Krikos: The Vertical Horizon

by Rishabh Dubey

  They always question the righteous. Never do the evil fall prey to them. For the righteous, the questions form a mystery. But for the evil, the questions are endless and ignorable. They question ‘death’ when they have a life. Because death always trails afterlife? No. They want to know if ‘Life Trails after death’. And this deviating demographic demeanour defending the devilish deft of the department defusing into a dune of demonic dilettante of diplomats deduced and derived from a draft of the disreputable, the denounced and the damned, demands direst disregard by the delusional, defamed, demeaned, deluded, degraded, deformed, derided, disdained and decreasing defendants.

  GALACTA CANTOS VOLUME IV: The Mirrors, the Shadows.

  I call upon all brothers in peace and Integrity.

  I Flexkon Dustener, son of Frahlim Dustener and Lisa Damien,

  I call to the edges of the Universe.

  Eternity, hear me. For Galacta was, is and will be;

  But ‘shall’ be if befalls Krydon.

  It is time! It is time! It is time!

  Hear not what say divine.

  Hear not what say eternal.

  For say may mortal be

  But the cantos fall to thee.

  The triumph of civility

  Shall fall whence they divide.

  I call upon all the wings of nature.

  Guard us for our faith is fading.

  The conflagration shall not be quenched

  Be it the water of the holy.

  We see their shadows.

  We speak to our faith.

  We deny, We cry,

  The Inferno, The Seraphs,

  Oh, Galacta... Listen well!!!

  Science the terminus of knowledge,

  Within its walls, it’s all beheld.

  The civility ... denied... on the edge!!

  The tears that cry what we felt.

  Their time is our enemy,

  Ours is just a leap,

  And it unfolds for none but villainy.

  Here we stand and weep.

  They think the earth is changing,

  So are all the stars.

  "The fires are yet everlasting"

  Galacta ... to the Universe!

  "Why care for nature when we can make our own?"

  They ask to the sublimes of stars.

  Their lies are their truths.

  Their truths are merely weak;

  It confluences the mind to a labyrinth;

  What to see, what to seek.

  Time will oppose itself,

  For now, we take a stand;

  We call out to our brothers,

  “Submerge them in the sea and the sand.”

  Submerge their pillars, is what we do,

  Submerge their time, is what we say,

  Submerge their axioms for it is false,

  Submerge the Shadows,

  "It will be done".

  Into The Dimension:

  Episode 14-

  Jumpers and the Hogs.

  ‘J

  umpers are controlled and advanced H.T. capable plasma suits with a concentrated mini n-core. Built under project ‘Flash’, the Hexagon made these prototype portable H.T. devices for exploration and transport. They were powered by Nuclear B-CHIP prototypes which were ingested by the human subject and then, on activating the Plasma suit and putting in co-ordinates through his Translation Watch, he could use the instantly-absorbable core inside of him to jump to a distance within core limits. The N B-CHIPS were single-use capable only, for once initiated the reaction won’t stop.

  The Hexagon Jumper Oscillation and Gravity Test Subjects (or HOGS) program was started to test the accuracy of the Jumper Plasma Suits in early 1210 E.E. But the Program resulted in a drastic failure and was shut down.’

  Displayed the Integrated Visi-Holocron Projector in the Meeting room.

  “Ain’t no those Hogs amongst us, right?” Fusa spoke sarcastically.

  “But this project was a failure… Even the Lattice said that. Hey… you Explorer… is this right? Even you saw it right? Either the Surveillance tapes were mistaken as well as your perception or the Lattice is all messed up,” Lina said.

  “It is not the Lattice in the first place. It is a fragmental collaboration of data gathered from the Lattice which became outdated a second after it was down-streamed. But we got to make the best use of it. As such Colo here is trying to locate the H.T. jump’s appearance platform,” Nahcas said.

  “…and it is something very strange I found… it is not the appearance platform. Not yet. But the directional coordinates... I found them… and they are not in the direction of the Krikos,” Colo said as he came in.

  “What do you mean? A space station outside Krikos?” Fusa asked.

  “No…. impossible… even if it is… It almost seems like it is in the opposite direction. Somewhat like we are in between. As if it is in the direction of Annaeax,” Colo said.

  “Annaeax… it can’t be… We have still not figured how Stillites got there. But a Hexagon prototype in their hands. This can’t be,” Raymor said.

  “Keep your peace, my friends. One of the high councillors turned a traitor, did he not? Anything can happen here. What if the initiative was declared a failure to protect the Jumper programme altogether, which rather was a success?” Krawn said.

  “But even that ain’t explaining how it comes down to Annaeax,” Kridious said.

  “Sir… The H.T. is at the ready.” Tref said as he came rushing in.

  “H.T. …. Captain… you not telling me something?” Kridious asked gazing towards Krawn.

  “I figured… He had a peculiar outdated suit on him. None of them back at base wear it… Not professionals. Humans with outdated technology outside of the Krikos. First, guess… Annaeax,” Krawn muttered.

  “So what… We are going there or something? Why weren’t we told?” Kridious asked.

  “I thought it was better kept discrete. And no, we are not yet going to Annaeax. The H.T. has been set to 1.3 Lys radius around the last location of their Space Blockade.” Krawn replied.

  “We have still not figured the motive behind the intrusion and you make such a rash decision?” Kridious said.

  “That’s what. We have no time to figure out anything. About three weeks or four until Krikos again massively drifts towards Annaeax. I want to see whether it is possible to negotiate with them or not. We are going to do this undercover.” Krawn said.

  “What? Negotiate…. Bull’s ass I will negotiate” Kridious said aggressively as he picked up a phaser on the table and loaded it.

  “And how do you plan the undercover thing?” Steffy asked.

  “About that… Nahcas is still working on it. You would want to see it rather than just know it. So, better I don’t tell you.” Krawn said.

  “Ok. But when is the H.T. going to commence?” Kridious asked.

  “28 Minutes now,” Krawn said after he first grabbed Kridious’ arm and looked at his Visi Bracelet.

  “What’s with this? Where’s yours?” Kridious asked.

  “Nahcas took it to upgrade it,” Krawn replied.

  “Upgrade? Ahh… leave it ... So, what was it that we were going to do?” Kridious asked.

  “We are going to reach the destination and wait. And yes. Before that. All of you submit your Visi advanced communication and Intel devices to Nahcas… He’d add F.T.G. as well as some beta upgrades for us.” Krawn said.

  “What? Wait… I have been tired of cutting wires and machines and holo-projections. I want some action. Call me when there is some,” Kridious said as he moved towards his chamber.

  “Very well then. Let us all depart to our stations. We’d meet here two hours after arrival. Till then, you can rest…. For the last time,” Krawn commanded as they all took their leave.

  ♦♦♦

  “Arrival at NAM3297D5 Interstellar in 5….4….3….2….1... Destination reached” The Master computer spoke.

&
nbsp; Kridious and Colo sat in the Control Room.

  “I last saw him enter Nahcas’ room. Don’t know what he is planning. Don’t even have a hint of it. The Krikos is coming to Annaeax. I even don’t know what the hell they are going to do. After the incident with the old librarian and Captain’s wife… I even don’t know whom to call our enemy and whom our allies.” Colo said.

  “That old man was like a father to me… He took me in when no one did. Being an Orphan sucked. Nobody knows who my real old man was. And Mira…. She was one of my best friends. She convinced Krawn to train me. A dear one to me. Losses we can never recover form an emptiness in our hearts. But we can’t mix in emotions here. We have to act according to need,” Kridious said.

  ♦♦♦

  About two hours after arrival… Krawn and crew assembled in the common room. Everybody was asked to keep their Holocron bracelets on the table. Nahcas came in with Krawn’s bracelet. He also brought in a capsule gripped in his left fist, which he handed over to Krawn. Krawn ingested the capsule. He wore his bracelet and said, “Look outside the watch pane”.

  They all peeped through the pane. A loud beeping sound was heard from behind them. They turned around to find that Krawn had disappeared. Nahcas pointed outside the pane again. There they saw him. Though it was very dark, on careful observation, they were able to see a floating oval Plasma container with Krawn inside of it. It suddenly disappeared again and Krawn was then seen at his original place inside the Krydon again. The Plasma suit disappeared and Krawn fell down, as if in pain.

  “Woah… what the hell was that? For the first time, you show us something cool and then ruin it by making such pathetic displays of weakness.” Kridious said as he walked to Krawn to help him get up.

  “What was that? Captain?” Lina asked.

  “That was indeed a Jumper…. But how?” Colo asked.

  “Nahcas traced the working of the Ncore and figured it would be similar to my Gladius’ core. He made these digestible chips. It was a very VERY short jump so only one was sufficient for even the return if kept consistent. But more of these would be required for longer jumps. Indeed… call me a HOG now,” Krawn said as he regained his breath and strength.

  “We got Jumpers too? … That’s how we sneak in right? So that was the plan all along?” Ram asked.

  “Well… Mockery aside, if this rough skin was compelled to cough up after just such a small jump, I believe not every one of us should risk it. What say, Captain?” Kridious said.

  “Yes… Not we… let us wait for Rush to recover… He’d be the one to sneak. I figured… all of us would head in the Krydon while two of us shall be the Hogs. Lina… I need you in the hangar... so no to you. Colo and Nahcas are too important for the mainframe. Kurt, Fusa, and Hex are there for ships offences. Firdigo, Rambler, and Mrew are not accustomed to field combat. Tref is too young for it. Raymor… I need to assess and manage the databases as well as our resources. Steffy and Demo are not safe in the field too. Anaton will see the ship defences. Ram… I need as my wingman. So… leaves us with one who I think is smirking inside his heart with incessant joy just to be able to predict his name on this short list.” Krawn said as he slowly turned to Kridious.

  “I never knew you had this generosity inside that old rugged skin,” Kridious mocked again.

  Prabarus said (as in the F.T.G. attached to his neck) “I want to be a part of the first squad too. I want to be one of them. It is my planet… my people.”

  “I can use another pair of hands…” Kridious said.

  “But don’t risk it all… and be camouflaged all the time. Don’t be reckless... Here … I am taking all these handsets. Now rest. We’d meet here in …” Krawn said as he picked up the bunch on the table and then looked at Nahcas.

  “In ... A day … at maximum. Too many of them watches,” Nahcas replied to the silent query.

  “A DAY? What will I do until then?” Kridious said.

  “Rest… you might need it. We still have time. Though we mustn’t waste it… yet a day doesn’t seem that much a pain… ok then… Prabarus, Rush, and Kridious… you three shall give us Intel on the field. We would know what is happening there. Our goal will be to gather as much Intel possible on the Stillites and Castino Gorvez. Also… We must defuse their blockade. We may need a little help from the locals which we can get only without the blockade. Although I cannot assure you that these Jumpers are completely dependable. Neither can Nahcas. Yet he is trying his level best to develop them. But don’t depend on them much. There is a loss at hand too. It causes heavy abdominal heat which can be really painful. Hence all of us shall have these jumpers on with a packet of NBCs for emergency escape or transport. Just emergency, okay? Now depart… and rest.” Krawn said as they all retired to their chambers.

  Diaries of Flex:

  Episode 15-

  The Technocrux and the Grid.

  T

  he human brain is a complex substance, with no material counterpart in the known Universe. It coordinates all the neural and physical activities of the body. Even a 5-year-old knows that there is no tantamount to the sophisticated though exact combination of specific cells and tissues in the brain of a human being. But why is all the strength of the body concentrated directly or indirectly in a single part? Is it done for proper assembly of body parts or is it done for something more, something deeper? Something greater, like a collaboration of every sophisticated body part to hide something even more sophisticated. To remove access to a greater power, the so-called cloaked our eyes with an apparent superpower of the current known brain. But there is something hidden inside the brain, smaller than a nucleon yet larger than the Universe itself.

  When the human mind is desperate, it can create and destroy wonders. And Flex, although didn't seem to be so, but was a very desperate man. He seemed to have created sufficient wonders for a single man. It seemed as if he was not yet done. We were living in an era of automatic machines. But in the end, it was the human hand and mind which creates such machines. But what if the machines were provided with the power of creation? Creation not forced by command, but by will. What if the machines were given their own mind? Flex had a very direct answer to this question. Skipping the part where I came across a new system of computers installed in the Krikos, as per the designs by Flex, and going over it a thousand times; and then after a period of two months, actually coming to a point of view of it being genuine, I come directly to its name- that is the Technocrux (Technical-Control Flux). The master computer system, categorising every machinery (virtual or material) under one head. According to Flex, a huge body like the Krikos might need great and ideal maintenance which can be better done by programmed machines rather than unpredictable humans. For this, Flex prepared a master algorithm which would grant a machine the power of the mind. The proposed machine was the Technocrux, and as you know every self-thinking machine needs a brain. This brain was named the ‘Genetrix’ (the mother of all). Genetrix would control the Technocrux, which further would compile every machine onboard the Krikos. These were the proposed plans of Flex. If you outsource one job, it'd lead to commotion, if you outsource two then it'd lead to penury, but if you outsource all of them then it'd leave to self-sufficiency. This was Flex's philosophy.

  But there was more to the Technocrux than just the Genetrix. Flex always hated libraries. He said that information must not be 219 floors away. Rather it must be predominantly and permanently available to everyone. For solving this problem, Flex had proposed a master solution. The Grid. The Grid would be that part of the Technocrux that could be actually called Omniscient and Omnipresent. It would have information including everything about everything. The Grid would connect every member of the Krikos to the Technocrux, and grant him direct access to information through a Master Grid (which the Eutopium would name as the ‘Flex’ Grid later on to commemorate the bastard of a legend himself). Other than the master grid there would also be another grid. This would be only accessible to the me
mbers of the Eutopium First Class Councillors, and members under the Right to Information Custody Act. This grid would be called the ‘Lattice’. The Genetrix would be under the supreme command of the First Speaker of the Eutopium. To sum up all this, Flex again proved his remarkable genius and posthumously proposed another gift to humanity through me. But today I am not going to read you the journal again, but I am going to tell you about the Krikos from my assessment.

  The Krikos as you know would be powered by stars. Not going into technical details, it would have different kinds of thrust and rotation panels for movement. It would also be capable of Hexkon Thrust for better access to different parts of the Solar System and even the galaxy. It'd have a population capacity of over a 100 billion, with an area of thousands of square meters available for every single person, after removing the areas for other official and aesthetic buildings. It'd be controlled by a master computer called the Technocrux, which would compile all the algorithms (programmed to utmost perfection) aboard the mainstream hard drive and perform all the activities (mainly external) of the Krikos. But Technocrux is mainly an organiser. The command will be given by the brain of the Krikos that is the mother of all - Genetrix. Genetrix would be a Virtual Intelligence System - almost as powerful as the human mind. Almost, because it will not be completely involuntary to human commands since the First Speaker of the Eutopium will cycle complete veto over it. The Krikos would have thirteen districts (each of a greater surface area than the earth itself) and each district would have thirteen zones (as Flex had suggested considering the human requirements). Each zone would be specific to the preservation of certain human culture, tradition, occupation or any other belief as majority demands. Each district (except for Eutopia District) would be christened after the 12 Knights of Palium, namely-