THE GALAXYMBION ODYSSEY

The two revs following our congressional meeting with the Octaladonians were rather busy; World Congress ratified Uranium 6 alert status planet-wide and decreed that Return To Elvakay protocols could be invoked additionally at Coroma Arlon’s discretion. This meant that, even though all Kolda-rian citizens and off-world officials on posted duties had to be aware of the situation and ready to act accordingly, the Ambassador, his staff and crew must remain unaware of any change. Interworld Security handled planetary measures whilst the Galaxymbion authorities dealt with galactic issues.

For those of you (Ledarans) unfamiliar with Galaxymbion society and protocols I can briefly tell you this; Uranium 6 is a security alert centred on a planetary region – a city or district. It can be used as a cautionary lockdown to keep wider risks contained. The perceived or potential danger can be of any type; its expected seriousness is such that additional safety measures must be employed to prevent injuries, deaths or even emotional harm to indigenous citizens and visitors. As soon as Viceroy Coroma Arlon invoked the code directly to me it conferred a duty to comply and suggested that she believed the Ambassador and his staff were intended targets or harbingers of an (as yet) unidentified danger. By clasping Gurss’s left shoulder after the invocation, the Viceroy marked him as a ‘specific vulnerable’ requiring additional protection – the individual she believes to be either the most risk or the likeliest target of any hostility.

Coroma Arlon’s subsequent triggering of Return To Elvakay protocols in camera with her senior staff, Huwain and Gaxani, automatically piloted the U6 status to global ratification at World Congress level, effectively creating a passive lockdown on transport security everywhere. Once ratified by World Congress all non-essential movement in or out of the danger-localised planetary region is blocked and even essential travel is limited to special permissions; official, security clearance and emergency only. Furthermore, to protect visiting off-worlders from any harm traffic in or out of Orbital Control is also halted except for Code priority one. This cuts off convenient escape routes for hostile individuals and keeps the number of people exposed to danger limited to those who have already been warned and prepared. Naturally the lockdown enables surveillance systems and operatives to concentrate on intercepting hostiles and protecting potential victims.

I cannot say that such alert conditions are pleasant to experience, yet our (the Galaxymbion’s) methods in neutralising and minimising threats are exceptionally successful in dealing with such problems. For more than two millennia across one hundred and twenty member-worlds and several protectorate planets, deaths and serious injuries have been prevented whilst perpetrators were always apprehended and dealt with. As a Galaxymbion citizen, I therefore felt calm and confident as I left home to collect the Ambassador, Kareebin and Chedsarin this morning, for their sightseeing journey to the Copper Vanadium singing caves of Kerini-i, just outside Tirian Citadel. The journey would be priority one cleared to maintain the aura of calm around my charges; unknown to them security arrangements at the caves would be tight and our skimmer flight path closely followed by two Aldebaran 7 ATCs (All-Terrain Cruisers) with Satellite and Orbital Control Tracking and ground roller support (rollers are more beautiful aesthetically, lighter and friendlier than tanks).

Although every precaution had been taken to maintain calm and order in the activities of Tirian Citadel it is a wise assumption that any hostiles present would perceive the increases in security and vigilance and choose their ‘moment’ more carefully. My journey to the Ambassador’s lodge was however quiet, without any communication between myself and official stations or divisions. In itself this was not unusual; commonplace journeys in and around the Citadel were not subject to restraint, in order to preserve calm and order (not of Kolda-rian citizens whose behaviour is always calm and ordered) amongst off-world visitors. My skimmer would be subject to additional yet unobtrusive tracking and scanning. If hostiles did strike then the exact whereabouts of each and every citizen and visitor would be known accurately and immediate precise action would be possible.

My arrival at the Ambassador’s lodge was greeted by his usual generous warmth, Kareebin and Chedsarin also in attendance. “I trust you have had a good breakfast and are prepared for your excursion, excellence”, I offered, concerned that Gurss was rather overdressed. “The caves can be quite hot during this season and are always dusty.”

“Young Emrikan, thank you for your gracious concern. However, I do not feel the heat here too much and I have my staff to carry water, food and other supplies for me. There is no need to worry on my account as I will be fine in my Robes and cape.”

“I had anticipated that you would say that, Ambassador,” I said, absent-mindedly patting his left arm. The translucent button in my palm attached seamlessly to the cape’s fabric and activated unnoticed. “Well, if you are all ready, let’s go.”

“One moment,” Chedsarin interceded. “Lekra is just, well, getting ready still. I hope you do not mind a small delay, she changed her mind at the last moment.”

Hiding my surprise, considering the churlish clerk’s previous reluctance to join this outing, I greeted her with a smile when she materialised from the washroom a few lapses later. “Greetings, mistress Lekra. I see you changed your mind about the caves.”

“Not by choice, Emrikan. I have no desire to stay in my lodge or wander around Tirian Citadel alone today, therefore I will see your ‘singing two metal ore caves’. Presumably there are some facilities there, for refreshment and hospitality?”

“Just outside the caves is a rest area with extensive amenities. And I see that unlike the Ambassador you have dressed in a suitably cool and casual manner; you will be the most appropriately dressed member of your team, and the most comfortable.”

“Yes. The Ambassador and my colleagues are all silly, and the Ambassador is the silliest of all,” she snapped. “Your wife isn’t joining us?”

“Not today; Shyarin is very busy with rehearsals for an upcoming festival of Tranaximon’s music.”

“Forgive Lekra her acidic tongue once more, Emrikan. Bitter and vindictive to the end. Well, gentlemen and thing,” the Ambassador said, staring heavily at his junior clerk, “off we go.”

We left Gurss’s lodge and one by one got into the skimmer, Lekra entering last on this occasion. On taking my seat I checked on the console that my charges were in full contact with their seat backs and surreptitiously activated the patches I had left on each seat, including my own. The skimmer’s internal sensors showed no suspicious substances or devices hidden on any of my passengers, nor anything else of concern, though Gurss’s bio-readings were well into the elevated stress range. Could the Ambassador himself be planning something? It was not unheard of for seditious saboteurs to take office, working for the very idea they secretly fought. Sadly, such was the way of many politicians and public figures on worlds that have not yet achieved civilisation. Octaladon was a world striving for that ideal, with only a little way to go. The skimmer moved forward on its road wheels and in a few pulses lifted off the ground, its wheels folding into its body.

As our journey progressed I pointed out buildings and regions of the Citadel that my passengers might find interesting and be unfamiliar with. Occasionally Kareebin or Chedsarin asked questions, whilst the Ambassador and Lekra remained curiously silent. On my monitor board I could see all tracking signals of the two Aldebaran 7s and the five ground rollers – all vehicles masked from sight by their shield harmonics. Soon we passed through the outer sensor boundary of the Citadel and climbed higher to avoid uneven terrain below us. Our skimmer now properly airborne and providing a great panoramic view of open countryside, the passengers seemed to relax; even Gurss’s bio-readings calmed down. All the patch shields had expanded across their clothes and skin, and a number of covert security personnel were already at the caves, disguised as either local or off-world sightseers.

The great blue-green Kerin-lask river, flanked on either side by stark mountains, was passing quickly beneath us and I steered us carefully through uneven mountain scenery, causing Gurss to comment upon my flying skills. I reminded him that my main occupation was that of Recon Pilot for which I had trained extensively. As with all Kolda-rians my ‘aptitudes’ and interests were identified during early childhood, even before learning sphere courses commenced. I reminded them that this is the way of all Galaxymbion citizens, with only minor variations for some species whose physiology and psychology were unique.

“And I thought all you people were the same; homogenous, autonomous societies without freedom or individualism.”

“Lekra! Curb your tongue, you vile creature. Tell Emrikan you are sorry and did not intend any insult; you spoke only from extreme ignorance.”

“It is okay, Ambassador. Many uninformed people who do not live on FOUNDER worlds believe that to be true, though it is not common among ASCENSION worlds. Eventually these erroneous ideas will pass as a world makes its way towards ASCENSION.”

“Tell me,” Kareebin intervened, trying to diffuse what he thought was a tense situation, “do any such worlds on the way to ASCENSION ever fail to achieve that level as a result of stunted relics like our mistress Lekra?” The ‘lady’ in question bristled at this jibe.

“Yes, it is not unknown. A few worlds at PRIMAL NEXUS level were once approaching ASCENSION then slid back due to the lingering of xenophobic attitudes and behaviours or slight eruptions of crime and violence. As you know, this is the main reason why the qualifying periods for each level are so long; how else to make sure that the collective psyche of a species has reached the sufficient civilisation level for sustained acceptable behaviour?”

“What would happen, Emrikan, if there was such a recurrence of bad attitudes, behaviours and ignorance on a FOUNDER planet?” Kareebin persisted with his train of thought.

“By its citizens or off-worlders?” I ventured. My charges laughed at the joke, surprisingly even Lekra seemed amused.

“Citizens”, Kareebin stated for clarity.

“Such a failure of society is unthinkable”, I stated flatly.

“Because of your learning sphere program?” Chedsarin offered.

“Partially. You do understand that to achieve ASCENSION or FOUNDER status a world’s population must have expunged all remaining savagery, chaos and folly for at least a thousand orbits? Even small infractions would prevent that world from being sanctioned for full Galaxymbion membership. The rules are extremely strict as you well know, thus if for some strange reason savage or otherwise undisciplined behaviour broke out there would be serious consequences for that world.”

“Would it be expelled?” Lekra asked rather bluntly. Even I did not particularly like the tone in her voice, though I responded before Gurss could snap at her.

“If the fall from grace was sufficiently severe, yes.”

“And if not?” she pressed, as if looking for some weak spot to exploit.

“A less severe failure would almost certainly lead to reduction in both status and membership advantages. The only way,” I quickly continued, determined to prevent the next question in her current line of thought, “that a FOUNDER or ASCENSION world could retain its status in the light of a failing of its citizens is if that failing was found to have been caused by outside agencies or some extenuating condition imposed upon those citizens by outside agencies. In either situation there would by constitutional necessity be a full investigation at the deepest levels before lasting policy could be decided. Pending that investigation’s outcome the member world could most likely be temporarily demoted or expelled by the High Council.”

“Interesting,” she commented with a wide grin.

“I have absolutely no idea why I ever employed this creature,” Gurss muttered apologetically. After that there was mercifully a tense yet calming silence, as had become usual in our journeys once Lekra issued a blunt challenge or criticism. Ahead of us the mountain range opened out into a plateau, the Kerin-lask river disappearing off to the distant right whilst the plateau spread out forward and left into a vast cave network.

“We approach our destination; the singing caves of Kerini-i. Please get ready to disembark. I will accompany you on your trek through the labyrinths, otherwise there is a danger you could become disoriented and lost. Please stay together once we have left the skimmer and wear your communications pins at all times.” I set the skimmer down on a landing bay and led the team of would-be explorers to the main cave entrance. “Once we enter the caves there will be decreasing contact with the outside due to interference. Your own personal communications devices will eventually cease to work, hence the devices I have handed you which work through a special communications array. It is advisable to visit the refreshment facilities if necessary before entering the cave system, to prevent splitting up later.” My charges all indicated that they were ready to continue, Gurss rumbling a jovial ‘lead on’.

Lekra tagged along behind, as was the custom for Octaladonian women when in unfamiliar situations, particularly those involving an element of mystery, or when in the presence of alien dignitaries (though I did not really fit that description). She had the appearance of a woman under pressure, experiencing extreme inconvenience and yearning to make a swift exit. However, there was also an odd sense of familiarity coming from her, almost as if she had been here before. Soon we entered a small chamber with a water pool, one of several thousand such chambers. The water was a murky green-blue from dissolved copper oxides and though quite still near us became more turbulent in the distance. I pointed this out to the Ambassador and his staff as we walked around the pool’s perimeter.

“Be very careful here and keep away from the edge; it can be deeper than you expect and that rushing sound you hear is caused by changes in pressure beneath the surface. Although it is calm near us you can see its turbulence in the distance where the current falls into another chamber. You can be swept away quite quickly and disappear into a maze of other chambers. As you can feel, the air here is moisture-laden making the rock underfoot slippery, hence why you should keep near to the chamber walls and use the railings provided.”

“This is fascinating,” Chedsarin beamed, carefully following the Ambassador whose shadow cast by the artificial lighting almost blotted out the shadows of both Chedsarin and Kareebin. Lekra picked her way extremely carefully, looking decidedly more uncomfortable and nervous than she had outside. We rounded a corner into a narrow passageway with an arch of copper-hued minerals sparkling with lit moisture. “It must have taken some engineering to install a lighting system here, as well as safety railings and air circulation systems,” Chedsarin continued. “We have not seen any other visitors so far. I expected the caves to be crawling with tourists.”

“There are many thousands of chambers, and visitors are regulated; we required permission to enter at a specific time, and the same is true for other groups who will have begun their explorations at set intervals. That way the safety systems in each chamber can monitor each group more thoroughly. The timing between group entries prevents groups from gathering in large numbers in any one chamber.”

“Exactly what are the safety systems?” Kareebin enquired.

“Bio-sensors are built into the centre of each chamber ceiling. Respiratory or other problems are reported directly to medical crews at the nearby amenity centre. Similarly, if you venture too near the water’s edge a central sensor will activate an alarm and close off the water with a force-field, unless your entry into the water was deliberate. Force-fields tingle slightly, don’t hurt and prevent drowning.”

“Have there ever been fatalities in the caves?”

“No, Ambassador. A few injuries due to people slipping and falling, nothing more.”

“What about disappearances; you know, people wandering off and getting lost, never to be seen again?”

“Not for four thousand orbits, Kareebin. Safety of everyone is an ultimate necessity on FOUNDER and ASCENSION worlds. Please go single file now as the passage to the next chamber becomes narrow. When we enter this second chamber please remain still so that I can show you the unique sound reflection properties that give these caves their name and reputation.”

The Ambassador and his team followed me cautiously until we were all standing in a medium sized cavern with red-tinted water and rippling light oscillating against what appeared to be pure copper walls and was in reality rich copper-ore minerals with large chunks of pure metal. I held out a small electronic resonator which issued a single low-pitched note. At first nothing seemed to happen, then gradually the chamber ceiling, walls and water refracted the sound into a harmonic series that echoed and multiplied the same effect with the additional harmonic notes. The whole chamber filled with oscillating chords that became ever more complex, and I could tell from the faces of my charges that they were suitably impressed. All except for Lekra, who was nowhere to be seen. A loud shriek and some splashing issued from an underwater sink-hole on the other side and we caught a glimpse of her arm above the water briefly before it too vanished with the rest of her into an underwater eddy.

Chedsarin was about to jump in after her, when I held him back. “You can’t go in, you will be swept away and not necessarily into the same chamber as she was.”

“She will drown if we don’t rescue her,” he shouted.

“Unlikely; she will be in another chamber now. Its’ sensors will detect someone in the water in trouble, even if having entered the water entirely by choice. The chamber will close automatically and pumps remove the water. Then we can recover her. I have her communicator’s homing beacon; she is now ahead, two levels down. Follow me and tread extremely carefully.”

“This is fun,” Kareebin commented, trying to raise his voice above the chamber’s singing echo that was already turning our earlier words into an expanding symphony of hums and trills. It took us about twenty lapses to reach the lower chamber where Lekra’s communicator beacon was broadcasting; all we found were her tattered clothes and the communicator itself lying in the nearly drained pool.

“Code 9,” I rasped into my communicator. “Missing Octaladonian female Lekra, no clothes or communicator, possible injuries and water intake; clear all pools now. Security, converge on chamber 7, sub-level 3 immediately.”

The Ambassador was about to speak when a glistening figure in patent black leather vaulted into the chamber, releasing chaos in its wake. She moved fast, supple and well trained in devastating martial arts, knocking me flying across the shallow water of the now-draining pool. Gurss’s eyes bulged in disbelief as sharp objects headed in his direction, some striking with sparks against the cuprous cavern wall behind him. Kareebin and Chedsarin struggled to keep him safe whilst I attempted to intercept the attacker. Our protective patches were working, generating their green energy shields, yet I felt a stab of pain as a dart got through and sliced across my right leg before being deflected. I hoped it was not laced with poison, for the attacker was dressed as a Glane as far as I could tell in the dim light and confusion, and Glanes loved poison-tipping their ‘silent’ weapons.

Although our security operatives were approaching they may be too late, and I was behind an assailant already advancing on her victims. I drew my concealed discus and flicked it; the small metal saucer had its own sensors and locked onto the source of the danger, altering its course accordingly. The Glane female rolled and tumbled clutching her stricken arm. It was an unexpected setback for her in addition to her attack no longer being a surprise; now, cornered, she must act quickly to escape and try to complete her mission simultaneously. More dangerous and more desperate, acting with panic, her answer was true to Glane mentality – a contact explosive. The cave’s internal monitors detected this weapon being deployed, analysed its trajectory, fired an expanding containment patch. Would it be enough acting in tandem with the personal shield patches I had tagged my charges with?

The blast rocked the cavern even as the containment patch wrapped around it; the assassin threw a dart at the ceiling light and I heard another three slicing through the cavern air followed by muffled groans from the Ambassador’s group. In mere pulses she was gone, so I released a tracking discus and it disappeared after her into a tunnel leading to even lower chambers. Emergency wall lighting activated, revealing the extent of the situation as I reached the Ambassador. He had been hit though not seriously, thanks to his staff and the shield patch. Chedsarin however, was slumped against the cave wall with a dart firmly planted in his forehead and Kareebin had a dart in his leg.

“Ambassador?” I whispered.

“Okay, Emrikan, just dazed and my shoulder hurts. Save Chedsarin, please. And find Lekra before she is also hurt.”

“Sir,” the Event Security Captain addressed me as she entered the chamber with her team. “Our orders are to remain here and protect the Ambassador; I have two medical officers and have advised Security Central. Your tracking discus is active and Lekra is nowhere to be found.” I understood, thanked her and ran painfully down the escape route used by the assassin, my wrist tracker giving me telemetry on the discus. Soon I was on the surface and could see the female attacker running some distance ahead. I summoned the skimmer on auto pilot and activated a link to Orbital Control.

“This is RP Emrikan Lantt; suspect is attempting to escape and may have concealed transport nearby. Follow protocol Return To Elvakay; tag and track that transport only, do not engage. Instruct one of the Aldebaran 7s to pick me up whilst in pursuit. I will assume command.”

“OC Acknowledge, RP Lantt. Ready for tag and track. Success.”

I jumped into the hovering skimmer and interfaced my wrist tracker with the autopilot, to keep a lock on the escaping hostile. The skimmer took off without delay, keeping a steady distance from the running assassin below. I could see her shouting into a communicator and up ahead a small Glane ‘Knifestar’ scout-ship rippled into vision as its visibility screens deactivated. I transmitted the discus tracking frequency to the waiting Aldebaran’s computer, and brought the skimmer down alongside it. Jumping out I greeted the Aldebaran’s regular pilot commander and exchanged data keys with him. It was traditional practice for a Tactical Recon Pilot to take command of any vessel necessary in pursuit protocols, especially during Uranium 6 planetary lock-down.

On entering the roomy cockpit I greeted its flight crew, some of whom I knew, and entered the data key and command code.

“Your right leg is injured,” a young woman wearing medical insignia stated in an alarmed tone as I took my seat at the front console. “It should be tended immediately.”

“Later, officer?”

“Imari Taro, Medical Corps, and this is my husband, Pilot-Engineer Mirek Taro. Over there at Navigation is Krissmin Vorn; at the aft stations are Science Specialist Garin Zalus and Security Operative Segara Varlo. Now, your leg, please.”

I already knew Segara Varlo and Krissmin Vorn from previous training and mission assignments. “Like I said, Imari Taro, later. Prepare for planetary extraction; our orders are to pursue the attackers discreetly and apprehend them when they have vacated our star system. Mirek, as my co-pilot you will take tactical station; Segara, please monitor all communications and request clearance from Orbital. Okay, buckle up and prepare for take-off, invisibility mode.”

A faint hum was the solitary evidence of take-off, internal cabin pressure and atmosphere regulated superbly by internal R.E.D (Reciprocal Energy Diffusion) systems – the gravitational and pressure equivalent of air conditioning.

“Incoming message from Commanding Admiral {Huwain} Navin, transferring to open audio,” Segara informed me. The time when vessel crews required captain’s permission for standard procedures had long passed on Galaxymbion worlds. Every aspect of society worked more intelligently and efficiently when all individuals within society are endowed with justifiable autonomy. Of course, society needs to be scrupulously civilised in order for justifiable autonomy to be confidently conferred upon all citizens and thus work smoothly. It is not something you give to hoards of undisciplined fools. The Admiral’s voice greeted me, breaking my reverie.

“Captain Lantt, your extraction flight path is confirmed and pre-programmed, Orbital Control stands by for tagging your quarry. You are not to engage the hostile vessel unless observed and attacked; assume Pursue and Intercept only when outside our star system. The tagging device will be class 1. If possible the Glane vessel’s personnel should be returned to Perimeter Control Secure Facilities for mind-scans and their vessel impounded as criminal evidence. This incident has just escalated into a double murder, and thus defence profile 9 operates. Once outside Orbital Control you will maintain radio silence until the Assassins are neutralised. Any questions?”

“Only one, sir. Is the Ambassador safe?”

“Yes, Captain. His cut was superficial and he was treated before the toxin could work. Unfortunately Chedsarin died instantly and Kareebin had been hit in a major artery. The toxin went straight to his central nervous system and his heart. Regrettably the darts were of a type not before encountered; they were fitted with a frequency disruptor that enabled them to cut through your protective shields. Which reminds me, the security captain reported that you were also injured by a dart. Have you been treated with antidote yet?”

“Not yet, Admiral; our on-board medical officer is aware of my injury and will deal with it soon. I am saddened by the deaths of Chedsarin and Kareebin; please inform their families that I grieve with them.”

“Of course, Captain Lantt. Regarding your own injury, your medic will deal with it now; there is no reason to delay treatment since your Aldebaran and the Glane vessel are both on our monitors. That is an order, by the way, not a request; there shall be no more fatalities today. One more matter; the Octaladonian woman, Lekra, has vanished. Make of this what you will. Admiral Navin signing out; success to you and your crew.”

“Okay, Imari, I am ready for treatment. Mirek, you have the pilot’s seat.” I got up immediately, finding it difficult to stand, so Krissmin and Segara left their stations to help me to the med bay at the vessel’s aft section. My leg was hurting more than I had realised, and my uniform trousers were quite wet with blue blood. Already muscles and blood vessels were becoming feverish from the toxin and I could tell that it was spreading. Imari had preceded us to the med bay and was prepping an ultrasonic injector. She looked at me with a scolding expression.

“You should have received treatment when I decided, Captain. It is a good thing that Kolda-rian physiology is more robust than that of Octaladonians, otherwise you would now be dead.” She pushed the injector home and then sealed my wound with spray-on skin sealant.

“Point taken, Imari. Whilst we are here I would like your views. Segara?”

“We received brief details of the incident, Sir. As I see it this is the work of at least one professional assassin working for the Glanes, with access to more advanced technology than expected. She was able to pose as an Octaladonian female for some time and pass our detection systems without setting off alarms. The nucleonic Sensormesh systems have never before been deceived in this manner. There is also the question of how she managed to smuggle a Glane Knifestar passed both Perimeter and Orbital Controls. Transplex will have their hands full.”

“You believe, as I now do, that Lekra is the assassin?” Segara inclined his head in agreement. “And you, Krissmin?”

“This would seem to be the case, Emrikan. It defies logic and explanation, yet we are forced to draw conclusions from current evidence, rather than historic. This assassin has access to resources unavailable to her contemporary masters. She can infiltrate a Galaxymbion FOUNDER world’s defences and smuggle weapons and a vessel undetected to the surface, where she then is able to set up an elaborate ambush for the Ambassador. She was almost successful, as her weapons were sophisticated enough to get through our personal shield harmonics. Only the quick actions and sacrifices made by Chedsarin and Kareebin saved the Ambassador’s life, and only your responses ensured our ability to pursue the assassin.”

“And you, Imari. How do you see these events?”

“I am a doctor, Captain. Until today Transplex (the combined medical, communications, scientific and security forces) had reported very little abnormal activity for several cycles. The Glanes have been quiet for a few cycles also, and this change in their tactics is abnormal; such a leap in technical knowledge suggests that they have a new world order, and it threatens the peace of the Galaxymbion, possibly even the entire galaxy.”

“Elaborate, please.”

“Captain, if they are able to pull off an outrage like this on Kolda-ra, imagine what they can now do on Octaladon itself. They may be poised, with other hostile species, to launch a full-scale assault on civilised worlds. Who knows what other tricks they have acquired which have not been revealed today?”

“Unfortunately, it is true, Captain,” Krissmin added. “This could be the tip of a very proverbial and nasty iceberg potentially drawing the Galaxymbion into galactic conflict to protect less robust planets. Even then, in a few orbits our peaceful galactic community may no longer exist, forced to defend itself against barbaric societies in possession of superior technology with which to enact their insane and hateful agendas.”

“Then it will be up to us to stop these assassins before they can return home with their tales of victory. Remind me never to drop in if I pass your nightmare galaxy sometime.”

“Hopefully it won’t come to that, Emrikan. Lekra thinks she has got away with the assassination and Admiral Navin will no doubt see to it, with World Congress approval, that the Glanes believe she succeeded in killing Ambassador Gurss. We will rip their Knifestar apart, and mind-scan Lekra within an inch of her miserable existence, until we know everything about their plans and where their advanced technology came from.”

“Always so melodramatic, Krissmin. However, this is no drill alert and there is no time to hang around in an airlock when it is depressurising. Imari, I hope you have some familiarity with keeping Glane assassins on ice?”

“Naturally part of my training, Captain, sir. How do you feel, by the way?”

“Much better, thanks. Segara, you will know what to do when the time comes?”

“Absolutely. If I may suggest something a little unorthodox, Captain Lantt.”

“Go ahead, please. I am open to useful suggestions.”

“Well, Admiral Navin advised us that defence profile 9 is now in force. Although he also gave specific orders about not engaging, DP9 has certain subsets of criteria for pursuit vessels. We are in pursuit of a professional assassin and a security infiltrator apparently working for a known hostile species. These facts in themselves confer engagement discretion upon a pursuit vessel’s crew. Where the assassin has killed successfully and clearly had the intention to kill even more, DP9 specifically authorises a pursuing captain to take full preventative measures.”

“Why did the Admiral openly forbid engagement, then?”

“Captain, his words were very specific; ‘You are not to engage the Glane vessel unless observed and attacked; assume Pursue and Intercept only when outside our star system.’ He finished the summary of your orders by telling you to ‘maintain radio silence until the Assassins are neutralised.’ These are coded orders for you to engage and if necessary destroy the Glane assassins if containment is impossible, once we have left our star system boundary.”

“How do you know that the Admiral meant to convey such coded instructions, Segara?” enquired medic Imari.

“Because, my dear colleague, the Admiral was my instructor in defence profile classes at Planetary Defence Academy. He has his own personal coding system.”

“Well, doctor, old friend, security operative,” I smiled, “it looks as though Transplex will have to report a great deal of abnormal activity once we leave our star system. Doctor, can I return to my station now?”

“Of course, Captain Lantt, just don’t put too much pressure on that leg for a couple of perchrons. Segara and Krissmin, would you mind helping our wounded Recon Pilot back to his duty station?”

“As ship’s navigator, I think I can manage that,” Krissmin Vorn quipped. “Now, let’s see, where does a captain sit these days?”

Krissmin was a man past his prime, yet still charismatic and slim. He was almost a second father to any younger crew members he served with and had become a legend in the corridors and lecture halls of several training academies. In his mid-life he had distinguished himself as the only Kolda-rian ever to have commanded a Caldian Arcturus Class Interstellar Cruiser. Even more remarkable, his captaincy of that one vessel – ‘Omnipotence’ - was a long and notable one; some 47 cycles. He had presided over the solution to the famous Elvakay incident that had leant its name to our current Defence Protocol.

A word about our vessel, a typical Aldebaran 7, now nosing its way out of our planetary atmosphere in passive pursuit of a Glane collaborator. Were it visible you would see its lovely, sleek lines of crystal-alloy, glinting with slices of reflected sunlight. Like all Aldebarans, from series 1 probes to series 9 mid interstellar cruisers, this one was divided horizontally by a thick strip of black R.E.D generators, its dorsal elevation further sectioned into vertical panels by thin strips of Powermesh array. The lower half was clad in a single regulation white re-entry macro panel, specially treated with R.E.D heat deflectors, whilst the upper panels were metallic scarlet – the colour of the Defence Corps registry – as opposed to the metallic emerald of civil transports, or the metallic light blue of the Science/Exploration Corps registry. At the aft end of her sinuous rectangular body shone an intense light - the graviton photon interchange drive (GPID) propulsion panel. Hidden at strategic points front and rear were lateral, dorsal and abdominal course adjusting GPID vents. At her front an even sleeker cockpit section - a slim pyramid with a blunted cone - bore its own miniature propulsion panel for deceleration, reverse manoeuvres and passive beam defences. The pyramid’s top elevation was almost 75% transparent, affording its crew a uniquely clear view of their destination ahead.

We passed seamlessly through Orbital Control, the Glane vessel visible ahead, and accelerated to match its increasing velocity. No doubt Lekra and her Glane cohorts thought they were making a successful getaway. Once outside our solar system they would surely attempt to contact their home world. However, the class 1 tagging device effectively blocks communications and sabotages weapons and propulsion systems. Theoretically, unless they had more impressive surprises up their sleeves, there was no way they could return home or advise their warlords of their status.

Mirek greeted me with “pursuit course locked, Captain,” as he vacated my chair. “23 lapses to solar perimeter.”

“Fine; maintain distance from the Knifestar at 4 recules (similar to miles) until we have cleared solar radius. Once clear break radio silence and bring us to point seven recules from them, then drop out of stealth and give them a little surprise.”

“You plan to instigate a confrontation, sir?”

“Not necessarily, Mirek, though I do want to get their attention and apprehend them, following the Admiral’s coded orders.”

“It will almost certainly result in confrontation, where Glanes are involved,” Krissmin observed.

“I know, my old friend, and I am counting on it. Lekra is already on the run, eager to escape and receive her reward from her Glane employers; she thinks she has accomplished her mission. When we make our appearance her first instinct will be attack and her second run. That will give us the opportunity we need to control her responses whilst she equivocates. I am counting on all of you to make her attack appear to have disabled us temporarily; Garin, you are to coordinate our ‘damage’ and deliver a ‘stinger’ for the knifestar when we engage them. Segara, please prepare a suitable status message requesting a rescue vessel, add the coordinates later. We are already halfway out of our solar system, so let’s get to work.”

Given that Segara and the rest of my crew were quite busy I thumbed the intercom display at my own console and tapped the code for Perimeter Control. Due to our radio silence and invisibility we could not talk to them as was standard procedure, however it was still necessary to indicate our hidden presence and intended course in encrypted form, and to confirm that they had their instructions in place. I typed in the relevant code; A7 – R – U6RTE – Exit P/I. The statutory 10 pulses passed before the correct encrypted response came through: PC – S145 – 1 – Grid Passive. I sent the information to the other desks so that all my crew could see it and know what to expect.

Good; as planned by Admiral Navin the fugitive assassins would be forced to break through our perimeter defences when the sentry generators detected their approach and activated a solar powered non-permeable energy sphere around our star system. By pre-arrangement with PC any sentries detecting the Glane vessel’s proximity would feign failure when shot at, allowing a sector of the grid to seemingly collapse. Our quarry would escape and so would we before the grid could be re-instated. Once that happened we were free to launch our little surprise. Now it was just a matter of waiting and preparing. “Chair clamps and buckle your harnesses, everybody.”

Up ahead we could see the faint green glow of the Multimesh grid, and the little spots of equidistant sentry generators, tiny shimmering emerald eyes in the dark void of space. The Glane vessel was already altering its course, selecting which sentries to incapacitate. Although we were expecting a volley of explosions from the Glanes what actually dissipated against the Multimesh grid’s local sentry quartet was more intense than known Glane firepower could have achieved.

“Looks like they’ve had a weapons upgrade as well,” Krissmin remarked. “Well, the grid in that sector is collapsing as intended. Let’s hope they didn’t cause any real damage.”

“Indeed. Gentlemen, if you please.” Our Aldebaran slipped easily through the gaping hole where the Multimesh ‘failure’ had occurred. We could see that the sentries were intact and undamaged. Behind us those little generators winked back on one by one, restoring the lost grid section. “Prepare to uncloak; defence systems maximum, status message at my command. Doctor Imari, hopefully your services won’t be needed today. Please stand by just in case.”

Imari and her crewmates acknowledged. I could see that Mirek had brought us to within 0.7 Recules of our quarry. “Defence stations now!”

Our Aldebaran’s internal lighting switched from dimmed to standard and our console panels darkened, making it easier to see the illuminated command pads. Ahead of us our quarry had not failed to notice us revealing our presence and was predictably turning to attack. My console clearly showed the status of the class 1 ‘stinger’ tag Orbital Control had deployed on the Knifestar’s hull; their close-quarter weapons were diluted with passive energy by fifty percent, though they still appeared more powerful than traditional Glane armaments. Their engines had been sabotaged with impure plasma, so when they attempted to employ interstellar star drive they would have a malfunction and be forced to change velocity. Segara interrupted my thoughts.

“They are activating all weapons, Captain. We have R.E.D at full power, ready for simulated damage and distress. Inbound in 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. Buffers are holding, simulating system overload. Further orders?”

“Let us see how they take the bait. Mirek, we apparently have lost helm jurisdiction.”

“Helm is perfectly fine, sir,” he stated, sounding bewildered and even slightly offended.

“No, it is not. Please check helm status properly.”

“Sir? Oh, of course. Yes, their weapons are more powerful than we expected, regrettably.”

I turned to Segara. “Add to our distress call: pilot injured, helm inoperative, defence systems intact, unable to pursue.” He nodded and released the message. “Now what in the galaxy are they doing? It is not characteristic for Glanes to leave a badly injured enemy intact or un-plundered.”

“They are laying in a new course; heading - sir, it is in the Kytonian Expanse! Curious.”

“Indeed, Krissmin. Mirek, any signs of further planned attack?”

“Negative, as their weapons are deactivating. They must channel other power systems to support their increased firepower. They are activating star drive now.”

In an instant the Knifestar surged ahead and quickly disappeared into the cosmic horizon. Its blip moved significantly faster on our tactical display. “Be certain not to lose them, Mirek. Ahead zero point 5, identical heading, stealth mode, and leave a decoy beacon behind so they think we are still here. Garin, what do you make of their tactics?”

“Given usual Glane behaviour, there would be no sense in them going to the expense and inconvenience of setting up a pirate operation in the Kytonia Expanse. However, these Glanes are not usual; endowed with advanced tech it is possible their government has established a facility there, concealed by all the cosmic distortion. Who knows what allies they may have acquired in their last few orbits of silence, apart from the occasional Octaladonian separatist or two. Kytonia is an ideal vantage point from which to launch hostilities against Kolda-ra; their recent fixation with Octaladon may have been a ruse to hold our attention whilst a Kytonian base was constructed.”

“That is a very disturbing thought,” Imari murmured. “If true, then they have gained sufficient confidence to tackle the Galaxymbion.”

“Or,” Krissmin interjected, “their course through the Kytonian Expanse could be motivated by quite usual Glane deception; lead us away from their real nerve centre, mothership or whatever, and lose us in the unstable nebulae and around barren, radioactive stars and planets where the electromagnetic distortions could hide their location and movements.”

“My friend, noble Krissmin Vorn, you forget that it is we who are pretending to be injured, and they set this course immediately after firing at us. As far as they know we cannot follow and are stuck ‘back there’ just beyond our star system.”

“And you, Captain, forget that Glanes, even these Glanes, however advanced their tech may have become, are primitive and barbaric beings. The only reason they would lead us to their real hideout is if they thought we really would follow and they could ambush us with more vessels and in so doing acquire an Aldebaran, along with Kolda-rian hostages. Believing us crippled, they want us to send a false trajectory back home and thus lead our support cruisers on an empty hunt.”

“You may both be right. Our chances against a tactically persuasive fleet of Glane heavy war cruisers with upgraded weaponry may not be as high as we would like. At the same time we cannot allow them to successfully evade us with superior technology and our invisibility cloak will be intermittent within the Kytonian Expanse. Garin, could you modify another decoy beacon so that it imitates an Aldebaran, using the surrounding energies of the nebulae?”

“I believe so. You intend to do battle with them using a remote drone?”

“No, Garin, I just want to reduce their capacity to think straight, so please get on it now.” I looked at my console display showing the status of the tag. “Only 5 pulses to tag deployment. Mirek, plot a parabolic course around the main nebula and release the drone at the point a pursuing vessel would enter the Expanse following a standard pursuit vector. Doctor, you look apprehensive.”

“Combat is not in my nature or training, sir.”

“Noted. I’ll try to keep everything together. Mirek, will you be able to maintain tracking once they are inside the nebula, and get us out quickly if we find ourselves in an ambush?”

“I believe so; Aldebarans have been retro-fitted with the new Menkorian Systems including Responsive Combat Navigation and Polycom; it will cut through any interference nonetheless it cannot stop sensor ‘ghosting’. Our propulsion will not be affected by electromagnetic distortions, though. Stinger tag has deployed, Sir; our friends are adrift and switching to ion drive.”

“How is our decoy coming along?”

“All programmed as instructed; we are nearly at trajectory launch point, automatic countdown initiated.”

The celestial shrouds of blue-greens and blue-purples that characterised Kytonia were now off to our right. I watched as the decoy lurched tangentially towards the massive nebulae, its propulsion plate the only thing making it visible. Soon even that was lost against the brightness towards which it journeyed.

“Reduce cruising speed and take us into the cloud; arm all passive weapons. Any telemetry on the Glane vessel?”

Garin answered. “They have no star drive capacity now and are moving further into the main nebula, apparently trying to evade our decoy. They appear to be heading for a nearby planet; peculiar behaviour for Glanes. No evidence on sensors of any other Glane vessels in the vicinity.”

Our Aldebaran breached the outer wisps of nebulae gases, a sleek sunbeam sliver piercing the unknown. Mirek was busy with navigation, Krissmin with targeting locks for the Hypermesh defence weapons, and our medic with trying to calm her nerves.

“Shall I allow them to gain a little distance from us? Not that they are aware of ‘our’ presence; I meant our decoy.”

“Yes, Mirek. Their wings are already clipped. Wait until they land then take us into the planetary atmosphere and set us down just beyond their sensors. Let the decoy pass the planet, as if it lost them. I expect they will try to make repairs and call their home-world, although the tag and nebulae should prevent that. Segara, we will need hand weapons and combat standard force shields.”

“Of course; Clip-shield portable defence generators and Metallic polymer crystal shields ready and fully charged.”

Our Aldebaran 7 turned eastwards and sawed down into Kytonia’s atmosphere, diving steeply. It levelled and spat sand sideways on landing.