The Rise of OLMAC

by Kevin Gordon

little. “What an odd question! I suppose, I was always focused in my observance of the rituals of Rellcism. I knew early on that I preferred men, and that it would not help me in the future. I had ambition—”

  “You?”

  “Yes me,” he said, a little ashamed. “I wanted to be someone important, someone necessary to the Kal-Durrell. I wanted to be relied on in matters of spiritual crisis, of interpretation of the words of the Kal-Durrell. I hoped to meet them, in person.”

  “What child doesn’t?”

  “True. And it was truth that kept me hidden behind those with power. I feared the light that would be shone on me, feared confronting those who looked on my lifestyle with derision and disdain. I guess, until we went to Averil, I had always lived in fear.”

  “Do you feel you betrayed yourself, by mating with a woman?” She had been dying to ask that question for some time now, and only then did she feel it was appropriate.

  Arciss paused, as he had been waiting for that question as long as she had been dying to ask it. “No. At first I did, for a moment. But I re-examined my feelings, and knew they were true. I loved Solti, and wanted to be with her, not to improve my image, not for anyone’s else’s concerns but my own. I was selfish, and in that selfishness was truth. I loved Cray, not to rebel against anyone, but for the simple selfish reason that I loved to be with him.”

  Uonil nodded in understanding. “I think it’s good you will be Kolob’s friend and guide—I think he could learn much from you.”

  “Let us hope things go as planned. Nothing has so far.”

  \

  17

  The foundation of any successful civilization is the education of its children. The ability to learn is one of the most vital functions to be attributed to the souman race. Without it, soumans lose the ability to adapt, and risk extinction. It was one of the fundamental reasons the Rell refused to integrate colvition into their society.

  The Onzic along with seven oreships swung like a catapult over the escaping dromons, decimating the TELREC fighters that were in pursuit. OLMAC fighters came into formation with the dromons, as the oreships engaged the two capital ships. Debris floated around the ships, a broken segments of hulls and mutilated corpses slammed into those still functioning. General Hildnic was getting thoroughly immersed in the battle, his cas of tactical training saving many and inflicting severe damage to the capital ship.

  ^General, new capital ships holding position just outside weapons range,^ cast Ilasko.

  ^What are they doing?^ he asked, genuinely curious as to their strategy. Suld, sitting nearby, was thinking the same thing. ^We can’t concentrate on them. Barrier status on target one?^

  ^Emitters nearing critical levels,^ cast Ilasko. ^Capital ship LN-67 is completing its turn.^

  LN-67 arced in the void, largely ignored by OLMAC forces. It swung past the dead shell of LN-01, and brought its primary weapons to bear on the Onzic, plowing past oreships that fired relentlessly on its hull. They spun around in dying circles as the massive emdec cannons of the capital shattered their barriers and hulls. Suld bolted to his feet, his mind focused on the capital.

  ^What is it doing? Bring those twenty oreships to bear on LN-67. Stop it dead!^ he cried.

  Unfazed, it came in under the Onzic, obliterating several more oreships in the process, their NnuG emitters overloading and exploding against its unblemished hull. Valiantly more oreships sought to breech its defenses, only to be terminally rebuffed in the process. LN-67 swooped under the Onzic, unfazed by the oreship’s defensive emdec fire. LN-67’s main emdec cannons fired and quickly overloaded the Onzic’s NnuG barriers and engines, leaving it adrift in the void. Dozens of TELREC shuttles left in waves from within the capital, heading for the Onzic.

  ^Alert all ships!^ slammed Hildnic, watching as the Onzic’s defensive systems evaporated. ^Recall to this position and—^

  The General suddenly collapsed, along with the rest of the nexus crew. Ment-dex weapons pounded the Onzic, forcing all aboard to focus their minds against the strain, a few succumbing to the pressure as their minds terminally collapsed.

  ^Where are the meta from Gan-Elldon?!^ cried Hildnic, finally counteracting the pressure and getting back to his feet.

  Suld cast for a situation update from the meta rising from Gan-Elldon.

  ^All systems active. They will be in the battle in two mroas.^ Suld knelt for a moment, succumbing to the pain. Hildnic helped him to his feet.

  ^Come on, Suld. We’re stronger than this.^

  ^We are, I know it!^ He exerted more pressure on his mind, forcing himself to fight the TELREC assault. ^I will not surrender.^ Suld thought for a moment on the offensive meta. They are taking too long to get here. Are they deserting us, along with their comrades in Uplarin?

  Several explosions sent the ship listing violently to one side, hideous alarms blaring, signaling a terrible wound. Something impacted near the nexus, bringing down girders and steelum plating around the crew. Many small fires broke out, as smoke grew thick. Most consoles went blank and black, as even the internal colvition relays began to lose power.

  ^Status! Status!^ cried Suld, unable to nest another’s thoughts. He looked around, and saw most of the crew was unconscious, and could feel their minds being paralyzed by the TELREC. ^Medical meta to the nexus!^ he ordered swiftly. ^Flood all levels with resuscitating gas, and reinforce mental shielding. Get emergency power to the colvition relays.^

  A bitter gas swept down around them, bring some back to life, others merely to misery. Reports began to file in from the lower levels of the ship, as the internal cast-net resolved in clarity.

  ^Invasion!^ cast Ilasko, as she assimilated the multitude of status reports from various areas of the beleaguered ship. ^Two hundred TELREC rapidly advancing through the ship.^

  They want me, thought Suld. ^Barricade the nexus! Seal off all entrances! Dispatch meta to defend!^

  Hildnic staggered over to Suld, a bad head wound oozing blood down his frame.

  ^It isn’t you they want.^

  ^What?^

  Hildnic struggled for breath, his CMS system failing against TELREC ment-dex fire.

  ^They’re heading to the detention area,^ he faintly cast, falling to his knees.

  ^Uld!^ Damn.

  Reports came in quick and furious of forces being overwhelmed on the lower decks, until all contact was lost with that part of the ship. Suld cast to Theia.

  ^Theia, I need you to bring your dromons around, and engage the enemy surrounding us. TELREC will be escaping shortly.^

  ^No!^ she slammed. ^We almost have LN-33 destroyed. We cannot leave.^

  ^Theia!^ Suld pleaded as he fell to his knees, his mind weakening under the strain. ^Uld must not escape.^

  ^Let him. He’s not worth it.^

  Suld witnessed through external sensors several shuttles departing the damaged section of the oreship. Four explosions then rocked the Onzic, as it spun in the void, throwing the crew against bulkheads and barrier beams. Power failed, and the air began to grow cold. He saw Ilasko, bloody and near-death, reach over and manually seal off compartments around the nexus, preserving what little atmosphere was left. Time lost all meaning to Suld, as he faded into a sea of blackness. Something jogged his body, and after an unknown time he opened his eyes to the expressionless face of Ciluo.

  ^What . . . what happened?^ cast Suld groggily.

  Ciluo helped him to his feet.

  ^The capital ship has caused major damage to the Onzic. Much of your crew has been incapacitated or killed by the ment-dex weaponry. I suggest a full evacuation of all able personnel.^

  ^Where is General Hildnic?^

  ^He is injured, but will recover. Saeren Ilasko has perished, along with half of the soumans aboard-ship.^

  ^Dammit,^ cast Suld. ^I wouldn’t be here, if not for her.^ Looks like you were right again, old friend.

  ^Suld . . .^

  Suld turned his focus from the pulse of red lights, the screams of men and women dying. Uld’
s face resolved in his mind.

  ^I could end it all now, Suld,^ he cast, gloatingly. ^One shot would break your ship in two, and you would meet your end in the embrace of the void.^

  ^Then do it,^ cast Suld weakly.

  ^Hmmm . . . but there is so much for you to see!^ cried Uld with glee. ^The destruction of your home, your company. No. I want you to live through this. After all, you spared my life down on Core. I’ll do the same for you, now. You may have won Ellore, but I will win the war!^

  Suld scanned the nexus, seeing nothing but broken consoles and dead bodies. General Hildnic was being carried away by medical meta. Suld finally sat at command and nest the status of the ship, watching as LN-67 pulled away.

  The war is not over yet, Uld.

  Ciluo helped lift the few remaining crew-members still alive onto stretchers, then set to clearing the bodies and debris from around the stations with a few maintenance meta. Finally he stood by Suld, who sat in a distant haze, his mind wandering over his first defeat.

  ^Will you evacuate?^

  ^And give up on the Onzic?^ cast Suld incredulously, as his mind quickly came back into focus. He scanned over damage reports from the failing ship’s systems. ^You just want to save your own people, don’t you? Where are the damned clone controllers?^

  ^All three perished in the attack. I have notified all ships of the status of General Hildnic, and the clone controllers. General Tullghe is taking command from the oreship Nio. His clone controller will assume control over the fleet.^ Ciluo paused, his golden eyes glittering. ^I promised you the