Couldn't sleep later that night, something troubling me. I woke up and went outside the tent but to my surprise, I saw a trail of fire in the sky... a spacecraft re-entry, a meteorite, I could not identify it quite clearly until I saw a trail of intense bright blue light hit the ship in the middle, then an explosion. A particle beam being fired from space.
#
The craft was a small 30 person Space Yacht, burning on its side, the internal controls struggling to keep the ship from going into spin. Then I saw someone or something parachute into the water, then the ship went into a complete spin and plunged into the icy night waters of the Gray Ocean.
My eyes couldn't believe what I saw. I have always lived in the comfort and relative peace of the central Imperial systems. The Numeian system was part of what was called the "Frontier systems" the farthest outpost of humanity, outside the wormhole networks of the cluster. Impossible to travel by starship. The great empty.
The whole frontier region is embroiled in a rebellion against the brutal and corrupt Chahar family that rules over much of the Frontiers, crime such as smuggling and slavery was blooming due to the corruption of the ruling family and the weakness, perhaps the unwillingness of our empire to rein in their abusive vassals.
#
I spent the next hour, trying to look for survivors of the crashed Spaceship, I flashed my light in the pitch black horizon hoping some lucky fellow would find their way into the shore, emergency medical supplies at the ready.
I was ready to give up and pack when I saw a liferaft floating, I used my monocular to zoom in and there was a body onboard, boots sticking up in the air.
After observing for a while, there was inactivity. The person might have passed out, or even dead. Regardless I must come there and make sure so I waded in the ice cold sea water and eventually swam into the direction of the flaming wreckage.
#
The survivor was a girl, probably in her mid-twenties, she wore an emergency spacesuit without any patch or identifications in it. Her face had sharp, sculpted features, skin was light copper and her hair was jet black shoulder length. Quite beautiful.
She suffered multiple concussions and broken bones with minor burns in her back and arms. I gave her a stabilizer inhalation and applied healing gel on her wounds and burns, her vital signs quickly stabilized but she was far too injured to go anywhere. I spent the next hour to figure out my next move.
I can't just leave her and to try to take her back to Mayfair could be dangerous considering that she just survived an attack. Whether the ship is the whole target or just one of the unfortunate passengers is beyond me, but there was no time to figure it out.
As a lord, I have an obligation to protect every citizen, even those that live outside my lands as they are my fellow imperial citizens. Suddenly I had an idea, Mayfair is unsafe but Bittersea may be. I will have to drag her there and find some safe refuge, hoping the people would help us. Well, I have money, I'm sure we could come up with something.
I deflated the tent, packed up and put her on a blanket and started dragging her across the sandt. The seas where the ship crash landed still burned brightly. I took one last glance and moved away into the pitch black night.
#
After what felt like an entire eternity pulling her, I finally managed to reach one of the wooden houses. I knocked three times and an annoyed character peeked out.
Visibly upset by the disturbance late at night. I told him that we needed someplace safe to stay, and he told us to fuck off.
A lord like me told to fuck off by a commoner. Unbelievable, an offense.
But it was an emergency and I was never really a tyrant so let it pass. He tried to shut his door but I blocked it and showed him a pouch of coins. Gold. Imperial. It brightened his face and he told me to wait outside and that he will just get his things.
Poor people here or anywhere for that matter are naturally shrewd and hardy survivalist with hiding spots from the oppressive Chahar armies that descend here every once and just to flex their authority with utmost brutality. I figured it was a wise move to seek help with them rather than the clueless pampered Mayfair citizens.
#
He still looked hesitant to help even with all the pouch of gold I have. He then asked if we were with the Chahars, I told him that we were hiding from them and his face brightened.
The man said he knows a shed, further deep inland, in the great sand dunes, houses buried underneath the seas of sand, hideouts during the Chahar raids. A Perfect hiding spot. I agreed and we then took a long walk there.
I knew that he could be trusted because everyone outside of Mayfair pretty much hates the Chahars. They will assist anyone with the gold and ire of the dynasty.