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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Auggy74 on 2026-04-17 15:00:27+00:00.
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Antarean Self-Defense Fleet Ship Orphan's Rage
Misabel's days were a blur of drudgework for the most part, but the evenings were something of balancing act - the Helots were feeding her information and dropping things off for her to pickup and cache in Escape Pod Twenty-One for the eventual escape. The problem was the information was being buried in the one hour of evening entertainment she was allotted. Tonight's was something new from Hurdop, purported to be a comedy called Blue Giant. She settled on her bed and pressed play. A fairly calm voice came on as an image of a woman resolved onto the screen.
"Emergency. Emergency. This is a distress call from the Hurtian Mining Corporation Ship Blue Giant, ship computer Grehzk reporting. At our current speed we are three million years from the Hurdop Sector. An R-Space drive accident has left us stranded. The only survivors - Keyol, a maintenance technician who was in suspended animation at the time of the accident along with Gruzk, a holographic recreation of her bunkmate, and finally a lifeform evolved from the ship's pet." There was a fadeout before Grehzk faded in again. "Addendum: spirits among the crew are low because the crew is low on spirits - before leaving Gruzk accidentally exposed libation storage to the drive coolant causing all the rum to freeze into a solid block. At our current temperature, we'll have something nice to drink in eighty years. More or less." There was another fade out and fade in. "Addendum to the addendum: you're probably wondering how we got in this mess to begin with..."
The scene shifted, showing Gruzk and Keyol moving down an access corridor for repairs to show precisely how meaningless their jobs were, and then Keyol being placed in suspended animation for the duration of the trip after an incident that sounded a great deal like she'd peed in the air intake leading to the Officers Mess. After being released from suspended animation, Keyol was rather dumbstruck by the fact that she was the only one left on the ship. What was worse was Grezhk deciding that the one most likely to keep Keyol sane was the bunkmate made of holographic light and regulations.
Once Misabel had watched and actually marginally enjoyed the show despite the horrific stereotyping of Vilantians, she checked her files for the new update. The Helots did not disappoint, as Bob's form resolved above her tablet. Misabel glanced around to ensure that the guards were occupied before focusing on the message.
"Expedite process. Commodore Itrop has captured Terran-flagged vessels and reported them as having self-destructed to avoid capture. Itrop intends to repurpose them as Vilantian-style Warfreighters. Terran standard response matrix to action will be to send a carrier class cruiser to the system for exercises and reconnaissance. Timeframe will be within two weeks. Additional intelligence suggests Freelord Gryzzk's company will be in-system prior to the arrival of Terran ships. There is an eighty percent chance that there will be an engagement. Precise survival odds cannot be calculated due to uncertainty of force availability, however previous engagements suggest the mercenary company will emerge victorious. Engagement utilization required for successful employment termination. Items and diagrams for assembly are included. Communication end."
Misabel slumped against the wall. Certainly she could do what was being asked. At the same time, it was going to be highly taxing. She was theoretically supposed to be slowing down and beginning light duties in a few weeks, but that particular regulation was in all likelihood going to be forgotten. The weight of everything was beginning to press hard on her shoulders; she was taking a tremendous risk - not just her life, but the life of her child. Even beyond that, it was possible there would be further consequences - her line would almost certainly be marked as troublesome, and the ripples would be felt among her clan. The counterweight to that was that if she was already in a troublesome spot insofar as her honor was concerned by deserting the navy. The fact that the desertion was not of her own will was immaterial.
So she was left with trusting a Vilantian Freelord, two Helots, and their associated Terrans to save her honor. Somewhere the gods were laughing at their creativity. There was only one sane option left before bed.
She re-watched the first episode of Blue Giant.
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Vilantia Prime, House of Parliament
Gryzzk settled in the dressing room, waiting calmly as possible - which, if he was being honest with himself wasn't very calm at all. He looked at the box containing his robe and finally lifted it out. There was a soft thump as something fell out of the box. Gryzzk didn't have to look down to realize that someone had managed to get a Learning Stick in with his robes. Though how that had been accomplished was a question Gryzzk was definitely going to have to ask later. For the moment, he donned the robes he was given and confirmed he looked presentable.
Outside the room, Gryzzk could hear as Minister Larine brought the joint session to order with the ceremonial sounding of the gong - not an easy task in and of itself, as the membership was seemingly extra raucous today. There was a low murmur that rose immediately after as the singular agenda item was announced by the Prime Minister.
"This day we discuss Proposal TK-421; 'Excise Tax of Special Extraplanetary Services'. Both houses have heard arguments, in this session we hear the words of Freelord Gryzzk of Clan O'Gryzzk, here by invitation of the Thirty-fourth Most Royal Throne of Vilantia."
That was his cue; Gryzzk came out unhurriedly to the sunken stage and the low podium that had water and a lectern for his table. There was a railing separating the speaking area from the audience above - theoretically to keep the speaker safe if they spoke out of turn. With him he carried the Legion Javelin in his right hand and the Lafione Dagger in his left. This was apparently cause for commotion which Gryzzk ignored as he set both weapons in place, the Javelin in a polearm socket and the dagger buried point-first at the left edge of the podium. He let the Javelin drop a few inches as he placed it, allowing the campaign ribbons affixed to it a chance to flutter and make the uninformed curious about their origin. Finally he set his tablet in front of him with his prepared remarks as well as a few salient figures. He looked outward - fortunately the lighting was indirect, allowing him to look up and take in the entirety of Parliament in session. The members of the Common House had been placed in the rear, with the Noble House exercising their privilege to be seated up front. Further to that the noble clans most aggrieved by his actions were front and center. Their baleful scent could be easily detected by Gryzzk's nose, reminding him yet again that this was going to be a day of reckoning, after a fashion. At the topmost section was the viewing gallery that had been all but filled with the battalion and other mercenary Legions from New Casablanca. Above them all, a holoprojector displayed Gryzzk and the immediate area. Gryzzk looked around with a calm of sorts settling over him as he spoke.
"Members of Parliament; as I was examining the most recent revision of this proposed law I was often reminded of a singular question. 'To whom the good?' Who benefits from this law? A casual reading states only the general terms of Greatclans that qualify, indicating to the reader that the funds collected will be distributed to clans and Greatclans named under the Recapture Act. Herein lies my first issue. Another law must be referenced to make proper determination. Further to this the individuals who are subject to this tax are similarly occluded; only those sworn to a Freeclan not subject to the direct jurisdiction and sovereignty of a Greatlord. Does this include the Hurdop? Terrans? Our new friends the Pavonians? The Moncilat? Looking at the rosters of personnel, there are over two hundred couples born of different allegiance diligently working to create a new generation - including more than a few of the Freenobles of our worlds. When that new generation comes to fruit, how many worlds will look at them with the scent of revenue filling their minds? This law does not address these points with any due care for the future." Gryzzk spread his hands and looked up as if asking the gods for wisdom.
The quiet was filled almost immediately by a noble in the back - one of the Lords sworn to Greatlord Aa'Plians, if Gryzzk judged properly. "Who dares to question this noble act? The law is clear to those who have the wit to read it."
Gryzzk shot back almost immediately. "So the witless are excused from the law? If such is the case my good Lord has nothing to fear from any law this august body produces. To that I say nay, and nay again. Even the Thirteenth Lord A'Shanyu spoke of such things; 'Laws must be crafted bearing naught but the very scent of precision to their words and purpose lest there be uncertainty. For uncertainty leads to chaos of the mind, chaos of the mind to chaos of the bod...
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1so3hl2/humans_for_hire_part_160/