Shadows of Golstar (2 page)

 Confederated
Planets had made two forays into the Farway system, both to disastrous ends,
and the government believed it was only a matter of time before the
militaristic inhabitants of this distant system would further react and make a
definitive move toward the home planets. In preparation leading up to a public
declaration of war, the government made plans to assemble an armada to
retaliate and defend against this newly revealed enemy.

War
preparations were barely underway when remote monitoring posts reported the
approach of a ship of unknown configuration, originating from the Farway
Spiral, heading toward Confederated Planets space. Warships were dispatched
along calculated jump points to disable and capture the intruder or failing
that, destroy it before it could threaten the inner systems.

Heavily
armed attack corsairs met the foreign vessel shortly after it exited subspace,
midway on its projected course. Warnings were transmitted along with a weapons
salvo across the ship’s bow, but the alien ship ignored both messages and
maintained its original course, recharging for its next entry into subspace. The
corsairs immediately attacked with pulse lasers, missiles and deadly rail-guns.
The intruder was momentarily lost in a cloud of plasma gases, electrical
discharges and shrapnel, but after a few seconds, the ship reappeared,
unscathed. It made no attempt to return fire. 

At
the next jump point, a larger force was sent to engage the intruder. Undamaged,
with its progress unabated, the ship continued on its course. Confederated
Planets then attempted to ram the intruder with an unmanned warship packed with
enough explosives to destroy a small moon. The impact triggered a spectacular
explosion, but as if by magic, the ship emerged from the expanding ball of
devastating energy, whole and unharmed.
 
When it reached the heavily traveled civilian traffic routes, the
military was forced to cease its futile assaults. They could only monitor the
strange ship as it made its way toward the heart of Confederated Planets.
Entering the inner systems, it abruptly changed course and made directly for
Confederated Planets’ center of government on Terra II. 

Terra
II had been cordoned off to civilian traffic, and in one last attempt, the
planet’s own hardened defenses focused their energies on the approaching ship
as three battleships attacked from the rear. This assault was as ineffective as
all the previous attacks. The alien ship finally halted 160 kilometers above
the Seat of Parliament and hovered in a geo-synchronous orbit.

For
three days, all attempts at communication failed to elicit a response from the
ship.
 
Finally, at the end of the third
day, it sent a single burst of data. The ship then broke orbit, and began a
course back toward Farway. No attempts were made to prevent its departure or to
follow.

The
ship’s transmission was soon translated and found to be a simple warning. In
old English, it stated that any further entry into “Golstar” space by
Confederated Planets ships would be considered an act of war. Parliament hotly
debated the meaning of the message, but in the end, a point had been made and
the message clearly received. 

At
the edge of then-charted space, the government quietly put the Golstar system
in quarantine, making it off-limits to members of Confederated Planets. Stories
were created to explain the “runaway star-liner” and how it had been pursued
and ultimately destroyed by the military. Nevertheless, over the years, some of
the real facts leaked to the public. Even so, through the passage of time,
rumor and speculation became myths and legend. The quarantine continued to be
enforced and Golstar’s isolation remained unbroken for three centuries.  

In
spite of his years, the Grand Patriarch presented an imposing figure. Dressed
in the black, scarlet, silver and gold trimmed robes of state; his regal
bearing served to emphasize his broad shoulders and tall stature. The only
jewelry he wore was an intricately wrought, gold medallion, suspended on a gold
chain around his neck. It took the form of a symbolized sun, similar in style
to a zodiacal representation.

In
contrast, his features reflected age beyond his years. High cheekbones stood
out in marked relief with sharp creases beginning on either side of his
aquiline nose, bracketing a thin-lipped mouth framed by a lean, clean-shaven
jaw. Deep furrows plowed above his thoughtful brow, and
though
he still retained full, shoulder-length hair, the once shocking red was now in
retreat from encroaching strands of silver and white. The Grand Patriarch’s
countenance was softened only by the humor reflected in the webs of laugh lines
bordering his gray-green eyes.

With
hands loosely clasped behind his broad back, he faced a wall covered by an
expansive tapestry. His eyes held a blank stare, unfocused and unseeing of the
richly colored threads woven by deft artisans of centuries past, depicting
scenes of the first colony ships landing on Berralton. Instead, he looked
inward, testing his resolve as he had countless times before. Behind him was
the expansive vista of the quiet capital displayed prominently in the large
amber tinted, crystal window in his receiving room.    

The
discussion that was taking place, reflected an earlier era in human history.
The formality, context and archaic phrasing would not be recognized by denizens
of Confederated Planets.

The
Grand Patriarch was pointedly ignoring his second in command, the Guardian of
the Way.  The Guardian of the Way oversaw the defense of the Golstar
system. He controlled the space force, armies and navies, and was answerable
only to the Grand Patriarch. The Guardian of the Way was currently trying to
mask his agitation and failing miserably. He and the Grand Patriarch were in
the midst of a continuing discussion that had taken place for the last three
days. The most-recent dialog had become quite heated.

“I remain firm in my belief that a straight-forward
abduction would have the best chance for success,” the Guardian of the Way said
carefully. “In my experience, I have found elaborate plans often fail under the
weight of their own complexity. Surely, the disappearance one human being out
of a trillion cannot be of any great concern to Confederated Planets.”

The Grand Patriarch sighed quietly and remained facing
away from his advisor. “What you say is quite true, at least in regard to the
risk of failure. Nevertheless,
I
remain
firm in my belief that the plan, complex as it may seem, has the greatest
chance for success.”

“Your Luminance, a quick surgical extraction would be
well within our capabilities and would greatly reduce the risk resulting from
the elaborate scenario you propose.”

“I understand. At first blush, your logic appears
sound.  However, remote though it may be, the discovery of an attempted
kidnapping by Golstar would be absolutely devastating. It would trade one
potential threat for another, much more immediate, with far-reaching
consequences.”

“With respect, I believe you give too much credit to
our enemy.”

The Grand Patriarch shook his head, “Not at all.
Confederated Planets may be a ponderous monolith, but it has made great strides
in technology. Using that technology, it takes extraordinary measures to know
where its citizens are.” He shook his head again. “No, I remain convinced that
any other course would not succeed.”

After a thoughtful pause, the gaunt adviser asked,
“Then if we must go forward with that aspect of the plan, are you still so
certain your daughter must play the pivotal role in its latter phase?”

The Grand Patriarch’s posture stiffened.

“Surely you agree that there are other women just as
qualified as Sharné,” the Guardian of the Way ventured. “The University should
have a number of women who could well play the part.” He paused. “Sharné is
in-line for Matriarch and I fear for her safety. Must we risk her royal lineage
with an outsider?” Rubbing his short bristled iron-gray hair, he spoke the word
“outsider” with ill-concealed distaste.

The Grand Patriarch finally turned and faced his
trusted friend and advisor.  He took a measured breath and said, “At the
risk of repeating myself, I am quite aware there are women equally qualified in
a number of areas that will be needed for the task ahead.”

The Guardian of the Way opened his mouth to speak, but
the Grand Patriarch held up a hand and continued, “You know also, that is not
the underlying issue. Evaluating an alternate candidate would take time,
precious time. Psychological and physical profiles are not enough to judge
their fitness for the crucial role they would be asked to play. Our schedule
does not allow us the time to evaluate their suitability, not to mention the
very real difficulty of finding a candidate who is both sympathetic and
unquestioningly loyal to our cause.”    

“Time is the key,” the Grand Patriarch said, “…never
enough time. Had we more of it, then perhaps another candidate could indeed be
found.  However, we do not. The longer it takes to finalize the plan and
put it in motion, the greater the chance for the Council to become aware of our
intent.” He rubbed his forehead tiredly. “You know what would happen, should
they discover what we are planning. Even now, the opposition grows within the
Council. Every attempt I have made to convey the seriousness of our situation
has been rebuffed. They will not acknowledge the immediacy of the threat nor
would they find favor with my remedy for a crisis they believe does not exist.”

The Guardian of the Way had heard this many times
before, but wisely remained silent, patiently waiting for his leader to
continue.

“Should they realize what we intend, I have grave
concerns that their outrage could find its way back to the citizenry.” The Grand
Patriarch’s expression hardened. “If our plans were made public, the outcome of
civilian sentiment would be too close to call. At best, our society would be
split into separate factions. At worst, the traditionalists would gain control
of our government. In either case, the crisis would not be addressed until it
was far too late.”

The Grand Patriarch paused before continuing. “Talin,
regaining our heritage will depend in great part on Sharné’s independent
judgment and actions.  I know my daughter quite well, and I trust her
implicitly. She is intelligent and has many of my superior traits and few of my
bad ones. She has lived with me from the moment of her birth and I understand
her better than I could anyone else on Berralton.  Indeed, she has all the
qualifications, with the added, and I believe most important qualification,
since  I…” he paused then corrected, “…since
we
can be absolutely
sure of her loyalties.”

He smiled, “You cannot discount the unique value of
her specialized education and training as a Keeper of the Way. You, of all,
must acknowledge that no other candidate could match her knowledge of our
politics, religion and history. This will be vital for the indoctrination of
the one chosen.”    

The Guardian of the Way kept his face emotionless,
screening his disapproval of the Grand Patriarch’s plan. Even with the Grand
Patriarch’s earnest arguments, the Guardian of the Way could not understand his
leader’s stubborn willingness to put Sharné, his only child, at such risk. Nor,
frankly, was he convinced the crisis was as dire as the Grand patriarch
believed, or that it truly merited the ‘crisis’ designation. He was convinced
their scientists
would
find a solution; a solution not requiring the
help of anyone outside of Golstar, especially anyone from Confederated Planets.

He braced himself and in his most conciliatory tone,
he tried again to appeal to the Great Leader’s reason. “By our custom and
tradition, she is destined to be the next Grand Matriarch, your successor. If
she is tainted, in fact, or simply by perception, as a result of associating
with the outsider... her reputation and standing could be jeopardized. Her
position could be seriously diminished, affecting her ability to fulfill her
manifest destiny. Respectfully, Sharné’s importance to our people should not be
underestimated. I confess that I fear the consequences of such risk-taking. I
ask you once more, can you not reconsider your decision to include her in such
a role?”  

“I, of all people, do not underestimate her
importance. Once more, you question what I have already answered.” Hearing this
oft repeated objection, the Grand Patriarch lost his usual iron-control. His
voice rose in anger, “I will not again justify my position to you! My final
word, there will be no further discussion on this!”  

His voice then lost some of its stridence, but its
edge remained sharp. “Our fate as a people, our very civilization is at risk.
The future is beginning to dim and in the growing darkness, the People are
beginning to lose their path to the Light of the Way. Talin, I have shared with
you the facts, the importance of the plan’s success and Sharné’s role in it. Do
not dare to think that I underestimate the importance of my daughter nor the
potential risk that the role I have envisioned for her entails. However, as the
Grand Patriarch, I must weigh her fate against that of our entire
civilization.”  

The Guardian of the Way paled at the sudden fury of
the Grand Patriarch’s thundered response. It was all he could do to keep
himself from stepping back from the raging storm of his leader’s ire. He knew
he had overreached his position, and now he could only steel himself for what
was sure to follow. He remained rigidly erect, waiting for his leader to
declare the appropriate punishment for his transgression.  

 The Grand Patriarch stopped his tirade abruptly
and appeared startled by his own outburst. He quickly regained his composure
and looked searchingly into his loyal advisor’s eyes. The Guardian of the Way
was surprised to see not anger but only a great sadness. The Grand Patriarch
allowed the silence to grow. After a time, he took a deliberate breath and in a
much cooler and more measured tone said, “Sharné can serve her people in a no
more vital way than to perform this… sacred duty. I know this to be
true.” 

His demeanor softened further, and placing his hands
on his friend’s thin shoulders said, “Yes Talin. I understand the risks and
they eat at me as well, but you know what is at stake. It is far too important
to leave this task to another. She is the right one to take this on, the only
one. Sharné understands the personal danger, but she has expressed her
willingness to take the risk and contribute to our success. She also
understands the potential loss to our people if our plan were to fail. Truly,
she is the only one that I can trust in this. If I believed there was any other
way, you must know I would gladly take it.”

Talin felt the tension in the room subside. He knew
that the matter was closed, and he would not dare to bring it before the Grand
Patriarch again. Nodding, he gently removed the Grand Patriarch’s hands from
his shoulders and knelt before the most powerful man in the Golstar
system.  Bowing his head, he said, “You are my leader and also my friend.
From my Grand Patriarch, I ask for no clemency for my insubordination. From my
friend, I beg forgiveness for my unwarranted outburst.”  

The
Grand Patriarch reached forward and drew Talin back to his feet. When Talin
raised his head, the Grand patriarch was smiling, “Insubordination? The Grand
Patriarch has witnessed no insubordination and your friend understands your
concern and gladly forgives you. Talin, we have known each other since
childhood and the Founder willing, our friendship will endure to the end of our
days. You know I continue to look to your counsel during these trying times. Do
not hesitate to speak forthrightly. Whether I agree with you or not, there is
always wisdom behind your words.”

His
smile grew a little warmer, “I do understand that a good measure of your concern
for Sharné’s well-being goes beyond that of your position. She has known you as
‘Uncle’ since she could first talk, and I know she understands her Uncle Tal’s
objections to her involvement in this scheme; she knows they originate from
concern and love.” The Grand Patriarch was about to continue when the great
chimes of the palace began to sound, echoing throughout the vast structure.
They announced that the evening hour of Service was fast approaching. 

The Grand Patriarch did not speak for a moment,
withdrawing into himself, again thinking of the daunting task ahead of
them.  Yes, the plan was so very fragile and full of flaws. The smallest
miscalculation could have disastrous results. The very nature of the plan was
based on misdirection; a story within a story. The Grand Patriarch’s own
daughter, though her role was critical, was not privy to all of the plan’s
twists and turns and for that matter, neither was Talin. He had made many
sacrifices over the years and given the gravity of the situation, was prepared
to make more, even if they included the life of his only daughter.

He dismissed these dark thoughts and returned to the
more pressing subject at hand. The chosen man’s background had dictated
eleventh-hour changes to the plan. Even with these accommodations, the Grand
Patriarch remained confident that the plan would still succeed. Flaws
notwithstanding, he knew it was the proper and only path to take.