Everywhere the eye could see, ships of every kind were in various stages of construction across the enormous ports. Separate from the planet, Kalian could see other ringed shipyards in the distance where the Ch’kara had run out of space to encircle their homeworld. As a species, they were obsessed with building and engineering, but to actually turn their whole world into a shipyard felt a little over the top. The latest figures reported that eighty-five percent of their population were engineers in some form or other. From the images he had stored in his head, Kalian knew the surface was actually a stunning place with grand architecture and works of beauty and art like a lot of other Conclave cultures. Regrettably, the surface could only be appreciated through the visor of a breather, since the atmosphere was toxic to all except the Ch’kara.
“Incredible isn’t it?” Li’ara appeared at his side, though Kalian had always known where she was on the ship. He knew where everyone was onboard. Esabelle had taught him to find the nuances that made individuals unique, allowing him to tell the difference between every Novaarian and human. He had yet to try it on the other races since their isolation on the Gommarian.
“To think they were building ships like this before we even discovered electricity...” Kalian tried not to let his thoughts dwell on the fact that the entire human race was engineered, and that Terran culture, his true ancestors, were far older than those before him. He looked at Li’ara and found his thoughts easily distracted. She really was bewitching to him, even more so since Naveen. He concentrated on the construction of a nearby ship, its internal structure more visible than its external, in an attempt to resist the urge to say everything he thought about her.
There was a palpable tension between them and he wanted nothing more than to cut through it and get to the heart of their situation.
“Li’ara...”
“Kalian...” She cut him off but looked away, her hair covering any expression. She didn’t know what to say, as much as he didn’t. A silent conversation took place, one they had verbalised before, in which they both agreed there was too much going on around them. Kalian agreed to a point but it became harder every day. Before he could speak again they were interrupted by a life-size hologram of Naydaalan.
“Greetings of peace,” he began. “We have received the Highclave’s coordinates on the edge of the solar system. Ambassador Telarrek will meet you in the hangar as we proceed with security clearance.” With that, his image quickly faded away.
“We should go.” Li’ara hardened again. “Whatever this meeting is, we’re representing our whole race. We need to be ready.”
He knew what she was really saying; there were more important things to think about than the way they felt for each other.
Naydaalan piloted, with Telarrek as his co-pilot, while Kalian and Li’ara sat behind. It had taken over an hour to reach on thrusters alone, Ch’ket now a distant speck outshone by the system’s main star. Their destination appeared to be the gas giant easily seen in the viewport. The planet was twice the size of Jupiter, with turbulent storms visible as they raged across the surface in streaks of yellow.
“Are we meeting inside it?” Kalian asked.
Naydaalan turned in his seat without making eye contact, “No. The coordinates lie just beyond Cerula.”
The shuttle angled towards the planet’s northern hemisphere with the intention of flying over it. After scaling Cerula, the horizon gave way to an immense shipyard hiding in the planet’s shadow. Both humans slowly rose from their seats, unable to take their eyes off the lone ship in the centre of three humongous construction rings. It wasn’t finished yet but, from the shape and size, Kalian guessed it to be in a similar vein to the Gommarian. There were thousands of crafts and engineering teams working in every section with sparks ejecting from the innumerable welding bots. New materials were being transported to and from the great ship by the ton. What was more impressive was how small it made the Marillion look, as the golden sphere’s hulking mass overlooked the project from close by.
“What is this?” Li’ara asked.
“I believe this is the reason you were summoned to these specific coordinates,” Telarrek explained. “It is no doubt the Highclave’s way of showing you their resolve against the threat of your ancient ship.” Telarrek was hard to read and Kalian couldn’t tell if the Novaarian had already known about the construction.
“So they’re building something to take on the Gommarian...” Li’ara was giving the ship a scrutinising eye.
Kalian looked over the ship himself as he thought about the unusual layout to the Conclave’s military. He knew that each of the five core species possessed their own navy, as such, and that they protected the other races within their territory. The Conclave had its own security force that held jurisdiction over the capital world and all boundaries between the different territories, essentially taking control if a dispute ever broke out. The local security on every planet was formed from that particular species, with the races only mixing onboard the Conclave ships.
Was this ship the start of a new type of security, or a new navy? Along with the Marillion, the Conclave would wield a formidable force. In Kalian’s opinion, they would be better forming an organisation that defended every aspect of the Conclave and combined all the races. A navy not unlike the UDC, where the funds and resources could be pooled into one force for the good of the wider populace, especially when your populace was stretched over seven hundred and twenty worlds with a combined population of just over six trillion. But what did a history lecturer know about protecting an entire civilisation that had lasted longer than Earth ever did?
“I am sure it is only precautionary.” Telarrek sounded as if he was trying to convince himself more than them.
Kalian knew this was a response to their earlier meeting after the events on Naveen. The Highclave had demanded that the Gommarian and himself be handed over due to the threat they posed. His refusal had been a little dramatic.
More security checks sprang up across the holographic field demanding access codes and authorised verification. Naydaalan deftly responded to several requests at once with all four arms dancing over the console. The view shifted, leaving the construction site to disappear off to the port side and the Marillion swelled as they closed the gap.
“They will not allow you to board the flagship.” Naydaalan faced them. “They will meet us halfway.” The same procedure as last time, Kalian thought. The Highclave considered the ship’s interior to be too sensitive for their prying human eyes.
After another agonising hour of waiting, they were finally given the go-ahead from the Marillion’s crew to board the council’s domed vessel. A familiar Nix was waiting for them inside the miniature hangar outside the central dome. It scuttled over on clawed feet, hidden beneath its flowing blue and silver robe, its chevron head regarding them with an unreadable expression.
“Ambassador Telarrek...” Its voice rasped every syllable as it greeted the Novaarian.
“Greetings of peace, Xydrandil.” Telarrek bowed respectfully at the Highclave’s gatekeeper.
“Your hatchling is not permitted to enter, Ambassador, only you three.”
Naydaalan visibly bristled at the rejection. As his father’s personal guardian, he probably didn’t like the idea of being too far away. Then again, they were standing in the shadow of the Conclave’s flagship as well as its most secure project; it was fair to assume they would be safe here. With a sharp grunt, the young Novaarian retreated to the ship without looking back.
Xydrandil led them through the connecting corridor where they were scanned by the last security check. Both humans had been instructed to leave their weapons on the shuttle, much to Li’ara’s irritation. Once again they found themselves standing before a raised platform in an arcing hemisphere around the dome. The space above the councillors was fitted with subdued white lights while the floor under Kalian’s feet was lit with stark spotlights.
Elondrasa was situated in the centre with Lordina and Bro
kk to her right, and Ch’lac and Nu-marn to her left. As always they were regally dressed in the finest garments, jewellery and accessories available to their races. Elondrasa and Lordina wore beautiful head-dresses coated in exquisite gems and crystal that best suited their skin tones. Brokk’s tall, flat head was haloed by a floating golden crown that never touched his stony surface. As always, the Ch’kara was surrounded by a cloud of atmosphere from his home planet, with several technical accessories attaching his breather-gear to his clothing. Nu-marn, like his entire race, was almost indistinguishable from a machine. Kalian noted extra augmentations to his face that had been surgically applied since their last meeting.
“Greetings of peace, Kalian Gaines, Commander Ducarté.” Elondrasa acknowledged them both before waving for Telarrek to stand aside. Kalian always got the feeling the Highclave were not completely comfortable with Telarrek’s familiarity with the humans. After four hundred years of studying and observing a species, it would be hard not to grow fond of them, especially after watching their worlds burn.
They both bowed their heads and waited for the Highclave to explain their reason for being summoned. Kalian didn’t hold much respect for the council members, but it would be stupid not to show respect to the five most powerful beings in the Conclave. With that thought in mind, Kalian pushed his awareness into the surrounding structure, assessing any threats the Highclave possessed. In an instant, he knew the floor was connected to a separate generator, that when activated would unleash an electrical charge incapacitating or killing any who stood before the Highclave. The walls and ceiling were lined with hidden cannons that would attack at a moment’s notice to protect their masters. Kalian could feel the complex arrangement of particles that formed the organic life behind the concealed doors. He counted two teams of security personnel, a dozen in each, ready to burst into the room should they try anything untoward. There was another power source within the podium itself. Kalian assumed it would be a micro force-field, designed to protect the Highclave from a direct assault.
“You really think that bucket of bolts is going to rival the Gommarian?” Li’ara being as tactful as ever. The question made the Highclave visibly uncomfortable. Kalian was formulating a diplomatic response to smooth over the break in etiquette. They probably weren’t expecting a response to the massive ship’s construction - it was meant as a visual warning.
“Since you have refused to hand over the Terran vessel, we have been forced to react accordingly.” It was Nu-marn from Shandar that replied with a sharp tongue.
“The Sentinel will be operational by the end of the cycle.” Lordina’s comment felt like more of a threat than a comment.
“You couldn’t handle the Gommarian.” Li’ara could argue with the politicians until the universe collapsed. Lordina was clearly posturing to make a more hostile response. Kalian heard Captain Fey’s voice in his head and remembered her speech about the importance of survival.
“If I may, councillors?” Kalian interjected before it became too heated. “We have already discussed this matter. The Gommarian is too advanced and too dangerous to be handed over. Those of us living onboard do so ignorantly of our precursors’ secrets. We do not possess the tools or instruments to investigate its inner workings.” He was careful to leave out Esabelle and the fact that they knew a fair few of the ship’s secrets, including the technologically advanced nanocelium.
“And you think that such an advanced ship belongs in the hands of those who cannot operate it effectively? We saw what that ship did to your home planet.” Ch’lac sat forward in his seat, the atmospheric gases contained inside the micro force-field.
“Honestly?” Kalian continued. “If we had a planet to call our own, somewhere we could start again, I would send the Gommarian into the heart of the nearest star and leave it there.” From the expressions before him, Kalian could see that was not the option the Highclave were looking for. Lordina looked hungry for a fight until Li’ara waded in again.
“It belongs to us. It was made by our ancestors and designed for our use,” Li’ara stated.
“Your engineers...” Nu-marn corrected her choice of words.
“Same difference.” She gave him a defiant look.
“Your history is an unusual one and in need of further debate and study,” the Raalakian broke in. “But this discussion is for another time and is not the reason for this meeting.” Brokk straightened his back, exhuming his superior height over the others. For what had historically proven to have been a violent race, Kalian always found Brokk to be one of the most diplomatic members of the council.
A change in subject was not what either of them was expecting. Kalian was sure it would be another tireless argument over the fate of the Gommarian. Why else would they have been summoned? It couldn’t just be to show off the Sentinel. In truth Kalian found their intentions to be more of a threat than the actual ship. It had only ever been discussed in small groups, and among the most trusted on the Gommarian, that if it ever came to conflict the ship possessed more than enough capabilities to fend off almost every attack, not to mention the three Eclipse missiles sitting around with nothing to do. Those weapons alone could wipe out three solar systems with the press of a button. Like all scenarios of this nature, it came down to a question of morality; who had the conviction to end so many lives? Kalian was confident it would never come to that, providing Li’ara didn’t take the lead on negotiations.
The council’s eyes fell on Elondrasa. “Since the arrival of your people and the attack by Savrick, we have taken a great interest in all things Terran. We have science teams watching the Norma Arm, as you call it, for any indication of life. Being so far, there appear to be no changes in the current star field. Our best astrophysicists calculate that we will not see any supernovas in that cluster for another two hundred thousand cycles. There are serious talks about whether to send an exploratory expedition to see what remains of the Terran Empire...” She let her words hang, gauging any reaction.
Kalian and Li’ara kept their best poker faces on, giving nothing away.
This particular idea had in fact been bounced around the Gommarian once or twice as well. Esabelle informed them the ship could easily take them back since Albadar, the Terran capital world, was still logged in the navigation system along with hundreds of other Terran worlds. She also told of the devastation her father wrought on every planet, the Gomar had left only ruin in their wake. It was decided that going there would be futile when they still had a chance of joining the Conclave and thriving here.
“Our interest in a new race would normally be scientific,” Elondrasa continued. “But the Terran and the Gomar pose a very serious threat. Savrick was proof of that. But we understand that however similar, you are not from the same civilisation as them, and that you yourselves have many questions about the people that made you.” Lordina didn’t look convinced of that fact. “So we have decided that as a bridge between our races, we might work together to discover the secrets of the Terran.”
Kalian couldn’t help but smile at the prospect. It was an olive branch they could take advantage of with their own superior knowledge of the Terran/Gomar history. This was the connection the Captain had been talking about, something that would start the process of integration.
“We would be honoured to unravel these mysteries together.” Kalian feared there would come a time when they had to inform the Highclave about Esabelle and ALF. They were the two greatest fonts of information and it would be hard to explain where they learned so much without credible sources. Right now, however, all things Terran were considered too big a threat. If the Conclave got their hands on either of them there would be consequences; both Esabelle and ALF were not easily beaten. Kalian decided it would be better if the Conclave learned more about the relationship between the Terran and the Gomar. After that, they would easily distinguish between a race devoted to exploration, beauty and art - if a little misguided - and a race driven by anger, revenge and social injustice.
> “We are glad to hear it,” Ch’lac replied coolly.
“There is such a mystery that has given us cause for this partnership,” Elondrasa continued. “An ancient relic has been unearthed on Trantax IV, in Raalakian territory.” The space between them was instantly filled with a green hologram the size of Brokk.
It was a cube.
Kalian took a deep breath steadying his reaction to the familiar object. He didn’t dare look at Li’ara; any interaction may give them away. It was definitely an identical cube to the one housed under the Gommarian’s Starrillium. The image was clear enough to show the intersecting circles and lines of unintelligible writing. It didn’t look as battered and damaged as the one on the ship, but Kalian only assumed that made it more dangerous.
“There are six hieroglyphs that correspond to the text found on The Wall,” Elondrasa explained. “We believe it to be connected to the Terran, though the surrounding isotopes show the relic has been on Trantax IV for just over a hundred thousand cycles.”
Kalian made some quick calculations in a fraction of time. He knew the Conclave had been around for a hundred and ninety thousand cycles, which wasn’t far off the equivalent in human years, and the Terran Empire was just under three million years old...
His mind was trying to make the connection but he couldn’t see the answer. He knew someone who could though.
“It’s not Terran,” Kalian said. Li’ara turned to him but he ignored her shocked appearance - she needed to trust him.
“And you know this how?” Lordina asked raising the scales above her right eye.
The Terran Cycle Boxset Page 54
