Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

“This is it. There’s enough information for Nina to chart a course and get us there,” Tomiko said.

  “There’s a very good reason that mine was abandoned. We’re going to have to be extremely careful. You might want to reconsider this,” Tristan said.

  “I know. We’ll take some precautions,” Tomiko said. He pulled a book out of his jacket pocket and copied the inscriptions from the wall into his book. He then led Tristan and Yared out of the Sixteenth Hall and back toward the docks.

  Before they boarded the Escapade, another man approached them and said: “I am Silvius, Chronicler of two thousand ninety-seven (2097) years. Under the authority of the Oath, I will be traveling with you.”

  Tomiko, Tristan, Yared and the Chronicler Silvius walked up the boarding ramp and stepped onto the deck of the Escapade. The rest of the crew – Nina, Gabrielle Ramalaxis, Carter, Genevieve and Stephan – were all waiting.

  “Good work, all of you. We’ve been paid and the money is deposited into our account in the Sixteenth Hall. Now, we’re off to our next job,” Tomiko said.

  “Can’t we rest a little first?” Nina asked.

  “We’ll take the slow road to get there. We’re not in a hurry,” Tomiko said.

  “Where is the next job, anyway?” Nina asked.

  “Endarinik Island, in the Kazofen Ocean. There’s an abandoned ruby mine,” Tomiko said.

  “Why was it abandoned? Did it come under attack by pirates? I wouldn’t be surprised,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis asked.

  “It was abandoned because of volcanic activity, actually. The expense of working there outweighed the return on investment,” Tomiko said.

  “Lava would kind of get in the way, just a little bit,” Nina said.

  “If people died there due to the harsh environment, their spirits may haunt the location,” Carter said.

  “We have to be really, really careful, or we’re going to haunt the location,” Nina said.

  “Let’s not assume failure before we even try, Nina. We’ll just have to pay careful attention to our surroundings at all times,” Tomiko said.

  “I can watch for signs of change in the ground conditions. The low-level structure of the stones within it will indicate what’s happening,” Tristan said.

  “We can also plan to have several escape routes,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “If that doesn’t work, and we still get killed, I’ll make a point of being the worst and nastiest haunt anyone has ever met,” Nina said.

  “Revenge is not a plan, Nina. Your spirit needs to be filled with kindness, or you will have to experience the worst of the spirit world. You may not get to choose where you spend your afterlife,” Carter said.

  “I want to choose how I spend my life. I’m not running into a volcano to get rich,” Nina said.

  “We need to take a little break. All this negativity isn’t going to help, and you’re getting worse, Nina,” Yared said.

  “You’re not just a little bit bothered by this, Yared?” Nina asked.

  “We do have to be very careful. Extra precautions will be necessary, I admit,” Yared said.

  “You don’t like this idea, do you, Yared? Even you admit this too risky. Come on, say it, Yared,” Nina said.

  “Calm down, Nina. Be at peace,” Stephan said.

  “Tell that to the volcano, Stephan. See if that works to cool things off a bit,” Nina said.

  “Do you have a map of the island, Tomiko? That might help us plan our approach. We can discuss that before we go on land, and plan a safe route,” Genevieve asked.

  “Several safe routes,” Gabrielle Ramalaxis said.

  “Yes, I do have a map. I agree that we need to have more than a single route thought out, so we can sidestep obstacles and work efficiently,” Tomiko said. He opened his book to reveal his map and his crew examined it with him.

  The Chronicler Silvius copied the notes from Tomiko’s book into his own, along with the conversations of the crew.

  CHAPTER 30: Acts of War and Betrayal

  Captain Porfirio sailed the Azure Solar Acolyte in its airship configuration all the way back to the continent of Nataloridivu. He brought the ship down on dry land because of its ruptured hull that wasn’t seaworthy. He pulled a lever to extend the boarding ramp. Porfirio then exited the wheelhouse and went down the boarding ramp. Outside, dockworkers and carpenters gathered and he directed them to repair the ship.

  ~~~

  In Depository Building Number Three Hundred Six, on Tilvonix Island in the Ursegan Ocean, Premier Governors Dustin, Kynthia and Enrichetta stood around the ruby spire.

  “Are we finally ready to deal with the sun worshippers?” Premier Governor Enrichetta asked.

  “With the embargo underway, there will be no large fleet of ships around Nataloridivu to intercept our attack. The Conservators can instigate the offensive when ready and return the map to us,” Premier Governor Dustin said.

  “Are they ready now? That is what I am asking. When can we recover the lightkeeper crystal with the map to the seventh vault?” Premier Governor Enrichetta asked.

  “They must also be sure to kill everyone there. Wipe out all life on that continent. The risk of our enemies gleaning and using knowledge from the lightkeeper crystal is too great,” Premier Governor Kynthia said.

  “The area is vast, with hills, mountains and caves where they can hide. Killing everyone, in a thorough extermination, requires preparation, which takes time,” Premier Governor Dustin said.

  “Time to delay this mission is time we don’t have, despite our own great ages. Order the Conservators to attack at once,” Premier Governor Enrichetta said.

  Premier Governor Dustin placed his hands on the ruby spire and said: “Athamus, inform the Conservators that they are to begin their offensive immediately.”

  “I will send my minions to direct the Conservators to launch the attack now,” the voice of Athamus said, vibrating through the ruby spire.

  ~~~

  The Greatest Future was a two hundred sixty (260) foot long frigate with four (4) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails. The ship was moored along the southern coast of the Jeshirinko Barrier land bridge, near the newly constructed city.

  Nikon stood on deck and drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean to be energized with the power to communicate with the spirit world. He concentrated and heard the message from a familiar spirit, with the message to launch the attack. The thirty-nine (39) year old man questioned the wisdom of this, but it wasn’t his place to judge his superiors. “Klemens, are the Jeshirinko military leaders ready to launch the attack against the sun worshippers in Nataloridivu?” he asked the man standing next to him.

  Klemens drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of telepathy and empathy. The twenty-nine (29) year old man concentrated to detect the thoughts of General Tiglath and Admiral Erisinni. Once he was certain he had read them clearly, Klemens said: “They believe themselves to be ready. The architect, Erlend, has modified the constructor according to Perikles’ design, so that it will create an attack platform sturdier than a warship, and be made of Lujladia waters, to distort light and deceive the enemy as to its placement. General Tiglath has one hundred fifteen thousand (115000) soldiers ready to march across the platform when it is assembled, and Admiral Erisinni has three hundred eighty-four (384) warships ready to sail. They are all amassed near the northern coast.”

  “Perikles, once the constructor is initiated using the Lujladia Ocean waters, will the attack platform be visible to us, in its true location?” Nikon asked of another man standing next to him.

  “Yes, using the crystal visors I formed. The soldiers need only march across it for five (5) miles northward, but their location will appear displaced by twelve (12) miles to the west, protecting them from counterattack,” Perikles said. The thirty-eight (38) year old man drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to manipulate crystal and stone. He molded a pai
r of diamonds in his hand, modifying their low-level structure to manipulate light. Perikles then placed the diamonds onto a frame and handed the visor to Nikon. Perikles did this again with another set of diamonds and handed it to Klemens. He already wore his own visor, but tilted up to not apply its corrective displacement to his vision.

  “Klemens, are there any signs that they’ve discovered the telepathic relay crystals?” Nikon asked.

  “There is no evidence they have, although Lieutenant Skender could potentially use them if he focuses his telepathic powers correctly, at the proper angle,” Klemens said.

  “If he did that, you would know, because his own telepathy would actively detect you. I designed the telepathic relay crystals to be clear, if anything. Once they are in use, there can be no doubt about it,” Perikles said.

  “Klemens, can you account for Arisha? Is she still actively placing the telepathic relays to extend our command range?” Nikon asked.

  Klemens concentrated and found Arisha’s mental presence. He probed her thoughts through the telepathic relay crystals. “She is accounted for. However, she is lying in wait, as the Jeshirinko sailors and soldiers are boarding the ships. She will place telepathic relay crystals directly on board the command ship, Coherent, at the first opportunity,” he said.

  “What of Xiomara? Is she accounted for and active?” Nikon asked.

  Klemens concentrated but could not detect Xiomara’s mental presence. “I cannot account for Xiomara,” he said.

  “That is very concerning, Klemens. Her far sight should enable her to gather intelligence at a safe distance while staying within communication range with us through the telepathic relay crystals. She may have been captured or incapacitated,” Nikon said.

  “Even if Xiomara knows all the details of our mission and was captured for interrogation by the Jeshirinko telepaths, General Tiglath would still order an attack on the sun worshippers in Nataloridivu. That was his plan all along,” Klemens said.

  “My designs made their plan more likely to succeed,” Perikles said.

  “Do you expect them to thank you, Perikles?” Nikon asked.

  “No, I expect them to do the job. Xiomara’s wellbeing is not necessary for the mission, is it?” Perikles asked.

  “She is our colleague, Perikles. If she dies because we neglected her, then her spirit may haunt us,” Nikon said.

  “And if the mission is even partially successful, putting to death a large number of the sun worshippers, their spirits won’t haunt us? Why are you suddenly worried about a single person?” Perikles asked.

  “Some kind regard for the wellbeing of our fellow Conservators is only proper. Xiomara has provided useful assistance in the past,” Nikon said.

  “You cannot let your personal feelings get in the way, Perikles. She has no desire for you, and never will. That is no reason to be so callous about her safety,” Klemens said.

  “She owes you nothing, personally. Only professionally,” Nikon said.

  “Your personal disagreements are not her fault. She simply prefers a stronger, more athletic man,” Klemens said.

  “Yes, of course. It’s my fault, entirely, for saving her life on numerous occasions, when no stronger, more athletic man was available. Her appreciation is lacking,” Perikles said.

  “Focus on the mission, Perikles. There are several women who have expressed interest in you, but you had no time for them, choosing to set your hopes on someone who has different interests. I have watched their thoughts, and yours. There is no sense in wasting your life wishing for the unobtainable. Your time is not unlimited. You walked away from good opportunities,” Klemens said.

  “The question is whether the time is right for this opportunity. We have our orders to strike immediately. I do not want to move before we have reasonable confidence of victory,” Nikon said.

  Klemens concentrated again and routed his telepathic power through the relay crystals distributed strategically at key points throughout the Jeshirinko Barrier land bridge. “The Jeshirinko commanders are ready. Their troops are loaded on their ships and the constructor is configured,” he said.

  “And Arisha?” Nikon asked.

  Klemens concentrated again to learn Arisha’s situation by probing her thoughts via the relays. “Arisha is on board the Coherent. The telepathic relay crystals are there, for when General Tiglath and Admiral Erisinni go on board,” he said.

  “Perikles, are the cloaking crystals still active around this ship?” Nikon asked.

  “Yes, of course. The vessel is fully concealed by the light wrapping effect, just like when we arrived,” Perikles said.

  “Now I am confident. Klemens, order them to launch the attack. Follow their thoughts,” Nikon said.

  “No! Wait!” Perikles said.

  Klemens drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from his vial and was further energized with the powers of telepathy and empathy. He concentrated to route a message through the telepathic relay crystals and sent the command to General Tiglath and Admiral Erisinni.

  ~~~

  General Tiglath stood in the wheelhouse of the Coherent alongside Admiral Erisinni. A series of commands entered their minds, and they obeyed without question.

  “Remember, we need to come to a full stop five (5) miles short of the southern coast. At the full stop, the constructor will be used to assemble the attack bridge, and the troops will begin their forward march across the bridge,” General Tiglath said.

  “Their lookouts will perceive the attack bridge to be located twelve (12) miles further west than it truly is. We will send thirty-nine (39) frigates ahead to bombard their shores with cannon fire, which will also protect the marching troops and distract further from their invasion mission,” Admiral Erisinni said.

  “Correct, Admiral. Chart your course toward Nataloridivu and set sail immediately,” General Tiglath said.

  Admiral Erisinni drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. He concentrated to learn their paths and positions and thereby charted a course toward Nataloridivu. He pulled levers to raise the anchor and retract the boarding ramp and then sailed the ship northward across the Lujladia Ocean. A fleet of three hundred eighty three (383) frigates sailed alongside the Coherent.

  ~~~

  On board the Greatest Future, Klemens said: “I have given the order to launch the attack.”

  “No! You should have waited until we moved closer to the Jeshirinko fleet before issuing the attack order! We were supposed to go first! Now, we need to travel very quickly to cross from south to north across the land bridge and overcome their head start!” Perikles said.

  “Calm down, Perikles. Remember, the Jeshirinko warships do not move even one third (1/3) as quickly as this vessel,” Nikon said.

  “Once those warships set sail, even with the telepathic relay crystals on board their command ship, they will be out of range of our influence. The distance between the relay crystals on board the Coherent and those in our network across the land bridge will be too great to be of any use. We can’t maintain control over their military leaders if that happens,” Perikles said.

  “I know that, Perikles. We will move in, soon enough, to keep pace with them,” Nikon said.

  “Keeping pace will not be enough! The sound dampening crystal on this ship will only conceal the approach of the Jeshirinko fleet if we sail ahead of them and arrive first,” Perikles said.

  “Our enemies in Nataloridivu do not expect us, and they will not be able to see the attack bridge because of the visual displacement you designed in the constructor. Don’t forget: the Jeshirinko warships are meant to serve as a distraction from the land invasion, so I am not as concerned about silence. I’m sure you would prefer those ships went ahead and suffered any initial counterattack, just in case there is one. I don’t want us to suffer any losses or fatalities. Let the Jeshirinko warlords and military endure the costs of the battle,” Nikon said.

 
“My plan was carefully considered and designed with many facets, all structured to maximize our likelihood of success. You can’t just pick and choose some parts of the strategy to implement and ignore the others. Your delay tactics don’t make us safer. Losing time puts the mission in danger because we’re not where we need to be. Is it safer to wait for a small fire to spread because you’re afraid to approach it? No, you need to move in quickly to extinguish it while it’s small,” Perikles said.

  “If you insist, we will go now, Perikles,” Nikon said. He walked across the deck and entered the wheelhouse, followed by Klemens and Perikles. A young woman was at the wheel and she smiled when she saw Perikles.

  “Fotini, chart a course to Nataloridivu,” Nikon said.

  The young woman – Fotini – who was at the ship’s wheel drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial to be energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. She concentrated to learn their paths and positions and used this information to chart a course to Nataloridivu.

  Klemens noticed Perikles’ thoughts, which indicated that he knew that Fotini had looked his way with desire, but that he felt no affection toward her. The woman was not especially attractive, nor was she remarkably unattractive. She did, however, have a sweet disposition. She had looked at Perikles before, and she even admired his work. Klemens knew all of this by probing her thoughts. He also knew that Perikles considered Fotini to be scrawny and awkwardly-built, and he didn’t like her facial features or her short hairstyle, or even the sound of her voice.

  “When should we leave?” Fotini asked.

  “Immediately,” Nikon said.

  “With the greatest speed,” Perikles said.

  The thirty-two (32) year old Fotini pulled a lever to raise the anchor. She then pulled additional levers to pivot the masts and the sails of the Greatest Future to the sides of the ship and elevated the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. She steered the ship northward across the Jeshirinko Barrier land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Lujladia Ocean. She focused on the voyage and sailed the ship northward, but her thoughts turned to Perikles. She admired the man’s work, and his facial features and his average stature. She even liked the sound of his voice and his hairstyle. Fotini couldn’t understand why the man never noticed her or smiled in her direction.