Great War

From The Pardusian Chronicles

Revision as of 08:21, 11 February 2006

The Chronicle of Scattering, Prologue

In the beginning, there was nothing. I wasn't able to see or feel anything, and my first thought was that there is no world, no space, no life, only eternal dream. Or maybe there was a towel? This word, spreading loudly in my mind, suddenly awakened something. Memory. Another word. Slowly, my feelings come back to normal, and even more slowly my mind started to function after "augmented wormhole time-space warp", though I had no idea what this mean for few more minutes.

When I fully awake, I found myself in old (considering time-warp paradox, it should be terribly old) ship, manufactured by New Order secret shipyards long ago, and proudly named Challenger 1. But now it was just shipwreck with malfunctioning space-warp cloaking device, still not breaking apart only because of dampening field holding it's parts altogether. Navigation system informed me it was somewhere near energy fields surrounding Skara-Tiexen wormhole, but had nothing to tell about how much time passed after... Pardus system catastrophe? Virus release? Great War? New Order? Those concepts slowly restored the whole story...

Chapter I. Forbidden Knowledge

The greatest conflict between Ska'ari-Keldon and Human-Rashkir races was something I remembered the first. Twenty-year war full of glory and betrayals, victories and defeats, nearly every living creature involved someway in it, was something hard to forgot.

I was working in Ska'ari "information trade" service, which Humans would call intelligence agency - our approach to information gathering as trade was less expensive and easier to use than Humans methods, but they were much more successful with their spy networks based on military intelligence, verified strategic decisions, and things like neural implants to remotely control agents, what we weren't able to reproduce. But even with our (allied with Keldon) intelligence agency being weaker, we often managed to capture human agents stealing our technologies and military plans, and counter-espionage was our main function.

Great War was terrible disaster for whole economy of both Ska'ari/Keldon and Human/ Rashkir sectors. Being a pirate seemed much more profitable than being a trader; whole sectors were "protected" by gangs of pirates calling themselves "new peacekeeping forces", "Emperors" and all like that. Colony surviving Rashkir attack often was destroyed by pirate groups, that raided and destroyed all what they considered weak, serving as vultures of Great War.

But their next appearance was much more dangerous to us. Humans often used pirate groups and/or dissidents to inflict severe damage to our trade centers or Keldon research stations; without this tactics, humans would lose technology race, but their precise attacks were terrible and efficient and sometimes resulted in economy or research drawback for few years.

Year before what will be later called “Pardus catastrophe”, our counter-espionage group leadership consisted of me – my name was Dmir’tok that time - as high-ranked coordinator, Shar’inta – female Ska’ari - our lead analyst, and Calthor, Keldon representative and “internal counter-espionage group” leader (basically it meant that he watched us all not to betray Ska’ari/Keldon alliance – that’s why he was nearly only one non-Ska’ari in our department, but he was nice to chat with, though he wasn’t able to understand our Ska’arian way of life and was constantly complaining about it). We were giving orders to low-level coordinators, implementing new intelligence methods, and keeping all intelligence departments altogether in Ska’ari border sectors, though Calthor always wanted to resign, seeing it only possible opportunity to return to his homeworld – but nobody allowed him to resign during war that seemed not to end even in distant future. I think that this was also a reason for appointing him “internal counter-espionage group” leader, because if he managed to find some “grand plot” for betrayal in our department and report it, his wish will definitely come true, and he understood it and worked hard, though wasn’t able to find any such “plot”. Our work was considered very efficient among other intelligence groups.

One day, while I was sitting in my office on Skara orbiter, Calthor ran into, looking very anxious and joyful. Keldons aren’t very emotional, usually it was explained because of their cold-blooded ancestors and information-oriented society, so something really important should have happened. - Greetings! What happened? Have we finally defeated humans and rashkir? Or you’re finally allowed to resign and return to Keldon? - No, Dmir’tok, but I just received instructions from High Command! Our group is relocated to Keldon cluster to counter human spy networks… local intelligence informed that pirate and those “pseudo-pirate” groups are coming out of control, and we have to get as much as possible info about their plans. I will see Keldon again! Before I managed to ask more, he ran out. First I though it was joke, but incoming message on my terminal proved it.

Space was very dangerous that time, and to relocate to Keldon cluster we have to wait for next battlegroup being relocated there; because transporting intelligence group on board of transport ship was just invitation for another human “special ops” group to capture us.

So, we went on board of battleship-class ship Liberator Mk 3 moving to Keldon cluster for installing new armor. Ship’s crew quarters (though we had, as captain said, “best possible”) were ugly and unpleasant compared to crew quarters on ships I have seen before, and all around was using “all for victory” idea, where nothing is left to comfort or even stable life support systems – periodically gravity controllers were malfunctioning, and everybody felt bad during any ship acceleration, especially Calthor, who haven’t experienced gravity of gas giants from the beginning of his life. As Shar’inta once said, such conditions were designed to make all ship’s crew so irritated that they will consider battle better than peaceful route.

After few days of flight we arrived at KU3-616 - Keldon WH, jumped through it, and headed to armor research station where ship’s armor should be upgraded ; captain told us that ship from it will take us to Keldana I. While our battleship slowly moved to station, we encountered another battlegroup heading there; it were Ska’ari heavy-fighter ships. They were much faster than we, and soon they disappeared from radar.

After few minutes, suddenly siren sounded over ship; it was battle alert. First I thought it is impossible and should be mistake – battle at Keldon homeworld! When I went to the bridge (it was one of things Calthor always called “our disadvantage” – even when I was trying to move as fast as possible, he can easily move faster even without type of movement they call “running”), all commanding officers and Calthor were already there, and everybody already knew what’s happened. When he saw me, Calthor started to explain:

- We received distress call from Station OAR-1, armor research facility. They are under attack by Ska’ari ships! Scans data transmitted by station of those ships reveal that there are Rashkir-type life signatures on them, but they were using some sort of cloaking so scanners weren’t reporting it until attack was started! And it means they have obtained all our military codes to pass into Keldon homeworld! He seemed shocked – trying to find some betrayal in Ska’ari cluster and finding it when he returned to his homeworld. Comm. officer reported to all officers on ship’s bridge:

- It’s impossible to contact any ship or station in Keldon; there is some jamming source nearby that stops long-range signals, we can only contact Station OAR-1. According to their reports, there are 6 heavy-fighters attacking. Also, if we move to Station OAR-1 location, we will be able to transmit directional signal to Keldana I orbiter. Captain Stad’kut, young, but considered talented (maybe because of his relationship to Count Lart’kut, one of fleet commanders) ska’ari commander, looked at scans data and thought for few seconds:

- Our ship is capable of enduring combat with them, at least until reinforcements arrive after sending signal. Continue to Station OAR-1, and increase anti-matter flow to engines by 40 per cent.

Few minutes later we were nearing station, but suddenly comm.. officer reported:

- Station OAR-1 transmitted military code HT-17, meaning “Torpedo attack, critical damage”. Code was transmitted by automatic system, and after it communication was stopped. When we arrived, there was no more Station OAR-1, only it’s wreckage and remnants of 1 of the attacking ships; life sensors reported no survivors. But radar showed 5 ships heading to nearest energy field.

Signal for Keldana I orbiter was sent, though there was no way to be sure it was received; and our ship moved to pursue attackers, not to allow them to hide and cloak in energy field showed on the map.

Time passed, everybody was becoming nervous – fighter ships were faster and it looked like they can escape; but suddenly one of officers pointed at radar screen:

- Targeted ships have decreased their speed, and now … it seems like battle maneuvers; energy sensors pick up missile explosions and laser fire. Level of energy released by missile explosions means that they have very powerful weaponry.

Nobody could understand with what they were fighting; but the distance between us and them decreased fast. When we were nearby, enemy ships seemed to have defeated their target and headed deeper into energy field; but they weren’t able to hide from us anymore – distance was small, and they were moving slower in energy field, so we were able to move in parallel with them in normal space.

But such assumptions were wrong – radar showed that they headed into field marked impassable on the map. Radiation levels should have killed entire crew of any ship and destroyed it’s engines, but those ships haven’t decreased speed and still moved in formation.

We saw explanation soon – there was no charted “impassable field”, instead, there were remnants of some sort of military outpost, and normal space behind it. It seemed that outpost was cloaking space behind it while it was active, but nobody has ever heard about such technology.

After passing remnants of military outpost, we finally entered normal space, and jamming wasn’t reaching it; so radar was working at maximum distance now. There were 4 enemy ships fighting with 2 ships, which were marked as Keldon destroyers after IFF request; behind them there was some sort of research station. Both sides were keeping distance, and, surprisingly, destroyers were losing the battle: even their superior laser weaponry (250MW compared to 100MW) wasn’t able to compensate mysterious high-energy warheads fired by enemy fighters, and both destroyers were badly damaged.

Approach of our ship has changed the whole situation: the first space battle I have seen was rather fast and brutal. Stad’kut ordered to open fire by all weapons on the ship still carrying missiles according to sensor scans. Destroyers’ commanders seem to understand his plan, and by combined laser/missile fire of 3 ships heavy fighter was destroyed. Having expended all heavy missiles before and trapped between two attacking forces, remaining fighters weren’t able to win – but they fought as noble Rashkir, without any attempt to escape or surrender, and minute after next of them was destroyed.

But, fortunately, I remembered why I was sent to Keldon cluster, and asked captain to capture one of remaining 2 ships to get information about the organization of such attack and it’s targets; also I asked him to send information to destroyers about our intention. Mysteriously, destroyers sent no reply, but ceased to fire at the ship we were approaching to.

Stad’kut ordered to shutdown all missile / long-range lasers systems, so rashkir pilots may think we can’t fire missiles and try to engage in short-range combat; otherwise they may choose to die than to be captured. Plan worked: one of fighters continued to attack damaged destroyers to keep them on distance, while second moved at us at full speed in attempt to fire at very close range and hit critical systems of our ship, thus allowing both rashkir fighters to retreat or fight with chance to win. It looked like it was flagship of the force, because it’s weaponry was heavier than on all rashkir-controlled ships destroyed before or remaining ship.

While he was approaching, captain ordered to slowly power on magnetic tractor beam; it was risky plan, because there’s usually only one chance to capture moving ship into it – if we miss, we won’t be able to use it again for some time, and while lasers will be powered up, fighter can inflict severe damage. It was very exciting moment; seconds passed while rashkir fighter approached to us. Sudden shiver stroked our ship when all energy was used to power tractor beam; it captured rahkir fighter in force field and bounced it to our hull; then neural suppression impulse was sent from external radiators to the captured ship to temporarily disable it’s crew. Then ship was slowly moved by tractor beam into docking bay.

During that time, remaining fighter was hit multiple times by the destroyers, and dissolved in fireball.

Around minute passed, then ship tactical screen showed image from boarded ship; marine officer reported that there are 3 unconscious rashkir captured, nobody on the ship managed to commit suicide, so it’s entire crew was at our hands.

Prisoners were transferred to the holding cell, and marines reported that ship’s database is intact. We were sure that we will find out the reasons for attack, and maybe (though hardly possible) the names of spies in our military command, or at least info to find the next chain if spy network. But then comm.. officer reported:

- Signal from destroyer marked T-1; it have sent top-priority commanding code to our ship, so our computer reported our data, route, orders and crew members.

- Now… there is request for communication… no, it’s another commanding code… Suddenly the communication screen flashed and showed Keldon officer, speaking loudly and in imperative tone:

- Greetings. I am commander of internal security forces of the “Checkmate” project; priority code XC-3121. I have already sent top priority codes to your ship computer; I’m given special powers by High Command and I take command over the operation and your ship.

Stad’kut was definitely shocked by such speech, but haven’t said anything or revealed any his thoughts; he just looked on computer log and confirmed that priority codes are in effect.

Other officers on the bridge were silent too, but their thoughts were obvious: “Why they don’t even thank us for help?” and “How destroyer commander can be so high-ranked to know codes that only High Command and fleet commanders may know?”

Haven’t expected any answer anyway, Keldon officer continued:

- Immediately transfer all prisoners and captured ship to our destroyer. Dmir’tok, Shar’inta, Calthor and Stad’kut are expected to arrive at our ship too. Communication screen was turned off before anybody can reply.

This was possibly even more frightening for me than space battle, but I’ve nothing to do but to get to the transport pod and wait while our pod, pod with prisoners and rashkir fighter were transported by tractor beam to the docking bay of the destroyer. The crew of ship was polite, but nobody told us what is going on, though Calthor kept asking about it. On the bridge, Keldon officer we have seen walk up to us and told:

- Greetings again; I’m Marquis Danezor and I’m commanding this destroyer; you have arrived just in time to save one of most critical research projects. But we have info that there is a spy among crew of your ship, so we had to do some measures to keep secret.

- I can be sure there’s no spies in my crew.- said Stad’kut; he haven’t expected that destroyer commander will be so high-ranked noble, but tried to object - I’m their captain for 7 standard years and know anybody there; I think that Calthor have checked info about our crew members too.

- Yes,- agreed Calthor. – it’s my duty to do that, and nobody of the crew can have a chance to be in contact with human intelligence.

- Have you monitored missiles that those ships were firing at us? Such missiles with new high-energy warheads were developed in our research station, and they managed to raid transporter carrying them to Keldana I; after that, they managed to bypass missiles’ security codes during attack on Station OAR-1 and use them; the signal informing them about missiles’ codes was sent from your ship. – said Danezor, and continued before somebody can interrupt him:

- So, we are forced to use some precautions. I’m transmitting commanding code to your ship; it will turn on radiators to send neural suppression signals over entire ship, leading to the loss of short-term memory for all Ska’ari on board. Operator Tolnar, do it – he told to the comm. officer .

- With all my respect, but this can lead to illness of certain members, or even death; as commander of… started Stad’kut.

- No; even collateral damage that can be done cannot be compared to the losses we will have if plans of those missiles will be known to our enemies. – said Danezor; but, looking at him, I felt that actually this meant “I don’t want to be responsible for this, but I have my orders, and my superiors ordered me to take all responsibility and never told about the actual reasons”. It was strange to see such behavior from noble with Marquis rank.

I decided not to object; if that project was so important that they can consider such measures, it meant that trying to object will only destroy last chance to find out what is this all about – they can consider applying “measures” to us too. Looks like Stad’kut understood it too. The real purpose of that station was something entirely dufferent, and far more important than "high-energy missiles". Danezor thought for a while, and continued:

- You will inform your crew about those events, but do not mention all “strange” things like that Military outpost; you were pursuing rashkir fighters from remnants of station Station OAR-1, attacked them in energy field and, with help of two patrol destroyers, defeated them all except 1, which you have captured. But captured ship had defensive system using neural… gas (it looked like he wanted to say some other word first) that spread through vent system and poisoned them and you; but destroyers nearby were able to provide help. This version has enough truth for them to believe in it.

He remotely ordered our Liberator Mk. 3, now full of unconscious crew, to move with his destroyers out of “strange” space and to the energy field nearby, where all last events should have “happened”.

This was the first event that make me thought about some grand plot not done by our enemies, but by our superiors; but to make impression that I’m only interested in my own work, I asked Danezor how I can get info about attack organization and other human intelligence plans; he answered that they will interrogate prisoners themselves and send data regarding my request to Keldana I.

The last thing that was “strange” that day happened, when we were going back to docking bay. I saw that Rashkir prisoners were lead somewhere, and they all were awaken from neural impulse; though I can’t be sure about such assumptions concerning other race, I though that they were frightened. And one of them said something in Rashkir noble language; I don’t know this language, but I tried to remember the phrase.

Later, on Keldana I office, I asked Shar’inta to translate it; it was something like “They will do it with us”.

Chapter II. First Encounter

Around a week passed after Rashkir fighters have done their attack in Keldon sector. During that time, our work was nearly the same as in Ska’ari border – we investigated pirate activities, human intelligence plans, and organized crime groups. The frontline was quite far away, but “breath of war”, as Shar’inta said, was reaching Keldon homeworld sectors, though life was easier there than on Ska’ari border. However, there was one exception: the mystery what really happened in Keldon sector and purpose of “Checkmate” project remained challenge for us.

The real problem was that we weren’t able to use any intelligence or official resources, even those we were commanding; we didn’t know most personnel in Keldon group well enough to be sure that nobody will report our interest to the restricted information. But, nobody restricted us to investigate Rashkir attack itself, theoretically it was our duty; but in reality it looked like High Command preferred to leave all information out of our reach.

Danezor kept his word: some data obtained from interrogation of captured Rashkir and data about captured fighter were sent to our office; it seemed partial – but I anyway thought they won’t tell all to us.

When I came to the office, Shar’inta was reading Danezor’s report; she was definitely surprised by something and started to explain:

- Captured fighter is actually model Gryphon A-246, of Ska’ari design; I thought that it and other ships were captured somewhere on the frontline or were sold to Rashkir by another “trader corporation” serving to the highest bidder. But, according to it’s ID, it wasn’t actually military or private property, it, and probably other ships, were built on Keldana I shipyard less than two weeks ago…

- Interesting… If human agents were able to steal ships directly from Keldon homeworld shipyard, things can’t be any worse; but I don’t think it has ever happened. Those ships were possibly assigned to some “flight capabilities testing” that wasn’t documented in data archive, and they were captured during such “testing” or they were just sold to Black Market; but anyway, human intelligence can get ships much easier than on Keldana I; why they have done so?

We talked for a while, but there were no ideas except just visiting shipyard to find out; I decided to do it myself and privately, without informing somebody else about it. I asked Shar’inta to prepare new ID card and documents for me; intelligence channels are somewhat useful there. Usually it was done only for agents, but now I had my brand new ID Card describing me as Corl’tok, Ska’ari freelancer pilot hired by military; mercenaries were always employed during Great War, for operating behind enemy lines and for terror they caused among enemy; basically they were pirates that once decided to work for military that guaranteed them protection – and because most resources, both human and technical, were depleted, government considered adding new experienced pilot with good ship to the fleet more useful than justice. The good point for me in choosing such identity was that freelancers were accepted both among military, legal and illegal societies. Also, it was common for freelancers to always have some hand gun, usually laser gun, with them. And even there, Calthor liked to point out that all non-ska’ari races have advantage that they can efficiently carry weapons with them secretly… But anyway, I’ve taken multi-purpose laser, capable of functioning as stunner and as combat weapon.

So, I’ve used an orbiter shuttle to the planet, and headed to the shipyards. Military department of spaceport was full of Keldons and rare Ska’ari; civilian spaceport was nearly deserted, because twenty years of war were “ultimate medicine” for such “society illnesses” (as they were called during war by government) like tourism and traveling. If there was no strict necessity, only rich and risky individuals decided to trust their life to the transport ship; all cargo transports were done by regular and military-like convoys.

Central shipyard office was quite militaristic. Old holographic posters on the walls showed models of Keldon and Ska’ari ships, images of war heroes and great battles, and propaganda like “Don’t let those predators eat us” , with picture of human and rashkir officers having meal consisting of Ska’ari body parts.

Ship trade office had the same appearance, and very few visitors. Civilians weren’t generally allowed to buy a ship, and military or corporate pilots got their ships from their superiors; the only individuals visiting ship trade office were mostly mercenaries, freelancers or even pirates.

I walked up to the office clerk working with database, showed him my documents, and asked about current ships for sale.

Clerk agreed:

- Use terminal 5; I’ll grant you access to view public and access level 1-2 ship databases.

I’ve browsed information about different ships until I found Gryphon A class models. They were new and effective fighters, but wasn’t something secret and their information was in level 2 access database. Entire process of buying ship was often complicated, but, fortunately, I didn’t need it. I came up to the clerk again and asked him to give me information about multiple ships that, as I knew, weren’t available now; after I thought that clerk wouldn’t be suspicious, I’ve asked:

- Seems like your shipyard can’t offer anything suitable except for the ships that we made before I was born! Ok, maybe this will be there… I have seen Gryphon A-246 class ship in database; I would like to get information about it’s availability.

- Hmm… let me look. - Clerk seemed anxious, and continued after few seconds – Sorry, but week ago we had database failure, and this ship’s account details are now inaccessible. But, according to the comments of database administrator, it was legally purchased by Keldon pilot.

I’ve got sudden idea what is going on; all that seemed like a scenario I have already met few times. I decided to try to provoke the clerk to tell the truth; I thought there was no risk, because if I was right, he will understand that disclosure of such information will be his end; if I was wrong, I can handle all problems with officials explaining this as intelligence checking.

- So, it actually means that you have agreed with black market dealers to erase ship account data, while it was sold to some third-party? I have expected your answer and have complete proof now. Military command will be glad to hear it, as well as some freelancers…

- No! – Clerk was shocked, but suddenly continued – Not me! I’m just working here, and I know that somebody in our management staff have done it… and if I report what’s going on I… They will never give ... And anyway that ship is nothing important… I was surprised; I expected that he will deny all, and actually weren’t able to prove anything and hoped only to provoke him to tell something. I wasn’t able to understand the reason of such behavior.

- Then tell me who on black market was interested in it. If you don’t know, find it out, and I will leave you alone. Otherwise, you and your shipyards’ management will have serious problems with officials – the reward for helping police seems good reason for me to…

Clerk looked like he suddenly returned hope, and continued:

- I know him, it’s Rolphar – he’s Keldon trader working with illegal goods… He contacted us, but I’m sure that somebody was using him for it. He lives near spaceport, in C14 District, residence R7. I asked clerk to send message to Rolphar and tell that mercenary Corl’tok will soon visit him for his services on purchasing Black Market goods and ships. Frightened, clerk agreed.

I wasn’t sure that I should visit him, but it was only possible track remaining… and I thought that nothing bad can happen there – I was just going to ask about purchasing ship, and Rolphar will consider it profitable to tell about it . C14 District seemed as dirty and ugly place at first sight. But, among ruined buildings and junkyards there were huge residences full of comfort, though they were surrounded by energy barriers and well guarded. Cheap drugs, hand weapons, contraband and anything else were common goods for sale in this district; and nobody, including police, tried to interfere. As I have heard before, Keldana I government just decided that it’s better to allow criminal lords to freely exist as long as they don’t hurt economy too much… and even there were rumors about their communications with government. It was strange to see some sort of NAP between government and organized crime – but after such a long war with Humans and Rashkir, anything was considered acceptable.

Residence R7 turned out to be something middle between luxury surrounding criminal lords and degradation of all other population there. It was old-fashioned building, which was also used as shop, according to posters and advertisements hanging on it’s walls.

Near the entrance there was old Keldon, looking very poor and ill. It seemed that he consumed drugs.

When I was entering the building, he looked at me, noticed the laser gun and suddenly started to speak, so I stopped to listen:

- You, crab… come to laugh over me too? Everybody think that I’m mad… They don’t believe me… But I know! I was captain of Explorer 7! I commanded spaceship even before they all were born! And they just laugh on me… laugh… Those pirates and mercenaries… In my times they won’t be even accepted as ensigns… but now they command battle cruisers… And that Rolphar and his bodyguards are just parasites making money from those who brought Keldon to the space …

I’ve again thought about the near future of our universe, where global endless war ruined everything. I thought that end was near, but didn’t know that I was very close to the truth that time. I’ve decided to give some credits to the poor "captain of Explorer 7", but who will help others like him? When I entered the shop, there was young Keldon, looking like quite rich person (I thought it’s Rolphar, and was right), and Keldon with some sort of hand gun. I thought that there was something strange in Rolphar, but I wasn’t able to tell what. The shop itself was nearly empty, with few suspicious boxes on the shelters. He looked at me, and started:

- Corl’tok, I presume…? I’m Rolphar, and I’ve been told that you should come.

- Yes, and I would like to… Then Rolphar looked at me again, and it looked like he was surprised; he interrupted me:

- Sorry, I’ll have to receive incoming message from my partner… I’ll be back in a minute, ok?

He walked out, though it was suspicious to walk out from the shop to “receive incoming message”.

I started to feel danger, but moving out of the shop, considering guard’s presence, wasn’t smart move as well.

Few minutes passed, and nothing happened. Then I heard laugh and voices outside of the shop, and old Keldon I saw before ran into, shouting something about parasites again.

Guard in the shop immediately drew out his gun, which looked like neural stunner, and pointed it on poor "captain". But the things were getting even worse: it looked like Rolphar came back not alone.

Maybe under influence of shock or panic, I raised my laser gun, in stunner mode, and targeted the guard; guard pulled the trigger, and old Keldon fell paralyzed; suddenly guard started to aim at me – but poor “captain” have given me time to do the first shot. Guard fell unconscious. But then I felt strange freeze in my legs – another Keldon stand in the entrance with stunner. Definitely, stunner wasn’t tuned for using against Ska’ari, because I was even able to turn to the door; but in a matter of seconds, I felt few more hits, and wasn’t able to move at all. I remembered that stunners paralyze only peripheral neural system, that’s why I was still conscious, and can speak, but can’t move my legs at all.

Two more Keldons with weapons entered the shop, and, after them, Rolphar slowly walked up to me.

- So, Dmir’tok, you considered that intelligence coordinator will be more successful in checking this track than ordinary agent? It is certainly wrong, and you haven’t considered the risk of being caught in a trap… Now you are at our hands, and will soon see our Prophet and tell everything.

He asked one of the guards:

- Are you sure there are no signaling devices or any kind of transmitters with him?

- No, Keeper. We scanned him when he entered the shop.

- Then put him to our temporary holding cell. And put that fool Knortek nearby, I’ll explain him that allowing somebody to shot you is lesson he should remember for the remaining of his life. Ah, and about that old madman: ease his pain and inject him few doses of drugs so he’ll be happy and forget anything, eh? Or maybe his useless existence will be over…

One of the guards standing before me suddenly looked at portable scanner and read something from screen:

- Attention: targeted energy flow detected in 50bh range; we’ve been targeted by… Before he finished, he ran out of the shop, shooting aimlessly at something outside. But before anybody was able to react, I felt strong freeze again; I’ve only was able to think: “Neural impulse” and notice that Rolphar and his guards were affected by it too before the entire world around faded out.

I wasn’t able to say how much time passed, but I felt that my feelings restore to normal. I noticed that I’m still in the shop, with Rolphar and his guards lying around. But when I recognized next person standing near me, I was equally surprised and impressed: it was Calthor! Next moment I heard backdoor of the shop opening and Keldon in battle suit walked up to Calthor and briefly reported:

- The building is secure, sir! We have captured two more guards, and found some sort of warehouse there. Minimal resistance was met, only two automatic turrets protecting warehouse; we have no casualties.

- Good. Soon team Beta will arrive for detailed investigation of building and captured goods. Take all prisoners to the orbiter shuttle; we need to take them to our orbiter.

Then he noticed that I have awakened; he started:

- Finally! How do you feel? I was afraid that you will be killed there! How you can be so careless to go there without backup? Again, it makes me think that you Ska’ari are…

I wasn’t even able to express my feelings… I’ve spoken the word “Thanks” at least twenty times, and attempted to tell something explaining my visit, while he continued to speak about Ska’ari and me. Finally I was able to tell something sensible:

- But how you found me? They told they scanned me and found nothing…

- It’s just your laser gun. It contains our new system, which constantly sends nearly chaotic signals while laser is not working, so they can’t be detected and are considered radio noise by all scanners. – he told, with proud for his department. – We still aren’t able to determine location of source with any precision , but I was reported that you left shipyards and headed somewhere to that den of all illegals, C14 District, and I became suspicious, so I’ve ordered Team Alpha to prepare multi-purpose flyer and we were waiting on 1 kbh height above C14 district… If I didn’t know you for so long, I may consider that you have betrayed us!

- It looks like your suspicion has saved my life… - Not only that; if you haven’t fired your laser gun, we wouldn’t be able to find you. When you shot from it, the system transmitted signal allowing us to determine your location precisely… so we were able to get there! But, I should admit that because of your actions we were able to capture this residence, Rolphar and all his guards at complete surprise, and the information we’ll get from them can be worth the risk; and we even have legal reasons to interrogate them after their attempt to capture you.

He came closer to me, smiled and continued:

- By the way, I’ve told Alpha Team commander and my superiors that you’ve gone there intentionally and discussed it with me before, to attract human intelligence. I’ve told we can constantly monitor your location; and both because of you rank – so there will be attempt to capture you, not kill – and because of some precautions there’s not so much risk considering opportunity to reveal human intelligence’s plans. I was very impressed. Calthor risked his own post to save me from possible consequences of such situation. I wasn’t able to stop him from saying gratitude again, but he smiled again and asked me to stop:

- Come on, during all our work you always have taken all the risk and helped us, so it’s time for me to do something as well! Do you remember that old accident when I have falsely suspected that Ska’ari Prince Dart’lok was going to pass some top-secret information to the Humans, and my transmitter I placed on his ship was found? You said that it was your idea and managed to present some reasons… If you didn’t do so, I would be sent to some mining colony to the rest of my life, after being found spying on such high-ranked person! And now I’ve just helped you too… I looked around, feeling that I can move again; I saw old Keldon still lying on the floor, and pointed at him.

- Calthor, we should also help him. If not him, I won’t be able to do that shot; maybe not intentionally, but he saved my life too. I think it deserves great reward. Calthor looked at him:

- Hmm… He seems familiar… Let me look… It’s Darlon, first captain of Explorer 7! I’ve heard about him in University, I liked to read his stories - he has explored and charted so many worlds, until he was lost during exploration of Canexin, D class planet, and few days later war started so nobody was able to help him… But how can degrade to such condition? I think he had experienced so much during those twenty years… If I haven’t studied his biography, I won’t be able to recognize him… Of course, he deserves all the help we can provide. We should take him to the Keldana I Central Clinic, they have very good specialists and equipment, so they can treat his drug addiction and psychology problems, and later we can do something more.

Two hours later we were on board of Keldana I orbiter again; all seemed going ok. I, Calthor and Shar’inta were going to the armory, and holding cells with prisoners were nearby… Calthor advised to start from drug-supported interrogation, but I and Shar’inta were against it: Rolphar seemed like reasonable and quite egoistic… so there was a chance that he would voluntary give up his superiors, if we show him worthy alternative.

- By the way, Rolphar and his guards were using strange codenames… guards named Rolphar “Keeper”, and Rolphar mentioned some “Prophet”. – told I, while we were going through station corridor.

- It’s really strange… It seems like some sort of religious order instead of intelligence agency – but probably it’s just another cover-up for Humans. They are so artful! – suggested Shar’inta.

- That Rolphar seems too intelligent and ruthless to believe somebody except himself. Beta Team has found many corpses – and not only of slaves, but of Keldana I citizens - in secret part of the warehouse, it seems they were used as guinea pigs for testing biological agents and drugs. This crime is punishable by death, and I don’t think he can believe in God after it. – agreed Calthor.

Rolphar’s cell was located separately from other holding cells; when we entered the interrogation room, Keldon officer standing near viewscreen reported:

- Prisoner is ready for interrogation, sir! Scanners in the holding cell are tested and operational; we haven’t used any trust serum yet, but…

- We don’t need it now, officer. If he will agree to cooperate voluntary, it will be much better, and holding cell’s scanners will show us when he’ll attempt to lie. Holding cell had energy barrier transparent from only from the one side, so we were able to see Rolphar, while he wasn’t able to look outside. He sat on the floor, and mysteriously he looked too sure that nothing serious happened. I decided to turn on transparency from Rolphar’s side, so he can see us too.

Rolphar smiled and started:

- So, Dmir’tok, you consider that I will voluntary tell everything? By the way, I’m immune to all kinds of truth serums. – he smiled.

- It’s impossible, he’s just frightened and tries to distract us – told Shar’inta to me.

- I considered you more reasonable. You know that we can get all information from you anyway… and we have enough proof that you committed several crimes punishable by death. If you will tell us about your work for Humans and help us to capture your masters, your punishment can be significantly lowered, as well… - I started to explain to Rolphar.

- What? Human intelligence? – He nearly laughed. – Those fools? What makes you think that I work for them?

I was surprised: scanners showed that he told the truth. I decided to use XT-7 gas – it has no smell and color, and has a relatively little effect: it stimulates Keldons to be more talkative and proudly tell about their successes – it was tested many times, and prisoners often explained the complexity and genius of their plans, even not understanding that they are under influence of this gas. I’ve entered that command on the terminal - Rolphar doesn’t notice it, and started to tell:

- I work for the strongest force in our galaxy! Our Prophet is genius, and he sees the future – and those who will help him will rule the whole known universe with him! And, I’m sure that hew will remember my “faith” and courage not to tell you anything…

- Really? And you are ready to die for your Prophet? – I tried to provoke him.

- Die? I fear only that I may betray my Prophet! He will return everybody who serves him well to life!

I was shocked: according to sensor scan, he really believed in it!

- How it can be possible? Even whole universities are pointlessly working on the problem of really “returning life”, restoring memory and… maybe, soul? of a clone, otherwise the clone won’t be you at all, without your memory and your individuality, and still there are no any significant results there!

- I’m sure he will do it! He’s a genius, and he already showed this to us! It’s not miracle, it’s technology all your foolish scientists can’t discover! And he will not forget the Keeper of Order! And don’t even try to use any drugs or neural scanners on me… I can die at my own will, and I will live again! – He definitely was under effect of gas, and I decided to ask more.

But suddenly siren sounded on the station. The floor shook for few seconds; Rolphar fell on the floor in his cell. Officer, looking at comm. screen, was shocked by something he saw. He nearly yelled:

- Keldon destroyer… appeared from… nowhere! We are under attack! Defense center was hit! Rolphar, lying on the floor, started to laugh again:

- You… We.. We will all die, but only I will live again! I know that Prophet will not forget me!

I looked at viewscreen: it now showed radar data and information about station. Station defenses were caught by complete surprise, while destroyer fired missiles precisely into our critical systems. But the most impossible thing was that all other ships, including giant battleships orbiting Keldada I, weren’t doing anything to help us!

It was definite that station may be destroyed, if attack will last longer – it wasn’t specifically built for warfare, and it was always protected by Keldana I fleet. Nobody even considered attack in such conditions possible. However, station’s hull and armor were definitely able to hold it operational for reasonable time. Officer looked at data:

- Somebody is hacking our systems! We are losing control over communication and defense systems! And we can’t contact any ship or Keldana I, but… they can even see it! Why they don’t help us? Wait, I receive transmission... I’m ordered to get to the command center now; and you’re asked to wait here because it’s still safer there… destroyer seems to attack only critical systems, and don’t fire on crew quarters and other decks…

He ran out of the room, leaving us with Rolphar hysterically laughing in his cell, until Calthor turned on stunner mounted on the wall of the cell. Few seconds later voice sounded from loudspeaker in the room, periodically interrupted with noise:

- All… personnel… we are … situation… stay on your … don’t do anything unless directly ordered… danger … possible interference into … communication…

Suddenly, the voice changed – it was artificial computer’s speech, and I felt that this message is transmitted only to loudspeaker in our room:

- Greetings. You have possibly guessed something about the real importance of current events; again, it’s curiosity and duty… those two concepts lead to wrong decisions, if they are not supported by awareness and knowledge. So I advise you to stop your investigation… and, you can be sure that nothing like that will happen again for some time. When certain events will finally happen, they will serve the happiness, peace and prosperity for all races - Humans, Rashkir, Ska’ari and Keldon. It’s nature instinct of all races - though in little other form for Keldon - to fear and try to destroy all unknown things – all the history of advancement was based on fighting with this instinct and exploring unknown instead of unconscious fear, so, to help you to control this instinct, I’m sending this message to you. You shouldn’t fear my Order, even considering that we are completely unknown for you; attempts to stop us are submission to conservatism and unconscious feelings.

- Remember, there was interesting concept in the old days of the Earth: homeopathy. With small but carefully selected doses of medicines, even toxic ones, homoeopathist was able to heal illnesses that were impossible to heal using common methods. Current galactic war is illness, and it have spread everywhere in our society; if nothing will be done, entire universe will be ruined. We are accepting the role of the doctor; as you can see, we are successful. One properly equipped destroyer was able to accomplish the task impossible even to large fleet of common warships; and next small doses of out medicine will be unseen for the world, but, using it’s own internal processes, will change it and bring the peace and happiness never seen before. The pain world should suffer is just like the pain which patient suffers during treatment. Our galaxy is ill, but we have perfect medicine.

- As you have probably guessed, I’m Prophet of New Order, and I wish you to understand me and help the treatment instead of helping the illness.

- What this madman is speaking about? – Calthor, as well as all of us, was shocked. Voice continued speaking about “medicine”, but soon it was interrupted with noise and voice of station commander:

- We restored con… over all station systems. Station is … be… evacuated. All personnel, proceed to the deck 4… The sys… will be switched for auto… defense and re …

Fortunately, deck 4 was very close to the armory. It was possibly project’s mistake, but now I thanked station’s constructors for it.

After a minute we were already in one of the escape pods; also there were few Keldons in the same pod. They all were shocked and frightened. The station was badly damaged, and destroyer haven’t crushed all it’s armor yet, but it’s precise shots destroyed defense turrets and main systems. Keldon officer looked over the pod, and commanded: - This pod is full! Prepare for start! 10-seconds countdown… Eject! Escape pod was ejected out of station, and started to fell to the planet. I thought, that if somebody from ancient times will look at it, he may think that escape pod, by it’s visual appearance, is like those ancient “shuttles” that were first spaceships capable of landing on the planet and being used after it.

While escape pod was descending into planet’s atmosphere, we heard the broadcast from the planet:

- To all escape pods from orbiter I-1. Current officers in command should report about reason of evacuation, and why you appeared on radar only after descending in the atmosphere. All escape pods will be landed on SB-5 spaceport. Readying telemetry control…

One of officers yelled into transmitter:

- What you are doing? We are under attack, station is nearly destroyed! Do something now! – He started to tell about destroyer’s attack. Landing was normal; spaceport systems guided our pod to the landing area. Immediately after landing, we were met by the whole crowd of soldiers, that scanned the pod and all it’s passengers, and then lead us to the local military department. It seemed like nobody has understood what happened on Keldana I orbit, and such measures were just sign of it.

After answering lots of questions and meeting with few government officials, we were asked to wait on the military department “for our own security”. We, and some high-ranked officers, were asked to wait in conference-hall of the base; it looked like there was no adequate organization to provide more suitable room for it. Everybody was discussing last events, and I was sure that the rumors will soon become fantastic. Invasion of aliens, new human technologies, and even teleport of our station into parallel world were already considered acceptable theories.

From the discussion between station commander and few other officers sitting nearby, I understood that station wasn’t destroyed completely, but it’s life support systems and control center were badly damaged, and, because of it or intentional hack, the reactor’s shielding was turned off, and the entire station was filled with lethal gamma-rays; but practically all personnel managed to save their lives in escape pods before it happened; nobody knew what happened with destroyer.

I have got my own theory about mechanism of attack, and explained it to Shar’inta and Calthor:

- Do you remember that military outpost in Keldon that cloaked space behind it? I think that attacking destroyer carried such device on board, so all external radar scans showed that all is ok with our station, and nobody even thought about helping us. This device was obviously developed by Keldon, and I think all high-ranked military commanders are shocked now – probably the prototype was stolen, and they don’t know what to do now.

Few hours later Keldon officer entered our room; he seemed tired. He explained us that all information should be top secret (everybody, of course, agreed to non-disclosure), and presented “official” version we should “believe in”. This was 2nd time such thing happened that month, and I considered it boring. In that case, it was definite that there would be a lot of rumors… but, as always in such cases, government would create some “clues” to make citizens to believe in something far from reality – like aliens attack or space phenomena that resulted in failure of orbiter’s systems and crew having illusions. Newspapers and mass-media will benefit, but, anyway, soon everybody would feel that 20-year war was more important than “phenomena” on board of one of Keldana I orbiters.

I thought that everybody who was on board of the station, and, possibly, some government officials now feared some third-party in the war, and may take some measures.

But two days later I realized that I was wrong about “measures”: I’ve received an interesting (marked as top-secret) report from Keldon intelligence coordinator. Destroyer that attacked our station was actually found few hours after attack – it was shipwreck near Delta Pavonis - Keldon wormhole, with only one dead person in it. According to the report, it was from secret Keldon base; it’s captain was high-ranked noble, and under “certain circumstances” he decided to “avenge his losses” to military intelligence “which he considered responsible”, so he programmed ship to attack our station using new missiles and some sort of new cloaking device – because our station had no chance to react, such program was considered possible; after attack, he was killed in wormhole accident trying to leave Keldon sector, because he wasn’t able to efficiently steer ship alone during jump. All names, detailed info and locations were omitted in report, but, it concluded that all circumstances of this case were discovered and there was no more need to investigate it further.

Soon we were back at work, but now our office was on the planet’s surface. There was nothing extraordinary happening few next days. The story about “New Order” wasn’t documented, and all records of last interrogation existed only on the orbiter, so it’s destruction leaved no proof for the existence of so-called “Prophet”. But, as we all thought, his “medicine” could be applied soon…

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