Lowering the Flag

The Gorgon-class battlecruiser Liberation Day glided steadily into the anchorage of Sky Shield, Korhal IV's orbital platform, where dozens of colossal warships were moored. Her majestic, enormous hull was bathed in the light of the Korhal System's star, like a steel city trimmed in gold.

Engine Technical Sergeant Lars Buren leaned back against the cold bulkhead behind his high stool, gazing through the small observation window of the technician mess at the brilliantly lit spaceport outside. He had worked for a full twelve hours in the blazing heart of the engine room, and now he could finally change into a clean shirt and get some proper rest.

Beyond the seemingly endless, continent-sized Sky Shield orbital platform, the shining sun of the Korhal System hung in space. Vikings streaking past the window at high speed looked as though they were about to fly into that incandescent point of light.

Gradually, the magnificent hull of Liberation Day's sister ship, another Gorgon-class vessel, Judgement Day, slowly came into view beneath Lars's observation window.

Judgement Day was almost identical to the ship beneath Lars's feet. The Gorgon was undoubtedly the greatest warship he had ever seen. Compared with Judgement Day, even the once-largest Minotaur-class ships seemed inferior. When those awe-inspiring naval guns unleashed a tidal barrage of fire, it was as if divine punishment had descended.

She was the queen of the Sea of Stars, mistress of the world, the light of human order.

Lars had grown up in a small town called Freeport on Beca Ro, where there were only two or three thousand people. Even on a trip out of town, one might run into acquaintances and neighbors. Yet the Gorgon-class Liberation Day, on which Lars served, held more than eight thousand people. As a technician, he did not even dare claim