Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series)

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  The Kermac used the Galactic Council as their tool to spread their Psionic Influence over other species and claimed leader ship over the Council. The Saresii were the first to abandon their seat in the Galactic Council, leaving only an observer behind.

  During the Xunx crisis, Sarans tried to help Earth. The Kermac and the Freons accused Saran of interference and when Earthers defeated the Xunx all on their own, the Kermac wanted Earth destroyed on Genocide charges. The First president of United Earth appeared before the Council and openly challenged the Freons and the Kermac. The Sarans and the Pan Sarans declared Earth a Sister civilization and to fight on Earths side. To everyone's surprise the Ult declared the same and the United Stars of the Galaxy was founded the very same day (with the Saresii joining the next day). The Galactic Council was officially defunct but the Kermac declared their sphere of influence and that of all their species to be the Common Space of the Galactic Council, not that there was anything common about it, the Kermac ruled and rule over the remaining thrall species with an iron hand.

  Kermac grow to about 150 cm, have no body hair but use false beards to hide Psionic enhancers and other psi tech inside those beards. Selective breeding and genetic tailoring have erased all outer sexual differences between the genders and they all appear to be male. The Kermac use extensive skin bleaching and genetic alterations to turn their skins into a paper white shade. The so called wizards or leaders of the Kermac distinguish themselves of having the whitest skin. Kermac shun physical labor and extensively use slave and thrall species for every form of labor, fighting and research.

  ***

  The "Grand Wizard of unimaginable power, immense wisdom, Bearer of all military citations ever issued, He of the Military Might and Kermac Galactic Dominance" no longer insisted that he was addressed by his full title. He would have liked to be just called by his name, Feif-Nachacht.

  Yet the "Most superior Great Wizard of the most power, More Wisdom and Intellect than anyone!" had again addressed him with the full title, as he had done every time he addressed the military Wizard during this meeting. All nine Kermac Section leaders had assembled in the: Most-Important-place-of-them-all-blessed-by-the-presence-of-the-ones-above-all-Gods-hall. Feif-Nachacht threw his hands in the air, sitting on the ten meters elevated chair lit by a spotlight, like the other eight in the otherwise dark hall." Yes you heard me right! I propose we drop all the titles and litanies. It takes us longer every time to even just greet ourselves. I know who you are and you know who I am! We all know we are above everything and more important than others! Let us accept that or we never come to any solutions that way!"

  The Culture and Arts Wizard whose section was the least powerful, but in his eyes the most important of course blew up his cheeks and pounded his spidery finger on the armrest." I insist on being addressed with all my titles! Must I remind you that culture, music and the fine arts are the very definitions of civilization and fine speech, manners and the recognition of greatness are hallmarks of our way of life and must not be deteriorated?"

  "Fine then be silent and no one will address you!" The Military Wizard snapped back." Let me recapitulate why I called this session of the Grand Wizards together. 1500 Dai Than Pirate Tribes with all their ships have done something unthinkable, they joined the Union!"

  His words did not have the effects he hoped they had. They looked at him as if he told them his menu choice and were not very interested." Do you not understand? Do you still believe the lie we tell ourselves now for 500,000 year? We need to open our eyes and see reality! Otherwise there won't be any Kermac left!"

  This time he got a reaction and the Central Grand Wizard raised his voice." What traitorous words you dare to utter! He waved towards the Wizard of Internal Peace and said to him." It appears our esteemed Warrior has a confused mind and needs to be replaced!"

  There was no one more feared than the "Lord Wizard almighty of Peace who combined internal security, all police forces and intelligence power". However he slowly shook his head." I am sorry Most Superior Wizard, but replacing our military Wizard for the 56th time in only sixty cycles will not solve the problems we are facing. I say we let him speak and make decisions worthy of Kermac, as you know even the Most Superior Wizard could be replaced!"

  The one in the center could not suppress his anger. Did that Wizard just threaten him? "No Superior Wizard was ever replaced!"

  "Do we keep on squabbling about meaningless things or do we face the seriousness of our situation? The Military Wizard do most of our decisions and orders without consulting you and as this gathering shows, we should have done so again! I concur with my colleague. If we do not alter the way we come to decisions we will be a side note of Galactic history in very short time!"

  "Nonsense! We are the Kermac! We are superior to all and we have been before all others and shall be after all others! We command over 167 Civilizations they will fight to the death for us!"

  Vier Vorneun, the Intelligence Wizard sighed. "Do you even use that mind of yours for thinking? There had been 245 Thrall civilizations before there was a Union. We lost seventy-eight since then. Thirty one have joined the Union including the X101's who hate us more than anyone. Four thrall species have decided to become neutral after they got Saresii Psi Shields and do you know what happened to rest of 42 civilizations? I am talking about hundreds of planets, billions and billions of individuals!" He almost screamed at the Grand Wizard. "They are utterly destroyed, eradicated, exterminated and wiped out in the three wars we had with the Union so far.

  "You also know of course that we lost each war? That we skirted destruction and extermination because our hated Cousins the Blue interfered and brokered the armistice."

  The Grand Wizard sounded less confident." Then our Cousins will have to broker another deal. The Blue have technology as advanced as the Saresii so I have heard."

  Nachacht slapped his hand onto his forehead." It becomes clearer to me by the moment why we are doomed! "Grand Wizard who is not as smart as he thinks he is and knows less than a Plato slave" You are right, the Blue our distant cousins we exiled and treated so badly have built themselves a fascinating new civilization in the Andromeda Galaxy. They came back to broker peace out of pity for us! Do you know why the Union listened to them and accepted the Armistice? They could have kept going and we would not have this discussion today!"

  The Grand Wizard decided to put away with both of these upstarts but he shook his head." The Blue and the Golden are not of the Kermac. Their skin shows that clearly! Their Psionic Powers are those of children. We dealt with them fairly and let them go! We could have exterminated them instead! But tell me then, why did they?"

  Nachacht stood up spreading his arms and yelling. "Because they are Union members! You do know they reached the Andromeda Galaxy with their marvelous bridge!"

  Sechs Biszwei the Culture and Arts Wizard who had sulked till now, had to force himself not to use the title litany and said." What is so marvelous about a string of space stations? Anyone can build space stations! The Seven chipped rocks our most celebrated artist Eins Zweidrei created yesterday, now that is marvelous!"

  Vorneun gestured." Creating a string of 400 gigantic space stations across two million light years to another galaxy, connecting them with space trains, communication and doing that in less than 100 years is nothing less than amazing. The logistics alone would overwhelm even the Hythagh our most industrious Thralls. I personally would love to see it."

  The Superior Wizard tended to agree with the Cultural Wizard. Both the Military and the Intelligence Wizard seemed way too fascinated with this insignificant upstart civilization. He decided to express his opinion." The Union is not Kermac and therefore everything they have done or will do is inferior and unimportant! I think we should return now addressing ourselves properly and then I want to hear from you how we going to wipe the Union out of existence"

  Vorneun clenched his fists and hissed. "Open your eyes listen to what we are saying and help us to come up with a
plan. If you keep ignoring the problems we are facing, I will personally kill you right here and now! Don't test me!"

  The Superior Wizard snapped his mouth shut and leaned back. "This is not the end of this; do go on Mighty Wizard of the military!

  Nachacht was grateful he could talk but the way Vorneun insulted the Grand Wizard, was more than alarming and he would need to take steps to clip that man's wings soon. Aloud he said." 1500 Dai Families joined the Union. The rest of the Dai Clans did not like that and tried to stop that from happening. We sent every Nogoll Ship we had in the area to the border to observe. Those cursed Nogoll joined the Dai, crossed into Union space and flew right into a well-planned trap of the Union. The Dai were a serious threat a few weeks ago and today the ones remaining are a shadow of their former strength. It was a planned massacre by that Demon Stahl. Almost 3000 Dai Tribes were utterly destroyed, not to mention that only 80 of the 2000 Nogoll ships returned. It will take the Nogoll years to rebuild the losses in material and trained crews and we are forced to crawl on our bellies! We are forced to apologize to that arrogant monkey and we need to send a diplomatic delegation to make amends."

  The High Wizard of Communications said." But why? Why are we apologizing?"

  "Because it was the Nogoll who broke the treaty of Free space and Stahl had a huge fleet at his hand and was eager to to keep going! There would have been a good chance him being in Orbit around our world right now! Our tactical and strategic analysts have feed our Computronics with all available data about their and our capabilities and in 98 of 100 Computronic simulations , the Union wins. Only if we assume the Shiss and the Nul fighting on our Side and the Klack deciding to declare war on the Attikan Commonwealth, we win! None of it is even remotely going to happen."

  The Communication Wizard made a surprised gesture." The Attikan are too far away and they are not involved with Galaxy policies! We should send Psi Command enhancement drones there and see if we cannot gain them as Battle Thralls!"

  The Military Wizard laughed cold "And you are the Communication Wizard! What have you done in the last three cycles? Polish your head, selecting new robes? Thinking of new fancy and worthless titles for yourself?"

  The Intelligence Wizard did not spare with critique either and added." The Attikan are Union members with all 96 Commonwealth Species! Well protected with Saresii Psi Tech against our powers! Can you even begin to realize what it means to have Union ships with Attikan engines? And Attikans with Translocators?"

  The technology wizard tried to hide in his exposed chair with little success as Vorneun glared at him. "How come we do not have Instantaneous Communication? Why is it we cannot defend ourselves or replicate Translocator Cannons? Tell me why don't we have Space trains?"

  The Tech Wizard waved his hand." Because you have not been able to procure the Blue prints and schematics in all that time! Besides Space trains are old news. They got Trans Matter Tunnels now. They plan to have the first Trans Matter tunnels between Terra, Sares, Ulta and Saresii Prime ready within the next five cycles! "His Eyes glistened." Now that's technology I doubt even the Celtest had!"

  "And how come you have better information than the Intelligence network I run?"

  Dreih Nachzwei, the technology Wizard held up a Union PDD." You mock us and yet your intelligence network is as inefficient as you claim we are. Why is it not possible for you to get me the specs of Terran Para dim shields? I am reading Union Tech Magazines and that's how I know about the Trans Matter Tunnels."

  Vorneun sighed." Maybe this illustrates our problem better than anything! Our Technology Wizard using a Union PDD. We should not need to steal their technology! Are we not Kermac?

  Dreih did not back down." Since we are speaking openly, let me be just as frank! We have not developed a new technology for 100,000 years! What we have is taken from other species using our Psionic abilities and we let other species develop and research. The cursed Terrans are only around for about 3000 of their years and yet they are reaching Tech Level Nine soon! Yes the Sarans have helped them to jump ahead, by giving them Tech three. Do you know how long it took us Kermac to go from three to four? 25,000 years! The Terrans reached Tech 8 in less than 4000!"

  The Grand Wizard in the middle finally was done sulking." Then let war be upon them! The Nogoll have started it. Let us mobilize all our forces and end this! We are the Kermac!"

  Nachacht was about to jump and strangle the thin throat of the Grand Wizard." Did you not hear what I said? Fighting them now would mean our end. Since we violated Free Space I am sure the Nul won't be happy about that and neither the Shiss. The Nul alone would be a very hard opponent to fight. The Union on the other hand is powerful enough to face us all. You know of course that even the Narth are Union!"

  "The Narth are only union to be left alone! They have not participated in anything!" The Grand Wizard spat.

  Dreih activated his PDD and increased the field screen so they all could see. "This is a recording of a GalNet News Cast from six cycle parts ago."

  A purple throat Shiss beneath the SII-News Logo seemingly floating before the Sphere of Assembly on Pluribus said." For the first time since their application of membership, the Narth have sent a Representative to the Assembly and expressed that the Narth want to take a more active role and participate as Union Citizens! The Narth are widely regarded as the most ancient civilization in the Universe. Their Council and opinion will have great weight in the Assembly and analysts of all News channels and political scholars agree that this is a historical event of great importance."

  Nachacht saw his most dreaded fears come true." I know you will not hear this Grand Wizard, but compared to the Narth we are all children! They have existed before the Uni and the Pree. If the Narth add their knowledge and power to the Union, then we might as well release our thrall civilizations and join the Union."

  "The Grand Wizard slowly shook his head. "We are the Kermac and to regain our rightful position as the foremost species we will open the Caller again! The first time we used the Caller we formed the Galactic Council and the others accepted our superiority!"

  Nachacht shivered. "We swore we would not use the Caller again. It nearly destroyed us as well the first time. The second time the Union actually stopped them! What makes you believe they will not be stopped a third time? The Union is bigger and more advanced. Back then they had one ship with TL Cannons. Now they all do!"

  "Because the Caller can be used to call those who sent the Y'All!"

  "And who is that?"

  "No one knows! The Caller has never been used that way."

  "If whatever comes is mightier than the Y'All. Then how can we make sure they won't destroy us as well?"

  "I am the Grand Wizard with knowledge and wisdom you lack! I alone have access to the Center Shaft of Deep Keep and the crystal tablets of the Uni!"

  Nachacht and the others fell silent. Vorneun finally spoke. "The legends are true then?"

  "Yes they are! The Dark Ones had come to find it; the Uni, the Pree and the Celtest have paid the ultimate price of utter termination defending it, not even knowing what they are defending. The union is mighty and grand yes, but they are a mere shadow to these ancient powers and they have failed. The Dark Ones will return and wipe this Galaxy clean of all our enemies!"

  Vorneun was no longer as forceful and arrogant as he was before." Do you know what you are doing? Do we know what the Dark Ones are? And what is it they seek? Will they not also vanquish us?"

  "No they will worship us for we will give them what they seek!" The Grand Wizards eyes sparkled with a light that almost looked like madness."

  Vorneun was certain the Grand Wizard was playing with powers and knowledge that should never be used. He too knew about the legendary tablets and the warning the ancient Knights of Light and Order have spoken so long ago to the First Wizard: "The master was defeated with the price of a Universe and must never be woken again! The Rule must never be broken!"

  A tiny Thimthal fly still a common insect on
Kermac Prime, sat not too far from the wizards on a dark wall, then flew across the dark chasm crawled onto the Grand Wizard and rode, hiding in a fold of the Old Kermac's robe to the outside. Once under the open sky the little fly buzzed up into the sky. Now Thimthal flies weren't very fast or could fly very high. Yet this little insect flew faster and faster and further into the sky! The snapping sound as it went Trans sonic was heard by no one.

  The Kermac could have found it but they never searched for bugs.

  With many times the speed of sound the Fly passed through the last layers of atmosphere, and microscopic ISAH pod, most likely the smallest in existence, started to glow blue and the fly went superluminal to reach its creator and deliver its weekly intelligence report.

  A Kermac operator noticed the tiny blip of Trans-dim energy for less than a second on his scanner, but dismissed it as a system glitch and reset it.

  ***

  The Attack came totally unexpected!

  The American Dream Scanner operator was good but he was watching the Gal News report about the space battle like everyone else on the bridge and so he missed the fast approaching contact. I was still sitting in the Command chair while the main viewer showed high definition recordings of the space battle of Union Fleet against the Dai and the Nogoll.

  Titanic fists shock the yacht so violently that Calia Lethra, Alex and everyone else standing before the mains screen watching the news were thrown about. Smoke filled the bridge and a dozen warning sirens and signals blared. Lights flickered. The Automatic restraints had grabbed me and a force field bubble encased the command seat and me. To my shock I noticed a rupture in the hull. One of the bridge crew men was sucked out, before an emergency field sealed the crack. There were only two officers still moving as they too had remained in their seats and kept save behind force field bubbles, the rest was piled up near the now sealed crack, among them the Togar captain and Alex, none of them showed any signs of life. The main screen now showed a red space ship pursuing us. The Helm officer moaned with a whiney voice." What are we going to do?"