NEBULAR Collection 5 - Panic in the Galaxy: Episodes 22 - 26 Read online

  Panic in the Galaxy

  Nebular Collection 5 (Episodes 22 - 26)

  Written by Thomas Rabenstein

  Issue: 2016-12-23

  URL: www.scifi-world.de

  © 2016 SciFi-World Medien Verlag

  Contributors

  Cover by Arndt Drechsler

  Michael Köckritz – Chief translator and coordinator (English)

  The following team has contributed to this issue:

  Norman Riger, Kevin Breen, Tim Anderson,

  Tom Norris, Elmer Margritz,

  Ben Stegner (Test Reading)

  Preface

  While the Solar Union Fleet is partially successful in fighting the Circle of Victors, Toiber Arkroid and his team are still in the Delta Trianguli system, unaware of the events at home.

  In Ray-Mainai, the sub-terrain metropolis on the planet Equinox, scientists are trying to solve the mystery of how the Progonaut flagship Atlantika was able to reach the Neo-Sapien system without a functioning faster-than-light propulsion system.

  How was it possible that the Progonaut crew was able to live through thousands and thousands of years without aging? Was the defeated humanoid gnome, who suppressed the will of the Progonauts with his strong mental powers, a member of the Dark Brotherhood?

  Toiber Arkroid makes a decision with far reaching consequences by flying to the other side of the Milky Way. Now, he begins to understand what kind of danger is looming as he is confronted with the Panic in the Galaxy …

  22 - Panic in the Galaxy

  Written by Thomas Rabenstein

  My life for my queen

  Toiber Arkroid and Lai Pi watched the Atlantika’s large hangar gates, as the over twenty meter high segments opened silently to the sides, disappearing inside the three-layered hull.

  A massive ramp extended slowly from the ship, touching the ground minutes later. The Progonaut flagship had landed above the underground Neo-Sapien city of Ray-Mainai.

  The ship cast a large arrow-like shadow onto the ground, blocking many plants from the sun. So much so, that some plants pulled themselves out of the ground and walked on their roots to a more suitable location.

  Signal horns announcing the arrival of a Neo-Sapien delegation disturbed the plants movements. Ray-Tor’s best warriors marched up the ramp to the large hanger, where they were greeted by Progonaut honor guards. The Techno-Ferry team, also present, eagerly watched the unfolding ceremony.

  »Say, aren’t you nervous, Toiber?« Pi said.

  Arkroid shook his head.

  »Don’t worry, Pi. Both delegations will get along just fine. The preliminary meetings ended without a hitch. The Neo-Sapiens accepted the Progonaut apology and that they had been under the control of an alien. This is a trust building ceremony.«

  A Progonaut officer yelled a short command and the honor guard formation assumed attention, presenting swords.

  »Swords? No energy rifles? I’m surprised. Are we still on board a battle ship?« Maya Ivanova said.

  »Don’t underestimate these swords, Maya. They can cut steel like butter. Pi and I have seen it before,« Arkroid said. »I wouldn’t want to fight a Progonaut Soldier in close combat.«

  »I remember,« Maya said. »Vasina used her sword to fight Morgotradon – she just wasn’t able to kill that bastard.«

  Maya shuddered.

  »He’s no Human being anymore…,« Pi said, »Uh ... Progonaut I mean. The crystal took over and replicated his body.«

  »Saving his life,« Maya said. »He escaped but I’m sure we’ll meet him again.«

  Maya looked at Pi with a sneer before Voit Masgur interrupted the two.

  »I like these Progonauts,« Voit said. »They look impressive with their polished, golden helmets and visors.«

  »They’re not regular Progonauts. These are Vasina’s honor guards, the palace guards of the House of Atlantika. It might not be obvious, but these guards are well trained and fierce fighters,« Paafnas said.

  Arkroid and the others studied the curious, small creature, Paafnas.

  »How do you know that? Did Vasina tell you?« Arkroid said.

  »Certainly, Toiber,« Paafnas said, he smiled while watching the ceremony. »She even told me something else … a new shield bearer will be chosen, today in fact, right after the ceremony.«

  Pi winked at Paaf and said, »She’s probably sick and tired of carrying the shield herself … huh, huh.«

  Neo-Sapiens continued to pour into the hangar from the ramp. Their boot stomps, adding more noise to the atmosphere. Ray-Tor’s men swarmed into the hangar and secured it. Another group formed two parallel lines between which Ray-Tor and his delegation walked toward the Progonauts.

  The Progonaut honor guards didn’t flinch when a loud horn signal commanded Ray-Tor’s men to form an honor line.

  »He just doesn’t get it,« Pi said, wincing and rubbing his left ear.

  »We do not understand this ceremony,« Kuster~Laap said. His companions, Nood and Naad stared into empty space at his side. Nanobots moved cautiously through the Atlantika, relaying information back to the ZyClonians.

  ›I wonder, if the ZyClonians can see well without their nanopods?‹ Arkroid pondered.

  There they were, facing each other. The Progonauts, well-disciplined in shining armor and the Neo-Sapiens, snarling and yelling out primal battle cries.

  »Uhem … seems to me that the Neo-Sapiens don’t care much about formal discipline or uniforms, let alone standing at attention,« Pi said. He pointed at the random patterned, leather armored Neo-Sapiens.

  »Even if they don’t give a damn, I still don’t want to have them as my enemies,« Maya said.

  Ray-Tor slammed his fist against his chest while the Progonaut guard commander touched his right hand to his shoulder. The salute completed, they turned towards the accompanying guards and repeated.

  »The past meets the present,« Voit said.

  »Actually, no. It’s the other way around, Voit,« Pi said. »The Progonaut civilization is much older than the Neo-Sapien one. The Progonaut Houses where at their zenith a million years ago.«

  The wild battle cries stopped when Vasina and Hellas entered the hangar. Vasina had changed her apparel.

  She wore a white gown, tailored to her hips with the symbols of the House of Atlantika on the left side of her chest. Her deep black hair shone in all colors of the visible light spectrum. Two golden combs, emitting a bluish hue, complemented her hair.

  ›The Jamal-Combs!‹ Arkroid thought. ›She’s beautiful.‹

  He nodded in her direction and Vasina smiled back. She joined Ray-Tor and Hellas, the guard commander.

  Arkroid stepped back and approached the Chiropter. Kuster~Laap twitched.

  »Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,« Arkroid said.

  »It is a waste of my valuable time,« Kuster~Laap said. »You promised to fly me to the portal, not to watch ceremonies«

  »To go where?« Arkroid said.

  »Conceptor Crux needs to be informed of current situation. Our hope rests on the completion of the Dimensional Mirror. There are no Protectors and the Second Reserve is non-existent. If the Dualytes cannot complete their mission then we will be doomed.«

  »Can’t you forget your catastrophe? Not even for a few of minutes?« Pi said.

  »How can I,« Kuster~Laap said, his ears flaring and flapping. »I carry responsibilities as Chiropter First Class.«

  »Are you going to inform the Genorantans immediately after your return?« Pi asked.

  Kuster~Laap twitched, his eyes darted around the room. He scowled, gazing over Pi’s shoulder.


  Arkroid knit his eyebrows.

  »Hmm … you don’t even know where they are,« Arkroid said, »and the same goes for the other members of the Galactic Brotherhood, right? Admit it.«

  Kuster~Laap’s said, »The Genorantans haven’t shown themselves for quite some time, but that does not mean they do not know what’s going on in the galaxy.«

  Pi winced and held his head as the low frequency voice of Kuster~Laap smashed his inner ears.

  »Do you mind? Your voice,« Pi said.

  The Chiropter looked at Arkroid.

  »I need to return quickly. Time is running out.«

  »How do they look… I mean the Genorantans?« Maya inquired. »Are they like us or do they look like you just with green busheled ears? What? Tell us …«

  Kuster~Laap turned his back on her.

  ›Maya, smart girl, trying to compromise him. He’s probably never seen one,‹ Arkroid thought.

  »Do you have an idea how long it’d take to invade a galaxy?« Arkroid said. »These Looters, as you call them, would be busy for thousands of years, mapping solar systems, let alone occupying them. Then it would take them another couple of thousand years until they’d show up in our sector. There’re way too many stars in our galaxy.«

  Arkroid bit his tongue.

  »Your solar system is in the cross hairs of our enemy. A Looter fleet will show up earlier than you think. Even if this Solar System is not a primary target, millions of civilizations will be enslaved in rapid succession – millions or billions of intelligent life-forms. It would have been your task to protect them.«

  Arkroid swallowed. He didn’t refute Kuster~Laap’s arguments. It seemed that Kuster~Laap still perceived Humanity as being responsible for the failure of the long-term defense plan. Arkroid saw it much differently.

  ›I need to get used to thinking in different dimensions,‹ he thought.

  Vasina glanced over to Pi and Arkroid before she said, »I welcome our new friends from Equinox and express my gratitude to Ray-Tor for his hospitality.«

  Vasina bowed demonstratively toward Ray-Tor’s delegation.

  ›She does a good job of reconciling,‹ Arkroid thought looking at the smiling Neo-Sapiens.

  »Our mutual past is shrouded by a dark and all swallowing fog. Horrible things occurred. Progonauts had become tools, controlled by an unknown power, which does not know scruples or morals. We feel ashamed about the deaths and sufferings caused by our ship. We now understand, however, that the crew was not acting of its own free will,« Vasina said.

  Her eyes radiating stronger as she continued, »Today, we stand here together, united as friends who will resist and beat the enemy. Neo-Sapiens, Humans, Progonauts and Hybrids are forming a new alliance.«

  A Progonaut officer of the guards yelled a loud command after which the honor guards simultaneously lowered their swords.

  Vasina looked at her guards with a tight smile across her face, before she continued.

  »Nobody knows how the Atlantika came to Equinox from Earth. All we know is that we cannot leave this system. The Atlantika’s tachyon drive is damaged beyond repair, however, we are thankful for the Neo-Sapien hospitality.«

  Ray-Tor nodded.

  »We welcome you to Equinox!« Ray-Tor said.

  ›This would have been unthinkable just a couple of generations after the Atlantika had decimated the Neo-Sapien civilization,‹ Arkroid pondered. ›It’s astounding that the Neo-Sapiens are so welcoming.‹

  »We as Progonauts carry a heavy debt and a large burden on our shoulders,« Vasina said. »We will defend Equinox and the Neo-Sapien civilization to the best of our abilities from attackers from out of space and on the planet. Our ship is always open to you.«

  Vasina stepped forward and extended her hand toward Ray-Tor, a gesture, she had learned on Earth. She offered him a crystal, which glowed from the inside out.

  ›A Human gesture,‹ Arkroid thought. ›Seems she’s learned a lot from us.‹

  »With this Crystal of Freedom we seal our friendship and alliance,« Vasina said.

  »That means that the Progonauts are the protectors of Equinox,« Pi said. »Does this also mean that they’ll settle here?«

  Arkroid shrugged.

  »They don’t have much of a choice. Maybe together they can repair the tachyon drive or design a new one.«

  A loud tone sounded through the hangar. The Neo-Sapiens and Progonauts assumed attention, while Vasina awaited a Progonaut soldier who had left the formation, goose-stepping along the formation, stopping three meters before her.

  ›A strong and attractive man,‹ Arkroid thought. He noticed Maya puckering her lips. ›Huh, Maya seems impressed.‹

  Vasina approached the man, he bowed his head and kneeled on his left leg, resting his right forearm on the other knee.

  »You are Tranos, son of Heptomos of Atlantika,« she said. »I knew your father well. You have been accepted to be my Shield Bearer. Look at me.«

  Tranos looked her in the eyes, but remained kneeled.

  Maya rolled her eyes, »Oh, how nice. I’ll take him, if Vasina doesn’t want him anymore. He can carry my backpack … and I’d have other things to keep him busy,« Maya suggested.

  She kept staring at the muscled shield bearer.

  Pi frowned.

  Arkroid chuckled.

  Vasina signaled to an honor guard soldier, who left the formation and approached Vasina, carrying her shield with extended arms. When he was at Vasina’s side, he turned around to face Tranos.

  »Shield Bearer … stand before your queen and receive the Shield of the House of Atlantika!« Vasina announced. »As of this day you no longer kneel before me. Your duty is to protect me and the honor of the House of Atlantika.«

  Tranos stood and received the shield, which he slipped over his right arm. He saluted Vasina with a nod.

  »My life for my queen and the House of Atlantika!« he proclaimed.

  Vasina and the other soldier stepped to the side and Tranos goose-stepped to the front of the honor guard formation, taking his position.

  ›That does it, he’s in charge of the royal guards,‹ Arkroid thought.

  Either you come with us

  A big feast followed the ceremony taking place partly inside the Atlantika and in Ray-Mainai. Progonauts flooded the Neo-Sapien city, talking to its citizens while the Neo Sapiens explored the Progonaut ship.

  Arkroid, his team and the Progonaut and Neo-Sapien leaders met in Ray-Tor’s private residence for a banquet dinner.

  Tranos watched over Vasina, never leaving her side. He carried his sword with him, hand resting on the handle. Ray-Tor’s men kept a watchful eye on him. Tranos had dark black hair and a brown complexion with Roman facial features. His crested shield drew the glances of the partiers as he stepped into the banquet hall. It could have also been his stature and height. At nearly two meters, he towered over most guests. His muscles rippled and tensed at any guest approaching Vasina. His eyes constantly swept the room.

  ›He’s a bit overzealous or is this normal behavior?‹ Arkroid wondered. ›Well, I’ll have to get used to him one way or the other. He’s the new man at Vasina’s side.‹

  Ray-Tor signaled to close the large doors to the banquet hall. The guards took position outside.

  »We’re amongst friends now. Nothing we talk about will leave this room,« Ray-Tor announced.

  Arkroid blinked at Pi and pointed at his wrist-comm which kept him in constant contact with Nautilus.

  »Maybe this is the right time to remind everybody that we need to leave Equinox soon,« Kuster~Laap said once the last person had taken their seats.

  »I’ll get to that later,« Arkroid said. »There’re some questions, I need answers to, they’re burning under my fingernails.«

  Arkroid grinned as he saw the Progonaut and Neo-Sapien faces.

  ›Seems the translation device was a bit too tight in that translation,‹ he chuckled.

  Ray-Tor growled, inviting Arkroid to continue.

 
»I’m thinking about the Progonaut warrior being held inside the temporal prison. Will you free him so we can interrogate him?« Arkroid said, staring at Ray-Tor.

  »His name is Goran,« Tranos replied. »He’s listed as missing. I identified him before we came to the meeting.«

  Arkroid looked wide eyed at Pi, then to Tranos.

  »Do you know this man?« Pi wanted to know.

  »Certainly. He belongs to the Royal Guards and is now under my command,« Tranos stated, his fist clenched. »He’s an honor guard and an excellent fighter. He served the House of Atlantika for many years. Both of us were recruited for the Rainbow Palace at the same time.«

  Vasina’s glanced into the distance.

  Arkroid studied her face, ›She’s probably thinking of the past and the palace.‹

  »I have asked Ray-Tor not to deactivate the temporal prison with good reason,« Vasina informed the team, waking up from her daze.

  »For sure,« Maya replied. »The man wasn’t on board the Atlantika and not under the gnome’s control. He worked alone. If he was outside the ship, acting on behalf of the Dark Brotherhood, then he must have been controlled in a different way. Is that what you’re referring to Vasina?«

  Vasina frowned and nodded slowly.

  »He may have been taken over by the crystals. He could also be an agitator or worse, somebody like Morgotradon,« she assumed.

  Maya Ivanova gnashed her teeth.

  »I understand. The former honor guard could become a time bomb after his release, like McCord?« Pi concluded.

  »Exactly, if I’m correct then the Neo-Sapiens are in great danger as soon as Goran realizes that we have regained control. He might release a tachyon impulse, which could re-awaken the Globusters in this system. Then we’re facing an overwhelming enemy. I’m not taking the risk,« Vasina predicted.

  »Hmm … those are speculations, at best,« Voit Masgur replied. »If this Progonaut was crystal infected, then why not the rest of the crew?«

  Voit looked around the table, avoiding eye contact with Tranos or Vasina.

  ›He’s jealous,‹ Arkroid thought.

  »You’re correct, we really don’t know,« Hellas admitted. »There’re more unanswered questions: How did the Atlantika get to this system? The ship’s armor and weapons are designed and laid out according to size and necessities, but there’s no ultimate weapon on board the ship.«