by E. R. Torre
“We’ll get to the bottom of this Lieutenant. We’ll do what we must.”
Inquisitor Raven reached for the communicator button. Before he could press it, he received multiple alerts from different systems across Phaecia.
“What is this?” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Let me see,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
The alerts were sent through Helios’ Displacer. They were intended for the Overlords, top commanders, and Inquisitors to see.
Lieutenant Sanders accessed the information.
“Sir, its information regarding battles erupting throughout the Epsillon Empire,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “It looks like they’re happening in Phaecia, as well. The Azul system, Cagora… There are unidentified crafts clashing outside the Rebeta Drive. The Concord System. Alexandria.”
Lieutenant Sanders shook her head.
“There’s a message sent to us originating from the Epsillon High Command!”
“Let’s hear it.”
Lieutenant Sanders pressed a button and on the monitor appeared an elderly man.
“People of Phaecia, I’m General Anton Jurgens,” he said. “I am head of Intelligence Ops for the Epsillon Empire and am authorized to transmit this message and data as a warning. Two groups of alien forces hidden within both the Epsillon and Phaecian Empires for an undetermined amount of time have declared war on each other. Their battles follow a line from Epsillon into Phaecia. These battles lead to your Capital at Helios. We’ve had our differences and you have reason to doubt my words, but we’re sending this message in the hopes to prepare you for what’s coming.”
35
The alien vessel’s hull was energized and reflected any and all light while distorting security sensor waves.
For all intents and purposes, she was invisible to planetary defenses. This would, of course, be of great concern to the inhabitants of the world she orbited these past five decades.
Helios.
The spacecraft floated, along with three others, just outside of Helios’ moon’s orbit and away from the busy traffic lanes and prying eyes.
Within the ship a machine crew stirred. Every one of them had the size and general shape of human beings yet their silvery metallic outer shell gave lie to any possibility they were.
The machines had no need to move and, for many years and until this moment, they remained very still.
The wealth of reports, first arriving via secure line from Epsillon and now in almost real time from systems closer to Helios, flooded their communication systems.
Taken together, the reports caused these machines considerable alarm.
On board the Cygnusa, Lieutenant Sanders sat before Inquisitor Raven’s computer monitor while the Inquisitor stood behind her. They were taking in as much information as they could while focusing on General Jurgen’s message.
“These alien vessels, as best we can determine, have far more advanced technology than either Empire currently has,” he said. “We’re trying to determine a way of attacking them. So far, it appears energy weapons are the most effective.”
General Jurgens paused a moment before again speaking.
“There is also this,” he said. Video of the Apokalupto’s encounter with the two alien vessels appeared on the screen. “This is the clearest footage we have of vessels from either group. We aren’t certain if it means anything other than this one isolated instance, but the surviving alien vessel in this footage saved the Apokalupto’s crew. It might mean at least one of these alien forces are on our side. The Gods be with you, Phaecia. We will update you as we can.”
The message ended while even more files were downloaded and made accessible.
“Sir, we’re getting messages from within the Phaecian system!” Lieutenant Sanders said. “They’re multiple reports of… of skirmishes along the outer fringes of the Empire.”
“Do any of them involving Epsillon forces? We must make sure this isn’t an attempt to conceal an invasion by them.”
“None of the vessels involved are recognizable Epsillon fighters or battleships, just as General Jurgens said. Neither are they attacking our vessels or stations. They are fighting each other.”
Lieutenant Sanders frowned. She turned the monitor so Inquisitor Raven could better see what was on it.
“Sir, we’re getting urgent messages from the Demonos’ Displacer.”
Demonos lay five light years from Helios and was the closest system to the Phaecian Capital. It took only a few seconds to jump from that Displacer into Helios. Similarly, any incoming messages between the two Displacers arrived within seconds of being sent.
“Let’s see it,” Inquisitor Raven said.
On the screen was an image of outer space. In the upper right corner were several distant vessels. They buzzed around as if agitated insects. Lights flashed between these ships, indicating a fierce battle.
In the lower quarter of the monitor appeared a Displacer Officer.
“Helios, this is First Sergeant Matthews of the Demonos Displacer,” the man said. “Are you seeing this?”
“This is Inquisitor Fulano of the Reverie,” came his reply. “We read you Demonos. Please zoom in on the ships.”
The Demonos cameras did so, offering a clearer view of the battle. A group of small, dark vessels attacked what appeared to be an empty area of space.
“Sir, those attacking vessels have the same general dimensions as the one that rescued the Apokalupto,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
“Our potential allies,” Inquisitor Raven muttered.
Energy blasts were fired upon that apparently empty area of space yet each shot stopped in a specific location. It was as if they were hitting an invisible wall. More and more shots hit that target before, incredibly, a very large vessel, one that was similar in size to the largest star bases in the Phaecian Empire, materialized.
“They’re using cloaking devices,” Inquisitor Raven said. “By the Gods. The Xendos must have had similar technology!”
Smaller vessels emerged from the large one. They engaged in a vicious dogfight with the star base’s attackers.
Lieutenant Sanders quickly hit several buttons on the computer and got closer looks at the many ships flying around the base.
“I don’t recognize any of these ships,” First Sergeant Matthews said.
“Keep your cameras on them,” Inquisitor Fulano said. “We’ll make our way—”
A flicker of light flew across the screen, right to left. Another followed.
“They’re moving this way!” Matthews said. “We need help! We need help now!”
Inquisitor Raven pressed the communicator button on his wrist and addressed his next words to his crew.
“This is Inquisitor Raven,” he said. “Power the ship up and prepare for battle. From this moment, we are under a red alert.”
36
On the surface of Helios and within his personal garden Overlord Emeritus walked accompanied by a group of very young Inquisitor prospects. The Overlord had such groups follow him around at least once a week to both assess and encourage their future pursuits.
He walked slowly, now and again swatting at the many Heaven flies circling and pollenating the flowers in his vast garden. Despite his gray, withered complexion and slow walk, his pale green eyes were very much alive.
Some of the twelve young students at his side also swatted at the flies while others ignored the insects and listened intently to whatever the Overlord deemed say. They were among the brightest pupils within their current class at the Academy and the following year would be assigned to their Inquisitor mentors and sent throughout the Empire to learn first-hand what it takes to succeed at such a demanding career.
For many of the students, as was always the case, it was difficult to understand why they were in this garden.
“Overlord Emertius,” one of them, a young man no older than fifteen, said.
“Yes?”
“Your garden is lovely.”
Upon saying th
is, his friends held back laughter and the young child’s face turned red. It was one thing to curry favor from your supervisors. It was another to do so with an Overlord, especially Overlord Emeritus. The boy shot his friends an impatient glance and quickly added:
“Do you spend every day here?”
Overlord Emeritus considered the question.
“Maybe not every day,” he said. “By the tone of your voice, am I to assume you consider this a waste of time?”
“I meant no disrespect.”
“Then have the courage to speak truthfully.”
“I… yes sir. I do.”
“Yes sir what?” Overlord Emeritus said.
The boy was silent while all eyes settled upon him. None glared quite like that of Overlord Emeritus.
“If I were in your place, sir, I would consider the time spent in a garden, any garden, and consider if it would be better spent on matters of state.”
“Strong words. How many others feel the same?”
“My opinions are my own,” the young man said.
“Opinions can be shared.”
Overlord Emeritus eyed the group.
“Is he right, children? Do you feel as he does?”
The Overlord’s question was met with silence. After a few seconds Overlord Emeritus waved the children off.
“The rest of you are a little too modest. To continue the ways of the Inquisitor, you must learn to speak up and stand by your convictions. Even before your superiors. The honor of the Empire demands it.” Overlord Emeritus eyed the young boy. “What is your name?”
“Dolos, Overlord.”
“There was a time not so long ago I was a young man like you. Eager for action. Eager to work for the Empire and take on the universe itself. In my mind I was filled with the certainty that comes to the young. I had the answers to all questions and my destiny was to blaze a brilliant path. When I was done with this life, history books would know me well.”
The other youths remained silent but attentive. They sensed the lesson to be imparted.
“In time one learns you cannot shake up the entire universe every hour of every day. For forty three years I’ve had a hand in running our beloved Phaecia. It is my hope I’ve made more good decisions than bad but if there’s one thing I’ve come to realize it’s that if you allow every moment of your time to be consumed by work, you will not survive long. Moments like these, here in this garden, are necessary. It is here one reflects on one’s accomplishments and considers the many paths forward. Reflection before action. Reflection after action. That is the true path of the Inquisitor.”
The young students politely nodded. In retrospect, it was an obvious lesson yet one that would take years for many to truly appreciate.
“Now, let me—”
Overlord Emeritus didn’t finish his thought. He turned away from the students and, for a moment, his eyes were frozen in place. They then vibrated, moving back and forth mechanically.
It was a movement no human eyes could make.
Within one of the four invisible vessels orbiting beyond Helios’ Moon, the machine creatures poured over the data and messages coming from Helios’ Displacer.
Twenty five secret facilities within Phaecia and another forty within the Epsillon Empire were silent and presumed eradicated.
Information regarding massive and coordinated surprise attacks waged against their forces suggested an enemy with considerable forces of their own. Their base on Demonos, the closest base to Helios, was under attack at this very moment.
Analysis was made and the battle was determined lost. The remaining ships fled the attackers and moved toward that system’s Displacer.
Programs within the Demonos Displacer’s computers were hacked. In moments, the alien vessels had control over the device. They initiated activation.
The machine creatures orbiting Helios watched their ship’s movements. They examined the same video feeds the Phaecian vessels around Helios were simultaneously receiving. They also analyzed the attacker ships’ shape and size and, most importantly, the weapons used.
The machine creatures drew many conclusions from this information.
A glowing pair of machine eyes flickered and urgent encrypted messages were sent directly to the palatial gardens.
37
Inquisitor Raven and Lieutenant Sanders emerged from the elevator and quickly took their positions in the Cygnusa’s bridge.
On the main view-screen was a live video feed from the Demonos Displacer. The alien attackers had decimated whatever camouflaged base was hidden nearby and were taking out a diminishing number of ships with cold efficiency.
“We’re getting messages from Inquisitors Fulano and Diana,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “We’re to coordinate and prepare for battle.”
“Tell them we’re standing by for their orders,” Inquisitor Raven said.
On the main view-screen one of the vessels in the Demonos system escaped the main battle and was moving toward the system’s Displacer.
“She’s one of the ships that was hidden in that camouflaged base,” Lieutenant Sanders said.
It gained speed as it flew straight toward its exit. The Diakopés, a Phaecian Pleasure ship with a capacity of two thousand passengers, was in her way.
The fleeing vessel fired upon it.
“By the Gods, they’re going to destroy her!” Lieutenant Sanders gasped.
The alien ship’s energy blasts streamed forward and straight at their target.
But just before they slammed into the Pleasure ship, one of the other alien ships, part of the group that initiated the attack on the camouflaged star base, lunged before the blasts.
Instead of hitting the pleasure ship, the blasts slammed the alien vessel. All lights on the dark craft immediately shut off. Her outer shell blistered before cracking and turning into dust.
“The alien ship just sacrificed itself to save the Diakopés!”
Inquisitor Raven’s mind was working furiously, trying to understand what he was seeing.
“Quick,” he told Lieutenant Sanders. “We need to make a detailed comparison of which vessel is which and program them into our tactical systems. General Jurgens was right: One of these two groups values human life.”
Lieutenant Sanders worked her computer controls.
“The ship that sacrificed itself is near identical in shape and size to the one that saved the Apokalupto.”
“Send a transmission to the other ships and Helios command. Make sure their tactical systems, should the time come, target one type of alien vessel but not the other. Everyone needs to know which is which!”
Another of the attacking ships drew near the fleeing vessel that tried to destroy the Diakopés. Both made their way past the pleasure vessel, leaving her intact, and moved closer to the Displacer. Behind them, the severely damaged alien space station erupted one last time.
“Sir, the Demonos Displacer’s interdimensional corridor is active,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “The fleeing vessel is making her way there!”
“What’s her destination?”
Lieutenant Sanders pressed another series of buttons. Her face grew pale.
“She’s coming here,” Lieutenant Sanders said. “To Helios.”
38
The message sent to Overlord Emeritus was received and the mechanical movement in his eyes stilled.
The pleasant look on his face turned into something far darker. He looked up, to the skies, as if toward the invisible craft floating past Helios’ Moon.
“Dismissed,” Overlord Emeritus said.
The young prospects following him were unsure how to respond. They were expected to spend at least another hour in the Overlord’s presence.
“Sir, we—” one of the children began.
“Dismissed,” Overlord Emeritus repeated.
The young prospects shrugged and, as a group, walked away, leaving Overlord Emeritus and his Inquisitor bodyguard alone.
“You too,” Overlord Emeritus sa
id.
The Inquisitor bowed and did as told.
Once everyone was gone, Overlord Emeritus’ eyes continued their mechanical vibration.
“Helios Displacer, this is Inquisitor Fulano on the HPB Reverie,” came a message through the communication system’s Phaecian Military channel.
The main view-screen displayed Inquisitor Fulano on the bridge of the Reverie. The image of another man appeared next to his.
“This is Commander Tule of the Helios Displacer, Inquisitor,” that man said. “We are monitoring transmissions from Demonos and are aware of the ships attempting to use the Displacer to flee into Helios space.”
“Shut the Displacer off,” Inquisitor Fulano ordered.
“We’re trying, sir,” Commander Tule replied. “But there is… sir, at the moment our computer systems are acting on their own. They’ve been infected with some kind of virus and the Displacer’s interdimensional corridor is… sir, its activating.”
“How long before it can transport vessels?”
“Less than five minutes.”
“Regain control of your Displacer,” Inquisitor Fulano said. “For the sake of everyone.”
“Yes sir.”
The image of Commander Tule winked out and the communication line switched to the private Military channel. All sound was sent directly to a microchip in Inquisitor Raven’s ear while video was displayed on his private monitor. Inquisitor Fulano remained on screen and split with the image of Inquisitor Diana of the Hagios.
“Cygnusa, Hagios, do you read?” Inquisitor Fulano said.
“We heard you,” both Inquisitor Raven and Diana said near simultaneously.
“Order your best techs to work on freeing the Helios Displacer,” Inquisitor Fulano ordered.
“Already done, sir,” Inquisitor Diana said.
“Here too,” Inquisitor Raven said.
“Good,” Inquisitor Fulano said. “Inquisitor Diana, the Hagios is closest to the Displacer. I want you to lay a carpet of mines in front of the Displacer’s maw. Cygnusa, follow me to the Displacer. We’ll take on that ship should she somehow make her way here.”
