by Rashid Ahmed
Pausing while Lei and Eiji absorbed the information, the framandi then added, “I must now rest. If you come up with new ideas or require advice, reach out to Áoe.” Then without waiting for a response, Áox headed off to Norður where most of the framandi systems had been set up.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen either of the framandi this tired. I actually considered that they might be able to go on indefinitely,” Eiji commented to Lei.
She replied, “Let’s get up to speed.”
Isla walked in just then. Shun had woken her as well. “Hey, you two,” she greeted them morosely. She’d been worried about her crewmates aboard Suður. The SSEV had been captured and was now being towed by Síast. Isla was particularly worried about Jón. This was the second time Kei had managed to get into his mind. She was glad that Áom was with him and Ásta, attempting to help them regain control.
“Áox was here a moment ago,” Lei said. “The framandi are going to form a blockade to keep Kei in this system. They’ll try to hoodwink the Síast into heading into a screen of imitation matter, that sensors will pick up as the wormhole. I’m still trying to get a grip on how they’ll achieve it. The tech is just beyond me.”
Isla looked through the latest updates on the situational awareness projection, noting their location and the path Síast was taking.
“I think we should prioritize rescuing our crew and getting them away from Kei,” Isla said, sounding anxious.
“There’s an incoming message from Max,” Eiji announced, bringing up a new projection window.
“Glad to have you back. Hope you’re feeling revitalized,” Max said to them. He added, “Even with local gravity adjustments within your vessel, the high-Gs you’re being subjected to, would have begun to adversely affect you. I’d requested Áox to deaccelerate as you approach the framandi home planet so that the Átt can transmit a video feed directly to us. You’ll be orbiting the planet thrice, gradually accelerating. You’ll feel it, but you should be fine.”
“Ah yes! I didn’t even realize we were so close. We were focussed on tracking Kei,” Lei answered excitedly for the three of them.
“While you’ve been under, we’ve strategized with a team of framandi led by Áoe,” Max continued, saying, “They’ve been developing an untested technology, to complement their masking capabilities. The framandi are going to try it out at the mouth of the wormhole leading to our system from theirs.”
“Do you have details about it?” Eiji asked Max, saying, “we haven’t had a chance to dive into the tech yet.”
“You’re aware of what a pressure wave is, right?” Max asked. Receiving a few nods, he went on, “The wave creates a compressed front of air or water. Similar in concept, the framandi have been experimenting with quantum scale pressure waves, using carefully focussed gravity, to form matter in space. So far, they’ve had success creating screens and nets. They conclude that the technology could be utilised for physical shielding as well, besides conjuring objects in open space.”
“Fascinating. Quantum foam exists everywhere at the Planck scale, even in space. Manipulated delicately, it could be used to form matter” Eiji remarked, nodding his head in understanding.
“The problem is that the system requires colossal amounts of energy, channelled through gravity manipulation devices, which massage the quantum foam to create detectable and visible profiles,” Max elaborated. “Right now, this seems to be the only way we can get the Síast off its course and netted.”
“How would it affect the crew in Suður SSEV, being towed by Síast?” Isla asked.
“We expect complete destruction of the SSEV and the kilig spacecraft when they come in contact with the net.” Max replied dourly.
“Unacceptable. I’ll not have it,” Isla said forcefully and with emotion. She added, “We’ll have to come up with some way to rescue our crew before Síast reaches the wormhole. We have a day. We’ll figure it out.”
Ten hours later they’d finished their three orbits around the framandi home world and were back on the trail of the Síast. They’d briefly spent time marvelling at the exceptional devotion the framandi gave to their planet. Now, they were back to brainstorming. Sven and Crystal had just joined the trio. The crew worked the problem.
“The framandi system appears a little empty. Haven’t their vessels returned from the campaign in the lofi and vilji systems?” Crystal enquired aloud, scrolling across the situational awareness feed.
Sven replied, “They’ve retained most of their vessels in the lofi system. The framandi are cleaning up the chaotic mess created, with all the asteroids which were being lobbed about. They like to ensure they restore every environment they affect, even in space. The same thing’s happening in the vilji system. They’ve taken a liking to the planetary system and are cleaning up after the gigils.”
“That reminds me, do we have an update on the gigils?” Crystal asked.
“Yes, we do. And the news isn’t good,” Sven thought to Crystal over their direct diadem channel. He explained, “A trio of framandi scout vessels entered the system beyond the vilji system, through which the gigils had retreated. All three scouts were destroyed soon after they entered the system behind the gigils. But they got a burst of information out. They even managed to release several disguised remote monitoring satellites which have since spread through the system. Here’s the disturbing part. The gigils are amassing a massive armada, pulling in vessels through adjoining wormholes.”
Looking worried and fierce simultaneously, Crystal thought back, “If they’re planning on retaliating, we need to prepare.”
“Information relayed to us, confirms that the massed gigil fleet has already begun entering a wide wormhole above the system they’re in,” Sven replied, adding, “according to the framandi, the size and the continuous reinforcement indicates another inter-galactic battle somewhere beyond.”
“I really wonder what they’d be fighting over for millennia upon millennia,” Crystal mused.
Sven said, “The only information we have is from the framandi, and even they only have an inkling of it. Ever since the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy began to be slowly accreted by the Milky Way; occupied or populated systems closing in on each other, began to feud for influence in newly formed star systems. Our understanding is that both galaxies have an association of type three civilizations, measured on our Kardashev scale. These civilizations consume energy at galactic proportions. Its assumed that the conflicts are related to harvesting and transmitting energy, across star systems. Each galactic group’s automated systems, began trying to harvest stars entering their influence areas, resulting in the first few ancient conflicts. As our galaxies merge and stars encroach upon claimed territory, the flames of conflict are constantly fanned.”
Isla caught their attention. She called out, “The Síast is drawing Suður closer to itself. Framandi vessels pacing the kilig spacecraft show the universal docking ports on both vessels aligning.”
“I have been in contact with Áom,” Áox thought to the crew aboard Átt, walking into the compartment looking rejuvenated. The framandi continued, “Kei may want to separate Jón and Ásta from Áom by taking them aboard Síast. This may weaken or break the mental anchor Áom is providing the twins. Anticipating Kei, Áom has removed your two crewmates and placed them each into emergency escape capsules, after replenishing their suits’ food, water and air. For unknown reasons the capsules will not eject. A separate escape capsule is being occupied by Áom.”
“The Síast and Suður have connected,” Isla announced. She kept describing the action coming over their visual feed, “Some of Suður’s drones are exiting the forward airlock. They’ve initiated activity outside the escape capsule hatches.”
“Áom informs that Suður has been depressurized. There are drones within the vessel, attempting to access Jón and Ásta’s capsules” Áox let them know. The framandi quickly added, “The drones are now extracting the twins’ escape capsules and are transporting them into Síast
.”
Isla added, “I’m observing the drones which were outside Suður, enter the vessel through the capsule ejection hatches. They must be assisting the drones inside the SSEV remove Jón and Ásta’s capsules.”
The crew aboard threw around rescue ideas, none of which were of much use given the circumstances. They were deeply engrossed, watching the feed, thinking, discussing and independently conversing with observers. Then abruptly, Suður silently exploded. Seen on the projected visual feed, the SSEV shattered, hurling fragments along its trajectory.
Áox froze for a moment, then thought to the crew, “The twins are aboard Síast. Áom is safe inside an escape capsule, but its stabilization controls are dysfunctional. The three of them are still maintaining a strong mind connection. This means that Áom’s capsule must be travelling along the same trajectory as the Síast. I am instructing a crewed vessel in proximity to stabilize Áom’s capsule and allow it to follow Síast along with other debris.”
An icon blinked in the volumetric projection, indicating an incoming call. Shun had upgraded the gaupa-human interface which connected to all their technology, to now integrate with the human assistance programs the crew were used to. Beside the blinking light, Max’s face appeared indicating who the caller was. Previously, only the calling gaupa’s identifier showed. Sven accepted the call.
“We’ve been monitoring your progress, so I know it may not be the right time for a call,” Max dived right into the conversation. He continued briskly, “We’ve been in touch with Áoe. The framandi has informed us about a weapons technology they have not utilised in thirty thousand years, ever since they began earnestly repairing their civilization. Since the Síast is entering a slightly empty region of space in the framandi system, they’ve suggested the weapon be used to slow down the kilig spacecraft. It can be produced and deployed by framandi vessels ahead of the Síast”
“If its strong enough, won’t it affect Jón and Ásta?” Isla asked.
Max replied, “We’ve seen first-hand how much of a beating these kilig spacecraft can take. Our techs who were tasked with removing a kilig command-ship from being captured by the Nál, were inside when both vessels were hit by our concentrated solar radiation beams. Nál didn’t survive, but the kilig vessel did. The techs inside weren’t worse of wear. This action will give you a chance to catch up with Kei. You’ll need to rescue Áom quickly and then move in on the Síast.”
“Complicated plan,” Crystal remarked.
“Nothing we’ve done so far has been simple,” Max replied. He added, “The framandi are going to implement the plan. Áom is far enough behind not to be severely affected. The details will be shared and updated onto the situational awareness feed.” The call was disconnected.
“Wonder what this weapon is?” Eiji pondered aloud.
Áox thought back, answering to all of them, “Eons ago, when we began turning from a path of excessive resource consumption and petty conflict which nearly destroyed our home planet, we had unlocked a portion of the kilig antimatter technology. We refer to the transition as the first enlightenment. By then, we were able to generate antimatter quickly and hold it inside a gravity field, projected at a distance from a large vessel. Unlike the kiligs who have the means of generating antimatter in a small, closed environment like the Síast; our first few experiments destroyed the space platforms where tests were conducted. Since then, we have made marginal incremental improvements, but the technology still evades us. However, the original knowledge with all its destructive consequence, still exists. After long, it must now be used again; destructively.”
“But how will an explosion in space slow the Síast down?” Eiji enquired. He commented, “There won’t be any compression pressure created in empty space.”
Áox turned to Eiji, still thinking to the entire crew, “The antimatter contained inside the gravity trap will need to be released as it comes into contact with the Síast.”
Isla asked incredulously, “You’re going to create an antimatter explosion, right on the hull of Síast?”
“We are,” Áox replied, thinking back slowly.
Preparations progressed rapidly. There was no doubt the plan in place was high-risk and riddled with unknowns. The situational awareness feed was updating rapidly. It showed that there wasn’t just a single antimatter explosion planned against Síast, but six. The objective was to slow the kilig spaceship, knock it off its course and momentarily blind its sensors. All this, while simultaneously disguising the framandi-solar system wormhole and creating an imitation next to it.
It was indeed a complicated plan, but the framandi did well with plans. They were able to drill down to the minutest detail.
Twelve long hours later, they were as prepared as they were going to be. Framandi vessels in the path of the Síast were being fed energy. They prepared to create and hold antimatter in gravity traps. Just before the plan was to be executed, Max called again. He had Maji, Gogh and Rafael on the line with him.
“The framandi have advised us they’re ready to execute,” Max said to them.
Gogh’s projected image was saintly. He seemed to glow. The Lýsi leader was an old hand to whom defence strategy had become second nature. He counselled, “There was a Prussian field marshal called Moltke the Elder, who stated that no plan survives contact with the enemy; which is why you’re ever more important. You’ve been able to manoeuvre successfully against much greater odds so far. Now, the Síast must be destroyed. Preferably without harming Jón and Ásta. That is the desired outcome.”
Rafael said with a spark in his eyes, “Standing by with the satellite defence network on this side. It’s only effective towards the inner planets, but it packs a punch.”
The trio stayed online while the framandi initiated their plan. New glowing dots appeared on the situational awareness feed indicating the antimatter traps had been deployed. The dots moved rapidly towards the Síast. The nearest dot blinked out. A separate visual feed showed the kilig vessel suddenly enveloped, in a large fireball. Then the vessel tumbled through. On its current trajectory, it would still make it through the wormhole. Then the next dot blinked out, followed immediately by a third. This time the Síast was knocked off its course. The spacecraft was slower and tumbling through space.
The final three blinking dots were manoeuvred into space debris. They blinked out simultaneously and didn’t even show up on the visual feed. They were meant purely as distraction while the framandi created the false wormhole and masked the real one.
Then something miraculous happened. The crew aboard Átt sat still, focussed.
Rafael who was watching the reaction of the crew asked them, “What happened? What’s caught your eyes?” He clarified, “I don’t see anything on my feed.”
Sven said, “We just caught a few sentences from Jón. Ásta’s connecting now.” He paused as he absorbed their thoughts. After a moment the crew was active again.
Stefán said excitedly, “Ásta’s all right. Jón too. Battered with a few broken bones, but okay.”
Sven explained for the benefit of the observers, “The twins’ were able to hang on to their own thoughts even while Kei was using their wetware. Áom provided an anchor for them to latch onto. While Kei’s was using their brains, the twins were able to pick up on how the kilig spacecraft functions. Their interactions with the AI have allowed them to absorb information about the vessel’s control systems, into their minds.”
“How did they get in touch?” Max asked.
“They have a compact gaupa attached to each of their suits, leftover from their excursion onto the fifth planet in the lofi system,” Crystal said. She explained, “They briefly had the mental bandwidth to communicate, while the Síast was attacked. Now their brains are being used by Kei again.”
“The framandi have just confirmed that the Síast is now heading to the false wormhole. Its trajectory is being updated on the situational awareness feed. The kilig spacecraft is beginning to pick up speed again. You need to get to
the wormhole before Kei can,” Max advised.
Sven agreed, “We’ll strap in and be on our way.” Then as an afterthought, he asked, “What’re you planning on doing with the kilig vessels in our system?”
Max replied, “The one Nál attempted to hijack is secure, but all its exterior hardware is shot. The second one is being investigated by xenotechs. Katrín and Gylfi are examining the remarkably well preserved kiligs. All the information processing, data and computing systems from both vessels have been removed, scanned and destroyed. We’re retaining the remaining hardware for study.”
Sven nodded and said, “We’ll try and stop Kei here.” Signing off from the call, He joined the rest of the crew who were already prepared for a sedated high-G run to the framandi-solar system wormhole. Áox checked on each of the crew and then began gradually increasing focussed gravity intensity, ahead of Átt. The framandi charted a course to pick up Áom.
Eight hours later, they caught up with Áom. Other vessels had stabilised the framandi’s escape capsule, towing it along while accelerating to match Átt’s speed. Áox undertook the capsule recovery operation, with Shun’s assistance. The framandi placed Áom into a rest capsule to recover, while Átt sped on.