Farnham's Legend: The beginning of the X-Universe saga (X Games Book 1)

by Helge T. Kautz

  The decoy ship went through the gate with its hull still glowing like a hot-plate someone had forgotten to turn off. The interplay of the chaotic blue and glowing pearl energies of the jump with the ominous red of the cooling hull fascinated Kyle in a curious way. But the spell only held for a few short seconds before the duplicate vanished.

  The Argon Transporter held a course indifferent to his manoeuvrings as he approached it, confirming in his mind that it was part of the plan. At four hundred metres, close enough to read its name, the rear cargo bay yawned open. AP Aladna Hill, he assumed the 'AP' stood for Argon Prime, confirming his suspicion of Argon involvement in the brazen scheme. As Valerie guided the X-Shuttle towards the gaping landing bay, the Transporter began to accelerate and although the course and velocity corrections were child's play to his computer, Kyle found flying between the exhaust flames of five thrusters an experience he did not wish to repeat.

  Within half an hour the X settled on its landing gear in a capacious hold. Kyle ordered Valerie to stay alert, although even he felt he was being perhaps a little too cautious. The cargo bay itself was both familiar and strange at the same time. Its dimensions seemed in the correct proportions, doors and equipment seemed to be the right size for humans, not squat like for Teladi, and the colours were friendly and warm. Only the air was not as fresh and pleasant as he had experienced with the Teladi and Paranid, but even that held a somehow familiar tinge as he jumped down from the cockpit with less than his usual athletic élan. The weeks cooped up in the narrow confines had taken its toll and as he climbed unsteadily to his feet he found himself looking into the round, smiling face of a woman. Her blonde hair may have been shot through with grey but she positively crackled with energy. "Welcome on board the Aladna Hill. I am Captain Lona Brant."

  Kyle nodded a bow and reached for the Argon woman's hand. "Captain Kyle William Brennan from the X."

  But Captain Brant wasn't alone to greet him. To her left stood another woman with long blonde hair who now also took her turn in shaking Kyle's hand. "Ninu Gardna, Cargo Master of the Aladna. Your ship doesn't look like a load of Nostrop Oil but that's what my records will say."

  "So long as you don't change me into Nostrop Oil." Kyle smiled, shaking the woman's hand and taking in her fine looks with an appreciative glance.

  "Only if we have absolutely no other choice!" The Cargo Master shook her head and laughed.

  "Captain," said Lona Brant, "I'm dying to hear your story but after what you've been through I'm guessing you want to freshen up first?"

  "A few more hours won't really make much difference now," Kyle shrugged.

  Brant and Gardna exchanged puzzled glances. "Hours? I… we measure our time in Stazuras. Actually I shouldn't be surprised, Ninu claimed you come from Earth, but up until now I always thought that was all just a children's tale." She hesitated. "But be that as it may. Captain, we have prepared a cabin for you on board. Just relax, you're safe here, we have thought of everything."

  Kyle doubted if it was really possible to anticipate all eventualities but he nodded. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. And I was very impressed with the precision of your manoeuvring."

  "We impressed ourselves too." Brant smiled thinly.

  "I hope someone anticipated all the health and safety needs of Special Agent Ban Danna too?"

  "Ban Danna, who's that?"

  Kyle's brow furrowed with surprise. "An agent of the Secret Service from Argon Prime. I thought this action was being done in collaboration with it?"

  The Captain's surprise mirrored his own.

  "No, planning and coordination was explicitly ordered by and organised through Noah Gaffelt from Cloud Base and the Crisis Committee of the Guardians. They moved Heaven and Hell and might have even roped in the CEO of the Teladi Trading Company. I wouldn't have thought the Goner could pull that kind of a show off."

  "I am sorry, dear", she added and touched Ninu's arm apologetically.

  The blonde woman smiled. "It's okay, Lona. I know you're on our side. I'm glad you are."

  Captain Brant nodded and turned again towards Kyle.

  "Captain, perhaps we can carry on this discussion later in more detail. Likely you're no less confused about it all than we are. For now, take a break, you've earned it!"

  "I think you're right," Kyle said. "Many thanks Captain Brant."

  "It's my pleasure Captain," the older woman replied. "Please follow me, I'll show you to your quarters."

  After what he'd been through, the next few days jumping from gate to gate were almost like a holiday. Hot showers, sharp razors and a soft mattress on which he could stretch out and sleep - real luxury!

  The Aladna Hill travelled unmolested through the Divine Realm of the Paranid, beyond a few cargo scans by Sector Patrol fighters. Their instruments confirmed what the cargo manifest stated. An enormous quantity of the finest Nostrop Oil for sector Cloud Base South East, thanks to a secret device of Boron invention. "A Cargo Cloak," Ninu Gardna said. She did not explain how it had managed to fall into their hands, but as the days went by there was plenty of time for long conversations with the rest of the crew and he was able to piece together a lot of answers to his many other questions.

  "Let me see if I've got this right." He was on the expansive bridge of the Transporter with Captain Lona Brant; the First Officer, Hal Nedrong; the Engineer; Veithman Wolsh and Ninu Gardna.

  "Correct me if necessary. The Government of Argon Prime decided on a Year Zero to forget about the Argon origins on Earth?"

  They all nodded agreement.

  "And those that didn't agree called themselves the Goners, and they are now just a small and dwindling group?"

  "Originally they called themselves Gunners, with a 'U' and a double 'N'," corrected Ninu.

  "Okay, and for six hundred Jazuras, almost seven hundred terran years, your scientists researched the principles of Jump-gates and Jump Drives but have been unable to master them. Why?"

  "Why?" Said Veithman Wolsh, the tall, broad shouldered Argon Engineer with tight curled red hair. "Singularity technology is mathematically and technically extremely complex. There's the NQC-invariance, Norman's Law."

  "Why? Because on Earth, developing Jump-gate technology took no more than two hundred years from the beginning of the Space Age. The Commonwealth consists of… how many, three or four intelligent species with scientists working in parallel on the same problem?"

  "Hm. Perhaps not as much as you might think," interjected Wolsh. "The existing Jump-gates were built for an eternity. The available space within the sectors of the Commonwealth is enormous. There is no pressure to do more than keep research ticking over. So, there's no credits in it."

  "It's not that bad!" stated Ninu.

  "No, on the contrary, it is worse!" declared Hal Nedrong sourly."

  Ninu shot a reproachful look at the lanky Argon and said with twinkling eyes. "Hal, I have seen you do many things for each and any of us without payment, or even thanks!"

  The First Officer gazed embarrassed to the floor. "That is entirely different…" he began to explain and then just shrugged.

  Ninu shook her head, cascading her long blonde hair about her face and laughed. "So, Captain Brennan, how much per hour is saving a life worth?"

  Kyle found himself momentarily lost in the beautiful Goner's ocean-blue eyes and luxuriated in the soft and gentle fire stirring in his breast before answering. "My life-saving services don't come cheap but you do get a one year warranty and a Thirty Day Money Back Guarantee if you're not completely satisfied!"

  Ninu almost giggled with amusement, Captain Brant and Veithman Wolsh laughed. Even Hal Nedrong managed a wry narrow smile.

  "To return to our discussion," Kyle continued, "and to summarize again, as I understood it, most Argon think the planet Earth is right out of a child's fairy tale and only the Goners think Earth really exists?"

  "We not only believe, we know it is so, absolutely without a doubt. Nathan R. Gunne confirmed it himself in the Book of Truth
and he is a respected historical person even with the Argon," replied Ninu, suddenly getting serious. "After all they are wearing his name too."

  "Does this mean Gunne was the founder of the Goner sect?"

  "We rather prefer to be called a 'Knowledge Association.' No, Nathan Gunne was not the founder of the Goner, not directly. Only about two hundred years after he died did his great grandchild Nyana Gunne discover his personal diaries. Together with Martinus Sandas she founded a resistance movement against the misinformation of the Argon Prime government. Unfortunately, it was quelled by the Great War of the Nations that was breaking out at that time."

  Kyle rubbed his smooth shaven chin and glanced out the bridge windows at the bright stars and shimmering nebulae of the Federation. Ahead he could just make out a jump-gate "You always say 'we,' you're a Goner I take it, Ms Gardna?"

  Ninu looked as if she could not answer him.

  "Our Ninu is a genuine border-liner," said Lona Brant with a good-natured smile. "Right?"

  "We could not spread the truth if we never meet the people as friends and equals, not missionaries," said Ninu earnestly, without explaining the Captain's comments. "The first step has been made. But through you, Captain Brennan, the issue could be decided in our favour, once and for all."

  "Hey – I thought you liked me for my winning personality, not what I represent?" He tried to put a sulk in his tone but did not quite succeed.

  Ninu placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "But I do!"

  "And me!" boomed Engineer Veithman Wolsh in his deep voice. "The beautiful ship in our cargo bay has nothing at all to do with it!"

  "For me the reward posted by Noah Gaffelt was irrelevant, Captain," quipped Lona Brant in the same spirit.

  "That fancy pilot's jacket would be good enough for me," growled Hal Nedrong.

  Kyle tried to keep a straight face but it shattered into guffaws and the others joined in. Even Ninu managed a broad smile as her hand lingered on his shoulder.

  "Gate passage in two Mizuras." Brant said finally, gasping for air and holding her stomach. "Ninu, Veithman, you two shouldn't even be here, your shift ended more than a Stazura ago. Go away and take Captain Brennan with you."

  "Yes Ma'am," said Veithman as he stood up. He was taller than Kyle by a head and came across like a good-natured gentle giant. "Come on Ninu."

  "I'd like to know more about the Goner," said Kyle to Ninu as they walked the crew deck corridors, Veithman having already taken the turn to his quarters.

  "I will tell you more on the next shift, if you like, Captain."

  Kyle nodded in agreement as they stopped at the door to his cabin. "Sleep well, Ninu," he said without being aware of it he had called her by her first name.

  "Good night Captain. Oh and…" she said hesitantly, "I am glad it is you who is here. You as a person and not just what you represent." She had a twinkle in her eyes as she brushed past him on the way to her cabin. For a moment their bodies touched.

  "Thank you," murmured Kyle belatedly, watching her as she disappeared down the corridor. Then he entered his own spacious and comfortable cabin.

  CHAPTER 35

  The Ancients are astonishing.

  Profit seems to be an alien concept to them.

  Bomandrolas Sisinfinos Niandeles IIX,

  Sales Manager SE

  Nopileos stared in horror as the Xenon ships started firing on the Earth vessel. Its shields were obviously failing as the lasers seared vicious burns into the bright metal hull plating. Energy discharges danced over the hull in some sort of vortex that accelerated to an electric blue blur that hurt his eyes. His forehead scale paled as an engine took a direct hit and exploded. The Getsu Fune vanished behind an angry orange fireball and when it dissipated the ship of his warrior friend Elena was no more. The Gravidar confirmed it; the shining return of the Getsu Fune was gone.

  "Captain, I have just lost contact with the Getsu Fune's ship computer," Inanias reported. The electronic brain of the Nyana's Fortune had been copying all the flight movements of Elena's ship by maintaining a data link to the old computer.

  "What happened to Elena?"

  "I have no information on that, oh Captain Nopileos. But the Getsu Fune activated its jump-drive for an emergency jump back to Earth. I suppose that the ship and its pilot are already in the Sol system right now unless the damage the Xenon inflicted caused complications."

  Nopileos badly hoped Elena had made it; he had taken the tall human woman deep into his heart, but there wasn't anything else he could do to help now. Or maybe there was, he could complete her diplomatic mission to Argon Prime, as best as he was able. The trip to Kingdom End, ordered by his grandfather, the Ceo, could wait another wozura. Or two.

  "Nyana's Fortune, this is AP Demeter, Commander Borman. Do you copy?"

  Inanias really could have announced the incoming transmission, Nopileos thought as he accepted the call. "This is Isemados Sibasomos Nopileos IV on board the Nyana's Fortune. Congratulations for shooting down the two Xenon fighters."

  The Argon with the short, white-blonde hair looked slightly puzzled and hesitated, as if she didn't know how to respond, then she said: "Your sense of humour is refreshing, Teladi. I take it into consideration and will remember to smile as soon as the remaining two Xenon fighters are destroyed."

  "Just trying to be polite…"

  "However!" Commander Borman interrupted Nopileos, "Your further help clearing up this affair will be worth an appropriate sum of credits to the government of Argon Prime."

  "Tsh! An 'appropriate' sum to you won't raise more than my smallest scale plate!" Nopileos answered disdainfully, unable to bear the Argon's imperious manner. She sighed noticeably.

  "Teladi! Very well. Senator Nan Gunnar, the chief of the RD Department, will no doubt be able to offer you an acceptable deal. We're transmitting the Argon Prime approach path and landing co-ordinates to your on-board computer now."

  "Understood. You can rely on me."

  "Yes, I'm sure we can now. Thank you. AP Demeter, out." Her image faded.

  "Inanias?"

  "Yes, Captain?"

  "How long will it take us to reach Argon Prime?"

  "Some quazuras," the computer replied.

  "Some…?" Nopileos repeated. "Perhaps you could be a little bit more exact, being a computer and all?" he snapped.

  "Of course Captain. Sorry Captain. Four quazuras, one inzura, three mizuras. Give or take ten sezuras."

  "Very good. Set a course and proceed."

  Inanias confirmed the order and very soon Nopileos saw the star constellations through the canopy shift, as his ship turned onto the new course. Meanwhile the AP Demeter had received reinforcements and as Nopileos watched, the hopelessly outmatched black Xenon ships winked out of existence one by one. On the Gravidar the 'collision alert' symbol rapidly began to flash on all displays.

  "What… what?" Nopileos hissed, suddenly scared to death. The Gravidar didn't show any objects nearby.

  "Visual confirmation of a large object at four o'clock," Inanias stated. "Distance six macro lengths and decreasing. Speed also rapidly decreasing."

  A huge cylindrical object appeared on the rear viewer, its milk-white shining bulk almost blotting out the stars. No antenna, hatches, turrets or even engine housings marred its featureless hull but he knew it couldn't be anything but a space ship.

  "What is that, Inanias?" he gasped.

  The on-board computer hesitated for an unusually long time. "Seventeen asalajes inzuras astronomical units Nipoleos, destination planetargonearthtaurus mikimadeswerfzzaiuzi…" it then said. Incoherent fragments of words melted into a senseless stammering, as the computer spat out combinations of meaningless syllables in an ever-increasing frenzy.

  "Inanias!" Nopileos shouted, clearly frightened. He had never before seen the Nyana's computer behave like that, or to be exact, he couldn't remember that he had even heard of a thing like that before.

  The computer kept babbling but the status displays didn't
show any malfunctions although the AI kernel registered as functioning beyond 100% of capacity, which was an impossibility. Something was overloading Inanias' logic circuits beyond the limits envisaged by their designers.

  Inanias' voice died down and then fell completely silent.

  "Inanias?" Nopileos asked anxiously.

  No response! Nopileos glared at the screen, holding the thing personally responsible. Without a functioning computer he was going nowhere. The Nyana had no weapons and a quick check revealed the shields were down. He scrutinised the console closely for some clue as to how to manually activate them. Unlike the gravity controls he could see no obvious graphic display and conveniently prominent button to push.

  "Egg-salad!" Nopileos cursed loudly as the displays began to fade one by one. Finally the command centre lights went out and the deep humming of the engines fell into silence.

  Then the status display for the life support systems died as well.

  Even before Nopileos was able to react, the swivelling command chair twitched back to its default position for no noticeable reason, severely jolting the young Teladi. Finally the cockpit dome blurred and became opaque as the light occluding safety systems defaulted to maximum in the face of the total breakdown.

  Through the sudden silence cut a strange sound of cracking and rattling as if all kinds of things throughout the whole ship would collide with the walls at low speed.

  Nopileos felt his bowels threatening to take on a life of their own. For a blind moment he thought it was his rising panic but then he realised it was weightlessness. All the ship systems had been knocked out and the rattling noises were the sound of all the unfixed objects on board floating loose and colliding with walls, floors and ceilings.

  The cockpit was frightening dark; though somewhere below the command platform a little display flickered dimly. "Below," Nopileos snorted when he made it out of the pilot's chair. "Where is up and down?" Even though the Teladi sense of balance was robust and hard to confuse, it was not easy for him to orientate himself in the dark weightlessness.

  Finally he managed to climb along the command chair struts to the platform railing. He pivoted over them and pushed off. Slowly he floated 'downwards' and after some sezuras touched what would have been the bottom if the gravity had been active. Down here the red flickering of the last functioning device was clear to see and led Nopileos around the central tube of the lift system. Moving around in zero gravity and almost total darkness wasn't easy, but somehow he managed to work through to the ships' apparently last working control display.