Interzeit: A Space Opera (5 page)

Several of these limbs served a good purpose, such as ship docking. Although the Nazer was built in, and designed for space, the chance of a terrestrial journey can never be ruled out. It could run in space nigh-indefinitely with the right crew, but on Earth it could still maintain flight for months before things started going wrong energy wise.

Despite that, a floating monolith of
Kuipterra
n power might only ser
ve to give fire to their fears. A
s such they docked it,
renting
a whole docking bay for the express purpose of holding Septis’s personal
cruiser
in reserve.

They register
their visit with the interplanetary customs. It was a q
uick process for someone of
Septis’s
status.
They were
cleared through without much hassle, despite their off world weapons
(t
he idea of
the earthlings
not recognizing them also oc
curred to Septis). They took a
turb
olift
,
and finally touched the
Earth itself. It was a balmy
22
C
, the sun bright orange,
and gentle
.

They strolled down street
, presently
crowded with people. The crowd an ever shifting beast, its many eyes glanced in temporary interest, some knowing, others not. The
base of the buildings were
woven in with vines and trees. Although not all of Earth was like this, it still brought a strong pride.

“First time on Earth
,
Polystratus
?”
He asked smugly,

“Yes,” He responded, “It certainly is a lot to take it, isn’t it?”

Even
Polystratus’s
normally stoic face, struggled to retain its usual composure. The direct sun was warm and invigorating.
Polystratus
squinted and fluttered, his engineered eyes reverting to an unbeknownst before
default,
a
natural
setting. They made there way towards the cabinet.

“It certainly is. Earth is so many different things as well, so many possibilities.” He looks back to his head of security, “All
of
your ionics functioning okay?”

He nodded, “Just adjusting.”

The out
er gates of the Cabine
t were wrought iron and ivory. They were of a normal sort aside from being absurdly tall. The gates hung open into the cabinet park
. Citizens and officials walked the dense foliage
equally
,
the place
bustled
with
the angry and scared, all seeking the same thing
.

“It’s regretful that the current configuration of Earth is so volatile and pained. Stay on your guard, until this matter has been cleared, and justice given
is
its d
ue
course
,
it
will not
be safe for us here.”
Septis
advises

The inner gates were translucent and
ethereal,
the opaque surface blurred the inner cabi
net from view, turning
it into a green and steel blur. This blur rose into the Cabinet building itself. A series of stacked complexes, pillared gardens,
palatial
accommodations
, forums, chambers, and at the very top of this dense skytower was
“
The Cabinet House
”
.

It was too high up to see very well. The arches and reliefs built into it were bent and warped from the
ir
angle of view.

The
pair
headed towards a reception entrance, a series of processing line
s
and hard light gates leading inside. The two
Ku
i
pterrans
were intercepted as they drew near. A welcoming party of low level administrators surrounded him.

Recognizing him
, the leader immediately grabbed his hand, shaking it and bowing.

“Thank you for joining us crown prince. The
High
Minister,
and King of
Kuipterra
welcomes you. I am
Mega
Jian, delegation relations.”

Mega
beckoned them through the hard light gate, and into the interior. It reminded Septis more of home here, the high elaborate technical installation
s
phallanxed the building all around.
Mega
brought them up the stairs into the main entrance
, flanked on every side by her assistants
.

“Where are you taking me
Mega
Jian?” Septis asks.

“You are here to see the Mini
ster, are you not Prince Septis?
” She asks in meek self-questioning humility.

“Not at this time, I was given word a committee
was
forming to investigate the Turiazon attack.”

They all grew pale and somber.

“I came to assist in this process.”

“As you wish, of course, of course,”
Mega
reassured him
.

There was a furious exchange of yelling and cries coming from delegation conference
chamber
62
A
. Their guide bowed with added humility, backing away from the situation as smoothly and quickly as manners would allow.

Septis dismissed them with a hand wave, he gave
Polystratus
a quick check,
his
slate
face was stoic, ready.

He threw the doors open forcefully, his suit giving him extra power. They clattered against the walls loudly. An angry yellin
g contest
,
several hours mature
,
stops
dead. There are
several
sniping glances. They are angry
,
but slowly melt
into confusion,
and
fear.

A bald man with grey black garments stands at the center, unfaltering.

“And we see here what we all feared!” He proclaims, vitriolic, warmed up from the sparring so far.

Septis sends
Polystratus
to claim a seat, and walks closer to address his accuser.

“And what is it that you fear?” He asks in a monotone.

“What are you here for spacer? Did the king send his thugs to shut us down? We will find the truth! Your tyranny will not be
final
,
our peoples are not of slaves, but men
!” etc etc

“Thugs!”
Septis spits the word out loudly, like a projectile, “You seek the truth, and so in turn that’s all we are here for as well. How dare you accuse my Father of seditio
n so openly, in his own
cabinet!
”

“I can say what I
please,
I certainly won’t be censored by the likes of you.”
The man rebuffs

Septis’s blood runs
hot,
he grips the back of a chair, feeling the thin wood crumble under the leather.

“I am the crown prince Septis Calatian, heir to
Kuipterra
, who are you to speak with me?
”

The man’s eyes narrow, they now share th
e rage mutually, connecting in
each others hatred and pain. From a ways back a woman in a blue shawl and dress sends something over. It unfolds off of her body like a spider. The metallic thing contorts and assembles into a bipedal android, its face an eyeless voice box.

“The Committee recognizes Deacon Enekios,
Defense Minister of the Federated Colonies of Mars. Please allow him his remaining time, so proceedings may continue in
an
orderly fashion.”

Septis ponders the message, quickly adapting, “Fine, I shall cease, but I demand that all known information be shared in turn automaton.”

The android looks back at its master, she nods, and it walks over, Septis allows
Polystratus
to handle the data transfer. The Minister from the FCM clears his throat and continues.

“As I was saying, the design and infil methods of the
mechs
reveal quite a lot about
their
origins. For example, intelligence indicates that they were dropped from orbit into a nearby body of wa
ter. Yet
somehow by quickness,
stealth,
or sabotage,
the
Protectorate
ha
s
no record of any orbital traffic during this time line.

So did they commit the attack?
For what purpose, to reinforce their relevance?

This is not likely,
”
Enekios
asserts, “A
s this attack has revealed them to be wholly inadequate for their self-appointed duties. So then, I must reiterate we must look beyond the inner system for the culprit.”

Septis rises staring straight into his eyes, they lock, an opening,

“What
reason
is there for an outer system colony to commit such treason?”
Septis
asks

“Many reasons,” Deacon continued, “Jealousy for one…Or perhaps a desire you are much more familiar with…Vengeance.”

His lip curls at the offense, despite his best attempt at control, “Yes, like your petty government took upon my brother for his continue
d
exposure of your weakness.”

“Just admit it!” Deacon shouts, “Your people want, no need, to retaliate for that, if you cannot win
the games, no one can!
”

“Justice will be served, I swear in the name of my brother it will. But that will have to wait for now…” He replies, calming down.

The minister continues on his diatribe against the dangers of the colonies.

“Societies that are not
adherent
to
the
planetary system are dangerous to all man…”

He draws many allusions to the early colonial wars, implicating the murderous zeal of the aggressor to all non-planetaries, from minor colonies to the large cluster groups such as the Conglomerate of Ceres.

A rotation of delegates from the Moon and Earth were next. All described the horror and tragedy that had befallen them. The tragedy was wear
y
ing, draining
Septis
considrably
. His head ached
.
F
eeling squeezed by the overload, and at the same time numb, unable to configure a feeling outside of the event’s iron grip.

The meetings were a low volume misery until the Delegate from Turiazon brought forth an eye witness.

“The Committee recognizes Tomson Nol,” The android crooned,

Nol was assisted to the speaking podium. An arm missing, papered over with bandages, his whole body was different shades of red and purple. A medical assistance machine helped him from his wheelchair, steadying him at the stand.

He could barely begin to speak without choking in emotion, “T-thank you-u…for this op…chance to speak.

I just wanted…wanted to say that…many, too many were…taken then, I would do anything to find the people responsible, and…I can only hope you all share that feeling.”

Nol tried articulating something else, but its complexity was too taxing for his emotional state. Every formation of words, every excursion into articulation broke into desperate tears.

The delegate of Turiazon ca
me up beside him
,
comforting him,

“Tomson is one of a rough dozen people that have been recovered from the region’s blast zone. Those
few
who weren’t killed in the explosion, died from radiation, suffocation, burns, and all manners of horrors. Nol was found buried in a shelter, comatose. Unfortunately, this miraculous survival was not a common blessing.”

Nol’s face
contorted in pain, the delegate whispered to him gently, Nol nodded.

“That is all Mr. Nol has the strength for at this time, please thank him for being brave enough to attend today’s meeting.”

Most of the chamber clapped pilotly, one stood against this play off.

“Please Delegate Tenorisa, I must humbl
y
ask reconsideration.”

The room silences, turning
to
a middle aged man, he has a well groomed graying goatee, with patchy balding hair. He wears a uniform with the
Protectorate
insignia (A small and large
interlocked circle, with a star
in the center).