After disembarking, the captain went straight to Director Varma’s office. She removed the ice shard from the sleeve on her suit and gave it Dr. Balan Thakur. The doctor placed the sample in a rectangular ceramic box and activated a switch. Vapor hissed, drifting and rising as internal temperatures in the container dropped below freezing.
The director stood, placing both palms down, said as he leaned in, “Captain Kalapedia, report to Medical for booster stripping … Dr. Thakur, return to your laboratory and begin analyzing the sample.”
While the captain received the first drips of adrenaline inhibitor, the doctor scraped the first sliver of ice off the top layer of the sample.
On the initial view of the 10X lens, the microscope showed normal ice crystal patterns. Further analysis on a 100X lens revealed a faceted edge on the crisscrossing shapes.
On the cellular level, at 10,000X, Balan discovered the nucleus of a single cell of ice contained a core comprised of pure Brahmantium.
Dr. Thakur continued the analysis by setting the microscope to maximum power. At 50,000X, light from the lens penetrated the nucleus, continuing to the edge of the core and beyond.
That’s when the doctor saw it: within a single cell, at the center of the core of the nucleus, a four-sided cross rotated slowly. The tips of the cross glowed as the body spun in a fluid motion.
At this point, Balan captured a still image of the object filling the lens. Dr. Thakur increased the resolution, refining edge details by sharpening the contrast with each incremental enlargement.
On the image showing the surface of the cross-shaped object, the doctor saw hundreds of what appeared to be hieroglyphic symbols. To be absolutely positive the marks on the object in the nucleus were not unique to that particular section, Balan ran the test on a different part of the sample. He got the same results on the next test as well as the following three.
When Dr. Bakur finished writing his report, he returned to Director Varma’s office. With tablet in one hand and sample container in the other, the doctor set the tablet on the desk, opening the screen to the image of the cross.
“And this is?” the director asked, eyes narrowing when Balan removed the first image and he saw the inscriptions carved into the legs of the cross.
“I’m not sure,” Dr. Thakur answered. Indicating the marks, he added, “My fields of expertise are in Biology and Geology.” The doctor hesitated and then said, “The marks, taken from four separate sections of the same sample, are identical. There is not a trace of randomness in the designs …” Balan trailed off and hesitated again.
“What are you saying, Doctor?”
Dr. Thakur shook his head. “This is going to sound outrageous, but, it appears as if the very core of the nucleus has been stamped with an identical pictograph.”
“You’re correct, Doctor,” Varma nodded. “Your conclusion is not only outrageous … it’s insane.”
Director Varma messaged the Office of Military Counsel (OMC):
— Urgent - the package has been analyzed - Requesting security detail be deployed to Director Varma’s office?
“What happens now?” the doctor asked.
“I don’t know,” Varma muttered, shaking his head. “I’m sure the counsel will take appropriate action, once the riddle of the ice sample has been discovered.”
“What do you want me to do with the data, Director Varma?”
“Clear the instruments in your lab,” Director Varma answered. As Balan was about to leave the office, the director added, “Leave the tablet on the desk.”
31
TWO DAYS LATER, Director Varma received a message from the Military Counsel requesting his presence at the Triangle. One day prior to the message reaching Varma, Director Hasegawa received a similar message.
Varma continued his normal routine. In the late afternoon, after closing his office, he walked into Morgancia Square and made his way along Tulanic Avenue parallel with the Durst River. On Anaward Causeway, fast moving river currents flowed under the elevated bridge. The three towering walls of the Triangle loomed in the distance.
Director Hasegawa had been summoned a day earlier because Hirokawa lay over 5,000 kilometers west of Hyberadad. After a one hour flight by hovercraft, Oceanic Science Director Hasegawa boarded a bat airship fitted to carry passengers.
Masato found it difficult to focus. Adrenalin boosters had kept him awake since the Gato Kujira reached the pole. The first data streams from the watership had just begun to trickle in. The Oceanic director received word from High Command just as the input transmissions commenced.
Masato adjusted the booster drip until the adrenalin flow dropped to zero. Brahmantium screens, embedded in the Oceanic director’s plug, filtered out chemical compounds responsible for the physiological side effects accompanying adrenaline. Free from pain and able to control bodily functions, Director Masato drifted off into a deep sleep as the Carrier class airship left the hangar.
As the Carrier descended to make its final approach, the plug in the Oceanics director’s neck released a drop of adrenaline. Masato woke in an instant, feeling refreshed from a full four hours of sleep.
Two hours after landing, Director Hasegawa walked up 50 basalt steps to the main entrance on the narrow end of a three-sided building.
At the checkpoint, a Riverians Security Officer read Science Director Masato Hasegawa’s retina scan. The officer saw the high priority status icon. The Oceanic director was ushered by another officer to an elevator marked Express.
On the 65th floor, where the Triangle complex terminated into a point, the office of the Military Counsel took up the top three floors.
Two armed soldiers, clad in light battle armor and brandishing compression rifles, stood guard at the entrance. Retina confirmation, delivered by the main lobby security team, caused the soldier to step aside and let Director Hasegawa pass.
As Masato crossed the polished black granite floor, he wondered if he would leave this office alive or dead. As acting Director of Science, Masato had committed a crime by using government resources to build the Gato Kujira Maru and deploy it on a mission not authorized by the High Command.
Even with booster feeds adjusted to a steady drip, Masato couldn’t hold back the anxiety and apprehension mounting every second. Shifting his weight from one foot to another, he waited for the members of the Military Counsel to come into the office.
From behind a three sectioned dais, a door hissed open. Two men dressed in gray robes entered the room. They sat down on either side of the still empty chair centered behind the gently arcing desk.
A man clad in white robes entered the chambers. When the words, Supreme Military Commander, appeared above the middle chair, the white-robed man, Harshul Mangala, sat down and nodded to the gray-robed men.
The Chief of the Air and Sea Branch sat to the left. The Chief of the Land and Dome Branch sat to the right.
The Supreme Commander got to the point: “Masato Hasegawa, you will rise when I address you. The counsel has learned from intelligence sources that you designed and developed the watership Gato Kujira Maru in an unlicensed secret compound. Is this true?”
Director Hasegawa saw no reason to deny this. He answered, “Yes.”
“This illegal mission resulted in loss of life and government property: one fully armed Raider class airship and one experienced pilot,” the commander stated. He waited for a response.
“I’ve haven’t had a chance to review the entire mission data,” Masato replied. He took a deep breath and continued, “I can assure the Counsel the mission definition was not programmed to assume an aggressive posture. Any countermeasures on the part of Captain Kamura were motivated by self-defense.”
“Director Hasegawa, you are not on trial,” the commander said. “The counsel has convened on this matter. As a result of extenuating circumstances, you have been pardoned of all treasonous acts.”
This took Masato by surprise. He walked in thinking he was going to die. He just received a full pa
rdon. In the back of his mind, the director sensed there was more to come. Masato took a chance: “Am I free to go, Commander Mangala?”
“Director Hasegawa, you’ve been pardoned; however, you are not free to go,” the commander said. He went on, “You will be stripped of your position at the institute in Hirokawa. From now on, you’ll be working at the research and development facility at the capitol.
“You took a chance when you learned there may be traces of oxygen at the north pole. Now, the initial analysis of the data captured by the Gato Kujira Maru indicate high levels of pure Brahmantium. My scientists believe there may be large deposits of the mineral at the pole.”
When the commander paused, Masato spoke: “Agreed, although, I wouldn’t make any conclusions. Not until I’ve had a chance to review all the collected data.”
“Understood,” Mangale nodded. “Once you’re assigned to Director Prandit Varma’s section, you’ll have more than enough to keep you occupied.” The commander exchanged a few words with the other chiefs and then said, “Masato Hasegawa, you are dismissed.” He added, “Wait in the antechamber,” as Masato turned to leave.
On the way out, Masato passed Director Varma on the way in.
Inside the counsel chambers, the commander said, “Prandit Varma, Director of the Military Science Institute, the counsel has chosen you to play a key role in the unification of the Landring. Riverians and Oceanics will be brought together in a single cause: to annex the north pole and exploit the abundant supply of Brahmantium for the good of all Cirizens.”
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