Worldbuilding Prompt #1148 - The Rim Awaken - Part 11: Breakfast
Published on HivePostify by @alonicus · Sun Sep 06 2026
This post was inspired by a writing prompt in the Worldbuilding Community - [Worldbuilding Prompt #1148 - Morning Routine](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@worldbuilder/worldbuilding-prompt-1148-morning-routine)
Enjoy !
This post was inspired by a writing prompt in the Worldbuilding Community -
It is also the next part of a series which is developing into a full-length story. The working title I'm going with for now is "The Rim Awaken". Previous posts are [PART 1](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1127-salvage-or-something), [PART 2](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1106-the-rim-awaken-part-2-life-support), [PART 3](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1122-the-rim-awaken-part-3-not-imperial-at-all), [PART 4](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1104-the-rim-awaken-part-4-percussive-maintenance), [PART 5](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1133-the-rim-awaken-part-5-who-commands), [PART 6](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1128-the-rim-awaken-part-6-multiple-redundancy), [PART 7](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1095-the-rim-awaken-part-7-downtime), [PART 8](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-nnnn-the-rim-awaken-part-8-forced-compliance),[PART 9](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1138-the-rim-awaken-part-9-questionable-choices), [PART 10](https://peakd.com/hive-191038/@alonicus/worldbuilding-prompt-1125-the-rim-awaken-part-10-contemplation).
Enjoy !
Image created by AI in NightCafe Studio
It was two weeks after being allowed to visit the imprisoned Archivist Naldre that Zrami next saw Engineer Glarbe. It was in a canteen somewhere on Deck 16 of the salvaged battlecruiser everyone was working so hard on.
Notionally it was breakfast time, but General Hazar had been pushing everyone so hard that time was losing it's meaning. Double shifts, treble shifts, sometimes even a whole cycle without sleep slogging away trying to get some broken system working. Systems that were both alien Imperial technology and fit for the scrap heap.
Glarbe was hunched in a corner over a tray of synthetic slop and a drink that certainly steamed but was otherwise of uncertain provenance. To Zrami's eye he looked somehow... diminished. His pose was one of exhaustion and defeat. His movements slow and lethargic. The fur on his muzzle showed far more white than he'd previously had.
Sitting next to him, Zrami smiled and lifted his beaker.
"Hey, long time no see. What has Hazar had you working on ?"
Shrugging, Glarbe responded "Fixing up TacDrives. This ship should have twelve of them, and only one worked. Explains why the scavengers were so clumsy bringing her in. We've got three more working, sort of. But Hazar's a moron if he thinks we can fix all of them. He's pushing too hard, people are making mistakes."
Zrami nodded sympathetically. It was the same for everyone. General Hazar had taken over the expedition, deposing the Council, and had everyone focused on trying to fix up this wreck of a ship. But even a semi-derelict Imperial Type 17 battlecruiser was still a potent war machine in the right hands, and there was something else Zrami wanted to talk about.
"I've got one piece of good news, Glarbe. Naldre is still alive."
"I thought Hazar would have put her out for sure !"
For the first time, the old engineer showed a spark of life. "How is she ? Is she hurt or in danger ?"
"She's fine. For now. Hazar has her locked up to use as a weapon against us if we don't hit his insane targets. She is well, but pretty frustrated and depressed. I managed to see her and persuaded Hazar to give her access to her notes and archives. Hopefully that will help."
Glarbe looked glum once more. "We can't possibly hit the targets that military caste heavy-foot is demanding. It's just... we haven't got the people, the spares, or the schematics. What is he going to do to her when we inevitably fail ?"
"Threatening to put her... out. Somehow we've got to stop that. I've got an idea, but it's going to need the right circumstances and careful timing. I'll need your help."
Swiftly and quietly, before the warrior caste guard reached them as he sauntered his patrol around the canteen, Zrami outlined his plan to Glarbe. The expression on his friend's face confirmed what he already knew; that the plan was an incredible long-shot.
As they finished their brief plotting the canteen's quiet clatter was torn by a sudden raucous noise.
It took Zrami a few seconds to work out what was going on. Then he realised; the ship still had the Imperial General Alarm programmed in, it hadn't been replaced by the more familiar (and less outrageous) Rim equivalent.
The racket was two-fold. A staccato drumbeat, rising and falling, three beats high, three low, then three high again at the rate of several beats a second. Overlaying this was a pre-recorded strident female voice repeating over and over again, "BATTLE STATIONS, BATTLE STATIONS. ALL CREW TO BATTLE STATIONS IMMEDIATELY."
Everyone in the canteen was jumping to their feet, ready to head for their posts. Zrami and Glarbe exchanged a nod - there was too much noise for a farewell - and started for their posts.
Then a third layer was added to the alarm signal, briefly drowning out the other two. It was General Hazar.
"Warriors of the Rim, prepare for immediate launch and imminent battle. The Scavenger vessel which has been shadowing us for weeks has made it's move. It is heading straight for us, approaching on a battle vector. It shows no sign of the damage this ship had when the first gang arrived."
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