MILDRATAWA

by Nigel Clayton

  Planets Basbi triad, Zirclon, Erulstina, Alza Ningh, Mistachept, Vudd, and Negabba, were seated at the round table which normally seated as many as 35 persons; a much smaller representation than the meetings at Mildratawa Earth. At present only nineteen representatives sat attentive.

  Bahan Tumick remained seated and spoke into the mike; “It’s always been understood that there would be some type of Verton force to contend with sooner or later. It’s a naive person that believes that all resistance, of all description, could be wiped out forever. The spans of the galaxy are just too vast to comprehend, or realistically consider as being under constant surveillance. The probes that we do have in the folds of space are doing a good job, but their numbers are what concern us. As all are aware, all planet systems of the Mildratawa have been held personally responsible for particular areas of concern: But the sheer vastness!”

  Crabach Zimoily from Vudd spoke: “We’re all aware of this, it does require pointing out as an excuse for the incompetence of surveying the expanse of folded space. Even the earth was incompetent at monitoring all of travelled space, and so will all planets that follow in this, our own ancestor’s footsteps. But incompetence in this area will have to be shaken by means of stronger vows in other areas. We have done much in recent months to conquer violence and to maintain peace. To stamp out incompetence, I firstly suggest, that our probes are doubled in number, and that forces protecting key installations, and vulnerable planets, be tripled.”

  Ozrammoz looked from one official to the next, growing tired of their basic commands for the increase of forces. “I want to remind everyone, right here and now, that it’s my planet which stands under-weight of your accusations, when in fact you’re the guilty party. I’ve stretched my forces as far as I dare. I have little armed force on Alza Ningh, my portenium cruisers are spread throughout the galaxy in such a manner that it’s absolutely impossible to speak with any four commanders at any one time. I can’t, and will not, sit here and have the finger pointed at my people for the lack of police that support the interests of the Mildratawa. I say that all of you are responsible for taking an interest into the goings on of all law. I alone should not be put to blame.”

  “No one is blaming you or anyone else. All are responsible.” Bahan sat back down. “We’re simply trying to point out the facts, and that is that we need to improve and increase the security of the galaxy. The numbers on which the robot police of Verton have reported is phenomenal. Not only do we need to worry ourselves over the escaped legion, but also what actions we’re going to take against the planet Verton itself.”

  “Expelling it from existence can’t be carried out as promised.” Muutampai said. “They haven’t yet fired a shot against any other planet but their own. So robots were terminated, what right does that give us to retaliate?”

  Decara Simbati became restless. “I don’t believe my ears. After all that’s happened. Verton must be expelled; they have fired shots against the Mildratawa; against Mildratawa law and its forces. What’ll be next? They’ll be planning their next move this very minute.”

  “You are correct,” Bahan concurred. “We’ll have to vote without all representation. If we have more than a two third vote for expulsion, then that’s the road we’ll take. Any less and a full meeting will have to be forecast.” He looked around now at the silence. “All those in favour of expulsion raise your hand.” Sixteen hands were raised. Verton would be expelled from the galaxy. The meeting on other matters was not yet over and it continued well into the afternoon.

  PLANET EQUATIA.

  THE PALACE.

  Another meeting for the powering heads of government, to the planets of Quadrant Three, was under way. Doug had made himself available by personal request of the Queen Druad Asti. His two rewarded generals (Tiny Ballow and Mintou Ati) stood frontal to the final agreement of amalgamation.

  The formal leader to planet Equatia (Mimbar Stu) was also present during the meeting and available for the more important signing of all agreements. He’d been very busy with the construction and administration tasks evolved around the forming of the small force of 10,000 on Nougstia. The importance of his attendance was signature orientated only; it seemed that his hands were always dirty with other errands that appeared more important to the Queen.

  All of the minor changes to their new constitution had been ironed out the day before and what sat to their fronts was the final agreement for the coming together of all of the planets in their Quadrant. Already their wealth had grown. By simple signature, all of their resources and exports came under the same control measures and distribution act. Laws into the maintenance of order had been agreed upon and taxes had been sifted through an irrigation of channels so that the barest minimum would be squandered from the pockets of Quadrant Three’s citizens. Taxes were not to be placed into unwarranted areas of spending. On a given command, all governments would be operating under the same banner and the jungles of their planets would be dispersed evenly amongst the occupants to each planet with only three fifths held at bay for government use; farmers were decree a more substantial acreage. Materials and machinery for the erection of dwellings and clearance of particular circles of land had been brought in from all corners of the galaxy. A better society than before was being born. The plans for a better life had arrived very quickly. It was now up to the strength of each individual as to whether he or she could handle the advancement mentally and come to grips with the new situation. Special transmitter stations had been put into effect as the word of the signing was passed through these channels of communication, communications that so recently didn’t exist but now linked each of the planets with great clarity.

  They were now known as the Federate and their combined armed force of 10,000 known as the Protectors of the Federate.

  Once the meeting had come to its conclusion Doug accompanied Tiny and Mintou out through the corridors of the Queen’s palace followed closely by Mimbar. “I’m sure you can understand my predicament Tiny. I’m not one for violence these days; and although the Protectors are a peaceful force, who’s main task is the protection of Quadrant Three, I hate to take too much of a major role in its running. I’m handing the leadership to you Mintou, from here on in.” Doug stopped in his tracks before continuing. He shot a glance over towards a doorway that led down towards the dungeon. A large rat had made its way to the ground floor. “Damn rodents!”

  Tiny saw the disgust that Doug now felt. He reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a stone, the Boumutah that he’d taken from the cave where he’d hidden during the Verton atrocities. He slapped his hand to his side and pulled the sling he carried from his belt – a habit he had picked up months before, sling shooting during times of heavy thought. He loaded the stone without realising which it was; his gem, the one he wanted made into a totem of remembrance. He swung it in wide circles above his head before setting it off across the room. It missed.

  The rat just sat and sniffed at the seeping moisture along the skirting. Mintou pulled his weapon from his holster and looked at Tiny. “You’ve no idea do you. Let me show you how it’s done.” He took aim and fired a shot. It missed the rat; but hit the stone. The laser entered the crystal and spent itself in similar contrast to that of a spectrum of light. It shot off into many a direction; the single laser shot was now split into 24 separate bolts of light that snapped out at the corridor walls surrounding them. Holes burnt black in the surrounding stonewalls and the bodies of all four men hit the floor hard to escape the devastating rays of light. A few short seconds later and they stood.

  “By God! What happened?” Doug was transfixed. Mimbar moved over to the Boumutah that lay on the stone floor.

  Mimbar picked it up, undamaged. He stared at it as he rotated the gem in his fingers. It was cold. It glittered and seemed to wink at him. He looked up to the others and broke the silence. “I’ll take this for a crystallography report.” He left. The stunned faces around slowly shook what they saw from their eyes, and almost imm
ediately understood the power of which they had just discovered.

  QUADRANT SEVEN.

  NEGABBAN’S MOON.

  The dying cries of Pasnadinko’s men finally brought confirmation of the beast, each of the parties coming under assault – sooner or later. Unknowingly the men of the Ziggurat continued with their mining, far from the safety of their ship, even as the beast made its approach. The losses to the workers were of no great concern to Pasnadinko, the mining of the most important radioactive substance was.

  There would be no hiding the presence of the beast now. He would have no choice but to abandon the mining and flee to Earth for the other requirements. According to his scientist’s calculations, he had enough compressed ore for the possible annihilation of three large planets; a quantity that suited his needs, although he did feel robbed of the opportunity to bring to its knees more than three such planets.

  He forced himself to appear concerned for the welfare and loss of the men and broadcast his intentions to abandon the face of the moon as soon as possible.

  The remaining two mining groups took little time to react to the message sent and within a few short hours had the ore loaded and ready for the trip to Earth. Most of the men felt like children again, on a tour of mystery, back to their home planet after so many months of mining in an area that had no view other than that of the vastness of space, white rock and craters.

  The trip was surprisingly short and all were more than pleased to be leaving behind the worst place they’d ever known. No one had time to consider El Pasadora, and Pasnadinko wasn’t about to search him out. They’d heard little since his descent into Negabba.

  But all of that was behind them now.

  The navigator maintained his watch on the screen to his front as the earth came into visual and automatic scanning of the space boundary was taken into hand. “Sir. The scanner shows that the surrounding space is void of spacelab existence. All I have is recognition of recently burnt gases from a possible explosion at four different points around the space boundary itself; as though the monitoring ships have been blown from existence.”

  “What about the surface Navigator?”

  “Nothing at this stage, sir.”

  Keep monitoring. Lieutenant Brab.” Brab turned on his heel to face Pasnadinko whom sat relaxed in his captain’s chair with forearms resting comfortably on its padded sides in a manner that showed and boasted his control over all of the ship. “What misfortunes, or luck, do you think that this has bestowed upon us?”

  He peered confused before the concept of the question fell upon him. “Misfortune in the fact that a ship from the Mildratawa will arrive to investigate, and luck in the view that we save ourselves the trouble of disintegrating the labs.”

  “Yes. But let’s not forget the opposite. Fortunate that a message was probably not sent to the Mildratawa, and unfortunate that someone is here in a force sizeable— to what?

  “A large force, I believe; large enough to take care of the labs in one foul swoop.”

  “What nationality Brab?”

  “Possibly— Verton, sir.”

  “Naturally. Navigator.”

  “Sir.”

  “Scan for a Verton constructed ship, allow the computer to scan all variables such as gas excretions and activate heat sensors. I think you’ll find Brab, that our guest here is sizeable, but not equipped, or prepared, to confront a cloaked ship. Navigator, head for the region of Australia, there should be ore enough there. Ensure the area is clean of radiation. If it isn’t we’ll send a small party down to excavate our needs.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The Ziggurat continued on its slow descent into the dying atmosphere of Earth. All vegetation appeared dead and many a land mass now lay under the level of the ocean. The heat of the days brought on a heavy evaporation of water, which in turn cloaked the sky in a vast spread of darkening cloud. The heat was stifling and rain fell constantly. Pasnadinko was surprised to find that the scanners had picked up vast areas of growing forest and harboured fruits in small regions of Australia, each seemingly unaffected by nuclear waste – or blast – of the 21st Century. It appeared contrast to that of a coin, dry, humid, and uninhabitable in one region and then vast, green, and soaked to the brim in moisture in another.

  “I’m picking up a life form now.” The navigator cupped his hand over his ear, blocking the sound of the bridge from that which he was now picking up. “It’s Verton alright, sir.” The navigator swivelled in his seat. “The engine thrusters have just been turned off. An ellat fighter.”

  “Just one Navigator?”

  “Just the one, sir.”

  “Well Brab. What’s say we take a look at our guest?”

  The Ziggurat approached the sight that had been recorded. The screen to the front of Pasnadinko came alive with the song of wild bird song and the colour of lush green foliage. Picturesque vines wrapped tree trunks with a softened touch, growing up their lengths in mutual existence and agreement. Butterflies flew softly on the light breeze that rustled the leaves and surrounding beauty with a touch of serenity never seen by Pasnadinko before.

  The ship came to a hover and all eyes watched in amazement, that such a devastated planet could harbour such beauty. The navigator continued to play at his console as he panned across the view of the scenery. “The scene you see, sir, is of very small acreage. The forest you see is 100 by 200 metres in size. Out from that is nothing but hundreds of kilometres of ocean. This is a lucky piece of ground. The heat outside is in its high forties, and only maintained at that temperature due to cyclonic winds to the North and constant falling rains which come in from the West. A low trough exists in the region and it appears that a forge of cool energy is sucked from the ground on which it rests; it’s like the temperature here is well regulated, sir.”

  “It means little to us, Navigator.” Pasnadinko brought his attention back to what concerned him. “Where’s this Verton?”

  “Twenty metres ahead.”

  “Hidden by the foliage no doubt. Take us to a point just on the edge of the forest and make for a landing; hover just above the ocean’s surface if you must. I want to explore this area and meet with our ally.”

  Pasnadinko and six others were soon on the ground, travelling by foot, and just fifty metres from the unsuspecting Verton. They made their approach slowly with Pasnadinko himself third in the order of march. Although the area was lush and thick with greenery, the move was relatively easy. They soon came within visual of the Verton, whose back was turned to face them. He was eating something. His ellat rest to his front and the side door was open. Soft foliage was crushed beneath the heavy vessel that seemed to be held up by some of the very vines that it was crushing. It was very unstable on the platform of greenery.

  The front two men slipped left and right, at the same instant pointing their weapons in the direction of the Verton. He heard this and turned. “Pasnadinko?”

  “Is that you, Vetty?” Pasnadinko eyed the filthy Verton, stains of red over his clothing and a face practically unrecognisable through the filth.

  “Yes. It’s me, Vetty. I arrived a few hours ago.”

  “You look hungry.”

  “Trying to keep my energy up for the slaughter of the Mildratawa.” He laughed slightly and walked up to Pasnadinko after throwing the fruit he held to the ground. “I don’t have much of a force left I’m afraid; not for the keeping of my word by any means.”

  “We’ll have to see whether we can contact some legion then.” Pasnadinko held his hand out; bringing felt surprise to his men. “I’m happy to meet with you face to face, Vetty.”

  “You’re a surprise in yourself. What brings you here?”

  “Searching for ore, to complete my tally of substances for a weapon of great destruction, a weapon which puts your mind scans to shame.”

  “I’m not sure about that, Pasnadinko. It’s a very good weapon.”

  “I’m sure. But let’s get out of here. Come and have a feed with me as my guest.
Is there anything you need to gather from your ellat.”

  “No. Nothing.”

  “Good. Then we’ll be gone. Come.”

  They left the scene behind them. Vetty was unsure of how to accept Pasnadinko. He knew he was a hard man and that he took little criticism; and Pasnadinko knew that siding with Vetty would aid in his beating the Mildratawa as more Verton forces had to exist somewhere; and he needed these to do his bidding – whether they knew it or not.

  The crew of the Ziggurat had come to know Pasnadinko and realised that he was up to no good in the way that he treated Vetty. Flavoured fluids and a good morsel of a meal were placed in front of Vetty and he commenced to eat feverishly; although it wasn’t long before he’d had his fill.

  He leant back into the seat and let out a breath of satisfaction. “That was good Pasnadinko, very good.”

  “Our pleasure Vetty. Now tell us, what are you doing in these parts?”

  He pondered whether he should allow himself to tell of his message and decided that it mattered little. “I’ve sent a message across the expanses of the space notifying all legion of my whereabouts. I told them to meet me at the QEM-gate entrance near Siest; but I had to come to Earth to send it. I was famished beyond belief and decided to land. If there is any Legion still capable, or free, then they’ll be within reach of that quadrant before the next sunrise. I left a probe near the QEM-gate of Siest, a spy of sorts.”

  “That’s fine enough Vetty. But the shooting of the monitoring labs during your descent to Earth, were they capable of getting a message out to the Mildratawa?”

  “I don’t think so. The last one targeted may have done, but I was too exhausted to think correctly. I failed to monitor all frequencies.”