Secret of the Crystal - Omnibus Edition Books 1-3 (Time Travel Adventure)

by Larson, Brian K.

  Ran’Damon was a smart dressed man standing nearly six feet tall. He had brown hair and gunmetal-gray colored eyes that stared at you like two pieces of steel. His thick, straight, beige hair was shoulder-length and was worn in a style that reminded you of a fluttering flag. His skin was light-colored and he had a wide forehead and a crooked nose. His wardrobe was practical looking and was comprised mostly of reds and grays.

  “We will not give the decision until all parties have had equal time in speaking and the council has had time to deliberate.” Ran’Damon argued.

  The two men sat down making it obvious that they obliged under protest fidgeted uncomfortably, but they did yield to the high council’s instruction.

  Bisc leaned over and whispered into Phonatorus’s ear, “I don’t like it! I don’t like it one bit!”

  “Neither do I,” Phonatorus said not really whispering, but raising his voice just enough to be heard. He wanted to ensure that Ran’Damon understood their distaste of how these proceedings were going.

  Ran’Damon looked over and glared at the men and stood to formally address them, “Silence the both of you!” he said stretching his arm out and pointing at the two. “We will hear this last testimony. You have had your say.”

  “Thank you my gracious leader.” Ethos said as he turned and smirked at the two military officials. Then he turned forward facing Ran’Damon. Ethos would remind you of a clever stage magician as he presented himself. He was able to hide his agenda from his audience by sleight of hand. He had narrow green eyes that were like two chunks of jade. His thick, wavy, brown hair was worn in an attractive style. He rarely shaved everyday giving him the five o'clock shadow look most of the time. He was also short like his mother but had a masculine build and ruddy colored skin.

  “As the Southern factions have said, your highness,” Ethos began, “In times past we have the most to offer for the colonization efforts of Mars. We have out spent our counter parts two to one, and have a stronger military presence than the Northern fleet. We can protect the colonies that migrate from Astra and can guarantee one hundred percent zero casualties…”

  “…Your council!” Phonatorus shouted being no longer able to sit still, jumped up nearly came across the council table at Ethos, “We will not tolerate these lies that the South spews out of their mouths. Do you really believe that the Southern faction can ultimately guarantee zero casualties in this exploration or do you listen to them only because he is your first born son?”

  Ran’Damon paused for a moment to consider Phonatorus’s point. Then he sat down and calmly addressed the objection, “If you do not wish to be under further consideration of this matter and cannot keep your comments to yourself Phonatorus, you will be excused and eliminated from these hearings.”

  “Answer my claim that you give the Southern faction favoritism being Ethos is your first born…”

  “How long have you been a member of this council Phonatorus?” Ran’Damon asked rhetorically, “You know as well as everyone else here that I play no favoritism. Each side has had their say in all matters brought before the high council and we rule accordingly. We will not tolerate another outburst from the North!” then turning to Ethos he instructed him to continue.

  “As I was saying your highness,” Ethos said not holding back his smirk, “We can guarantee zero casualties from military excursions. However, as you well know, there are hazards and risks associated with the colonization efforts that are underway. There will be casualties, but with our experience and training programs, we can minimize these from occurring,” he said glancing over at Phonatorus attempting to get another rise out of him, but Phonatorus and his team sat quietly knowing that they would lose this fight.

  “Very well,” Ran’Damon said, “Do you have any other comments before we close these hearings?”

  “Just that I hope that you will select the Southern faction’s proposal and carefully consider the benefits I have outlined during these proceedings. I want to thank the high council for hearing all points on both sides,” Ethos said again glancing at his opponent.

  “Thank you Ethos,” Ran’Damon said, “These hearings are now concluded. Deliberations will begin, weighing in all points starting tomorrow. We will provide our vote within three days at which time we will reconvene to make our declaration.”

  Both sides stood while Ran’Damon slammed his gavel for the last time over these proceedings and the council chamber was excused.

  “What do you think our chances are?” Bisc asked of Phonatorus as they left the great hall.

  “Our chances would be a lot higher if you had of kept your mouth shut.” Bisc snapped.

  “My apologies sir,” Phonatorus said, “It’s just these Southern leaders think they own the planet and now they want to own Mars too. It makes me angry that the council will not listen.”

  “Yes,” Bisc said, “But you should learn to temper your anger and channel those emotions in a positive way that will help our cause… not hinder it.”

  “I will do my best sir,” Phonatorus said slamming his fist in the palm of his hand. “But I will refuse to temper myself if the South ends up winning this.”

  “You will not do anything foolish my young advisor,” Bisc cautioned pointing his finger in his face.

  “We shall see in a couple of days what this outcome is and if we are favored,” Phonatorus argued, “Which I don’t think we will have the council’s favor, but if we are, then we can put this behind us and move forward with our colonization strategy.”

  “Don’t lose any sleep over it,” Bisc said putting his hand on his shoulder. “Just try and keep a level mind.”

  “I will sir.” Phonatorus said as they parted ways and headed toward their dwellings.

  * * *

  Ran’Damon’s Quarters

  “Father,” Roth’stavous said, “How do you think the deliberations will go?”

  “Son, you know that I cannot tell you how the council will rule on this matter.”

  “I know father, but Phonatorus was getting really hot. If they lose their petition to the South, I fear that our civil war will heat up once again. There is no telling what they would do.”

  “My son,” Ran’Damon said smiling at his wife B’anyan, “Whatever decision is made, it will be the right one. I know you worry that the North faction will fire up the weapon.”

  “Yes father,” Roth’stavous said with concern, “There is that possibility.”

  “You do not need to worry about them doing that,” Ran’Damon reassured, “There are many fail safes that have been put in place that require a council member to authorize… we have already ruled that we will not activate those weapons.”

  “Yes my husband,” B’anyan interjected, “You know our son’s position on the weapons and I agree with his point that they should be dismantled. There are no guarantees that someday they would not be used.”

  B’anyan was an aristocratic looking lady with deep blue eyes. Her luxurious, curly, yellow hair was very short. She always wore it in an attractive and dignified style. She was much shorter than her husband and had a small build. Her skin was deeply-tanned and her wardrobe was artistic and complicated, being made up mostly of black and gray colors.

  “B’anyan, my love, you must trust the council in keeping these weapons. Neither side will use them against the other; we have both signed armistice agreements.”

  “You know as well as, I that the North and South factions refuse to accept the armistice. That is the very reason they refuse to dismantle the weapons; neither side will step forward and begin in fear the other will fire,” B’anyan augured.

  “Father, the sheer power that these weapons demand; you have read the reports in the scientific community. Using the planets core to power these machines will affect our gravity and could cause our planet to drift closer to Mars.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous my foolish and inexperienced son. There is no way that Astra would ever drift from our present orbit,” Ran’Damon chuckled.r />
  “Father, you should take these reports seriously,” he urged, “I have done my own research and have confirmed their findings…”

  “Son,” Ran’Damon said cutting him off, “as long as these weapon are pointing at each side, there is no way the other side will activate their weapon on one another.”

  “Why is it so hard to understand?”

  “My son,” Ran’Damon again chucked, “a scientist you are not...”

  “These reports coming out of the scientific community are being scoffed at. Father, there is real validity to these reports.”

  “Ran’,” B’anyan said looking at her son, “Why not ask him what he feels is his concern. Can you not see he is being genuine what he tells us?”

  “The council does not rule by feelings; we rule by fact…”

  “Ran!” B’anyan exclaimed giving him the look.

  “Very well B’anyan, I will indulge the boy,” Ran’Damon said looking at his son, “Go ahead Roth’stavous, tell me what it is that troubles you so.”

  “Thank you father,” Roth’stavous said grabbing the remote tuner from the table before him.

  He pressed a few buttons on the remote and the wall opposite the sofa they were sitting at lit up instantly displaying a list menu of options. Roth’stavous quickly browsed to his file folder and opened up his reports and started walking them through the problems when his brothers arrived and joined in the discussion.

  “So what does our little brother have to say about these dangerous weapons?” Gamu asked as he took a seat. Gamu had a bubbly personality. His moss colored eyes and fine straight brown hair was medium-length, not as long as his father’s, but longer than that of his older brother Ethos. Gamu was shorter than his brothers, but also very husky for his size and looked like he could carry himself in a bar fight with no problem.

  “Yes my dear bother Roth’stavous,” Ethos added, “Do tell us of these dangers,” he snickered with his brother.

  “Boys!” B’anyan said looking sternly at Ethos and Gamu, “Give him the courtesy of explaining.”

  “Mother,” Gamu answered, “We’ve heard this story dozens of times, what could possibly be different than the other times we have listened?”

  All B’anyan had to do was return her look of displeasure. Ethos and Gamu knew that their mother favored the youngest child; always had.

  “Very well mother, we will suffer through one more time…” Ethos sighed looking at Gamu.

  “Good,” Roth’stavous replied, “There is new information regarding the tapping into the core energy for these weapons.”

  “Go on,” Ran’Damon said trying to be sincere in his tone.

  “Seismoacoustics,” Roth’stavous said pointing at the screen, “or in laymen’s terms; the use of sound waves at certain acoustical frequencies to generate seismic activity at great amplitudes.”

  “Yes,” Gamu offered, “We use this technology in all our ship weapons today.”

  “That is true,” Roth’stavous continued, “but the power generated by our ship’s reactors does not create the seismic power wave that can tear the planet apart.”

  “Only ships,” Gamu said.

  “And that weapon has been very effective,” Ethos grinned.

  “The emitters on the Seismoacoustic weapons based on planet side can deliver a massive wav,” Roth’stavous added.

  “That theory has never been tested. How can the scientific community make such claims?” Ran’Damon asked.

  “Testing was done last year on a much smaller scale.” Roth’stavous explained, “You do remember the massive tidal wave that was created that wiped out Cerulian Glades in the Eastern sector?”

  “How can we all forget that?” Ran’Damon recalled. “That could have been much worse if we had aimed the emitters at Six Regions where it would have wiped out tens of thousands.”

  “So you do admit that these weapons are dangerous.”

  “Only to the point that they do have the potential to cause-” Ran’Damon tried to say before Gamu interrupted.

  “We will never power up the emitters that have been tapped into the core,” Gamu said.

  “Why not take the side of caution and remove the core tap?” B’anyan asked with worry.

  “Now look what you are doing.” Ethos interjected, “You are scaring your mother with your theories.”

  “I am scared,” B’anyan offered, “Maybe we should listen to Roth’stavous…”

  “Thank you Mother.”

  “Please,” Gamu said rolling his eyes slightly nearly forgetting who was watching, “Can you get to your point?”

  “Certainly,” Roth’stavous said clicking on the display to bring up another screen, “There you can see a depiction of the Seismoacoustic emitters and the core tap. If you take the data that was collected on the Cerulian Glades event and scale that power output that was used for testing, to the power that the core provides, we can see the output to the emitters increases ten thousand times more in magnitude; the emitters would send out a seismic wave that would rock and reshape the planet’s core.”

  “That power output is regulated; there is no way that the emitters would ever see that much power,” Ethos augured.

  “That kind of power would fuse our power regulators and pump an endless amount of energy into the emitters,” Roth’stavous countered, “But there is more. Something much more concerning than even the power output from the Seismoacoustic weapons; they would change the gravitational field of Astra and cause Astra to fall into a gravity well toward Mars. Once the planet falls into the Roche limit of Mars, it will destroy both planets and wipe out our existence.”

  “That is some theory Roth’stavous,” Gamu mused.

  “Well it is true and I would not want to be planet side if they were ever activated!” Roth’stavous exclaimed.

  “And again I say, even if your theories were true, those weapons would never be fired,” Ran’Damon assured.

  “We had better hope not!” Roth’stavous replied.

  “Now that we got that out of the way,” Ethos said, “Why don’t we talk about the really important discussion.”

  “What could possibly be more important than our own destruction my arrogant brother?” Roth’stavous said.

  “Why, the matter that has been before the council for months.” Ethos retorted.

  “I cannot discuss these matters Ethos,” Ran’Damon said shaking his head, “You know better than that.”

  “Why of course father,” Ethos said, “But that is the main reason for our visit today.”

  “Well, just put that thought out of your mind,” Ran’Damon urged, “I must not speak to you about this.”

  “Father, we are all council advisors,” Gamu spoke up, “We are merely advising...”

  Roth’stavous broke in, “But Ethos, you must not advise our father on this matter for there is a conflict of interest at stake.”

  “Just because I am also the leader of the Southern faction?” Ethos questioned, “I am not allowed to advise the high council?”

  “He is right Ethos,” his mother commented, “You are their leader. You have a vested interest for the South to win the contracts.”

  “But my brother Roth’stavous here is not trying to sway you father?” Ethos rebutted, “He is of the Northern faction.”

  “Yes my brother,” Roth’stavous said, “But I hold no power position such as you.”

  “And that makes it right?” Ethos said looking sternly at his younger brother.

  “Gentlemen,” Ran’Damon said standing and holding his hands out wide, “We are not going to discuss this matter. As high council advisors, you all know that you were able to make your claims and ‘advise’ the council during the hearings. Now we have adjourned, we may not consider any further testimony in this manner.”

  “Then you leave us no choice father,” Gamu said, “We will approach high priestess Trypeli first thing in the morning. We will insist on an open vote of the council.”

  “Are
you mad?” Ran’Damon exclaimed.

  “We wish to know who is voting,” Ethos added.

  “What about the fifth council advisor Rusa’ent?” Ran’Damon asked, “What are her views of this? You know it takes all five council advisors to petition Trypeli. Rusa’ent is away to the Mars colonization center on Mars prime. She is not here and cannot be included in your petition.”

  “I have her signed petition to offer to the high priestess in proxy,” Gamu smiled.

  “I’ll have no part of this!” Ran’Damon yelled.

  He turned and began to leave the room when Ethos spoke again getting his attention, “Tell us what your vote is father…”

  Ran’Damon stopped, turned to his son and spoke as soft as he could, “Son, you know I will not tell you how I vote. You must not take this to Trypeli. You simply must not!”

  “Why?” Ethos added, “Is it because you do sway your vote to the South and you don’t want the people to know that you show favoritism to your fist born?”

  “My vote must not be heard,” Ran’Damon insisted, “If I am forced through your petition… if Trypeli asks for my vote in open… I will decline to vote on this matter.”

  “You would leave the vote up to the other four council members?” Gamu asked.

  “Father,” Roth’stavous said, “You know if you plead silence in this manner, the council will be split down the middle, two votes for North and two for South.”

  “For once my little brother is right,” Ethos offered, “You must be the deciding vote. We already know which council members will vote; Lam’ulin and Sephen will vote Northern and with Mix’ulin and Trypeli sway to the Southern factions.”

  “So, this vote has already been decided,” Ran’Damon said.

  “Father,” Gamu said, “We will know that once and for all, whoever wins this vote, we will know your political views.”

  “If I do not vote, you will not know,” Ran’Damon assured.

  “You will risk losing your position?” Roth’stavous exclaimed, “No high council member has ever plead silence in a vote; open or closed.”

  “That’s right my husband,” B’anyan cautioned, “You could be forced to leave your position. Your replacement would be whoever is next in line.”