The aerial was flying too high for him to discern anything on the Ahurunian lands, but once in a while he thought he could make out their megalevitators stick their heads above the clouds. The landmass ended soon, followed by the ocean again; and he knew that much of Ahurun laid to the east of the path his pilot had chosen. This part of the ocean was devoid of any signs of human activity. Once or twice he caught a primamatsya jump out of the waters, float idly for a few moments, and sink back in. He kept an eager watch after that for the turanigyak, the primamatsya’s arch rival, but the creature did not oblige.
He recalled how these regions were all discovered by Thea’s legendary wanderers, the Tritha brothers. Together they travelled all across the globe, discovering new lands and new peoples; introducing to these cultures what they themselves had learnt along their journey. It was in Ahurun, then savage and barbarous, that Vaktuki Tritha had met his end, and the grieving Yaktuki had carried his ashes all the way back to his deceased brother’s adopted homeland- Vaktuki.
By the time the Thean Sun began to set on the horizon behind him, his pilot started the descent into Ingikan airspace. Even as Head of KSA, Ananuk had never gotten the chance to visit Ingika. To a Kadorran who was new to Ingika, its jumbled and chaotic City proper came as a total shock. By the time his pilot was halting the aerial on the landing strip, he was aware of the heavily polluted air outside. Still, when he exited the aerial what first hit him was not the pollution, but the cacophony of noise. He could hear loud transport horns from every direction, and they were accompanied by regular booms that could only come from the region’s infamous Quantafactories. The Quantafactories produced a little over a quarter of Thea’s energy and more than three-fourths of its pollution. Less pollutant technologies were available but their costs exceeded their returns, making them unfeasible. It took a while for him to get used to the assault on his auditory sense, and he was relieved when he was inside the Aerialport terminal, which cut out all noise from alfresco.
He called his counterpart from the Ingikan Science Agency who promptly sent over an aerial transport to take him to the Imperial Sector. The ride inside the aerial was dreadful, with the pilot weaving carelessly between traffic and structures alike. Adding to that was the outside din that the aerial did not suppress quite as well as the Aerialport terminal did. When the pilot took a transport tunnel and the aerial switched to autodrive, Ananuk heaved a sigh of relief.
With the aerial hovering harmlessly through the tunnel, his attention shifted to the city outside. There was a general aura of decay about the structures and even the transports. He spotted many minilevitators that were not exactly suspended still, and were instead bobbing dangerously in the air. Quantafactories in the background were mercilessly spewing out fumes that were giving their filtration-drones a hard time. Then, to his left, a large blank barrier emerged, blocking his view. His aerial turned sharp left and immediately the scene to his right changed. The levitators were much crisper, and there was no sign of the Quantafactories. The only aerials he spotted were in the tunnels above and below him, with quite a few ground transports that seemed to be moving at high velocities. The barrier to his left continued until the tunnel turned sharp left again, into an opening in the barrier.
When he was barely five, Ananuk’s father had told him all about the Emperor. As an astronaut on the Imperial Space Fleet, his father was stubbornly loyal to the Empire, even if Kadorra wasn’t. He instilled into Ananuk the fact that the Empire was a benevolent and stable entity that sustained the existence of Thea and its six regions. Young Ananuk was easily taken in by the things his father said with utmost confidence and belief. It was not until he was in his late teens that he began questioning the true nature and character of the Empire, and by that time his father was not around to hold him back.
Ananuk was plunged into near total darkness for a brief while, during which the aerial seemed to pick up speed. A slight hum told him that the pilot had regained control of the aerial, but before he could worry about that, a mechanical and monotonous voice broke through the audiocomp of the aerial.
“Welcome to the Imperial Sector on Ingika. In a moment you will arrive at the Security Gate. You are requested to co-operate with the security drones, which reserve the right to deny you entry. Should you show any signs of aggression or violence, immediate and punishing action will be taken.”
No sooner had the voice ended that light flooded the aerial again. When his eyes readjusted Ananuk found that the aerial was out of the tunnel and approaching what he made out to be the Security Gate. He was the Head of the KSA, and he had official sanction, so he had nothing to worry about. But the oddly mechanical voice and the prospect of automated drones as security made his stomach churn, much to his embarrassment. However, his fears were not necessary. No drones came to check him and the aerial stopped at no Security Gate. It instead halted at a levi-plank right outside the Imperial Palace.
“This is where you get off, sir.” The pilot informed him, in a tone to match the mechanical tone of the audiocomp message.
He exited the aerial and followed the levi-plank to a metal gate that slid open at his arrival. As he entered, he found himself standing in a large hall, facing a seemingly endless span of area. The hall was dimly lit, and on the walls near the distant ceiling he could see nevon powered lamps hung at equal distances from each other. One light shone directly below to a huge podium, where the Emperor, Ananuk realized with a jolt, was seated on his throne.
He prostrated ritually, and when he looked up he saw the Emperor beckon silently for him to come forward. Head still bent slightly in obeisance, he took careful, measured steps towards the Emperor, Sarvaraj the Fifth. He felt, rather than saw, the nevon lamps behind him turn off as he passed them, making the hall behind him darker. Up ahead, he knew, the Emperor was patiently waiting for him to approach. When he was near enough to the podium, he stopped, and took one final bow, kneeling down to touch his forehead on the first step of the pulpit.
When he rose up straight, he took his first, good look at the Emperor. It was impossible to know what his real physical structure was like. The Emperor wore armor so huge and redoubtable that no part of his body was visible. His helmet was three times the size of Ananuk’s head, and the visor was nevon blue from outside, so that the eyes were not visible. The helmet rested on the powerful shoulders of the shield that covered the Emperor’s neck, down the shoulders, all the way to his wrists. His hands were protected by metal alloy gloves that, Ananuk had read, were immune to damage. Similar impressive armor covered the Emperor’s torso down to his abdomen, and the legs were protected by a material similar to the gloves. When he stood tall, with all his armor, the Emperor was eight feet tall and four feet wide.
The Emperor’s voice was loud and deep, matching the magnificence of his appearance perfectly, “Ananuk Vikratik, Head, Kadorran Science Agency. What brings you to my hall?”
Despite being in the presence of a man who had shadowed his entire life, Ananuk found his voice confidently. “A matter of exciting possibilities, Emperor Sarvaraj. I come to you with reports of a potent new discovery, carrying the success of our Yaktuki brethren.”
The Emperor spoke slowly and patiently, almost soothingly, “and why haven’t the Yaktukans come to me themselves?”
“They are bound by their Trithan Command, Emperor, and can only do what it permits.”
“Is this Trithan Command greater than the Imperial Command, Vikratik?”
“Not to me, Emperor, but perhaps to them.”
“But why send you?”
“Kadorra and Yaktuki are neighbors, Emperor. We have a long history of initial conflict but everlasting affinity. It is but natural that they seek our assistance.”
The Emperor was silent for a while, as if deciding whether Ananuk’s explanation satisfied him. “Very well, Vikratik, speak what you have come to speak.”
“The Yaktukans, my Emperor, have discovered a mirror universe, lying directly below the plane of our own. They have devised a method by which we can use this new universe to transport us where our current ships cannot.”
“Beyond our star system?”
“Yes, Emperor. This is a discovery of great potential, and may change our fate forever.”
“Indeed, Vikratik, but what more can you tell me? Explain things to me in detail, Kadorran, I will grasp them I assure you.”
Ananuk bowed is acceptance of the command. “Emperor Sarvaraj, let me give you the case of the planet Edoran, which lies in the binary star system Wetraki. Wetraki lies more than three light-years away from our star system, and is thus, impossible to reach given our current technology. But both the KSA and the Vaktukan Science Quarters have determined that Edoran might be perfectly suitable for human habitation. For one, it has an atmosphere of eighteen percent prana-vayu, which is adequate for human respiration. Moreover, it has a surface cover of water of around fifty four percent, again, adequate for our energy needs.”
“This is all known to me, Vikratik, where does the mirror universe come in?”
“The mirror universe can help us reach Edoran, Emperor. Using the Reflecting Conductors the Yaktukans have built, we can shoot a chunk of matter across to the mirror universe, at a proper angle, and the matter will be deflected onto Edoran.”
“That sounds more like magic, and less like science, Vikratik.”
“Except that we know how and why this will work, Emperor; so it is not magic, but science.”
“Has this been tested?”
“No, Emperor, it has not. The Yaktukans will not test it themselves, but are confident that it will work. But with your permission, the KSA is more than willing to conduct the necessary tests.”
“Relay this database onto my systems, Vikratik, and I will have my scientists examine the details. If they are satisfied, you will have your permission.”
“I will relay it the moment I get back to Kadorra, Emperor.”
Emperor Sarvaraj fell silent again. Ananuk waited patiently for him to say something, but he did not.
“Emperor?”
“No, I may not be Emperor for long.”
“Why do you say that, Emperor?”
The Emperor jeered, “Do not pretend ignorance. I understand the potential consequences of this discovery. How will I, with regions under sullen resentment on this very planet, manage to hold a leash when humanity spreads beyond?”
It was Ananuk’s turn to be silent.
“But it is important that I do, do you not see? If the Empire dissolves, the six regions will find it difficult to maintain the current peace. With their infighting, we will have only a scattered and divided expansion, quite unlike how we have dreamed for centuries.”
In spite of himself, Ananuk realized that the Emperor was right. It was another matter if the current Empire was not acceptable to most regions; but to have an organized expansion and to arrange a coordinated use of the new technology a uniting governing force was essential. Without realizing it, Ananuk’s brain went into overdrive, and his future was set.
“I would like to know what you are thinking, Vikratik.”
“I must admit, Emperor, that you are right. But in this technology lies the very key to your power. Let the use be directed through your hands, let regions come to you to employ it.”
The Emperor, interested, sat up straight. “Continue.”
“Set up a system, Emperor, whereby you regulate the colonization of planets. See to it that each region gets a fair amount of planets to colonize for itself. Your power on Thea will not wane as regions turn their attention to the colonies, yet in having sovereign control over the technology, you will ensure that each region needs your allegiance. This will prevent any from even thinking of rebelling against you.”
“And will the Yaktukans let me monopolize the use of this technology?”
“The Yaktukans have no desire to use it, Emperor. They have no want for expanding and are quite satisfied with keeping their own borders safe. It will be easy to convince them to hand over the technology to you.”
“And what is there in this arrangement for you, Ananuk Vikratik?”
“This will work both ways, Emperor. The regions, including Kadorra, will have a more or less free hand in the colonies. They will gain the autonomy there that they so arduously desire. Kadorra, with the reverence it holds across all Thea as a holy and blessed land, will continue to prosper in that direction; while the Kadorran people will find new lands to expand.”
The, Emperor smiled indulgently, “a wise, and perhaps too wise, proposition. But we go too far ahead. Send me the database, let my scientists examine it, and let me decide if I allow you to conduct the tests. Then we will think about how I handle my leash beyond the confines of Thea.”
“Very well, Emperor. The database will be relayed to you.”
The Emperor nodded, “you may go now, Vikratik.”
No comments:
Post a Comment