Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga)

by Hile, Christiaan

  The main center concourse awaited them as formations of officers and soldiers stood at attention.

  To their right they viewed a row of Nevlen’s troops and a row of Reavers. To their left were the officers of the ship including Nevlen, Major Chion Danchal, and Keelan Sern, now temporary leader of Kason’s Reaver team.

  Shenta and Droe approached the two formations that were at attention.

  Parejas spotted the small figure in the back of the officer line, dressed in an Ordinance uniform.

  It was Mistuuk, the Cuukzen.

  Parejas looked at Droe with an inquiring expression as they continued to walk through the procession.

  Droe knew Parejas would not have missed the little guy in the back. Who could have, as he was the only wide-eyed alien in the bunch.

  The Cuukzen bounced in place with glee, his face plastered with a wide smile, his body was trying to hold the position of attention. He looked beyond excited to be there as if a puppy awaited the hand of its master or a favorite stick to be thrown.

  “I can explain, sir,” Droe responded. “He gave us his allegiance after we handed the Kryth their, well you know, as the Cuukzen put it in his language, their nuts and bolts.” Parejas continued to walk forward through the formations as Lt. Commander Temin continued. “He gave us valuable intelligence and wanted to join us. He’s quite harmless.”

  Parejas glanced at Droe with an eyebrow raised.

  “I’ll leave it in your hands then, Lieutenant. It seems the little guy has warmed up to you during the interrogation.”

  Parejas took one last look over at the Cuukzen before shaking his head, holding back a grin.

  They both came to a stop at the other end of the formation where the main officer core was located.

  The shuttle awaited them with ramp down, ready to take the delegation to the Assembly Mount on Janus.

  Major Chion Danchal approached. “Your chariot awaits, Commander Parejas.”

  “Thank you, Major. Chariots are not my style but, this fine gunship will do.”

  Commander Nevlen Bossarios approached, as did Keelan from the Reaver ranks.

  Nevlen spoke up. “Looks like all of us are here, Commander. Shall we get on with the procession?”

  Commander Takkar’s harsh stare met Nevlen’s words. “Not all are here, Nevlen. How about a little respect?” Takkar asked.

  The Reaver Keelan just looked at Nevlen to enhance Takkar’s sentiment.

  Nevlen amended his remark. “Yes, Commander. I stand corrected.” Nevlen looked at each officer before meeting the Reavers’ gaze. “I am fully aware not all parties are currently present.” He finished with eyes down.

  There was a brief uneasy silence before Parejas broke it. “Let’s get this over with. We have better things to concentrate on than some bureaucratic parade,” he said as he entered the drop ship.

  The others soon followed their commander up the ramp as it rose and closed behind them.

  Data Cell 33

  The shuttle came in from south of the city, heading to the largest structure in the center, the Assembly Mount.

  The city was nestled among a varying gray, layered rock-quarry. The crystal-spun glass works of the towers and buildings were interwoven with white arch supports and beams. The natural earth tones of bedrock and greengage mingled well with the clean lines of the manmade structures.

  The gunship approached the streets of Evoke, the throng of citizens danced and cheered through the pathways of the human city. A celebration 267 years in the making was taking place. Wild jubilation replaced the city’s usual calm, as the sun shown bright in the clear blue sky.

  The shuttle rolled into the cityscape towards a landing platform near the fifth floor of the governmental Assembly Mount.

  Parejas watched out the window as the shuttle maneuvered around, showing the first interstellar ship off to his right, which had fled Earth those many years ago, now sitting among the city buildings. Her hull stood out against the cityscape’s architecture, alone and unchanged; the Erudition One remained where she had landed as a memorial and as a reminder of the purpose for humanity’s future.

  The swoosh of landing thrusters ignited as the gunship rested and settled on its pads.

  The ramp dropped down from behind the ship and the delegation of senior officers exited.

  Commander Shenta Parejas parted with his group and headed towards an entrance to the main building across from the pad.

  The rest of his officers walked down a ramp to another much larger balcony overhang on the fourth floor, overlooking the applauding crowds below. Here, the ceremonial formations of the Assembly members and Keeper Adytum would wait for his victory speech.

  Inside the Assembly Mount, Parejas was greeted by his fiancée, Shawna.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him.

  “Hey, you,” she beamed.

  “Hi there.”

  She released her hold to look at him. Placing her hands on the sides of his face, they kissed.

  “I missed you so.” She looked into his eyes. “I guess now a personal congratulation is in order, Commander Parejas.”

  Before he could respond, someone approached and interrupted their long-awaited reunion.

  “I apologize for my inappropriate timing here,” Assemblyman Mordon Tallis voiced.

  Shenta pulled Shawna to his side to face the Assemblyman. “Apology accepted,” Shenta responded with a steel tone.

  “Director Bowlan, I apologize again but our presence is required at this time.” Tallis’ thin face was expressionless.

  Shenta looked at Shawna. He smiled and placed his hand on the side of her check. “There will be time later. I’ll see you on the platform.”

  Shawna nodded at Tallis. “Assemblyman.” She turned and left the two men alone.

  Tallis motioned to some stairs leading down to the fourth floor. “Please, Commander, walk with me.”

  The two men began walking down the steps.

  Parejas clasped his hands in front of him. Tallis rested his hands behind his long ceremonial robes.

  The tight garment made Tallis look thinner, almost frail since he was thirty years Parejas’ senior, the commander thought.

  Tallis resumed. “We have accomplished a great deal by taking back the Sol system. We’ve had some hiccups along the way but nothing more than that. Let us, for now, put our differences aside and embrace our long sought-after triumph.”

  Parejas continued down the steps not looking at Tallis.

  They arrived on a red embroidered carpet that led to the outside balcony.

  Ceremonial guards lined both sides of this walkway.

  Tallis didn’t get a response from the commander and smiled. He continued. “Before we head out to greet the crowds, let us make a promise to work closer together and defuse the split within our government. Between the Assembly and Ordinance, I mean.”

  Parejas smirked and spoke without turning. “I didn’t know there was a split, Assemblyman. I thought we just had some disagreements between the two branches?”

  “Yes, but, we need to work closer with our information. You could say better communications with one another.”

  Shenta smiled. “You mean like the information pertaining to the Gashnee prophecies, Assemblyman?”

  Tallis’ face went passive. He never had time to quip a comment, as two sliding glass panels parted in front of them.

  The roar of approbation and the emotions of millions celebrating in the streets below met the two men, drowning out any words the Assemblyman tried to convey in his defense.

  The rows of delegates were divided on the platform, ready for the speech by Commander Parejas.

  As soon as the groups of uniformed officers, Keepers, and Assemblymen saw the two men appear from the building, thundering applause broke out as clapping ensued from all ranks.

  Shenta Parejas nodded to the officer ranks to his left first, the front row stood the men and woman who led the Retribution mission alongside their
commander.

  Droe Temin was first, followed by Jesan Takkar and Nevlen Bossarios. Next to them came Keelan Sern, Major Chion Danchal, and Doctor Solome.

  Commander Parejas smiled, nodding to each, giving personal thanks to his fellow officers. He didn’t miss the gap they left open in their formation for Kason, and the fallen.

  To his right, the rows of Keepers from the Adytum. A spot left vacant in the ranks for the memory of the fallen Keeper, Alon Renske.

  Following on the commander’s right, near the speaking podium, the Assembly Mount leaders were lined.

  Parejas nodded in their direction, giving them the respect granted to them as governors of the Annal Precepts.

  Parejas took his gaze off the last Assemblymen in line, Assemblyman Qurinden.

  The tall, Artificial was the last of its kind.

  This controversial project reached the capacity of a sentient, conscience being within circuitry and metal covered by organic skin. All others were destroyed once this was achieved.

  Parejas disliked the project more than he disliked bureaucratic bloviating; his viewpoint was known by all on this matter as he passed the inhuman robot.

  The robed Qurinden stood out among the other Assemblymen.

  Its shiny metal elongated head was attached to a human body, held a single red-celled eye that zoomed in on Commander Parejas, who ignored its presence as he passed.

  Before Parejas reached the steps to the podium, Tallis reached out to grab his arm.

  “One moment, Commander?”

  Parejas turned to face the Assemblyman.

  “Commander Parejas, let us embrace our deserved victory against our reviled enemy this day. To victory!” Tallis’ voiced exalted, his arm raised, as if he were the one who just retook the homeland.

  The commander looked at Tallis a moment before he spoke.

  “You mean to war, Assemblyman. We are at war. Do not underestimate the situation we find ourselves in. The spoils are far from being given out, Tallis.” Shenta turned from him before the Assemblyman could respond.

  Shenta ascended the steps as he looked over to his left at his beautiful bride-to-be, Shawna. A warm bright smile met his glance. He smiled back and headed up towards the podium to the cheering crowds below.

  Parejas began to count the seven steps to the top of the balcony below his feet. He thought of all the events that brought them to this day. For he knew these were just a few steps of a thousand that must be taken to see the resurgence of mankind within the galaxy.

  He would make sure the Ordinance was there for every last one of them, for this was not the end, but just the beginning.

  The Annals continue. . .

  Epilogue

  The Azliklon-Gashnee Prophecies

  ONE dust, one star. The cosmic dust will swirl, collect, and form. The true beings in the heart of the vast star-filled disc will come to be one with the great spiral. They will own every particle, including their own creation, and those who surround the star after will call the first mother and father, forever our Gashnee.

  IN those early turns of star life, the true beings will be dominant. In the latter turns of star life, many will be bound to the dominant ones who will then be no more, and they will say, forever our Gashnee.

  THE rule of the first will span the ages of planets and their stars. They will part the strain of life to spawn the others who will call, forever our Gashnee.

  TIME will only erode when the stars devour one’s own will. The created ones find a hard forever, trailing off slowly as a comet’s tail burning out against its birth star. It is written in the beginning of the great spiral that these things shall pass, even under the greatness of the dominant ones, forever our Gashnee.

  MANY other stars will come to draw on your power and return you to star dust. Even in your vast knowledge, your spinning will stop and be returned to the ages and seal your fate to theirs. You will be bound by the death of your own being so that you shall live again from the many beings who will forever call you Gashnee. -Binta Junn Azliklon

  Reaver Suit Technical Data Cell

  RAS-XB70 (Reaver Assault Suit)

  The RAS Armor was designed around the creation of the Reaver Regiments. As research into the future soldiers for humankind was under way, the Special Weapons Division was designing an armored combat system. All systems were designed around the Reavers biology. The Reavers are a hybrid-enhanced human organism. The nanotechnology and biotechnology integrated within the genetic DNA after conception, creates the enhancements that work in conjunction with the armor and sub systems. The Reavers are a weapons platform, a platform at the cutting edge of human technologies. These warriors are an enigmatic breed of soldier whose sole purpose is to strike fear into the core of any human adversary.

  The Reaver Assault Suit Specifications:

  •Ceramite Alloy Carbon-Laced Armor

  •Integrated Nanite Bio System

  •Helmet Tactical Control Systems

  •Micro-Weapon Sub Systems

  •Primary and Secondary Weapon Platforms

  •Close Combat Blade System

  •Individual Performance Suit Design

  Reaver Biology

  •Thermsilken Graphed Skeletal Structure/3X Normal Density

  •Multi-Cell Active Layered Epidermis/3X Normal Density

  •Nanite Spinal Cord Placed Bio Defense System

  •Three-month development and birth cycle.

  RAS-XB70 Systems

  •Ceramite Alloy Carbon-Laced Armor: Protection from weapon fire-class (4) plasma and high velocity (solid) projectile ammunitions. Electrical energy resistance. Thermal protection to 3,500(F). Minus temperature protection to -458. Chem/Bio filtration system for 48 hours. Radioresistance.

  •Helmet Tactical Control System: Inner Mask-Holo-field view 280-degrees. Weapon Sensor- Scan/Heat-Light Spectrum/Targeting and communications systems optical, verbal or thought activated. Gold Eye Lens-auto hue protection. Auditory Buffers.

  •Close Combat Blade System: Armor joint protrusions. Retractable dense micro blades auto activated-Joints-Knees/Elbows/Shoulders.

  •Secondary Weapon Platforms: Left forearm housing mini gyro-jet rocket system. Right forearm housing 30 meter full-extend micro wire. Upper hand gauntlet housing-chem/bio poison gyro-jet darts. Armor hidden mid-back torso-Talon blade. Armor hidden, upper right/left scapula area-dual Katana Swords.

  •Nanite Bio System: Nanite injection system to repair combat injuries that enter the RAS suit.

  Galactic Map

  Ship Technical Data Cell

  ORDINANCE SHIPS

  Designation: Orions Rage CCR-1

  Command: Commander Shenta Parejas

  Type: Capital Command

  Class: Rage

  Length: 3500 Meters

  Built: 258 PE Tyr Shipyards/Sentinel 10 Construction Facility

  Propulsion System: Classified

  Shield System: Classified

  Armaments/Offensive: Pulse Batteries, Torcon Massive Fire Torpedoes, Main Hull Gun Bolts, Field Spread Ion Barrels-All others classified.

  Armaments/Defensive: Auto-Lock Eliminators, Shield Barriers, Constellation Camouflage Screen, Energy Dispensing Unit, Ranclair-Fused Reactive Hull-All others classified.

  Crew: 3000

  Fighter Complement: 500

  Other Ship types: 100

  Troopers: 1000

  Reaver Regiments: Classified

  Designation: Flashpoint FBK-4

  Command: Captain Jeson Takkar

  Type: Fast Attack Battleship

  Class: Kilmora

  Length: 800 Meters

  Built: 265 PE Tyr Shipyards/Sentinel 8 Construction Facility

  Propulsion System: 2-Fusion Star Accelerators 4b/class (8 PLS)

  Shield System: 1-Flencer Grid Array (150 IP)

  Armaments/Offensive: Vapor Rail Guns, Torcon Ducts, Dual Rapid-Fire Plasma Coil, Pulse Batteries, Variable Mines.

  Armaments/Defensive: Auto-Lock Eliminators, Shock-Pul
se System, Constellation Camouflage Screen.

  Crew: 200

  Fighter Complement: None

  Designation: Forcel HCV-2

  Command: Captain Rolon Lensk

  Type: Heavy Carrier

  Class: Veneration

  Length: 1800 Meters

  Built: 263 PE Tyr Shipyards/Sentinel 3 Construction Facility

  Propulsion System: 2-Fusion Star Accelerators 2a/class (5 PLS)

  Shield System: 1-Flencer Grid Array (100 IP)

  Armaments/Offensive: Pulse Batteries

  Armaments/Defensive: Auto-Lock Eliminators, Shock-Pulse System, Constellation Camouflage Screen.

  Crew: 2500

  Fighter Complement: 1500

  Designation: Diligence TAD-12

  Command: Major Dalt Tocmar

  Type: Troop Assault

  Class: Diligence

  Length: 1500 Meters

  Built: 257 PE Tyr Shipyards/Sentinel 3 Construction Facility

  Propulsion System: 2-Fusion Star Accelerator 2b/class (5PLS+QJump)

  Shield System: 1-Flencer Grid Array (100 IP)

  Armaments/Offensive: Orbit to Ground Cannons

  Armaments/Defensive: Auto-Lock Eliminators, Shock-Pulse System, Constellation Camouflage Screen.

  Crew: 450

  Troop Complement: 5000

  Fighter Complement: 48 Storm-Vs Ground Support Fighters (Internal/Extended Braxen Launch Tubes)

  Designation: Suppresser SS-31

  Command: Automated Drones

  Type: Gun Battery/Orbital/Ship Bombardment

  Class: 16M Star Burst

  Crew: None

  Length: 60 Meters

  Built: 240-Present PE Tyr Shipyards/Matizon Arming Station

  Propulsion System: 1-Klenev Mass Dual System (5 PLS)(Auto-Switch/Weapon Systems to Shield Systems)

  Shield System: 1-Flencer Class 9 Solid Array (60 IP)

  Armaments/Offensive: 8 Quad Barrage Guns/On Standby from Defensive Weapon System