Equilibrium of Terror: Part 1 (Splintered Galaxy Book 3)

by Eddie R. Hicks

  … … …

  Thirty minutes later Kasidey entered the connecting washroom to Whigli’s quarters. He remained resting on his bed recovering after his third release, quite a challenge for a Hashmedai man of his age, but he managed to pull it off. He must have really loved Chidorli more than she thought. Too bad Kasidey wasn’t really her. Not that she had any plans on revealing that. Sessions like that were the primary reason he had become loyal to her since leaving Earth. Whigli’s obsession with Chidorli evolved into borderline unhealthy levels, and she fully intended to exploit that.

  Kasidey walked past the mirror, and saw Chidorli’s likeness reflected, one of many forms she could assume with her unique set of skills. The smell of sex still lingered on her body as she stepped into the glass tube like shower chamber. Warm water sprayed across her body while the nano machines inside her body began to neutralize Whigli’s most recent seed that flowed through her uterus.

  Midway through the shower her DNA and physical form began to restructure. Hashmedai genes, replaced with human ones, red glowing eyes replaced with human eyes, Chidorli’s DNA replaced with Kasidey’s. Seconds later, the green-haired Hashmedai woman became a brunette-haired human as her hair started to reach down toward her lower back.

  She proceeded toward the cockpit wearing nothing but a towel around her body, the reflection of her shone back from the reflective tiles below her feet. The lights in the triangle shaped corridors activated as she walked next to them, while the ones behind her shut off after a few seconds. There was nobody else aboard the ship anyways. Unlike Hashmedai and Radiance ships, there was gravity in every section of the transport, no psionics required. And unlike UNE ships, the gravity wasn’t generated by a rotating habitat ring, just a strong artificial gravity generator beneath the floor.

  She sat down cross-legged in the chair before the flight controls and her hands pressed a series of buttons. Tiny holographic windows appeared, relaying their speed and ship wide status in an unknown alien language, well unknown to Whigli at least. She recognized the language fairly well as Lyonrian. The stars of space were visible through the windshield, shooting pass them one after another, near FTL speeds was such an elegant sight.

  A blue light flashed on her terminal seconds later, aether space communication was coming in. Her index and middle finger waved over the light, Fahia face appeared in a small screen, there was a smile on Fahia’s Hashmedai face.

  “Came to pester me in regard to how long I’ve been away?” Kasidey said.

  “The seer has found it,” said Fahia. “The area is being excavated as we speak.”

  “And I’ve finally found what I’ve been looking for. Inform Captain Yominv he’ll have his final component soon.”

  “Very well.”

  The communication ended. The aether space communicator worked by sending streams of data from one location in normal space into aether space, and then back out into a designated section in normal space. It was largely powered by the red gems the order had acquired over the last few millennia in conjunction with the technology found aboard ships like the one Kasidey commanded. The end result was FTL communication that rivaled that of the QEC that Earth uses. Unlike QEC, the person receiving the message did not need to have an aether space communicator installed, only the sender needed one to open up the link. Once the link was made both sides could exchange data or messages in real time until it was shut down.

  Kasidey reviewed her sensor logs and confirmed that they were still on course toward a junked derelict ship, adrift in space for the last eight years. It’s been awhile, it better be there.

  … … …

  ►► Courelia lower levels, Rasi

  ► Barnard’s Star system

  Alisha, Eicelea and Vynei sat around a circular glass dining table in her apartment. Unpacked boxes were scattered throughout as they started to dine on meals from their respective worlds with the exception of Alisha. She had to make do with Linl food.

  Vynei’s plate had a pan fried cut of meat that resembled a chicken breast, covered in a green sludge, probably some kind of vegetable puree. She didn’t bother asking, Alisha manly stuck toward a vegetarian style of eating since leaving Earth. The wrap she had in fact was stuffed with sautéed vegetables from the Linl home world, seasoned with a spicy yellow powdery substance. She couldn’t remember what every ingredient was called, just that the wrap was known as an Oumica roll. Named after one of the continents in the southern hemisphere of the Linl home world.

  Eicelea offered everyone a bowl from her world, Alisha learned quickly what Vynei meant by ‘she didn’t cook’. “A delicious meal on my world,” Eicelea said.

  Eicelea’s meal made Alisha’s skin crawl, it was a bowl full of live worms and wingless insects. “Um, I’ll pass thanks,” Alisha said while watching to make sure none of Eicelea’s meal tried to escape and crawl away on the floor.

  “I told you weren’t going to like it,” Vynei said with a mouth full of meat.

  “It’s safe for all species to consume,” Eicelea said.

  Alisha shook her head while Vynei’s head shook from laughter, causing the rings attached to his horns to shake. Eicelea pulled her bowl back toward her and scooped her tiny hands into it, removing a fist full of the wiggling creatures. Wiggling being their last action before being condemned to death inside Eicelea’s mouth.

  I guess forks and spoons aren’t common to the Vorcambreum, Alisha thought as she bit into her wrap.

  “So, Alisha is your name?” Vynei asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Forgive me it just sounds strange.”

  “That is because she is a human,” Eicelea said.

  Vynei took a long glance at Alisha. “Really?”

  “It wasn’t hard to figure out. I’ve been sifting through various and fascinating stories on the knowledge net since our arrival,” said Eicelea. “Yours came up. Alisha Levesque the human scientist working for Radiance.”

  “Which is why I’m surprised you replied to my ad, I was starting to think people were avoiding me once they learned I was human.”

  “You may look like a Linl, but are still an alien to much of the community,” Eicelea said. “In time people will grow to accept you.” Eicelea paused, crossing her arms. “Provided the rumors I stumbled upon are proven false.”

  “What rumors are those?” Alisha asked.

  “The council voted to end its relationship with the humans.”

  Alisha vaguely recalled a news headline about the latest ruling from the council. She didn’t bother clicking it however, as she assumed it dealt with Radiance politics exclusively.

  Later during the evening, Alisha’s two new roommates retreated to their rooms to sleep. Only half of their belongings were unpacked, the rest still rested in her living room. She sat on her living room couch with her data pad in her hands, confirming that the rumors were indeed fact. Radiance was to cut all ties with Earth and deport all humans. Well that’s just fucking great.

  Her cell phone rested on a nearby table, one of the few things from Earth she managed to bring with her. Though it served as a music player more than anything else, she was six light years away from the nearest cell phone signal, and even then, it’s been twenty-two years since she last paid the bill, and that’s assuming her provider wasn't obliterated during the Hashmedai invasion. Occasionally she would go through the old text messages on it to remind her of the good old days, when aliens didn’t exist, though Jason’s last messages were sent during Radiance’s first contact with Earth, just days before the Hashmedai attacked. Nevertheless, old messages still made her smile when she was feeling down. Radiance engineers were kind enough to develop a recharging device that was compatible with the phone. It was a cubed shaped object with a socket that looked exactly like wall plugs found back on Earth.

  She still remembered when those texts were sent. She was asking him to take Hannah to the store in preparation for their flight to LA. She needed him out of the house because her ex-husband Ja
ke was swinging by, he got himself into trouble and needed access to her cottage. Jake, Jason, and Hannah what became of them? Alisha thought while her playlist continued to fill the room up with pre-invasion Earth music. Gimme shelter by the Rolling Stones started to play sometime later and she tossed the data pad aside. Too much negativity in the news feeds, the galaxy was going to hell in a hand basket.

  She sipped on a glass of Aryile white wine as the music continued to play, part of her wished that her two roommates were awake. She seldom had people to share her culture and art with, especially music. The song ended and a new one began to play, seconds later her door chime sounded. Who can that be she thought?

  Slowly she got up and moved toward the door, her hands guided her fingers to the wall mounted door controls, causing the doors to unlock and slide open. A tall light skinned and extremely muscular Aryile man stood at the door.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you,” he said.

  “It’s okay,” Alisha said. “May I help you?”

  “I heard a song coming from here. The previous song that was playing. You were playing music not long ago?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Sorry it’s just…” he paused for a moment, looking like he was struggling to find the right words to use. “…it was human music.”

  “Well, yeah, it is,” she said slowly, feeling slightly awkward.

  “I heard that song in the past, but I never understood the lyrics as I didn’t understand human language,” he said. “I tried learning it, but there are so many languages humans speak, I wasn’t sure which one to learn. How did you acquire the song if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “You don’t know who I am?” Obviously not if he’s asking Alisha!

  “I do not.” He grimaced

  “I’m the human that lives here that everyone wants to avoid.”

  “I’m not avoiding you,” he said with a charming smile. “Please, if you are not busy, and if it not too much trouble for you. Would you teach me the lyrics and the origins of the song? It would mean so much to me.”

  A stranger from the outside wants to come in and chat? Alisha’s first thought was a resounding no. But on the other hand, this isn’t Earth. Most crimes happen out in space or in the slums. She didn’t live in either of those areas. Plus, there was Eicelea and Vynei. If he tried anything she could always call for help, Vynei was packing heat too, being a bodyguard and all. And who was Alisha fooling? This man possessed a chiseled and sexy body, like a Greek titan and was a well-spoken gentleman. Married or not, there was no harm chatting with him.

  “I suppose,” she said.

  He stepped in, shifting his eyes around at the interior of her place. “As you might have figured out by the uniform, I’m with the military,” he said. “That song, it helped during some hard times.”

  They sat down. He smiled while he held out a bottle of Aryile white wine. Alisha replayed the song that he seemed to like. “My name’s Alisha by the way.”

  “Ah,” he said then proceeded to greet her in the traditional Radiance manner. “Ary Jainuzei, your acquaintance is recognized.”

  CHAPTER 8

  ►► New Paryo

  ► Uylanni system

  ► Fifty years ago...

  Six Radiance transport ships began their descent to the white snow-covered surface of New Paryo, one of the last planets the Hashmedai had control of in the Uylanni system. The Uylanni system was one of the first star systems to be colonized by the Hashmedai, and it was one of two systems that were close to the Radiance Union, the other one being their home system.

  The Hashmedai had a great many more systems under their control, but thanks to the space bridge, those worlds were established hundreds, if not thousands of light years away from their home world and the Radiance Union. Teleporting ships across the galaxy was a viable option for the Hashmedai. For Radiance, they would have to fly there via sub light speeds which would take centuries. Needless to say, the last few thousand years of the war between the Hashmedai Empire and the Radiance Union was mostly felt at the worlds closest to Radiance space.

  Second class ranger Ary Jainuzei’s legs dangled in the cold air as he sat at the edge of the entrance to his transport. The door was wide open along with the other ships, giving him and the other rangers aboard a spectacular panoramic view of the small mountain they were about to land on. Music was playing, sounds from the other side of the galaxy. The latest upload on the Radiance knowledge network contained music from the human home world. He didn’t understand the lyrics of the song, but the beat, the rhythm of it. It was addictive, easily his favorite song produced by those humans. Too bad the Radiance council voted to not make contact with them. Arts wise, they had a very intriguing culture.

  “So, this is humon music?” asked Mil Henylea.

  “It is pronounced human,” Jainuzei said, correcting her. “And yes, it is one of newer songs I discovered.”

  Henylea sat next to Jainuzei, neither her face nor four eyes were visible from her helmet. “I have a good feeling about this one, sir,” she said.

  “Likewise,” Jainuzei said. “General Hilemei himself is overseeing this operation. We can’t lose.”

  “What do you plan to do after we are victorious?” Henylea asked.

  “My wife. She has not seen me in years,” he said. “I must be with her. What about you?”

  “Similar situation. I will spend time with my four husbands,” Henylea said. “Hopefully another female did not lure two or three of them away during my absence.”

  They shared a brief laugh at her comment then Jainuzei turned his head around, curious at what the other five rangers were doing. Like him and Henylea, they all wore Radiance combat armor. Some had helmets on, others like him were waiting to land before putting it on. A few heads were bobbing up and down in unison with the human music that echoed throughout the cabin of the transport.

  The transport Jainuzei rode on started to land on a snow-covered field, partly up the mountain range. Snow, ice, and tree branches were spewed away by the landing thrusters as the transport touched down. None of the other transport ships were in sight as far as Jainuzei’s reptilian eyes could see, though the snow storm didn’t help much with visibility.

  Jainuzei stood and reached his hands up to the overhead weapon and equipment storage compartment. The rest of the crew did the same, arming themselves with magnetic rifles, helmets for those that still didn’t put one on. Jainuzei however, did one extra thing, at the very back of his compartment lay a Hashmedai plasma great sword, looted from a Hashmedai warrior he had killed in combat years ago. He effortlessly holstered the heavy hulking blade to his back with the aid of his large muscular arms, while his rifle was strapped around his arms. Ready for battle, he thought as the tactical holographic screen within his helmet loaded.

  Jainuzei stepped off the transport along with Henylea and five other rangers into the white out environment. The crunching noise of snow being crushed by seven bodies in combat armor could be heard. Their steps quickly took them to a figure not far from where the transport had landed. The figure wore armor just like them, the Radiance numeral for “one” was clearly printed on the middle of their chest.

  “Change of plans,” the figure said, Jainuzei recognized the voice as it played across his suit’s intercom. It was Ure Fiesei, first class ranger, a legend. “We lost contact with our reconnaissance team an hour ago. The Hashmedai knows we’ve landed on the planet, but as far as we can tell, they only think our forces consist of the recon group we sent out.” Fiesei’s suit sent out a hologram to be displayed inside of everyone’s helmet. The hologram was a model of the mountain they stood on. A small mansion rested at the summit with a forest around it. Jainuzei could see pathways from the mansion leading all the way down the mountain. “We’re going to split up, and slowly move up to surround this compound here.” Seven blue circles manifested all around the hills leading up to the summit, these represented the new, split up teams. “High value targets are insi
de, and will flee the planet if they feel unsafe, this cannot happen.” As Fiesei mentioned that, four red dots appeared in the middle of the mansion.

  This has all the signs of an operation engineered by The Whisper, Jainuzei thought as the hologram vanished, the sights before him returning to normal.

  “Jainuzei and Henylea, you’ll be part of our new recon team. Feel free to take another ranger from your team if you feel it will help.” Fiesei explained. “Everyone else, will be with me, we’ll be slowly advancing up while the new recon team clears the way.”

  Jainuzei turned around to address the five armor clad rangers behind him. “Anyone volunteering to join me?”

  “I’ll go sir!” A female ranger offered instantly. Her helmet was slightly larger than his. Most likely a Rabuabin as their helmets needed to take into account their ears and horns.

  “And you are?” he asked. He felt embarrassed asking, these people were placed under his command and he neglected to learn their names. “My apologies I still haven’t learned everyone’s name.”

  “Third class ranger, Za Xyniea,” Xyniea's left armor clad hand rested on her right shoulder. “Your acquaintance is recognized.”

  Jainuzei returned the gesture, then said to Fiesei, “We’re ready sir.”

  Fiesei nodded. “Excellent, may the gods’ light shine upon us.”

  The journey toward the summit would have been deadly if it wasn’t for the combat armor and its shields. The temperatures within the suits were adjusted to the specifications of the person wearing it, while the shields kept snow and ice from building up during Jainuzei, Henylea, and Xyniea’s three-hour trek up the hill. Just another hour to go, Jainuzei thought as they entered the snow blanketed forest. They periodically kept the other teams updated as they pushed on, lots of snow, no Hashmedai, though Jainuzei fully expected that to change once they get closer to the edge of the forest.