Adventures of a Greenie Green Marine Vol 3 Chapter 4 Betrayed
- 4 years ago
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Sybil, Martha, and Sister
Sybil, formally known as Geha was no longer confused. She now knew who she was and how it all started. The one thing she and her alter ego had in common was their origin. She was born on a planet named New Olympus colonized by the Privileged. She once again knew that the Privileged were exiled from a society known as New Gods who had split into three distinct societies, the Standards, the Outcasts, and the Privileged.
The Privileged split into four groups and left Exile colony in substandard arks of their own making. Her Ancestors arrived on a garden world they called New Olympus. Without any real resources, the colonists almost succumbed. In the proverbial nick of time, they were discovered by a Saresii scout mission. A Saresii woman, revered as the greatest hero in Novaj Dioj history opted to stay behind and help the faltering colonists. Master Kilamea, a high priestess of the Black Cat society galvanized the colonists, taught them how to use their psionic gifts and under her guidance, the Novaj Dioj applied for Union membership in 2323 and became member society number 33.
While this happened over 2600 years ago, the Novaj Dioj remained an exclusive and little-known Union society. This was not an uncommon aspect for a one planet member in a mega civilization with almost 5000 member societies, some of which consisted of thousands of planets with billions of individuals on each world, the existence of the Novaj Dioj was kept under the proverbial scanner screen on purpose. Since they were virtually unknown to the rest of the Union, it was decided to retain most of the insulation measures. NAVINT and PSI Corps established a training academy and Special Forces training facility there. Intelligence and counterintelligence became a virtual religion to the Novaj Dioj, and almost every one of the approximately 50 million Novaj Dioj are either active or retired intelligence officers or active in related fields.
This held true for Sybil Putnam, born in 4892. She became a top NAVINT specialist for the Dai Than culture.
NAVINT maintained so-called Specialist Desks for virtually all known space-faring societies, both big and small, even for Union member species. Some of these desks were departments with many thousand agents and specialists, while other desks consisted of one perhaps two specialists.
The core activity of these desks was to keep an accurate and up to the minute assessment, which in turn was used by MATA HARI to create a daily security and intelligence report for the Security Council and Senior Fleet officers. A condensed form of that report was part of the daily Command Officer brief.
True, the Dai did not pose a serious challenge to the Union as a whole, but these space nomads were still a considerable force in the M-0 galaxy, especially towards regions considered Galactic South. Up to the time that Sybil joined NAVINT, there was precious little information regarding the Dai, primarily due to their nomadic nature and tight tribal societies. When her department, which was assigned to the Dai, devised a plan to gather more information and Intel regarding the Dai, she volunteered for the Red Mole project.
The project realized that it would be impossible to use a Dai Than, due to the lack of information. Since it was known that the Dai allowed non-Dai to become Than, it was decided to create a dozen genetic clones and implant them with the brains and minds of established and fully trained NAVINT operatives. To assure that they could not reveal their true identity and purpose, they received extensive Psychosurgery and instructions were coded into their genetic information.
This is how Sybil Putnam became Geha Snorelka, the five-year-old girl child and part of a group of ‘independent’ colonists leaving a Union world. Now that she remembered it all, she also recalled the family name of her cover identity.
As planned, the ship of refugees was stopped by a Dai raiding party. The girl Geha was captured, though considered to be a worthless female. But when an Arti Grav handler malfunctioned, the girl saved the life of the first son of the Tar by pushing the boy out of the way of a falling crate of loot.
This deed not only saved her from being sold but was the beginning of a very unusual and deep friendship between her and Bas, the son of the Tar of the Co tribe. Their relationship was unusual because: first, Bas was bound to become the next Tar as the Declared; second, the Tar disregarded all Dai convention regarding females and allowed Geha to train with weapons and even become one of the few Daiyee allowed to become a fighter pilot;.and third, Bas, who was only a year older than her, treated her like a real friend and sister, not a Daiyee.
As they grew older together, they realized they loved each other in a different way than siblings did.
Now that she remembered everything, she realized she was still in love with Bas. She wanted to reunite with him, hoping against hope that he had not forgotten about her.
If there only was a way to send him a message; the Dai of course did not have GalNet.
She and her friends, Martha and Sister were aboard a civilian luxury yacht on their way to Green Hell. Cherubim, their mysterious guide had just left the comfortable main lounge.
Martha was dozing in her seat, while Sister stared past the transparent panel of a viewport into the eternal night of deep space.
Sybil hoped that her scary friend would eventually find peace or at least answers.
Sybil got up and sat closer to her scary friend and spoke without hesitation. “Whoever they are,” she began, “they helped me, by unlocking what I am. They will do the same for you, I am sure.”
Sister turned her demonic head and looked at Sybill. Sister had four eyes, where humans had two. The eyes were unsettling and the maw was filled with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth and was able to unhinge just like a snake to create a cavity big enough to maim a human face with one bite. The face displayed only one emotion, an evil satanic grin, yet Sybil saw more behind all this. The yellow eyes with vertical reptilian pupils, never blinking, were locked into a wicked stare. Sybil could not tell how it was that she was able to see more behind that expressionless face.
Sister could not even modulate her voice to anything but a dreadful deep throated hissing quality; however Sybil had learned to detect the subtle ways her monstrous friend used volume to achieve an emotional quality. Sister was speaking as softly and quietly as she could, so as not to disturb the sleeping Martha. “I so much want that chorus of voices inside my head to fall silent, to have none but my memories and thoughts.” Her voice trailed to a whisper. “I am also afraid of what I might be if they are successful in restoring my original mind.”
Sybil blinked. “You?” This admission seemed so out of character to her usually so forceful friend. “Sister, I always thought you could not be afraid of anything.”
The demon-like creature designed by unknown genetic tailors and bio wizards lowered her head, riding on a short and wide neck. “I am some kind of weapon, Sybil. Whoever created me, did not want me to have friends. I did not have a name, I am sure about that. I have a name now, I am Sister and I have friends. You and Martha stayed with me, disregarded what I am back in the slave cages. Both of you traveled to come for me, again disregarding your own safety. Of all things I am or might be, no considerations were made for me to have friends.”
Sister looked up again. “I am afraid, Sybil that my true personality, the creature I am supposed to be will forget you and Martha. Will see you as prey and nothing more than weak things that must be destroyed.”
“I don’t believe that, Sister.”
“I have been fighting the urge to kill you both since I saw you for the first time in the cage of the Slave dealer.”
Silently Martha sat down on the other side of Sister, it appeared she hadn’t really slept and had heard it all.
“I know you wanted to kill me. I remember your maw wide open right before my eyes while you pinned me to the deck plates of that small craft. You are many times stronger and faster than me. I should be dead, Sister. That I am sitting here must be evidence that there is a caring soul inside you. I learned to trust you with my life, Sister.”
Sybil agreed. “I know that as well, Sister. That urge to kill us has gotten much weaker. It sounds terrible when I say it like that, but nothing but real friendship can explain that we both still live. I am not afraid to sleep while you are present, Sister. A Dai warrior will never allow a threat to go unchallenged. You are not a threat.”
Sister fell silent, thinking about what her friends just said and wanted to release her emotions in a sigh or tears. She could do neither. So she reached out with her razor-sharp claw-like hands, able to gouge steel, and gently touched both her friends. Something in her stirred, something she could not explain. Whatever it was made her say. “Thank you.” Words she had never thought to utter and now she understood their true meaning. “That makes me even more afraid of whatever I may become. I... , I care for both of you very much.”
“Aboard the Kilcore, the immense Dai Mother of the Co tribe, I was not treated like the other Daiyee but attended school alongside the declared Vant-Kath, my beloved Bas. We had an old and very wise teacher by the name of Orik-Co. He told us that the Universe is unforgiving and harsh. It is so vast that no one can grasp it with their minds, not the Dai, not all the Union scholars, and not even the uncanny Narth. However, it can be understood by emotion. He told us about an ancient Dai legend that was told even before the times of the Forbidden Past. This legend speaks about an unfathomable evil of universe-shattering powers that will rise. No weapon can harm it, but love and emotions will tame it.”
Sybil stared out the viewport into the darkness of space. “Whatever you will become Sister, your emotions and feelings for us will be stronger than everything else.”
All three fell silent for a long moment, then Sister said. “You are free of whatever they planted in your mind, yet you still speak of the Dai as if you belong to them.”
“No one forced me; I freely participated in a mission of great danger to spy on the Dai, find their weaknesses, their secret hiding places, and the location of Thana Shoo. NAVINT planned to destroy Thana Shoo during a meeting, killing every Dai attending and thus break the Dai threat forever. Operation Red Mole was only a part of Project Red Dusk. I know now, it was a plan with many parts conceived by NAVINT leaders and approved by the Security Council of the Assembly.” Sybil’s face reflected shame and sadness. “Cherubim and her people only unlocked the demons inside me and made me realize who I was. However, as Geha, an unforeseen accident where I saved the life of the Tar’s favorite son changed everything. I still love Bas and want to return to my real family aboard the Kilcore. The Tar became more a father to me than my biological one and Bas-Co much more than a brother, he became the man I love and want to be with.”
Now it was her voice that trailed off. “I know I lost this home forever. My beloved Bas thinks I am dead and now looks on other Daiyee. Maybe he has forgotten about me. I wish there were a way I could at least tell him that I am still alive and then ask the Tar for forgiveness or whatever punishment he sees fit for my betrayal. Of course, there is no way to do that. After we have done whatever this Cherubim wants us to do, I will be lost.”
Cherubim’s voice came from the doorway. She had silently appeared in the space ship’s lounge. “I think there is a way you can contact the Co tribe. I am supposed to be a heartless assassin, but my story of origin is not so different from yours, Sybil. I too lost the love of my life. I lost him to the sands of time but I know what you are feeling.”
Sybil gasped. “How? How can I let Bas know I am alive? The Dai have no GalNet and I do not even know where the tribe might be at this time.”
“There is a Leedei device called the Tele Listener. This device was used by Roy to find you, Martha.”
--””--
BLUE BISHOP
Neither Tilo Taros nor his Earth liaison, Alexandre Toussaint could explain why the expensive cloaked spy drone had failed. The small sophisticated and quite intelligent device followed the flyer with Sam Brown, the old robot, and the old detective Phil Decker out of town and due north. But the device stopped transmitting almost right away.
Tilo suspected that the device had been discovered and destroyed, most likely by one of the other parties interested in the flyer’s destination.
After they had lost track, they tried to guess where the black Marine, the policeman, and the robot went. After hearing what happened at Eastmain, both were actually glad.
Alexandre said. “We should thank whatever caused our spy drone to malfunction. All the news channels speak of a fierce battle right at the shores of Hudson Bay and less than a mile from Eastmain. While there are no details, they speak of a major Kermac spy ring bust. The region is crawling with Union soldiers and counterintelligence.”
Tilo had to agree and he hoped they were far enough into making their retreat back to Montreal and then off-planet.
The Blue Bishop however was not pleased. “Yes, one could say this is fortunate, but what about the Experiment. I must have it.”
Alexandre shrugged his shoulders as he instructed the flyer to return to the next big city. “I do not see how, your Holiness. It looks as though this was a well-planned trap by Union Counter-Intel. We should be glad no one was following us. If they think we are spies we might get brain scanned and then executed.”
Tilo touches his head. “This must be avoided at all costs. However, you spoke of that device Stahl destroyed. That Kermac experiment will know where to find another.”
“Maybe it never really existed and was created as a bait to draw out all the spies? I must point out that Decker was part of that party. He was the one who uncovered our first attempt to establish Necro rule, he is an immortal. Maybe he never lost sight of us?”
“Let us return to your Eglise de la Mort in France, before we leave this cursed world. We must consult our network.”
--””--
The Admiral of the Fleet was nothing if not diligent and hard working. Even after almost 3000 years, he was at work and on duty daily. He put in long days and other than the occasional game of golf, he never really took any extended vacations. Oh sure, he visited his beloved Scotland, and there was nothing that recharged him like a long walk along the shores of a loch or a long afternoon among the mist-covered mountains of his true home.
He had seen a thousand worlds, some considered the most beautiful but to him, nothing could compare to Earth and the Highlands of Scotland.
He had just returned from such a weekend; thanks to the TMT network virtually only a few steps away. He still felt the moist fresh air in his hair as he sat behind his desk to begin his day.
At the top of the priorities, and the reason he returned earlier than planned was the news of a major spy ring bust right here on Earth.
Unlike the official news, he of course had access to the most minute details. Just as he was about halfway through examining the disturbing news, his aide announced General Braddock, the current Commandant of the Union Army.
Unlike the fleet, the Army did not have an immortal at the helm, and while there always was a certain amount of branch envy, McElligott respected this Commandant. The rivalry between Union Army and Union Navy was as old as the Union itself. There always was a discussion of why there was a need for an army in the first place. Critics suggested that a space-born society did not need a surface-based military force and there was no need for a second fleet. However, over the years the Union Army managed to create a legacy of being needed and relevant.
General Braddock in terms of rank was equal to McElligott, but not close in terms of importance. Union Army had only a fraction of the funding and a fraction of the personnel.
Braddock looked about as textbook army as a man could look. This was the first human commandant in decades. The previous commander was a Botnaar, and a person McElligott did not get along with at all.
McElligott got up from his seat holding a PDD in document view mode and greeted the high ranking officer with a sharp tone. “Can you explain this?”
McElligott was certain the man knew exactly what he was talking about.
The General shook his head. “No, O’Brock I can’t. One of our guys went way beyond his authorities. From the initial looks of it we will have to investigate.”
“Who?”
“General Warwick, of the Advanced System Development Bureau.”
McElligott suddenly changed his tone. “I am sure we can work something out. Let us make sure this isn’t blown out of proportion. Maybe the Army can take credit for busting the Kermac spy operation, which is quite embarrassing to our Counterintelligence community.”
Braddock was taken aback by this sudden change in attitude. He was not an immortal, but he didn’t become the Union Army Commandant for being a fool. “There is more going on, isn’t there?”
“What do you want, General? We can make this official and drag it before the Assembly. You know heads will roll if this happens, quite literally. Or we can do it the sensible way.”
“I am not sure we should, Admiral Sir. I wear this uniform out of conviction, and I am reluctant to hold anything back from the Assembly. However I am also a realist, I know about your reputation and your pull so the proposed solution to this situation seems best.”
“I am glad we came to an understanding so easily. Do send Warwick to me when you have a chance. In the meantime, I will instruct NAVINT to share all details with you guys and then we’ll inform the public in a joint statement.”
The Admiral of the Fleet watched the General leave and pressed a contact on his desk to secure the room. He then switched his desk unit to NAVINT. He disconnected from NELSON and was now in contact with MATA HARI. The AI of NAVINT was sentient and, unlike NELSON, had no moral qualms whatsoever. The AI with the simulated personality of a human female called him by his NAVINT code name, Black Bishop. It was a code name he quite liked.
“MATA HARI, you know of course about all the details regarding the recent situation in former Canada?”
“Indeed, Sir. We believe the recent exposure of Kermac operatives and their disturbing involvement with a genuine Terran Weapon company cannot be attributed to the Kermac Ministry of Information as a whole, but a somewhat independent group operating within the Ministry of Information. There are intelligence reports which cannot be substantiated beyond a probability of 67 percent, suggesting that the Kermac leadership was not informed or involved. This operation, just like the one that exposed the Slide Belt Company as a Kermac front, unmasked carefully developed assets they were not intending to sacrifice.”
“Do we know what they were after?”
“The same thing Warwick and our operatives were after, the resurrected Experiment that escaped our research facility on Ceres.”
“So the Experiment did escape to Earth after all. Where do we think is it now?”
“All traces end in Canada.”
“Did we not have assets on the friend of the Experiment, what’s her name? The woman from Green Hell.”
“Yes, Dr. Martha Masters. NAVINT wanted to recruit her at first, then we sent Dr. Erine to explore your suggestion to reduce the involved parties. Dr. Erine was murdered before he could even make contact. NAVINT also secured the services of, Ivan Harrow who was found dead aboard a civil clipper ship inside an emergency equipment locker. Our assets lost all trace of Martha in rural Quebec.”
McElligott took one of his pipes off an ornamental stand on his desk and begun to stuff it with tobacco. “Was she not considered to be a Biologist of some sort? Hearing all this makes her sound as if she is one of the most professional operators.”
“Indeed, Sir. Situation analysis suggests Cherubim and the TSI are involved. Also, it must be noted that Phil Decker is now on the case. The detective of the Union Police assigned to the case of Dr. Ruhtkamph and his fiancé contacted the immortal detective and he took over the case. He was seen in the company of Sam Brown, who is an associate of Martha Masters as you know.”
McElligott didn’t like that at all. He didn’t like Decker much and had had little contact with the man because their fields never really crossed and Decker was never interested in anything political or of prominent exposure. However, he knew of Decker’s reputation. “That complicates things.”
“There is a report that Cherubim tried to have him assassinated and failed. Eliminating him might be exceedingly difficult.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Did he locate the experiment?”
“Phil Decker, Sam Brown, and Charles the Cerberus robot are reported to be in Quantico Virginia.”
“What would they do there?”
“Attend the graduation ceremony of a young marine recruit. His name is Roy Masters; he is the son of Martha Masters.”
“Oh? Maybe her son will be able to find Martha Masters. It seems too much of a coincidence both of them being on Earth at the same time. Prepare a dossier on this young man and put some assets on him.”
“A dossier has been created, and NAVINT assets are already deployed. It should be noted that Roy Masters was the focus of a PSI Corps operation that began with the assassination attempt on Pandar Strong and the Klack delegation while they were at Harper’s Junction. Roy Masters appears to have ties to the Leedei that are still under investigation. The Tri of Science allowed him to use the Tele Listener. He is known to Admiral Richard Stahl who has come to Earth to partake in said ceremony.”
(Checked by Glenn) Martha watched as Cherubim once again entered the main lounge of the small ship. “Cherubim, you say we are on our way back to Green Hell?” “No, Martha, we are not, your son is. Official Union authorities, as well as several very dangerous groups, are after the three of you.” Martha waved towards the viewport. “I thought we were going to Green Hell, so my son can find that guardian and a way for us to find that Techno Mage?” “Your son is about to reach Green Hell, and he...
Sam could not deny a sense of deep friendship as he saw the towering Cerberus standing there by the entrance. Even though it was a Mark IV, made obsolete quite a while ago with the Union military now using the Mark IX, it still was an impressive combat system. The fact that Charles was truly sentient made the Cerberus much more dangerous than any known main battle system in Sam’s opinion. Sam has just stepped out of a TMT booth and onto Treasure Island Plaza, right before the sky-reaching...
Roy doubted there could be a moment more perfect than this one. There beneath the invigorating light of a GIII type yellow sun, standing at attention, wearing his dress uniform, he and the other 22 were officially decorated in recognition of their heroic deeds. However, that he was the one receiving the Navy Cross was not the source of this feeling that made him almost explode with pride. It was the fact that Admiral Stahl, commemorating his Marine roots and wearing an old fashioned but still...
Ken Kener, the Triple Strong was the first who had his rack inspection ready. He was always first in things like that. Ken somehow managed to have his boots shined, his footlocker squared exactly to specifications and his bunk looked like the image in the recruit handbook. Faragon, was on the opposite spectrum and struggled with these things. Ken grinned and even found time to help the Drach before their instructor called them all into attention. Their drill instructor was a Botnaar. Roy...
Martha stared at the small man standing in the door of her cabin, holding a small Neuro Ripper. Her former colleague had closed the door behind him and his face was graced by a smug and evil smile. “I am asking nicely, but only once: Where are you meeting the Experiment exactly?” Dr. Evans was quite assured of himself. She was helpless and he was in charge. But the Martha he knew was not the same that stood before him. She had gone through quite an ordeal, an ordeal that had taught her a few...
Geha felt almost as miserable as she had in the Portel room on Lorman’s Starbase. While she was free of the tormenting mocking of that infuriating woman calling herself Jane Smith and was no longer compelled to betray the ones she loved, she knew her life was a lie and that her real name was Sybil Putnam. Her body was perhaps not even the one she had been born with. Geha only knew for certain that she wasn’t the girl she always thought she was and that her existence was based on deceit. She...
(This is the one Glenn checked) “Fleet assets are on their way,” the XO of the USS John Basilone yelled across the sudden chaos unfolding on the Tripoli Class dropship. It had been completely unprepared when it dropped out of Quasi just moments after a large Galactic Council fleet which was conducting a full-scale attack. Captain Bragg had completed this run to the Champain system many hundred times. Even while the first Line Cannon barrage raked across the hull of the Basilone, and the...
Sergeant Leven had second thoughts as he was leading his platoon of recruits away from the damaged dropship. None of them had ever worn a Destroyer suit before. The first introduction to these marvels of Union military technology was planned for tomorrow and then the first planet drop would commence. That was the plan at least before the Basilone dropped into a system filled with angry Larkami battleships. Glancing back his heart sank as he saw the proud dropship trailing a cloud of debris....
(Beta Checked by Glenn) USS John Basilone had put up a good fight, a role she was not meant to be in. She was a Marine Dropship, designed to follow battleships and swarms of Deep space fighters who blazed a path for the dropships. Unmolested as little as possible so they could unload their loads of Orbital Assault Marines upon a planet. Marines were also used to board damaged enemy units. Units that had been disabled and damaged by combat vessels. It was unfortunate that the captain of the...
(Made better by Glenn) Montreal was still a beautiful human city, with many sights to see, but with the exception of a sentient machine none of the that had followed Sam Brown had any interest in the sights of this town. While this city, like most Earth cities, had become very quiet, it was as if the cradle of humanity had fallen asleep. It was technically still a very important place, but almost all industry had moved either to the artificial ring that now circled this famous and perhaps...
The Saran woman entered the hotel room she and the Saresii had occupied since they arrived in Montreal. They both were working for the Kermac Ministry of Information and thus for the enemy. She had been a member of the Black Cat society and like all Black Cats very opposed to the Gray Cat society, a rivalry as old as time. The Gray Cats had become the dominant group and influenced everything in Saresii life, while all the other societies, like the Red Cats or the White Cats, withered away to...
The United Stars of the Galaxies, more commonly and simply referred to as the Union, was as societies went, still young, and had only existed for about 2700 years. This was not a very long time even in human terms. There had been empires and societies existing for much longer than that. Compared to other galactic societies and empires past and present, the Union had not even really started. In this short time, however, it managed to spread over a considerable region of space and even into...
The planet and the system had many names, but to most it was known as Summit Peak. Like the Planet of Universal Peace, this world was also famous for being a place for important meetings between space-faring societies. It was almost forgotten during the height of the First Galactic Council, as such trans-society meetings took place on the Planet of Universal Peace. However when the Original Galactic Council became a farce to most because of the Kermac demanding sole control and the rise of...
Sol Hub positioned right at the edge of the so-called heliopause. Almost exactly one lightyear from the actual star at the center of this system. As star systems went, this one was without question one of the most important. While every rock and floating pebble big enough to put a boot on was occupied or utilized. It was all about the third planet; by all accounts, he heard, one of the most beautiful and perfect garden worlds in existence, with a rich diversity of climates and life forms....
McElligott was not certain what talents the Glou might have, but he was pretty sure they were based on Psionics, and this latest Union shield technology was not only opaque to it, but an effective way to isolate a psionic user from accessing that trans-spatial condition where Psions could be accessed. The small humanoid, sure enough, fell to the ground, no longer able to levitate himself. The Old Highlander got up and gestured towards a visitor chair that established itself. “As I said,...
Geha melted and faded away, dissolved like a puff of smoke in a strong breeze. As they raised the helmet-like apparatus she had been under, it was as if she woke from a long deep sleep. She could remember everything and in a clear order. She also remembered what she had experienced while she was Geha. Including the lasting impressions of her ending up on Alvor’s Cove and meeting her new friends, Martha and Sister. She remembered meeting them again in an old secretive satellite in an orbit...
“My ship?” Roy repeated the question. The Wurgus made the confirming gesture again. “Yes, Masterun. The All Patriarch has gifted you a Pod ship. You can’t be a Patriarch without a Podship.” Roy sighed. “You Wurgus value honesty right?” “Yes, above all,” “We humans like to be asked about things like that. This should go both ways you know. I want to become a Marine and I don’t need a ship or want to make a career out of becoming a surrogate Wurgus. I think you guys are very nice and go out...
That night, the boy Roy Masters retreated into the past forever and the golden morning light filtering through the tall windows of this luxury apartment found Roy Masters the man instead. No other event, no other act was as decisive and profound as the one he had shared with the most incredible creature in the entire universe. It began in the most innocent and playful way, simply wanting to know more of her, not her mind and nothing she was saying. His mind was detached from reason or...
“What is the World of Old?” Sister asked with her growling, hissing voice. Sybil wrapped her arms around her knees as she pulled them up on the deep and soft couch that was part of the yacht’s main lounge. “I think I heard the term a few times, but I don’t know. Martha, who left her seat to get herself a Hot Chocolate stood by the brass and dark wood appointed, robot attended bar. “I am sure I have heard the term once or twice, but without consulting GalNet, I can’t recall where or in what...
(Beta Reader Glenn, thank you Glenn) Alegar was extremely agitated to put it mildly. He was not too mad at the woman who left him behind tied up and exposed to the Sleep Inducer of his bed. While it was more than inconvenient, it was the bed that alerted emergency services, after he lost bowel control while under the Sleep Inducer turned on without a timer. No, it wasn’t that. He could not blame her for not trusting anyone and now he stood in the chamber of the Great Grey Cat. It was...
The two Mercenaries had left Desolate a few hours ago and arrived via shuttle on Green Hell. They both were Pertharian. They had accompanied Ms. Yeager to the prison colony and now their mutual employers wanted them to make an initial survey of this world. Neither of the Pertharians believed there was a planet in the universe they could not survive, especially with the nice equipment their employers got them. All these stories about Green Hell were made by weak and fragile humans of course...
Harlex had his arms crossed before his chest and leaned with his right shoulder against one of the supports that held up the sheet of heavy gauge translucent Dura Plast. It once had been translucent, but a thick layer of slimy green algae covering most of it made that a mood feature. Heavy rain poured from the lead colored sky thick with billowing clouds and the rushing sound of the downpour almost drowned the poor quality transmission of classic Bombast music coming from inside the...
Phil Decker pushed his hat back and scratched his hair line as he had done countless times in his very long live and with his other hand in his coat pocket he turned from the carnage and destruction before him and said to the tall woman standing a few feet behind him. “Roast me an Ult if that was done by Shiss pirates.” The tall woman brushed a silver strand of hair out of her face the wind kept blowing back. “When I heard legendary Phil Decker was in a system nearby I could not resist and...
Green Hell didn’t have a spaceport, just a shuttle pad on top of Merchants Tower, the highest building of Ant Hill. A daily shuttle service-connected to Harper’s Junction. He felt a little forlorn as he stood there on that platform from where he had a breathtaking view over the shimmering lake and the jungles lining its shores in the distance. Partner nudged him in the side, and a feeling of warmth spread in his mind. At least he was not alone; he had Partner. According to the woman behind...
Stahl “If that is an Army Exercise then my name is Donald Duck.” Stahl grunted from the command seat. “Sir we getting thousands of calls for help from short range GalNet PDD’s. They are coming from Desolate, Harper’s Junction and Green Hell.” “There are nine Capital Kermac Units and there is debris of at least seven civilian craft including a space bus, Sir” “We are detecting Energy Weapon fire from the surface of Green Hell.” Stahl interrupted the flow of reports. “Launch Wolfcrafts,...
Lamax system was only 61 lightyears distant to Faysummit system. Meaning the superfast Colt reached Faysummit only 136 minutes. Roy was getting more anxious by the moment. The closer he got the more he felt convinced that his mother was close and that she was in great peril. The Colt was brand-new and by law, it was his ship. The Phantasian who piloted the ride was an employee or more precise a contractor. Tanya was right, this passenger cabin was not big enough for Partner, but then this...
The house he called home was a dome shaped Ultronit sphere; made out of the same material they made battle ship armor out of. The house had two levels and once had been a forward research outpost on Green Hell and served as his families’ home ever since he was born. Roy switched on the outside visual sensor and waited for the Institute Floater that would take his parents away. The visual sensor was on a sturdy telescopic mast and inside a strong protective housing and could be steered and...
Dr. Ivan Harrow disconnected the Comm-Link with a forceful gesture, reflecting his feeling of annoyance. He really respected Paul Masters and he simply adored Martha, but he hated to be called while he was attending a lecture at the annual Galactic life-sciences Conference. This time it was being held on Earth (Terra) and the ancient hallowed grounds of the famous Cambridge University. Even though he was unable to attend in person this year, and he was there only via GalNet tele-presence...
Roy had left his animal with heavy heart and foreboding gloomy thoughts in the mostly gutted ruin of Research Outpost 2. Even though he was sure the animal understood and would wait for him, he feared he might have seen his new friend the last time. Bob always left Wobbler here, when he had to go inside and Wobbler was always there the next day. Norm’s Zisch always came right out of the water; so Roy sighed and petted the humongous head of the black beast and received a dry lick across the...
Roy and the others were still outside and while the pebble beach here at the Big Lake was far safer than the jungle; even here it was not a good idea to stay too long at the same spot. A Stomper crushed through the thicket into the open, what made him storm onto the pebble beach was not clear to Roy and he wondered about it. As Stompers rarely if ever actually came into the open, they feared nothing except Water Snakes. There was a collective scream of fear going through the crowd at Ma...
Celyciia, the Federal Police officer of the Recksnostal precinct was on her way to the interrogation room where she had the Warden of Penal Colony 23. Phil Decker the old detective wanted to question the Warden and not eat him, as she now knew. They had returned from Planet Parajsa after over two days of detailed investigation. She was completely fascinated with this man who had lived on the Human world Earth before they even knew there were other sentient life forms in the Galaxy. He wasn’t...
Far from Green Hell, an asteroid without a corresponding solar system slowly made its way to a region called Ballard’s Expanse in Union galactic maps. The asteroid would reach this dense dust cloud around the year 5020. The asteroid was a wanderer on a course across the Galaxy for many eons. This big chunk of rock and ice was hollow and known as Sobody’s Seat. One of the fabulous Galactic Markets operated by this neutral and enigmatic civilization. Some claimed that the Golden were somehow...
The Admiral was gone, and so was the Devastator so the Silver Swan was once more on her way to its next destination. Roy was back in his suite, Cara sat next to him on his balcony. They had both watched the Devastator accelerate and go to trans light in a flash. Even though there was no sense of size in deep space as there was no reference. The immense ship had dwarfed the Silver Swan to insignificance hanging next to her and then as the most famous ship of the entire Galaxy accelerated they...
He did not know how long he had cried and he must have fallen asleep. This time there was no dream of his mother. He was certain he imagined things but there was a warm heavy arm on his shoulder and as he looked up a man sat next to him, the energy curtain was gone and the marine that mocked him stood there with a black eye and with a face of pure fright. “Everything is going to be alright, Roy.” The man next to him wore an all-black uniform, his calf-high boots polished to a mirror shine....
The view was awesome, absolutely awesome. He could see the entire ocean of trees and far in the distance the shimmering of an ocean, a river meandered in a green valley far below. He saw tiny houses there and on the side of a mountain, he saw tiny dots sliding down that white stuff. On top of the other mountain was a building of sorts. Connected with little gondolas traveling up and down suspended on cables. He wondered what they were doing and said to Partner. “It’s freaking cold up here...
Roy returned to the hotel to find Cara in the sitting room of their shared suite. She was lounging in a comfortable chair with her legs up gathered in a feminine fashion. A field screen displaying apparently local news floated before her. Cara had her long silvery hair open and wore something soft caressing her curves. To Roy, she had always been an exceptional beauty of exotic grace, but now his mind compared her to his Tanya, and in his mind, no female could compare to her. Just as he was...
Roy was quite angry, partially at the situation, partially at himself but mostly at Paul Masters, Yet he should have known better, he grew up sharing a home with Pau; Masters, who was according to human biology, Union law and common convention, his father, Roy, at first never saw anything unusual in the rather unsocial behavior of his father, but when he started school and heard about how other fathers treated and connected with their offspring, Roy knew his father was indeed not what one...
The Space Train terminal was located on the very apex of the truly gigantic station known as Sares Hub. Roy, while he started to become a seasoned traveler, still found places like this overwhelming. There was so much activity, this was by far the busiest place he had been so far. He had to admit he was glad Tanya was with him. She was not intimidated and seemed to know where to go. While he traveled with Cara, who also always seemed to know where to go and what to do, it was different with...
Ieshia pressed a sub-dermal contact on the base of her jaw and tapped it twice and with that she activated her Data Brain connection to GalNet. She now could make GalNet calls directly using her minds speech center without opening her mouth. It took a little practice to separate what you were thinking and what you wanted to say without using your vocal cords or your mouth, but she had been doing it for a long time and because of that she earned a very generous salary. She was an employee, but...
Roy never really thought he would ever meet the Eternal Warrior, the man Uncle Sam respected so much, and now he was sitting across from the legendary man and was questioned. Stahl appeared to be a normal human being but Roy’s back hair stood on end whenever he looked into the eyes of that man. It was just as if staring into deep space. The legendary Admiral wasn’t exactly friendly and his voice had a razor sharp edge. Cara had left to talk with the Wurgus delegates. Ship crew was starting...
“Nice to meet you, Sir. I have to tell you my mother is dead. She and my father were killed in a pirate attack, a little while ago.” The alien creature paid no attention to what Roy had said. “I am a very old Bellebee and I still get confused using the Avatar technology. This is why I wanted to meet you like this, young Masters. Let Cara and Ukdu talk while I show you a few magnificent sights.” Roy carefully adjusted the thrusters and slowly followed the huge being. “Alright, Mr. Moke-Die....
Celyciia Paydhal and Sergeant Ruddick sat on a picnic blanket in the soft ankle deep grass of North Africa Park, the largest Terran style park of Reckno City. The capitol of Recksnostal Colony. Ruddick said after he devoured another sandwich. “This is how I dreamed police work would be, before I ever joined the force.” Celyciia smiled. “Having a picnic in the park and eating while on duty?” He shook his head. “Of course not, I eat all the time on duty or not. No I mean us listening in on...
Roy had learned that the ship he was on was a Saresii Courier and officially operated under the charter of the Science Council. It was a Henjiitah Class cruiser and 600 meters long. It had the outer appearance of an elongated bulbous plant leaf and reminded him of the thick water filled fleshy leaves of the Glow bush. The ship was not green however but had an iridescent color of pearly pale orange. The ship was called the Gayimeera and since it was not a Union Fleet unit it did not carry the...
The trip back to Belle Station was eventless and so was boarding another long-range shuttle to the outermost planet of the system a few hours later. The intersystem trip would take only 35 minutes as the shuttle did have FTL engines and would bridge most of the six light hours in Quasi space. Sobyr did not even bother finding a seat and went straight to the shuttle’s small lounge for a burger. Roy was too excited to eat or feel hungry, so he opted for a cup of water. “What are they doing...
Siebzehfie, a high ranking Wizard in the Ministry of Information just finished consuming a detailed intelligence report and then looked up and noticed a new participant just taking a seat at the perfectly round, white table at the top of the Ministry of Information tower. There was a shocked hushed silence because it was the Supreme Wizard himself. No one knew how to react, this was unprecedented. The Supreme leader of all Kermac was accompanied by two other Kermac. The one to his right was...
The ship must have gone trans-light, so far they had not spaced anyone. Roy and everyone else had been left behind in one of the destroyers cargo holds. As Cara walked by Partner he saw something his four-legged friend has never done, he flashed his formidable teeth and growled deeply at the Saresii woman. From his animal, he received emotions of confusion and anger towards Cara. She hissed at Partner. “Shut up, stupid beast.” Then she walked out the door. Partner had always liked Cara,...
There were those who doubted the Union could win this war. The Galactic Council led and controlled by the Kermac, was a powerful entity, with hundreds of Thrall species, massive fleets and many millions of warriors. The Larkami were no exception, difficult to control but tremendous fighters. Ninsibfiv, the High Wizard of the Military himself had traveled to Lark, the homeworld of the Larkami to coordinate. He planned to use Larkami manned Kermac warships to counter-attack several Union...
Space bus travel was subsidized and tightly regulated under the Travel Assistance Act of 2224. Union Citizens took this service for granted, as it connected virtually every possible destination within Union Space, but the envy of so many other societies. Roy had his head turned to the viewport on his right, rather than using the field screen he could have activated. The local sun was settling behind the distant horizon and sent its last rays of light over a sprawling orderly Union city....
Cara and Roy had left their seats for a ight meal in the main lounge. Partner insisted to be there as well. While the huge black animal never wanted for any sort of food, it was happily consuming the leftovers and wrappers Roy tossed its way. Cara had finished most of her Muuhn cakes, which were a traditional Saresii lunch item. She educated him, that these vegetarian-based air baked protein dumplings were considered spicy on Sares. He tried, and to him, it was as if eating something...
Paul no longer looked like a slave. He was clean, well-groomed and wore a loose-fitting, light brown colored shirt and pants combination underneath an open seamed dark brown dust cloak, that was so common on Alvor’s Cove. The belt pouch contained an Alvor’s Cove resident license, officially purchased and verified. The colony officials selling these and a host of other permits and licenses only cared about the Iridium chips or the Fullweights they charged and did not ask any questions at...
Kukur Nurop found himself covered with bruises from a severe beating and completely naked in the lizard scat composter. His hands tied to his back, it took him quite some effort to get his head over the lid, only to receive a shovel load of more of the revolting greenish lizard poop into his face. He yelled and cursed on the top of his lungs and his racket alerted an Oghr overseer. “What have we here? Trying to escape by hiding in the shit box? Couldn’t handle the stench eh?” I am Kukur...
The Unth had reached Bhrama Port and rested against the long mooring arm. Groghr nu Trrmphka, the Togar shipmaster stood by the open passenger hatch, accompanied by his Kakth Oghr mate. He watched the tall human debark. “Have a nice time on Brhama, Human and thank whatever gods you may worship that we actually made it.” Sam turned. “I noticed the alarms, but it seems you mastered the situation, whatever it may be.” The Togar shipmaster brushed over his whiskers. “Turned half my fur gray,...
Nijaii plaza was just like everything else, a perfectly groomed, perfectly clean open space multi-leveled space connected with sweeping two or three-step stairs. Interconnected with water features, gurgling fountains and more of those artistic shaped, but not very natural-looking trees. There wasn’t a single leaf on the ground, no one walked or sat on the carpet like grass. Some of the grass was not even green, but pink and peach-colored. The TMT Gazebo centrally located on that plaza had...
Martha and her new friends did not run into anyone as they made their way to the hangar deck. While the Union scientist would have never found anything on this alien ship. It was evident Geha did not have the same problems. She unerringly used elevators and corridors as if she had been raided on this Karthanian. Geha said as they emerged from an elevator shaft. “I wonder where the rest of the crew is. I am sure there are more than the dead goons up in Command and Control.” “There aren’t...
The subject of that angry interchange inside the hidden chamber beneath the tower of Wizards was strapped into his command seat, a good 60,000 Light year distance. Einulsiebzwe was a Kermac, and like the current Supreme Wizard Zwhehzwheneu he could trace his roots all the way back to Koken and he was proud of his heritage. As his T-cruiser, the very latest of its kind with the finest and best technology the Galactic Council had to offer, was accelerating to punish that impudent Union Police...
Two hours just weren’t enough to find a man who knew this rock and did not want to be found. Sam knew the Bennett’s were quite serious about their warning. Even with Charles, he could not win. This wasn’t an open planet where he could hide in the wilderness somewhere. This was a closed environment with areas not accessible to him, and with too many eyes and ears. He had asked all the usual sources and while they all knew something about Dimon, no one really knew where he was. Sam did find...
Roy found himself waking in a huge bed, Tanya snuggled close to him, Partner behind them both like a giant living pillow. The window across the bed provided a vista over a green mountain meadow. It took him a moment to get oriented and remembered taking a shower and crawling more tired than he realized he was into this bed. A glance on his Wrist-com told him, that was six hours ago. The enormous bed, greatly expanded to accommodate Partner was part of this uber-lux master bedroom. The window...
This was the first time Supreme Wizard Zwhehzwheneu noticed that the seven xenomorphs in their hidden chamber right beneath the Tower of the Supreme Wizard were not as arrogant and aloft as they usually acted. It almost seemed the seven were disturbed and perhaps even afraid. They had summoned him and he of course obeyed. “I have heard your call and here I am.” “Our assets, the eyes we have developed within the society known as the Union disappear at an alarming rate. We lost contact with...