NEBULAR Collection 7 - Guardians of the Continuum: Episodes 31 - 34

by Thomas Rabenstein

  »To reveal your young, vulnerable and growing culture to the Humans would have been a mistake,« the Techno-Cleric countered. »Be aware of your strength. You don’t need to beg.«

  »What is this damn robot saying?« Samura shouted at his teammate. »The Techno-Cleric has apparently some screws missing, or blew some fuses!«

  »Whether it is possible to know one’s future and fate, or whether those things which have not yet happened remain in the dark until they finally reveal themselves – I cannot access,« the Eternal Mother chirped softly. »My feeling tells me that you should not manipulate the course of time, not even try it. I will now take care of the egg laying and think about it. Soon, I’ll let you know my decision. Until this time you are my guests.«

  Langlo breathed relieved.

  We have won some time. Hopefully, this is not just a reprieve.

  Weather Report

  »And here we are again … Life … from Naiad with a weather report that doesn’t really interest anyone,« Dunja Bengasi scoffed and smiled to herself. »Oh, sorry, I correct myself. A few astrometeorologists will probably be interested in the Neptune atmosphere, because otherwise, the science department on Triton wouldn’t have entrusted me with a task which any ordinary satellite could handle. There’re only about four-thousand of them circling this ice giant,« she added sarcastically.

  Bengasi looked into a visual interface, which resembled a binocular, rising from the console, connected to a series of sensors and measuring devices. The computer recorded the observations automatically and evaluated the data.

  »The question remains, why do I still look through this observation-thingy, when in the same second all the nodes of the station’s computer are taking care of the calculations?«

  Dunja Bengasi nodded to her Pleunatan stautarian, a parasitic plant species, that crawled, at about two millimeters per minute, across the terminal, searching for food.

  »As always, I take your silence as a solidarity testimony. Of course, one doesn’t want to disregard the Human factor completely. But why was an astropsychologist sent to this station to assess the observations and not a weather man?«

  Bengasi deactivated the recording for the moment, leaned back, and slipped the holographic 3D goggles over her head, which were connected to the visual sensors. With a deep sigh, she continued, »Blue as far as the eyes can see and the sensors reach. Not this normal, ordinary color, but a hypnotic, dark, devouring blue. It pulls me straight into this dense atmosphere. The blue wants to lure me, envelope me, and pull me down.«

  The scientist interrupted the recording and shook her head.

  »Recorder, delete the last sequence. This is supposed to be an entertaining documentary, but one should not think of me that I’ve gone crazy on this God forsaken moon.«

  Bengasi took off her holo goggles and wiped her eyes.

  »All righty then! What is the object of desire today?«

  With a few quick clicks on her console, she called up the science portal and received the errands for the day.

  »Uh, there we have it!« she cheered. »Observe the blue spot R120n230 and record any anomalies or weather changes, heading for the equator.«

  Bored, she yawned and marked the high-pressure area for the automatic tracking circuits.

  »A considerable high-pressure system, also known as the “Blue Spot”, which had been rotating around the planet together with the atmosphere and been stable for seven years. It’s not a blue cloud that floats above the atmosphere, but a hole in the higher cloud layers, which opens the view into deeper regions. It appears blue because methane absorbs the red section of the spectrum in the atmosphere.«

  Dunja Bengasi grinned.

  »So far the formal report. The weather on Neptune remains modest despite this sunny high-pressure system. Icy methane and ammonia clouds obscure somewhat the view and the minus 220 degrees Celsius temperature suppresses the emerging spring feelings. Air travelers flying through this region can expect slight turbulences. The wind speed around the high-pressure area is about 1,600 km per hour. If you still can’t warm up to this climate, wait until we get really bad weather.«

  She zoomed in on that high-pressure system to obtain a full-blown picture for her protocol and added a couple of explanations.

  »Very dark blue in the center of the vortex. Today, we can take a pretty deep look. White high clouds, presumably crystals of frozen methane, line the edges of the eye. Very beautiful picture. Now, let’s zoom to maximum, Dunja.«

  She took some pictures and looked straight into the blue eye.

  »There’re many small, black dots around the center. What could that be?«

  She called up comparative data with a quick query and compared them to the current recording. »Clouds, clouds, here too, clouds again. But no black dots. Strange …«

  Another glance at the close-up made her look even closer.

  »The dots change their position. They move clearly faster than the rest of the vortex and don’t have very high reflection. These are no ice clouds. What does my Doppler tell me?«

  She held her breath as she looked at the results.

  »What the fu …?«

  Dunja rubbed her eyes and checked the results again.

  »These objects are ascending! They come up through the eye and work their way up toward space with several times the speed of sound, heading toward Naiad!«

  Bengasi verified her scans several times and counted more and more of these objects.

  »What’s the computer saying?« she said hectically to herself and got startled when she read the final analysis.

  »What? 4,356 objects, very likely spaceships which are, without doubt, ascending from Neptune’s interior with increasing speed, heading for me!«

  Dunja paled.

  »As if I’d known that something is going to happen when I accepted this damn job. I got the Joker!«

  Quickly, she established contact with Triton Base.

  »Anton! C’mon answer me!«

  »Dunja! You? I’m practically done with my shift and almost left already. What can I do for you, is every …?«

  »Shhh … be quiet for a sec and listen to me!« she quickly interrupted him

  »Remember, you said that something is brewing out there? I think, it’s coming toward me, to Naiad!«

  »Are you okay?« Anton asked.

  »Sound the alarm for the Triton Hawks and get everything out here that’s available! I think that a space fleet of more than four-thousand units is coming from Neptune!«

  »From where?« Anton asked skeptically.

  A loud whistle sounded and interrupted the conversation. A second, much more powerful transmission was superimposed on the space surveillance comm-channel.

  »This is the fast cruiser Aurora, Protection Admiral Necebul from Equinox speaking. We are located at Neptune’s Lagrangian Point L4 and have intercepted your communication. Please, transfer your scanner data immediately!«

  Dunja Bengasi pulled herself together, overcame her surprise and then hit the fist on the sensor pad of her holo-terminal.

  »I’m glad you’re close, Admiral. Data transfer is in progress! These are undoubtedly unknown types of ships, which ascend from Neptune’s interior. Characteristic features are, Dark ship hulls, almost black, spindle-like, between two hundred and five hundred meters long. The heaviest units have a diameter of eighty meters at the thickest sections. The first ships are now reaching the top cloud layer of Neptune’s atmosphere. They’re heading for Naiad!«

  »Did you say 4,000 units?« Necebul inquired. »Please, confirm the count.«

  »More than 4,300, to be more precise,« she corrected herself calmly.

  Seconds later, the System Alert was issued. The Triton Hawks launched by means of their catapults and secured the space over Triton. Just arrived merchant ships from other systems, started and left the Neptune Sector with escape speed.

  »We launched all interceptors,« Necebul confirmed. »Don’t worry. We reach your outpost before the
alien ships and take you on board. Don’t do anything that might jeopardize your position, and report any observation to me which seem important to you until we can pick you up.«

  »Then, I’m supposed to retract my gun turrets?« Bengasi shouted sarcastically. »Listen! I’m here alone and completely defenseless. There is absolutely nothing on this moon, which would be of interest to the strangers and to draw attention to me! I take a low profile and wait here until that fleet passed me.«

  »Our units are already on approach. We will intercept the unknown fleet as close as possible to Neptune. Possibly in your space sector,« the admiral explained to her in a growling voice. »We can’t allow these ships to break through and threaten our bases on Triton or Proteus.«

  Dunja Bengasi began to perspire.

  »Why must there always be a war? Maybe, the strangers don’t want to fight.«

  »I don’t have time for lengthy discussions,« the Neo-Sapien replied harshly. »The threat by the alien fleet speaks its own language. The attackers are clearly superior, but that doesn’t matter anymore.«

  Dunja Bengasi blinked as suddenly ships from the tachyon continuum emerged outside her large window. Bright flashes of light marked the positions, all around the small moon.

  Bengasi drew a deep breath and recorded, »Our ships are coming! However, significantly less than 4,000 units, and if that weren’t enough, I have a front row seat!«

  For a moment, she thought about whether she should continue her verbal documentation under these circumstances and decided to continue.

  »Just now, where there’s so much going on here, I should record my impressions.«

  She looked at the scanners and counted the ship signatures.

  »The Nebular has arrived! Everybody knows that ship, no wonder, as it is our only FTL capable ship – so far.«

  A Krolakan pack had just arrived, and some ninety Hawks of the Hummingbird Class were suddenly darting past the small moon.

  Dunja Bengasi suddenly paled while looking at the GCC Fleet. She began to understand the real circumstances.

  »The strangers have completely surprised us and attack us from the inside! They outnumber us by about 3,500 ships, much more what we can offer at this moment. It will take hours until the Solar Union can deploy its small fleet to Neptune. It may even take days for our allies to send reinforcements.«

  A brilliant tachyon flash marked the arrival of an unusually large ship.

  »The Atlantika!« Bengasi cheered, unable to suppress her joy. »At least a big battleship on our side!«

  After a very brief orientation phase, the Progonaut flagship transmitted a joint call to all ships, and the face of a young and energetic woman could be seen on the comm-holos.

  »This is Vasina of Atlantika. I’m taking over command and send my legitimation to all units.«

  Almost immediately, all GCC ships acknowledged.

  »I’m transferring the command, Your Highness,« Necebul responded formally.

  »Thank you, Admiral,« Vasina replied, and asked the all-important question, »How was it possible that such a large fleet could amass and hide in the Neptune atmosphere? Right before our eyes?«

  The admiral tried to find an explanation – to no avail.

  »No ship can easily break through our system surveillance. Theoretically, there is the possibility of jumping directly into the atmosphere of the ice giant with a leap through the tachyon continuum, which, however, would be equivalent to a suicide mission. If the Navigator of a ship is slightly off with his calculations, it’s over.«

  »Perhaps, the unknowns are from Neptune. Why’s nobody looking at it from that angle?« Dunja Bengasi butted in, closing her mouth with a hand. But it was already too late.

  »Unknown female speaker, identify yourself!« Vasina requested dryly.

  »Dun … Dunja Ben … Bengasi,« she stuttered. »The only person on the Listening Post Naiad, Your Highness.«

  »The emergence of life as we know it is inconceivable in the interior of such an ice giant,« commented Vasina. »The conditions are too hostile.«

  »What about life as we don’t know it?« Dunja replied quickly, letting Vasina halt for a moment.

  »We’ll find out!« she replied briefly.

  The Atlantika went on an intercept course opposite to the first units of the alien fleet, closely followed by the Nebular. In direct comparison, the Solar Union cruiser dwarfed next to the battleship. The Aurora, also, flying parallel at a certain distance, swarmed by a cloud of small fighters, could not compete with the Atlantika’s size either.

  Dunja Bengasi, switched her transmitter to mute before she documented for herself, »Why do wars, conflicts, and suffering arise? Here on Naiad, you will witness this today. Should you be interested in these questions? The strangers have not yet indicated that they intend to fight a space battle, but the mere fact that such a large fleet appeared here without invitation, doesn’t seem to leave too many choices. We all slip automatically into a vicious circle, which leads only to one result … death and destruction.«

  Dunja had spoken in a trembling voice as she realized what could happen around the small moon in a few minutes.

  »The unknowns are in the majority and probably technologically equal. They could simply wipe out our small defense force and take control of the Neptune System. I can’t imagine the consequences.«

  »Techno-Center has just been brought to safety via the Dimensional Swing,« informed Vasina via battle-comm. »We probably can’t count on the support of our friends this time.«

  »What about the Tachyon Portal?« Dunja shouted. »The portal is of a significant strategic value to us. It’s our gate to the galaxy.«

  Nobody could hear her.

  »The Atlantika is within reach of the foremost enemy units,« Vasina said for the ship log. »We detected a strong energy signature from the lead unit! The strangers are charging their weapon systems. This could be the beginning of the first hostile acts!«

  Dunja Bengasi wondered for a moment whether she should retreat to the underground bunker. However, she decided against it and instead said to her small recorder, »If a space battle is to actually take place here then it doesn’t matter whether I’m sitting here and watch the events, or lock me into a room.«

  She held her breath.

  The armed conflict can break out at any time, she thought worriedly.

  War or Peace

  »As always, when the heavily armored machinery of war of two parties are opposing each other, an act of recklessness, a first hasty shot, or a false word, can trigger a chain of events which are irreversible. The unknown fleet has left Neptune’s atmosphere and has dispersed over the surrounding space sector. GCC ships are still arriving, which must first orientate themselves and face an already closed and deeply staggered formation of alien warships,« Bengasi commented anxiously. »A wrong maneuver, or a hot-headed commander, who misjudges the situation, and all Hell breaks loose.«

  Dunja observed the alien movements carefully. Some of the spindle-like ships were only a lightsecond away, a distance, which put the listening post within plasma weapon range.

  »I hope, you keep your cool out there,« she whispered in her microphone. »If there is going to be a war then the Union is, at the moment, in an apparent, disadvantaged situation. All of this doesn’t look good.«

  A snarling, grating, strange sound made Bengasi listen up. It came directly via the battle-comm channel. She felt instinctively that this wasn’t just any radio noise but a call or contact attempt from the aliens.

  »How do the strangers know this frequency and how did they manage to crack the encryption of the communication band?« Dunja said to herself.

  Vasina responded promptly and commented.

  »Our universal translators are working on the message received. All units remain in standby mode and wait until we’ve analyzed the message.«

  Again, strange sounds were received, then a weak Human voice suddenly spoke. Dunja Bengasi listened eagerly.

&nbs
p; »This is Cadet Malin Langlo in the presence of Simon Bennett, Eno Samura, and Kel-Nar. We are on board the Maidship Xipper, and send greetings from the Eternal Mother of the Phookans.«

  Dunja Bengasi entered a search query into the computer with flying fingers, and to her personal logbook, she said, »Surely a lot of mission specialists are already very busy to find out all about these Phookans. Hopefully, there’s some information and hints in the GCC archives and libraries.«

  »This is Vasina of Atlantika speaking,« the Progonaut Queen replied. »We have confirmed your identity by means of vocal sample comparison and are now asking ourselves … How did you get on board that alien ship?«

  Heavy breathing could be heard before Langlo replied, »Please, let’s concentrate on the most important thing, to prevent a space battle. We do our best to calm the Maid. The Eternal Mother is currently weighing and listening to our arguments, and I hope this will remain like that. This fleet assembly is not an invasion! Rather, it is about existence, mutual respect and recognition!«

  »Are you in captivity and forced to make this statement?« Vasina wanted to know.

  Dunja Bengasi nodded approvingly.

  »I would have done it too this way. Vasina continues with the voice analysis and uses her ship computer as a lie detector.«

  »We are doing well under these circumstances,« Langlo said. »The Maid, the Supreme Commander of this fleet, is in touch with the Eternal Mother on Neptune … and Xipper is very impatient. She knows well that the Phookans have the advantage and could secure their interests with a quick space battle. Unfortunately, the Phookans were very poorly advised. We have offered ourselves to act as mediators and could convince the Eternal Mother, against the advice of a Techno-Cleric, to refrain from a confrontation and the attack on the Neptune System.«

  »Against the advice of a Techno-Cleric?« Vasina asked surprised.

  »We can clarify this matter later,« Langlo dared to rebut the Progonaut Queen. Although, she almost sank in the ground with respect for Vasina. »Please, pull back the ships, create a greater distance between the two fleets, and choose a place where we can meet for a conference. We should use the opportunity immediately because I don’t know the mentality of the Phookans well enough. Perhaps, they don’t like long negotiation marathons, and they change their minds.«