Beneath Terran Thrones

Chapter 4

Jeffrey’s companions jumped from their seats, they didn’t believe it yet, but they would in a second as they peeked on the phone, and it was true.

“Now of course, this goes without saying that you can’t call the police on me or call security. If anything should happen to me… Well, you know…”

“What do you want?” asked Jeffrey, tears on his eyes.

“You know what I want. Come on Jeffrey, this rebellious stage from you has been going on far too long, ever since the governor’s been sick you start this?”

“You’ve seen the situation on Earth, it’s misery. All I am doing is getting Alpha Prime to help, that’s all…” he raised his hands in the air.

“Do you know where Miss. Charlote Martin was born?”

“Earth?” Jeffrey looked around, confused by the relevancy of the question given the situation they were finding themselves in.

“Eh…” Alex made a buzzer sound. “Wrong! She was born here. Alpha Prime.” Alex moved closer to his face. “Do you really think, she would allow Alpha Prime to be filled with filthy f*****g aliens, the f*****g Futraxi?” Alex didn’t expect an answer but waited for a moment to see if the idea sank down Jeffrey’s head. “Shut this s**t down, stop spreading propaganda, and stop lying to the people. Futraxi and Humans could never be together,” Alex and Jeffrey looked at each other straight in the eyes, both knew one was wrong, but in this case, Jeffrey didn’t have much of a choice.

“Promise me they will be okay,” he looked at the phone. Alex didn’t answer just nodded. He was a man of his word, and it meant to him. He may have been crazy evil motherfucker, but when it came to things like family and such, he had his own principles.

The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving the leaders in stunned silence, their world turned upside down by the chilling encounter. Alex walked back into the cold, a sense of grim satisfaction settling over him. He had delivered Charlote’s message, and now it was up to them to heed the warning.

As he made his way back through the icy streets, he pulled out a secure communicator and sent a brief message to Charlote: “Mission accomplished. The Renewal Front has been neutralized. Awaiting further instructions.”

He tucked the device away, blending into the bustling crowd once more. In the game of power and manipulation, Alex had proven once again that he was a master. And if Charlote’s vision for Earth demanded such ruthless measures, he would be there to carry them out, no matter the cost.

Gaia BH-1 – Year 2358 – Black Hole Research Station

Isabella’s heart pounded as her transport ship approached Gaia BH-1, the black hole research station orbiting the colossal black hole in the far reaches of space. The station loomed larger as the docking sequence initiated, the metal structure gleaming under the distant starlight, surrounded by swirling cosmic dust.

Her ship shuddered slightly as it latched onto the station’s airlock. The hiss of pressurized air filled the small cabin. Isabella adjusted her uniform, took a deep breath, and stepped into the airlock, her mind racing with excitement and apprehension. The rumors about the project were wild—some said it was a weapon, others a revolutionary piece of technology. Now she’d see it for herself.

The door slid open, revealing a bustling corridor. Scientists and engineers hurried past, their conversations a blend of jargon and excitement. As Isabella stepped forward, three familiar figures appeared at the end of the hallway: Marco Ferraro, Natalia Ivanova, and Dr. Hiroshi Takeda.

Marco’s face lit up as he spotted Isabella. “Isabella! You finally made it!” he called out, his Italian accent unmistakable. He practically ran to her, pulling her into a warm hug. “You won’t believe what we’ve done here!”

Isabella smiled, hugging him back. “Good to see you too, Marco. I’ve heard so much about this place.”

Natalia approached with a nod, her expression as cool as ever. “Isabella, welcome. We’ve made significant progress,” she said, her Russian accent clipping the words.

Dr. Takeda, the oldest and most revered among them, gave a respectful bow. “Welcome, Dr. DeRossi. We have much to show you,” he said, his Japanese accent soft and precise.

Isabella’s mind drifted back to the days when they were just a group of ambitious college students at the renowned New Alexandria University. They had been inseparable, each driven by a hunger for knowledge and discovery. Marco, the brilliant Italian physicist with a knack for experimental setups, always finding ways to test the boundaries of reality. Natalia, the sharp and enigmatic Russian mathematician whose mind worked like a finely tuned machine, capable of solving the most complex equations with ease. And Dr. Takeda, their mentor even then, a visiting professor who had taken a keen interest in their potential, guiding them with his vast experience and wisdom.

Those were the days of late-night study sessions, debates over equations, and shared dreams of changing the world. They had been the best and the brightest, each contributing their unique strengths to their collective goals. Even then, they had talked about pushing the limits of science, exploring the unknown, and making a mark on the universe.

When Isabella was tasked with overseeing the project at Gaia BH-1, she had no doubt about who to bring on board. They were more than colleagues; they were family, united by a shared vision and an unbreakable bond forged through years of collaboration and friendship.

They led her through the corridors, their voices blending with the hum of machinery and the soft glow of holographic displays. Isabella’s excitement grew with each step, the anticipation almost unbearable. Finally, they stopped in front of a massive set of blast doors.

Marco punched in a code, and the doors parted with a heavy hiss, revealing a cavernous chamber dominated by a gargantuan apparatus. Isabella’s breath caught in her throat.

The Gravity Catapult.

It spanned the length of the room, an immense construct of metal and circuitry, gleaming under the artificial lights. Massive rings floated around it, crackling with energy. The catapult was designed to harness the black hole’s gravity, slingshotting spacecraft across the galaxy with pinpoint accuracy. Isabella’s eyes widened as she took it all in, the sheer scale and complexity staggering.

Natalia moved to the control panel, her fingers dancing over the holographic interface. “This is what we’ve been working on,” she said, her voice tinged with pride. “The Gravity Catapult uses the black hole’s gravity to create a controlled slingshot effect. We’re fine-tuning the precision, but it’s already showing promise.”

Dr. Takeda nodded, his gaze fixed on the catapult. “We aim to bend the gravity around the black hole, shaping the trajectory of the spacecraft to send it exactly where it needs to go,” he explained, his voice calm and steady.

Marco couldn’t contain his excitement. “Imagine it, Isabella! Ships traveling across the galaxy in a fraction of the time. This will change everything!” he exclaimed, his eyes shining.

Isabella nodded, her eyes still locked on the towering structure. “It’s incredible. The scale, the precision... I can’t wait to see it in action.”

Dr. Takeda gave a small, knowing smile. “You will, soon. We have a demonstration tomorrow. For now, let us show you around and bring you up to speed.”

As they walked, Isabella listened to them talk about the challenges they’d faced, the breakthroughs they’d achieved. She couldn’t shake a sense of awe and curiosity. The Gravity Catapult was a marvel of engineering, a testament to human ambition and ingenuity. But she couldn’t help but wonder—was it just for exploration, or was there more to it? The thought lingered in her mind, a question without an answer, adding a layer of intrigue to the monumental task ahead.

As they made their way through the station, exchanging updates and excited chatter, Isabella’s joy was interrupted by a sudden commotion. Raised voices echoed down the corridor, drawing her attention.

“What’s going on?” Isabella frowned, her pace quickening.

As they rounded a corner, they saw one of the station workers arguing heatedly with a man in a dark uniform, his face shadowed under the brim of a cap. The worker, a young technician, looked flustered and scared.

“Who the hell are you?” Isabella demanded, stepping forward with authority. “What’s happening here?”

The mysterious figure turned to face her, his eyes cold and calculating. He was tall and imposing, his presence commanding the space around him. A chilling smirk played on his lips.

“I’m here to oversee the transition,” he said smoothly, his voice laced with an unsettling calm. “Orders from Governor Charlote Martin.”

“Transition?” Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “What transition? This is a scientific station. We don’t answer to military personnel.”

Before the man could respond, a door down the hallway opened, and another figure stepped out. It was Mareka’s son, dressed in a crisp, tailored suit. He was Chinese, with the same sharp, discerning eyes as his father, but there was a cunning glint to them that was all his own.

“Ah, Dr. Isabella!” He greeted her with a charismatic smile, though his eyes held a flicker of something more predatory. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Lin Mareka, head of the new oversight committee.”

Isabella crossed her arms, her gaze steely. “Oversight committee? Since when we need oversight?”

Lin’s smile widened. “Since Governor Charlote decided that this project needed... protection. Effective immediately, the military will be taking over once the gravity catapult is operational.”

Isabella’s heart sank. She had suspected something like this might happen, but it was still a blow. She had hoped the project would remain in the hands of those who truly understood its potential.