THE DAUGHTER

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

A Republic of Earth Story

A Historical Outlook on the only daughter of Major Albert T. Hartman

and his First wife one Xress Meth Hartman

Ocxkeef. A strange name it has been said, and truly so for no such name existed in our Galaxy before the Dark Times came. That time when all seemed lost. For Gelsi lay in ruins, shattered, and the Republic forces had not yet arrived within our Galaxy to save us. The Empire ruled with an iron hand and even a Wrymouth, that black filth from the Imperial Security Agency's dark laboratories walked our land. It was a hard time to live, for only a hand full of years after the shining star of our Conference was so brutally snuffed out. During this time records are scattered, fragmentary. Even today we know little of what occurred before the founding of Nova House Draco.

Nova House Draco. An Imperial House first destroyed by the Resistance, then with the help of a freed slave made to rise again, for the Resistance. Xress Meth was that slave. A gene modified dragonette from the Empire's inner systems she was once the favored of House Draco's Lord, only to see it shattered, reduced to rubble. Herself soon captured by an agent of the Resistance. Given to Major Hartman as a gift, a favor. She somehow captured that great mans heart. How will probably never be known, for it is rumored that over a thousand women from six worlds had tried their best to capture this great mans heart, only to fail. Yet it seems this dragonette managed it in a night. Perhaps this is simple a fable, another fantasy 'Love at First Sight' meant for children and budding young adults. What is known is the following.

Commander Nase, forever after known as Lord Nase, was charged with a small number of personal. A surviving young daughter of Lord Draco, the ancient House Starship and the slave Xress Meth. To him came the heavy weight of building a false House Draco in what was then known as Solarng. Christened Nova House Draco by some unknown, he dug into the side of an ancient cold volcano. Skill and bravado built the tiny encampment into a viable House. No luck had been involved, for the Resistance had used up every drop of luck it had just keeping these few alive this long.

That is known. What is not known are the events leading up to Karanah Hartman's proposal of marriage to the tiny alien, her acceptance, and how the Olsak known as Vel became his second wife less than two days after his first marriage. From notes, verbal histories and Ocxkeef's own words it seems Xress was the prime mover in that second marriage. For Major Hartman had to return to the Resistance's primary base, leaving behind Lord Nase as 'Steward' and by her own words a weak Lady Draco. Not weak in strength or will, no not that. But weak in legal standing. For tho the Empire acknowledged Human-Alien marriages, such Ladies were looked down upon. With the addition of a Olsak, one of the two ruling races of the Empire, Nova House Draco became a true power. As a side note it is an interesting fact that Major Hartman took to his bed for at least two days after returning, and every time he visited his wives. Apparently time was made up in an energetic fashion.

Apparently the two women were a perfect team, with the Meth's innate ability to see opportunity, grasp and act upon it while avoiding those traps so many others fell into, and the Olsak's strange talents we will not speak of here, many House's soon fell to the Violet Dragons. The first two were House Amber and House Cardinal. Celebrating a marriage between their Houses they were not expecting an attack from so new a House. Yet using a temporary alliance with House Dagger the two, following to the letter LordCourt laws, shattererd and absorbed both houses in less than thirty minutes of conflict. Other House's followed, leading to a slow but steady growth in land, materials and people. The Resistance was regaining Gelsi. One slippery step after the other.

Then several months after her marriage Lady Xress took to her room. Only Lady Vel and a single Doctor were allowed within those closed doors. Days later, still unaware, Major Albert T. Hartman became a father. Ocxkeef had been hatched. Born without the wings or tail of a true Meth, standing over five feet tall, she was still unquestionably Meth. She had become a fully grown young adult within a few years, as do all Meth. And she was the only child of that union, for something had happened during those days. We can speculate, but won't. All we know for certain is as hard as Xress appears to have tried she never conceived again.

It appears Vel had a close hand in teaching Ocxkeef, for there was some unknown bond between the two. She lived a strange mix of Olsak, Meth and human morality. Cursed with her mothers need of living blood to survive Ocxkeef was just as apt to kill a captive as enslave them. Yet she became Captain of a House starship, departing into the void to discover those few Conference forces still surviving, to stumble across the Republic Forces already dealing death and destruction to Imperial forces who had attempted to enslave them. Tho she had little to do with the actual liberation of Gelsi's Solar System, she was the first Empress of Olsak.

As to how long a Meth lives we may never know, for Xress Meth never lived to see Gelsi freed. It is known that she had made a compact with Vel, one that placed their husbands dream ahead of their own lives. But exactly what this compact was, how Xress finally met her end... These may never be known as Vel even today refuses to speak of her or that time. It is also surprising that Vel never conceived, considering the medical knowledge and technology that had first allowed so many hybrids to be conceived had become routine by then. Perhaps, unlike Xress, she never managed the delicate biological balance needed. Tho she has long outlived her co-wife and husband, like all Olsaks she keeps her pain well hidden. Nor will she speak of it.

Where her mother fought hand to hand on Gelsis shattered soil to help her adopted planet regain their freedom, Ocxkeef rarely visited Gelsi once she left. Her time was spent carefully ferreting out hidden Conference ships and bases that the Empire had missed. Her life to was a perilous one, as at any time some Imperial ship might attack, having discovered her ruse. Her actual thoughts and feelings were hard to determine. She had learned the Olsak control of Mind and she always carried a sad expression. Even during her greatest victories non ever saw her smile. When the necklace of Rulership was laid about her shoulders on Olsak, she was said to have turned away and cried.

It took uncounted lives to finally push the Empire out of our systems, a completely new science brought over by those Republic friends without whom all hopes would have been for naught. For our old Conference can never exist again, not as it was. We still fear the Empire. Those forces who stand against them must always be alert, since those mad ones still attempt to return to our space. To again regain the glory they once had. They will be back, they will come again hoping to shatter our homes and crush our forces. So those who had power, with heavy heart, abolished the Conference to create an Empire of our own. One designed along the Humans memories, but without the Councils, abstentions and neutral worlds of the old.

Albert Hartman, his vision of a Trojan House, the lives and loves his family laid upon that altar... They were the greatest part of our victory, our current freedom. And tho he had no other children we shall always look to Lady Vel and his daughter Empress Ocxkeef. For they were born in that fire, and within their hearts it still burns. If anyone can lead us to victory surely they can.