“That is too bad, Quasarvores. That would come in handy right now. I could go back and save Tamika. She was a good one. What a waste,” Panru said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“So tell me about Jhovahkan, the new leader of Ackturra, and what happened to Qiaoshan.”
“Jhovahkan is an evil man, full of himself. Everyone is in fear when he enters the room. He commands through intimidation.”
“We have heard rumors about Jhovahkan’s sibling rivalry, how he is so jealous of his brother, Jhahnahkan, and that he despises him and tries everything he can think of to bring him down.”
“Very true indeed,” Panru said. “I was his first officer on the Kalentun. I learned very quickly how to obey his orders, but I did so only for my own protection.”
“Obviously you succeeded in becoming the captain of your own ship.”
“This was his brother’s ship. Jhovahkan removed his own brother from command. We all think he felt threatened by his brother’s success, so he plotted to not only demote his own brother but he wanted to take over the council from his father. In fact, he shared his plans with his top officers just before Jhahnahkan was to be added to the high council. His plans included killing his father in order to prevent his brother from taking his seat on the council.”
“Do you think he actually killed his own father?”
“All of the evidence points to that fact,” Panru said as he reached for the flask to refresh their drinks. “His brother was never confirmed on the council. Now he is missing, Qiaoshan is dead, and Jhovahkan is trying to pin the murder of his father on Jhahnahkan. Ghaia, the high priestess and their mother, has now appointed the eldest son as council leader. The council was so afraid of Jhovahkan that no one dared to oppose his appointment. I had heard that Tamika was the only one on the council that questioned it, but that too soon became ill-fated, and she was made an enemy of the state.”
“And that is how you all came to be here today,” Quasarvores said as he lifted his drink to his thin lips.
“Yes, that is the short version but accurate,” Panru said. “I ensured that the Telenian was positioned in orbit as close to the Crytore as I could. I knew that Jhovahkan trusted me but also would dispatch the closest ship that could stop them, and so he chose me to go after his sister. The crew of the Telenian did not even know I was really on their side until we crossed the jamming station. It was only then I felt safe to reveal my true intent.”
“I assume there are others who do not follow their new leader,” Quasarvores said curiously.
“Yes, the entire southern region of Ackturra opposes him,” Panru answered. “And there are a few on the inside as well, but that is a very dangerous position to be in. With his new master crystal, Jhovahkan has become very powerful. If they are discovered, he will not hesitate to kill them and make them an example.”
“I am very glad that you have told me these things, Panru,” Quasarvores said. “The Karillian alliance was originally formed with Qiaoshan. We agreed with his philosophy, not the beliefs of Jhovahkan. He is a dangerous leader. We only avowed our relationship of ourselves to be aligned with the others that held true with Qiaoshan’s views and with the southern clans. We do not support Jhovahkan and his corrupt view of ultimate annihilation of an entire race. While it is true that the Zelinites are an evil race, they can be put in their place; but not obliteration… that is not an answer. That is an absolute. We do not deal with absolutes.”
“On behalf of the Southern Ackturrian Movement, we thank the Karillians for your support. Together we will remove the Zelinite threat not only from our space but from Karillian occupation and all others they intend to conquer,” Panru said
They clanked their glasses together and raised them to their mouths and downed what was left and then set them on the table before them. Panru offered another refill, but Quasarvores refused him and thanked him for the offer.
“I had better not consume any more of this wonderful elixir,” Quasarvores said with a lift in his voice.
“Very well,” Panru said as he poured one last shot into his own glass. He downed that last shot like it was the last one he would take in a very long time.
“I should return to my own ship for now.” Quasarvores motioned to Panru toward the door. “I have much to do in preparation for this skirmish tomorrow.”
“Agreed, my friend,” Panru said as he stood, making his way to his door.
Panru stopped at the com center on the panel next to the exit and called for one of his aides. “Please escort our Karillian guest to his shuttle. He will be returning to his ship tonight.”
“Yes, sir,” the com answered back.
The two entered the corridor, where Panru’s aide obliged the request of their new friend to return to his own ship.
* * *
Ackturra Palace
Year: 2983
Jhovahkan made his way to his personal shuttle from the Ackturrian headquarters. He entered the cockpit, closed the canopy, turned on the ship’s computer systems, and began the preflight checklist. He fired off his thrusters, took off, raised his landing gear, and sped upward toward the sky.
“Approach Control, this is Jhovahkan. Grant me shield access. I am returning to the Kalentun.”
The radio returned static for a few moments and then ended with the voice of the watch commander. “Yes sir, right away sir.” He said with hesitation, “Stand by for the shield frequency.”
Jhovahkan waited impatiently for the access codes and was just about to bark orders asking the watch commander to speed it up when the radio returned to life.
“Sir, we have the shield access codes ready to download.”
“I was about to ask what was taking so long. Very well,” Jhovahkan said as he flipped some switches and pressed a couple of buttons on his control panel. “I am ready to receive. Begin transmission.”
“Yes, Your Excellency,” replied the watch commander, “transmitting shield access codes now.”
Jhovahkan’s shuttle immediately began to shift and turn to align with the access codes for shield passage. The computer came on acknowledging that access had been confirmed and the shuttle would pass through in thirty seconds. The shuttle passed by the massive control platform that was used as the main staging area for incoming and outgoing flights to Ackturra.
“Computer, prepare for space flight. Switch from atmosphere control to orbital control,” Jhovahkan barked to the computer, treating it like any other person: with rudeness and disrespect.
“Switching controls as requested,” the computer responded with no emotion, “Passing through planetary shields now...entering orbit.”
Jhovahkan plotted a course to his flagship. As he looked out the front view of his shuttle, he was astounded at how beautiful the formation of his fleet looked as he approached his vessel. There were six destroyers aligned in a star-shaped pattern with the Kalentun center stage. The carrier had not arrived at its position but was on the way. He could tell by its distance that it would be ready within the hour. He thought to himself how excellent he had commanded his fleet and was almost cocky with his expectation of success. The fighters were out beyond the orbiting ships, running practice maneuvers. What a sight to see, all two hundred fighters flying in attack formations as they darted in and out among themselves like a swarm of bees.
He opened a com link to his ship’s docking control and requested landing. As he got closer to the landing bay, the doors began to roll open, exposing the ships landing bay interior. He received landing clearance and made the necessary course corrections and slowed to landing speed. His ship crossed through a shield barrier, which caused the effect of electric shocks flowing all around the shuttle. Once through the ship’s shields, his landing arms extended from the base of his shuttle, and the craft gently set down at his designated landing pad. The shuttle bay doors began to roll closed, and he powered down his shuttle, opened the canopy, and stepped onto the deck of the Kalentun.
“Captain on deck!” the s
hips quartermaster shouted as he approached the shuttle bay exit. Every crewman immediately stopped what they were doing, stood at attention, and signaled their allegiance to their leader by thumping their left fist on their chest and extending it out before them. Jhovahkan returned the salute and ordered them at ease and to return to their duties.
He toured the lower decks of his ship as was a custom for every commanding officer to do just before entering a major battle. He inspected the engineering section and ensured that the reactor core was tuned and running at peak performance. The tour followed with the crew compartment. He stopped and checked each crewman, probing deep into each of their minds to confirm they were under his complete control. Convinced after studying several crewmen that he was in control of the situation, he moved onto the upper decks and finally ended up at the control center of the Kalentun: the bridge deck.
“Captain on the bridge!” his first officer shouted, standing at attention as he gave the familiar salute. The only crewmen that did not salute were the helm control officers as they were in the middle of finalizing the Kalentun’s position within the star formation and were excused from acknowledging during the operation of the ship.
“At ease men,” Jhovahkan commanded as he moved around the bridge deck, checking each crewman to ensure they too were under his control. These men were especially necessary to be completely controlled as they were the officers closest to him. The success of this operation depended on them being fully compliant.
He completed his bridge inspection and confirmed once again that his entire crew was ready, and he returned to his captain’s chair. He stood for a moment to soak in the gratifying moment of knowing his battle plans were about to be launched and the glorious victory that was sure to follow was only hours away.
Finally, after a few precious moments, he took the edge of his cloak and tossed it out behind him and sat in the big chair. He looked about at his crew performing their final preparations with a sheepish grin on his face. The crew waited with bated breath to hear the command to disembark.
His captain’s chair had been fitted with the master crystal tuner assembly on the left side of the arm of the chair. The device was cylindrical and fixed with a curved arm that attached from the bottom of the cylinder to the side of the chair at its base. There was a control panel and a monitor fixed on the side of the cylinder and positioned in such a way that the user could easily reach the buttons and could see the readout on the status monitor without any problem. The cylinder itself was two feet long and was eight inches in diameter. The lower half of the cylinder was solid metal and was open at the top. Inside the cylinder, there were two connecting probes, one at each end. These were custom fitted to the exact size of Jhovahkan’s master crystal.
“Open a channel to all commanding officers in the fleet,” he ordered as he reached inside his cloak to remove his crystal.
“Attention all ships. Stand ready to engage your crystals,” he barked as he removed his crystal in the usual way. He was especially careful with his treasured prize. He gave the order to recall all shuttles and fighters and return them to their launch bays. Every ship under his command that was assigned to this fleet, whether they were part of his main attack force or one of the smaller forces, acknowledged they were ready.
Jhovahkan gave the order to connect their power crystals to their tuners and fire up its control systems. Each captain complied and inserted their power crystals one by one in the crystal tuner devices and switched on the tuners’ power systems. Each unit began to shoot a powerful-looking beam of energy from an outside array to each of the ships that were in formation around the Kalentun. The beams were reddish yellow, and energy particles could be seen flowing within the beams across and returning to each ship.
Jhovahkan inserted his master crystal into his crystal tuner device and snapped it into place with a click. He switched on the main power and pressed his command codes to enable the device. The master crystal began to glow brighter than it had ever been, and the cylinder opening closed with a door that slid over the top, sealing the light and its energy within. The Kalentun then shot out the same reddish-yellow beam in all directions from its installed outside array at each of the ships in this main fleet. The monitor on his console confirmed that the connection to each ship had been completed successfully. He sat back feeling the massive energy of his crystal flowing through him.
His face again changed before the entire crew. His sunken eyes became farther recessed. The circles around his eyes darkened as his skin turned pale. He slowly opened his eyes, and the crew could see the reddish-yellow glaze, which looked unnatural, as his master crystal began to take an even stronger hold over its host.
“Do not be alarmed,” he said in a soft, comforting voice. “We are the voice of the master crystal speaking through your leader. We are one yet separate. I have fully joined our mind with Jhovahkan. We are now in complete control of our fleet.”
The others looked on at their leader and gave him applause and cheers as his power crystal’s influence clouded their judgment.
“Second fleet, you are free to disembark to sector 522,” Jhovahkan ordered in a commanding tone. “Third fleet, you are free to disembark to sector 525. There you will position your ships and wait for your attack orders.”
The two fleets acknowledged their orders and began to depart from their current orbiting position toward their target locations. Jhovahkan waited a few minutes for those fleets to clear from their flight path.
“Men, we are about to launch on a very historic mission, the first of many victories. We are proud to be serving as your leader. We will have many victories before us. We will succeed in wiping out every single Zelinite from their pathetic existence. We will not allow one to escape from us. We will not stop until the very last of them have been eliminated forever!” he said, looking about with an evil look on his face.
His crew cheered once again with whistles and vigorous applause.
“Helm, set course for sector 523. All stations prepare for departure,” he said with enthusiasm. “Engage.” He spoke with firm command.
The fleet left orbit in formation as they headed away from Ackturra and past its two moons. They left behind all their fears, and now only victory showed on each of their faces.
“We will be in attack range in fifteen hours, sir.”
“Excellent. Prepare all weapons and make ready for battle. Secure all stations.”
* * *
Chapter 12 – The Rune
Zelinite Transport
Year: 1983
Tamika slowly walked into the massive room, gazing at the Rune held within its container, not paying any attention to anyone around her. As she got closer to the cylindrical container, she extended her arms out before her.
Luanren, not impressed by the effect of the Rune, turned to their Zelinite host. “So what is it about this Rune that is so special?”
“Isn’t it simply exquisite?” Tamika said in a semitrance-like voice as she continued to approach.
The huge yellow-reddish jagged rock gave off a glow. It stood fifteen feet tall and had a ten-foot girth. Encased within the cylinder, the Rune gave off an iridescent glow. The rock continued to pervade the entire chamber and persisted to pulsate as if it had a heartbeat. Waves of electric energy flowed all about the surface of the Rune in sequence of the pulsations.
“I wouldn’t get too close to it, madam,” Milanaka cautioned.
Tamika stood very close to the container and pressed her hands on the side of the glass. The texture of the cylinder was almost liquid in nature, but as she attempted to press harder to penetrate it, she could not breach more than an inch before her hand stopped. She stepped back for a moment and removed her hands from the container, which left a ripple of waves across the surface. She then pointed her fingers straight out and plunged into the container again, attempting to cross through.
“Madam, I urge you to step away from the Rune,” their Zelinite host said again.
&n
bsp; Tamika ignored the Zelinite warnings and continued to press on.
“Tamika!” Luanren shouted, trying to break her concentration.
Tamika pushed with all her might but was unsuccessful in gaining much ground.
“I’m afraid you will not penetrate the container,” Milanaka stated. “And you really don’t want to come in direct contact with the Rune either.” He said this with a snicker.
Luanren came to Tamika’s side and pulled her back away from the Rune and its container. Luanren took Tamika by her shoulders, turned her toward her, and shook her, trying to break the strange spell that had come over her. Tamika opened her eyes and looked at her mother and gave a strange smile and a whimsical laugh. Her eyes had begun to turn a yellowish color, and her skin had started to turn pale.
“Come with me,” Milanaka said, motioning to the entrance. “It seems she is very susceptible to the effects that the Rune can have on one, even through its container.”
As they left the Rune chamber, Milanaka closed and sealed the main door. “Come, we will observe the Rune from the viewing deck,” he said, motioning the way.
“You never answered my question,” Luanren quizzed again. “What is it that makes the Rune so special?”
“In due time,” Milanaka said, “In due time. First you must see more, but at a safe distance.”
Tamika’s eyes and skin returned to normal once the Rune chamber had been sealed. She paused and shook off the rest of the effects of the Rune and turned to her mother.
“What just happened to me?” she asked in a weak voice.
“I do not know,” Luanren said, looking at Milanaka. “But I intend to find out.”
Milanaka escorted his Ackturrian guests to an upper chamber that overlooked the Rune cylinder. They stood by a railing as Milanaka opened the viewing screen, which exposed the towering cylinder.
Secret of the Crystal - Omnibus Edition Books 1-3 (Time Travel Adventure) Page 19
