Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 The Elansa

The Kor'Math along with the two fighters caught the remaining ships as they were attempting to seek refuge in some sort of hidden base carved out of a mountain side, but it wasn't to be. All five of the enemy fighters fell to the powerful cannon fire from the Falthian craft. Captain Yarod then attacked the base destroying everything built on the surface. Many buildings appeared to be hidden under thick overgrowth but the scanners saw right through it all. Leaving the base in a mass of smoke and fire, the Kor'Math was preparing to return to space, when one of the fighter pilots reported people on the ground standing in a clearing and waving.

"It looks like they are trying to draw our attention sir, should we attack them?"

"Negative," replied Yarod, hover and see what they do, I will set down in that other clearing keep me covered."

The Kor'Math landed in an adjacent meadow and waited.

"It looks like whoever these people are," said the fighter pilot, "They are coming to where you are, stand by." The crew of the Kor"Math watched as around fifteen very ragged people emerged from the forest separating the two open areas, and cautiously approached the Kor'Math. A small security team emerged from the ship led by Tarf Edipon, his imposing appearance caused the strangers to move back, until one of them slowly came forward holding his hands out in friendship.

"Be careful there Tarf," said captain Yarod, as he watched the drama unfolding on the ship's scanner. Tarf kept his weapon at the ready, but allowed the ragged looking stranger to approach further. Upon closer examination, the stranger was nothing more than a boy who began to speak. Tarf held up his hand but then beckoned the boy closer holding up a device and through sign language, indicated to the boy that he should speak into the device. After the boy spoke at length, Tarf fiddled with the controls on the device, until he could understand what the boy had spoken into the translator. After trial and error, and swearing, Tarf was able to understand what the boy was saying.

"Thank you for destroying our captors, my name is Elick. Those with me were taken prisoner by the Skaven, those were Skaven raiders you destroyed, and we thank you."

"Are there more of you?" asked Tarf. The boy frowned,

"You killed some of us, but you couldn't know, the rest of us are back on NevenKebula that is if the Skaven haven't enslaved them as well." Tarf led the ex-prisoners over to the Kor'Math where they were given food, and water as Captain Yarod spoke to them, piping the conversation to Commander's Armun and Aelfric.

"We were part of a group fleeing our dying world, it was known as Elan, but we were hit by a massive comet knocking our world out of kilter, destroying our orbit. We were just children when we were sent away, that was almost ten yarn ago. Tarmon told me there were eight ships all together. Those of us you see here were picked up at various times by the Skaven as we worked the fields, or were away from our compound. By the way, this bunch that you destroyed were an advance party, they come from elsewhere, but I do not know exactly."

Commander Armun ordered Captain Yarod to bring these people to the Kombaric for further interrogation, and safety,

The survivors were allowed to bring any personal belongings, before departing back to space, the survivors were all in their mid to late teens, with a mix of male and female. After they were fed, cleaned up and Transnanno patches applied to their necks before resting. A conference was then held with Commander Armun and her staff, along with Commander Aelfric who remained on board the Narjasic but sat in on the meeting via scanner. Elick and Yurenna then described their horrible ordeal at the hands of the Skaven.

"Something malfunctioned aboard our ship," began Elick, we weren't supposed to land where we did, Tarmon said it wouldn't matter, the planet would support us. We were on the planet which we named "NevenKebula," about a kret which is twenty-nine darr's by our calendar. Anyway, the Skaven swooped in and killed some of us taking others captive." At this point the female Yurenna added.

"They used all of we females as s*x slaves, our life was total degradation, thankfully, we Elansa are a tough race, and we survived." Both then went on to tell of slavery, and mistreatment, bringing tears to everyone's eyes, especially Angelika, however when she asked the two where the Skaven home world was, both teens looked at each other and grinned.

"If you were thinking of going there and destroying them," said Yurenna, we've already taken care of that."

"How, in what way?" asked Angelika. Yurenna put her head down for a moment, then sighed.

"The Skaven are a weak race hiding behind their spacecraft, and technology, however we had them beat on that account. In one of our first encounters with them, we managed to take a few prisoners. Tarmon and Deeron quickly discovered that the Skaven were very susceptible to a minor illness we Elansa get but quickly get over it. To the Skaven it is deadly. My sister Skenna, and Grayenna volunteered to be injected with a very virulent form of this disease, the Skaven promised to leave us alone if we provided them with females. Skenna, and Grayenna offered themselves, up for this, and were taken to The Skaven home world. Tarmon figures that most of their world has either been or is in the process of being wiped out by this disease. We do not know, however we have not seen any ships arriving from their home world whose name I cannot pronounce."

After this revelation, Commander Armun ordered all the Elansa checked by doctor Temuchin, but all tests turned up negative, the Elansa carried nothing harmful to the Nuel. Elick then directed them to NevenKebula where he was able to contact the mysterious Tarmon. Something about the way he did it puzzled both Commanders, until Angelika asked him.

"Does this Tarmon carry a comm device all the time?" Now it was his turn to appear puzzled,

"But of course, his communication device is built right into him."

"How do you mean?" she asked.

"Tarmon is a Metadroid, he's our protector. There are others, Deeron is a Kelladroid she knows all there is to know about medicine and healing. Tarmon specializes in all things technical as well as mechanical, Andapell knows all things agricultural, and Jofyr is a Rennadroid, he created the underground compound where we are safe."

Both Commanders discussed this incredible development as they traveled to NevenKebula.

"I wonder how these Elan droids compare to ours?" speculated Commander Aelfric.

"I don't know," replied Angelika, but in some ways these Elan worry me a bit, not that I would have readily done the same thing, considering the circumstances, but the ease in which these Elansa casually wiped out their enemies with a bio weapon as simple as a disease bothers me." Her husband agreed.

Once they arrived over NevenKebula. Commander Armun accompanied the rescued children as well as doctors Temuchin, and Targent, as well as Mikah Ulric and doctor KranKarack down to the surface where they were met by roughly sixty eight other Elansa who were formed into two ranks. Out in front of them stood four humanoids.

Angelika and her party were expecting the droids to resemble the Kagorian androids, but they looked exactly like the male and female Elans. Slightly slanted eyes, short turned up noses, small mouths, and slightly pointed ears. Even their eyes were grey, the same as the living Elan's. Ready with the translating computer, Mikah soon found that it wasn't needed, the droids quickly understood everything that was said to them.

As the rescued children re-joined their friends, Tarmon stepped forward offering his hand,

"Thank-you for my children, we salute you, stranger, please come, we wish to talk more."

Angelika and her crew were led into an underground bunker where they were offered refreshments, before Tarmon told his story. It was much as Elick and Yurenna had already explained, however he went on to describe more.

Even though Jofyr, Andapell, Deeron and I are droids, and not living beings, our personalities come from those who once were. We have enhanced Elan brains as well. All four of us are over fifty yarns old, which by our standards is approaching middle age. Ten Yarn ago, we left Elan which was dying due to a comet strike. There were eight other ships containing refugees, who struck out in different directions, in the hopes of continuing the race." He then invited Commander Armun to tell of Falth.

When she and the others finished, Tarmon looked as though he was deep in thought, then almost as if he had been suddenly "turned on," spoke.

"Commander, might we ask a favor of you?"

"That depends," replied Angelika.

"Commander Armun, there is nothing here for us anymore, the Skaven have taken many of us, our resources are limited and falling, could we be permitted to accompany you back to your world. From your description, you are a very advanced race, as are we, perhaps if we worked together, we could all benefit."

"Well we can certainly take you with us, however, we are on a six dorn mission exploring this part of our universe, but there may be more of these Skaven out there, and we are not equipped to conduct a major military campaign should it come to that. I think we will survey this cluster of moons as the furthest point for the time being, then make our way back towards home; however we have no plans to travel completely there. What we can do is meet a transport from home that can take you back to Falth. There, you will have to make your case, as far as becoming part of our world, but there are planets on which you could settle."

"That would suit us just fine," replied Tarmon, we will need a few darr's to gather our things and say goodbye to those who must remain. Unfortunately, we have nothing to offer you except one thing, and that is a Terrabomb." Thinking this some horrific destructive device Commander Armun began to decline it, until Tarmon explained.

"It's not a destructive device Commander, but an explosive device that has the ability to completely transform a planet of moderate size into a lush vegetative world. Originally it was intended to transform a moon or small planet without any life into a world where the Elan could live and carry on. Currently we have it hidden lest the Skaven discover it."

Again the two Commanders had astounding news to discuss,

"We've got to get that thing back home," said Commander Aelfric, do you realize the ramifications of this?"

"I agree," replied Angelika, "They seem to trust us, but that business with the disease still bothers me."

"It does me as well," replied her husband, but this is what this mission is all about."

Three Una's later they were ready to depart, a very moving ceremony was performed for the Elan who had died from one reason or another. The Terrabomb was removed from its hiding place and placed aboard the Kor'Math, which then transferred it to the Kombaric. The remaining Elan were split between the two destroyers, with Tarmon, and Jofyr aboard the Kombaric, and Andapell, and Deeron aboard the Narjasic. One more "surprise," awaited the two Commanders as Tarmon was asked by Mikah to look at the body of the unknown alien found in the hulk.

"Without any emotion, Tarmon replied,

"He is, or was a Dalazon. A little over fifty yarns ago, a great battle was fought among the Elan, the Dalazon's the M'ola, and the Solstarran race. We Elan, as well as the Dalazon's were the sole survivors, however the comet that hit our planet was suspected of being directed there by the Dalazon however there wasn't enough time to prove this. The scale of this epic battle spread over two galaxies, but alas, nothing remains."

"These Elan are certainly full of surprises," commented Commander Aelfric, "I certainly hope that's the last of them for awhile." After spending close to an alyt mapping and charting the cluster of moons, the Kombaric, and the Narjasic turned towards Kagor, and Hyach 3. Along with doctors, Mikah, and Doctor Kran Karack made a complete study of the Elan. All were of even temper and seemed not to be overly angry at the Skaven for their mistreatment, although all agreed that wiping out a whole race through a simple disease was nothing special, and they deserved it. During the voyage home, Tarmon as well as the other droids readily shared technology by "dissecting," a Falthian android and comparing "features." The living Elans all seemed to be smart enough, at first Mikah thought the living Elan were letting the droid's do all the technical, and mental work, but everyone he interviewed approached genius level, but merely accepted their intelligence as the norm.

However when all four doctors got together and drew their conclusions, a meeting was requested with both Commanders.

Mikah Ulric spoke for the group when he told both Commanders.

"We've spent a lot of time discussing this and recommend that these Elan not be incorporated into the general Falthian population, but be isolated." This greatly surprised both Angelika and her husband, who demanded to know why.

"First of all commanders Armun and Aelfric," replied Mikah,

"These people are incredibly intelligent, possibly even smarter than we are, however we have detected certain character flaws of an anti-social nature. This is not to say they must be forbidden to interact with our race, on the contrary, I think they have much to contribute, however Commander Armun, you were correct in your deep concern about the business with transmitting a disease to an unprotected race. None that we spoke with seemed concerned with it or even the moral ramifications of such a thing."

"So what would you have us do with them?" asked Commander Aelfric.

"Dump them off on Kagor, or perhaps on Comac 4?"

"No, No, not at all," replied Mikah, "They just want to go somewhere where they can be left alone, but still be close to other races. An idea occurred to me that might offer possibilities. Angelika, what was that moon of Proxima 7 we thought had possibilities for a research station."

"That would be the planet the Kagorians call Jupiter, and the moon called Europa, or as we call it Beta 6. What did you have in mind?"

"What if we were to detonate that Terrabomb over this Beta6, and situate the Elans there? They could be "neighbors" to the Kagorians, and a reformed planet would make an ideal place for a research station, and listening post."

Commander Armun thought for a moment, then replied, with a chuckle,

"Actually I like the idea, however this will have to be cleared at the highest levels, to try something like that on our own would be inviting disaster, let alone our careers. However, it's an idea that needs promoting."

Commander Aelfric also liked the idea if it was decided that the Elan's were to live elsewhere.