War of Souls

Training

TrainingI was called Ulrich then. I applied for pilot training right from the start because, in addition to liking space flying, injustice and lying were annoying me even then. I wanted to take revenge for the grievances my entire people had suffered. This feeling was completely new, but I thought it might be useful for me.

Our leaders started our training in the spiritual field. They made us harder, so that our sometimes exaggerated benevolence did not stop us from fighting. Then, through training, our bodies came to be able to withstand heavier loads and be more flexible in the event of a possible land battle. Our biologists did a great job again. The bodies we used were redesigned to meet all expectations.

They didn't know who they were facing, but our people had such knowledge of shaping the physical world that we were invincible in this field. We thought so — until the first real attack.

They came with huge machines. The machines we produced — which we had thought were great — were dwarfed by them. They blasted their lightsaber blessing on our planet so that our two cities were down by the time we could cause them any great loss. It took a long time for our first wave to be reflected back, and our beautifully built residential area suffered enormous losses. It took several years before the fighting faded. Our people, however, were just getting stronger. Our biologists recreated our bodies to propagate instead of the ruined ones, and they did a better job. Our biologists were barely able to reproduce the bodies instead of the failed ones, though — yet they did a better and better job. In the end, they also survived crashes.

My training didn't end after the first big battle. We produced newer and newer spacecraft and our bodies had to endure more and more. We started competing with fellow-pilots to make bolder and better maneuvers. The relationship between us grew ever closer and we started to emerge from the usual order of society. The "elites" — that was how others began to call us.

One day when I signed up, my training officer, Wailth received me in the preparation zone. He was the second best pilot after me. Of course, he thought the same about me.

- What's up, Ulrich? Did you relax enough after yesterday's defeat?

Our bodies really needed to rest sometimes because the muscles could cramp if we stretched the boundaries for more than three days, but I had just been for one day on my feet. The question was intended to be insulting. This is how we determined to encourage each other to perform better.

- I don't need a rest to defeat a kind of softy cockpit pilot out there. For your luck, the invaders control their machines even worse than you, so you've had to change bodies a long time ago.

- Well yeah. And then your last night's miserable defeat was surely only due to my great luck, right?

- Indeed, my friend, indeed.

I couldn't explain to myself the fault of the previous day, not even to him. Somehow the good old days were in my mind when peace was still in our country.

- Well, let's leave the topic.

Wailth felt my thoughts and wisely changed the subject.

- I agree. Instead, try to explain to me what these intruders purpose is by coming and coming. As if they didn't know they couldn't hurt us, they just ruin our bodies from time to time and we have to add new ones. What else can we believe? Or is there something that the two prisoners didn't know?

- I don't know, my friend. I hope they will give up trying and will finally quit.

- I'd much rather fly freely in space than deal with battles. If this is the end, I'm on an exploration journey to far-flung galaxies.

- Do you think the Council of War would give you permission?

- There will be no War Council then, Wailth. And no war, either.

Our conversation was interrupted by the loudspeaker:

“Zone Two pilots should go to the hangar. The newly developed XP12 will be tested today.”

These were us. We had heard of the new machine, but we didn't know it would be ready so soon. It was designed to fly into deep space, attacking and destroying invaders as far away from the planet as possible, so that they could not bomb our cities.

Curiously, we set off for the huge hangars with mixed excitement. What we received exceeded all our expectations. It was a huge machine and had a two-seater cockpit.

On the side were separate guided laser guns — that is how we called the light weapons at that time — for which there were separate shooters. The machine’s shape was slightly conical with large protruding bubbles that protected the shooters. It was so big that we could walk underneath. Even the moment I saw it, I felt a tingling sensation.

- Welcome to the hangar of XP12. As of today, this hangar only houses these machines. The only thing about the machine is that their controls work the same as their predecessors, except that the pilots do not use the cannons, but the copilot unleashes the light bombs that can be blasted from the bottom of the hold onto the enemy. First you will fly in the simulator to practise the Bomb Sight. The shooters have been trained and will be here in two hours to show you what we've learned so far in crisp flight.

The voice of the hangar commander was deep and loud. We used our bodies to communicate so that everyone could sense what was being said and not have to pass on important information individually to those who were willing to receive thoughts and images and those who were not. More and more people had chosen to use bodies only for communication. This was already the impact of the invaders on our society. Many people yelled at the radio during the battles so that their last memories from us wouldn't be pleasant and they wouldn't want to come back here anymore. Because of this habit, many of us were stuck in the rules of communication in the physical world.

The simulator was very professional. Two hours was enough to fully learn how to use the bomb. We paired and took turns in training one another. There was really no cannon control at the pilot's place, but instead there was a new arm on which it was written: "Can only be used in deep space". Returning to the hangar, we asked what it was for.

- It switches on the hyperdrive to provide deep space speed. Outside, ships are travelling at much faster speeds than near the planet. They just slow down here. You can only practise deep space maneuvering outside. It won't be difficult. You just need to pick up the rhythm and from there it will be like being slow: the planets will be so far from you that your movement will seem slow. Only in battle will the proximity of the other ships be a bit disturbing, but you can get used to it. Now go and show us what our people are capable of.

We didn't say a word. Stunned, we approached our huge aircraft and took our pilot seats silently. I was the co-pilot first. When I started the engine I felt a tremendous amount of power. Somehow I was captured by an invincible feeling. With this wonderful machine, I felt we could keep anyone away from our beloved country.

Control was easy and we had only a short term problem of getting used to higher speeds. Quick, short maneuvers were also easily done after one to two hours of practise. Empty transport containers were shot out of the planet before we took off, so there was something to bomb, because it had been long since the intruders had ventured near us. Our leaders told us to always be on the lookout. Target bombing was also successful. Both I and Wailth managed to hit the target container for the first time, even though it was moving very fast and spinning with us.

Our shooters were also pros, and most of them had not lost their communication skills, so there was tremendous consistency. Like a big machine monster, we were flying so far from our planet that we couldn't see it. The colorful navigation monitor always indicated our position and its display was so simple and clear that we were not worried about getting lost. It was a wonderful feeling to fly in deep space. It almost drew us to go further and further and embark on an exploration journey. Then it finally came clear to me that after the long war, I would travel across the unknown space and go on an adventure.

Then the first surprise came to us.

The warning sound of the alarm brought me back from the future to the present time. The dashboard's rapidly flashing display indicated an oncoming rocket torpedo. I didn't understand it, because there was no other spacecraft near us. I started an evasive maneuver and signalled the shooters to take down the approaching object. In the pilot window, a planet appeared close enough. It was a while before I realized that this was Rabory, the residence of the exiled. I could not believe my eyes. Rocket torpedoes fired at us from several places on the planet's surface, where in theory there should not have been even buildings, because our comrades sent there had no body, so they could not influence the physical world. And that's when I saw the spaceships take off. They were invaders' machines. I tried to set aside my desire for revenge and get home as quickly as possible because I had to relay the news of my discovery as soon as possible, and all our laser cells were shot during the practise.

- Ulrich, I'll throw some bombs behind us. I have set them up so that they explode when they get close to something. Do not maneuver backwards if possible.

- All right, do it! I’ll do what I can.

Wailth dropped the bombs, and we gained so much time to secure our return journey. Three of our eight shooters were down there because the shield's strength had dropped from the many hits and I had to drag the rest around the cockpit to at least get the rest of the machine back. I could only hope that at such a distance, the lost ones would find their way back to the body-generating center. I didn't dare to think what to expect if not. Nobody had been lost that far.

Then I sensed a cry for help. One of our lost shooters sent a desperate thought to me. Something pulled him and his two companions toward the Rabory. I had never felt such despair from anyone. He was worried that he was lost forever. To feel such a thought from an immortal being was not very pleasant. The last picture that came to me was a picture of a shiny rod circling lightning, like on the Gordrack in the rain. This pulled them down.

- We're going back. How many more bombs are left?

- Are you crazy, Ulrich? You see how many of them are on the radar picture around us? They're taking us apart.

- I'm not crazy. Our lost shooters will be stuck here forever if we don't help them right now. Put down an alarm and disperse those bombs. Just leave me one. You will need it as you approach the surface.

Wailth sensed the determination I had. He felt uneasy, but did what I asked for.

- Shooters! Reload the laser cells from the empty shooting positions and shoot only those who come closer! We're going back for our companions!

They didn't respond, they just did what I said. I adjusted the shield to protect everyone on the ship as much as possible. We were surprised that our attackers suddenly turned against us instead of fleeing further away. Looking back, I really saw that we had little chance. A giant ship had just lifted from a city. City! The planet should have been completely devoid of life.

And that's when help came. Six more XP12s appeared on the radar screen. I don't know how they got mixed up, but either they didn't practise, or they didn't practise as much as we had done, because they were bombing the giant machine that was taking off so that it crashed into the city from where it had been rising shortly before. They opened the way for us to move closer to the surface. I saw the rod. I sensed my companions near me and felt the desperate struggle they were trying to break away from.

- Bomb that lightbar and we're not here! I cried to Wailth and steered the ship towards the target to make things easier for him. He was worthy of it, and acted as usual: he shot it right in the center.

A huge explosion shook the entire barren planet and blew us far away. Our shield could not stand it anymore and sighed away from the outer shell. I didn't know if there were any enemy aircraft around us or whether we would make it back, but when I sensed the lost pilots on board, I was not interested in anything else. I felt such joy as never before. I knew this feeling would give me such strength that whatever obstacles we might face, we would come home. It did. After a while, I saw the beautifully lush green terrain of our planet, which was even more beautiful from space than from below, although my feelings at the time appreciated a lot of beauty in my surroundings. I was genuinely happy for the first time since the war began. Saving my lost companions from the suffering that awaited them at Rabory washed away all my troubles at that moment.

My training ended that day and I received my final sealed pilot diploma. From that day on, I was able to do what I liked best: to fly in seemingly endless space, and to keep the peace and tranquillity of my companions. I was happy with the task I had been given by our leaders and did my best not to disappoint anyone.

Chapter 3