head Judge from here." asked back Swain, while taping on the handle of his cane with his finger.
"I don't think so, Governor de Peck. According to my database, the class of those ships are junk ships from the past."
"You say what now!?"