#0 · JANUARY 2012
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#0 · JANUARY 2012 |
“We’re so much closer to the end of everything than anyone realizes…” “The universe is full of wonder and miracles on a daily basis. Throughout human history, this has proven true in the actions of great men and women that have made life better for those around them. Such people do not seek greatness, but rather have it forced upon them. Others would cower in such situations. Others toil in quiet solitude, the greater masses never knowing what it is they have done for the greater good. Still others, very few others, are able to create the situations they desire. They control their environments and create variables that make the world…and the universe…what they wish it to be. I consider myself the latter. Whether or not I am remembered as a great man….I will leave to history to decide.” - R. J. Brande, from his personal journal, saved under tetragigahex encryption within Computo’s holographic energy matrix, December 1, 3011. R. J. Brande stood before the immense viewing hemisphere forcefield that separated him from the coldness of space. The stars were so much more vivid and bright here in the vacuum than when seen from a planetary surface. He valued this place more than the other real estate he owned across the United Planets because of its solitude and privacy. The never ending hustle of being the richest man in the galaxy would have burned him out if he didn’t retreat and recharge his batteries every now and then. Nestled between the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, floating in a place that was truly nothingness, was Brande Station. It was a massive nexus of technology and asteroid fragments married together into something that could support a planetary society if it had to. Its sole purpose however was to allow Brande to escape from galactic society and concentrate on his most important task. He waved a hand and a holographic image of the entire United Planets appeared around him, seeming to replace the hemisphere he stood within. Certain areas were highlighted in various colors, which matched themselves to various threat levels. “Computo,” said Brande. An attractive woman’s face appeared before Brande within the holographic field. Light bathed Brande’s body for a brief moment. Computo then began to speak. “Vocal, Biometric and Quantum scans confirm identity. Status Report begins, Director Brande,” said the artificial intelligence. The quintillionaire philanthropist and Director of Intelligence for the United Planets smiled. “What’s my universe up to now?”
STATE OF THE UNIVERSE January 2012 by Mike Hintze “TIMEDATE: DECEMBER 18, 3011. STATE OF THE UNIVERSE REPORT FOLLOWS.
Background:
“Please skip to the most recent relevant updates, please Computo,” said Brande. Whether it was a human or an artificial intelligence, it seemed to make no difference. Data gatherers were wordy little buggers. He ran his hand down his dark, groomed goatee and crossed his arms. “Of course, Director,” said Computo. “Continuing….” “Update on Earth:
Economic:
“Computo,” said Brande, “Have Marla buy up all stores of that space rock. If anyone refuses to sell, have Burrane convince them. I don’t want any of that junk held with anyone but me.” “Noted and communicated,” said Computo. “Damn collectors,” said Brande. “Continue, Computo.” “Earth Update Continued:
“Keep an eye on that,” said Brande. “if this new buyer hits 20%, let me know. I may need to have this nipped in the bud if Leland can’t handle it alone. Continue.” “The Dominion has dispatched 20 fleet ships to the UP border on Centuari Six. Reports of a disturbance on the Khund/UP Neutral Zone have been escalated to Level Epsilon.” “That’s the sixth disturbance in as many months on that border and the fifteenth on that entire quadrant of the UP since the new year.” Brande looked at the galactic map. “Focus on locus indicated, please.” The holographic map zoomed on an upper area of the 3D representation. The UP borders were indicated in green, the Neutral Zone in red and the Khund Empire in yellow. Icons floated in the area designated as UP fleet or Khund starcruisers. “Is this real time?” asked Brande. “Of course,” said Computo. “Informat feeds are being tagged directly from UP military dataclouds.” “If these are UP fleetships,” said Brande, “and these are Khund then what are these? Dominators?” A mysterious third set of icons had appeared moments ago. They were colored black and bore a question mark indicating they were unknown. “They do not register with any of the known galactic governments or criminal enclaves,” said Computo. “The Dominion would still be several hours away at lightspeeds.” “I want live real time footage, now,” said Brande. The hologram changed to make it appear as if Brande was in the middle of a warzone. Ships bobbed around him and fired on starfighters that were as black as night. Brande watched as the fighters absorbed any blasterfire that the UP or Khund ships fired on them. They were of a design he did not recognize and that made him uneasy. Brande hated not knowing anything. “What agents are in the locus?” asked Brande. “Agent Durgo is in deep cover within the Khundian Corlex Sector,” said Computo. “Damn, we can’t risk her blowing her cover there,” said Brande. “Agent Kem is currently in transit from Bismoll,” said Computo. “He could be redirected enroute and be onsite within six hours.” “Kem?” said Brande with a sigh. “Fine, have him recon the area and report back. No engagement. I just want intelligence.” “Noted and communicated,” said Computo. Brande stood there thinking. “Let me know the instant Kem is in contact. Continue with the report, Computo.” “Planet Rimbor: Remains classified for the 50th straight terran year as the world with the highest crime rate in the UP. Recent incursions against the Emerald Dragon cartel by the Starfinger League have been successful and have turned control of this particular underworld away from the Dragons in some areas including smuggling, drug manufacture and prostitution.” “Burrane is doing what we pay him to. Good. Continue,” said Brande. “Querl Dox from the planet Colu reports that the quantum stardrive is nearly complete and should be ready for mass production within a solar year. He also mentions that this effectively discharges the debt he owes to yourself, Director Brande.” “Heh,” said Brande. “Not even close. Tell him I said that.” “Done,” said Computo. “The Telnet from Titan reports that Project: Unseen is nearing fruition. They expect full galactic implementation within several weeks.” “Now that is good news,” said Brande. “Excellent.” “You might find this of interest: a UP diplomatic cruiser along the Lallorian borders has abruptly lost contact,” said Computo. “Who was aboard the cruiser?” asked Brande. “A Daxamite delegation. Jin Gand.” Brande’s face became even more serious. “What was the last communication received from the cruiser?” “Accessing….replaying now,” said Computo. “Who the hell would be crazy enough to attack a Daxamite delegation in a yellow star system?” mumbled Brande to himself. The holographic field shifted to show an image of a pilot dressed in a UP uniform. The picture was shaking and full of static. There was so sound, but it was obvious the cruiser’s pilot was struggling to retain control of the craft. Sparks flew from the control console. The pilot’s mouth was moving. He was trying to record a last message. It was unnerving to see the terror in the man’s face in such silence. Something in the background flickered for a brief second. “Computo, track back six seconds and freeze on my mark…..mark.” Brande looked at what the flicker had been in through the viewport of the cruiser, just to the left of the pilot’s shoulder. “Enhance quadrant A4.” The image sharpened. “Zoom.” The image grew larger and even more focused. The image sent a small chill down Brande’s spine. “It appears this is a similar starfighter to the one we observed on the Khund border of the Neutral Zone,” said Computo. Brande stared at the frozen image. The starfighter seemed to erect small ovals of energy where blasterfire would hit it, effectively shunting the energy before it ever hit the craft. “Computo, analysis of the offensive weapons and defensive shielding, please.” “Accessing the cruiser’s logs….shields appear to involve dwarfstar refraction, albeit far more advanced than UP records show. Offensive weapons indicate red solar energy laced with a specific atomic electron valence….valence described as matching that of Lead.” “They came prepared to kill Daxamites,” said Brande. “Initial observation would indicate that is affirmative.” “Dwarfstar weapons were banned two hundred years ago,” said Brande. “That is correct,” said Computo. “All right,” said Brande. “Computo, continue to monitor the situation. Contact Durgo, have her reconnoiter the Khund space and get back to me. Have Kem do so on the UP side. Plus…” “Yes, Director?” “Get me Krinn on the line. I’m sending his team to investigate the Daxamite attack.” “Anything else, sir?” “I have a bad feeling about this. Alert all operatives to be on standby.” “Yes, sir,” said Computo. Elsewhere He spit blood onto the floor rather than let it drain down his throat. His face was swollen from the beatings, several bones were broken and all because of the damned red solar light that was making him weak as a child. The effects of lead poisoning were just as painful but these invaders were somehow able to keep the toxic effects just this side of death. Jin Gand looked up at his tormentors. Clad in garish, multicolored armor, they were as sadistic as they were alien. Their garb crackled with energy, their eyes glowed with menace. They hadn’t asked him any questions but they hadn’t needed to. One of the enemy, clad in what seemed to be a combination of leather and metal armor, had somehow entered his mind and taken what she needed. The process had been excruciating, but it hadn’t killed him like the others. His retinue had all been similarly tortured and killed, many given the final stroke by the alien telepath, someone they called Needle. Jin remembered the history of his race, the Daxamites who had been reclusive and unwilling to share with other races. It had taken the work of Jin’s own father and that of R. J. Brande to negotiate the induction of Daxam into the United Planets. The UP had voiced reservations of their own, allowing a race with the powers of the lost Kryptonian race to spread throughout the galaxy, a race not used to their own abilities under their native red sun. Brande had convinced all sides that it was in everyone’s best interests and Daxam was inducted into galactic society. Jin’s position within the UP was to lead diplomatic expeditions into new, uncharted space the far side of the Lallor system. He and his crew had gone to do just that, to meet a race called the Q’intari and open diplomatic channels. “The Q’intari do not exist.” A large man clad in black armor that arced lightning across it at random stepped up to Jin. He appeared to be the leader of this group. “You…set us up,” said Jin through swollen lips. “We did,” said the large man. “Know this before you expire. Yours is but one of the worlds that will die in our first strike.” “Daxam. No!” said Jin. “Yes,” said the man. “All you know and love will be gone in a matter of hours.” He reached down and grabbed Jin’s throat. “A pity. I would have liked to test your mettle with your full range of Daxamite powers but alas, I will just have to satisfy myself with this.” He squeezed Jin’s head and crushed it like an egg. The man turned to his compatriots. “Tell the Horde the word is given.” “Yes, Blacklight,” said the others in unison as they left the chamber. Blacklight wiped his wet hand on the Daxamite’s body and looked out the viewport. They were on the edge of United Planets territory and soon, they would be part of the Colony. His master would be pleased indeed. Next Issue: “A Necessary Evil” - Part One! |
