Ninth Cycle of TinTay Legionary Headquarters The High General of the Legion is seated in his office when Colonel ThanMa, commander of his personal guard, rushes into the office. “My Lord, a supply convoy has been attacked and destroyed.” “What? Where? I thought that this planet was subjugated. What command unit has jurisdiction?” “My Lord, it wasn’t on the planet. It was a convoy from our supply depot on Kandor. The convoy had only been in normal space for a few minutes when it was attacked.” “Space? Who would attack an Imperial convoy in space? More importantly; how could a space convoy be destroyed?” “My Lord, the attacking ships matched nothing in our data banks. They’re not from any Imperial planet.” “Then where did they come from? Only Imperial planets have Inner Space drive.” “They would have to be from an Unknown World, My Lord.” “I suppose it’s better for the Empire that they’re from the Unknown Worlds instead of a rebellion from an Empire planet. Though an attack from an Unknown World is going to cause us terrible problems. Still how did they destroy a convoy in space, I thought tradition says it’s impossible to have an effective battle in space?” “It’s not impossible my Lord just very unlikely. Speeds are too slow and the distances too great to allow ship-to-ship combat before the weaker ship can go to Inner Space to escape the battle. The attackers came out of Inner Space almost on top of the convoy; they were so close to our ships that they destroyed them before ours could jump to Inner Space for safety. It was sheer luck on the part of the attackers that their opening from Inner Space was so close to the convoy.” “How many ships were destroyed? Were the supplies critical to our position here?” “My Lord, 27 of 30 transports were lost, 1 of the 2 escort ships was lost as well. Since they are unarmed I don’t know why they are called escort ships? The supplies were not critical and can be easily replaced.” “28 of 32 ships destroyed, when has the Empire suffered such a loss? Colonel ThanMa, they’re called escort ships because of tradition; a Legionary of your rank should know that. Should I have you retested for your rank level?” “No My Lord, I spoke in haste. My Lord we did capture one of the raiders.” “You tell me this now? How did we capture an armed raider when none of our ships were capable of fighting?” “Sheer luck my Lord, when one of the transports exploded the debris damaged the raider’s propulsion unit. He was unable to jump to Inner Space when the others fled. Our surviving escort ship took him under tow. He was taken to the rebirth center at Cattorah. The levy Doctors don‘t think he was harmed in the explosion that crippled his ship.” “How many ships attacked the convoy?” “My Lord, the raiding party consisted of 6 one man fighters.” “Have the prisoner brought to the council chamber as soon as possible. Make sure that the translator device is implanted in him and that it is made fluent in Galachh only.” “Yes My Lord. The translator device may not be necessary.” “What do you mean?” “My Lord, the levy Doctors, who examined the prisoner, sent word that they think the prisoner is of the race of the second rebirth of Gkolath.” “That’s impossible; Dirt wasn’t capable of Inner Space travel when we were captured for the second rebirth of Gkolath.” “Yes My Lord, any further orders?” “Send my duty officer to me.” “Yes My Lord.”