Erica Olafson Rise of the Dark One Vol 10 Chapter 15 Ice Demons
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We finally arrived at the Camogi system. It had no planets as I found out, but there was a Gigamon station.
I learned that the Camogi occupied the actual Neutron star that was the only natural body in the system. While the Camogi were Union members for quite a while as their Union member number 2011 indicated, they were certainly among the most unusual Sentient life forms known. Discovered long ago by Wurgus Solar Engineers on the surface of a Neutron Star now known as Camogi Home.
We were towing not only the big chunk of the Earlies seeder ship, but also the apparently dead ship of the Unpronounceable, or more precisely the withered hulk that it was now.
I knew we were taxing the Tigershark to her limits and had literally crawled to Quasi Space and didn’t exactly break any speed records in translight either.
While on course to the most distant Union system in the Spinward sector, I took the time to read up on the Camogi. The Wurgus recognized the Camogi as a life form but failed to make contact and left.
After the Wurgus joined and Science Corps scholars gained access to Wurgus records, the Wurgus reports of a life form occupying an actual Neutron star caused quite a stirr and a Union Explorer with a Non-Corp as Captain was sent on a long journey to this remote region of the M-0 galaxy concerning Union space. The Explorer and the Non-Corp were able to establish contact. The Camogi excited about learning of other life forms immediately applied for membership. There was some initial opposition to them joining, leading to a Union Direct Vote which refused to deny their membership request by an 89% vote.
Due to their truly different needs and their unique environment, they are unable to participate directly in any Union Activities. It took almost 80 years to create a special super shielded GalNet terminal that could be placed in the Neutron Star environment and be used by the Camogi.
The Camogi, unable to leave and travel to other places were now able to travel via size reduced Avatars. Despite their fast lifespans, about 200 generations of Camogi live and perish every day, they can instantly transfer all knowledge to the next generation. Camogi have no real individuals but Generation group clusters that act as “individuals” and are constantly come into existence and die. Camogi have no names and the Generation Clusters identify themselves as Camogi Cluster and a mathematical expression that reflects their constant flow.
I had to read it three times and it still was nearly impossible for me to comprehend, but Narth, Shea and Two-Three were quite excited to meet and talk to Camogi Clusters. Narth found it particularly stimulating to talk to Camogi- R-664+Vector P I about the concept of heat.
I rolled my eyes looking over to him while he happily chatted with the Camogi. “You realize I will never be a very good Narth.”
“Probably not.” He agreed. “But you do know that their intuitive understanding of subatomic matter and energy lead to the experimental Engines of our ship?”.
Shaka said. “Boy, I am glad we are finally here, Captain. Two minutes to Quasi Drop.”
“I feel you, my friend, we are not meant to be a long-range tug, but I didn’t want to leave these things behind. Capturing that Ypeherix leader has helped Shea to figure them out. Besides, we just scratched the surface on that Earlies seeder thing.”
Shea turned. “It is no mystery anymore, what the Ypherix are all about. Ypeherix reproduces asexually by budding off parts of themselves in the form of DNA-rich spores, which they then launch. Such a spore will land on a new planet and develop into a near-perfect clone of the parent. The spores can also be inhaled by other Ypeherix as a mechanism to exchange genetic material. The Ypeherix indicates that this process is much more complex and allows them to select which genes, memories, and even personality fragments to transfer via the genetic material to their offspring.
The Ypeherix colonize worlds through aggressive terraforming. They launch their Egg spheres into the crust of the planet’s surface where its tendrils grow, molding the environment of the planet...”
I had to stop her, as she would have shared the entire paper she no doubt wrote. “Fascinating, indeed. But we are here folks.”
Right after drop, we received orders to put our towed prizes in a parking orbit and wait for the arrival of 123rd fleet.
Har-Hi had checked and informed me that the 123rd was stationed 1002 lightyears away at a system called Core Connect. The Camogi system was within their patrol range until the 130th was officially created and deployed.
Elfi made her usual hand signal to get my attention and said. “I got the Commandant of the 123rd on GalCom hailing us.”
“Put him on then.”
“Good First Hour to you, Captain Olafson. This is Admiral Eriksson of the 123rd. I am on my way with the First BG and should reach Camogi System in about 35 hours.”
“Good First Hour indeed. it is good to be back in Union Space. Sir.”
“Letting you know, the Old Highlander is on his way as well, with a gaggle of Sci Corps ships, but it will take him a good 5 weeks to make it all the way down here. No HHW gates this far into Spinward.”
“Understood, Sir.”
“Captain Olafson, I am looking forward to seeing your famous Den. I am bringing Holsteiner and Aquavit. The Admiral with the neatly trimmed snow-white beard smiled.”I am from New Sweden and know a thing or two about Neo Vikings and the Norse. We share common roots, Captain.”
After that call, we did as ordered and approached the station.
Mao sighed. “Wonder what will happen to all of us. I fear there will be promotions and genuine transfers.”
Har-Hi had a clouded expression on his face. “If not now, that day will come. We knew this since that day we got promoted on Richter 4. Everything will come to an end, this is the way things go.”
Sobody sitting in his accustomed chair made a resigning gesture. “If they don’t send us out on another mission, they make a mistake. I am a Golden for 12,000 years and have a palace with every comfort and luxury imaginable, yet I am home right here.”
Angela rushed to the cave exit after she had used the Nexus Point. She had emerged onto a narrow plateau that led to a winding path down a steep mountain to a flat valley that stretched to the horizon. The flat was rimmed by walled enclaves and a deep circle of tents and booths.
The light of the local sun was so bright and was reflected off the almost white ground, hurting her eyes. She was certain staring at it could make a being blind. Along with the light of the sun came an almost unbearable dry heat.
She had nothing on her, but what she was wearing and the sword. The rest of her meager belongings had either spread across the rugged rocks where she had dropped her bundle or had remained behind in the room she had occupied.
Behind her she heard that angry voice, she was certain she had heard coming out the window of her chambers. “There she is! You insolent bitch! How dare you fleeing from my master! We dealt with that Yellow traitor. Now you will return to my Lord and tell us everything or in Crea’s name I will cause you so much pain...”
Blinded by the light, she stumbled over a rock on the narrow path and almost fell.
A new voice from the other end of the path said in a deep strong tone. “Is this cowardly bird creature threatening you, Miss?”
She looked up. There was a human man dressed in black, his calf-high boots were dust-covered.
He had very short hair, a scar running from his right eye to his mouth. His eyes behind black lenses held there by a frame. He was accompanied by a completely shrouded human-shaped being. Behind them was a tall very beautiful woman wearing a reddish hooded cloak against dust and heat.
She had lost all hope. “Flee, stranger. They hunt me and kill everyone helping me.”
“Girl, I have never fled from anything and despise bullies.”
The cloaked woman said. “Uritel, you better turn and run. My husband is irritated already.”
The cloaked being sounded amused. “It is never wise to make a Terran angry, Knight of Light especially this one!”
The tall human offered Angela his hand. “Seems my associates know that bully by name. I am Richard Stahl and I be damned if I let some goon threaten a female in my presence.”
She took the offered hand, and if by magic impossible to explain, her fear and hopelessness subsided. There was an aura of strength and confidence that never accepted compromise. She came to her feet.
Uritel raised his sword. “What fool interferes with the business of a God? We are tired of these insects trying to deny what is his. You will serve as an example to these other two with you.”
Uritel expelled a powerful blast to obliterate the mortal that dared to speak to him. The blast faded into nothingness long before it reached the man. Completely surprised by that, he fired off another even stronger blast and yet the same occurred.
The black shrouded being said. “This man stands not alone, the Narth Supreme declares unwavering allegiance.”
Stahl growled. “You are not God, I believe in one only. The Eternal Warrior drew his weapon, a genuine TKU-12 QP. dialed to the highest setting with a much-practiced move of his thumb and fired.
Not even the fabulous armor of Uritel created by Crea herself was able to deflect this brutal onslaught of temperatures that exceeded the hottest star in the universe by magnitudes. It vaporized the chest plate and burned a hole right through him, a second blast burned Uritel’s head clean of the Knight of Light’s shoulders. His shield of otherworldly origin, collapsing just before the Thermo kinetic blast hit.
Lord Lumis still at Avondur had summoned three of his knights, the lying Yellow robe would not reveal where he had sent the woman, despite the torture Lumis inflicted on Guhn.
However, he knew enough about these Nexus points, to have it reveal the last three destinations.
Lumis had to admit to the shrewdness of the now-dead Yellow Robe. Guhn was able to use the Nexus point three times before Lumis and Uritel were able to locate him. Two of his knights had returned and confirmed that the Yellow Robe simply threw rocks through the trans-dimensional portals, therefore the woman had to be where Uritel went, but just as he wanted to follow he suddenly knew his powerful ally had been killed, he sensed the presence of something incredibly powerful and old.
Just as he wanted to advance he was stopped, he heard Crea’s voice. “My servant, you must not fall, remain on Avondur!”
“Crea, the WEAPON! The woman, she knows where it is!”
“The WEAPON will come to Avondur.”
He obeyed, but his face underneath his helmet was flushed with anger. “Someone killed Uritel. A paladin of the Light succumbed and must be avenged.”
“You must do nothing but obey, and face the Dark One before the last token is reunited with him. I made a grave mistake, selecting you as my champion, but I can no longer correct it. Therefore strike for me and succeed, I make you equal to me if you are victorious.”
He clenched his mailed fist. “A mistake?”
She did not respond to his question but said. “On Avondur, the decision will be made. You must prevent that decision.”
Admiral McElligott sat in his office aboard the USS ZENO, the room was secured to the highest security protocol, he again was in contact with Deepa Lyda, the Commandant of NAVINT.
Due to the highly encrypted nature, communication was audio-only. It reminded the old admiral of time before the ascent, when people of Earth used devices called telephones.
He had just stuffed a pipe and said to the woman on the other end of the connection. “The Tigershark is technically still a NAVINT unit and all her crew is detached to NAVINT, specifically the X Fleet, but I am planning to end that arrangement. The project FISH has exceeded all expectations. The crew and its captain deserve promotions and with it come new assignments”
“They do deserve promotions and vacations, but why end something that is working so well?”
“I think that Dai is ready for his own command and there is another project I have in development that could benefit from having a few members of that crew.”
He leaned back. “Besides, I think it will be a good thing if that floating mystery magnet is broken up. Did you read the latest report?”
“I have. They solved the Ypeherix problem, eliminated a threat as potent as the Narth and towed in a huge piece of a genuine Earlies ship. As I understand there are at least three space faring societies who want to know more about the Union, meaning more or less they want to join.”
“Yes, and she once again freed a slew of slaves.” He wiped a few tobacco crumbs of the otherwise clean desk. “I have not completely made up my mind what I am going to do with them, but I will send them on vacation for a few months.”
“Should this not also be discussed with Cherubim and the Eternal Warrior? It was him who more or less found the core of that crew.”
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Tobaia the magnificent had ascended upon the highest spire of her palace. The Seventh Claw spire had never seen a queen before. She stood there, her arms wrapped around her body and just below her breasts. Below her the sprawling city of Hi-Togr, the very heart of the mighty Togar empire. Malmorus, the sun had just disappeared behind the crests of the Kreigha mountains in the distance, but Torgu the largest of the planet’s two moons was soon to rise and provide its magnificent cool...
“How?” TheOther yelled. “Restore the main energy feed to this system. It has been severed. This system no longer has physical controls.” A holographic image established itself. It was a representation of the Chamber he was in, and a big console not to far was highlighted. “Proceed to the panel indicated and restore the energy feed to the Yah-ha Al drones. They will obey me and restore what must be restored.” TheOther was about to do exactly that, but he stopped. “These drones will also...
The thing didn’t move. Narth said. “I am holding it. It is strong but not unmanageable. “SHIP called. “The asteroid has revealed previously unknown weaponry. It is taxing our shields to almost 20 percent. ““Are you in danger?” “Oh, no captain. That tech is quite advanced, and I think it is Orlan but Mao took those weapons out with kilo loads. I was just reporting. “I dialed my TKU to 10 and said. “It’s going to get mighty hot in here. Narth your shields are on, right?” “No, captain. I...
Our ship had settled down on its landing gear and Shaka powered down the Arti Gravs. Har-Hi pointed at a large number of tanks and artillery pieces that had been assembled around the vast empty plane, that was designated to us as a place to land. “I don’t think those are all for military honors. I think they are still quite nervous about us.” Narth agreed with my XO. “To describe the entire planet’s population, the terms anxiety and fear would be on top of my choices.” Mehdi occupying a...
From the open door, Dusty stepped into the room.”I am containing the Dai.” The living dust cloud flowed like a sand storm around me and engulfed both Dai. The Dustcloud said.”Captain, they are riding on electromagnetic waves. They infiltrated us as we set the shields transparent for radio waves.” Both Dai looked like living statues. Now Orthbeer passed through the deck plating. I could not hear what he was trying to say, then he came closer and closer and his greenish hand passed into my...
The Dragon stood in his cargo bay and his eyes glowed as his pirates dumped loads of Iridium and other highly valuable goods only to return to get more. He cursed himself for not remembering the right planet. He was so sure he had been here before and now he could not remember any details. He was so certain the suit told him these coordinates. Of course, he had not kept any files on the coordinates but his suit knew where it was and now it was silent and did not respond to anything. All there...
Hans due to his size and strength was often seen as a bruiser with tremendous strength but little else. This was not the case since he was with the Olafson gang. He was asked about his opinion about other things. The woman across him was about as opposite as a being could be to a Saturnian, she was a Delicate. While Brana was certainly not a member of the original gang, she like the rest became like family. She had just stepped into his security office and without any hesitation floated...
A muscular being covered with a brown shroud came running our way. It had a nonhuman snout sticking out from under his hood. What was exposed of him was covered with a short gray fur. In his right, he held an elegant looking weapon. It appeared to be an energy beamer of sort, he had fired it twice into the direction he was coming from. Now he turned and with it his weapon and he aimed at me. Lucky for me I was close, unfortunate for him, I had already drawn the Dai blade. I moved fast into...
About ten armed Trontigmakader entered the tavern, led by an insectoid in a flashy bright blue and white armor of some kind. “The four Masters declared martial law until we can determine who released the Cleanser beasts from their hold. This place has been identified as a meeting place of the Discrepant Element. You are all considered potential collaborators, perhaps even supplying weapons to these criminals. You are...” A high pitched humming voice screamed from somewhere else. “The Four...
Har-Hi had left over two hours ago with the first twenty and reported the city was orderly. The crew members with him had a good time and the locals were used to visitors and merchants from other places. He also reported that there was a market and Circuit excited. I warned him not to buy any more eggs. Even though I had to admit Fenris had turned out to be liked by the crew and more or less fit right in. Two of the minis were out near the Red Dragon watching I suspected the Red Dragon...
Har-Hi was led to a Wisdom keeper, who was without question an old Dai. The revelation that there was a Dai was quite a surprise for Har-Hi. He had not expected that, but since he had become a Union officer and traveled with Erica, he had met and seen the unthinkable. Living dust clouds, planet surface covering creatures and a planet-bound, desert scavenging Dai. He had met Dai that were born in captivity and knew a Dai tribe leader was engaged in selling Dai Than as slaves. Meeting a Dai...
The Dai Nest so I learned a week later, was a huge space station in an otherwise empty star system. It was deep in Union space. The star had been named Dai-Core. The station was made of several Gigamon stations, interconnected with girder-like structures that acted as docks and mooring arms for Dai ships and the humongous Dai Mothers. The system and the station were busy. From my visually unaided vista, a simple viewport I counted eleven Dai Mothers, I was sure there were many more outside...
Prelude Part 4: Volund 4999, OTT The crumbling walls of Olafson Burg were no longer on his mind. Volund was now the steward of Ragnarsson Rock. Erik Gustav had kept his word and had given him the stewardship and rule of all that was Ragnarsson on this world. There were tanneries in the extensive basements, several Nubhir farms on the permanent ice of the southern polar region, and large Fangsnapper herds. Best of all, there were five modern and well-kept fishing boats and three hunting...
Mr.Flensburger was now gone for a week and we had a new teacher. Mr. Walters was his name and he was much different to the jovial and gentle Mr. Flensburger. He was stern and had a no nonsense approach. This Monday morning, right by the main doors I saw Yngve Lofdahl waiting for me. He had a busted; bleeding lip and his left eye was swelling. Like me he was wearing a fur vest over a linen tunic that reached halfway to the knees, linen breeches and boots. Usually he always looked like he wore...
TheOther was injured. The wounds he received from the relentless attacks of these smaller Y’All versions were too deep and too severe for his incredible healing abilities to cope with. He regretted the fact that he opted to forego the AutoDoc adjustment, Cateria recommended for months now. The original factory-issued unit, requested a species update because this amazing piece of Union technology was deploying medical nanites and his own bodies defense mechanisms fought the nanites and...
This situation reminded me of my first visit to Sin 4. I did not know where I was, brought here against my will. Abducted, stripped of everything I owned. I was once again bare feet, had several blisters and burn wounds. My hair was a mess, at least In didn’t have to go pee. Darn it thinking about it, made realize I actually did. I was still running across that landing field, not knowing where I was going, but I knew I still stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only pin skinned human. The...