Hilda
Hilda stood on the command deck of the ‘Frost’ with Lord Peder Frost. She had to admit that the crew of the Star Carrier-class Super Carrier was skilled, much more than her own. They went about their duties with the ease that only years of working together could teach.
Hilda was impressed with the starship more than she had been. Her battleship might almost match the offensive weapons of the carrier, but it’s defensive measures, and support craft load put the ‘Jade Grip’ to shame. That was to be expected of a starship with a crew of almost fifty five thousand compared to her own fifteen.
The ‘Jade Grip’, or no starship built by the Commonwealth for that matter, had anything on the advanced A.I. system of the Furse starships. Lord Frost was smart enough not to display the full workings of the no doubt self aware A.I., but it was clear that it was part of the starship as much as life support, engines, or any other system. It was a living a breathing feature without the leiving or breathing.
Hilda was thankful for Lord Frost’s offer to spend time on the ‘Frost’ as the two fleets patrolled the sector. They were joined by other lords from time to time. System-lords like Mavis Sunfist, with their system fleets, or minor lords with only a dozen, or even one or two starships to their name.
Task Force Bravo outnumbered any of the System-lords of Dumgarth with Starships of the line, and Capital starships, few lords had starships of the line as it were, but some could match or even double her own support starships, not that destroyers, frigates, and the like could stand much chance against a starship of the line. The only Force in Dumgarth which had the strength of Task Force Bravo was that of Lord Frost who commanded the forces of the Isca system, along with the forces he had brought with him to the sector, and which had become part of the Dumgarth Sector Fleet supplied, and paid for by the lords of the sector.
There was of course the Commonwealth Forces Garrison fleet of Dumgarth which outnumbered all the lords combined, but it had no starships of the line, and it’s over four hundred capital starships, and almost thirty thousand support starships were spread throughout the sector, made up of old vessels, and if Hilda was honest, barely trained personal. Almost two and half million personal defending more than four hundred, and forty square light years, and only the gods knew how many planets, asteroids, and other things within the sector.
“Your crews preform good,” Lord Frost said more beside Hilda, and drawing her more her thoughts.
“Thank you lord,” Hilda replied. “They have come a long way in a short amount of time.”
“Indeed they have,” the Lord said with a smile. “They are beauifuly built starships. There are few starships of the line which will be able to stand up them.”
Hilda nodded. “Yes, King Oswald has made a wise investment in the new design.”
“And the people are Dumgarth are blessed the King sent you to aid in securing the borders. The Commonwealth Forces might need large attack forces from the sector, but they are not equipped to handle the small scale hit and run attacks of the Eriu Tribes.” Lord Frost let out a long sigh. “Even the lords of the sector struggle. We have made head way in recent years, but it doesn’t seem to matter how many Eriu starships we capture or destroy. There are always more.”
Hilda nodded again. “Not to mention the traffic of the Dralan Trade Route. The Commonwealth Forces main duty outside the garrison of the sector is to ensure the safety of the trade traveling through the trade route.”
“Yes,” Lord Frost said with a tired voice. “Sometimes I wonder if that is not their main piroty, and one which, if you will forgive me, they are also not that… skilled at preforming.”
Hilda nodded a third time. “The Commonwealth Forces are little more than militia forces,” she replied. “They are a standing force to aid in the defense on the realm, but…”
“Yes,” Lord Frost said, and cut her off. “They have their role, and I do not mean to claim that the fault is only their.” He looked at Hilda. “What plans do you have for the upcoming Feast Day of Lycus?”
Hilda looked at the lord, and tried not to make sure eyes widen. “None lord,” she managed to say. She wondered where the lord was going. He was not Fabian, but what could he know of their plans?
Lord Frost nodded. “I am not Fabian,” he said with a smile. “But many… most of those I serve are, and so we make sure to celerbrate the feast days. My wife would not forgive me if I did not invite you, and your staff to Stonehold for the feast. There will be good food.”
Hilda smiled. “Thank you lord,” she said. “I Would be very thankful to join you and the rest of your family.”
“Good,” Lord Frost said, and clasp his hands behind his back. “Another week and we should be back home in Isca. Until then I look forward to seeing the improve on your crews. They improve each day it seems.”
