by A. D. Nance
OKRON
My Stars and Other Highlights Part Ten
Copyright 2014 A. D. Nance
all rights reserved
except for small portions for reviews or promos
CONTENTS
14: Okron
Next: To Laugh Or To Cry
OKRON
GT A110-9504
Tiny particles fly by the view port. Tiny particles of dust, debris, organic matter, the material of a planet, from a world and time that is no more, deflect off, or stick to the port pane. Okron and all that surrounded it, has been blasted apart into uncountable particles, a mist of interstellar non-existence. This is what Eldon contemplated as his craft slowed to approach the Galaga Alpha, a huge ship, the size of an asteroid. Within its ten kilometer long mass, meet delegations of several star systems periodically to discuss interstellar issues. Built with the cooperation of civilizations of 3 stars, it is in constant active service of the Alpha sector of the galaxy for the foreseeable future. This time it left its agenda for the vicinity of Okron because of the disaster. Eldon was a member of the Singsord delegation on Galaga Alpha. His former excitement and need for trekking through the stars was now replaced by trepidation, uncertainty and a need to just perform his duty. This was because he never knew if he would ever see Salena again when leaving Earth. No longer a Singsord, although still a seeker of the Source, she was content to stay home as Eldon trekked out to the unknown again.
Being on the monstrous Galaga Alpha was like being inside a giant fortress, a fortified citadel plying its way through the galaxy. It gave a sense of security which Eldon was glad for, because Salena would not have to worry so much about his being safe. Of course, most tech developed civilizations were reluctant to admit even individually, that nothing was truly safe and secure in space. Yes, it had the usual meteor defense system, but it could not move faster than sl4. So it could not get out of the way of something too fast or powerful for its defenses. Its design now outdated, precluded it from being taken into high danger areas. It had long been looked upon as a symbol of superior intelligence, cooperation and power in the Alpha sector. And yet on an interstellar scale, it was a mere floating spec of dust.
The outside of Galaga was imposing to most ibees, and the inside was amazing as well. Especially to newcomers like Eldon, it was somewhat overwhelming. A microcosm of the galaxy, it accommodated ibees from all over, not just Alpha sector. A self-contained city, it had permanent residents and everything needed for long term deep space voyages. It was the third time the Singsords were given a position there, and the first time for Eldon.
Some meeting spaces there were cavernous enough to hold thousands. The space granted to the Singsords however, was miniscule, and could barely hold 30 delegates. Though they could tour Galaga and perhaps be an audience member at some of the larger conferences.
The scene at what was Okron was a staggering vacancy that would not be revealed by visible light to Earth for some 20 solar years. Trillions of horrified faces saw the first views of what happened by the galactic beacon. On the outside was a band of fading plasma-like star material, then a band of hotter glowing particles, then a black vortex with occasional streaks of burning masses spiraling to the center. The two planets, Murbon and Wotowon along with several also inhabited moons, had been incinerated. Seven billion ibee lives lost.
Holocausts like this just did not happen, especially in Alpha sector. It was such a devastatingly total destruction that it was hard to believe and accept that it actually happened. The main concern and topic of discussion was why and how it could happen. This is what Eldon and his associates noticed as they listened in on some of the conferences.
"Okron was in mid-life and had no reason to explode."
"There were no warnings of such a thing."
"This had to be caused by an outside force."
"It was something totally anti-order."
"A malevolence intent on causing chaos was responsible."
These were the sentiments of the majority of the participating ibees. There were no definitive answers forthcoming. Only speculations, analysis, com-mentary and lamentations echoed through the halls of Galaga. But this, as useless as it seemed to Eldon, was and is what ibees do. They question, in-vestigate, search and question some more to find out why and how things happen. The relatively few sentient life forms that did not seek answers, but passively accepted anything that happened, were not on the Galaga. By some standards, they were not even considered ibees or intelligent beings, as they were 'non-progressive' beings.
Who or what could have done it? Not even the Dark Lords were capable of destroying a star. The association of ibee civilizations in Alpha sector had maintained peaceable relations for many milenia. They knew that some anti-order groups existed, but had never experienced any attacks on this scale.
Eldon was not satisfied with the official proceedings, so he decided to do his own research and talk to various delegates. That was the most he could do under the circumstances.
The food court was a good place to meet people. Eldon just asked different ones in a friendly way how they felt about the disaster. If they did not say much, he would mention a possible theory that he heard of to see what they would say.
The first one Eldon asked about the disaster was a community counselor from Proxima 2A. He sat detached from his peers, drinking an Alpha Soother mix#27, or ASM27. With a grim expression he answered Eldon, "I can hardly believe this has happened. In all my family's gen-erations nothing like this has happened. Why? We may be entering a new phase in Alpha."
Next, Eldon recognized an SSF uniform. He approached him and saw that he was a fellow Hearthite of Earth in the Sola system. The SSF officer was sitting with a Dorza (female ambassador) from Rigel 5. Eldon sat nearby and listened in on their conversation. He was saying something about an ultimate weapon and then what sounded like a boast that the SSF could "match it if necessary." The Dorza replied in her Rigel voice through the translator, since everyone had standard issue universal translator earpieces or implants, "Doos baad – Moor systmss – moor ibeeess witch weeapons baad caan deestrooy planeitss und staars – Daat tiis reeal proogresss – "
Eldon could detect the sarcasm in her voice even through the translator.He next saw a likely subject for interviewing at the single seats counter near a wall. He was a thin quadrapod with a large head and wearing a robe that Eldon recognized. It was a formal robe worn by scientists on Ben II from the Bendix system. Two of his four arms were holding a sparkling ball. When Eldon sat next to him, he saw that the ibee was not actually touching the ball, but it was suspended between his hands. A third arm was holding a nutrient can with a tube running to the side of the ibee's head. Eldon said 'Hello' to him. There was no response. He tried again. Slowly a fourth arm emerged from the side of his body and started to touch Eldon ever so lightly with the tips of his fingers. He then turned his head toward Eldon and said, "Hearthite. Who are you, an Alpha surveyor?"
"No. I am Eldon from Earth. I'm here with the Singsord delegation."
"Singsords here too?" he said with a note of surprise.
"Yes. I was wondering what you thought about the disaster."
"Stellar devastation. Unprecedented disaster." His sparkling ball stopped rotating, and he continued, "I am working on two possibilities. One is a catastrophic nuclear failure – an accident. The other is an act of terror by a weapon of some kind that caused Okron to explode. The probability for the accident scenario is .12%. I have not completed calculations for the terror scenario, but it probability is much higher. I would estimate 39 to 50 per cent. What is your estimation, Eldon, Singsord from Earth?"
"I really do not have an estimation yet. I am getting opinions of various individuals an
d then I will decide what to believe."
From what Eldon had heard thus far, he was beginning to realize that it was more likely what he had feared – a deliberate act of destruction caused by a weapon designed for that purpose.
The next day in the food court near his quarters he heard this conversation between a soldier from Urza TS9 and a trader from Outpost Cenrus 79: Trader: "Okron was a rich system. Murbon provided Bovichitron bio material for six systems. And Wotowon was the place to find goods that spanned half the galaxy."
Soldier: "This was no coincidence. These planets, at this time when 3 outer systems were on the verge of a concord. I tell you this is the latest, greatest work of the Zeljan Alliance. They want control over those 3 systems."
Trader: "For what purpose?"
Soldier: "To destabilize this sector, Alpha, and launch a war of conquest."
Trader: "That would mean a greater demand for war-related materials. Yes, I see it coming. Security devices, weapons, defense systems carried to the frontier lines of Alpha."
This was the most unsettling conversation thus far for Eldon. The blatant assumption of alliances of planets and star systems against one another to start interstellar war was