Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 37

Chapter 37 East of the Sun, and West of the Moon

Malevolent, dark and churning in the blackness of space the black hole sat waiting to suck any and all into it's incredible maw for a one-way trip to the unknown.

Six alyts from Hyach 3, task force Kalika sat parked in space studying the massive anomaly still some half million li's further on. They were as close as they dared approach, even now; their instruments registered a slight magnetic pull from the black hole.

Mikah Ulric and his team of specialists studied the data coming back from a probe sent to approach the black hole, trying to come up with a plan. He also joined in a video conference between the group of ships clustered in space. Task force Kalika was made up of five craft of varying size, two destroyers, the Kombaric, and the Narjasic were joined by the recon-fighter Kormath, and the heavy cruiser Hershok. A late addition only added as they were preparing to depart Hyach 3 was the gunship Durzok. It was a relatively new craft, slightly smaller that a destroyer, but far more lethal.

Equipped with rapid fire plasma cannons along with a pulse cannon that operated like a giant shotgun, firing special pellets that could penetrate force shields as well as most spacecraft hulls with disastrous effects. Another feature allowed the gunship to deploy special space mines that could neutralize all but the strongest of force shields. The reports from commanders Aelfric prompted naval command to throw in the gunship as amore protection for the task force, not wishing to gamble with the unknown.

Right now, everyone was discussing the black hole and whether to continue on trying their best to avoid it.

"At the time, we were fleeing pursuit, and weren't paying a lot of attention to what was ahead of us," explained Mikah.

"He's right," added captain Yarod, I was picking up strange readings and knew we were approaching something, but I don't recall the hole we fell into as looking like that," pointing to the scanner screen.

"What we entered was most definitely a black hole said Angelika Aelfric, "it was distorting everything around it but not nearly as much as this one is, perhaps it was closing up if that's what they do, or possibly it was forming."

"I've since studied all the data recorded by the Giuffrida," said Mikah, "I think we stumbled on a young and forming hole, the one before us appears to be quite mature, hence the slight pull we are feeling even this far out. I say we mark its position in this galaxy and go no further, call this the end of the line."

"I tend to agree with Mikah," added Dr. Partha Kran Karrak. "We certainly didn't intend to travel for dorns, and this makes for an ideal end point. Besides, I would also recommend that we begin to search some of the nearby planets. Quite possible, anyone or anything coming through that hole from the other way would head for such a planet.'

One of Mikah's assistants suddenly announced that they had just lost contact with the probe,

"Where was it?" asked Commander Draycon Aelfric, of the Narjasic.

"Roughly five thousand li's from the epicenter of the hole, it was there one moment, the next, it was gone."

"Well it was programmed to self-destruct after forty taq's if it received no transmissions from us," said Dr. Kran Karrak, "We don't have to worry about it being picked up by someone in the universe at the other end of that hole."

After more debate, all agreed that ending their forward travel here and scouting planets as they began their return journey sounded like a plan. Being the senior commander, Edvar Korthal of the Hershok agreed, so after the scientists declared that they had all the data they needed for the time being, task force Kalika slowly turned from their intended path, and began to make for a star cluster still some distance from their present position.

No sooner had the task force started to position themselves than their long range scanners started showing seven spacecraft approaching them at top speed.

Each commander and captain ordered their respective craft to go to a level three alert, and everybody to their stations. Commander Korthal, of the Hershok then cautioned his commanders to use caution,

"Don't get too jumpy everyone, we may have inadvertently crossed into someone's territory, and we certainly don't want to be the ones to start a war.'

It wasn't long before six craft, slightly larger than the Kormath formed a loose ring around the task force, as radio traffic came over the com on each ship. While her crew was busily deciphering, and translating the communications, Angelika made a close observation of the alien craft, noting that their weapons array appeared to be on standby, her husband also noted the same thing, to a trained eye, the fact that the gun pods and battery weapons were not glowing, or appear to be charged. There was a brief delay as the incoming image was translated; appearing on everyone's scanner screen was a rather dignified individual who identified himself as Admiral Vin'Tok of the Lu'Korian defense force. He appeared to have light blue skin with a glittery gold shimmer to it. The being had large reddish eyes with an elaborate tattooed design encircling his right eye, descending halfway down his cheek. His ears were also long and pointed.

"Be advised that you are in Lu'Korian territory, please state your purpose?"

Commander Korthal spoke for the task force as he replied,

"I am Commander Edvar Korthal of the Falthian navy. We are engaged in a survey mission to the far side of our galaxy; we are strictly on a survey mission and mean no harm." The Lu'Korian admiral appeared to be glancing at something or someone off screen, then replying,

"Did you just come through the portal?"

"If you're referring to that black hole out there…No, we are some alyts out from one of our satellite planets. Normally, a mission of this type would only involve one or two ships, however, on our last exploration into this end of the universe, we encountered wreckage from a couple of spacecraft indicating they had been attacked and destroyed. Also, we encountered a group of refugees who informed us of space raiders."

The admiral seemed to be mulling this information over, finally speaking.

"So you didn't come through the portal?"

"No admiral, we did not," replied commander Korthal

"What did these refugees call themselves?" continued the admiral,

At this point, the Elansian droid Tarmon appeared on the screen.

"I am known as Tarmon," he began, "I am a member of the Elansa, we were castaway's on a planet we called Vandor, our home world of Elan was destroyed and is no more, we are all that is left."

The admiral appeared to squint into his scanner screen for a moment, then spoke.

"You appear to be an android; I take it you are representative of a race of androids?"

"No admiral," replied Tarmon, "most of my people are living beings; there are…a number of us who are droids, acting as advisors."

The admiral smiled, as he replied,

"Very interesting, you spoke of space raiders, what were they known as?"

"They called themselves "The Skaven," however they admitted that they were not originally from Vandor, but would not say where their home world was."

Admiral Vin'Tok scowled,

"Well we know where they are from, and they are a great pain in the posterior, we've been trying to eradicate them for several decca's now, we thought at first you were a raiding party, but more of them later." The admiral's expression changed,

"Commander Korthal, welcome then to the empire of Lu'Kor, unfortunately for security reasons we cannot allow you to approach our home world, it's quite a distance anyway, however you're arrival will cause quite a stir, as we had no idea your race existed. We are aware of a number of races less technologically developed than ours, but it would seem that you Falthians are quite developed."

"Thank you very much admiral," replied commander Korthal, "I understand your security concerns, but I would be remiss in my duties if I did not suggest that our representatives and scientific minds meet at some point to discuss mutual interests. Obviously we are too far apart to invite trade, but perhaps a friendly get-together at some neutral location might be in order?" The admiral leaned back in his chair as he appeared to be thinking.

"I do not have the authority to set up such meetings," he said, "However as I said, your appearance on the scene will cause quite a stir, and I've no doubt my superiors will be eager for such a meeting as well. Tell me commander; is there someplace you can think of that could be considered neutral, yet suitable for such a gathering?"

At this point, Angelika interrupted,

"Commander, how about Kagor, I know the perfect place, I'll explain in more detail later on, but I really think the place I have in mind would do perfectly."

"Very good," replied commander Korthal,

"Admiral Vin'Tok," he went on to say,

"One of my commanders has reminded me of a planet that might be suitable, it is an underdeveloped world, however several of it's inhabitants live on Falth, the Kagorians are intelligent, but unfortunately underachievers, I will transmit it's coordinates in open format, I trust they will correspond to your charting system?"

After several moments had passed, admiral Vin'Tok spoke, "Our system is very close to yours, so we could figure it out, but we know of this planet, having visited it quite a number of lorr's ago, yes, we call the planet Varn, but we know of it. I'm looking at a report filed at the time of our last visit; it says that they have craft that can travel through the air, but as yet no ability to reach out beyond their atmosphere, or into space."

"Well," replied commander Korthal, "They've since landed on their moon and except for unmanned probes content themselves with merely orbiting their planet."

"Well good for them," chuckled the admiral, "That moon of theirs would make a good place to meet before our delegations meet on the planet proper, tell me commander, when do you think would be an appropriate time to meet?"

"Well we will need a little time to wrap things up here as we work our way back, then time to put together a delegation, how about two of our dorns, or lorr's, as you call them, say two dorns from this date?"

"Very good," replied the admiral, "That schedule will work for us as well, tell me commander, is there anything we need to know about this planet that might have changed since our last visit?"

"Well I'm not sure when you last visited Kagor," replied the commander, however, they do have a rather advanced scanner network, although our cloaking ability easily overcomes it."

"Well we'll be sure to take that into account," added admiral Vin'Tok, "Oh, by the way, as you travel homeward, be on the alert for these Skaven raiders, they tend to cluster at times, if you're not entirely prepared, they can do a lot of damage."

"Thanks' for the warning admiral," replied commander Korthal, "Are you telling me they might try to attack a group such as us?"

"It's been known to happen commander," replied the admiral, "If they're hyped up on mega, and haven't attacked anyone recently, then yes." The two commanders bid each other farewell, as task force Kalika swung around and headed in the direction of home.

Shortly afterward, commander Korthal called a general officer's meeting to discuss the Lu'Korians, along with any recommendations the commanders might have.

Commander Drayton Aelfric expressed reserved curiosity while his wife thought the discovery of the Lu'Korians offered hope that perhaps some sort of treaty could be agreed on, while captain Tarlin of the Durzok thought there was something about Admiral Vin'Tok he just couldn't put his finger on.

"At least they didn't come in blasting away at us," he opined. Commander Korthal summed their feelings up when he stated,

"It's quite obvious we aren't the only ones in this galaxy with superior technology, and it would seem we are at opposite ends of the known universe, I'm remaining optimistic over this purposed meeting which reminds me, Angelika I hope you know what your doing volunteering Kagor like you did." She chuckled,

"Don't worry commander, both my husband and I have been to the location I have in mind, Jake Gandrigg is a friend of mine, he's married to a very good friend of mine and he's half Nuelian the location is away from heavily populated areas it's ideal."

Last, but not least, Tarmon was asked his opinion,

"I honestly cannot say that I or any Elansa have ever heard of these people. Now that in itself means nothing, but then we were not aware of this monstrous black hole either, if the commander would permit me to offer some thoughts on these Lu'Korians as well as the black hole?"

"By all means," replied commander Korthal.

"Previously, I said that we had never heard of these Lu'Korians," began Tarmon,

"We did however; suspect the existence of another technologically advanced civilization, aside from the Skaven. From time to time we would see things in the night sky, one of our people who had been captured by the raiders heard them talking once about another civilization but no names were mentioned, plus numerous small things which in themselves were inconsequential but might add up to something much different."

"I'm not saying these Lu'Korians are evil, or anything like that, but I think caution might be our watchword."

Angelika and captain Yarod heartily agreed,

"I agree," stated Angelika, perhaps, we should pay Vandor another visit while we're out here."

"Excellent idea," added commander Korthal, and as long as we're in the area, perhaps a return visit to this Gale Celesta, your report commander Aelfric, intrigues me."