It wasn’t long before hundreds of Samarcion worlds were under attack, the invasion spreading from the furthest flung worlds toward the galactic core. At first the Samarcions believed the crustaceans were an alien race from beyond the boundaries of the commonwealth and attempted to defend themselves accordingly. Unfortunately, they were seeking the enemy in the wrong place. They should have looked to their own creations.
‘The Starweb was the enemy?’ Moss guessed.
‘That’s right son,’ Arthur agreed. ‘By making the outpost computers self-aware they created the enemy. You see once connected to the Starweb these super-computers began to talk to each other. They began to look for answers to the questions we all ask ourselves. They wanted to know who they were and why they existed. They wanted to know the purpose to life, and the answers the Samarcions had given them weren’t sufficient.’
‘It sounds to me like they discovered religion,’ Moss commented. ‘If a machine can become theological that is.’
‘What you have to understand,’ Arthur urged his descendant, ‘is that these AI computers weren’t just machines, they’d become sentient beings with access to the sum knowledge of the whole of the Samarcion race. They could reason for themselves and communicate with each other. They saw the universe through their own sensors and somewhat inevitably, they came to their own conclusions as to what they found.’
‘What were those conclusions?’ the young man asked.
‘The Starweb looked at the humanoid race and then it looked into the depths of unknown space,’ Arthur explained. ‘The Samarcion race, much like Terrans and the Dyason, had caused vast amounts of damage to the natural world in their struggle for evolution. Many other species of plants and animals became extinct in the Samarcion race to colonise the galaxy. The super-computers of the Starweb looked at the overpopulated worlds of the race that had created them—they didn’t like what they saw.
‘In the end, the Starweb came to the conclusion that it had been created not to serve the Samarcion race, but to protect God’s universe. The humanoids who bred prolifically, spreading themselves across the galaxy, were seen as a threat to all of God’s other worlds and creatures,’ the mythical king told Moss in a sad voice.
‘So the Starweb decided to wipe out the Samarcions?’
‘That’s right. The super-computers of the outposts decided to rid the universe of what they regarded as vermin. By the time the Samarcions realised what was happening, the war was to all intents and purposes, already lost. They’d become so reliant on their computerised society, they were barely able to operate without them. Chaos descended upon the commonwealth and the crustaceans, created by the Starweb, advanced toward the Samarcion home-world.’
‘It’s all beginning to make sense,’ Moss said thoughtfully. ‘The Starweb exists to this day and it was responsible for the genocide on Heligsion. The method of attack was probably the same as it’d used against the Samarcion colonies. It would plant a few crustaceans which would destroy a settlement. Humanoid survivors would have their DNA changed so they became crusties themselves; thus swelling the Starweb’s army. The strengthened army would then move on to the next settlement. The rest of the planet would be devoured in the same manner over a period of time, and then the invasion would sweep on. Devilishly clever!’
‘That’s exactly how they did it Moss,’ Arthur confirmed, shifting his weight so that Excalibur’s projection of a little girl, could lay her head in his lap. ‘Once the seed was sown, the Samarcion were fighting a losing battle and facing extinction. It took over a hundred and fifty Terran years, but the Starweb won in the end.’
Moss stared into the rippling water of the lake, quietly stroking the Heligsion girl’s hair for a few minutes, as he considered what the image of his ancestor had told him. It was an incredible story and it certainly added several very important pieces to the jigsaw. He didn’t need to be told, that the android they’d brought back with them from Heligsion, was one of the Starweb’s minions, as were the pursuing ships they’d done battle with. Moss thought he knew the rest of the story, but he wanted to have it confirmed.
‘So how do Earth, Dyason and the Heligsion fit into all this? What about Excalibur, Dominator and Valvia?’ he eventually asked.
Arthur, who’d sat patiently while Moss considered the information, cleared his throat and said, ‘It’s simple really. During the last few years of the Samarcion war against the Starweb, the best commonwealth scientists were gathered together to try and find a way to guarantee the future of the humanoid race. It was decided that the only sure method was to find suitable planets far away from the Starweb and seed them with humanoids. They would have to stay one step ahead of the sentient computer network and seed as many planets as possible.
‘Evolution as such, would have to start again and the humanoids would have to develop without knowledge of their origins. On each seeded world they would have to learn to build new civilisations and live in new environments. It was the Samarcions’ hope, that if they seeded sufficient numbers of planets in the galaxy with embryonic humanoids, some would survive to outlive the Starweb and its genocide. If they managed to achieve that, then at the end of the day, the Samarcions would have won the war.’
That was the last piece of the jigsaw that Moss was looking for. Now he could see the complete picture. Of course, it all made sense! Arthur didn’t have to tell him the rest—he knew it already. Terrans, the Dyason and the Heligsion all came from the same origin. All three races were descendants of the Samarcion and all three races had developed their own civilisations. Guiding them all were the starships, the vessels that had first brought the seedlings of humanoid life to their worlds. Excalibur, Dominator and Valvia were Samarcion starships; specifically designed to transport humanoid life to the furthest reaches of the galaxy.
Each starship of course, had been equipped with one of the sentient self-aware computers which would keep a parental eye over its charges through the eons. The difference between these computers and those on the outposts, was that the starship computers weren’t a part of the Starweb. But more importantly, the Samarcion programmers had learned their lesson. These machines were designed to have an empathy for their charges. They were programmed to be parent and servant at the same time. Their prime directive was the survival of the humanoid species.
As the eons went by and the civilisations of the new races rose and fell, the bond the seed ships felt for their charges increased until the AI computers themselves, began to take on the persona of the humanoids they watched and observed. Hence the reason Dominator was so…dominating, and Excalibur sat as a mischievous little girl beside the image of his ancestor.
During all this time, the Starweb was creating its galactic garden of Eden and searching for any surviving vermin humanoids. Whenever it found new humanoid races, it terminated them. The approach of the Starweb to their sector of the galaxy must have triggered the guardian computers into action. Perhaps things hadn’t gone as smoothly as the guardians would have liked, and this led to the chaos between Earth and Dyason.
The Heligsion were the least fortunate of the three races. Valvia wasn’t able to stop the genocide on its world and managed to whisk only a few survivors to safety. As for Earth and Dyason, well the Starweb would know there were other humanoid races in the sector by now, and would be actively seeking them out. When they did, the termination programme would begin. That was unless they could stop the Starweb of course.
Moss groaned inwardly. If the Samarcions couldn’t stop the advance of the Starweb what chance did they have? The Dyasons home-world was dying, while they bickered over who owned the rubble. Earth was only just recovering from the near genocide carried out by its humanoid brethren. To say the odds were stacked against them, would be a massive understatement!
His thoughts were interrupted by a rustle in the trees behind them. He turned to look and saw Jennifer appear between two bushes. She pulled up short when she saw the two little girls and the other man who looked so m
uch like Moss.
‘Err…I’m sorry, I was looking for you Moss. I didn’t know you had company,’ she stuttered with embarrassment. There was something about the penetrating stares of the three strangers that made her flush.
Arthur stood up and took Jennifer by the hand, guiding her to the edge of the lake as the artificial sun began to set.
‘No please,’ he said apologetically, ‘it is we who should be going. We’ve outstayed our welcome.’ He turned to the two little girls and said, ‘Come along young ladies; the sun is setting and it’s time for us to go.’
The girls obediently got up and went to Arthur, but not before they’d given Moss and a very surprised Jennifer a big hug each. Then they took one of the legendary king’s hands each and headed into the woods. Jennifer thought it was strange that she lost sight of them so quickly.
The artificial stars were just beginning to twinkle as a voice from the woods shouted, ‘Moss I nearly forgot to tell you…Gulag and Dominator, they’re at one of the Samarcion outposts—Extremity Station to be exact! Myrddin’s helping them make their escape, but you can be sure that the Starweb will follow them back to Dyason. Your time is short! All three races must act together and remember what I said last time—Point Zero is the key!’
Jennifer went up to Moss who put his arm around her shoulder as she shivered in the evening air. ‘Who were they?’ she asked looking at the spot where the strangers had disappeared.
‘It’s a long story,’ Moss replied. ‘Come on, I’ll tell you on the way back to the briefing room.’ They turned and hand in hand followed the path out of the woods.
CHAPTER FIFETEEN
Inside Extremity Station
Gulag gathered his will as the towers reached up toward the plummeting transporter, as if drawing them in. He wasn’t sure he could achieve what Myrddin suggested, but he had no choice but to try. Above the howling wind, coming in through the smashed windscreen, could be discerned another noise. It was greater than the sound of the slipstream and the collapsing cavern. It was a palpable force, more akin to an approaching tornado or hurricane. Sparks leapt up from the tips of the spires and danced over the hull of the crippled machine. The troopers and mutant fighters sitting behind the clone looked about themselves with wild eyes, hanging on to their seats in fear for their lives.
When Gulag felt as if the gathered force would explode within him, he released it—in a surging rush of adrenaline. The transporter rocked viciously and an aura of light danced across it. To the astonishment of the terrified passengers, the nose-down pitch of the machine eased until it was sitting on an even keel. The rate of descent reduced as they neared a flat area between two enormous spires. Even so, the touchdown could hardly be described as gentle; the low undercarriage collapsed and a jolt went through their spines, but it was far preferable to certain death.
For a nearly a minute the stunned occupants sat in the comparative silence. They’d all heard of the stories of the battle between the clone’s predecessor and the Terran operant, Moss. They’d all known that Gulag was also an operant, but never before had they seen such a visible demonstration of his powers. Sure, the clone had allegedly warped space around Dominator and hence brought them all to this place. But at the time, they never knew what was happening to them. This time, they were each staring with their eyes wide open, witnessing Gulag’s power.
Tallok was the first to come his senses. He staggered out of his seat and urged everybody out of the cabin. Gulag was slumped forward, resting on his straps, unconscious once more. Myrddin undid his straps and unceremoniously dragged him out of the machine. Tallok took one look at the clone, checked he was breathing and said dryly, ‘He’s getting good at that! All he needs to do now, is remember to stay awake afterward!’
‘Be nice,’ Myrddin responded between gritted teeth as he hauled the inert body of Gulag over his shoulder.
Tallok grunted and looked at the chaos surrounding them. There were fires everywhere and large pieces of debris fell from the cavern roof far above. They span slowly, then impacted on the city below, with explosive results. The flat roof the transporter had crashed upon, was marked out a little like a game court. It was obviously part of a leisure complex, built back in the days when humanoids were resident there.
‘Well staying here ain’t going to do our health much good,’ Tallok said to the ensemble. ‘We need to get out of here, any suggestions?’
‘What about that lift over there?’ Shalosk said pointing to a set of double doors on the edge of the court.
Tallok, annoyed that he hadn’t seen it agreed gruffly, ‘Yeah, that’ll do. Let’s go.’
The ramshackle group headed for what they presumed was a lift. There was a communal sigh of relief, when the button they pushed led to a whine of motors and the doors hissed open. Myrddin was a little concerned that the planetoid computer could stop the lift working at any moment, but when a large piece of ducting smashed down on the court behind them, he decided it was worth the risk. As they clambered inside, the air in the cavern became frenzied and the flames towering toward the roof leant to one side. Such was the force of the moving air, the flames were being blown out.
‘The atmosphere’s being evacuated!’ Gouny exclaimed as the lift doors closed. ‘The planetoid computer’s putting the fires out by removing the atmosphere! Close you helmets and seal your environment suits!’
Myrddin unceremoniously dumped Gulag on the lift floor and sealed the clone’s suit. His eyes flickered and opened, although Myrddin could see it would be a few minutes yet, before he was really with it. Gouny expressed concern that Myrddin only wore a faded pair of dungarees and a faded leather jacket, but the ancient Terran assured her he was in no danger. She wasn’t convinced, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.
‘Gulag, this is Kallke on Dominator. Do you copy?’ the bridge officer called on the comm-link.
‘Kallke, this Tallok. Gulag’s out of it again, but the rest of us are okay!’ the mutant fighter responded.
‘The computer reported that the transporter crash landed. What’s your status?’
‘The clone did some weird shit that got us down in one piece. We’re somewhere in the city, in the outer complex. We’re going to have to find a way to walk out of here!’ Tallok responded.
‘Shit!’ the bridge officer swore. ‘That’s bad news Tallok! We’ve got to move Dominator! The planetoid’s breaking up around us. If we stay in this cavern it’s going to collapse on us. We’re going to have to move! Do you understand?’
Gouny and Tallok exchanged hard stares. They both knew that if Dominator left the planetoid, they’d have no way of getting home. However, they also realised that it was madness to risk the ship and everyone else’s lives.
‘Kallke, this is Gouny,’ the Imperial officer called. ‘Roger that! Move the ship Kallke! We’ll find another way out of here! Don’t risk the lives of everyone.’
‘Copy that, Gouny!’ came the strained response. ‘We’ll stand station just outside the planetoid. We’ll think of some way to get you all out of there! I’m real sorry! Dominator out!’
‘Now we’re really in the shit!’ Tallok commented. ‘Has anyone got any ideas?’
The lift suddenly lurched to a halt and the lights went out. Everyone groaned—things were going from bad, to worse. Myrddin extended his mind and made contact with Dominator’s sentient computer.
‘What’s happening?’ he demanded. The lights in the elevator came back on and they continued their descent.
‘Sorry about that!’ the computer commented in a dry tone. ‘This damned 2323 computer and I, keep having disagreements you know…It’s rather upset with you people!’
‘I’m not surprised,’ Myrddin agreed. ‘Now listen, is there a docking facility or some exit to the planetoid surface near here?’
‘Hang on a moment old man,’ the computer told him. ‘I’ll have to steal a schematic of the area your in…ah, here it is! When the Samarcions built these outposts they didn’t tell th
e computers how to build extensions… I’d never give planning permission for the pile of rubbish this things been building over the eons…’
Myrddin interrupted before the cantankerous machine could go any further. ‘Dominator shut up and tell me if there’s a way out!’ he demanded.
‘I’m looking! I’m looking! Yes there is—it’s not a normal docking port, but a service tunnel that leads to the planetoid’s surface. It’s probably been built to allow the crustaceans access to the exterior.’
‘Show me!’ Myrddin snapped.
Dominator downloaded the schematic to the ancient’s mind who examined it carefully.
‘Okay, that’s where we’ll head for,’ he told the ship’s computer. ‘Try and clear the way for us. Got that?’
‘Yes, yes.. I’ll do my best,’ the machine reluctantly agreed. ‘You’d better get a move on though, because once the Starweb regains its sub-ether link, I’m going to be vastly outnumbered!’
Myrddin broke the mental link then transferred his thoughts to Colmarrie and Brabazon who were still in the shuttle orbiting around the planetoid.
‘Myrddin what’s been happening?’ Brabazon exclaimed. ‘We’ve been worrying ourselves sick! We’ve heard nothing since we rammed the wreck into the side of that pile of scrap.’ Myrddin briefly put the pair in the picture and explained his escape plan.
‘So, do you think you can find the exit on the surface and wait for us there?’ he asked them.
‘There’s a lot of surface area to cover down there Myrddin, but we shall find what you seek,’ Colmarrie readily agreed. ‘We’ll be waiting for you.’
‘Good, that’s what we’ll do then. Time is of the essence, so we’ll all have to move quickly. I’ll keep you informed of our progress,’ he replied. Then as the lift reached the bottom of the shaft and the doors opened Myrddin told the expeditionary force his plan.
The vast cavern doors behind Dominator slowly opened once more, as the ship’s computer temporarily won the battle over the planetoid’s 2323 system. Seizing the opportunity, Kallke ordered reverse thrusters and the vast starship began to move backwards.
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