Hilda
“Sensors aren’t picking up much Captain,” Commander Glass reported as ‘The Jade Grip’ jumped into the Halesworth System. “Couple statelites in orbit of the world, but not a single ship in the system.”
“Why the fuck would the pirates come here?” Idunn asked from beside Hilda. Her aide was fond of talking when she shouldn’t, but Hilda liked it when she spoke her mind.
“Family? Friends? Maybe they just restocked their food supplies,” Commander Glass answered.
“Maybe once,” Hilda replied. “Eight thousand people on that world. Thats just barely more half double the tree of the ship. They wouldn’t have that much of a surplus of food to for the ship to make as many stops in the system as it has.”
Hilda ordered ‘The Jade Grip’ to take orbit over the world of Halesworth, and launched away teams to investigate the world, and meet with the locals.
“Commander Urban prepare a team, I want to meet with the lord of this shit hole, and see the world myself.” Hilda told her head of security. There was only so much she could do more the command desk of the starship, and sometimes it paid to get your own hands dirty.
“Bout time,” Hilda heard Lt Idunn Vault mutter. It brought a small grin to Hilda as she knew the Lt had invited herself to that away team.
“What do we know about the lord of Halesworth Lt Vault?” Hilda asked the Lt. She had already studied everything ‘The Jade Grip’ and Grimm Hearth system had on the Halesworth system, and it’s lord, but it was good to ask the crew for their input, and at the very least see how much they knew.
“Lord Qinn Sunfist?” Lt Vault asked but continued. “Not much. The Sunfists are poor and relatively unknown. They have ruled the world for the last several generations. Other than the title they don’t have much going for them. No ships other than a couple shuttles, and couple dozen local militia to keep order. Doesn’t have the wealth or manpower to crew a destroyer, but less a cruiser.”
Hilda gave a small smile. At least the Lt had done her job. “But doesn’t rule out that the lord or some other person was in league with them. Perhaps the pirates were in league with them.”
The Lt snorted. “None of the prisoners gave up the lord. None of them even admitted to leaving the ship anytime it was in system. If they were in league with the planet, someone would have given them up.”
“Perhaps,” Hilda countered. “Still doesn’t rule out that the higher ups were in league with them, and that the lower ranks had no clue.”
The shuttle ride was short and bumpy as the pilot from them down to the large farmhouse which was home to the lord of Halesworth.
The lord was friendly, and considered by the present of a ship in orbit but also seemed relived that it was a Commonwealth Forces ship, and surprised and honored for it to be a member of the King’s Guard Forces.
Lord Sunfist admitted to the arrival of the cruiser in the system, and that it would open send shuttles and other craft to the planet, but denied any knowledge of what they were doing.
Lord Sunfist looked ashamed to admit that he and his family, along with their household guards and other families of Halesworth often hide in the forests and hills near their homes when the cruiser arrived. They couldn’t hope to defend against them, but they never did attack. They sent reports to the Grimm Hearth System, but a lone cruiser that didn’t cause any trouble was a low priority.
“We have learned through the years that our greatest defense is to run. Raiders and pirates come from time to time. They might take a harvest, or supplies but there isn’t much wealth on the world. Most wealth had been stolen from our world generations ago,” the old lord said. “Food is our wealth, and we have learned to hide enough to get through the winters should raiders steal that from us.”
“Can you tell us anything Lord Sunfist?” Hilda asked. “Where they might have spent their time on world or any run ins that the locals might have had with them?”
“I will have my steward get you all data we have recorded on their time on world. I don’t recall them ever entering any of the settlements or having contact with any locals, but I will have my people ask and get you all information we can. We might be a poor world Captain Grip, but we are loyal to the Commonwealth, and king.”
“I don’t doubt that Lord Sunfist, and thank you. You would not object if my people look around themselves?” Hilda asked.
“Not at all Captain. I am sure your resources on that ship of yours far outweigh our own,” the lord replied.
