NEBULAR Collection 6 - The Great Tremor: Episodes 27 - 30

by Thomas Rabenstein

  »The attackers are as numerous as the stars in the sky … and we only have a handful of ships against them,« Ramir heard from the holo. »People of India, take refuge in the underground bunkers, if you still can. Kill these Rexa cowards anywhere they land on our world, they want our sons and daughters! The Rexas are not the real attackers. They’re like flies in the shadow of a much stronger enemy whose weapons are much stronger than ours. We have nothing to counter act them.«

  Ramir interrupted the reports and looked at Herimos. His voice wavered as he asked, »Who is your source? You claim to have knowledge that equals this falsified data. Maybe it was you who manipulated the data banks!«

  Herimos looked into Ramir’s eyes.

  »Yes, I know the sad story. I heard it from a Progonaut woman from Atlantika. You may not know her name: Vasina of Atlantika.«

  Ramir was breathing heavily and objected.

  »That’s your source? The princess of the fair-skinned Atlantikans? I know her! Every Progonaut on India knows her. She was here often to represent her ill father during the council meetings.« Ramir shook his head in disbelief. »You just gave it away. Vasina would never talk to a man like you, not in a thousand sun cycles!«

  Herimos had enough of Ramir’s rebelliousness. He showed his teeth and roared: »And yet it is so! Keep watching the data! Our time is very tight! These discussions lead to nothing.«

  Ramir reacted in horror the threatening gesture and obeyed.

  They watched that Shanthier’s ship was hit several times. Heavy jolts went through the command central. Shanthier’s voice no longer sounded powerful and confident. He probably knew that there was no escape for him and his crew. He said, »The last defense ring on Taigier’s moons was just destroyed. I’m going to retreat with my last ships to a defense line near India. There, we will await the attacker’s carrier ships. We’ll either stop them or be defeated. I pray to the gods that they won’t find our most valued treasure which our forefathers had guarded for a long time. May it find peace in the womb of Synthia, the Goddess of Providence and Patron Saint of Bliss.«

  A heavy jolt went through the ship and the recording was interrupted. A holographic symbol appeared, indicating that the link was severed and then the recording stopped.

  »There are no more recordings,« the library computer announced.

  Ramir’s lips twitched.

  »Does that mean that Shanthier’s ship was destroyed by the enemy fleet?

  Ramir paled.

  »I’m afraid that has happened. Your ruler was, however, still able to transmit an important message at the last second,« Herimos said. »I think his last words are very important to our mission.«

  Ramir nodded frantically and laughed like a mad man.

  »Excuse me, please, but when I saw these pictures, I forgot that you need my help to save the galaxy. I just don’t know which story is more abstruse, yours or the recoding?«

  He pointed at the holo, his hands were shaking.

  »I assured you to tell you the truth as soon as we find the Jamal-Comb,« Herimos repeated his promise. »You’ll understand, but I’m not certain if you want to hear the truth and accept it.«

  Ramir’s golden eyes sparkled as he said, »The only sensible explanation is: I have become insane!«

  Herimos slammed his fist on his chest.

  »Let’s concentrate on the Jamal-Comb. We need to find it!«

  »This is a nightmare,« Ramir whispered.

  »Let me know if I need to remind you which reality is causing you pain. I’ll gladly demonstrate it again for you.«

  Guilt

  »The Fronites cocooned themselves again,« Nok remarked satisfied. »Are you sure that we won’t harm them if we subject them to the airless space environment?«

  »No, not at all,« Hassan replied absentmindedly. He seemed to be in deep thought.

  »What’s going through your head?« Nuri asked, glancing furtively at Hassan’s hairline, who was running his hands over his shoulders, as if he was freezing.

  »Tell us, Hassan,« Nok demanded while issuing orders to the space surveillance officer. More and more crew members or envoys began leaving their ships. The men and women of the command central observed curiously how exotic-looking vehicles were unloaded via ramps or simply deployed from open hangars and airlocks. These activities were undoubtedly aimed to send emissaries or entire delegations to the base. Some delegations from larger units in orbit around Neptune arrived with auxiliary or transport spheres which landed in the vicinity of the Star Hall or the spaceport.

  Nok became nervous as she saw the number of delegations.

  »Hassan!« she reminded him.

  He looked up.

  »First, I’d like to apologize for my actions inside your cabin. The strong tachyon impulse surprised and startled me. Something occurred on the other side of the galaxy. No doubt, a dimensional transfer happened. This was, however, just a small event.«

  Nok drew a deep breath as she listened to his words. Relieved, she said, »This wasn’t yet the catastrophe then.«

  »No,« Hassan acknowledged, »it’s something else that’s preceding the disaster.« Hassan massaged his temples as if in pain. »It’s a partial materialization. It involved a small mass.«

  »A small star cluster,« 40028 announced.

  »Even a couple of suns are worrisome enough,« she said. »What I want to know from you two is …« Nok paused for a second. »How is it possible that you, Hassan, and the Techno-Cleric can sense this event so intensely? We’re talking about an event that happens on the other side of the galaxy.«

  »Had occurred!« Hassan corrected her cautiously. »The Techno-Clerics are following the same impulse, which also agitated my bio-technical weave. It felt like an electric jolt, a strong energy impulse which almost shattered my genetic bondage with the ship soul, the same what you call degenerated technology. It received the impulse and amplified thousand fold.«

  »I’m aware of your sensibilities,« Nok said. »In other words, it was a small tremor that occurred over there?« With over there she meant a locality that was about 80,000 lightyears away.

  »The effects of a small dimensional transfer equaling the mass of a star cluster is indeed negligible for the Milky Way, but locally, the event had caused catastrophic conditions,« lectured the Techno-Cleric. »My brothers agree: this early transfer serves the purpose of adjusting the conditions for the Great Tremor. The unknown invaders will review the results and fine-tune the final transfer.«

  Nok checked the holos displaying the outside of the base. The first extra-terrestrials had arrived before the base airlocks.

  »I was totally surprised by the pulse,« Hassan picked up the thread again and looked at 40028. »The Techno-Cleric apparently not!«

  Nok, who walked toward the holo array, stopped and closed her eyes briefly. She had the same thoughts already.

  »How can the Techno-Clerics know of this event and arrange their activities accordingly?« Hassan looked at 40028. »Furthermore, I’m interested to know from you, in your opinion: who sent the impulse?«

  The Techno-Cleric seemed to pulsate nervously. It took several seconds until he replied, »We don’t know.«

  »Oh, c’mon, really?« Nok pushed. »The dimensional shield is changing its structure, Bachtar returns to the standard universe, your people are flying to integrated Kuiper objects, Sedna is leaving the safety of the dimensional bubble … do I need to go on? All this is happening at the same time by coincidence and is not part of a plan, which is trigger by the impulse?«

  »The word coincidence is not part of my vocabulary. These events occur for a reason. Humans only use this term because they don’t possess all the data to extrapolate certain reactions connected to a previous event,« 40028 replied piqued. »We reacted this way because it’s part of our base program. Not that the Techno-Clerics have foreseen the event, but the Creators have prepared us for this day.«

  »To support the dimensional shield? That’s your desti …?« Nuri didn�
�t finish her question. She had doubts. She still remembered the Techno-Cleric’s words, spoken in Nok’s cabin.

  »My brothers will occupy the structure projector stations, which you call Globuster Matrix, to control the necessary support functions. The dimensional matrix, which was manipulated by the Dark Brotherhood, will be restored by us.«

  »I don’t have time at the moment to further discuss this subject,« Nok interrupted. »There are envoys and delegates of numerous different galactic civilizations waiting in front of my door. Nothing will be the same as before after this day. I’ll get back to you and discuss this subject matter, provided, we have time for it later.«

  Nok turned around and waved her staff officers to follow her.

  »Nuri, I need you too. If someone can tell what our guests need then it’s you.«

  Already on her way out, Nuri quickly addressed Hassan, »This pulse, we were talking about, who or what generated it?«

  Hassan looked at Nuri for a moment. She returned his glance and had the feeling that his eyes were looking into eternity.

  »It wasn’t a signal in the literal sense. To me, it felt like a cry for help or just a scream which reached me via the tachyon continuum.«

  Nuri stopped for a moment and whispered surprised, »A scream?«

  »It may sound strange, but I can’t explain it to you … I can’t even understand it,« Hassan replied with sadness in his voice. »What bothers me is the feeling that was unleashed inside of me.«

  »What kind of feeling, Hassan?«

  He looked deep in her eyes and replied softly with a deep voice, »Guilt!«

  What are we waiting for

  »Mystical beings are therefore known to your ancestors,« growled Herimos with respect to Goddess of Providence mentioned by Shanthier. »Even my people believe today, even though we have revealed the most important secrets of the universe long ago.«

  Ramir looked at Herimos appraisingly.

  »Forgive me when I say it like that, but when I look at you then it seems to me that you people are even more archaic than the Progonaut culture. We shed belief in gods at the time we left the pre-tachyon era behind us. Shanthier’s remarks seem to be of rhetorical nature. Nobody on India or on the other Progonaut worlds believes that gods are hurling lightning bolts from the heavens.«

  Herimos laughed out loud.

  »Whatever! I think that Shanthier’s message has a meaning. It probably tells us the way to the Jamal-Comb.«

  Herimos showed his teeth which made Ramir move back a little.

  »Well, at least it shows me that the Progonauts are not entirely free from the beliefs in higher powers and myths.«

  Ramir frowned, »Let’s assume for a moment, although it doesn’t make any sense, that the reports from the old databanks are true, then why would the Jamal-Combs still be on India. How can you be certain?«

  »We have very powerful allies who have located the comb here on India. This was achieved over a distance of many lightyears and there is no doubt that the comb is located somewhere on your world,« Herimos replied.

  »Over many lightyears?« Ramir repeated and grinned. »Now, I’m absolutely sure that this is a bad dream.«

  »Well, if it helps you?« Herimos growled.

  »At least it would explain certain things,« Ramir replied raising an eyebrow.

  »You said: We … who are your friends and where are they? Are there more people like you on India?«

  »No,« Herimos assured him. »My team is waiting for my return. Our ship is stationed in orbit around your world.«

  »Why didn’t they land? They could help us,« Ramir asked in a challenging manner.

  »Because it isn’t possible,« Herimos explained shortly. »First the comb then the truth, we agreed, remember?«

  »Are you afraid that I won’t help you any more then?«

  Herimos pondered for a moment. He seemed to struggle inwardly, then he decided to give Ramir a short explanation, »It’s not possible to land the ship here, the crew would probably not survive it.«

  »Another riddle,« Ramir said and got up from his seat while the holo display collapsed. »Maybe, we should take Shanthier by his words and start the search in Synthia’s old temple. It’s located in the capital city and is a place of pilgrimage for many Progonauts who come from outside our city.«

  »… to praise the gods?« Herimos wanted to know.

  »No, to study the ancient temple and buildings. The structures were maintained for more than 100,000 years.«

  Herimos growled decidedly.

  »What are we waiting for?«

  What just happened here

  This meeting was uncharted territory for the crew of the Triton base. Never before had so many delegates from various galactic species gathered in the solar system. They arrived with their vehicles, gliders or anti-gravity suits. Some were transported by robots or simply marched across Triton’s surface.

  Nok felt as if she was watching a futuristic movie. She tried to keep her composure as she greeted the first delegates inside the Star Hall. The base defense units as well as the men and women of the science department had put on their gala as per Nok’s orders. Never before had there been a ceremony on Triton with such an amount of polished and gleaming uniform buttons. Nobody knew if the extra-terrestrial guests were appreciating this effort or if they even noticed it.

  The honor guards were armed, their weapons were, however, concealed.

  Nok had taken Scorge’s warning seriously. She would take immediate and rigorous action in case a dispute between the different parties occurred.

  Nexus Tor and his crew were also present. He kept a keen eye on the developments, but remained in the background for now. He didn’t intend to participate directly in the talks with the aliens. His area of expertise was crisis management and not politics.

  A Shwakan was leading the delegations as they arrived in the Star Hall. He utilized a hovering platform which had a leather-like seat cushion in its center on which he sat. He approached Nok at height of two meters from the ground.

  She knew that this wasn’t just an ordinary Shwakan. It was Scorge, already an old associate. He seemed to play a leading role amongst the delegation members.

  Scorge seemed to enjoy this status as everybody had to look up to him. By means of the universal translator, assisted by a powerful announcement system, he roared, »Fleet leader Scorge from Gama Draconis is leading the fleet of the desperate to this solar system, so they can be protected from the Great Tremor, which will be rolling over all of us!«

  Nok frowned.

  »Why is he talking so pompously?« Nuri asked. »Is his translator defect?«

  Cihuacoatl Uantum, aka Whisper, was standing about thirty meters away. She twitched as she listened to Scorge’s roaring address, her hyper sensitive ears ringing.

  Scorge throned complacently above all and seemed to be waiting for a reply.

  »I think he sees this as an official reception,« Nuri Jawa whispered quickly and suggested, »You might want to answer with a few words.«

  »Hassan,« Nok addressed him instead of an answer directed at Scorge, »can you get that guy down from up there? I’m getting a stiff neck already.«

  »By all means,« Hassan smirked and concentrated on Scorge’s hovering platform. Seconds later, the platform became instable and threatened to list to the side. With an angry hum, the platform countered Hassan’s attempt but was now about one meter lower than before. Scorge was now at Nok’s eye level.

  He was screaming and gurgling, which the translator wasn’t able to translate.

  Nok smiled diplomatically.

  »This is much better, old friend. I’d like to welcome all of you in the name of the Solar Union in the solar system and reaffirm once again our cooperation regarding your request for asylum. Humanity is honored …«

  Suddenly the noise level inside the Star Hall increased so much that even the normally calm Nexus Tor raised his eyebrows.

  Nuri looked as if she wanted to sink into
the ground while trying to detect and comprehend some idioms from the ongoing cackling, quacking, roaring, mewing and ratcheting. Each and every species tried to make itself audible in the loudest manner possible which resulted in a chaotic cacophony of noises. No universal translator was able to filter out this mess and make sense of it. Abstruse sounding sentences came from Scorge’s translation unit, which seemed to enrage the delegations even more.

  »Please … please!« Nok tried to get herself heard over the commotion. Her communication system was, however, only partially able to do that. The noise level became more bearable a moment later.

  Two beings stepped forward, who looked like upright walking turtles, at least that’s what Nok though as she saw them. They possessed long necks and trunk-like appendages with which they pointed at her. Their long necks had small heads. These creatures had a pair of short and stocky legs with three-toed feet, but no arms and hands for fine motoric activities. Nok suspected that the trunks were used as universal organs also suitable for grabbing.

  »We have detected a discrepancy!« one of the turtle-like beings shouted. »This aboriginal species of this solar system is still in the pre-tachyon stage. Therefore, they could never have constructed the dimensional shield. We checked this very carefully! There’s nothing here that would suggest any advanced technology, except for the communication system. It’s amazing that you people can even survive in this space sector. They should rather locate closer to the warming sectors of their sun. We Zuuklers could easily conquer this solar system with a single armed trade ship. How can these pale duo-peds protect us from the looming catastrophe? We were deceived! This is an outrage!«

  An insectoid being made some clicking noises. Almost two meters tall and slender built with a delicate shape, it raised two of its six dangerous looking, yellow striped arms and crossed the claws before its horn-like, violet shimmering chest. It seemed as if the being was using its own translation device which worked intermittently.

  »Zuuklers … no eyes … in small head … blind to the truth … better be quiet. Dimensional shield … seeking refuge … no conquering!«