THE GALAXYMBION ODYSSEY

UNDETERMINED TIME FRAME - PANTEMPORA

He had already died twice in curious ways which made him think more carefully than most about life’s subtle qualities. Not that he was ‘alive’ anymore in the regular sense of that word. Mirek had transcended ‘alive’; to describe him as ‘alive’ was as ineffectual as to describe a planet like Jupiter as ‘a large round thing.’ He now looked with fatherly affection upon all that moved itself voluntarily only within a limited physical radius. For benign life he had the utmost reverence, but even for dangerous and obnoxious creations he regarded their existence in a manner that no ordinary being could.

To him all were harmless, deserving of their continuance; each and every one of them a microscopic marvel. There would unfold a time in the distant future of this Photocosm when all sentient beings would exist on Mirek’s plane; no longer confined within limited physical shells - free to roam between Photocosms as they wished. Free to traverse temporal frames as they wished. Until then something spectacular was required for the moment; temporal fusion with life itself. Mirek would make sure of this. He would enable the fusion, heal the wounds of time and life, bring singleness of purpose to a splintered, dying universe.

Delicately he spread out, except it was not exactly spreading. How can an omnipresent being spread when there is nothing beyond the infinity in which it dwells? It was more like a ‘condensing’ at his desired destination; similar to secondlife when his mind walked with his Niva, though so much richer and more meaningful. Mind-walking was crude by comparison, though; consciousness trailing by a thread from a physical body. Confined within imagination and still dependent upon being a ‘physion’ – a physical form with psionic potential. Nothing compared with Fusion – being connected directly with quantum eventuality.

A far away detonation interrupted his mind-flow. The disturbance was too substantial to merely be a supernova; it rocked time in a way not even a temporan could, flushing unethical sensations across his thirdlife realm. He hesitated whilst data waves gathered around him and became assimilated into his temporal nexus. Yes, someone or something had made a substantial transfer between ‘now’ and ‘then’. It could be a mistake or a deliberate incursion; possibly benevolent, possibly malicious. It required direct investigation and may need to be corrected by Mirek and to have its cause confronted. He initiated the metamorphosis that would enable manifestation at that distant region without his temporal incubator.

Something bothered Mirek; now that he was firmly implanted in the photocosmic centre he possessed an infinitely elastic perception yet could discern little about the physions that had caused this disturbance. Not their corporeal biostructure and not their genetic architecture. This was a bothersome paradox as it reminded him that even in Fusion he was vulnerable to limitations; he could still be damaged, paralysed, destroyed and denied information by life.

2770/2019

Sir, I do not understand; these time imbalances are localised in the vicinity of each person’s stasis chamber. Everything around them has aged forty millennia more than it should have in normal time yet the chambers are not antiquated; it is as if the entire vessel was sent back in time and has been floating around ever since. The stasis chambers and some small technological upgrades are shell-matrixed, apparently Quelae in origin. These chambers don’t just preserve life, they freeze time. They are Quelae but are packing some revolutionary technology.”

Captain Mar Tox Tolvis considered the voice’s words a moment, then brought the communication cube back up to his mouth. “Return here now. We will leave our mystery vessel for the moment and proceed into the planet’s atmosphere to investigate its surface. Do not touch anything over there.” He sat in his chair and brought up a schematic on his portable. “Thtenbayex, plot a course to collect our shuttlepod and then take us down for atmospheric insertion. Defence; activate all R.E.D platforms and Powermesh defences, maximum level. Communication, send to Iclaan Planetary Defence Corps; deep space cruiser Canmark Rarnimdi, Dorianu class, has located a small unidentified vessel in sector one-one-four. Locality of Braagan orbit, crew held in cryogenic stasis. We believe they may be part of a deep space mining expedition that drifted off course, were helped by the Quelae and then somehow thrown backward in time. Technology is ancient but has definitely been enhanced with Galaxymbion science from Quereldene. We are breaking orbit for atmospheric insertion to investigate if there is any connection with Braagan. Standby for further bulletins.”

“We have our shuttle-pod back in hangar bay fourteen, Captain,” Thtenbayex announced.

“Fine; atmospheric insertion in 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; helm, bring us about and continue vectored descent. What do we know so far about this planet’s atmosphere and surface?”

“Not much,” the Zindraxan replied. “Atmosphere is a mixture of Oxygen, Argon, water vapour, ionised helium and Nitrogen. Average surface temperature fourteen thermons, weather systems stable, surface water 55%, magnetic poles present at force one point nine, rotation period thirty-two perchrons, solar orbital one point five two Galactic standard cycles. Solar ultraviolet output within comfortable tolerances.”

Captain Tolvis changed his pressure on the cube and rotated it slightly. “Survey team, Specialist Eburia. Is there a hypothetical connection between planet and mystery vessel?”

“Specialist Eburia, responding. Yes, Captain, I have checked incoming data. Surface of Braagan is suitable to have permitted settlement, atmosphere quite breathable by them. All other environmental factors within their physical tolerances; normal convection currents and stable polar ice caps.”

“We are scanning for life signs and would welcome any insights. Please report to Command Centre to assist.”

“Yes, Captain, on my way. Suggest scanning across whole electromagnetic spectrum. I will check results when I arrive.”

Mar Tox Tolvis pushed himself back in his seat a little, aware he was quite near the edge. “Security, prepare and launch a marker beacon; if anything goes wrong I want it to automatically start broadcasting a planetary hazard alert. Helm, any new data coming in?”

“Some curious readings in lower infra-red; almost dropped below infra-red threshold. Looks like the planet has recently altered substantially. Continent abrasion and instability were much higher until a few revs ago, and there are some vestigial life-sign readings; simple plants and bacteria, small and primitive animals.”

“Interesting; on screen, please. Braagan is known only slightly to the Galaxymbion. It has always been a dead and uninteresting world; possible to live on the surface for a while nevertheless without life or stable meteorology. Ah! Specialist Eburia, you are just in time. Take a look at these peculiar new readings. Have you seen anything like that before?”

“Captain, those readings are similar to the causality fluctuations in our mystery vessel’s crew. The whole planet seems to be caught in temporal and gravitational fluxes. Recommend we exit atmosphere immediately before one of those currents or eddies decides to take a swipe at us.”

“Helm, alter course for atmospheric departure, immediately. Keep all scanners on active monitor so we can compensate for any changes.”

“Yes, Captain. Course altered, we are leaving atmosphere and climbing at a forty-five-degree incline; velocity one thousand recules per pulse and increasing. Sir, the atmosphere beneath us is ionising rapidly, electromagnetic activity multiplying exponentially.”

“Increase power to aft R.E.D diffusion panels. Helm, go to light-speed, full power pull-away, before it is too late.”

“Yes, Captain; initiating photon velocity jump now. Critical mass point nine; point nine four, point nine eight….”

Something monstrously powerful walloped Canmark Rarnimdi so hard it bucked violently and pitched forward and leftwards.

3070/2340

Mar Tox Tolvis was thrown to the floor despite safety harnesses, as were several other crew. They appeared to be in a steep dive. Thtenbayex grabbed his seat pillar and pulled himself back up, working controls even before he was seated. “Hull temperature three thousand nine hundred and fifty thermons. Electromagnetic interference increasing, gravitational and temporal instabilities overloading R.E.D and – Gods in Heaven,” he said, looking back at the captain who had returned to his seat also. “Shell Matrix is destabilising, reverting to regular matter.”

“Seal all bulkheads, activate external plate shielding, emergency structural force fields all decks. Communication, sound crew alert, possible collision warning. Helm try and bring us under control, full reverse power.”

“I’m trying already,” Thtenbayex squawked, “controls not responding.”

“Defence, do we still have weapons capacity?”

“Yes. Orders, Captain?”

“Wide traction beam, full strength continuous reverse pulse at planet surface; try to raise our leading edge and reduce our velocity.”

“Beam correlated. Firing.”

“Sir, it is working! Velocity decreasing, levelling off at nine-point two recules altitude. External plate shielding holding, internal force fields holding,” Thtenbayex announced.

“Thank you, helm. Damage and casualty reports.”

“Main hull is cracked about forty-nine millirecules along dorsal elevation. We are losing air from that section rapidly, R.E.D at only 50%, Shell Matrix compromised 27%, energy reserves at 37%, fifteen minor injuries reported so far.”

“Flabberts. Okay, we will have to land and repair that dorsal breach otherwise we cannot leave. Try to find a gentle spot, some lovely beaches, a good hotel, pleasant locals, good food.”

Several crew turned to look at their captain and smiled, then returned to their tasks. Science specialist Eburia placed her hands on the back of the captain’s chair to steady herself. “That was delightful, sir. No wonder they call Braagan the goodbye planet. Have any probes or expeditions ever returned?”

“Hold those thoughts, my Saaran friend. I thought you people were optimists.”

“We are, Captain. There are some situations that force us to re-evaluate our philosophical stance. Like nearly getting blown up in mid-air or crashing at high speed on some weird planet.”

“We have a landing site,” Thtenbayex called out. “Bringing us down steadily. The temporal gravitation storm has apparently cleared up. Touching down in approximately 15 – 14 – 13 – 12 – 11 -.”

“Typical,” said Eburia. “Appears out of nowhere, nearly destroys us then vanishes like a capricious child. If you need me I’ll be in engineering helping with the repairs.” And with that comment she turned and left Command Deck.

“Talking of repairs, anyone got any idea how long we will be stuck here? A couple of perchrons, perhaps?”

“Harth! Captain, it is a sticky interrogative you throw at us. Theoretically, yes, but seeing damage on a screen and in real life is like two very different bottles of Colvarian Fruit Liqueur.”

“Point taken, Thtenbayex. We may need some of your Colvarian Fruit Liqueur when we get out of this mess. Do you still have forty bottles in cargo?”

“I never said I had any bottles in cargo, Captain sir.”

“I know, Thtenbayex; you should not talk in your sleep loud enough for your neighbours to hear.”

“And you, gracious Captain, should not listen in your sleep well enough to distinguish the words of my dreams.”

Laughter rippled around the command deck.

Mar Tox Tolvis stood up. “Doctor Yantira, I am going to join our external survey team to see how bad that rip in our hull is. Take over here and keep this motley crew in order.” He went in the same direction as Eburia had, Yantira stepping up to his chair.

“Okay,” she smiled, “Let’s heal the ship. Initiate ship-wide diagnostics; appoint and coordinate repair teams. Make sure everyone wears shield suits, takes medic-kits with them and equips themselves with some form of defence. I don’t want any more casualties knocking at my door. Begin Quantum Systems Analysis first. We must know what happened to our shell matrix and R.E.D systems. Larsis, can you compile and organise all this data quickly?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Excellent. Luvris, I want you to work on reducing time for our reactivation sequences. You haven’t forgotten the equations, I hope?”

“Of course not, Doctor.”

“Fine. Also analyse our power infusion geometry; it is bad enough having an enforced shutdown but if that storm returns we may need to sparkle out quickly.”

“Doctor? Surely you are not serious?”

“Indeed I am, Luvris. Does it not seem strange that, as soon as we decided to leave, that storm turned up and whacked us so badly we’ve had to land and go for almost total shut-down? Once it had achieved that it vanished just as fast.”

“You believe some sentience is responsible?”

“I am convinced of this, Luvris. Going to light-speed whilst cloaked may be our only way to escape.”

“Surely not direct from a planetary surface? Even the Captain hesitated before ordering such a desperate manoeuvre, and we were already airborne. Inertia differentials are dangerously polarised from rest and tests have never been successful.”

“Everyone thinks that, my friend. A short while ago I was consulted on a Project called ‘Ghost Shadow.’ We successfully tested a new integrated propulsion system that could safely accelerate a cloaked vessel to light and super-light velocities from rest within a planetary biosphere. The crew were not even aware we had taken off and did not need harnesses.”

“But, that is astounding. Impossible! How can such a thing work?”

“Don’t ask me, I’m not an engineer; I was there to observe any physical or emotional stresses on the crew, including myself.”

“Doctor Yantira, I believe you should see this.”

“Excuse me, Luvris.” She walked over to the console at which Thtenbayex sat and studied the display in front of him. “That’s odd. Explain.”

“I cannot, at least not immediately, Doctor. This star pattern is confirmed by remote sensors but our planetary beacon has vanished. Compared with known galactigraphy we are in the correct location, just not the correct time. Cosmic background radiation is also incorrect for our true time frame.”

“Displacement?”

“Doctor, according to both sets of incorrect data we are approximately three centuries in the future. Is it time to say ‘harth’ once more?”

“If the two sets of data and your display are telling the truth, my Zindraxan friend, it is time to say ‘triple harth.’ But let us not jump to any rash conclusions. This whole planetary system is weird and whatever hit us was temporal and gravitational in nature. Our equipment may be malfunctioning as a result.”

“Doctor Yantira, I have a theory about our situation. Permission to go to our astrophysics lab.”

“Of course, Thtenbayex. Let me know as soon as you have something positive.” The doctor looked around at her command crew. “Check in with all department commanders. I want to know if anything strange has been reported from any deck or corner of the ship. Ask everyone for status reports every perchron.” Everyone acknowledged. “Communications; any luck contacting the Galaxymbion High Council?”

“No, doctor. Our comm system is working fine, it’s just that nobody seems to be at home.”

“Someone has got to be receiving us. Is this planet or its weird system interfering with our signal?”

“Negative on interference; channels are crystal clear. Our transmissions are going out fine, but no Galaxymbion worlds are transmitting, just as if the Galaxymbion does not exist.”

“That can’t be correct; even three hundred orbits in the future there has to be someone left out there transmitting something somewhere. Try all known non-Galaxymbion frequencies.”

“Affirmative; broadcasting on all known non-Galaxymbion frequencies - no acknowledgement either. Absolutely nothing is being transmitted for us to pick up.”

“Keep trying. Have you stabilised that reactivation sequence time yet, Luvris?”

“Negative, doctor. The energy cells buckle in every simulation. I am continuing to search for a solution.”

“Doctor, Quantum Systems Analysis is complete and Thtenbayex is on the line. Speakers?”

“Go ahead, Larsis. Thtenbayex, any news from astrophysics?”

“Indeed, Doctor. The phenomenon that hit us originated on the planet’s surface, not far from our present location. Some form of directed energy beam that destabilised our Pulsewave signature, re-writing our quantum chronology. That is why about a quarter of our matter has degraded to a previous state and thus returned to its condition prior to shell-matrixing. Regrettably this is not localised in any one area, so be prepared for some patients with very strange symptoms – temporal sickness you could call it. I’ve told the Captain already.”

“Inform medical to expect an increase in visitors and send them all relevant information to help them prepare cures. You sound as if you have something else to tell me.”

“I do, and it is not good news. The vessel that we saw in orbit did not come through time transfer with us, however we still have its data in our systems. I decided to analyse its voyage trajectory; it came from Kora quadrant somewhere in the vicinity of Kolda-ra, but the vessel itself originates from a planet called Shazander in Belva quadrant. Remember, however, that the stasis pods were Quelae in design and someone of Kolda-rian physiology had been on the vessel, as well as a Monodeman. Some of its archive is encrypted for Galaxymbion Triumvirate only, but according to available logs it had recently visited Elvakay twenty-six orbits in our correct time-frame’s future. Then it encountered a Quelae vessel called Nightspear. I tried to line up all the coordinates using the galactigraphy of our own historical frame and something interesting emerged. This planet, Braagan, lies directly along a straight line from Elvakay to Gelaymer and tangential at one quarter quadrant to Ledara, exactly equidistant to all three worlds. Even more strange, if you continue the line from Ledara to here in the opposite direction you arrive at the Thesa-X system at twice the distance away.”

Doctor Yantira was silent, as were the rest of the command crew. “So, Braagan is on a galactic intersection between two troublesome primitive worlds and places where temporal incidents have occurred?”

“Affirmative, though I had to do a little research about Elvakay. We have, as you know, across the Galaxymbion, a security protocol called ‘Return to Elvakay’ which has existed for a few decades. Not many people outside Kolda-ra or the Belva quadrant know this protocol’s origin. Apparently a Belpentoran vessel encountered a peculiar temporal phenomenon there about three millennia ago. The Belpentorans were so concerned they installed a dampening field and warning buoy around that system, blocking communication, navigation and scanning systems. That dampening field remained active until quite recently, successfully keeping most space traffic away; who would want to go there if it meant losing communications, navigation and scanning? Only somewhat unorthodox Shazandern gem miners with illegal jamming equipment ever broke the quarantine. That is until a few decades ago when a Caldian vessel on deep space reconnaissance in the Elvakay system intercepted and overpowered a small Yoltessandrian pirate frigate and routinely searched its data stream. They discovered plans for an intended ambush. Their Captain became the only Galaxymbiont to deliberately break the Belpentoran quarantine by destroying the dampening field generator. Thus, the Caldians were able to warn the intended target immediately, a Shazandern medical convoy, and provide unfettered protection. Millions of lives were saved, as the medical convoy was delivering urgent medical equipment and medicine to a colony with a plague.”

“Intriguing. Have you told Mar Tox Tolvis?”

“Yes I have, Doctor.”