by Karl Morgan
“After today’s meeting, I must return to Gallia,” Fa-a-Di said. “Now that the war is over, the business of government calls to me. Perhaps we can have a few days here though. These surroundings are so unfamiliar to creatures like my brother-in-law and me. It is interesting to see how terrestrial Beings live. De-o-Nu tells me that Fak has an excellent selection of whiskies that I must try. De-o-Nu is lucky to spend much more time here.”
“Brother, perhaps I can go with you and we can stop at Planet 5 in the Golden Dawn system?” De-o-Nu asked. “The wildlife on that planet is amazing.”
“I think Charlie and I might be convinced to join you there for a flyover,” Dave smiled. “Just don’t drop me like you almost dropped my wife!”
“That is a perfect plan,” Fa-a-Di beamed. “We’ll stay here five or more days and then head for Planet 5. It continues to be an honor for me to call all of you my dear brothers.” He filled the glasses with more whisky. He stood and said, “To brotherhood! May we always fly and fight together!”
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The Hive
Chapter 1
The tekkan star ships floated down noiselessly toward the surface of the planet. Rugged mountain ranges loomed in the distance, while waves danced on a large ocean below the ships. Captain Van Daggamar ordered the colony ship Maxila to remain close behind the cruiser Vanaka in case of any unforeseen danger. The ships approached the mountain ranges which rose out of the sea. Volcanoes spewed ash into the morning air and rivers of lava flowed to the sea, causing massive plumes of steam to shoot into the air far below.
The ships banked to avoid the ash clouds and soon had passed the mountains and crossed over rolling grasslands as far as the horizon. Clumps of dense forest dotted the land. Van ordered the ships to land at the edge of a group of trees standing like sentinels in the center of the rolling hills of grass. The vessels settled down in a barren spot less than two hundred yards from the trees. The mountains were now hundreds of miles behind them, and only a few smoldering peaks dotted the horizon.
“Captain, the atmosphere seems breathable and air pressure is within norms,” said Science Officer Nak Gongaleg. “I am reading a number of fauna species in the immediate vicinity. I strongly recommend that our landing party be well armed.”
“Very well, Nak. You may signal Lieutenant Fongala that his team may explore our immediate environs,” Van replied.
Nan Fongala had graduated from the Don-Makla Military Academy one year ago. He was immediately made a loadmaster on one of the thousands of supply ships ferrying materials to construct the new world at Tak-Makla. He was well respected by all of his superior officers and would likely be doing the same work if he had not met Zon Palaka.
Zon was an almost mythical religious leader on Don-Makla. When the planetary council announced the plan to construct a Hive on the new planet, she was irate. She could not believe they would bring the fury of God onto her people by building a Hive and attempting to elevate themselves to godhood. All the great maklan teachers of the past had insisted that such knowledge was strictly forbidden. The ability to join the spirits and God by uniting with Universal Consciousness was blasphemous. Public sentiment was strongly in her favor at the beginning, but began to waver as the government spent billions to convince the populace The Hive would be used for science and trade and no one had any intention of interfering with Universal Consciousness.
Zon and her allies held rallies all over Don-Makla trying to drum up support for her cause. When the tide started to turn in her favor, the High Council stopped giving her permits for the rallies. It seemed all hope was lost. Don-Makla was to be abandoned in ten years and all maklans were required to move to the new planet. Instead, Zon formed a secret society that acquired four colony ships and four star cruisers. During the final exodus from the planet, her ships would slip away from the thousands of others and make their way to new worlds, where they could maintain their faith. Each colony ship was to establish a home on a different planet with their twenty thousand maklan settlers.
Nan Fogala had been to many of the rallies and believed in his heart that the move to Tak-Makla would bring death and destruction to the maklans there. When Zon herself offered him a spot on her flagship, he agreed happily. His team of ten heavily armed soldiers was now to escort a priest to the surface of the planet to bless it as the new home of their colony. He clipped the two blasters onto his belt. He took a rifle and slung it across his back. After checking his com-link, he left the armory and headed to the landing bay.
As he entered the landing bay, Nan saw that the minor priest for the mission had been replaced by Zon Palaka herself. He knelt in front of her and kissed her hand. “Your Eminence, we are honored by your presence,” Nan said.
“Thank you, Nan,” she smiled, “it is wonderful to see you again.” She addressed the entire group, “Dear friends, on this beautiful day it will be our pleasure to bless our new home planet. I know you must be vigilant for any dangers, but please try to enjoy your opportunity to be the first maklans on this world. In accordance with our tradition, we will kneel at the foot of the ramp when we first touch the soil and give thanks. A few of you may stand guard if needed. Then we will circle this ship three times offering thanks to God for our new home. After a final blessing, we will return on board and our crews can begin establishing a secure boundary.” She smiled broadly, and signaled the loadmaster to open the doors and extend the ramp to the surface.
Nan led his team onto the ground of their new home. The grassy surface was soft from recent rain. The air was sweet, clean and ionized from a thunderstorm that left the area as the ships touched down. The security detail formed a twenty foot defensive circle around the landing ramp, with their laser rifles in firing position. Nan and Vak, the other lieutenant leading the team examined the area with their high powered goggles. Nan said, “I see a group of carnivores at eight hundred yards. They appear to be upwind so they should not be a problem. What do you see, Vak?”
“There is a large herd of herbivores one thousand yards downwind, Nan,” Vak replied. “There also appear to be some flying creatures circling that herd. I’ll contact the captain and have him send two or three flyers to keep an eye on things.”
On Nan’s signal, Zon descended the ramp and stepped on the planet surface. She dropped to her knees and blessed the planet. Then she rose and walked to each member of the guard blessing them for their role as the first maklans on this world. As they began to walk around the ship, three crew members emerged from the ramp with flying packs strapped to their backs. They launched into the air and began to circle the area from one hundred feet in the air.
“A little help here!” shouted one of the guards who had stepped into a hidden pool of quicksand and was sinking fast. One of the flyers zipped to the area, grabbed the soldier and pulled him free, setting him back on dry land. He brushed off his uniform and rushed back to his position. The flyer used a spray gun to paint a circle around the pool.
“Nak, are you okay?” Nan asked.
“Yes, sir, no problem,” the soldier replied as he continued with the group.
“Nan, the herd of herbivores is heading in this direction and the flying creatures are following them,” Nin, the leader of the flyers said over the com-link. “They are probably twenty minutes out. My team reports that the carnivores have noticed our activity, but do not seem to be moving yet. I recommend expedience.”
Zon and her team had finished the second lap around the ship and they were quickening their pace to be careful. “Nan, it seems our captain has picked a planet brimming with life,” Zon said. “The team of guards will have a full time job until this area is safe for our children.”
“Don’t worry, Eminence,” Nan replied. “We’ve got things under control.”
They were nearing the ramp and the final blessing when the flock of twenty flying creatures zoomed quickly toward their group. The flyers flew among them trying to disorient the beasts. A few laser blasts frigh
tened most of them away. One lurched forward and dived toward Zon with two flyers on its tail. They were afraid to shoot as the priest was in their line of fire. The beast reached down and grabbed Zon by the arm and began to lift her off the ground as it flapped its wings frantically. Nan jumped off the ground and grabbed Zon by the legs. He pulled his blaster and shot the animal in the head. The beast fell to the ground dead. Nan grabbed Zon and threw her over his shoulder and ran back up the ramp while the remaining troops formed a tight perimeter at the base of the ramp. Zon was bleeding badly, so Nan ran through the ship to sick bay and laid her on a bed, where the doctors immediately began working on her.
Nan ran back to the landing bay and found all the team had returned and the doors had been sealed. He noticed his uniform was soaked in blood from Zon and the flying beast. Through the windows, he could see the pack of carnivores devouring the dead beast, while the herd of large herbivores moved slowly by.
“Well, what do you think, Dave?” Engineer Nok said as her silver thread of light swirled around his near the dead flying beast.
“This definitely looks like proof that tekkans compromised human DNA,” Dave Brewster replied. “At least it is proof that tekkans came to Earth. How far in the past did we come today, Nok?”
“Four hundred million years, more or less,” she replied. “The exodus from Don-Makla occurred over a long period, so we don’t know exactly when Zon Palaka left. Historical records from that period are sketchy too. Our agent found this by accident and shared it with Zee. Do you want to see anything from your ancient past while we’re here, Dave?”
“No thanks, Nok, but this has been great! I could never imagine seeing ancient Earth. This kind of time travel is forbidden using portals,” Dave replied.
“Can you imagine the damage any minor change to this epoch would do to modern times?” Nok asked.
“It seems that we are seeing that impact in front of us now. I hope this proves the Paxran never came to Earth and humans are able to join The Hive due to our tekkan ancestors,” Dave replied. “We should get back so we can talk to Zee.”
The scenery around their strings of light melted away and space-time spun into a blur as they shot forward in time and space. Dave could see his own string of light arching ahead of him as he followed it back to his body deep in The Hive. The silver light of Nok’s light was next to him and he was warmed by her presence.
Chapter 2
The canopy to the chamber rose and Dave opened his eyes. High Consul Zee Gongaleg, Var Vanadez, Chief Engineer of The Hive, and Mak Andeles, Minister of Internal Affairs were standing over him. Dave and Nok climbed to their feet. “Thank you Nok, that will be all for now,” Zee said. Nok shook Dave’s hand and left the room. “Let’s take a tube to my house to talk.”
The four left the room and followed the curving corridor to the nearest tube room. Zee touched the single panel on the wall, which then said, “Destination?”
“High Consul residence, private entrance,” Zee replied as he put his face in front of the panel. A green light illuminated his face.
“Security scan approved. Welcome, High Consul, you may enter,” the panel replied. On the opposite wall, the maze of lines dimmed and the path to the Consul’s home shone brightly. The door on the shuttle opened and the four climbed in and tightened their restraints.
Zee touched the lone panel and said, “Ready.” The door on the clear shuttle closed and the wall in front of the shuttle opened to reveal the glass tube ahead. The shuttle shot forward. The four were buffeted form side to side as the shuttle shot upward and switched tubes on its course. “Dave, now you have seen the tekkan contamination of Earth,” Var said. “We don’t know for certain whether those tekkans were the only reason your neurology and DNA bears a resemblance to ours.” The shuttle turned right and the four were pushed to the left. “I have many agents continuing the search since we cannot rule out Paxran influence yet.”
Dave Brewster remembered the first time he had taken a tube. It had seemed like an amusement park ride. Now, after dozens of trips, it was becoming a normal way to get around on Tak-Makla. He said, “I would think this evidence strongly reduces the possibility of Paxran influence though.” The shuttle shot straight up traveling from deep in The Hive to the planet’s surface. Dave felt plastered into his seat. He thought this must be how the first astronauts on Earth felt when they climbed into rockets and blasted into space.
“I agree with Dave,” Zee said. “We can’t ignore the evidence staring us in the face. Tekkans went to Earth and built a colony. Even if they were all killed by wild animals within a few years, their DNA had an impact.” The shuttle leveled off, turned right and slowed to a stop in a tube room. The door opened and they stepped out of the shuttle. Zee led them out the door and up the long passageway into the house. “I’ve asked our cook to prepare a light lunch for us. Why don’t we go to the library while we wait?” The passageway ended near the kitchen of the mansion. The smells of cooking food filled the air. “Var, please take Dave and Mak to the library. I’ll have someone bring us coffee and pastries. I’m starving,” Zee said.
The next door on the left led into a large library, with volumes of books lining three walls and three levels high. The one bare wall was all glass, looking out on the patio and the beach. Gentle waves slid up onto the sand. A light rain was falling, making trails down the glass. A coffee table was surrounded by four overstuffed armchairs. They sat and looked out to sea. In a minute, Zee came in with two valets carrying trays of coffee and pastries, which they set on the table. The valets prepared cups of coffee and small plates of pastry and set them in front of the four chairs. Then they left.
Zee picked up his cup and savored the coffee. “Aw, this is fantastic. Dave, please tell Darlene and Charlie that the master roasters have done a magnificent job. All of Tak-Makla owes them a debt of gratitude.”
“Consul, can we cut to the chase?” Mak asked.
“Mak, you and your type never take time to enjoy life,” Zee frowned. “I don’t know if you can ever be High Consul with that attitude.” Zee turned to Dave and said, “Dave, you may have guessed that Internal Affairs is a diplomatic term for security police. His job is to keep secret that which must be secret, and to protect us all from subversive elements in the population.”
“I certainly understand the need for police,” Dave replied. “I thought tekkans were very conscientious and tried to fit in?”
“That is almost entirely true, Dave,” Mak said. “With a population of twenty billion, even a tiny fraction yields quite a few bad apples. Without any doubt, the lower levels of The Hive are our most important area to control. The bulk of my team work there to make certain security is absolute. Other crimes like theft and assault are extremely rare. The temptation for some to profit from future knowledge is overwhelming. We keep a very sharp eye on any future traveling. While they cannot change the future, they may find something they can use now in their favor.”
“We are the same, Mak,” Dave replied. “Future travel is controlled by the highest levels of government. We also recognize that the future isn’t set and any tiny event between now and then can change the outcome.”
“Now it is you and Dave who are wasting time,” Zee said to Mak. “This is a very simple meeting, Dave. Since you have agreed to build more Hives, we will need to teach more humans how it actually works. Var has had many agents traversing our territories looking for ideal planets to house a Hive. We have ten candidate planets already. If we start construction soon, the knowledge transfer must also begin soon.”
“What do you want me to do, Zee?” Dave asked.
“We believe that teams of maklans and humans would be more trustworthy than just humans,” Mak said.
“That’s not a good way of getting their support, Mak,” Zee said. “Please don’t take offense, Dave.”
“None taken. It’s obvious that maklans are closely related to tekkans,” Dave replied. “Your cultures have the same core. Also, the maklans
have never tried to take over another civilization. They won’t even colonize a planet for fear of affecting indigenous life.”
“Exactly, Dave,” Zee smiled, “I knew you would understand. So, we are agreed? Lunch will be waiting on the patio.”
“I have one question, Zee,” Dave said. “You mentioned before that Jake Benomafolays experienced pain when he attempted to join The Hive. I think they need to experience The Hive to be able to actively participate in construction of new ones, don’t you?”
“Yes, Dave,” Zee answered. “Thankfully, we have already resolved that issue. We discovered the electronic implant that allows them to jump without a portal was the culprit. We were able to create a biological replacement similar to organs in our own bodies. Now maklans can join The Hive and jump much further without the need for teams.”
“That’s great news, Zee. Let’s eat!” Dave said.
Chapter 3
A heavy black rain was pouring outside the Governor’s Mansion on Nom-Kat-La. Governor Mak-Kal-a entered the main conference room to greet his guests. Following the example of the Io Star Port, a thick glass wall divided the room in two parts. The side he entered had a natural atmosphere. The other side had an atmosphere breathable by humans, Kalideans, Palians and Predaxians. On his side of the glass was the High Commissioner of Greater Gallia, the legendary general Fa-a-Di. Across the glass were Ambassadors Darlene Brewster of Earth, Nominus Malacus of the Kalidean Federation, Kogala of Palus and Zakamar Vondee of Predax.
“My dear friend, Fa-a-Di,” Mak-Kal-a fawned, “it is a great honor for you to join our humble negotiation today. My planet is forever in your debt for saving us from the evil of the Alliance.”
“It is good to be here, Mak-Kal-a. This is a special day in our relationship with the civilizations gathered here,” Fa-a-Di replied. “You have to admit it is a unique group.” Unique was not sufficient to describe the races involved. The Galliceans were both fifteen feet tall with lean bodies and bird-like heads. Their skin was pale and iridescent, with no hair or feathers. They had developed on gas giant planets and had relied on flying extreme distances with only small manufactured islands floating in the gas for homes. The Palians were distantly related to the Galliceans. Their home world was Earth-like with forests covering most of the land. On Palus, it had been the birds that became sentient. Kogala, the former warden of the prison planet Localus was ten feet tall with bright red plumage covering his exposed skin. The Kalideans were humanoid, but quite short with bright blue skin and very large, unblinking black eyes. It had been their interdiction in The War that ended humanity’s history of self-destruction by proving that humans were not alone in the galaxy. Zakamar Vondee was married to the President of the Predaxian Council which had replaced the empire that had ruled hundreds of worlds through mind control. It had only been a month since the end of the Second Predaxian War and all races were still unsure the Predaxians would give up their ambitions. Predaxians were another maklan race, resembling spiders in some respects, although two legs had grown stronger and longer, enabling them to walk upright and handle tools. This species of maklans were red with small black eyes. The room across the glass had a jumble of levels and seating arrangements to handle the mix of species.
