»Then the darkest day for our people has actually come,« his voice whispered softly, »I had always hoped that this day would never arrive.«
Vasina closed her eyes and spoke the traditional formula to convince the Guardian of the Key to accept her authority. She placed the palm of her hand on a sensor plate, which performed a scan of her genetic characteristics.
»You are Vasina, Queen of the Progonauts of Atlantika! Your authority to activate the Key is accepted. Are you sure that you are prepared to use the Key with all its consequences?«
Vasina nodded and displayed her royal insignia in agreement. She touched the illuminated red contact plate lightly, then took one step backward.
Achmedos the Eldest seemed to look at Vasina with sadness. Then, the words of the long dead Progonaut sounded: »May our descendants forgive us for what we have done.«
The image collapsed and a tachyon security shield enveloped the Achmedorian Key.
»Nothing can reverse this,« Vasina whispered huskily.
Her hands trembled slightly. Never before had a leader of the Progonauts dared to activate the Key. Never before had it been necessary!
Turning toward Hellas, she asked with a shaking voice, »Is anything happening yet?«
No response. She waited more than fifteen minutes in silence until an excited voice came suddenly from the scanner section.
»Report!« Vasina commanded eagerly.
»Your Majesty! Millions of small objects are leaving Taminton and Kolossus. The stream is increasing – there are even more! The objects are octagonal, less than a meter in length and emerging from the thick atmosphere of the giant gas planets! How is this possible?«
»They’re assuming a tight multilayered grid formation in space!« another scanner operator called. »My God, they’re countless, there must be millions upon millions of them!«
The sixth planet, Patos, a gas giant like the fourth and fifth planets, ejected an enormous stream of objects from its equator into space. These flowed toward the orbits of Taminton and Kolossus. Even the mighty hands of the shield-bearer began to shake as the first images came in from still operating individual surveillance stations.
»Your Majesty, what have you done? What is happening?«
Vasina stood and signaled Hellas to activate Atlantika’s ship wide intercom.
»The Achmedorian Key is an ancient secret of our people, passed on from king to king, queen to queen, and finally from my father to me. Achmedos the Elder foresaw this day a hundred thousand years ago when our people’s existence stands at the brink. As the last measure, he created a barrier to protect our solar system from invaders. These objects are antimatter mines based on tachyon technology. They are produced and directed from gigantic robot stations floating on the methane oceans of the three giant gas planets. The mines will independently configure themselves into a matrix that will completely seal off the inner system. It can no longer be halted or reversed. Hidden complexes on the gas giants have been producing these mines since Achmedos’ time for deployment today!«
Vasina paused and gazed over her crew’s faces. She saw fear and disbelief along with the beginning of hope.
»With the activation of the Achmedorian Key the fate of the Brotherhood’s ships and the remaining Deporters is sealed. The fragment of our population that managed to save itself underground will be isolated from the universe, but it gives us a chance, a breathing space as long as nobody, even the Brotherhood, can reach our planet!«
A powerful flash of light from the edge of the debris field of the former defense moon was reported.
»A Brotherhood carrier has been destroyed!« a scanner officer announced in the control room.
As jubilation filled the room, Herkales looked into Vasina’s eyes with understanding. The home system of the Progonauts of Atlantika was now off limits, even to themselves. They would never be able to return to their home world.
»They’re still coming – there are already many millions of them!« Hellas spoke with emotion twisting his face. »Some mines are apparently attracted to the Brotherhood ships while the rest are massing to form a barrier in space.«
Vasina nodded quietly.
»There will be even more. The stream of mines will continue until the system is sealed off completely up to the orbit of the fifth planet. Even then the industrial complexes on Taminton, Kolossus and Patos will keep producing mines and send them into space, replacing destroyed ones.«
Herkales held up a hand and relayed another report.
»Your Majesty, the Deporter ships departing from Atlantika are all exploding! Only a very few are making it through the expanding mine barrier!«
Vasina understood the situation. Her people imprisoned and being transported to an unknown destination on those ships were dying along with the enemy.
Vasina recited a prayer of grief and everyone in the command room repeated her words with halting, grief-strained voices.
She turned to the flagship’s commander.
»Where are the surviving Deporters assembling?«
He answered immediately.
»The enemy ships are on the far side of the tenth planet. They’re circling the cold moon Taupir.«
Vasina closed her eyes and seemed to be contemplating, then she gave her orders to the commander.
»Hellas, activate the stealth shield! We will trail the enemy. I want to know where they’re taking our people.«
Vasina took her seat and stared at the holos and screens.
Herkales stood beside her. He cleared his throat.
»Your Majesty,« he began hesitantly, »I took the freedom to pick up your cape which you had left behind on Atlantika.«
»The cape? It has no value to me anymore. We’ve lost our kingdom. We’re defeated. Most of our peoples are dead and the rest are in hiding. Many of us will be shipped to an unknown location. The cape is a relic of the past.«
»Allow me to speak freely, Vasina,« he asked in a shaking voice. »We’ve known each other for a long time and we trust each other with our lives.«
Herkales looked steadfast in Vasina’s eyes as he spoke these words. He could see the deep sorrow in her eyes.
»Forgive me, but I think we still need it. Especially now, we need symbols reminding us of our past. Yes, we’ve lost our kingdom, but there are still survivors from the different houses who need you as their Queen. What is a Progonaut Queen without her cape? Even if it takes years, we’ll do anything to reunite our peoples again. Your cape will then serve as a symbol of unshaken belief in the future, but also as a reminder of the past, remembering those who died, but also who was responsible.«
»I don’t want it,« she stubbornly insisted, while tears rolled over her cheeks.
»I will keep the cape for you. Whenever you decide, I’ll give it back to you. It’s still yours. It is important to all of us.«
Herkales turned around and left the control central to bring the cape into his cabin.
Inertia compensator
Toiber Arkroid didn’t know what was happening to him. A bright sea of flames blazed around the Hawk, as the fighter was entering the atmosphere at high speed, yet the Merinian still felt no sense of movement, no acceleration. Applos stared around wildly.
»Have we left the hangar? Are we dead?« the paleontologist asked, searching Arkroid’s face for answers.
»We’re fleeing the orbital station at maximum acceleration!« the pilot announced. »Look at the display! The station is falling into the atmosphere!«
Arkroid was dumbfounded. The gigantic rotary cylinder was falling to Earth, glowing like a meteor in places and showing traces of recent explosions. External damages and hull compressions indicated where it was wracked by powerful outside forces. The shockwaves!
As the station collided with the atmosphere’s outer layers, it slowly began to break up.
»What’s happening here?« the confused pilot asked. »I don’t feel any inertia but the instruments show the Hawk is still accelerating. What’s it lik
e in the passenger compartment?«
»Same here,« Arkroid answered with a smile. His initial confusion had changed to understanding. The Merinian knew the cause of this unusual effect. He slapped his forehead mentally for not catching it sooner.
The Shwakan’s Inertia Compensators! They’re onboard the Hawk and they actually work! Scorge didn’t exaggerate! This is unbelievable!
A bright explosion announced the end of the space station and Arkroid had to close his eyes or be blinded. The cylinder, once worth billions of credits, glowed and disintegrated, leaving several large chunks to fall toward the Earth. Some fragments burned up immediately, but others were large enough to plunge into the surface. The Merinian only hoped that they didn’t hit inhabited areas.
He’ll pay for this! Arkroid thought, fists clenched and face red with rage. The Soulwalker had indented to cause the death of many people with his barbaric act. He wanted to shock mankind! Only Arkroid’s quick decision to abandon the station had prevented any loss of Human lives … so far.
The Merinian turned around to see if Sammy Atkins was okay. The young psychologist had opened his eyes.
With a quick movement, against the warning of the seat automatic, he opened the restraining harness and carefully moved along the handlebars toward his friend’s gurney.
The doctors looked at Arkroid open-mouthed. What did he think he was doing? Trusting in the Shwakan’s technology, Arkroid crouched beside the stretcher.
»How are you, Sammy?«
His voice sounded soft and comforting. Atkins focused on Arkroid through tearing eyes.
»I attacked you … injured you. I’m sorry. I couldn’t do anything against that power that invaded my mind. I tried to fight it off, but it was useless.«
Applos followed Arkroid’s example and carefully opened his safety harness’ buckle.
»Everything is okay, Sammy,« Arkroid answered softly, »I know about the Soulwalker. Scorge chased him away and I hope you’ll be better soon.«
»Docking with Blue Moon in ten minutes,« the pilot announced.
Applos crouched on the other side of the gurney and looked at Arkroid questioningly. Arkroid only nodded.
»Perhaps we can continue our conversation during the flight?« the paleontologist asked carefully while Sammy only looked at him with fully opened eyes.
»We need you to help us decipher the Soulwalker’s claims. Who defeated him and how did they do it?«
Sammy’s eyes began to roll uncontrollably. It looked like the onset of a nervous attack. Arkroid was ready to call off the conversation, but the young psychologist calmed down again and answered with a steady voice.
»I don’t know how they did it, but I always see the same picture before me.«
Arkroid put his hand on Sammy’s shoulder and nodded encouragingly.
»What kind of picture, Sammy? Can you describe it for us?«
Sammy breathed a heavy sigh. Whatever he was trying to describe seemed to overstrain him. Finally, he spoke in short, sharp sentences.
»The irises of her eyes are golden! Her skin is light brown, the hair long and black. Her eyes are … so different.«
»A woman?« Applos asked, surprised. »Did a woman defeat the Soulwalker?«
»Yes!« Atkins exclaimed. »But she’s no ordinary woman. I can tell from her eyes.«
Sammy started to weep and the paleontologist looked worried.
»Dark skin, black hair … a Human branch which didn’t evolve until a much later time. The description fits inhabitants of the Pacific islands, it could even include early Australians. The color of her eyes must be a mistake, the time period is wrong. There were no people on Earth, a million years ago!«
Toiber Arkroid nodded soberly.
»I think you’re right, Applos.«
Surrender? Not again
Breathing heavily Leukonen crouched on the floor of the small control room. He knew he was still inside the Stinger, but he felt strangely relieved. The frightful, heavy mental pressure had left him a few minutes ago.
The Soulwalker had suddenly, and without warning, left his body, leaving him in a sort of strong withdrawal shock. He could only wonder how long he would be the master of his own body. Pilvi had an excellent physical and mental constitution, but the transfer of the Globuster Lord had stressed him to his limits. He was absolutely sure that his mind wouldn’t survive many more mental takeovers. The Norwegian knew that he was completely left alone and free at this moment, for all the good it did him. He could barely move and it seemed he had to learn the simplest psychomotor capabilities all over again. He was unable to stand up no matter how hard he tried. His hands, which shortly before had manipulated different switches with dexterity, now felt numb. Still, his control over his body returned slowly.
Too slow, Leukonen thought bitterly. At this rate, I’ll never be able to escape!
His heart was beating fast, but his body and mind were relatively calm in comparison to the time when the Soulwalker had been in control.
The researcher crawled through the room, desperately willing himself to get up. When he finally stood on his feet again, he took the time to examine the control room more carefully.
It was evident at first glance that this control room was designed by an alien intelligence. Six consoles formed a large honeycomb-like arrangement around a central structure, which Leukonen recognized as a transportation device or elevator.
There must be different levels inside the Stinger, he thought. It probably extends deeply into the ice, with only a portion of it towering over the glacier’s surface. Like the tip of an iceberg.
Above the six, slightly slanted consoles, light red energy fields glimmered, forming rows of touch controls and displays. Virtual control elements, each of which could adapt to the functions selected by the operator! Leukonen saw alien symbols scrolling over the displays. He couldn’t understand them.
What’s all this for? he thought in despair.
The Norwegian carefully checked himself for injuries and realized that he still wore all his sensors. Either the Soulwalker hadn’t noticed the chips or decided they weren’t a threat.
Some of the sensors delivered information about Leukonen’s vital signs and physical condition. The sensors were implanted beneath his skin. They were tiny but highly sufficient medical chips, which measured his pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and blood values around the clock and transmitted the results in real time to the scientific medical center. He wore additional sensors under his vest and his protective clothing which mainly measured environmental parameters. Part of this equipment was a small camera, which had to be operated manually. Leukonen’s hands trembled as he activated the miniaturized device. The lens was integrated into his protective helmet and provided stereoscopic, high-resolution pictures. Even his gloves were designed to collect data. Microscopic spectrometers were embedded in the fingertips, which could analyze the chemical composition of any object known.
Leukonen’s legs were weak and shaking. This wasn’t the time to think of escape, but perhaps he could at least collect some information, hoping it could provide Humanity with further clues about the Stinger.
He slid his glove slowly over the nearby console. His hand submerged through the weak energy field projection’s touchpads, without causing anything to happen, then he touched the solid surface. Leukonen also tested the walls and the floor, where he found strange, dark structures that felt almost organic. With a muscle reflex with one of his eyes, he moved the camera and took as many pictures as he could, letting the micro-optic lenses send them directly to the helmet transmitter.
The scientist’s breaths came hard and fast. His fear of his mysterious enemy had returned. He did not want to surrender his identity again.
Jamal-Combs
The Atlantika maneuvered out of the debris field and left the inner system under a stealth shield. Hellas had begun to suspect that the Dark Brotherhood scientists had found a way to neutralize the Progonauts’ disguise technique. The f
leets of the five Houses would never have suffered such a debilitating defeat otherwise. Vasina acknowledged the possibility, however, had no choice but to leave the stealth shield active.
»The Deporters are only Brotherhood servants, just like the battle gangs who have invaded our system! It’s possible that the Deporter fleet can’t detect us. I intend to stick to their heels.«
Hellas looked around, perturbed.
»Are we to abandon our home system and leave our people behind on Atlantika?«
Vasina made a placating gesture with her hand.
»The Achmedorian Key is active. We won’t be able to return to Atlantika now. The mine field will seal off the system. The rows of antimatter detonators are growing thicker and thicker. There’ll be billions, not millions before long! No ship – ours or enemy – will be able to cross the orbit of the sixth planet then. Our duty now is to the Progonauts inside those Deporters. I want to know where our people are being taken!«
Hellas could tell by looking at his queen’s eyes that she was not to be swayed. He bowed his head.
»Your Majesty, pardon me for my doubts. We’ll begin the pursuit immediately!«
While Hellas gave the necessary orders, Herkales stepped to Vasina’s side.
»Vasina, you know what people have been saying. The Brotherhood, whoever or whatever they are, still has plans for our people.«
Vasina smiled, understanding.
»Our people have uncovered a dark conspiracy and unmasked the agitators who have ravaged entire planets for the Brotherhood’s goals. We’ve opened the eyes of the people in the galaxy! We were the first who recognized that the Brotherhood, through their pawns, have seized power over this portion of the galaxy. We have challenged them wherever we can! The Jamal-Combs protected our sovereigns …«
»… until Brotherhood mercenaries, spies and henchmen stole the combs!« Herkales finished.
»We don’t know that!« Vasina contradicted with unflinching eyes. »Since we don’t know where the four remaining combs are, we’re only guessing. And it’ll take more than those pieces of jewelry to save our people in the end.«
NEBULAR Collection 1 - The Triton Base: Episodes 1 - 5 Page 26