NEBULAR Collection 2 - The Expedition: NEBULAR Episodes 6 - 11

by Thomas Rabenstein

  »Who are you really?« McCord asked again, barely whispering.

  At this moment the scintillating field collapsed. McCord saw the face of his torturer for the first time – only a meter away, looking straight into his eyes.

  »No!« McCord whimpered, unable to look away.

  »I am going to send you on a mission,« the figure explained, »you will perfectly understand when you wake up again – but before that you have to die!«

  McCord just stared at his opponent.

  »You are … you are a …,« then his head sank to his chest and he was dead. Morgotradon closely observed all of McCord’s reactions. The eyes and lips turned violet as the skin changed to deep red. This was however, only temporary and would fade away soon enough. Everything was going as anticipated. Morgotradon was satisfied.

  McCord woke up with a loud scream. He was in his own bedroom on Oberon, alone. He’d had the dream again, the same dream that had haunted him for days. It faded swiftly, and he forgot the dream after a couple of minutes and visibly relaxed. Something told him that this inner voice and these strange dreams would soon be a thing of the past.

  Shwakans

  Maya Ivanova figured that she had been standing for two hours with the other prisoners on the assembly ground in front of the fortress, under the scrutiny of the Treugolan guards. The two suns burned in the sky mercilessly.

  Where is this solar system? There must be millions of systems like this out here in the galaxy.

  So far, she hadn’t been allowed to see the night sky to try to make out any known constellations to at least get an idea of where she could be. The situation was disheartening. Even if she knew where she was, it wouldn’t change anything. The mysterious tachyon charge had long faded away and, according to Paafnas, a direct return to the Solar System had become impossible. To escape this world via the tachyon portal was almost as unlikely as long as she didn’t understand how it worked. The technology was too alien for her to understand, even if she had had the opportunity to study it.

  While Maya stood there in the stifling heat, a plan began to take shape in her head.

  If I could only force this Lord to send me back, Earth would have a chance. I will die here, as Paafnas prophesied, if I can’t make this work.

  Suddenly it became dark over the assembly ground, lending some welcome shadow to the prisoners. Thankfully, she briefly closed her eyes, but then winced at what she saw when she opened them again.

  A gigantic object had pushed itself before the sun, casting a great shadow over the landscape and the fortress. Several more such objects descended from the sky and landed further out in the desert.

  Spaceships! An entire fleet! Maya thought surprised but fascinated.

  The closest of the ships landed in front of the castle in the sand. The Treugolans also looked up to the sky, observing the ships. Some of them seemed nervous and afraid. Several times they used their shockers to shoot at the prisoners to relieve their own tension.

  You damn cowards!

  She felt for the prisoners. Then she turned her attention to the ship that had landed near the castle.

  It’s big, about four-hundred meters high. A conical ship with several superstructures, domes and cubicles. It doesn’t touch the ground – seems they know how to manipulate gravity. The ship scares me, but it’s a fascinating construct, strong and fortified. Its hull seems to be made of a greenish, shimmering type of reinforced metal – it might be a battleship of some sort.

  Maya’s hands trembled. The arrival of these visitors could not mean anything good, and that was not only judging by the Treugolans’ behavior. Maya imagined the ships flying through the tachyon portal on Neptune, invading the Solar System.

  Calm down, Maya! Those juggernauts won’t even fit through the portal!

  All the other prisoners had become obviously nervous and uneasy as they watched the small fleet of spaceships. Some reacted in panic and tried to leave the assembly, but the Treugolans mercilessly discharged their shockers into the crowds. It could be fatal being hit several times.

  Do some of the prisoners know the people who just arrived, and how dangerous they are?

  Maya, regretted not being able to communicate with the other prisoners. Beside her was a being who looked like an upright walking turtle. It had retracted its head instinctively, as if in fear, suspiciously eying at the Treugolans, as the ships arrived. Now, Maya noticed that the turtle’s shimmering shell showed scratches and burn marks.

  »Have you seen these ships before? Who are they?« she whispered at the being, not receiving a reply. The turtle-like being just looked at her, not understanding, and went back to staring at the ships again.

  She heard a noise behind her. She didn’t dare to move a limb. As she had feared, Knockmerg’s voice grated close to her.

  »Remember … a false move and …«

  Did I hear right? Fear in Knockmerg’s voice? Is he afraid of the visitors?

  Maya watched the landings. The cone-ships didn’t touch the ground but hovered about twenty meters above the sand while their tapered ends pointed into the sky. She had to admire the ships and their awesome technological advances. No Pulsar Class cruiser, not even the Blue Moon, could measure up to these ships.

  Maya didn’t know if Knockmerg was still standing behind her – she didn’t really care. She observed the ships, trying to memorize every little detail.

  I wonder what they look like?

  It wasn’t long before her question was answered.

  Airlocks in the lower ship sections opened and as if by silent command flying disks by the hundreds left the ships, flying toward the portal.

  They’re leaving their ships. Are they assault or planetary landing troops? she asked herself, mesmerized by the view.

  Maya squinted, trying to make out more details. They looked like the same flying disks the Treugolans used, but these weren’t occupied by Treugolans but totally different beings.

  The guards herded the prisoners closer together, enabling Paafnas to get near Maya. The disks flew around the portal like swarming bees. Some of them, however, flew directly toward the prisoner assembly. They moved so swiftly that Maya could barely glimpse the visitors. They weren’t paying any attention to the prisoners or the Treugolans it seemed. They were here to meet the Lord of this world, and nothing seemed important to them.

  Maya saw some of the disks landing directly beside the portal. She couldn’t believe her eyes – she recognized these beings!

  Even though they were quite a distance away she could make out details.

  Shwakans! They must be Shwakans! Good guys!

  Her thoughts raced.

  Maya was tempted to leave the assembly and run toward her assumed rescuers, but then a disk landed very close to the prisoners. The Treugolans moved respectfully, almost hastily, aside. Now she could get a clear look at the visitors.

  She knew Scorge, the Shwakan from reports, had even talked to him via comm-link, but the being in front of her looked different. It was armed heavily, resembled Scorge but was heavier and taller. The skin showed a bluish tone, distinguishing him clearly from the Shwakans. She knew that the cosmic traders were loners, living apart from even their fellows most of the time. This scene looked like a small army of mollusks, atypical of Shwakans. Even the tentacles looked different. Some of them looked like thorns, with sharp pointy ends with barbs.

  The sound of a plasma weapon discharge rang over the site. Maya twitched. One of the Treugolans had come too close to the portal, which was now entirely occupied by the visitors. The Treugolan disintegrated even before he hit the ground.

  Maya was appalled at the display of brutality. These beings had nothing in common with the Shwakans she knew of.

  They must be a different, more warlike branch, she wondered. Who had descended from whom.

  Several ranks down, one of the mollusks stopped and looked directly at her.

  He’s noticed me! she thought in panic. She risked a side glance.

 
All the Treugolans, including Knockmerg, had removed themselves from the assembly area and vanished inside the fortress, leaving their prisoners alone in the hot sun. The blue-skinned mollusk used the same means as Scorge, but his movements seemed faster and more powerful. There must be a relationship between the Shwakans and the visitors. This one seemed to have a drastically different mindset. He extended his tentacles, whipping himself through the rows of prisoners on his way toward her. Mercilessly he progressed forward, trailed by screams of pain from the prisoners.

  He reached Maya and began screaming. Maya didn’t dare move a limb. His screams seemed like alarm calls to the others, aggressive, high pitched.

  Why is this mollusk so surprised to see me?

  Lightning-fast, the mollusk extended his tentacles to grip her tightly and painfully around her upper torso. Maya gasped for air as she was lifted easily off the ground.

  »What do you want from me?« she croaked, lessening her resistance as the grip grew even tighter. After a few seconds she could hardly breathe; she was nearly unconscious. Before she fell away completely a fast-moving shadow fell on the two beings, and the pressure on her chest suddenly disappeared. She realized that the strange Shwakan, or whatever he was, had dropped her to the ground, retracted his tentacles and was retreating toward his flying disk.

  Maya was moaning, cradling her arms in pain. The mollusk had left bruises. She felt Paafnas’ helping hands and got back to her feet.

  »You were very lucky, Maya! The Lord has arrived at the portal where the strangers assembled.«

  Paafnas changed his eyes’ focus and kept observing the portal. He could see much better than Maya at this distance, so he relayed what he saw.

  Since the Treugolans were ignoring their prisoners, Paafnas was able to talk to Maya in a whispering tone.

  »They’re talking! The mollusk leader is addressing the Lord, who has left his disk, but is hiding behind a camouflage field,« Paafnas reported.

  Maya looked cautiously around.

  Can we make a break for it now? she considered.

  »The mollusks are forming up before the Lord … to receive orders, it seems,« Paafnas told her. »Look … more of them, coming out of the ships – they are heavily armed.«

  Maya’s thoughts raced.

  A Shwakan-related species here on this planet, the strange fleet, the Lord of this world talking to them, Treugolans almost petrified with fear! This may be our only chance!

  Paafnas winced when he felt Maya’s hand on his shoulder.

  »They’re activating the portal!« Paafnas reported nervously. »A large group of mollusks is entering the portal into the tachyon field!«

  That was all Maya needed to know. She grabbed Paafnas and ran forward.

  Knockmerg returned after a couple of minutes, and noticed that Ivanova’s place in the ranks was empty. He grimaced, hit some of his guards in the face, and ordered them to bring back the escaped prisoners.

  They won’t get far! he thought angrily.

  Attention … listen up

  »I hope you’re aware that canceling the colonization contracts throws a stick into the spokes that sets us back months. It’ll take time to issue the tenders to other companies. It may take years until we’re caught up again,« the Solar Union Economy Minister, who had been in the Uranus System to open a new research facility, said to McCord.

  »I know that, Minister. Fosset had his own ideas about the projects. I think mine are more practical. He was perhaps a sentimentalist regarding the conquering of the Solar System. I have to think about the immense costs involved. We were spending too much money on these endeavors. I’m a businessman. I’ve warned Fosset repeatedly to put on the brakes.«

  »I’m not just talking about the projects in the Saturn- and Jupiter Systems,« the man replied, »but about the quick expansion of our infrastructure and processing plants. You are aware of the situation. We need to prepare for further Globuster attacks. We need to upgrade our fleets and the outer bases. The Union Fleet can’t handle it alone. We need the help of industry. We’re not in shape to offer much resistance to an outside attacker.«

  »Minister, I know the situation, but the government hasn’t declared a state of emergency yet … or am I misinformed?«

  McCord lit up a cigar and blew the smoke into the camera of the comm-unit.

  The minister was obviously struggling with his self-control.

  »No, we have not done that. It’s not in the best interest of our citizens. That doesn’t mean the fleet is idle. We have to make the best of the relative tranquility to prepare for the worst, but creating panic would be counterproductive and only harm the economy. We are asking the industries in return to participate and you directly, Mr. McCord, not to dismantle and deny us the transport and processing capacities of the Neptune and Saturn Systems.«

  A slight threatening undertone accompanied the minister’s voice.

  McCord smiled coldly and leaned back in his seat.

  »The government is demanding, eh? What if I don’t want to be ordered around? Your demands are not in the company’s interests?«

  McCord smirked.

  »Then the government will cancel our tax agreements.«

  McCord wasn’t overly worried about this threat. He had expected it.

  »Well, I would then need to determine if it would still be feasible for us to continue our participation on other projects as well. I’m seriously thinking about restructuring Fosset’s entire company.«

  The minister’s face grew red and he cut the comm-link. He missed seeing McCord’s smug smile.

  The heir to the Fosset Empire touched a sensor pad. Moments later his private secretary swiftly entered the room.

  »What can I do for you, Sir?« the man asked, a bit too obsequiously. McCord gave him a disdainful look.

  »Prepare a press release with the following text, to all leading news agencies,« McCord demanded in an arrogant voice.

  »Fosset Enterprises, as much as all the people in the Solar Union, is concerned about the appearance of the Globusters in our system. We believe that while this threat exists our employees working at the outer edges of our solar system are in imminent danger. This is unacceptable. We, as private contractors, have a responsibility to our workers’ safety, and have therefore decided to pull out of the Neptune-, Uranus-, and Saturn Systems immediately. This was not an easy decision, but we had no choice if our people are in harm’s way. We trust in the Union Fleet to insure the safety of our employees who are currently still working in the affected sectors.«

  »You really want to release this text, Sir … and leave Oberon? This could panic our people, lead them to evacuate in haste, even desert! They’ll assume that we have critical information that’s withheld from them. Even our competitors will wonder why we‘re pulling out, leaving everything to them.«

  The secretary looked at him nervously.

  McCord looked back mildly.

  »We’re only protecting our people; it’s for their safety. We may return at another date. Right now, I want you to coordinate our efforts in our best interests. Call back the ships and their crews and cancel their work contracts.«

  »We will lose a lot of experienced workers. Top notch people we won’t be able to replace later. Interplanetary specialists are hard to come by, Sir,« McCord’s secretary dared to speak up. »There’s a good chance that they get hired by our competitors.«

  McCord silenced him with a quick hand movement.

  »We’ll hire new ones, then. Don’t worry about it, and do as I told you. I’m hoping that you can handle it, and I won’t have to find someone else.«

  McCord looked at his secretary inquiringly.

  »No … no, I’m fine, no problem,« he assured McCord and quickly left the room.

  McCord just glanced at him and then went back to brooding over his next moves.

  His secretary hesitated for a couple of seconds in his own office, then activated the comm-unit. He looked around cautiously, making sure that he was
alone. He used a special encoding chip for his message, not part of the company’s inventory, one that also established a secure comm-channel. Moments later the Solar Union symbol appeared inside a small holo. In a whispering voice, the secretary began to speak slowly into the concealed microphone.

  »Attention … listen up … it’s started …«

  Sand dunes

  She decided to tackle the problem head-on. The visitors’ spaceship was out of the question, of course. Even though close by, it was out of reach for her. To enter the ship unauthorized and then live among the Shwakans was not feasible; she wouldn’t look forward to that anyway. The portal was out too. The platform was currently swarming with Shwakans, and her tachyon signature that permitted her to enter the portal had long dissipated. Maya Ivanova didn’t understand enough of the alien technology to be able to operate it anyway.

  The planetary desert, with its sand oceans inhabited by only a few if very aggressive species, was not enticing either. The only reasonable objective was the palace of the Lord of the World, atop its volcanic mountain, flanked by the Treugolan castle in the foothills.

  Maya counted it lucky that the Treugolans didn’t dare operate their flying discs for the moment. The Shwakans were in control, gathered near the portal engaged in negotiations with the Lord, keeping him distracted as well.

  »C’mon, Paaf! Faster! We have to get to the mountain before they’re finished with their pow-wow and the Lord returns to his castle!«

  The Pleunatan had so far spoken very little. He was having trouble adapting his skin color to the rocks and the landscape.

  »What is it? Don’t you like these lava rocks?« Maya tried to joke, while she continued her way up the mountain.

  »I have never tried to escape before. It still seems senseless to me. What are you trying to achieve? Where do you want to go?«

  Maya briefly looked back into the Paafnas’ big eyes.