»Huh? What the … this is,« Main said surprised.
»Unbelievable!« Hosch added.
Let’s work together
Triton Base
»This space-pod is much smaller than a Hawk and only possesses an undersized propulsion system. It serves mainly as a shuttle between the moons and their planets and can remain in space for a limited amount of time,« Captain McCarthy, the hangar officer explained.
Quork, a Trox scientist was standing beside him. He was excited and constantly retracted his tentacles.
»We’ve been working for quite some time with your engineers and technicians and have developed an anti-detection system for your spacecraft,« he said by means of a universal translation device. »This pod is equipped with a brand new anti-detection system, which has not yet been tested. Unfortunately, the current technological environment didn’t let us fully examine the equipment under real conditions. Be aware that this particular prototype will consume about one-third of your pod’s energy supply.«
»Regardless of the power consumption, that’s still better than nothing,« Nok said to Quork and turned toward Nuri and Hassan. »We selected this pod because it is about the same size as the vessels, flying from the Reusus to the Circle Fortress. All you have to do is to inject yourselves into the flow of goods and containers. You’ll find a small attaché-style suitcase on board the pod, which I want you to smuggle into the Moxa, then all you have to do is open the case and get the heck out of there!«
Nuri anxiously looked at the space pod.
»You want us to fly with this shuttle to the fortress? The Moxantans will notice us immediately. We won’t even get close to the Moxa,« she feared.
»Remember your abilities! At first you’ll make use of the anti-detection technology, provided by the Trox. After that, I hope that Hassan’s abilities will do the rest.«
»Why don’t we leave her here?« Hassan said, nodding at Nuri. »This is a very risky mission. She doesn’t need to come along, you know?«
Nok shook her head.
»You both are a team and have already formed a bondage. Mislead the Kresolytes and the Moxantans while you both are looking after each other. You’re the team! Remember how you two helped against the Moxantans!«
Hassan shook his head, but said, »I’ll try to do my best, Nok, but what if my abilities are failing me ... uh, us? What are your orders in case we become prisoners?«
»In that case, and only if there is no chance of escape, then create an overload condition of the pod’s fusion cell and blow up the Circle Fortress!«
Nok’s eyes had become icy, her voice hard as she gave the fatal order.
Nuri paled. The look on Nok’s face allowed for no further discussion.
My life and that of all other people!
»Take care of yourselves and come back alive,« Nok said.
Hassan looked into Nuri’s eyes and reached out his hand.
»Let’s work together! Let’s get it over with!«
Cookoo-Gene
Uluru Station, a couple of days earlier …
Hectic activity prevailed in the astro-biology laboratory. Inka Haan had received all the resources she had asked for. Additional lab assistants had been assigned to her who were running specific test sequences, even other departments had offered their support to synchronize and share the workload. Inka had unlimited computer capacities at her fingertips.
Jeff sterns walked into the lab, balancing a fresh, steaming triple-cream-triple-sugar coffee. Inka grabbed it with quivering hands … this was her second in less than an hour. Inka sipped the coffee cautiously, giving him an approving glance through the steam.
»I don’t want to know how many strings you pulled to achieve that. Thanks a million, Jeff,« she nodded at him, giving him a thumbs up.
Sterns sat down in one of the lounge chairs in the lab’s small break nook and sipped at his coffee.
»Well … somebody seems to like you upstairs. Oodergoo has given you free reign. He advised me to follow your lead. You seem to be in hot pursuit … I’m proud of you, Inka.«
»I knew it! It has something to do with the octahedron! Why all this secrecy?«
»Don’t forget that Greenland is currently a Frigonan occupation zone. Their spaceship is orbiting Earth above the North Pole. We don’t know if and how they’re listening in on our communication channels. We need to be very cautious. Nobody is supposed to know where the octahedron data is located, even I have no clue.«
»Hmm … so … this genetic blueprint is really coming from this data bank. Maybe it’s just the DNA of the people who had gathered all the information. Perhaps, they wanted to preserve their DNA data for the after world. Maybe, their civilization vanished due to a catastrophe, and then the octahedron functioned as an Ark of Knowledge!«
»I’m convinced that you and your team will find the answers,« Sterns grinned at her. »The medic told me that your stimulation medication will keep you awake for another shift, after that, you’ll go to bed and rest … octahedron data or not.«
Inka nodded.
»Okay, Jeff, I’ll do that.«
»Uh … s’cuse me,« one of the assistants interrupted them, »my name is Anton Valmont, I’m helping with the DNA analysis, you remember me?«
Inka looked up and smiled at the man while she put her cup on the table.
»Yes, I remember, you’re one of the virologists from Carter’s groups. What can I do for you? My boss just told me that we can acquire anything we want.«
Jeff Sterns suppressed a chuckle as he heard Inka offering more resources, which probably would bust the research budgets of several departments.
Valmont greeted Sterns with a nod and handed a holo-tablet to Inka.
»My test runs are not yet completed, but so far, I can already say that we’re dealing with extra-terrestrial DNA! Your information regarding the extra bases of the chain molecule lead me in this direction.«
»Oh, yes, the redundant bases … did you make some progress?« Inka inquired.
Valmont nodded hectically.
»Yes, yes, these bases are not redundant. Not in the literal sense of the word, I might add. They’re attached to the DNA, activating themselves when needed. I’m convinced that we’re dealing with a self-modifying chain molecule, which is able to inject into the DNA, rewriting it in the process.«
Inka straightened in her seat.
»Is this extra-terrestrial DNA dangerous? You know that our gene engineers are about to start some experiments and to reproduce the molecule according to the design template.«
Valmont pointed at his holo-tablet.
»It is extremely dangerous! It can, however, only compromise a limited number of DNA variations. More precisely: It can only attack and manipulate four specific DNAs! I took the liberty and call them: Docking-Bases.«
»Hmm … four different DNAs, you said?« Sterns asked pondering. »How far are they apart from each other? Do they possess the same base or is it possible that they evolved on different planets?«
»In my opinion, they are four entirely different types, which never could have developed on the same world. I know, it sounds crazy, that’s why I need to check further into this matter. I understand …«
»… wait a second!« Inka said. »There are four Circle nations! We don’t know their DNA. Somehow there seems to be thread that ties the different DNA strains together, but where is it?«
»Human DNA cannot be attacked by this strange gene,« Valmont continued. »If, for example, we let this DNA become airborne inside this environment, we won’t even get the sniffles. Our DNA does not contain the necessary docking bases.«
»Well, this artificial gene could mutate and get out of control,« Sterns said. »Perhaps, we’re, nevertheless, vulnerable? We should stop the replication trials, this is too risky!«
»No! The alien DNA cannot mutate! The chain-molecules become unstable and decay immediately, almost like a domino-effect. As long as it can maintain its buildup, it is very stable and
resistant. I simulated it at least a thousand times. Mutations can be ruled out with absolute certainty. This perfection is fascinating. This DNA cannot have evolved naturally. I’m certain that it was designed by intelligent beings! Designed for a specific purpose!«
Inka felt cold and pulled up her shoulders.
If he’s right, then this is an unbelievable discovery.
»Did you backup your findings on a secure memory bank?« she asked Valmont, who nodded in return.
Inka removed the holographic memory chip from the tablet and gave it to a computer specialist who was sitting nearby over a coffee, watching their conversation with interest.
Moments later, she got up and went back into the lab.
»We will scale down our trials temporarily to obtain more computational power and run Valmont’s finding through the central computer. This has the highest priority!«
Valmont had followed her into the lab and nodded.
Inka smiled at him and said, »We haven’t given a name to this gene yet. Would you like to name it?«
Antonio Valmont blushed.
»Well … how about … uhm … Cookoo-Gene?«
»Cookoo-Gene?«
»Well, like the Cookoo bird who lays his eggs in other birds’ nests. Our gene injects itself into other alien DNA and waits for an activation trigger, whatever that might be. What occurs then is still unknown to us. I fear, however, it won’t be good for the ones affected.«
Is this a bad joke
Triton Base …
The small, egg-shaped spaceship lifted off from the guide rails and flew into space. The cockpit was just big enough to accommodate two people – Nuri Jawa and Hassan Khalil. Nuri seemed anxious and sat stiff in her seat.
The front of the small ship was covered with a transparent nose section, making the passengers believe to fly through space in an armchair.
»You don’t like to fly?« Hassan said before activating the disguise field.
»I don’t like flying to my death, no,« Nuri replied with a shaky voice.
»Why do you think that? We don’t know what awaits us. I prefer to think that we’ll come back healthy after this mission. Think positive, then you’ll come back in one piece.«
Nuri chuckled.
»S’cuse me, Hassan, but you sound like a space trooper on a risky mission. I came to Triton to study extra-terrestrial beings. I did not expect to go on a combat mission.«
»I understand,« Hassan said dryly. »Actually, I only wanted to explore new technologies … and now look at me … I am new technologies. I’d never dreamed that the technology would amalgamate and fuse with my metabolism. I believe that somehow every researcher is also a warrior of some sort. The Circle Nations are promising study objects. Did you come to a conclusion yet about the interactions between these people and their behaviors?«
Nuri noticed that Hassan wanted to distract her from the mission. They still had to fly for twenty minutes before they’d reach the Moxa, time enough to talk about other stuff.
»I looked at the material. I think your analysis is correct, Hassan. The Moxantans didn’t feel well on Triton. Circle General Exterminator has returned to his ship immediately after the invasion. The remaining invaders were edgy, aggressive and unpredictable. We assumed that it had something to do with their alien nature. In reality this could have been a reaction to the unfamiliar environment. They wanted to return to their ships, into their habitats on board the ships.«
Hassan Khalil nodded.
»Your assessments equal mine. I think that the Kresolytes are exploiting this need. Perhaps, the Circle Fortress also shields them from the Moxantans.«
»What about the Frigonans and the Quadranans? Why are they attacking their allies?«
»I don’t know,« Hassan said with a shrug. »The Moxantans hate the Frigonans, but I can’t say why that is. I thought at first that it had something to do with a symbiosis-like environment, which forces the Kresolytes, Moxantans and Quadranans to sacrifice members of their societies to become hosts for the Frigonans. At first it sounded abstruse, but the circle people seem to let this happen with little resistance.«
»Could it be then that the Frigonans are the actual lead nation, the most powerful people within this alliance?«
»We’ll see,« Hassan said in short, staring absentmindedly.
Nuri watched the growing shadow of the Circle Fortress against Neptune’s blue backdrop.
»What’re you doing, Hassan?« Nuri felt a cold shower running down her back as she sensed Hassan’s bio-electric aura – which had nothing Human about it.
»What do you see?« he wanted to know.
»I’m absorbing your aura. To me it seems as if you’re engulfed in flames.«
»I’d give a month’s salary, if I could see myself like that,« he said. »Currently, I’ve linked myself into the neuronal computer here on board. I can’t explain how my mind and body can do this. My senses are exploring the disguise field projector which in turn lets me see the surroundings space. I can mentally manipulate the Trox field. I can see the ship’s technology as you can see my bio-electric aura. The neuronal processors seem to be breathing. They’re like living organisms to me.«
Nuri looked at Hassan’s hands, which were calmly resting on the armrests of his seat. She twitched as she saw hair-like nano conductors extending from his fingertips into the console in front of him.
»Don’t be afraid,« Hassan said to her as she began hyperventilating. »There’s no danger, it just looks strange, that’s all. I’m actually trying to help.«
»Why are you doing this?« she shuddered.
»I do not trust the Trox field and am trying to improve its performance,« he said calmly. »Despite the disguise field, the Moxantans could still be able to detect us. I’m relying more on my instincts and my newly acquired abilities.«
Hassan fell into a state of deep concentration.
Nuri looked around, she had never before piloted a spaceship.
What am I supposed to do if Hassan doesn’t wake up from his trance in time?
Suddenly, she became dizzy and supported herself with one hand on the transparent cockpit window.
What’s going on with me?
The deep black background of space suddenly changed color …
It’s turning red! That can’t be right?
»Hassan, what’s happening …?« she gurgled.
Nuri instinctively closed her eyes as she noticed a bright flash of light. The surrounding had changed as she opened her eyes again. The small spaceship was now much closer to the Moxa, surrounded by thousands of silver-shining small space vessels, each about five meters long and shaped like cylinders.
»What the …,« she moaned. »We’re indistinguishable from these other vessels. Wait … how did we get here this quickly?
I can’t believe it! she thought
Hassan seemed disoriented for a moment, then he nodded with a smile.
»I just shortened the flight time by jumping with the ship. I had to drastically reduce the possibility of detection. We won’t be noticed amongst these vessels that easily. This will increase our chances to board the Moxa.«
Nuri shook her head in disbelief.
»What are you trying to tell me? How was this supposed to work … this short jump? This ship does not possess a faster-than-light propulsion system!«
»Who cares, were here, right?«
Hassan grinned.
»It was you!« she whispered. »How did you do that? Did you manipulate time again?«
»I can’t explain it. In moments of extreme danger, the Human mind can do many unexpected things. I could feel how the cosmic energy was literally flowing through me. I just made use of it. I didn’t cause a temporal anomaly; I just took a route via the tachyon continuum. It was really simple …«
Nuri sighed. She was shivering.
He can move through space and time by means of his mental powers. Where does this power come from? Is this the result of his amalgamation with degenerat
ed technology…?
Nuri noticed a vessel floating close by.
»I’m seeing an aura, Hassan. There are living beings on board.«
Hassan steered the small ship onto a new route and followed the object. Its course would lead them straight into a wide and dark opening of the still unfinished Moxa.
»I can see these beings also…,« Hassan said, »… certainly, in a different way than you. Our observations can, however, be very well correlated. Nok was right … we’re a great team. It seems that many people are being transferred inside these containers, they’re not all Moxantans!«
The small spaceship had not been detected yet. Nuri couldn’t tell if it was due to the Trox shield or the many, other small ships and containers in this area. Nuri suspected that Hassan was also doing his part in preventing an early detection.
»These beings are not moving! They’re stacked like sardines in a can. I find that strange,« Nuri said. »I have no idea why the Moxantans are doing this. Don’t they have more comfortable spaceships? Why are these people cramped in like that? There are also some puzzling signals from theses containers.«
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell over the small spaceship as it entered a giant opening. They were flying inside the Moxa.
»Don’t be afraid. We’re safer inside the fortress than in outer space. The battle ship can no longer penetrate the Moxa with its scanners.«
»How do you know that?« Nuri said, fidgeting.
»Because my own senses are also affected inside this bastion.«
»The fortress is not finished yet. Don’t just think about their technology, we could be found by the crew or other people already on board this object. I can imagine that they would already have working defensive systems. We need to be very careful.«
The small ship followed the stream of containers which were now dividing into several streams. The surroundings appeared threatening, cold and dark.
»Where are we, Hassan? Do you see this too?« she said and cleared her throat several times.
The pre-formed pieces looked as if the fortress was built from bricks. There were no clear lines, no levels and no decks. The fortress interior seemed porous like a perforated sponge with holes and rigid surfaces. Bubble-like caverns connected with winding tunnels which led to other openings, forming a really strange looking maze.
NEBULAR Collection 5 - Panic in the Galaxy: Episodes 22 - 26 Page 17