THE GALAXYMBION ODYSSEY

A lone figure walked steadily through a battering Blizzard. Visibility was almost zero, so heavy was the falling snow driven by cruel, remorseless gusts. For most people this place was a barren ice desert where life was limited to planktoniforms and algaemorphs of the extremophile category. No animals could permanently live in this blanched wasteland, including species from insectals right up to people. No trees or flowers sprouted from the unforgiving permafrost. Temperatures were mostly negative one hundred and forty thermons but could drop to negative two hundred.

This was Belpentora, fifth founder planet of the Galaxymbion and a massive world – in human terms nearly the size of Jupiter. It orbited its star, Pentora, at twice the distance of Mars from the Sun. That is not why Salmarkri Province was so cold. Pentora is a colossal star, fifteen times the Sun in mass, and quite capable of sustaining life so far away. No, Salmarkri remained ice-bound and frozen all throughout Belpentora’s orbit because it was a polar glacier four times the surface area of Earth and permanently tilted away from Pentora’s warm rays. It was no place to live.

Luckily, Belpentorans had adapted to their world according to a unique evolution; their physical forms were only a shell for an immensely powerful energy core which converted molecular activity into a viable power source. As a biological accomplishment it was almost impossible to imagine; at the cellular level they possessed throughout their structures cerebral nodes linking every cell to every other cell. These were coordinated through their central core, giving Belpentorans immensely powerful minds. It had even been rumoured on other worlds, both within and without The Galaxymbion, that a single Belpentoran adept could alter a planetary orbit with their mind.

If such a feat were possible, this figure would certainly be among the individuals chosen to attempt it. This was Zine Yalissar, Triumvir Prime and Prefect Eminent. She had lived for more than thirteen thousand seven hundred orbits (due to her planet’s volume and distance from its Sun an ‘orbit’ was roughly the equivalent of 138 Earth months). In human terms she was therefore more than one hundred and fifty-eight thousand years old. And she was not the oldest Belpentoran. Among her race death and illness were almost unheard of. Truly they were evolved beyond corporeal limitations, easily taking any form they wished or none at all. Their current physiology was thus a cerebral construct generated to enable physical interaction with their planetary environment and other Galaxymbionts.

Zine Yalissar wore only the thinnest of cloaks, unaffected by thermal or chemical extremes. Her bare feet left no prints in this place’s thin top layer of snow, and she had not journeyed here in any way that most beings could understand. Her eyes were purely cosmetic, to maintain a look of physicality that made other physions feel comfortable, since Belpentorans’ ability to ‘see’ from any part of their physical construct did the opposite.

Ahead a sheer wall of ice thrust skyward about four hundred millirecules – minute by this world’s gargantuan standards, but daunting on a regular-sized inhabited world – and her pace slowed. She knew every minute detail of her world, as did even the youngest of her kind (currently an ‘infant’ of nine hundred and sixty-eight orbits).

Zine ‘thought’ open a deconstructed aperture in this titanic glacier, producing a spacious ice tunnel leading to a psionically carved-out gargantuan chamber. As she entered her conceived tunnel the glacial material reconstructed itself behind her. This was neither technology nor magic; it was her ability to engineer time, matter and space.

Within the hemispherical chamber an impressive table, formed from an ebony-analogous material, traced a colossal ring flanking the curved outer walls. Occasionally it was punctuated by an access gap. Within the ring climbed a tiered ‘cake’ of rising circular platforms with spacious, comfortable in-built seating and comm stations accessed by a gently-inclined, intrinsic spiral staircase. This wound round right up to the crowning platform, where seventy-two Triumvir Primes from FOUNDER and ASCENSION worlds sat. Supporting this Triumvir platform was the ‘tier’ of 72 planetary Viceroys with their 72 Seconds. Supporting them were the platforms that included all representatives at Level nineteen; 3 Regional Viceroys from each FOUNDER and ASCENSION world and 3 presidential Representatives from each Primal Nexus world (a total of 267). The remaining three tiers were the biggest and lowest and in descending order they hosted 267 regional Prefects, 356 Commodores and 356 Admirals.

At the ebony ring table were seated almost five thousand of the Galaxymbion’s most revered and proven specialists; temporal physicists, moral philosophers, engineers, mathematicians, xeno-psychologists, cosmologists, historians, xeno-sociologists, medical academics, xeno-geneticists and an interesting cross-section of interdisciplinary intellects. Zine noticed the acclaimed symphonic composer, Tranaximon of Velphor 7, reclining in a relaxed fashion amongst several revered artists from a variety of creative professions and species. Most planetary delegates in attendance in this frigid realm were forced to wear thermal skinsuits beneath their clothing.

Since it was Zine’s turn to host this open session of the Interworld High Council, she approached the Session Director’s crucible and took her place. She knew that everyone was present, as she had made a quick psi-scan upon entry to this chamber. As was protocol her entrance was the last. With 6462 people present, even though they whispered their conversations, there was an audible thrumming of muted words giving a significant reverberation throughout the huge, echoing ice chamber. She always wondered how those species that came from warm climates and were still tied to an entirely physical existence could possibly cope with visits to her world, even with thermal skinsuits and gravitational compensators. Galaxymbion clothing was thermo-regulatory as standard, but hands and faces were not usually covered for obvious reasons. Thermal skinsuits had limitations and so did gravitational compensators. She stood, intent on beginning this open session conference, and as people noticed her stand the thrumming slid into perfect silence.

“Greetings and thank you for your attendance today. I am Zine Yalissar of Belpentora, currently Triumvir Prime and Prefect Eminent of this world. Those of you who travelled from distant worlds, warm worlds, small worlds or citadel-structured worlds may experience discomfort here on Belpentora. In Salmarkri you will feel far from home; too cold and most probably too heavy also. Possibly lost in a wilderness as well, due to our world’s volume. If you are from a distant, warm, small world with citadels you will feel everything: lost, lonely, exceptionally heavy and marooned in a frigid wilderness.” There was an appreciative ripple of mild mirth. “You will have been directed to land your cruisers in the Salmarkri glacier’s copious hangar to try and reduce your exposure to discomfort. As most of you know, this High Council Nucleus has regulated gravity and thermal mediation mechanisms installed, yet nature is not completely subdued. The ITU regrets that another Open Session has been necessary so soon after the last one, however The Crisis deepens. Please press your personal alarms if at any time you suffer from any serious physical reaction to this environment. Our medics will attend you immediately.

“Each of you will have by now received the latest critical information prompting ITU to call this emergency session. You will have also attended your own world’s Open Sessions and will understand the need for this assembly on Salmarkri. I have no intention of departing from protocol, therefore we must thoroughly consider every priority matter scheduled for resolution. Nevertheless, there is no time for discussing infinitesimal details or digressing into contentious opinions already covered in your regional Planetary Congresses.

“We have fourteen proposals to achieve resolution on. These are listed on your datapads, together with their supporting reasons and implementation stratagem. As with all Open Sessions anyone may present logically reasoned counter arguments for consideration. Objections presented without logical reasoning or conclusive evidence will be noted but cannot lead to resolutions being aborted and must not influence vote casting.

“We begin with Proposal 1. Upon completion of its two inaugural missions Temporal Cruiser Kulnidaro will proceed to rendezvous with Maidenquest and The Ovum. They will journey to the galactic core and deploy a self-replicating learning sphere with the help of the mysterious entity called Kalmek, and the glowsnakes of Kytonia. This will be dispersed instantaneously across the macrocosm, causing chain-reaction regeneration of fifth dimension equations, and thus natural purification of corrupted universal consciousness. Are there any challenges to P1?”

“I challenge,” a voice from the left called out. A lone Oldanian stood from within the philosopher’s section of the ring. “I am Lacrada Vorce of Oldane, in the secondary nexus arena. I question the need for this dangerous endeavour, and deem it unsafe, unpredictable and unnecessary.”

“This session recognises Lacrada of Oldane. Provide your argument of contention or your evidence.”

“Thank you, Session Director. My argument of contention against Proposal 1 proceeds from our paucity of knowledge concerning Temporal regeneration, the dubious nature and integrity of Kalmek, and The Galaxymbion’s lack of proven experience with manipulating Causal Physics. Additionally, we know almost nothing about The Ovum or its cargo. There is no clear proof that these Kytonian glowsnakes are trustworthy either, especially since they are an evolved form of the virus Letungexeva. Our two noble Time Cruisers, Kulnidaro and Maidenquest, are barely tested properly under conditions rigorous enough to establish the total safety of their temporal components. I see no evidence that either vessel can survive near the galactic core or achieve a beneficial and harmless resetting of the fifth dimension. Finally, this proposed galactic scale learning sphere is also an extremely experimental and untested technology. I respectfully request this proposal to be withdrawn by The High Council.”

“Thank you, Lacrada of Oldane. This Session recognises your concerns and respectfully invites you to validate your opposition as a representative of general scepticism. If there are any delegates present who share this scepticism and feel obliged to advance additional arguments please register your interest before my response. In particular I wish to know if our fourteen Oldanian diplomats in the Outer Sanctum and Corpus agree or disagree with this objection. Please show me your current thoughts.” Zine scanned her datapad briefly and waited for all fourteen to respond before speaking. The entire chamber remained in silence. “As you observe on your screens, support criteria are inadequate to sustain this objection at present. The Oldanian Triumvirate has already communicated its support for all fourteen proposals. Lacrada, please offer any evidence that directs your objection.”

“I base my conclusion on a rational axiom known as The Proofs of Sirantiga. Is the Session Director familiar with these? I have no evidence against proposal 1, just as The ITU has no evidence to support it.”

“I am aware of Sirantiga’s Proofs. Perhaps for this assembly’s benefit you would recite the relevant Proofs of Sirantiga.”

“Thank you. Sirantiga was a 14th dynasty Dreen mystic and philosopher, much revered on Dreena. His first axiom of deductive reasoning states that ‘incomplete knowledge or insufficient theoretical testing of scientific models or hypotheses exclude formulating conclusions or decisions’. This Open Session is being asked to ratify Proposal 1, without any working model for a successful outcome and simultaneously insufficient testing of new technologies upon which the outcome depends. Sirantiga’s second axiom states that ‘trust should proceed from experience but in the absence of experience trust must be limited to situations where betrayal of trust cannot lead to unacceptable dangers.’ This Open Session is being asked to place our trust in several unknown entities, and our own ability to succeed with unfamiliar tasks, in circumstances where failure would be catastrophic for this galaxy, Andromeda, and possibly the entire macrocosm. I submit that The Galaxymbion should immediately abort Proposal 1 in this emergency Open Session.”

“Thank you, delegate Lacrada. Are there any delegates or representatives here who have further observations, objections or evidence to add to Lacrada of Oldane’s submission?” {Interval of silence}. “Very well. I will answer you now, Lacrada. Your concerns have merit and have been deeply debated by ITU and Congress across all Galaxymbion worlds. You base your objection utilising the first and second axioms of deductive reasoning by the 14th dynasty Dreen philosopher Sirantiga. He was an extraordinary person who lived in a simpler time. When he wrote both axioms his purpose was only to make scientists consider their conclusions more carefully, in the case of the first axiom, and to make all people more cautious when dealing with strangers, in the case of the second axiom. Neither of these were intended to prevent action or cooperation of any kind and both were modified by Sirantiga himself in his fifth axiom. I am certain that you know his fifth axiom, Lacrada of Oldane?”

“I do.”

“Please remind us of this axiom’s content.”

“In consideration of axioms one, two and three, where certainty is impossible and, to obey axioms one, two or three will inevitably lead to foreseeable failure or catastrophe, the axioms must not be relied upon as the only rational approach.”

“Thank you, Lacrada of Oldane. Sirantiga created the fifth axiom to prevent inaction in the face of monumental unknowns, where such inaction would probably lead to calamity. It is widely recognised by all Galaxymbion member planets that The Crisis is such a phenomenon; a monumental unknown which will end in disaster if permitted to continue. The ITU therefore has sufficient faith in the urgent necessity of all these proposals, and especially in Proposal 1. Sirantiga had faith in the ITU and intended his axioms of deductive reasoning to be no more than additional intellectual tools to help everyone, including the ITU, decide reasonable actions from scientific, philosophical and interplanetary dilemmas. They were never integrated into the Galaxymbion Charter as laws and that decision was prompted by Sirantiga himself.”

“Might I enquire as to the source of your confidence in Sirantiga’s intentions, Session Director?”

“Naturally. I knew Sirantiga.”

“That’s incredible!” Lacrada exclaimed in disbelief, almost choking. “He died over six millennia ago.”

“Calculated in orbits of planet Oldane, Representative Lacrada, I am ninety-nine-point seven millennia old. Thus, I could easily have met Sirantiga thousands of times during his three millennia lifespan. In reality I only met him around three hundred and sixty times, though we regularly communicated by interplanetary Transplex. We discussed numerous philosophical issues during his later life, including the philosophical process for scientific endeavour. He talked often with me concerning his work, and these axioms were explained rather carefully by him, and argued rather actively by me.”

“B-but – oh; my apologies. Madame Session Director, might I request that the assembly notes my objection, without formality?”

“Of course. If there are no further statements of contention against Proposal 1 will all delegates please now vote upon the motion using your datapads?” Zine waited the appropriate time for all 6462 votes to be received. Even in closed session voting results and percentages were displayed in continuous update on everyone’s datapad. There was thus no need for a Session Director to comment or announce these, however, Zine Yalissar preferred to formalise outcomes in a traditional manner. “Thank you. Please note there are only fifty pulses remaining to cast your votes.”

Pulses trickled by, as nearly 1000 votes continued to arrive. Finally, when her datapad registered that all 6462 people present had registered their decision, Zine Yalissar spoke. “This assembly has cast 1397 congressional votes and 4837 advisory votes in favour of Proposal 1, thus exceeding the required mandatory percentages. Proposal 1 is carried forward with immediate implementation. We will now consider Proposal 2. There are at this time two Andromeda class super citadels approaching Ledara. A further two are scheduled for imminent launch, on an assigned mission to Gelaymer. According to Galaxymbion protocols no one member planet can participate simultaneously in more than one mission to a hostile planet. Since Ekria and Kolda-ra are involved in the Ledaran mission it is proposed that Azzorda and Attel undertake the mission to Gelaymer. Are there any objections?” Silence ensued. “Very well; this Open Session and this Session Director record that Proposal 2 is undisputed. Proposal 2 is carried forward with immediate implementation, without formal voting.

“Proposal 3 is advanced within the Return To Elvakay Protocols. I am certain that each of you is completely familiar with these protocols and their wider applications within defence profiles, Defence Platforms and The Uranium Planetary and Intergalactic Lockdowns. From this Open Session forward the ITU has requested sanction for escalation of The Crisis to Uranium 20 Gamma.” Low level intakes of breath caused a gentle momentary break in the chamber’s silence. “This Proposal has already been ratified in Closed Congress Sessions at planetary level on each CADENCE and ASCENSION planet. As such no further formal ratification is required, however the magnitude of the intergalactic decay of time is such that the ITU seeks more comprehensive covenant. Galaxymbion High Council has authorised implementation of Proposal 3 immediately upon this Open Session’s conclusion. Concurrently with this Session all NEXUS worlds are holding Special Non-Congress Open Sessions for Proposal 3.

“U20G requires only eighty-percent consensus, however the guidelines are very strict. Consensus must be equilateral; each assembly participating in approval voting must achieve the required 80% or the process collapses. The ITU can, of course, disregard a negative outcome under their supreme authority to invoke U20G without the wider High Council’s approval or ratification. Their decision to seek comprehensive covenant is based on their faith in all Galaxymbion citizens coupled with a desire to progress The Solution transparently across every member’s entire population. The floor is now open for presentation of contention.”

Several pulses passed without any speech or movement. Presently one elderly delegate stood. “I am Salistreo of Forluna in the Primary Nexus. My current occupation is as Master Scientist, Temporal Division, Primary Dockyard, Monzarl. I have been part of the new technology initiatives under Velvet Panther for seven decorbs. Uniquely I have also visited every single world of the Galaxymbion and seen over one hundred non-aligned planets with which the Galaxymbion maintains diplomatic rapport. My species loves travelling; we are famous for it. Our collective planetary attitude to Galaxymbion behaviour is unanimously positive and respectful. This outlook is reflected everywhere I have travelled and on Forluna we have an epithet about this: the Galaxymbion is a universal friend, even to those who choose to be its enemy. It is widely known throughout the Galaxy by every intelligent species, even Glanes of Gelaymer, that The Galaxymbion is and always has been honourable.”

“That is a very unique statement of contention,” Zine Yalissar commented, causing a ripple of hushed amusement. “Do you have an objection we can debate?”

“Not exactly. Forluna is an active and enthusiastic contributor to Galaxymbion society, but the nature of my species is to argue every little question of policy, albeit politely and without antagonism. If any NEXUS world was likely to attempt to veto Proposal 3 it would be Forluna. Our Planetary Congress has already endorsed Proposal 3, and the result was 100%. I exercise my world’s right of contention to urge endorsement of this. The ITU should now be unhampered in its decisions within The Solution, without any need for additional Open Sessions.”

“Thank you, delegate Salistreo. We are indebted to Forluna for its unwavering support. Are there any other delegates wishing to make statements of contention, or indeed any other declarations?”

As Salistreo sat down a young Dessillri girl stood up in the artists’ section of the ring; it is easy to tell differences between gender and maturity with this species. Young have a much lighter tint to their exo-cladding (they are famed for having unique pliable rock-like overlapping scales). Maturity deepens this tone until, in extreme old age, they are only a few shades short of black. Female Dessillri boast a lighter frame with intricate colour patterns around head and neck, due to chemical mineralisation. Males are almost a solid shade of basalt with randomly patterned emerald striations. This girl was perhaps around her late teens, and her height at half a millirecule (around two metres on Earth) made it impossible to guess her age whilst lacking familiarity with her species. Adults reach three quarters of a millirecule (three metres).

“Iggghhh amghhh Jarneeghhiiiii,” she said, before her linguistic decoder had a chance to modify her vocalisation. She adjusted it immediately. “My apologies, Zine Yalissar. I here be novel. Always on Dessillra 4 have been.”

“Welcome to this Session. Is it your first, Jarneyi?”

“First not. Talk at home world assembly many times.”

“What is your speciality?”

“Artistic premonition. I dream and then paint such dreams. They become real.”

“Your culture will be familiar to many here, yet some may not have precise knowledge. For those who wish to truly comprehend what Jarneyi just said, she refers to her species’ ability to glimpse several perchrons into their own future. They are intimately connected to time and live in a permanent condition known as proximity intuition. Such is their temporal sentience that they are known as Predictive Psionics. The Dessillri have been instrumental in helping The Galaxymbion deal with localised minor anomalies in The Crisis. Miss Jarneyi, please voice your statement of contention.”

“No contention. Jarneyi wishes to speak of The Boulders.”

“Without being able to read your mind, your meaning is unknown. Of which boulders do you speak?”

“Those of Kytonia. The Brethren call them mind-stones. They are more than that.”

“Yes, Weethis and The Brethren talk about them often, as well as Rubber-Moss. We have found them uncommunicative and lacking in discernible signs of life. Their silent and stationary natures make it difficult for us to accept them as conventionally living, though we believe The Brethren truthfully describe them. Do you have some information concerning them that might affect our consideration of Proposal 3?”

“Igggghhh dooghhhh. Sorrrryyy.” The young girl adjusted her decoder again. “My people talk to mind-stones. This is possible through Kalmek. We did not realize this till recently. Our perceptions of time and space much different to yours; time on Dessillra 4 seen as prismatic. Future, present, past are much alien concepts to we. They are part of same. Space only differs. Dessillra 4 and all elsewhere exist in separate places, but not separate times. Our cousins on Kytonia understand also. Brethren understand. For your proposal you see it as a time-bound situation. To me it is otherwise. I try explain you how my feeling receives this.

“Each of you occupy isolated spaces. When you see each other you see a past that is illusion. I speak, you answer later, in what you term present. Then I speak again and you again process my words backwards in time whilst yours go forwards. Many of you wonder how we can talk to our Kytonian cousins across space, which you see as separating past, present and future. But we talk with mind-stones through time’s true nature; without border or separation. This was our way always, yet we did not know how such process worked. We have now understood. Kalmek makes all places the same place, all times the same time. That is how things became possible for us. We have therefore been with Kalmek in all times.”

“You are saying that you communicate with the rest of existence through a time conduit, rather than spatial interaction?”

“We are saying, yes. If Galaxymbion to fix Time Crisis then must you work through Kalmek also.”

“I will probably seem blind to you, Jarneyi, since you already know your experiences of the next few perchrons. I do not. How does your faith in Kalmek help us decide Proposal 3?”

“The Salmarkri Path awaits this Session. Proposals 4 to 14 await within Salmarkri path. They concern unfixed events to which ITU must respond flexibly. Cannot so do this if more sessions will be expected. ITU must adapt Salmarkri path without delay – time ever changing and no rest to plan. Assembly cannot make such failure. Dessillri know this, Kalmek know this, Brethren know this, mind-stones know this. Galaxymbion must know it also.”

“You are a very personable and astute young girl, Jarneyi, and speak eloquently. Does anyone present wish to dispute our Dessillri delegate?” Silence prevailed. “Fine. Thank you for your words, Jarneyi. Will everyone please vote on Proposal 3 now? We already have the results from all Planetary Congress Sessions.”

As the Dessillri girl settled back on her bench datapads began registering the consensus: it took only a few pulses. “We have an overwhelming 4801 votes supporting P3 from non-congress delegates present here. Across the Galaxymbion all non-congress sessions have also voted above the required threshold, the lowest supporting percentage being 85% from Soltane 5. Proposal 3 will take effect immediately across the entire Galaxymbion, upon conclusion of this Open Session.

“Now we consider Proposals 4 to 14. As Jarneyi knew already, these are collectively called The Salmarkri Path and they are automatically invoked upon successful activation of Proposal 3. No further voting is required, therefore. However, the ITU is resolute that our galactic community must act in a unified way, comprehensively together and in full knowledge. As Jarneyi also pointed out, these Salmarkri proposals are of such a nature that considerable scope remains for variation in their enactment. It is therefore necessary to develop a robust and multi-faceted plan to accommodate every conceivable outcome. For this reason I call Tranaximon of Velphor 7 to the Director’s Crucible. I also call Rilmuta Skane of Kolda-ra and his colleagues to approach. They will together present The Salmarkri Path.”

Tranaximon was a small being, typical for his species; slender and short but quick and energetic. His greyish skin glistened with crystalline filaments, a little reminiscent of the yellowish crystal skin of Dreens, though without rhombic divisions. The assembly was familiar with Velphorian appearance, and even the apparition of a single glowsnake floating in mid-air next to the striking Kolda-rian Rilmuta Skane did not cause any surprise now. What did send a wave of shock through the Assembly were Rilmuta’s other companions, now having removed their capes. A Glane Regent and his adjutants.

There was also a storm brewing on Earth; a messenger in a smart suit waited patiently for permission to speak.

“Okay, what ya got for me?” the President bellowed.

“Sir, weather stations across the country are issuing bulletins and warnings on all media, whilst it is still possible to get good signals out. Heavy cloud coverage and atmospheric moisture content have risen fifteen percent in the last two hours whilst average world temperatures have dropped ten degrees. London, Paris, Bonn, Brussels and Moscow report similar climate shifts across their territories. Tehran, Ethiopia and Tel-Aviv confirm heavy rainfall and transportation problems. Apparently, it is snowing heavily in the Sahara. In most places communications are patchy and airports across the globe have grounded all flights until further notice. Shipping services have been suspended in the expectation of high marine air and ocean currents, though the atmosphere and aquasphere are still stable. Environmental and coastguard agencies are on standby, as are National Guard Units and Special Forces around the world. Storm Catrina has not claimed any casualties yet.”

“Humdinger,” the President blurted out. “Storm Catrina, indeed! Who thinks up these cockamamie names? Keep me and the Joint Chiefs of Staff updated with the logistics of our contingency plans.”

“Yes, Sir. Would you like me to find out? About storm names?”

“Skedaddle,” the President answered. “I have a very important function to attend today, so only interrupt me if it is urgent.”

“But Mr President, this global weather front is urgent. It is playing out the way environmentalists have warned.”

“I don’t care about environmentalists, or their precious environment; I have something important to do.”