Ancient Relics (Shadow of the Ancients Book 1) (14 page)

When the Wayfarer finally reaches the Fantasm
system, the science stations are heating up with sensor readings from throughout
the nebula.

“Sensors indicate a large geomagnetic disturbance
deep in the heart of the nebula, Sir,” one officer yells out.

“Electrical storms and eddies are being reported all
through the system. I don’t think the ship would be able to handle navigating
through it, Sir,” another officer informs the Commander.

With a flurry of reports spewing back and forth
across the bridge, Commander Asim finally stands up and walks towards the
viewing portal.

The bridge goes silent in expectation of orders from
their commander.

“All stop. Make anchor and continue to scan the
system. Surely, there must be some way to the star system's center. Find it!”
Commander Asim orders.

“Aye Sir!” rings out across the bridge from each
station.

While the ship remains in a stationary position
outside of the gaseous nebula, crew-members from across the ship make their way
to viewing portals to look at the colorful light display and electrical storms
of the nebula.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Paige asks aloud to a random
group of spectators.

One of them answers back, “Yeah, very beautiful.”

Paige hears a familiar voice from the crowd.

“It is fascinating to view.”

She looks over to see Sophie captured by the moment.
The first real sense of emotion she has displayed since her arrival.

Paige walks over to Sophie to try another
conversation.

“Have you ever seen such beauty in all the wonders
of the universe?” Paige asks Sophie.

Sophie continues to look out into the storm of
clouds enshrouding the Wayfarer’s destination.

“I have seen much beauty in this realm. This is one
of the most fascinating in all of my time,” Sophie replies.

“Do you think we’ll make it through to the star at
the center?” Paige asks, just attempting to make small talk.

Sophie looks back at Paige and fearfully inquires,
“You are not considering going into that are you?”

Paige replies, “Well, yeah. That’s why we’re here.”

Sophie quickly walks-off towards the medical bay and
disappears from Paige’s sight.

“Well, I guess she must know something we don’t,”
Paige says to herself with a shrug.

Sophie enters into the medical bay with purpose and
asks an attendant for Zoey.

The attendant points to Zoey’s location and Sophie
marches over to her as though someone lit her feet on fire.

“You must not enter the crevasse!” Sophie quietly exclaims
to Zoey.

“Not my call, ma’am,” Zoey replies to her obviously
worried statement.

“Who must I warn?” Sophie asks Zoey.

“That’ll be the big chief, Commander Asim,” Zoey
answers.

Before Zoey can tell her that bridge officers are
the only personnel allowed on the bridge, Sophie has already made her way out
the door and toward a lift.

When the lift door to the bridge opens, and Sophie
steps out, all eyes on the bridge turn to her with surprise.

Commander Asim looks over his shoulder and calmly
stands to his feet.

He walks over to Sophie and notices she is quite
shaken.

Now, worried something might have happened,
Commander Asim asks Sophie, “Is something wrong miss?”

“You must not go in,” Sophie blurts out.

Commander Asim, now realizing why Sophie seems so
shaken, says, “Don’t worry miss. I will not endanger this crew or this ship. If
no safe passage can be found, we will not attempt entry.”

Sophie looks at Commander Asim, almost in disbelief
that he does not understand her warning.

“You do not understand. I mean do not go in. That is
not a star system you think you pick-up on your sensors. It is a hole in time,”
Sophie warns.

Commander Asim senses Sophie knows something about
this system and asks her, “Have you been here before? Do you know something about
this system?”

Sophie tilts her head to the side and says with no
sign of emotion, “Yes. My people created it and others like it.”

With that pronouncement, all motion, conversation,
and attentions pause.

Only beeps and chirps from the computer consoles fill
the silence, as all personnel on the bridge now focus on her.

“Excuse me?” Commander Asim asks in disbelief.

“I do not understand what it is I must excuse you
for, but I must warn you not to enter the crevasse,” Sophie iterates again.

Commander Asim attempts to shake sense into himself,
due to utter disbelief that this woman does not understand even the simplest of
expressions.

“Hold up, miss. What I am asking is how did your
people make this thing?” Commander Asim attempts to ask again.

Sophie looks around the room and then back to
Commander Asim.

“Who made this ship?” Sophie asks the Commander.

Commander Asim pauses to think and begins seeing
what she is getting at.

“I think I see your point. Just because we don’t
understand the technology that could go into doing something like this, doesn’t
mean it isn’t possible,” Commander Asim summarizes.

“Correct,” confirms Sophie.

“So, can you tell us anything about this system
then,” Commander Asim attempts to gain information from Sophie.

“I can tell you everything. What would you like to
know?” Sophie asks the Commander.

“Well,” Commander Asim starts, “For starters, what
is it exactly?”

Sophie lifts her hand in a pointing manner,
motioning toward the conference room and lifts her eyes to Commander Asim in an
attempt to signal a private conversation.

Commander Asim nods in agreement and the two walk
into the privacy of the conference room.

The two sit down at the conference table, fairly
close to one another, and Sophie answers his question.

She begins, “Long ago, I was a builder of worlds, of
people, and of history. A war broke out here and it was asked of me and my
people to find a resolution for our troubles.”

Continuing, Sophie explains, “I and a council of my
peers created a hole, many holes actually, in space and time. These act like
stasis bubbles. They hold our enemies within.”

“Hold on, ma’am. You’re saying this is a prison?”
Commander Asim asks.

Sophie pauses momentarily to give his question a
sincere thought before replying, “Yes.”

Commander Asim leans back in his seat at the thought
and asks, “And the nebula?”

Sophie answers, “I assume you might perceive it as a
security measure to keep others out.”

Responding with a chuckle, Commander Asim says,
“Well, it’s working so far.”

“Is there anything else you need to tell us?” the
Commander asks her.

Looking worried, Sophie replies, “It may be in your
best interest to leave this place as quickly as possible. Though we can keep
people out, this prison no longer keeps our enemies within. You are all in
grave danger here.”

Commander Asim takes her warning to heart and gives
the order to immediately leave the system and head for known space.

Back at the edge of the Kishar Expanse and Alliance
space, Commander Asim sends word back to the Intelligence Directorate about the
Fantasm star system and all of the information relayed to him by Sophie.

After waiting for a few days for his message to
reach Doga Prime, and a few more days to receive a reply, a new order comes
back from the Directorate.

It is an order to interrogate Sophie for any
intelligence that would put that type of technology in the hands of the
Alliance, using any means necessary.

On Dragonlyre, Emperor Seesh meets with the War
Council to discuss invasion plans against Alliance forces along the Kishar
Expanse border.

Among the council personnel are Anta’gal Sha’Ata
Neese, Kingal Gul’sul Kan, Mashkim Liri Nanam, and Councilor Lu’gu Rugu.

Kingal Kan is the Commander in charge of the Drak
Special Force’s Ghost Squadron.

Leaving his command in the hands of his second
officer, to continue pursuit of the Alliance forces in the Kishar Expanse,
Kingal Kan meets with the council to appraise the situation.

Mashkim Nanam is the Chief Security Officer, or
Sheriff, of Regalis City. Mashkim Nanam’s responsibility to the council is to
provide recommendations on matters of security during wartime.

Councilor Rugu’s role is more political than
tactical. The Senate chooses a representative on the Council, by vote, to speak
on behalf of the Senate during Council meetings.

Councilor Rugu is also a lifelong friend of Kirill
Seryeshka. Since birth, both have known each other, although they are not from
the same House.

To start the meeting, Emperor Seesh rings the gong
of silence. Though the council is small, the gong is a tradition among official
meetings in the Empire.

“You all know why I have summoned you here today,”
Emperor Seesh begins.

The Council members watch their Emperor with unwavering
attention as he paces around the room.

“We are at war with the dogs of the Alliance. We
must strike their border outposts soon, less we fail in our efforts before we
begin,” Emperor Seesh continues.

Anta’gal Neese chimes in with his assessment of
forces along the border, “Recent reports indicate the Alliance is already
building their forces along the borders of the Empire and the Alliance
territories, north of the Expanse, but are neglecting their border along the
Expanse itself.”

Mashkim Nanam interjects, “That would mean their
forces along the Expanse border sectors are vulnerable to attack. We should
flank those sectors and when they move forces to attempt to buff their forces,
we route them along the main border.”

As Councilor Rugu listens to the other members of
the War Council, he carefully assesses his own plans, and he waits for his
opportune time to suggest them.

Emperor Seesh looks at a holomap in the center of
the council table, which sits firmly in the middle of the circular room.

Made of stone, the table is set apart from normal
modern furniture. The table is thousands of years old, and over time, commands
have upgraded the table to meet the technology of their day.

Seesh moves his hand through the hologram to
interact with the map and focuses the view on the Expanse border sectors.

“I would think they would expect such a move as
that, considering the Expanse is where we are currently engaged, though merely
skirmishes,” Seesh remarks on the suggestion by Mashkim Nanam.

Redirecting his focus to Anta’gal Neese, Seesh asks,
“Are there any reports of Alliance fleets in the Expanse that could route our
own forces there?”

“There are reports of small-sized forces within the
Expanse. However, none are large enough to cause any real problems. They
consist of only a handful of ships,” Anta’gal Neese replies.

Kingal Kan sits up firmly in his chair and enters
into the discussion.

“My unit is in pursuit of one of these Alliance
vessels as we speak,” Kingal Kan announces. Pulling up a display, which
replaces the holomap, Kingal Kan shows the council a report on the pursuit.

“Here,” Kingal Kan explains the confrontation with
The Wayfarer, “a ship identified as the Alliance Exploration vessel The
Wayfarer is recorded as my command ship made contact with them. The vessel
turned out to be armed with an armament equal to that of a cruiser.”

Mashkim Nanam comments on this new information with
great concern, “If the Alliance has begun retrofitting all of their civilian
exploration vessels with such armaments, we may not have enough intelligence to
accurately assess the situation. There is no way to distinguish between
civilian ships and military ones.”

Emperor Seesh moves across the room, takes a
position directly behind his chair by the council table, and firmly places both
hands along the top of the seat's back.

“If our intelligence is lacking, then fix it. Or any
losses will reflect the length of time you have left to live!” Seesh states
vigorously.

“I will make contact with High Command and collect
all reports. If any of them even have a sentence worth of intelligence, I can
compile them into a detailed brief on Alliance capabilities,” Anta’gal Neese
informs the Emperor.

“Go and prepare your intelligence, Anta’gal. We
shall meet back here once you have completed your assessment,” Emperor Seesh
tells Anta’gal Neese.

Continuing his orders, Emperor Seesh tells the
remaining Council members, “As for the rest of you, if you do not have anything
of significance to tell me, then you are dismissed as well.”

The Council stands to attention as Emperor Seesh
exits the council chamber.

With the door to the chamber closing behind him, the
Council separates to attend their business.

As Councilor Rugu exits the chamber, he is met by
Kirill Seryeshka, who is waiting for him in the corridor.

“So, Councilor,” Kirill Seryeshka begins, “How is
the plan going so far?”

“The Emperor is doomed to failure, for certain,”
Councilor Rugu surmises.

“Excellent,” Kirill Seryeshka boasts.

The two walk down the long stone corridor of the
Imperial Palace.

Constructed of black marble eons ago, the Imperial
Palace houses various rooms for Imperial business. Lining the walls along each
corridor are ancient images created from pigmented oil paints and synthetic
fabrics that last for ages.

Each painting contains the likeness of the Emperors
of old, from throughout the history of the Empire.

Occasionally, black marble busts of notable members
of the Empire reside in front of tall columns, also made from the same black
marble.

Having a bust in the Imperial Palace is the greatest
honor any citizen can have.

Foreigners can also have busts. To have one in the
Imperial palace is an even greater honor for foreigners than citizens.
Typically, the ambassadorial quarters outside the palace house busts of
foreigners.

Busts of foreigners in the Imperial Palace are so
few there is a special room to display them. Among these busts, one stands
front and center in the honor room.

The bust resembles a Doran female, and the name
carved into the base says - 'Hathor Keket.'

Legend has it that Hathor Keket single-handedly won
the Battle of Kishar on behalf of the Drak Empire. The sitting Emperor of the
time immortalized her by having the bust made.

In life, she was placed into suspended animation and
declared a hero and paragon of the Drak Empire, only to be reawakened when the
time of the Empire’s fate is so dark, the destroyer of Kishar is the only one
capable of saving it.

The only problem is no one knows where she was
stored, and a continued search looks for the temple in which her body remains
in suspension.