Muur Chronicles

CHAPTER 1

     The night seamlessly flowed with the cool gentle northern breeze of the ember months. Everywhere was quiet and calm from Ileju Axis as he trekked in the faintly illuminated night to a prescheduled appointment at a proposed inner city location in Dutse, Abuja. The echoes of a barking dog can be heard from a nearby untraceable location. Street lights hovered above him but wasn't swayed by the cool gentle wind of the night as he weaved through the dark alleys of the innermost part of Dutse in Bwari District inner blocks late into the night. His footsteps on the ground are the only audible sound he heard as he prodded on cautiously, his destination shrouded in mystery.

He continued down a street after a three minutes walk from the Ileju Axis he stepped off from, and observed a figure huddled in robes. The silhouette from the hooded figure sat down on a pavement to his left in an old doorway along the alley he was walking. He watched him pass, probably observing Steve's face in the darkness the night provided, he thought to himself. Or maybe, another hard drugs junkie! They are usually not lacking in hidden city ghettos like the ones off Ileju Axis from the old abandoned Airport road area of Dutse District, Abuja.

There were two other abandoned streets ahead covered by the dark night which he still had to cover in that dead hour of the night. On reaching Obafemi Street, he crossed a screen which was just fixed right in between the two streets in the billboard above him, and vanished into a dark avenue seldom visited unless you are one of the children of the night.

He continued walking, with a feeling that someone or some people are probably watching him. After taking a few steps, he stood still for a while and listened to make sure he wasn't being followed.

He checked the address he had on him, and it showed he is on track. He brought out another paper from his pocket and looked at it sternly for a while. It contained the direction to follow once he reached this point, given to him by his contact. Following the direction, he turned left and headed down another narrow pathway to an old abandoned paper factory.

Only the steady and soft sound's of his footsteps on the cement floor made the only noise from his immediate environment as he walked with caution. At the end of the pathway, there was a damp yellow light above a wooden door. A dark silhouette stood near it wearing heavy cloaked hood attire. Calmly but steadily, Steve approached the door, gave the hooded figure a pass given him by his contact. After taking his time to look through what was handed him, he thoroughly searched Steve before stepping aside to allow him go through the doorway.

He walked in to a dimly lit, large, high-roofed and scantily decorated room bustling with little to no activity. Syndicate members were engaged with smoking m*******a but were all neatly dressed to his surprise though.

There were large tables all around the room. Some people sat around them, speaking in low tones as all eyes turned to him the moment he stepped in. He noticed a gun placed skillfully on one table and spun around by a gang member. A man with a briefcase wearing colorful tattoos sat alone across from the left.  He has a visible scar that ran down his left upper face like a quick s***h of a blade that probably didn't get its full mark. It cut through his left eyebrow and descended below in a perfect symmetrical curve. Four men sat at the adjacent table, their focus also turned to Steve, whose entrance got everyone looking. There were about ten members around, all Nigerians.

Everyone in the room was holding, but totally concealed from unsuspecting eyes. Other syndicate members in the room were barely reflected in the dim rays radiated by the only bulb in the place. There were those who drew tattoos on their wrists just a little below the wrist joints.

He already knew what to expect, so he was not fazed one bit despite being in the midst of the most dangerous syndicate in the country that run illegal arms business all across Africa.

"Nice clothes." The one nearest from the door said to him. Steve barely acknowledged him when another added:

"You don't like compliments?"

"I'm here for business if you don't mind." He casually stated, his eyes solely focused on the one across the room alone from his left who looked like the one in charge of the group.

"Mmmm. Business?" Another high ranking member of the group said.

"Yes." He replied.

"You are late!" The one his eyes focused on replied, then stood up and focused on him.

"We don't like people keeping us waiting." He added no smile or courtesy whatsoever in his face and undertone.

"I had difficulty locating the place!" Steve replied him.

"We also don't like people who give excuses." He replied just as soon with a feigned seriousness that made Steve uncomfortable.

"But, Mr. Hick's vouched for you, so we will act like this didn't happen." He said with a relaxed face.

Steve appreciated him for it and went for his back pocket to bring out something. But, it triggered a reaction, causing the syndicate members to draw their concealed weapons, as if obeying a draw whistle. Slowly, he removed his hand from the pocket while they all watched with their weapons still drawn at him.

"It's a guide i kept in my pocket." Steve said just as soon, showing them a piece of paper.

"What are we supposed to do with it?"

"The direction to where i kept the money." He replied.

"I couldn't carry something like that around, not in a place like this; had to stash it somewhere."

"Alright" The leader of the syndicate said, but his face still didn't reduce its mean contortion.

At this, he ordered his syndicate members to lower their guns, and took the guide from Steve. After going through it, he asked Steve how much.

"Hundred thousand dollars with additional five thousand for your troubles" Steve replied. The leader handed over the guide to another member who immediately left together with four others to get the money.

"We wait!" He said to Steve before receding back to his corner across the room. Meanwhile, as they waited for the others to return, one of the gang members brought perfectly rolled m*******a and handed it to Steve. He gladly accepted it, took the lighter from his hand and lit up. Few minutes later, they came back with the money.

"Any reason to disbelieve that the money is complete?" The leader inquired from Steve.

"No!" Steve replied.

"Good! Let's talk business then" He said smiling, but Steve didn't. After taking his time to tell them what he wants specifically, they assured him he will get his package delivered as scheduled. They also told him it will be delivered through one of their trade routes in Owerri. He left after they completed other formalities.

***

A week ago, Linagu noticed reports of unusual interferences  in the asportation links from the Universal Asportation Agency - UAA - located in Habima under the Muur Central Security Service outfit located in the   third Muurdom, Kalialu. Not satisfied with the preliminary reports of the double enquiries he launched, he took it upon himself to make sure everything was in order.

The asportation lines and points were too important to be jeopardized and it was his duty as the Muur Head of Security to make sure that such incidents never happen. As he already knew, Habima is a very influential city and connects most of the Muurdom through its geometry. As such, it contains some of the most important lines and points in the ultrasonic asportation links powered by the Unerg, a non-solar based source of energy. If anyone was trying to enter into any of the Muurdom's illegally, the asportation links will be a good place to start, especially through the heavy traffics associated with the city of Habima. But, as Linagu soon found out, the interference of the travelling links mostly known as asportation links was just a distraction. The perpetrator of the act was instead interested in an ancient fail-safe located in the Habima Sanctuary of Oddities.

Linagu rushed down in a hurry to the innermost part of the Kalialu Sanctuary after leaving the UAA center. It was a hunch call, but they mostly are always right. He had to check and confirm for sure. The Muurian government spends huge resources to make the asport links safe. Yet, the Habima Sanctuary holds an ancient artifact, the ring of ascendance, which can give a gifted user access to restricted UAA program, codes and algorithms. Access to such highly classified algorithms can allow for manipulation of the Asportation Links. Ultimately, it amounts to a security breach in the Muurian Kingdoms.

The Ring of Ascendance is kept in the sanctuary in a specially designed holding device in one of the buildings most secure strong rooms. He knew something was amiss as soon as he entered the holding room and upon noticing a breach in some of the security protocols put in place to safeguard the ring in its hold. The artifact was housed in Habima, a city located at the outskirts of Kalialu from the North of Marrialu, the capital of Muur.

He came too late. The mechanical holding device which held the Ring of Ascendance affixed to the wall laid waste on the ground when he entered the secret Hold. The triangular mechanical device was previously holding the artifact stolen by an intruder. The intruder wouldn't have gone far, he thought to himself judging from the haphazard nature of the destruction caused by the intruder in his attempt to escape after successfully stealing the ring of ascendance.  Linagu left the place; and sounded a massive intruder alert in the sanctuary.

The intruder had disabled the alarms connected to the artifact before stealing it from the heavily fortified secret Hold inside the sanctuary in Kalialu, the second Muurdom.  After rushing out from the holding room, he dashed straight ahead to where he felt the intruder will be heading to facilitate his escape.

Meanwhile, the whole Muurian Civil Guard working within the region deployed instantly. He had imagined that the intruder may be relying on leaving through a safely built tunnel with a protective barrier at the rear end which is known to only a few people, most of which were top security personnel of the Muurdom and have attained the mandatory Muurian honors in their respective Muurian Service units.

The protective barrier was designed to stop anyone from entering or leaving through its end, deploying an AI system that will halt any unauthorized approach using any means necessary. Linagu was surprised to see the intruder walk right past the barrier safely from afar as soon as he followed the shortcut through the Decommissioned High Tech Weapons and Riatech non-usable Armory. He knew that moment that the intruder must be a high ranking official. He rushed after the intruder immediately while the Civil Guard secured everywhere else around the sanctuary. 

Once out from the tunnel, the surrounding leads straight to a thick fog mostly deployed to confuse, and eventually lead an intruder back to the hands of the Sanctuary's security services. Because of the foggy atmosphere surrounding the exit from the tunnel end, Linagu couldn't really make out the face of the person. The foggy atmosphere wasn't the only distracting object in the area however, there were other unknown structures housing other ancient relics just like the one the intruder stole. Sanctuary tour guides are usually in charge of leading visitors around the sanctuary.

He was gaining ground on the intruder, when massive energy shots were fired at him through a concealed weapon held by the intruder. The dimmed natures of the fog allowed him see the flashes from the energy blasts on time. Quickly, he readjusted his movements and took cover near a huge monument just to his right.

The energy blasts from the shooting by the intruder blasted off the monument.  Linagu jumped off the structure just in time to not get mowed down in the ruins from the shattering as a result of the energy blasts unleashed at him by the intruder.

Using the advantage he gained over Linagu, the intruder launched an onslaught at Linagu with his gun as he ran through the Basden Fields area to the northern exit point through the double spaced Huima Giant Building. He sustained his gun firing at Linagu while still maintaining his escape plan which involves getting to the only vinting point in the Sanctuary as fast as possible if he wanted to ever escape. He had earlier hacked into the asportation links at the closest UAA outstation in the area and set the asport links that will transport him out of the Sanctuary through a fake Civil Guard ID.

The Habima Sanctuary and all the areas around it have no asportation links. The artifact stolen by the intruder in question is only known to a few people, and only a few top operatives and key security personnel from the Security outfit know of its existence. Of this number, only a couple of people know of its actual location in the Habima Sanctuary of Oddities.

     The artifact is the Ring of Ascendance or KimaEre. It contains a very powerful Artificial Intelligence program that can be used to manipulate asportation links. This is regardless of the fact that this points and lines are practically impossible to manipulate; the early Muurians ensured same. It was created as a fail-safe for any unforeseen asportation issues that may threaten the very destruction of the asportation links. Should that happen, the KimaEre will be a very important vessel for restoration of asportation links. Since then, the KimaEre has been upgraded and can generate entirely new links likely to go undetected with the right configurations and approvals. It is a master hack for asport links.

Linagu didn't have any doubt in his heart at this point that he was dealing with someone who had vast ancient history and knowledge.

The moment he got himself up and followed in pursuit, the Captain of The Muur Civil Guard coordinating from the outside of the Habima Sanctuary informed him that all asport links within 10 kilometers around the sanctuary have been completely shutdown.

The pursuit continued with barrage of energy shots, and ducking. By disabling and shutting down the asport links, Linagu have also disabled his own advantage. The asport links could have made catching the intruder easier. But, he thought otherwise. The interferences in the asport links was obviously a hack into the Universal Asportation Agency's travel systems AI. It also confirms his theory that whoever the intruder is, he must have had an ancient knowledge about the Asportation Agency's system travelling links. He was fast enough to redirect most of the bullets and energy blasts fired from across by the intruder as he ran.

Linagu was informed by the Captain that they're closing in on his location from their end, which made him stop a bit after closing in within a few distance of the intruder near the UAA vinting point. Linagu was able to muster his usual magnetic force field with his Anani, an ultra-advanced energy manipulation high tech object. It can also be used to rechanneling Muurian magic. The force field effectively blocked off the intruder from escaping near the vinting point while he closed in on him. He didn't want to risk it, but it seemed necessary, especially as he saw what the intruder had set up for his escape by the Last Dust Of Everna Mural near an abandoned Universal Asportation Agency data station.

He quickly deployed his asport link and configured it exactly to the intruders coordinates and rushed through immediately. Upon asporting in directly in front of the perpetrator, he immediately sent out a beam which Linagu was too fast to have seen. The beam from the intruder’s device slowed down Linagu's intended fast fist assault. Had he succeeded with the move, it would have resulted in him Nerging the intruder. While he struggled to escape the resultant damaging crash against the wall as a result, the perpetrator kept on hitting the force field with a conjured lightning blast that spurted out from his palms simultaneously. He quickly got a hold of himself, asported off faster than he did the first time and reappeared right in front of the intruder. Just before he could reach and pin down the intruder with a nergen, an enormous vibration occurred, shattering the force field and hurling Linagu backward for the second time. He instantly got a hold of his balance and launched another fast attack on the intruder.

Seeing him, the intruder quickly latched on to his asport coordinates and asported off the Sanctuary building before Linagu could reach him within three seconds. Though the intruder turned and looked at Linagu momentarily before asporting off, Linagu didn't quite get the face. He immediately asported off himself and appeared inside  the Security Building where the Control Unit for Kalialu Asportation links were projected on a gigantic telemetric blue screen, startling every senior security official of UAA in the room. He immediately tried to stop all exits by initiating a shutdown of all asportation travelling links in and out of Kalialu. But, it was too late. He literally saw the point of the perpetrator vanish on the projected telemetric blue screen displaying the travelling portals on the gigantic monitors inside the Control Centre.

"What happened, my lord?" filled the room as he stepped back, totally disappointed.

"Nothing to worry you with!" he uttered, lifted the shutdown he earlier initiated and asported off, knowing full well though that there is a lot to worry about.

***

     Many centuries ago, stories were told about a group of inhabitants of the ancient earth called Muurians who inhabited the Muurlands. Divided into seven Muurdoms, the seat of power was vested in the First Muurdom, Marrialu.  The legend shared, but which is mostly clouded in myths and folklore bore testimony to a people in a Land called Muurland in the far western side of the huge rivers which faced the east of the sun from the Sahara. Legends tells of an ancient race who almost destroyed themselves in what came to be known as the First Migration, the biggest evacuation witnessed in earth history. They finally settled in the planet Uriag.

Bio-cellular evolution in Uriag over the years, allowed their bodies to metamorphose in the harsh environments of Uriag, granting them extraordinary strength and speed, great body metabolism, endurance and sharp reflexes. With time, their bodies became five times denser than how it was back on earth, making them much heavier than they look.

After migrating to the new home in Uriag, and after many years of hostility, they became prosperous again, and attained a universal acclaim through sheer might and power until another King almost repeated a mistake that would have again caused a First Migration level threat. The Unerg Fires phenomenon was accidentally orchestrated by a King whose greed for ultimate power almost wiped out an entire race again. If he had been successful, he would have gained access to the Elder Chambers of the Odena.

The Odena is one of the greatest engineering wonders of the Muurs and houses three important Muurian heritage - the Unerg, the Pentacles and Mantacles of Muuragi. The Unerg is the highest and purest form of convertible non-solar based energy which Muurians deconstructed and fused with Muurian technology to create the Muurian Empire.

The discovery of the Unerg made the Muurians a Universal Power. The Muurs are governed by the Buamada's. Linagu's mother, Nee Buamada, is the Muurian Queen. The Queen controls the Muurian Central Government through the Muurdom's Official Palace. The Palace serves as the seat of government and is located at Marrialu, the First Muurdom. Under the Buamada's leadership and stewardship, The Muurs prospered and became self-sufficient in Uriag, their new home.

The discovery of the Unerg in particular helped the Muurs transform into the most advanced nation in the Universe in magic, technology, science, navigation, military, food production, exploration and transportation. Both the Pentacles and Mantacles of Muuragi are the magical way of life of the Muurs. The discovery of the Unerg helped advance this mystical part of the Muurians and turned the Mystic Arts into a vital cultural heritage.

***

Izemoru's unit was called back from the battlefield at Lennda near the Valley of Adrat. The fight against the Muurian invading forces wasn't a battle anymore; it's turned into a bloody m******e! The Army commander in charge of the Nolnadian forces stationed at the base located in the District of Morri gave the order.

All remaining unit stationed in Palir was to withdraw immediately from wherever they are back to Kadiran, the army base in Morri. If Morri falls, then Nolnad is no more! The Muurian invading forces had earlier deployed an electronic jamming system in Palir that has downed at least twenty-five Nolnadian made Buster TB-5 combat drones deployed by the Nolnadian Armed forces around the region. Izemoru's unit was one of the few units to survive a major Muurian assault near the Valley of Adrat.

Izemoru's base under Commanding Officer, Major Brigadier Thandeki, was near the Morri border and about 450 kilometres from the nearest major Nolnadian military base in the District of Palir. Despite the advancement in technology of the Nolnadian military forces, the Muurians still had better powerful Transmitters that blank out airborne radars and counteract armed hellfire drones. It wasn't long before Morri went down to the rampaging Muurian soldiers and the last of the surviving units dispersed at Morri. With Morri gone, Izemoru headed straight back to the Nolnadian Palace at Bloreu.

     The entrance to the Nolnadian Palace building which housed the throne had a single door entrance. The door has the Nol symbol of Beaver drawn into eight places, each symbol drawn inside a block carving on the door. At the top of the door is a sleek design with the works of the tribe of Keol from the sixth District written all over it. It also has added reinforcements built into the varble pillars. It was painted grey yellow on the inside and pure ash from the outside and was designed to imitate and represent the Nolnadian culture and their historical depictions.

Most of the cultural depictions on the Hall of the Palace were drawn with inspirations from earth days, before the First Migration from earth. The drawings were all artistically inserted into the Palace Halls to give it a hallowed cultural futuristic design through their historical mineral resource, Varble. Two guards stayed either side of the door on the inside. The security outside the Palace Hall itself followed the Standard Nolnadian Government Palace Protocol.  Guests are usually accompanied into the Palace hall by two guards after a thorough check. The throne's seat itself weighs about a ton, five feet high and made with nuli, thick wool. Among the components it was built with are varble, erabil, argunin, columbite, keral, asentan and an anti-matter material. Its outlook is simple with two armrests saddled on both sides for the two arms. At the front of the right armrest is a retractable golden staff fixed to it.

At the topmost part of the throne, the Nolnadian symbol of Beaver is clearly shown. It symbolizes resilience. The Nolnadian King, Daribba Nalniana VI, usually sat at the top part of the elevated structure housing the throne in the Nolnadian Palace. The King's council seated at his left and right hand side, just a bit lower than the throne. The throne itself was designed with a rare mineral from Muur and forged by the best goldsmith's in the Nolnadian Kingdom, NolSmiths Corporation. The company is owned by the Nolnadian Government.

Izemoru wondered, like so many other Nolnadians, why the King decided to keep himself up so high in the Palace throne, almost like he did not want to be reached by his people.

"It is like the King never wants to be really bothered with matters not state affairs" as his father always told him. Maybe, it is the reason why the King decided to side with Mabida and Darat to wage war against the Muurs, he thought. Izemoru was about entering the Palace through the North entrance facing the Sea when the statewide warning sounded. There was positive confirmation that the Muurians have invaded the capital. They all saw it coming, except it was not in the magnitude the Nolnadians were expecting.

"He didn't have to join" Izemoru deliberated inside his mind as he walked. "But, he did. And now the Muurs are back for vengeance and the people are paying for it with their lives." He continued to mutter.

"They are coming for you my King." one of the king's council members informed him desperately.

"Tambik, Garui, Blekai, Palir and Morri have all fallen" He added and stopped.

"They keep falling from the sky and everywhere." He added, frightened to his core.

"What did you expect initially? Conventional Warfare?." another said.

"We cannot say we do not deserve what is happening." He ended, drawing the ire of the king.

"Morri and Palir?" The king repeated in a jittery manner, but with no further answer from anyone. Both Districts surrounded Bloreu, the seat of power and where the Nolnadian Palace is situated. Before anyone could say something else, a soldier barged into the palace court from outside; it was Izemoru.

"We have to leave now." He said as a matter of urgency to the King and the other council members after informing them of the latest developments and casualties. "Palir was destroyed after Muurian soldiers suppressed Nolnadian forces in the Sea filled region, escorted the inhabitants out of their homeland and allowed them watch their District burn. Only the District of Morri stood in their way on my way to the Palace, but even Morri was destroyed within minutes with superior Unerg powered blasts from the Bladark." He relayed to everyone in the place.

"I will not run away like a coward." The king said afterwards.

"We will make our last stand here. Rally and organize what's left of our soldiers and take the people to safety. I will die defending our land and honor." He stated.

"You mean your honor? The honor that got us into the mess, against some of our better judgment?" The governor, District of Aldon, angrily replied him.

"I have had enough of this insolence!" He concluded and got up to leave.

"Arrest him!" The king ordered Izemoru who stood and watched. He would have instantly arrested the said Governor on the King's Orders. But, what the governor said did strike him deeply and made him change his mind instantly. Their people are being annihilated by an enraged enemy over the king’s honor and the King is still trying to kill more people over the same arrogance. It struck a chord in him which shook his loyalty to the core within seconds. This made him stand still against the order, unyielding to the king's command.

The king pressed a button at the top of the staff in the throne's armrest on his right hand. The palace guards started marching in. It was at this moment, that Izemoru defied every odd to save the governor and escape the king's horde, ensuring he didn't kill his own people who were acting on the Orders of the King.

Once they came out through a hidden Palace Entrance used by Guards, Izemoru stopped before they could make their final escape from the Palace grounds. He wanted to go back and save the king or die trying since he was sworn to protect him.

"I have to go back and protect the king." He told the governor.

"You are free to go now" He told the governor after ensuring they were safe and clear from the Palace Guards searching for them.

"Not today, my friend. Today, you save yourself and the rest of us who are not yet doomed." The governor said, praising his bravery and courage for refusing to obey the king's order and save him in the process.

"Today, you think of the future and how to restore our people, because they will need someone like you to do the right thing when the time comes to rebuild." He ended, encouraging Izemoru to look to the future now as their kingdom is gone as it is. Izemoru yielded to his counsel.

After escaping, they looked back from a distance as Muurian forces descended on the Palace, destroying it in the process and took the Nolnadian King as prisoner.

***

Nol is located a few nautical star miles to the planet Uriag, inhabited by the Muurians. Nol is inhabited by the Nolnadian people. Nol was formerly called Laodila before the Nolnads laid claim to the planet and renamed it Nol. It is divided into eight main Districts with Bloreu, Palir, Morri and Aldon as the major economic and political centers. The other Nolnadian Districts are Garui, Hani, Tambik and Blekai. The Nolnadians operate a palace, which also functions as the central government for the eight Nolnadian Districts. The palace is located at Bloreu, the Nolnadian capital.

     Nolnad descended into total chaos after the Muurian invasion. Successive governments were toppled by protesters and people with more might. The military weapons depots were attacked and ransacked at will. People got all the weapons they could get their hands on and the government was in a state of complete disarray for years following the Muurian invasion.