And the Children Shall Lead

A Tale from the Time of Departure for 5 players

The Parents' Tale

"Do you know where our daughter is?" It was a simple question, really, but Vortex of Chaos was in the middle of a logistical checklist unmatched in Galactic history. Her sensors took in her partner Mannheim, who stood on her bridge and looked perplexed.

"Isn't Deep Dark with you? Weren't you going to tweak her hyperdrive conduits?" The comm panel lit up with Vortex's growing distraction, as important calculations were dropped and ships were calling in a panic to find out what was wrong. There were only a few hours before Launch, when every ship of the Fleet would hurl itself into hyperspace, starting the 100,000 year journey to the Great Attractor.

A gaudily-dressed Morphic Steev named Ultramarine, Noble of the Overmorph, Defender of the Morphic stormed into the main airlock unannounced, demanding to know where their "idiot Under-Defender Lapislazuli" had been taken without approval. When they refused to calm down, Vortex of Chaos quickly locked the airlock and pumped in a soporific.

Another alarm went off. One of the Eosian diplomatic delegates had filed an emergency disaster service ticket, demanding to know where its new auxiliary computational robot Equations of Insight had been sent. That ticket was quickly reset to a more reasonable priority.

"You go back to the Launch work. I'll find her." Mannheim was already flicking through data projected in a hologram that filled the dining room. It took ninety minutes and an antidote to the angry Ultramarine, but the computer searches and her distinctive hyperdrive trail were clearly aimed at Crouse 4454β+02, a typical small red star, ancient and tired, about eight light years from the Launch point. It had a tidally locked planet with a narrow habitable strip between the hot side and the cold side. There were mysterious, ancient ruins there. It was just the kind of place bored youngsters would be attracted to. There were millions of similar worlds and stars in the Galaxy.

"Lapislazuli will be late for the Launch," Ultramarine grunted, in the way that only a lifelong military person can. "I will have to make an example of them — they will be the late Lapislazuli when all is done. It is... unfortunate. You should do the same to yours. Perhaps the next one will know better discipline."

"If that is your intent, then your delegation and ships are not welcome in the Fleet. I've transmitted their stand-down orders." It took several minutes of useless arguing on Ultramarine's part before it finally sank in that Vortex of Chaos and Mannheim were, in fact, in command of the Fleet. There were apologies and oaths of safety for all involved before the stand-down orders were rescinded.

Launch time arrived, and the three youngsters had not returned. The Fleet hurled into hyperspace, heading to Crouse 4454β+02, a sidestep on the way to the Great Attractor.