Phoenix Rising: The Covenant (Phoenix Rising Infinitology Book 1)

by Angela Timms

  Elstrath looked very serious. “Well then dearie, I’d like to see the brave soul who could come in and disturb my kitchen.”

  Kel grunted.

  Elstrath glared at him. “Don’t be rude young man. You might have the muscles but do you have the skill?”

  Kel raised an eyebrow and looked at the tiny lady who met his gaze with a steel grey stare. “So, what are you, combat granny?”

  Elstrath smiled. “As my son so kindly pointed out earlier, I’m not a granny, yet.” She gave Rath a meaningful stare.

  Rath signed. “Ok, I give in. Mother is just mother now but she used to be Lieutenant Colonel Elstrath of the Kerlarinian Special Force. In truth she’d probably give me a run for my money any day in a straight fight and in stealth and covert ops. I couldn’t match her for experience or skill. She is also a fantastic cook and takes a pride in laundry. Which as you have seen my brother takes a pride in somehow always managing to make look scruffy. But, who would look after this place?”

  Elstrath looked about at her neatly presented though age worn home. “You mean this wonderful palace that we call home? I think that if your brother was faced with having to look after the day to day running of this place he may take his romance a little more seriously.”

  Rennon frowned. “I hadn’t actually thought of it but in truth we could do with someone.” He looked at the others and they nodded.

  Rath smiled. “Well, I’ve only done a few ops with mother but I don’t think you will be disappointed though after you’ve met the wrong end of her frying pan a few times you may wish you’d left her behind.”

  Rennon smiled cheekily, working out that he was well out of range. “Well we can always reconsider.”

  Elstrath got up. “Fine, I’ll go and pack. Rath, I expect you have a bag packed already, I noticed some of your things had started going missing from the laundry pile. You’ll find fresh underwear, go on then, get yourself packed. I don’t expect these good people want to hang around here. There’s a universe to save.” She got up and wandered over to the kitchen and began opening cupboards. “Now, I’ll leave the basics here but there are a few things I’d like to take with me. So, this ship of yours, what’s she like?” Rennon looked a little bemused. “Well she’s brand new off the production line. Fairly spacious and with a good galley. The controls are state of the art for her type.”

  Elstrath picked out a good frying pan and Rennon looked a little nervous. “No sonny, I meant make and version.”

  Rennon shook his head in disbelief. “She’s a Firebird 3100 Combat Class.” Elstrath was looking through her spice rack. “Not bad, not bad. Would have preferred the earlier model myself, I’m very much for if it isn’t broken don’t fix it but I’m sure she’ll be good when it comes to it. There, that is about all I need from here, I wouldn’t want to leave without my favourites. I’ll just go pack a bag and we’ll be ready. Oh, you might like to be taking a look through my old collection. Some of the girls are a bit out of date now but they are all functional and kept in tip top condition.” She went to a cupboard near the door and opened it. The shelf unit inside was well stocked with basic household needs but she wasn’t interested in those. She flipped a small wooden panel on the side of the cupboard, behind a can of beans and keyed in a code on the keypad within. The shelf unit swung forward to reveal a rather impressive arsenal of blasters, stun guns and ground to air launchers. “So what do you think of this little lot?”

  Kel was on his feet and over there. “Very nice, how do you find this one. May I?”

  Elstrath smiled. “Of course. She’s a good model, fires slightly to the right but that was because the barrel took a hit in her early days but if you compensate she still aims true. A bit slow to recharge but I’ve found that one good blast from her tends to take most things down. Those ground to air missiles tend to pack a heck of a punch. I remember the last time I used her, it was on one of those Etathian Darts, a rebel group were planning a coup and thought to take out the Embassy on Solinos so it was a low level run ready to drop their payload so she had to be quick and accurate. She did the job a treat and the damage was minimal as there wasn’t enough of the vessel to do any structural damage when it came down.”

  The blaster was a fire from the shoulder tube which looked big in Kel’s hands and he took a sideways glance at the tiny lady beside him. Somehow she didn’t seem so small and fragile now. Her eyes were bright and sharp and he just knew she was evaluating him and how he held the weapon. “It’s a weighty old beast.”

  Elstrath was leaning on the shelf. “It’s more your prepared mission weapon than a carry in case. It has a tripod as well if you have time to set it up. A fairly useful multipurpose tool really and its range can be up to half a mile.” Kel raised an eyebrow. “Impressive. So, are you planning to bring these with you?”

  Elstragh looked at the assembled weaponry and ran her wizened fingers over the grey and silver metal of her collection. “Well, if there’s room I’d like to. They may come in handy. How about while I pack a bag you pack some of these for me. There’s a few kit bags folded in the bottom and the ammo is in the shelf above for the really old stuff. I kept some for those that fire the old style bullets. Some of that old stuff can get through personal shields you know. The new protective armour isn’t calibrated for it so it can be a real bonus.”

  She bustled off and up the stairs while Kel and the others got busy packing the blasters and ammunition.

  19

  The planet hung in space like a giant blue ball on one side of it there was the sun on the other the moon. A slightly orange haze hung about the moon giving it a halo as the sun reflected off of the reflective particles that made up its surface.

  Kel, Rennon, Kyla, Rath and one of the Marines were in the cockpit. Rath was flying, Rennon co-piloting.

  Their approach was calculated and Kyla was lost in wonder as she looked out of the window down onto the cacophony of towers and spires, landing pads and precarious looking bridges that spanned the gap between buildings. The air was filled with craft of all sizes. Some flew in lines and Rath had just got his permission to join one of these queues to land. They flew into formation with all the others and began a slow and laborious descent to the point where it would be their turn to land.

  Kyla was still fascinated, watching the different craft weave their way through the slightly orange glow of the sunset. “So Rennon, what can you tell us about this world.”

  Rennon smiled and got out his handheld computer. “This is Aronicus Prime, First Planet in the Kerithian Planetary Alliance and home to the Government of Ar and the High Elders. The buildings you see below you are hundreds of years old and built by a previous civilization that inhabited this planet. There are many myths and legends about this place, mostly associated with the surprising disappearance of its inhabitants. I can’t say I don’t find that more than a little disturbing myself.

  For those of you who missed the brief.” He looked at Kyla and Kel. “I will tell you the gist of what was said. It was basically along the lines that we have been invited here to meet with the Prince. These days he’s too tied up with the trappings of power to be able to travel so it is the only way he can get to see us. Our acceptances have been sent on our behalf and we have an audience as soon as we land.

  The trade here is basically technology, software products, information and spyware. It is well known that there is a data base here and a filter through which most of the electronically submitted material is scanned, sifted and stored if appropriate.

  It has a standing army of over two million and most of the population is armed and ready to be called up at short notice. They have also all trained in some way or the other so picking a fight around here is not a good idea.” He looked directly at Kel who smiled, shook his head and leant back in his chair.

  “I don’t think we’re going to see much of the planet but there isn’t really much to see as it is almost totally covered by this city. We will be landing at the Central Hub, a terminal
which has access directly to the ministerial buildings and the building they are now converting to the Royal Palace. The buildings are built on foundations that go down to the bedrock under the surface of the water. Beneath there are caverns which stretch down through the bedrock using natural caves and watercourses. It is said to be quite amazing but very few have actually seen these caves and tunnels. All the manufacturing is done down there and by what I can work out it is mostly automated.

  The City is so cosmopolitan now that there is no real native race living here. It was built by a race who left long ago and others have migrated into it to make it the place it is now.”

  The Hopper glided effortlessly down onto the landing pad. Rath flipped the landing switches and looked around at them. “Gentlemen and lady, we have arrived.”

  Rennon smiled. “Thanks Rath, nicely done.”

  Rath keyed in the code they had been given and a docking tunnel expanded to meet them. “Well here goes, prepare for a whole stack of etiquette and bureaucracy.” He stood up and smoothed down his black suit.

  Kel looked rather uncomfortable in his but Kyla couldn’t keep her eyes off of him and was trying not to laugh. Kyla herself was wearing a smart black dress and neat shoes. Rennon as always looked totally comfortable in his smoothly fitting pinstripe suit.

  Rennon took the lead. “Well, here goes.”

  They strode down a long corridor and were met by an elderly robed man. His long grey hair was neatly tied at the nape of his neck and his beard was trimmed although it was long and hung down his front. As he bowed it nearly touched the ground. “Greetings and welcome.” He stood up. “The Prince is expecting you. Would you like some refreshments or shall I show you directly to see his Majesty?”

  Rennon bowed. “If you would be kind enough to take us directly to the Prince that would be very gracious of you.”

  The elderly man relaxed. “Please follow me.”

  At the end of the corridor there was a sliding door which led to a lift which took them down many floors. It opened to a sumptuously black carpeted hallway lit by neon tubes. The walls were a silvery iridescent blue which shimmered as they walked along to the large metal doors at the end. Two guards stood at ease but smartly, each wore silver boiler suits and carried a light assault rifle. Machine pistols were strapped to their respective belts. They looked up as the lift door opened but seeing the elderly gentleman they stood to attention and saluted. The elderly gentleman snapped his heels together in a very military fashion and saluted back. “Stand down gentlemen, these are personal guests of the Prince.” The two guards relaxed to stand with their feet slightly apart, their rifles, stock down, barrel in hand by their sides.

  The right hand guard turned and keyed his code into the access panel and the door slid open to reveal a small lobby. They stepped inside and the door closed behind them. The gentleman smiled. “You will now be scanned. I hope you will forgive the personal intrusion but security is of the essence.” He smiled kindly and they saw a red light go on above them followed by a green light. “Very good, now you may proceed.”

  The wall in front of them slid aside and they were able to step into a corridor. The elderly gentleman walked ahead of them and keyed his code into the third door on the right hand side. It slid open and he stepped inside. “Please follow me in and I will announce you.” He stepped into the green and gold room. “Your Majesty I am pleased to announce that your guests have arrived.” He bowed deeply and stepped to the left so that they could step into the room.

  Rennon went in first, followed by Kel, Kyla and then Rath. Rennon bowed and the others followed his lead.

  The Prince laughed and made a mock bow himself. “My friends, please, come in and take a seat. Thank you Justice, could you arrange some food for us all later?”

  Justice bowed. “Yes my Lord.” He left the room and the door slid closed behind him.

  They sat on sofas which were arranged in a triangle. The Prince was dressed in a formal plain black business suit, pale blue shirt and dark blue tie with a tiny gold embroidered motifs of a phoenix. His black patent shoes were immaculately shiny and he looked very comfortable in the whole outfit. He sat with them, taking a seat on the empty sofa and pulling his trousers so that the knees didn’t pull. “As you can see things have changed somewhat and my life is drastically different. I was accepted very easily into the hierarchy as some ancient texts were presented that apparently foretold my arrival so we are managing to organize our troops and the resistance now. We’ve had quite a few resounding victories lately with the aid of our allies and we are starting to make a move on some of the outer planets to try to regain control. This should begin to loosen their stranglehold on the galaxies. But, I’m sure you know all that. I have been following your careers with a personal interest and I must apologize for summoning you here but as you can imagine making private visits turn out to be real affairs of state these days.

  Would you like something to drink?” He looked around and at their agreeing nods he got up and went to a panel on the wall. It opened to a bar. “There are all sorts here as well as hot drinks. The coffee is quite remarkable, they bring it in from Teka. The Tekan Special Blend is quite something.”

  Rennon piped up. “I’d like to try some of that.” The others nodded approval.

  The Prince spooned out the black granules into the mugs he had lifted down from the shelf above. “Tekan all round then.”

  When the kettle had boiled he smiled and poured mugs of it, put them on a tray and brought them over with a milk jug and bowl of sugar. He placed the tray on the table and placed a mug in front of each person before sitting down. “I don’t believe I have had the pleasure of being introduced but I have read your file, very impressive. May I call you Rath?”

  Rath looked a little stunned. “Er, of course your majesty.”

  The Prince smiled. “Thank you but you can drop the formalities in here. I get enough of that all day. Well, it is lovely to see you but I do have a reason for calling you here. I won’t beat around the bush, I need your help on a mission. As you know I and Kyla here share the DNA which allows us to use certain artefacts. That is basically why I asked you to come. We have come across intelligence that there is just such an artefact which will allow me to not only identify the Followers but in some way to loosen the control that the entities that the Followers follow have over them. Of course it is in a place where only those with the DNA can safely get to and of course it could be a trap but it could be something that would swing the war in our favour.

  Being able to present the information you found regarding the experimentation has helped. It is tipping the balance but getting it broadcast on some planets has proven difficult. If we can expose those who are opposing it as Followers we may then be able to get it broadcast on public channels. It is of course multiplying like a very welcome virus on the private and social networks around the galaxies to the point that certain of them have now been shut down by the Followers. That of course has added fuel to our fire on other networks so although irritating has proven a real bonus in the long run.

  We are greatly hindered by having to be cautious about Follower spies and we know that they have those with the DNA under their control. That is a whole story in itself that I won’t bore you with now. It seems that we ‘of the blood’ are immune to their drugs but they have prisoners they can bring in if they need to activate artefacts so they would be able to use such a device should they obtain it. And of course they would be keeping it from us. We now have agents within their ranks and we do not want them discovered. An artefact that proves someone is a Follower would also prove that someone isn’t. So, I’ve called you here to ask if you would be prepared to come on a small secret mission with me. I am calculating that the last thing anyone would expect would be for me to undertake a mission and sidestep the protocols around here. So, Kyla are you willing to come with me? Would the rest of you be prepared to get us there?”

  Kyla took a sip of the now slightly cooled coffee.
“Of course my Prince.” She smiled. “Good coffee.”

  The Prince nodded and smiled.

  Kel looked over. “Of course you can count me in. Rennon, Rath, are you in too?” They both nodded. “Well it looks like you have got your team. When do we go?”

  The Prince drank some coffee. “I would like to go almost immediately, the longer we leave it the more chance the Followers will have to find out about it. It seems that an opportunity has presented itself for me to slip away undetected. There is to be an official dinner tonight and I have a double who can stand in for me. It does happen often and my closest aides will think nothing of it. It is a high protocol affair so he wouldn’t be expected to speak with anyone other than those sitting with him. They will expect me to be here pouring over the many financial papers and documents they have piled up for me. The last thing they would expect would be for me to be elsewhere. That will be the perfect opportunity for us to leave with the minimum amount of people around to witness our departure. I have taken the liberty of having equipment and clothing set out for you in case you agreed and there is a small Hopper prepared and ready for us.”

  Rennon looked around the room. Other than the sofas they were sitting on, the rest of the room was very high tech. The table was a sheet of glass which seemed to be suspended in mida ir above a plain black box. The chairs around it looked like they were made of glass at a first glance but longer inspection revealed that they were actually a form of resin. They too floated as if unsuspended. The silver grey carpet matched the walls and ceiling and other than that there wasn’t any other furniture in the room. “Well I think you knew pretty well that we’d agree. So, how has it been?” The Prince smiled. “It has been a whole run of politics and planning. Getting through the red tape to actually be able to do something has proven a nightmare. To organize the mission we are going on would take months if I put it through the ordinary channels. So, this is much easier.” Kyla smiled as she saw the worried look on the Prince’s face. “But, is it not a big risk to do this? What if something happens to you?”