Annals of the Keepers - Rage Page 16

  “Gentlemen, I think a drink is in order, to celebrate our coming together as the great thinkers for the colony. Would you both agree?”

  “Kayleon, your delicate touch in these conversations has my deepest admiration,” Traddus said before turning his words to Tallis, “Shall we grab a drink before the debates begin, old friend?”

  Tallis nodded his agreement.

  The group walked over to a banquet table laden with fruits and varying foods.

  Tallis grabbed a chaliced drink from the table and began to watch the others speak in their tight-knit groups.

  He could discern who was with whom and what stance each took on the matter that he so longed to lift, just as he knew where Traddus stood.

  The power was shifting and now was the time to strike.

  While the iron is hot, he thought.

  ∞∞∞

  It wasn’t too long before another guest spoke up above the mingling in the court.

  “Leader Tallis,” the voice of a female politician broke through the murmers. “Shall we commence with the arguments for and against Precept Sixtenth”

  With cup in hand, Tallis motioned. “By all means, Cerin Aonn. Please, commence with the discussions.”

  The off-shoulder robed female stepped up near the center of the flame.

  All guests’ eyes were on her, awaiting the first volley regarding whether to keep or disband Marshal Law.

  “My fellow scholars,” she began. “I have come to regard the Sixteenth Precept as both a blessing and a curse.”

  Conflicting voices of agreement and disagreement on her opening statement filled the forum.

  “Here, here,” was heard from some, along with the others calling, “Nay.”

  Mordon Tallis sat back and glanced at those he knew opposed his own viewpoint on the matter.

  Cerin Aonn was one such politician who did.

  She continued, “It keeps the citizens of Mydian safe under the watchful protection of the Ordinance. It also keeps us prisoner, not able to leave the system and venture beyond our home planet as free people.”

  “Then it’s time to spread our wings and let our people be free,” Tallis joined in.

  Cheers went up on Tallis’ remark.

  Just as quick, boos and shouts met against the hurrahs for removing Martial Law.

  “Come now, Mordon,” Cerin said, “Spreading our wings to a certain extent is one thing. Asking for cultural recklessness is another.”

  Tallis laughed, “ ‘Cultural recklessness?’ You’re stretching the bounds of what I’ve said.”

  The female politician took a step closer to Tallis, her eyes narrowing. “Have I stretched what you’ve said, Mordon?”

  “Indeed. You have.”

  The crowd held a close breath as to what events may unfold between the two greatest minds in the Assembly.

  A smile creased Cerin’s face as she looked upon the Mount Leader. “You see, Mordon. What you have asked is precisely that; the end to Martial Law without any confines to those freedoms you want to bestow to the people. It’s dangerous.”

  Tallis smiled.

  Her rant, he thought, would play into his support for removing the Precept he was after. She was stretching things because she had nothing else to stand on.

  She was desperate.

  He would have her continue her careless path.

  “Please, Cerin, continue and enlighten us on these so-called ‘dangerous’ freedoms you speak of.”

  She did not hesitate.

  “You see these flames.” She pointed, walking around the bonfire in the center of the forum, drawing everyone’s attention.” They represent freedom.”

  She pointed next to the surrounding outside pillars. “And these pillars of stone that surround the fire. They are the borders between freedom and anarchy.”

  She whipped around to look at her political adversary.

  Her eyes were locked in once again on the Mount Leader. “You see, Mordon. It’s alright to speak about and argue about how far the pillars should be placed, but to want all fire and no pillars…is foolish. We would all burn.”

  Murmurs erupted amongst the members.

  The fiery reflection in Tallis’ eyes was not so much from the eternal flame in the center of the Court, but that of his burning hatred for the words his colleague had just spoken.

  How true they were.

  The whispered voices buzzed with emotion.

  No doubt, the decided minds of some were beginning to question and those who wavered would reconsider once more.

  Tallis’ own fire rose inside him.

  He stepped forward.

  His lips parted open—

  She spoke before he did.

  “And what of the threats? Commander Parejas speaks of with the Kryth and the rumors of the lost Gashnee race returning as an even greater menace?”

  His internal abhorrence exploded at the thought of Commander Parejas’ name being spoken here and used as a wedge to drive her point against him.

  This venue was where Tallis had cut his teeth on the politics of what was possible within the confines of the Mydian government.

  It is what brought him to this position of power.

  He revered this forum.

  Tallis’ eyes flashed with hatred at the thought of what Parejas had told him years ago.

  That this place, the Comitium Court, was a den of thieves.

  Cerin now used his name to back her words instead of standing for her own ideals.

  She’d gone too far.

  The Assembly Leader placed his arms behind his back to contain the anger which now boiled up from within him, gripping his arms.

  He needed to keep his composure if he was to refute what his colleague had said, and bring those who have waivered on her words, back to his side.

  Tallis forced a smile.

  He took one last step towards Cerin, but before he could speak, another spoke for him.

  “I agree with Assembly Leader Tallis,” Assemblywoman Qurinden said as she strode up to the center flame and next to her friend on the Assembly. “We need to expand our freedoms and allow commerce and exploration to happen within this free society of ours.”

  “This is what I speak of, Kayleon. The safety of that freedom,” Cerin added.

  The single red eye turned and focused on Cerin Aonn. “Yes, Cerin, but you seek no expanded freedoms from the Ordinance’s containment of them.”

  “Yes, but–” Cerin tried to add to her argument, but with no luck. Assemblywoman Qurinden had the floor, along with the attention of everyone in the Court. “You see, Cerin, the citizens want Martial Law lifted. They are not asking for anarchy, as you assume. They want to expand on their own and stake their own claim among the stars. They are tired of being on the same planet, not allowed to venture off and find new frontiers of trade and exploration.”

  “Regardless, the Kryth and Gashnee threats are real, Kayleon. You can’t deny matters of fact.”

  “What are facts but one’s own arrogant interpretation of the obvious; which can be deceptive can it not? I put forth to you now that Marshal Law can always be reinstated if need be. Allow the citizens of Mydian the freedom to choose their own destiny. And they will follow you anywhere.”

  Kayleon circled the luminous fire.

  She had complete command of the Court.

  “I say to you, Councilwoman Cerin Aonn, and all those who oppose lifting of Precept Sixteen. What argument can you make if you use the same repeated words as the Ordinance? What does it say about free minds and the enlightenment of expressing one’s passions of thought and wisdom among our peers? Are we not crafting the future of the colony with our Precepts? Are we not the guidance for the governed? Do we not gather together in the hopes of making a better tomorrow, without the chains of military overseers upon us?”

  Tallis smirk deepened as his friend spoke.

  He did enjoy the display of craftsmanship Kayleon was exhibiting on the exact matter he called the gathering for
.

  The cyborg approached the Councilwoman.

  “Cerin, let’s discuss the Kryth and the Gashnee as an argument. The Kryth are at a loss for what has happened to them. They are in no position to invade the Mydian system, according to the Ordinance’s own brief on the situation. They may seek out small engagements, but the tactical landscape has changed against them. Even the Vrae Empire now sees an opportunity to rise against them, since we have become a new threat to the Kryth Mahr Domain. We can garner many new allies that were once under the oppression of their Kryth masters. The Domain is starting to see their borders less secure, and their weaknesses are exposed. We have tossed a stone of uncertainty into the waters of interstellar space. It is our time to expand and enjoy the riches and bright future that true freedom brings.”

  Councilwoman Cerin hesitated taken aback by the speech, but she pressed on to make her point.

  “That may be true, but–”

  “It is true,” Kayleon cut her off. “For haven’t the first freedoms from the Earthiest Precept passed proven that the citizens we govern want their freedom? They have been without it for centuries.”

  No one said a word.

  Truth had been spoken.

  Tallis knew he had them where he wanted them, thanks to Kayleon.

  He just needed to add a last piece of kindling on the fire, he thought.

  “But what of the Gashnee threat Cerin mentioned, Kayleon? What of that?” Tallis asked.

  Cerin shot Tallis a poisonous glance. She knew where he stood and him asking such a question was surely bait.

  “The Gashnee, a threat? The evidence is mild, if any, from what the Ordinance reports,” Kayleon said. “This is a race that saved us from certain annihilation. They reached out to us in friendship. They taught us how to explore and enabled us to escape the Kryth invasion. How do we know they mean us harm? The encounter around the wormhole could have been mistaken identity, could it not? It’s too soon to say. Will they return at all, as these so-called prophecies of theirs say? We don’t know. Until there is a real and present danger or war declared on our race, we must continue with the lifting of the Sixteenth Precept and move on with our lives; not fearing the future or the past, but embracing and learning from both. Let Marshal Law not pacify us with wild and unchecked emotions from fearing the unknown.”

  “Here, here!” Tallis exclaimed.

  The fire in the center of the court blazed as the voices fell silent.

  The Comitium Court was built for this reason; for those enlightened to reason among themselves to better the Mydian society.

  It had its purposes, for the powerful and affluent.

  On this night, it had its purposes for Mordon Tallis.

  Data Cell 25

  The blurred image of a face from the bottom of a class shifted as Commander Parejas placed his cognac down on his desk.

  Light scattered across his rigid face from the holo-image displayed before him.

  The commander sat back in his darkened personal quarters, watching the light source within the office display imagery from the Gashnee confrontation which the Flashpoint had faced.

  His hand waved the images and recordings across.

  Shenta was in deep thought and missed the beep at his door.

  He stared at the projected light, watching with intense focus.

  A second beep broke his concentration and he removed his hand from his chin. “Enter,” he said.

  The commander didn’t take his eyes off the data he was so fixated on, waving his guest over to him.

  Captain Takkar pulled up a seat in front of the large desk.

  “Does this urgent, late-night meeting require me to have a drink in hand?” Takkar asked.

  Parejas smiled, waving to the bar. “Indeed. Help yourself.”

  “You don’t have to point the way. I know where it’s at,” the captain said as he made his way over to the spirits cabinet. “You could have just called me and I would have told you the story to put you to sleep instead of looking over the data again.”

  The captain returned to his seat opposite the commander.

  Shenta looked over at his good friend. “Yes, but your stories are always so much better in person.”

  Takkar smiled and raised his class, “Good point. So, what draws me from my interrupted slumber?”

  “See? You said that with such charm.” Shenta remarked.

  Takkar chuckled, looking at the image. “So, what do we have here?”

  With a wave of his hand, Parejas moved the display image in front of the two men.

  “We received a message from the Earth expedition. It came in a few moments ago. Dated yesterday. Watch.”

  The holo-image ran the transmission as Takkar looked on.

  The face of Director Shawna Bowlan appeared.

  [Commander Parejas…]

  Takkar glanced at Shenta. “Formal.”

  “Keep watching,” Shenta replied.

  The transmission continued, [I wanted to report several incidences that have occurred since our arrival. I wasn’t going to send this until the most recent tragic accident took place. I need to report the death of Captain Ronclar. It seems there was a mishap with one of the Bassor wolves in the area. We thought they posed us no harm due to their genetic programming, but something happened with the wolves that lead to Captain Ronclar’s death. We’re still investigating.]

  Takkar sat up in his chair, eyes wide.

  “Wolves? Well, there’s a bedtime story for you,” Takkar muttered.

  [The other two vary in their severity. I will let the Ordinance determine the priority of each. The first one happened upon our arrival in the Sol system. We encountered some Kryth pirates scavenging through the wreckage of their destroyed stations. They left the system as soon as they detected us. No other Kryth have been encountered. The second report is a bit more mysterious…]

  Takkar rolled his head towards Shenta. “Thanks for waking me up.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Both men continued to watch and listen as Director Bowlan touched upon her final report.

  [As we were setting up the atmospheric stations, Captain Ronclar vanished to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. As I searched for him, I came across the captain in one of the sealed Earth archives. He was speaking to someone with some strange device. I couldn’t recognize the other voice as it was encrypted. Upon my interruption, the light and voice went out. When I inquired, he said he was speaking to himself and just looking over some of the unique Gashnee items that the Keeper Adytum wanted on our return. This was our secondary mission to be followed in the second year from our arrival. I do not know what he was doing. This was the last time I saw him before his death.]

  Takkar downed the last sip of his Cognac. “Gashnee, huh?”

  Shenta nodded.

  Director Bowlan finished her report.

  [The last event came yesterday when an old transport shuttle lifted off from the mountain complex. When we arrived, we saw the captain dead on the platform. There was no one we knew of on the transport when it left. It headed out of the system before we could intercept it. We believe the captain programed it to rendezvous back in Mydian. It was also carrying some of the unknown artifacts from the vaults, including some Gashnee tech left over from their first contact. Even though we are a bit shaken here, morale is good since we’ve started to reverse the atmospheric effects from the Kryth’s bio weapons. I will send a follow-up report in the coming days. I hope all is well there. I miss you. Director Bowlan, out.]

  The light flickered and vanished.

  The dim lighting around the room broke the slightest darkness between the two men.

  Takkar picked up his glass. “How about that.” He shook his head. “Gashnee artifacts? One big crazy mess, this is. And here I thought the wolves were interesting.”

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Parejas said.

  The captain put his hand to his head. “I’m thinking about Captain Strathin. This is just too much coinc
idence here if you ask me.”

  “I agree. But before we jump to conclusions, we need to locate this ship and intercept it before it gets back to Mydian.”

  Takkar stood up. “Agreed. I can take the Flashpoint and Kason’s Reavers to pick it up.”

  Shenta smiled. “Thanks for volunteering, but we need to investigate more and find out what is going on before we dilute our ranks. All this for a derelict cargo ship? We still have the Kryth lurking in the shadows near Mydian, if you remember.”

  “Of course. Excuse me while I pour another one. I’m going to need it,” Takkar said, raising his glass.

  “Please, by all means.”

  Takkar dispensed his drink, took a sip, then turned back to the commander. “So, another heart-to-heart talk with our long-lost captain is in order?”

  “It would seem so,” Parejas said as he stood and moved over to the viewing window. “I’ve spoken to him, as has Keeper Renske. I think we need a captain-to-captain talk now."

  “Interesting.”

  “Go easy on him, Jesan. I still believe what he’s told us. I don’t think there are any connections here, but we can’t take any chances.”

  “What about his crew?”

  Parejas paused, looking out toward the stars. “I’ve deliberated over this, but have continued their lockdown and ordered a fresh scan-and-sweep of their ship.”

  “And what of the cargo ship that’s on its way?”

  “There, we have some time.” Shenta turned from the window towards his friend. “The cargo hauler’s engines are older Gashnee tech from back in the day. It will take the ship a year to reach Mydian. This will also give us time to track it and investigate any collaborators that have been working with Captain Ronclar.” Shenta turned back to his friend. “This cargo ship should come into range of the first Deus antenna in a day or two. We will pick up its track then,” he paused for a moment, “Let me ask you, who would want old Earth relics…of the Gashnee variety?”

  Takkar frowned. “The Keeper Adytum?”

  “My initial thought as well. They’re so enamored by history. It all may be harmless but, then again, we have to check every angle,” Shenta said, hand going back to his chin in thought.