The Ancients

THE SOFT PURR OF THE MAGLEV ENGINES reached Rathliveran Army Lieutenant Evan To’ilr’s keen ears even before it crested the ridge and came into view. He, yawned, stretched, and rose from his chair, and waved a cursory hand at a sys-screen shimmering in front of him. 1

The sys-screen came to life, blinking images scrolling through one after the other, until To’ilr flicked a finger at it, causing one image to leap up onto the screen, magnified. It was a streaming vid feed from one of the many cam and surveillance droids that roamed the exterior and interior of the complex, keeping watch for anything amiss. And for good reason, as the higher powers that controlled this complex did not want the technology and other things that were kept here to fall into the wrong hands. 2

The vid feed showed To’ilr the cause of the sounds, and he frowned in puzzlement. He considered the feed for a moment longer, then shut it down, and called up another couple of screens, and made a check of the other sectors. That done, he sent a message to his unit commander, and, checking that his light-rifle was charged and primed, strode outside his guardhouse.3

The purr of the engines grew louder, and the ship which the engines belonged to came into view.4

Perhaps it was a bit of a stretch to call it a ship. More of a light civilian transport, used to ferry people and sometimes goods from city to city. But this was different. This particular transport was a XL-14 Suma; a high-end prototype that To’ilr hadn’t realized had left the drawing boards yet. Sleek, shiny, with the faint shimmer under it characteristic of the maglev engines, which coasted the ship on the natural magnetic currents of Rathliver, streamlined, built for speed, and lightly armoured into the bargain. But the thing that caused To’ilr’s eyebrows to rise slightly was the Imperial Crest embossed onto the side.5

An Imperial ship this far east? The war between the Republicans and the Imperialists had come to a shaky halt a few months back, with a truce being agreed upon between both sides. The Republicans had taken over the South and East of Rathliver, and also more than a few systems in the Northern Sectors of the Empire. The Empire had conceded to stop all hostilities and grant more power to the People’s Assembly, and accede to some of the Republicans’ demands. The Imperial Army still maintained a presence on the systems which the Republicans now controlled, but they were not there to fight.6

Next month, the people themselves would decide whether they wanted to live under Republican rule, or under the system of Empire. All the inhabitants of the seven hundred and ten planets of the Imperial Galactic Civilisation would vote for either side. It promised to be an event that would go down in history.7

Evan To’ilr bought his mind back to the present and focused on the Imperial transport, which had turned and settled down on the golden sands just outside the complex gates. To’ilr heard the engines power down, and behind him he heard the rap of feet on stone, and turned to see his unit commander approaching with a battalion of twenty men, armed but not hostile. Simply protocol.8

The unit commander rushed up to To’ilr, gawking in amazement at the Imperial transport.9

“What the hell?” he muttered. 10

“Beats me, sir. Maybe they have a message or something ..?” To’ilr hazarded.11

The commander began to reply, but was stopped short as the transport’s doors slid smoothly open. The boarding ramp lowered slowly, with the slow hiss of hydraulics, and a figure appeared at the top of the ramp.12

To’ilr and his commander let out muffled gasps of surprise at the same time.13

“Princess Katyn D’tohar!” said the commander in a sort of strangled whisper. “Oh gods!”14

He turned hastily and rapped out a few orders in Rathliveran to his men, and they hurried away. Some opened the gates, they others went to notify the complex’s garrison chief, General Raynham, and others.15

Princess Katyn stepped onto the ramp, and proceeded to walk down, accompanied on each side by five of her Imperial Guard Elite, armed to the teeth, and very deadly looking in their sable armour, and the sliver crests embossed into the their breastplates. To’ilr suppressed a snort with difficulty. Chocolate soldiers. They’d probably never even seen combat, let alone the horrors he had seen during his time in the wars. The Imperial Palace was situated at the centre of the Civilisation, on the planet War’Holme. The war had never reached there, and probably never would, due to the tight security around the planet. If an enemy assault force tried to approach, they would have to get past five divisions of Imperial Fleet Destroyers and starships, all primed and in orbit around the planet. 16

The Princess was a slender, frail woman, who looked very insubstantial, and delicate, with her silk gowns shimmering around her, and her small measured steps. Gray-green eyes surveyed the scene in front of her out of a pale, heart-shaped face, framed by short, straight raven hair.17

To’ilr snapped to a salute as the Guards Elite Captain strode up to him and the Unit Commander. He saluted in the Imperial fashion, hand-against-fist, and then slapping his chest on the left and bowing.18

The unit commander responded in Republican style, hand to peaked cap, and then bowing. Lieutenant To’ilr also followed suit.19

To’ilr stood aside as the Princess swept past. He felt small and unimportant in her presence, and was shocked with surprise when she gave him a small smile.20

His knees went weak, and his mind fogged, but the next second he pulled himself out of his silly fugue, and slapped the stock of his weapon irritably, chastising himself for being an emotional gnat. Her slim figure was not important, nor was her smile. What in the hell was she doing here?21

Lieutenant To’ilr shook his head as if to ward off an irksome fly, and followed behind the Guards Elite, with the battalion of men, who were whispering among themselves, formulating theories as to why the Imperial Princess was here, alone save for a handful of Imperial Guards Elite, in the Republican region of Rathliver.22

“So, Evan? Why’s she here? Have any wild guesses?”23

The questioner was a strapping young woman of twenty or thereabouts, with a bright, cheerful face and sky-blue eyes, brown hair and Sub-Lieutenant epaulettes on her shoulders. Her accent was that of Waestralis, the Republican capital of the South, where she had been born and bought up. Bold and ready for anything, Traelia Varkrael was one of the first woman soldiers in the Republican Army. Only in the army for two years, she had already seen her fair share of fighting and death, much like To’ilr.24

To’ilr turned to her, a smile already spreading across his face. Traelia Varkrael had that effect on people. 25

“Traelia? Where were you hiding all this time? I haven’t seen you for ages.”26

Traelia shrugged. “I was east on a scouting mission, flying over the same boring old ruins twice a day, looking for shadows.” She was referring to the Ruins of Dalkapor, a former Imperial stronghold ravaged by a Republican air assault in the early days of the wars. “I only just got back yesterday, and spent the day in Debriefing.”27

To’ilr nodded. “I don’t know why the Princess is here, but I don’t think its anything good.”28

“I see. Gut instinct, eh? And yet she smiled at you.”29

To’ilr glanced at his friend, but the expression on her face was neutral, only a hint of a smile playing on her mouth. He stopped himself from blushing.30

“You know the Princess. She can seduce anyone she wants to. She’s legendary for it.”31

“Uh-huh.” Traelia grinned. “What can she see in you?”32

“Nothing much, I assure you. I’m just a common old Loote.”33

Traelia took his arm. “Not so common,” she assured him with a wink. “Not at all. If I were not already engaged, I’d jump for you myself.” Traelia’s husband-to-be was a Fleet Captain aboard the Destroyer Armahalt, and currently on tour in the Western Sector of the Civilisation.34

The little company reached the doors of the Complex, and there stood the Head Technist, Barols Gar, a swarthy, green-skinned Alderaian, who was an absolute genius with weapons and weapon systems. He had been poached by Republic Command from Zr’for 4 a year before the wars began, and he had not disappointed them. He had invented several new missiles, and perfected the IK Light-rifle, and harnessed the power of antimatter into not only engines, but bombs and guns too. To’ilr had known he was here, just not what fancy new method of killing people he was dreaming up this time.35

Next to him stood the Base Commander, General Raynham at attention, his uniform as crisp as if it had been freshly pressed, epaulettes sparkling in the hazy twilight. 36

“Princess.” The Zr’foran was slightly hoarse and throaty, as if he rolled his words around in his throat before spitting them out. “To what do we owe the honour?”37

The Princess inclined her graceful head, and said, in a silky serene voice, “The honour is mine, Barols Gar. Is there someplace where we can speak in private?”38

The Zr’foran and the General both seemed a bit puzzled by her request.39

“Of course, Your Majesty. A transport will take us to my living quarters. I trust that General Raynham will accompany us, as will your Guards?”40

“Yes, Barols.” The Princess inclined her head again, and got into the black Army transport that had whisked up, a Corporal at the wheel. The Alderaian and the General stepped after, and it rolled off, with the Guards Elite following, easily keeping pace.41

To’ilr’s unit commander dismissed the men to their duties, and beckoned To’ilr over. He greeted Traelia pleasantly, and said to To’ilr, “You can go now, Lieutenant. But keep an eye on things, won’t you? There’s something about this Princess that stinks, and it’s not her perfume. I can trust you’ll be discreet?”42

“Yes sir.”43

To’ilr saluted, and the unit commander walked away. Traelia looked at him.44

“What was that all about?”45

To’ilr looked a bit uncomfortable. Traelia tugged at his arm. “What?”46

“I have been appointed to Republican Intelligence East.”47

“What?” Traelia looked at him in surprise. “You? Why? And when?”48

“After the battle for Gaunder. You remember? When our company was caught under heavy fire, and they told me to head to the Ruins to hide?”49

“Yes. I wondered why at the time.” Traelia frowned. “Because you had something they wanted?”50

“Yes. I had managed to recover the hard-drive from the attacking company’s captain’s wrist-computer. And it was of enormous help in the war effort. Republican Command rewarded me with a post in East Intel. I didn’t say no. So here I am.”51

“Okay. So is this secret, like? Am I allowed to tell everyone? Or, probably not, eh?”52

“No. only the unit commander and General Raynham know of my Intel affiliation. It should stay that way, Traelia.”53

“’Course. Only kidding. So now the unit commander’s told you to spy on Princess Katyn?”54

To’ilr winced at it being put so blandly. “Well, yes.”55

“Okay, then. See you around. I’ve got to go see to my ship. Good to see you, Evan.”56

“You too, Traelia.” She kissed him on the cheek and departed, her brown hair whipping in the desert winds.57

Later that night, as he sat on his bed in his room in the officers’ accommodation, he reflected on the day’s events. The Princess had come and gone within two hours, and Barols Gar was closemouthed about what they had talked about. But he had overheard Gar and Raynham talking as he went up to the General’s office to hand in a report.58

“Well, I still don’t think it is wise, Fark,” Gar had said in muted tones to Raynham, addressing him by his first name. “What if they use us, and then throw us to the wolves?”59

“It’s not like we’ve got a choice, Barols,” Raynham had replied, in a strangely weary voice, quite different from his usual boom. “They’ve got us where they want us, and they’re not going to let go easily. It’s either do what they say or …” His voice trailed away.60

To’ilr had knocked and entered at that point, and the two had stopped talking immediately, Gar looking surly, his white eyes staring grumpily at the wall opposite him, while the General had greeted Evan pleasantly in quite a different voice, and took his report.61

Something was up, that was for sure, thought To’ilr as he got into bed, and told the AI to turn off the lights. And he wasn’t sure he would find out what it was as easily as he had nicked the hard-drives off that Imperial Captain.62

The next day dawned in a flurry of activity. To’ilr woke to the sounds of several maglev engines humming and, peeking out the windows, saw a squadron of Republican Fleet starfighters touch down at the nearby aeordrom. Techies ran to and fro, dragging fuel lines behind them, electrical support droids chuttered here and there, plugging in to run diagnostics on the starships’ internal systems, all very busy looking.63

To’ilr stood there for a minute longer, and then turned around and began to dress. Donning his silicon-carb red and sliver uniform, and placing his peaked hat on his head, and fastening his lieutenant’s epaulettes on his shoulders, where they melded seamlessly into his clothing, nanobots working to stitch the material together, he made his way downstairs.64

He met his Master Sergeant downstairs. “Morning, sir!” he said, saluting.65

To’ilr saluted back, and replied, “At ease.”66

Master Sergeant Rand Glovers grinned at his old friend, and fell into step beside him. His broad, good-natured face was accented by his wide smile, and black eyes. Black hair cut in a crew-cut completed the military look. 67

“Suda Hal’shir is back, Lieutenant. She just arrived half-an-hour ago, along with the rest of Squadron B-40. And here’s the part you’ll find interesting.”68

Evan To’ilr looked at his sergeant, waiting. 69

“They spotted activity at Ras’s Gulam.”70

To’ilr blinked. “That’s news?”71

Ra’s Gulam was an abandoned aeordrom ten miles north of the Complex, a former Imperial haunt, used by the Imperial Fighter Squadron known as Black Death during the heyday of the war. Abandoned after the truce began, many scouts had reported strange noises and activity from the old air base, but no one ever bothered to look into them seriously. The one time a ship had landed to investigate, it had found nothing. Some of the more superstitious types in the Army said that the place was haunted by the ghosts of dead Imperialists. 72

“Oh, but this time it’s different, Loote.” Master Seargeant Glover’s face was alight with the fervour of new circumstance. “This time they found something. Or, to be more precise, someone.”73

They arrived at the aeordrom at a quick run, cursing the wind, and met Wing Commander Suda Hal’shir next to her starfighter, the Blind Luck. 74

They saluted each other, and the Wing Commander and the Lieutenant moved off at a brisk pace, with the Master Sergeant following behind at a respectful distance, but able to hear the conversation and join in with a few comments. 75

“So you’ve found someone at Ras’s Gulam.”76

“Yep.” Suda Hal’shir was tall and athletic, hailing from the world of Farhet, near the Inner Colonies, and every movement of her body suggested speed and agility, along with an awkward grace. Her dark red hair was cut short, and her golden eyes shimmered as they reflected the sun’s glare. “Interesting stuff, but seeing is believing in this case, Lieutenant. Follow me.” 77

To’ilr followed in her wake, shading his eyes against the rising sun. They entered the air base, and went up the speedifts to the second floor, where Suda led them into a room that looked like a morgue. 78

Around maybe ten or so body tanks were placed around the room, full of nanbots-containing liquid, and medic-bots, along with oxygen feeders and heart stabilizers and the like, which was generally used to heal severely injured soldiers, and also to preserve dead bodies and keep them from decomposing. Right now, all the tanks were empty, save for one which had been set up in the centre of the room.79

To’ilr gasped. He could not help it. 80

He moved closer, his unbelieving eyes taking in the spectacle before him. 81

What lay in the body tank was something out of an alien nightmare.82

The being that lay inside the tank was one that was definitely not human. First conclusion. The second was that, whatever this creature was, it was definitely evil. At least, it looked evil.83

It had a thick, tall powerful body, which was a sort of slate-greyish colour, and rippled with corded muscles and veins. Its head was slightly larger than human proportions, and its neck was a stump of sinew. Dreadlocks sprouted from its scalp, and reached down to its broad shoulders. Its eyes were closed, and its broad nose had slits for nostrils, and a wide mouth stretched unsmilingly above a strong jutting chin. Strange tattoo-like designs were inked all over its body, and as To’ilr watched, two data-bots scanned their images and input them into the mainframes for analysis. Another med-bot worked its way down one thigh, mending a nasty rend, which was oozing grey, thick blood. Analysis-cables and IVs draped the figure, and four screens displayed the creature’s vital stats. 84

To’ilr glanced at its chest, which heaved up and down slowly. It was alive.85

He walked around the body tank, surveying the creature from all angles, taking in every detail, mentally storing every detail so he could file a report to his spymasters. But they probably knew already. They always did.86

He turned to Suda. “Where…?”87

“…did I find it?” asked Suda. “Near what used to be the airbase’s main aeordrom, next to a wrecked rocket-bike.”88

“How did it lie?”89

“It was flat on its back, and its face was tilted to one side, and one leg was crooked. Due that bone rend there, see?” She pointed at the rend the bots were mending. 90

“Anything else?” pressed To’ilr.91

“No…except we found his wrist-com, though it was kinda badly burned. Blaster fire, I think.”92

“Blaster fire? Fresh or old?” To’ilr re-examined the wound.93

“Surprisingly fresh.” To’ilr looked at the Wing Commander. “He was still bleeding when we landed.”94

Evan To’ilr knew without doubt, then, that this was going to be the first in a series of incidents that would shake up his world.95