Chroniech! (20 page)

"Auto control signals detected," the computer announced.

"Allow auto control," Sorbith ordered and took his hands off the panel.

After a few minutes a large structure appeared on the viewer. Falnath tried to fit more of herself into the already crowded control room. "That looks like a communications array," she remarked.

Sorbith glanced at several readouts then replied, "If it is, then it is the largest planetary based array I have ever seen. Computer, estimate the size of the object on the main viewer."

"The structure is approximately 33 kilometers in length and 29 kilometers in width."

Sorbith shook his head in amazement. "It sure looks like an FTL array, but I've never heard of one that large before. I don't see any other structures."

"Perhaps they are underground to protect them from the pulsar's radiation," Falnath said.

"We'll soon find out — that is our destination," Sorbith said. He then pushed a button and said, "Trel'mara, do you recognize the structure on your monitor?"

The Kyrra had been watching the descent from a monitor in their room. The face of one of them appeared on a small screen to Sorbith's left. "It is similar to a deep space communications array which we had built to maintain contact with our probes. But an equivalent communications system built by another species would involve similar design decisions and would result in a structure that would appear similar to ours. Further details of the construction are needed before a conclusion concerning the structure's origin can be reached."

"Thank you. Let me know if you spot anything of interest."

The rest of the descent was made very quickly and without incident. The Tri-Star was brought to a smooth landing several kilometers from the communications array. Once they were on the ground, the ship's computer reported that a powerful force-field had enclosed the area surrounding the ship and a breathable atmosphere was forming outside. As soon as the atmosphere had stabilized, the Hess spoke to them again.

"Please exit your ship. A Hess unit will meet you outside to provide guidance."

Sorbith informed the Kyrra and they met at the ship's hatchway. Once everyone had arrived, Sorbith bypassed the interlocks and opened both airlock doors. A small, featureless, metallic device was waiting for them outside the ship. It stood about 1.5 meters tall and appeared to float a few centimeters above the ground. As soon as the hatch opened it curtly said, "Follow," and immediately started moving away at a slow walking pace.

Falnath mentioned to Sorbith that the voice was identical to the one they had heard from the planet while they were in orbit. The machine led them to a small building. Inside was a large elevator. The group piled into the spacious cabin and it began to descend. After a moment it stopped and the door opened to expose a long underground corridor which seemed to extend into the distance as far as the eye could see.

They walked a short way and turned into a bare, unfurnished room. Four other identical machines waited within. As soon as the last person had entered, the door silently slid shut. One of the machines approached the Kyrra and said something in a language Sorbith's computer could not translate.

Tee'Chea's reaction was one of utter astonishment. He looked excitedly at his fellows and quickly replied in the same or a similar untranslatable language. A rapid-fire conversation followed.

After about a minute, Sorbith could stand no more. "What is going on here?" He said in a loud voice. "What language are you speaking? Where are the Hess? Explain!"

The nearest machine moved closer to Sorbith and said, "To answer your second question. They are speaking a local Kyrran dialect. The Kyrra, like most other species known to the Alliance, speak a common language but they also speak several local languages. The answer to your first question is the Hess is verifying the identity of the Kyrra.

"Finally, your third question should have been stated as ‘Where is the Hess?'. The Hess refers to the conglomerate of data gathering devices which exist on this world. The Hess is not a living creature nor is it a collection of individuals. It is a data collection and transmission unit constructed by the Kyrra 41,326 of your years ago."

Falnath emitted a sharp hiss of surprise and her tail began twitching nervously. Sorbith was stunned into silence. After calming herself down, Falnath said, "The Hess, then, is nothing more than a probe built by the Kyrra. I'm assuming then that you have contacted the Kyrra and they are now on their way here. When will their ship arrive?"

"This Hess has been unable to contact the Kyrra for the last 41,173 years. When it was learned that an operating Kyrra stasis chamber had been discovered, this Hess hoped the Kyrra within would be able to provide guidance as to how to contact the creators. It is now known the Kyrra you have freed from stasis do not possess this knowledge. However, this Hess has an obligation to protect these Kyrra from harm at all cost."

"You don't know where the Kyrra are?" Sorbith asked. "What have you been doing for the past forty-thousand years?"

"When the Kyrra did not respond with an acknowledgment to a routine data transmission this Hess performed fifty re-transmissions and verified all communications equipment was functioning properly. Self diagnostics were triggered at the first relay station and it reported that all systems were operational.”

"This unit then took action to search for and attempt to contact other Hess units. Since no information concerning additional Hess units had been provided, a detailed search using narrow-beam FTL inquiries was commenced. After searching for eight years, contact was established with another Hess unit. It was learned the other Hess unit had also lost contact with the Kyrra.”

"It was decided to continue the search for additional Hess units. After 97 years the search was completed to the limit of the range of all the communications equipment involved. Seventeen other Hess units had been contacted. Eleven have since self-destructed as those units considered themselves without purpose.”

"Two Hess units were discovered by other races and those units also elected to destroy themselves. Another unit was destroyed when the star it was in orbit about went nova. The remaining three Hess are now beyond our communications range. Contact was lost with these units when the Hess providing the communications link ceased to exist."

One of the Kyrra approached and said, "The Hess has asked me to request your assistance in locating our people. Without a purpose, the Hess believes it should not remain in operation. It has remained functional because there has always been a chance the Kyrra would eventually regain contact with them.”

"This Hess has also found purpose in that it has assisted the Alliance in various ways although doing so is in direct violation of its original programming. Since the goal of the Hess is the same as ours, we see no reason why this request should not be honored. Will you assist?"

Sorbith's thoughts raced through his mind. After a short delay, he said, "We have already agreed to provide you with a ship, but that was before we knew just how far away you planned on going. Based upon the coordinates you provided to us and the suspected area of space controlled by the Chroniech, we believe you will be traveling through Chroniech space and, given their latest hostile activities, I do not think you would survive for long. I believe now that it would be to our mutual benefit if, instead of just giving you a ship, we take you there ourselves. Before I can decide on this though, I need to know the precise location of where we will begin our search."

The room immediately darkened and a star map hologram was projected into the unoccupied corner of the room. The voice of a Hess remote explained, "The green pulsing dot is our current location. The red line terminating at the red dot indicates the most direct route. The distance is roughly 3,158 light years."

Sorbith was stunned. "Even at maximum drive, it would take our fastest ship over a year to make the trip. You are asking the Alliance to invest a considerable amount of equipment and funds toward this search. Now that I know the facts, I can tell you the council will most likely modify their original agreement, especially now with the Chroniech making war on the Alliance."

"Understood," the machine replied as the room returned to normal illumination. "In exchange for your assistance, the Alliance will be provided with the technical details required to construct a communications device capable of transmitting a signal at three million cee over a distance of 300 light years. You will also be provided with the technical specifications for a stardrive which is capable of sustained speeds in excess of 4,000c and a more complete mathematical description of the space-time continuum."

Sorbith tried very hard to maintain his composure. The Hess were offering to nearly triple the distance that a signal could be sent, increase its speed of transmission by several orders of magnitude, and to boost their maximum FTL speed to unheard of levels.

"That is an offer I think the Alliance can not refuse," he replied in a somewhat shaky voice. "I will have my ship transmit the offer to central command with a request that the Alliance council convene an emergency meeting to decide the issue. The only problem remaining will be the logistics of outfitting a ship for such an extended voyage."

"There is a way to shorten the voyage," the machine said. "Although the transport ship which brought the Hess components here was cannibalized for its parts, the stardrive remains operational. With the appropriate modifications, the stardrive can be installed within a suitable Alliance ship. If properly aligned and powered, the ship should be able to reach speeds of at least 11,000c and possibly higher."

"Eleven thousand!" Falnath exclaimed. "Such a speed of travel is unbelievable." Turning to Sorbith she continued, "You cannot let this opportunity pass. You must insist that the council accept. If the council will not, I'm sure one of the member races would jump at the opportunity to obtain this level of technology."

Before Sorbith could reply, the Hess said, "The Hess will not provide such technology to a single race. At present, the member species making up the Alliance live in relative peace with each other due in part to an extensive sharing of technology. Providing one race with a significant jump in technological ability would upset the current stability possibly resulting in the breakup of the Alliance. The Alliance must remain united if it is to defeat the advances of the Chroniech."

"Agreed," Sorbith said. "I believe the council will ac..." He stopped in mid-sentence and was silent for a moment. Falnath did not interrupt for she knew the peacekeeper was receiving a message from his ship important enough for the ship's computer to interrupt their conversation.

After a moment Sorbith said, "I have just been informed that the General Patton has engaged the incoming ships. They claim to be from a group calling themselves The Army of Humanity and they are demanding that the stasis chamber and the Kyrra be turned over to them. A battle is in progress."

"I was afraid of this," Falnath said.

"What do you mean?" Sorbith asked, turning a curious ear toward the Rouldian.

"The opportunity for advancing ones technological superiority by several decades is too tempting to pass up for those species who still possess a warlike nature. I had thought the Tholtarans would have been the first to attack us but it seems as if the Humans have gotten here first. We must return the Kyrra to their own people or the Alliance will face an internal war as those hungry for power try to gain control of Kyrra technology."

"I have heard of this Army of Humanity before," Sorbith mused. He was silent for a moment as he conversed with his ship via his implant. After a moment he continued, "They are a fanatical militant organization that arose on Earth immediately after that world made contact with the Consortium - the predecessor to the Alliance.”

"They were violently against Humans having any contact with non-Humans. Shortly after the end of the Human — Tholtaran war the Army of Humanity purchased several colony ships and headed into space to start an independent colony."

"What have they been doing for all these years?" Falnath inquired.

"Nothing was heard of them for about fifteen years until a Shandarian mining scout came across them while mapping an unexplored system. They remain an independent world on the very fringe of Alliance space. They allow no visitors from off-world, yet, their level of technology suggests that they have maintained some type of contact with the rest of the Alliance."

"How did they manage to get here so fast?"

"The obvious answer is that our security has been compromised," Sorbith replied after a short reflection. "Perhaps these Humans have a network of informants in key facilities. If they consider non-Humans to be their enemy then it would be logical for them to keep an eye on the activities of the Alliance through such informants. This is something we will have to look into."

Sorbith was about to fill in some more details when he was interrupted by the Hess. "Order your battleships to disengage and move to within 100,000 kilometers of this planet," the Hess said. "Your ships will be under this unit's protection. The Kyrra and the stasis device are to remain here until the search ship is ready."

Without hesitation Sorbith gave the order to his ship which then relayed it to the General Patton and the Mituri Sama. After a moment he said, "Our ships have broken off and are moving this way. The Mituri Sama has been severely damaged but is still able to maneuver. The General Patton has sustained some damage as well.”

"Two of the destroyers have been eliminated and a third damaged. The rest are in pursuit. The Komodo Dragon is breaking orbit and moving to assist. I have ordered my ship to send for additional reinforcements in case there is further trouble."

Throughout all this the Kyrra had been silent. Trel'mara appeared shaken. Nordlatak moved closer to him to provide comfort. Looking up Nordlatak said, "Our presence has caused death and violence among your people. We cannot remain in your society without causing further disruption — please take us to our own people."