Intrinsic: Book One of the Terran Cycle

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  He looked over as she took her own place behind Namek. A hum emanated from the cylindrical thrusters at the back as the sled slowly rose higher into the huge ship.

  “It’s just Li’ara,” Everyone turned to her as she spoke over the rising hum. “I’m the Lieutenant Commander of nothing, so it’s just Li’ara now.” Telarrek paused a moment as he considered her words. His response was a short bow before both sleds accelerated away. It was the first time he had heard Li’ara say anything like that. It made sense in a sad way. There were no more ranks or orders to be given. She was most likely the last UDC soldier alive. He empathised with her pain in the matter; it must have been especially difficult to say that in front of them, to make it all the more real. He would speak to her about it later.

  The sled ride was exhilarating. Both Novaarians controlled the hover machines with great skill as they navigated corners and other on coming sleds at speed. They flew through different sections of the Valoran that opened up from the arcing corridors into giant domes with multiple levels, all connected by bridges. The ship’s size would never cease to astound them. The activity below was constant, though Kalian couldn’t figure out what they were all doing. Everywhere they looked, Novaarians were busy using various touch-holographic equipment and floating consoles that appeared to follow them. He liked the consistent theme of plant life throughout the ship however.

  After flying for nearly fifteen minutes the sleds set down in front of the largest circular door they had seen so far. Like the other doors on board, this one was cut down the middle with an S-shaped divide. This larger door however had three horizontal bars spread across the width. Telarrek’s hand print was all that was required. The bars slid into concealment within the walls and the door parted in half, releasing a small hiss.

  The sight would have been more breath taking if either of the humans knew what they were looking at. Telarrek took the lead as Namek remained with the sleds. Once past the door, it closed behind them with three distinct clicks as the bars locked into place. The size of the room made every other part of the Valoran appear small in comparison. They were confronted by a metallic sphere the size of a football field. At least he assumed it was a sphere from the portion he could see. It was covered in smaller circles raised against the surface, each one big enough to fit a fully grown man inside. The sphere itself sat inside a pit like a golf ball resting on a T. Massive cables connected the top hemisphere to multiple points across the room, disappearing into the walls. These dark cables were ribbed in metallic rings the same silver as the sphere. The base was surrounded by the same holographic console as the one Telarrek had used in the observatory. The room itself was dome shaped to match the giant sphere it housed.

  It was eerily silent. For such a large piece of machinery it made no sound. They followed Telarrek deeper into the dome before he turned to them.

  “This is a Starrillium...” Kalian felt like he had heard the word before but couldn’t place it. Li’ara’s expression showed a similar thought. “This is Valoran.” Both humans remained confused. “You wondered how our ships travel through sub space without locating a star first- this is how.” His upper arm made a sweeping effect as he took in the sphere.

  “This is your engine?” Li’ara asked. Telarrek seemed to chew over the question.

  “Of sorts. A Starrillium is the heart of all Conclave ships, at least ones large enough to house them. Intrinium will always require the magnetic fields generated by a star. That will never change as we cannot alter its nature. Instead we create the stars. This particular star is called Valoran.” Kalian and Li’ara looked at one another somewhere between shock and awe. Kalian wasn’t sure he had understood Telarrek’s words. Was he saying this giant sphere housed a star?

  “That’s why you don’t need an actual star,” Kalian said, “You charge the Solarcite from that.” He pointed to the god-like machinery in front of them.

  “The shell harnesses all magnetic fields given off by Valoran and channels them into the main engines for Intrinium ignition.” As he explained, his long finger followed the path of the nearest large cable.

  “How did you even birth a star, not to mention keeping it so small?” Li’ara asked. Telarrek let off a guttural chuckle.

  “If I knew that I wouldn’t need my engineers. Most of what you see is required to harness the magnetic fields, but great measures are taken to ensure our protection from the radiation and of course the heat.”

  They slowly began the long journey around the star’s circumference, taking in the magnificence of such technology.

  “Telarrek,” Kalian knew he could never run out of questions. “When we reach the Highclave in a few days, what exactly is expected of us?” He couldn’t maintain eye contact with the Novaarian through straining his neck.

  “They will have questions for you; no doubt some will be about your space travel in reference to Naveen. I imagine some of the species may be a little... suspicious of you. And of course there will be the matter of Alpha NL-2204.” Kalian’s emotions were mixed on the subject of the terraforming planet. He was elated to think of survivors but he couldn’t help the bad feeling that they might be in danger. If these Laronians didn’t kill them, then this new enemy certainly would.

  “Any word on them?” Li’ara looked as doubtful as he did.

  “I am afraid we will not learn more on the matter until we arrive at the Conclave. But do not be concerned, I am confident the Highclave will see to their safety as we have to yours. I imagine the main topic of discussion will be your invitation into the Conclave itself. Your numbers are sadly few now, but it cannot be denied that you are an intelligent race, regardless of how you discovered faster than light travel.”

  “Will they give us a new home, a planet?” Kalian hadn’t quite got his head round the size of this Conclave and how much of space it consumed. It didn’t seem unreasonable to think that they would have a few planets that weren’t being used; Alpha NL-2204 was an example.

  “I cannot speak on their behalf, but once we have shared all our knowledge on your kind I am sure they will do what is best.” Li’ara didn’t look so confident about Telarrek’s appraisal. She just didn’t like the idea of having her fate in someone else’s hands, especially alien hands. “Before you sleep tonight, Ilyseal will bring you both a data module. I suggest you spend the remainder of the journey learning everything you can about the Conclave and our various cultures.” They took one last look at the Starrillium before making to leave. Kalian couldn’t believe how close he was to an actual star, to think if the shell ever cracked. Even an inch would melt everything inside the dome within seconds. He couldn’t help but think of the dangers of having an imprisoned star for an engine, regardless of its size.

  The last three days had been boring as shit. Not to mention crowded and smelly. Along with nearly a thousand other people, Roland North had been stuck in what they guessed to be some kind of cargo hold. Despite the boredom they had managed to learn a few key facts about the current situation. Via ventilation shafts either side of the hold they had managed to make contact with the other prisoners in what must have been more cargo holds. As big as the ship was, it clearly wasn’t designed to hold seven thousand prisoners. The fact that they hadn’t been stopped from communicating with each other told Roland that they weren’t considered to be threats; he could use that.

  The walkway above them lined the square hold with two bridges across the centre. It was always occupied by at least twenty alien guards. Humans had always known aliens existed thanks to Charon, but it didn’t make the reality of them any less disturbing. There had been no communication from them and they never removed their head gear. The only contact they had was from six machines that hovered into the hold every day with water and some kind of sludge that reminded him of porridge. After the first two days of nobody eating the sludge it eventually became pretty appetising. At the end of the third day there had been none left.

  With no beds or furniture of any kind, people wer
e camping wherever they could fit, some using each other’s limbs as pillows. He looked down the side of the wall to see Captain Fey occupying the top right corner of the hold, along with what he had learned to be some of the leading scientists and engineers from the planet. It was hard to miss them with the augmented soldier towering over the edge of the group. His muscles were more like tumours with worms under the surface.

  This group had naturally formed a leadership role within the masses. Not that there was much to lead, he surmised. There was nothing for them to do except theorise and plot their escape, which he had already assessed to be futile.

  He didn’t care that no one wanted to listen to him, he couldn’t blame them really; he still remembered what happened after he woke up. As the colours of reality seeped back into his vision he remembered someone close by shouting to the Captain. His head was still pounding from the shock grenade and he was a little embarrassed at being the last to wake up. While he was still disorientated by the surroundings, and the mass of people huddled around him, Captain Fey strode through the throng until she was practically on top of him.

  “You son of a bitch!” Was all she had said before punching him square in the face. Three days later he still had the red line across the bridge of his nose. He had explained his reasons for the way he allowed them to be captured, but nobody cared. It was even worse when looking around he could see no way of escaping their captors. He had been relying on some weakness to present itself but it was hard to plan anything with a thousand people talking around you. He had been stripped of his weapons and gadgets but he had expected that. He had been left in his fitted suit with the armour and belt still attached, he clearly wasn’t considered much of a threat without his toys. Their mistake.

  He wasn’t sure if anyone else had noticed, but from the subtle vibrations he felt in the back wall he guessed they were in sub space. They must be close to the engine for him to feel its hum. With time on his hands he spent most of the fourth day chewing this over. If they were currently using Solar Drive then they were heading somewhere deep into space. If it was Earth they would most likely have reached it by now in such a big ship, so that meant they were going somewhere else. He didn’t like the idea of that. No way was he going to be some alien slave/pet.

  To act now though would be foolish. While in Solar Drive he would have nowhere to go, and he doubted he could pilot the whole ship. This was all moot anyway; he had no plan of escape yet. Not to mention the seven thousand humans aboard. He still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with them. If he did escape, would he help them as well? Getting off this ship would be hard enough without having to sneak thousands of people around as well.

  He caught the augment looking at him with no lack of disdain on his face. His trick with the shock grenade had gotten around fast and made him as popular as their captors. Looking at the goliath of a man he felt an idea trying to present itself but it eluded him. If only he had a drink, just a drop of alcohol to wet his imagination. Instead he was left with a headache and an itch to start a fight with the ugly augment.

  He let sleep take him in hopes of his subconscious forming the plan he couldn’t grasp. Despite the crowdedness he was still given a wide birth as he slept propped up against the vibrating wall. The next morning, if it was morning, he woke up with no idea. He went through his normal routine of walking around the different huddles stretching his muscles, he needed to be ready. At the allotted hour the six hovering mechs floated into the hold with the rations of water and sludge. He saw the guarding augment make a beeline for the nearest mech and the leaders following behind. They always got first serving but nobody said anything, she was the captain after all.

  Now he had an idea.

  He spent the rest of the fifth day formulating the plan before he would take it to the leading group. He would need them onboard if it was to work out. On the sixth day he had the idea ironed out; like most of his plans it was going to hurt.

  Early on he approached the corner group with his eyes on the prize. He knew they had to act now; at some point while they were sleeping, the hum of the engine had stopped. Captain Fey saw him coming but ignored him like always. He walked right up to the augment, his head only reaching the giant’s chest. Roland spoke just loud enough to be heard behind the block of muscle.

  “I know how we can get off this boat.”

  “Somehow I doubt that,” was her only reply. The augment moved aside allowing him a view of the whole group. He counted only nine in front of him, but knew from what he heard via the ventilation shafts, that other team leaders were in the other cargo holds.

  “You notice the lack of vibrations?” Roland looked to the wall on their right. The captain gave him an appraising look.

  “We came to the same realisation; we’ve been in Solar Drive for the last week.”

  “Not anymore.” He let his words hang in the air for a moment. He wanted them to think he had a plan, that maybe he’d had a plan all along.

  “Get to the point, Commander.” The captain took a sip from the sachet of water they had been rationing.

  “I don’t know where we are but I know our chances of survival will be greater out there than in here.” He swivelled his head to encompass the patrolling guards above them. “When the mechs arrive today I’m going to trash one. I need your boy here to step in and try to stop me.” He thumbed the looming bodyguard. The captain frowned at his explanation along with the other leaders.

  “You’ll have to forgive me, if I don’t see where you’re going with this. Your plans don’t usually work out for the rest of us, although I would like to see Lieutenant Rydeck here ‘stop’ you.” The augment gave Roland a smirk of pleasure at the idea.

  “It’s simple. I cause a big enough fuss that they have to remove me from the general population. Once on the outside I break free and figure out a way to release everyone else.” The captain’s condescending smile told him she had found a flaw in his plan.

  “And how exactly are you going to break free? They’ll come in here and take you away either at gun point or in bonds.” He usually liked to keep his little advantages to himself but there would be no hiding this one.

  “Right before they break us up, the Lieutenant here is going to hit me hard enough to knock me out. If I’m unconscious they won’t feel the need to bind my hands. Ten seconds later I’m out that door,” He pointed to the thick rectangular door the mechs always came through, “and we are one step closer to getting out of here.” Captain Fey looked at him curiously for a moment; he knew what she was trying to figure out.

  “You have a Rem-plant.” She didn’t ask. He let the others sit in wonder at the captain’s statement as his only reply was a wink at her. She didn’t look convinced and he couldn’t blame her for not trusting him.

  “I know it’s a gamble, but it’s my gamble. If it doesn’t work, you get to watch muscles here throw me a beating.” That was his last effort, whether they decided to help him or not he would go through with it. He was doing them a favour by letting them in on his plan, this way they would be ready at least. Besides, a thousand people can make a pretty good distraction while he tried to escape.

  “My problem isn’t your plan, Commander. I don’t doubt your skills in such matters, but my problem is trusting you. How do I know you’ll help us after you escape?” Roland looked around for a minute; they were mostly civilians in this bay. His gaze stopped over a pair of children being held tight by who he assumed was their mother. He always thought it had been stupid to allow the scientists and engineers to bring their families, despite the commitment to such a long project. Civilians always complicated things, children even more so.

  “You don’t, Captain.” He had run multiple replies and counter replies through his mind, but knew none would suffice. In the end all he had was the truth of the matter.

  “Then I suppose our fate is in your hands.” The captain paused a moment considering her next words. “If you do leave us behind Commander, I want you to know, I will s
urvive this, if only to find you, and when I do, you will eventually die.” He was inclined to believe her.

  Three hours later the mechs hovered into the bay with the usual four guards making a line across the threshold.

  Time to skip to the good bit.

  As soon as the mechs came to a stop he let Rydeck make his way over as normal. This fight was different; he didn’t let it play out in his head first. He was just going to attack and let the big guy do all the work.

  Pushing through the crowd he jumped out shoving Rydeck aside as he kicked the first mech. In response the hovering mech flew across the bay, almost crashing into the guards.

  “Why do you always get first pick, huh?” He followed his outburst with a jump and a swift elbow to the Lieutenants jaw. The crowd gasped as they took a step back from the brawl. The guards moved in but only to get a better look at the fight. He heard Rydeck growl from his position down on one knee. Perhaps he had hit him a little too hard. The augment lashed out coming to his full height with his enhanced grip around Roland’s throat. He flicked his feet searching for the floor but found only air. His choking didn’t last long before Rydeck brought his muscled brow into Roland’s eye.

  Like a rag doll he threw the Commander to the floor before crouching over him. His view was inverted from his back, but he saw the guards begin to move in with their rifles ready.

  Do it!

  It had to be now or never. Rydeck roughly grabbed Roland’s jaw to lift his head off the ground. The augment’s fist closed into what might as well have been a rock. His attack was quick and very blunt as reality instantly escaped him.