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

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  The Chief Justice reappeared and with him an Old man in Union Fleet Uniform. The Old man said." I am the Admiral of the Fleet Obrock Mc Elligott and since I was at the assembly Chief Justice V'Thensnhk told me about his problem and yours. "Since you are a registered Union fleet Applicant you are technically already Union Fleet personnel and I herby detach you by Order to the Justice Department until your task there is done. You may enter the Academy entry tests on the next entry date in 4 month. I will personally guarantee you will not miss your chance to apply."

  The Klack spread his four upper arms." Then it is settled. Chief Executioner please swear her in and get her outfitted as soon as you can. I will get the paper work done."

  Interlude: Gal Net Entry: Saresii

  The Saresii are a Union Member Civilization. The history of the Saresii begins almost 2 million years when the Pree land on Sares and make the pre industrial society of the Saresii aware of other civilizations in the Universe. No records or detailed records of this meeting survived and what little is known is based on myth and legends. According to these legends, the Pree revealed to the Saresii that they were selected as the successors of the Pree. The Pree themselves declared that they would leave the Galaxy forever and move to a distant place. In the Legend it is said the Pree were fleeing from an enemy of immense power. Something the Pree had done made another not identified civilization or entity very angry and seek the ultimate destruction of the Pree. Before they left they gifted the Saresii with Psionic abilities and left behind much technological knowledge. The Saresii rose to become a strong expansionistic civilization but their empire collapsed seven times due to internal struggles and rebellions. Legends have it that the Saresii bombed themselves several times almost to extinction until they managed to unify their factions and spread over a vast section of the Spinward sector. It was then they met the Celtest. A civilization more advanced than theirs and also gifted with Psionic powers. The Celtest at this point were controlling much of the Galaxy. When the Celtest were faced with a mysterious enemy today only known as the Dark Ones, the Nul and the Saresii agreed to fight with the Celtest.

  The Celtest lost and the Dark Ones punished the Saresii by destroying every Colony and every planet the Saresii owned except Saresii Prime. The surviving Saresii prohibited all space flight activity and research and blamed male aggressiveness, their last emperor and male warrior behavior for the catastrophe and prohibited men from having any say in politics or holding official positions in the government. The obsession to obliterate all male influence went so far as they prohibited men to receive education. Any display of masculine nature was outlawed. Men were prohibited from growing beards. While the Saresii knew they needed males to maintain a healthy gene pool, genetic tailoring and selective breeding was and is extensively used and children of both sexes are raised to look and accept female behavior patterns and looks. It became the basis of Saresii Culture even though almost 200,000 years of exclusive female government was far from peaceful. Aggressiveness and conflict was clearly not a gender specific condition. Running out of resources and space the Saresii finally resumed space exploration, but kept their expansion to a few solar systems close to their home world. While the anti male hysteria is a thing of the past, all Saresii appear to be female and can only be distinguished by their names. Even Saresii themselves usually can't distinguish unless they use their Psionic powers. It was then when the Saresii used their combined Psionic powers to pull all seven rock planets of their own system in the same optimal orbit around their sun and terra formed all seven planets into almost identical looking garden worlds of great, but artificial and designed beauty. The first Terran visitors describe the planets as huge manicured parks and gardens. No wild growing forests, truly wild animals or untouched shore and stream lines exist.

  The Saresii took part in the Galactic Council to repel the Y'All, but it was the Narth and the Wurgus who achieved the victory. After the Terran ascent and after the Terrans, the Ult, the Pan Sarans and the Sarans came together to form the Union, the Saresii joined shortly after.

  The Saresii are known for their vast Psionic powers, great knowledge and well developed technology that is in general considered to be Tech Level 9. Saresii tech puts great emphasis on Psionics and there are Psi enhancers, Psi Shields and psi energy based weapons.

  Saresii appear human in all aspects and it requires very little DNA adjustments for biological comp ability. Even though they are technically not a founding member of the Union, they are the first Civilization that joined and as such heavily involved in all aspects of the Union. Saresii colonists and settlers can be found thru ought Union space.

  Interlude: Galactic Politics

  The First among the Saresii Algear Moansti was one of the seven elected leaders. Saresii leaders were elected for life and only replaced if they retired on their own or died. Even though he was biological male and over almost 260 years old, he appeared like all Saresii to be a statuesque beautiful woman with very long silvery hair and purple eyes and like most he wore a skin tight velvet suit.

  A little while ago a man from a human Colony world he had previously never heard of came to Sares Prime One and asked for help with is deteriorating health. It turned out this human was easily on par with all but the most powerful Saresii Psionic talents and displayed not one but several Psionic powers. He was a Telepath so skilled he could address and talk to three or four individuals at the same time and about different subjects and had such precise telekinetic control he could influence his own cell structure to heal itself. Egill Skallagrímsson of Nilfeheim was over 500 years old, without the aid of any modern life expanding medicine and had a Heidelberg Psi Index of: 2400. No other human had ever been measured that high. When he came to Sares it was determined he suffered a rare Psionic disease called Mohir Gland Disease that sometimes affected Saresii of similar high talent.

  A careful treatment with refined Califerm and a temporary neutralization of his powers successfully restored the Old Man's abilities; this and a physical medicine cell refresh therapy and a detoxification of his body. Egill had become a good friend of Algear. Egill who was his planets representative came very often to Sares and Algear visited him frequently on Pluribus. The fact that Pluribus was connected via Space train and it took only 15 minutes was very helpful in growing this friendship.

  Algear found the Old Human not only very intelligent but they shared the same open grumpiness and the same sense of humor. Algear shared secrets and concerns with Egill he would not share with most Saresii and certainly not with other humans. He was confident Egill kept his secrets as he had never shared with anyone that there was a Fish like creature on Nilfeheim that, according to Egill gave him the Psionic Abilities. Algear looked forward to meet Tyr when the fish awoke from its seven year slumber. He knew the Tyr's peaceful life would come to an end if anyone would hear about a god like creature that could bestow Psionic talents of such magnitude and therefore he would take this to his grave and not divulge this knowledge. He had just arrived on Pluribus.

  There was much going on lately and while Algear was not the official Sares representative, as the Highest Elected leader he could speak for Sares at any time. As it became his habit he no longer went to the large Saresii Alcove but joined his friend in the little planet representative alcove far up in the Assembly Sphere. He had disturbing news. One of their micro drones had returned from Kermac Prime. The bald-headed meddlers were again up to something. He had no proof that the Kermac were responsible for the Y'All attacks. Somehow they were able to call this menace and now they wanted to call whoever created the Y'All and if the recordings of the micro drone were correct, it were the same who defeated the Celtest and destroyed all Saresii colonies so long ago, the Dark Ones.

  He would need more information on that and decided he would contact the mysterious leader of the Terran Space Intelligence Service , code named Cherubim, later today and he wanted to talk with Egill about it. The Old man had little knowledge of Galactic Affairs but despite
or because of it he often looked at things differently and usually had a very sensible take on things.

  He slipped into the Alcove and sat next to Egill, who seemed to be asleep, but without opening his eyes he grunted." How can anyone find some rest if you make this racket with those cursed high heeled boots of yours?"

  "You are just jealous because you would break that wrinkled neck of yours trying to walk five meters in those! But then no human male could!"

  Egill opened one eye and grinned."I bet my Grandson could run circles around you doing just that!"

  "Your Grandson? I don't think you told me that you actually have a grandson. Is he still alive, he must be quite old if he is your grandson."

  "I just don't want to add all the Grand, grand, Grand I would have if I be accurate. He will soon turn seventeen and is the son of a distant Granddaughter of mine. He is my pride and joy and if you ever meet him and tell him I said that, I break your pretty neck!"

  "You are not talking about that Sif girl, right?"

  "No she is not related to me. I told you about her. It was you who helped me to get her accepted at Politica-University."

  "Yes, but despite her good looks she appears quite butch to me and I never seen her in high heeled boots."

  "If you say that she prefers woman and all that, then you are correct. It's why Tyr has chosen her to be the First Female warrior of Nilfeheim. She loved to break into this previous male domain. She is dating a Pan Saran woman."

  "Tell me about your grandson then, you never spoke of him and I thought I am your friend."

  "A nosy friend at that, I guess these are the side effects of your all female society. Even the men love family gossip."

  The First Saresii spread his hands." I guess that is true to an extent, but you are just as curious about me and Sares and pretty much everything else." Algear sat down and dialed himself a cup of Terran Tea from the Refreshment menu." Has he Psionic talents like you?"

  "Right now he is not, but Tyr says he has potential. Eric doesn't really like Psionics. In many ways he is as Neo Viking as you can be. "

  Algear noticed the almost invisible proud smile on the usual brooding face of his friend, but kept quiet not to interrupt the Nilfeheim representative.

  Egill dug in his chest pocket and handed Algear a small Holo Sheet. On it he saw a young man riding on an incredibly huge and dangerous looking fish like being." That is Eric and Tyr. My big friend likes me I know that, but I know Tyr long enough to know he loves Eric. He took Eric to the bottom of the Oceans and showed him places no human has ever seen. Tyr bestowed on him an extra sense, it is not Psionic by the way but partially based on sonar and Lorenzii receptors, detecting electrical fields. It is still developing and will take years to truly affect him, and he needs to learn how to use it too."

  "That is quite amazing! I truly look forward to meet Tyr. So this grandson is he still on Nilfeheim?"

  "No, he has left Nilfeheim and right now he is supposed to be on his way to the Union Fleet Academy, but him being Eric he ran into more trouble and even got involved in the Dai battle. "

  "To the Academy of all places, sounds like a strange choice for a Neo Viking from what you tell me about your planet."

  "Eric had a very tough childhood. His father beat his mother to death before his eyes when he was five. He was tortured and abused by his father in a way you could not even imagine. Despite all this he turned out quite alright, except for a strange affliction. He likes to dress up like a girl, much like you. Out here it makes no big difference of course, but on Nilfeheim it is a curse."

  "Maybe he should come to Sares and see that his affliction is not a handicap and shared by 54 Billion Saresii. I hope no one told him to get Psycho Surgery."

  "I know his mind and he is very troubled by it, back then I did not understand it, as you know I never left Nilfeheim until recently." Egill looked in the distance."It was him who suggested I come to you, the Saresii to get help for my condition by the way and in a way saved my life. Tyr has a different concept of humans and gender and never advised Eric. I should have made more of an effort to help him there. I even punished him and put his mind in that of a low woman. I hoped the shock being weak and about to get raped would cure him of his desire."

  "And that turned him into a coward or what some Terrans would call a Sissy?"

  Egill's response was almost angry." Eric, a coward? He killed a Fangsnapper when he was 12, with a kitchen knife. Speared two Tyranno's when he was not even fifteen. There is no man on Nilfeheim who would really dare to face him, he is the best swordsman there is, and he took my old Submarine and rammed a space bus to save all Nilfeheim. He has a strong sense of honor and can't stand idle if he perceives something unjust. That is why I am as proud as can be of him! He has this strange duality in him that troubles Eric very much, but he is perhaps the toughest Neo Viking of them all."

  Algear still looked at the holo print. "You should send for him, I am sure we can help him with that on Sares. Where is he now?"

  "After he saved a little Slum Girl and killed Terrorists on Twilight, he went on to pick a fight with a Dai Battle ship, in a private Yacht no less and he is on Corri-Door right now waiting to get to Arsenal."

  "You know Corri-Door is currently the focus of the entire Galaxy."

  "He isn't interested in executions and not even he could manage to get involved in that."

  Algear leaned forward to see what the Assembly was currently discussing and checked the schedule. The Kermac diplomatic delegation had arrived to discuss the Nogoll incident. Currently the representative of the Partook was speaking and declaring that he and his people would welcome the Renegade Dai as new members, just like the rest of the Assembly had done just a day before, but only if justice was done to those caught. The Partook resembled more or less a very large squirrel just as easily agitated." We heard that there is a problem with the execution on Corri-Door! We want to know if this is indeed the case!"

  Someone of the Justice Department answered."There was a technicality but we were able to correct that and the executions will take place as scheduled tomorrow."

  The Partook was visibly pleased and a somewhat humanoid being with a silvery dress sitting next to the Partook said. "I am of the Elly and currently we are enemies of the Union as we are still associated with the Galactic Council, but I am here as personal guest of the Partook government. You all my recall that the Partook were Galactic Council members not so long ago and close friends to the Elly, we will heed their recommendation and you can expect our application of membership tomorrow after the Executions have taken place."

  Egill had both eyes closed again." Death is such a final thing and they always so eager to dish it out!"

  Algear smiled at this comment but said with a serious tone."You heard of the Partook massacre?"

  "Egill tabbed on his right ear and revealed that he wore a small ear piece."I was just just listening to the GalNet entry on that."He then removed the ear piece and sat up." I understand their motivation and I actually agree with capital punishment in certain cases. I just don't like the taste of the motivation behind these executions, it seems they were not based on law but on politics and that I oppose!"

  "I had the same concern and thought the court proceedings went awful fast and the verdict was given even faster, but the accused admitted to the crimes and they were offered to join the Dai who applied for membership so all their previous crimes would be expunged, they refused . The proceedings were checked by both Legal Central and that is a Computronic that only checks facts against laws and the Independent Law and Justice Academy. Every death sentence is checked by them to make sure all of the defendant's rights were observed. It is as fair as a society can make it. "Then Algear added." However I am sure there were political reasons behind it all. It is no coincident the Partook have the Elly invited today."

  Egill nodded." I am sure it is and seeing the bigger picture, our Union has more or less good laws and they really trying to put cross checks and lim
itations on everything to make it as fair as possible. It is a good system especially considering the many different opinions and viewpoints. I just don't think we as a society have looked hard enough for an alternative to capital punishment." He raised his hands."I know they tried and they vote on it every other year, but every time it is voted in with an overwhelming majority. They even voted for public executions!"

  "Maybe if Psycho Surgery advances enough it could be an alternative. Right now I would rather choose death than have it done and Saresii Psycho Surgery is far advanced compared to Union Standard."The First Saresii added." There is an old saying from Terran Earth. 'panem et circenses' Bread and games keeps the masses happy. And as advanced we all think we are, the average citizen loves to watch violence, blood and death and between you and me, I don't exclude the Saresii either."

  Egill got up." Come and join me for lunch, our newest members the Renegade-Dai have prepared a lunch with Dai specialties and I like to be back in time when the Kermac speak. That is going to be interesting and you can tell me why you decided to ruining my morning by showing up, all dolled up and looking better than it should be allowed for a person of your age."

  "I came so I can ruin your morning. I actually decided to wear the steel tipped heels just for that purpose, they make more noise."

  Other delegates respectfully greeted the First among the Saresii as he and Egill left the Alcove and went to the New Member Reception Hall. Their friendship had been noticed by many, and was subject to much rumors and debates among the other delegates, including other Saresii.

  Algear told Egill about the Kermac Intelligence report and the former Hermit of Nilfeheim listened while he selected a sampling of Dai food on a plate and went to a table." There is not much I can suggest or comment. I simply don't know enough about it, but if I understand it took the Y'All a very long time to respond to that call and the last time they were defeated to the last ship and did not return to wherever they came from. Whatever we are dealing with is very old and seems to stretch over millennia. Maybe you should talk to the Narth delegate. If only half of it is true what they say about them, maybe they know more about the Y'All and the Dark ones."