Beyond Kuiper: The Galactic Star Alliance

by Matthew Medney

  Once the fighting was complete, General Spek contacted Mijorn honestly expecting an order to eliminate the species. Instead, he and his crew received a command to cease any further engagement and turn themselves in for dereliction of duty.

  Their stealth ships untraceable and near impossible to capture, Odian and his fleet did not oblige. Meanwhile, the GSA destroyed any remaining Saaryki ships, stripped the planet of space technology, and condemned them to three-hundred turns without aid.

  Odian reviled the pathetic half-measure. His family was only one among billions of GSA killed by a species that was being coddled rather than neutered.

  Broadcasting to the full Council, he screamed. “WHAT MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND TO FUTURE WORLDS!? Saaryki should be cleansed of its inhabitants and divided among the survivors of their crimes!”

  The broad-channel plea advocating genocide was officially dismissed as the ravings of a madman. Discredited, he was again ordered to surrender. Nevertheless, many felt, secretly, as he did. It was easy to find those capable of building a bioweapon of their own. The timing was perfect. Odian ordered the strike as the Saaryki government agreed to the GSA sanctions. Within ten rotations, all eleven billion were dead.

  As news of his bold action spread, it earned accolades in some corners, while the Council condemned him to death. Denying them the option of dealing with him quietly, he turned himself in for a public trial.

  His presence on all media, coupled with an implanted failsafe, provided for his safety during the trial. Should the Investigation Department “tamper” with him while he was in custody, hundreds of highly classified Vdub mission files would appear on every comm channel throughout the worlds.

  Odian was confident his very presence as head of the Vdubs would prove the GSA’s darker tactics and create a massive disruption that would force change. Disappointingly, the trial quickly shifted focus from the Saaryki to the Voidwhisperers. He refused to name allies or explain how he’d mastered the supposedly impossible art of phasing5.

  When he was legally sentenced to death, he rebuked the decision and instead proclaimed his intention to fulfill his vision. In truth, he felt a failure. His family was avenged, yes, but he’d made the world no better.

  GSA Security was sure even the Voidwhisperers couldn’t reach him in the maximum security prison a full rudon beneath Mijorn. They were wrong. When the Darkness Matters6 came for their leader, pandemonium ensued. Shadows moving with purpose eluded all, and after the surveillance systems rebooted post EMP, there were 191 dead guards, 3 destroyed ships, 4 decoy detonations, and 1 empty cell.

  Odian ordered his Voidwhisperers to go dark, disperse, and avoid the central Sectors. Satisfied as he was to be free, Odian felt lost until he found XXX.

  It was all over two-hundred turns since he left the GSA, but the pain of losing his family was still a fresh wound—partly because only twenty turns had passed for him on the Threshold, mostly because the pain defined Odian and his cause.

  “VIRGL, please decrypt all stored electromagnetic signals collected from the Nova System and sort them by your usual hierarchy protocols. Begin linguistic and mathematical translations and bring up pertinent planetary ecological information.”

  Odian’s words sounded like fate’s hand.

  The Nexus brightened the disc hologram replaced by swirling code. A giant replica of Nova was built before their eyes: wind currents, magnetic fields, and mapping patterns swirling across its surface. Descriptions and demographics appeared beside population centers. Temperature readings, ozone damage, and pollution maps overlaid the oblate spheroid. All of Nova’s data laid bare.

  Diiusk spoke first. “VIRGL, ecological status?”

  “Planet is experiencing a severe artificial temperature rise due to a feedback loop that has progressed beyond the native species’ ability to reverse it. Atmospheric pollution is significant. Unacceptable toxin levels pervade all known regional ecosystems.”

  “They’re killing Nova and themselves.” Maroona’s words echoed in Odian’s head. “Our informant indicated nuclear exchanges had occurred. VIRGL, please confirm.”

  The planet’s surface shifted—clouds and pollution replaced by the trajectories of atomic missiles and the resulting contamination zones.

  Saruk, one of the few members left from Odian’s first Vdub squad, spoke up. “Nuclear weapons used in two wars and they survived both occasions. Perhaps this indicates more a propensity for survival and change than we thought?”

  Maroona tsked. “Doubt it, brother. VIRGL, sort and play planetary history condensed for reasonable observation.”

  “I assure you, this civilization is easily brief enough for full observation.”

  Images came and went; pictograms and photographs of empires, cities, people, armies, wars, triumphs, sports, countries, families, scientific achievements, animals, plants, and art… All of humanity’s proudest moments and its most regrettable failures.

  Still, the beauty, joy, justice, peace, and love swelled their river with emotion. But there was also so much suffering inflicted so often, so long, in ages when clearly the species should have known better. They had to stop.

  Odian winced. “VIRGL, enough, please.”

  The history froze on a final two images; a woman shielding her child from a nuclear blast at Jerusalem’s obliteration and a humpback whale being butchered on a ship deck.

  Diiusk’s renewed rage forced Odian to dampen their bond. “Creators, I do believe we’ve now seen enough to vote. Who agrees we should bring the justice of the Creators to the humans?”

  “Aye!”

  And then silence—only VIRGL’s processors hummed in the background.

  There were many, enough to seal Earth’s fate, but there was also hesitation. Through the river, he asked, “Saruk, what gives you pause?”

  “Since this second nuclear exchange, they’ve expressed an increased understanding of their ecological impact, while their spacefaring technology is still far too primitive to be any threat for hundreds of turns.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, RuCreator Saruk.” He took their conversation to the spoken word. “Creators, we lost twenty-four Machines. A steep price, but thanks to that sacrifice, we now know that the humans possess antimatter. Valera’s debrief, confirmed by her ship’s data recorders, indicate the heist at Nova forced the GSA to activate a planetary failsafe.”

  A soft “lunatics” could be heard under his breath. Newcomers didn’t know if he was talking about the humans or the GSA. Any Creator who lived through the Loronzon Incident, though, knew he meant the GSA.

  “If I may,” VIRGL said, “All organics require self-sustaining ecosystems. Without terraforming capabilities, allowing the humans to destroy this world would be unethical.”

  Odian grimly smiled. “Satisfied, Saruk?”

  Saruk folded his wings and nodded. “Yes, NüCreator Spek. Clearly, the humans must be ended for the sake of Nova and the galaxy.”

  Surprisingly, VIRGL interrupted again. “I have just received a mission update from a deep asset. It states: We have their attention.”

  Thoughts flowed through the stream. Old questions, thought answered, resurfaced: What if Nova was fortified? Or a trap? How many resources were being deployed? What were the dangers to their spy networks, research facilities, outposts, drop points, weapons caches, and hidden fleets? Would T-Class quarantine protocols change?

  It was terrifying and wonderful. Living inside the Threshold, they could watch the consequences unfold in prikes instead of fikes.

  Carefully floating closer, balancing thrusters on four of six limbs, RuCreator Arakron, an Osanii7, vocalized a concern. He noticed Odian’s continuing silence. “NüCreator...?”

  He thought rather than spoke his response. “Time to ask our new allies for assistance.” Switching again to speech, he said, “We’ll finish what we started on our terms. For now, let’s get a few operatives down to Nova while the rest of us prepare. Arakron, setup bioweapon creation. Cross-check the re
sults with VIRGL to ensure we don’t take out any other species by accident. Diiusk, draft an eco-recovery plan. Saruk, head up secondary research. If you think they have a worthy reason to live, I want it up for review. And Maroona? Find out what our newfound fame in the GSA affords us.”

  Affirmation pulsed through the Nexus. “Then, we are in agreement.”

  He plucked the golden disc from the air. It would remain in his quarters until the Humans were a memory.

  Raising his other hand, he clenched it into a fist. Voyager 2’s journey between stars ended with a horrible, metallic squelch that left only a pile of scrap.

  A sinister grin consumed Odian’s stoic face. “Let us proceed.”

  1 Yallaweh

  “Home” in the ancient tongue of Baleen, is a waterworld with 100% of its surface covered in ocean with a max depth of 70 rudons; it is the Capital planet of GSA Sector 5. Yallaweh was originally inhabited by the Builders who connected its system with the Warpgate network before the Dark Era. It was seeded with other ocean species and seeded other worlds in turn. One such example were the Murakoor (humpback whales) to the planet Earth (Nova). Builder installations on or in orbit around the planet fell and sank into the oceans during the Builder Era far before the Baleen evolved. The Baleen rose to sentience during the First Dark Era and became a highly evolved and technologically advanced species. Due to their anatomy and the tremendous weight a water pressurized spacecraft would require, they did not leave Yallaweh. The planet was connected to the rest of the galaxy when explorers arrived via the surviving Warpgate during the Classical Era.

  2 Murakoor

  Also called “peace whales,” as they are known to the Baleen, are a sentient, non technological species who inhabit oceans of waterworlds across the galaxy. It is believed they originated from Eladium, and were transported by the Builders to Yallaweh and Nova (Earth). Their descendants are humpback whales. The Baleen and Murakoor have a mutual language they speak to one another called “Omm Drooma.”

  3 Fike

  Conversion: 1 Fike = 1 Week

  4 Valnur

  Odian Spek’s personal warcraft. She is a Vitidor Class Stealth Fighter, extremely fast and maneuverable which can carry four crew but are usually solo operated. It can be piloted via neural interface, is equipped with a reinforced hull with kinetic absorption weave inner layers, cloaking, sensor jammers, is Patch 5 capable, and has a negligible flowspace signature even at Patch 3. It is also equipped with railguns, laser cannons, and rainstar missiles.

  5 Phasing

  When a Voidwhisperer moves between the control of their GSA hardware and their own will, allowing them to use the neural implants to secretly commu- nicate their thoughts and needs. Odian Spek had the mental will to overcome his control and stubbornly resisted revealing it to the GSA. This is how the Darkness Matters were able to defect. The GSA Dept. of Military has yet to reverse engineer how Odian and the Darkness Matters were able to do this.

  6 Darkness Matters

  Was the most decorated Voidwhisperers squad that served the GSA under the direct command of General Odian Spek. They were the top elite killsquad for the Security Council until they defected to fight in the Saaryki War. They fought to reclaim Valkürin, then continued to attack the Saaryki against orders. Eventually, they unleashed a genocidal bioweapon on the Saaryki when the GSA would not kill them. They sprung Odian from GSA custody, disappeared, and later became the first Creators of Space.

  7 Osanii

  Which translates as “of one tree” from Osanii to Drotean, is a sentient, plantlike species from the planet Osanix. They grow from buds on giant trees, breathe carbon dioxide, use photosynthesis, have a 0.1 tradon diameter body, and 7 stiff, leaflike appendages shaped like fronds with serrated edges, that are .4 to .55 tradons long, and .17 tradons wide. They are naturally telepathic and require tech to convert their thoughts to auditory responses and vice versa. They are peaceful to their own kind but are usually reclusive due to their significant communication barrier with other species. Many are unsettled by Osanii. They have no head, ears, mouth, or eyes. They use their leaves to create light-maps so they can “see.” They do not antagonize but are quick to show strength if provoked. They walk and run on 4 leaves, stand on three, can glide by spinning, and are deadly warriors in zero g. These damaged leaves can be dropped and regrown. They were aware of alien life from early on because their leaves picked up signals, thus they are one of the few species offered First Contact despite being non-spacefaring.

  Nineteen

  In The Shadows

  A cold wind blew down the western slopes, funnelling along jagged mountain ridges, swaying the tall pine boughs, and whipping between the buildings of the Kepler Institute. The campus green, so vibrant and noisy the rest of the year, was barren, save for a shivering Isaac.

  Pulling down the flaps of his winter hat, Isaac hurried across the brown grass closing his eyes as he moved. He was tired—still jet-lagged despite having returned from O.L two days ago. The weather was a blessing, though, enough to quell the hurricane of thoughts battering his mind. Unlike the fevered dreams of distant places, this made him feel fragmented, anxious, distant, as bleak as his surroundings.

  His stomach rumbled over the wind. He’d left the library to pick up the nutrition pack in his room. He found the need to eat such a thing absurd. Given the fantastic dining hall a stone’s-throw away, retrieving a meal replacement half the campus away was blasphemous. He only opted for the trek because everyone from enemies to friends had gone passive aggressive.

  The fifteen months since the meeting in Professor Hunt’s office felt like an eternity. Much as he knew hiding something of the Nomad’s magnitude wouldn’t be easy, he didn’t think it would be like this.

  At first, he’d overhear things like, “There goes Hubert, jetting off to O.L. and who knows where else, helping save the world.”

  Then, after Madeline Good’s campaign against his father began, and he was allowed to miss some key exams, and he won the Explorer’s Cup, the narrative changed. His fellow students grew more annoyed than envious, unaware his work really could save humanity.

  The moved from cold earth to paved stone jostled his pocketed cryptocube. It contained all his Nomad, work and he kept it with him at all times. Having gone to bat against Angelika on his behalf, Professor Hunt made the need for extreme security crystal clear. He couldn’t leave it in a dorm room safe or even the deepest depths of his lab’s protective rooms.

  In fact, it had been taken once. Shortly after he won the Explorer’s Cup, someone piggybacked a touch-download virus onto Chelsea’s tablet. It auto-uploaded, disabling their house’s security measures. When he and his housemates returned, several projects were gone as well as the cube.

  Breaking decades of precedent, Professor Hunt called a full-school meeting and suggested, with deadly calm, that unless the removed items were returned within one day, he might take a personal interest. No one knew what that meant, but no one wanted to find out. Unless there was physical injury or the loss of homework, faculty never intervened in student espionage and sabotage.

  Looking back, that was the last straw… the moment attitudes toward Isaac dove off a cliff. Overnight he became a pariah. Even Marcus and Chelsea stayed away. Given the choice, he’d have preferred to stay at O.L. far from the treacherous swamp Kepler had become. But his mother, his father, and even Professor Hunt were adamant his schooling continue.

  His father in particular felt that maintaining human connections was crucial, even for an engineer as gifted as Isaac. All well and good for the K.I.N.G. but Isaac thought the viewpoint naive or, perhaps forgetful of youth’s brutality. There were students, boys and girls, more than willing to steal his cube for the simple pleasure of inconveniencing him.

  Lydia became his sole peer support. Now waiting in the library to study with him for their upcoming vibrations midterm, she even offered to walk with him, but he didn’t want her to suffer for being seen together.

 
Gut rumbling, he plodded past the mobius strip-inspired group dormitory and into the trees. It was incredible how the beehive shaped building he’d called home for almost two full cycles had become so foreboding.

  He practically ran in. Marcus and Chelsea sat on the couch working on heat-transfer homework. Nothra, Chelsea’s drone, swooped about menacingly. Without acknowledging them, he activated the maglev rings and jumped to his room.

  The tension was palpable, bleeding into uncomfortable, for eight months now. He was so aggravated, he input the wrong door code three times forcing him to wait for the reset. The pack finally in hand, he leapt back down, this time delaying activating the rings. He plummeted alarmingly before slowing at the last second and landing on his hands and knees.

  He was two steps from the door before remembering he had the same heat transfer assignment due tomorrow. On top of his makeup work, that would make sleeping at all tonight highly unlikely. Maybe he’d finally crack and barter for a stim pack. Then again, he doubted anyone would trade with him.

  Desperate for an alternative, he spoke to his suitemates. “Marcus, Chelsea? Could you spot me the Heat Transfer assignment? I’ll trade you the next two weeks of vibration proofs.”

  Marcus looked to Chelsea. “Chelsea, did you hear something?”

  She joined in the juvenile taunt. “Why, yes. It sounded like Isaac asking for help.”

  Marcus tsked. “That can’t be right. Someone who can balance school, winning the Explorer’s Cup, and working at Outer Limits couldn’t possibly need our help.”

  “What a shock,” Isaac said. “I knew trying again would be a waste of time.”

  Disgusted, he headed to the door.

  Marcus called after him. “Hey, Hubert! Remember all those times we defended you against Naomi and the others? And I was so sure they were the privileged assholes.”