He activated Armaon’s heavy side guns, and with a few bursts of heavy fire cut a massive tunnel straight through the building’s thick walls, tearing apart the giant tree-like vines that had wrapped around them. All that remained was to guide the ship carefully into the freshly cleared opening and set it down on the cleared space.
«There», he said with a self-satisfied grin. «And they say I’ve no sense of comfort or interior design!»
«Good thing you started practicing on this planet», Kane replied, laughing out loud. The others joined in – the laughter coming as a welcome release after all the tension of the past hours.
«How about we sit outside for a while?» John suggested. «We could light a fire – plenty of wood around!»
All around lay scattered dry branches and torn remnants of the giant vines, which they gathered into a heap. The fire that soon flared to life gently animated the night around them, lending the place an unexpected touch of warmth and comfort. Flickers of flame danced over the Armaon’s matte hull, shimmering with mysterious, pearlescent light.
Kane and John were doing their best to stir up the weary, half-drowsy Tarion, hoping to coax out another of his fascinating stories about their world.
«All right, then», he finally gave in with a smile. «I’ll tell you a couple of bedtime stories.»
«In your system there’s another planet that could, in theory, be adapted for habitable conditions», he began. «It’s the fourth one from the Sun – the Red Planet. Beneath its surface lies a vast amount of ice, more than enough to create a stable, livable climate. Our scientists once had ambitious ideas and even concrete plans for bringing that world back to life. But to begin such a project, several major problems had to be solved first. For instance, gravity would need to be artificially increased – the planet is simply too small to hold its atmosphere and water resources for long. Eventually, they would drift away into space, as they have before, eons ago.»
«Another major issue», Tarion went on thoughtfully, «is its moons. One of them would have to be moved as far away from the Red Planet as possible, and not only because of its intense radiation. Once the planet’s gravity is strengthened, it would inevitably begin to draw that moon closer, and sooner or later that would end in disaster.»
He paused for a moment, his tone turning more reflective. «A project of such scale would require truly colossal resources, and our government decided we couldn’t afford to divert them. So, the idea was set aside, and we focused on our more immediate goals instead. On the one hand, it’s a pity – we always feel regret in cases like that. But on the other…» He smiled, looking at the humans across the fire. «I believe that, someday, you’ll be the ones to take it on.»
Still caught up in the wonder of Tarion’s story, Kane sat in thoughtful silence, turning it over in his mind imagining what Mars might one day become, if humanity ever brought the Rionians’ vision to life. His gaze drifted toward the dark landscape below their makeshift camp – and then he froze, blinking in disbelief.
Far in the distance, several fires were burning.
The others followed his gaze, staring into the darkness with the same astonishment. There was no mistaking it – those were campfires. Real ones.
«Could be some kind of intelligent life!» Draam exclaimed. «Which means we’d better keep our multi-planetary ears open – stay sharp and guard the perimeter. Arma, if you spot anything suspicious, shoot to kill! Can’t even imagine», he muttered with a shiver, «what kind of mutants could survive in a place like this…»
«Let’s get back to the ship», Maarv said, giving Arma the command to deploy a reconnaissance drone.
John stirred the burning logs, scattering the red embers across the concrete floor and smothering the fire.
Gathered in the mess hall, the friends tried to guess who – or rather what – might be out there. All eyes were fixed on the screens, watching the live feed from the drone as it flew toward those distant fires, transmitting every detail it saw.
«Only intelligent beings make fires», Kane said. «And if you noticed, the ones we saw formed the vertices of an isosceles triangle.»
«A triangle?» Maarv repeated. «What are you getting at?»
«Yes, a triangle», Kane replied. «Unlike the rest of you, I actually graduated from school not that long ago, so I still remember what one looks like. Maybe it’s some kind of signal, maybe someone’s trying to tell us or warn us about something.»
«According to Galactic Union protocol, three lights arranged in a triangle can indicate a distress call or a request for help», Draam said. «Either way, we have to check it out and find whoever lit those fires. Most likely they saw us land and since no one’s come to us yet, it could very well be a trap. Let’s not forget that.»
«Or maybe», Maarv suggested, «they’re simply afraid of us. The Armaon is a next-generation ship – most likely no one out there even recognizes it yet.»
At that moment, the drone reached a small clearing where the dying fires still smoldered. Scanning the area thoroughly, it detected footprints of various sizes and beside them, a large bundle of branches and twigs, on top of which lay something that had once, without a doubt, been clothing. Now it looked more like a heap of formless rags.
Suddenly, the transmission cut out, and contact with the drone was lost.
«Well, so much for the ‘distress signal’», Kane said with a grim smile. «Looks like they’re doing just fine and not exactly in the mood for visitors.»
Maarv scratched the back of his head, thinking. «Looks like something knocked it out. And whatever it was, it packed one hell of a punch! A reconnaissance drone isn’t a combat unit, sure, but taking one down that fast isn’t easy. And we all know that». He looked around at his friends, his expression serious. «I can’t quite figure out what’s going on out there, but it could very well be a threat. Then again, if that’s the case, why signal their presence so openly?»
«Well, night brings wisdom», Arma said. «Get some rest, all of you. We’ll start searching at first light.»
She paused, then added in John’s familiar, grumbling tone, «Fine, fine, I’ll keep watch.»
Chapter 18
After a quick breakfast of balanced nutrient blends, carefully prepared by Arma according to each crew member’s personal taste, the team suited up in their light yet durable exploration suits, designed to handle a wide range of temperatures. Each one carried a full day’s supply of oxygen and water.
Kane could hardly remember how he had made it to his cabin the night before; exhaustion had swept over him completely. His dreams were haunted by monstrous yellow-brown vines that tried to catch him as he ran along sand-colored paths, wrapping around him and dragging him into some dark, gaping pit.
Still shaking off that ridiculous dream, he gathered the necessary equipment and, following Arma’s instructions, prepared the long descent cable the crew would use to rappel down the side of the building. Draam calibrated the scanner to the last known coordinates of the lost drone and together, they set out.
They didn’t have to walk far before they reached the very clearing whose image the missing drone had transmitted to Armaon’s screens the night before. The drone’s shattered remains were scattered everywhere.
Looking at the scene, Kane felt an unexpected sense of calm and strange satisfaction – a familiar emotion from another life, another planet. Catching his wandering gaze, John gave him a knowing wink.
«I know that feeling, son», he said softly, a conspiratorial smile tugging at his lips. «Believe me, I feel it too.»
From the far side of the clearing came a faint rustle. The thicket parted, and out stepped a little girl, no more than five years old by Earth standards, with golden eyes and, judging by her features, unmistakably Vriinian.
Maarv and Draam froze in astonishment, exchanging a bewildered glance as if to ask each other whether this was real or they were dreaming.
Then, from behind them, came a familiar, ominous hum – the unmistakable sound of a super-heavy atomic rifle powering up. A commanding voice spoke in Galacton, ordering them to raise their hands, turn slowly, and identify themselves.
When they turned, they saw a sturdy middle-aged Vriinian man holding the massive weapon, and beside him stood a graceful woman, untouched by age. Both wore light exploration suits that clearly marked them as members of a scientific expedition. Their large, almond-shaped eyes watched the newcomers with keen, measured curiosity.
After a moment, Kane was the first to recover. Smiling at the little girl, he asked politely,
«So… was it you who lit the fires?»
It came out almost comically, and the tension in the air eased at once. The girl nodded, offering him a shy smile in return.
One by one, the friends introduced themselves, and then Draam asked who they were and how they had ended up here.
«I’ve heard of you», the man said, turning to Draam. «You’re the right hand of Abuun, the great leader of the Distant Explorers. Some time ago, you set out for the Blue Planet.»
He straightened a little, then added, «My name is Krean. And this is my family», he said, gesturing toward the woman and the child.
Maarv’s eyes widened in surprise at the name. Krean was one of the most renowned scientists of his time – the head of major research programs involving the latest advanced technologies. His mysterious disappearance, or presumed death, had once sent ripples not only through the scientific community of Vriin but across the entire progressive intergalactic society.
«Why did you destroy our drone?» Draam asked, studying the wreckage with the mournful expression of someone looking at a fallen relative. «It had only the kindest intentions.»
«It was hard to tell in the dark whether that drone was military or something else», Krean replied. «And I know all too well what those things can do. Besides», he added with a shrug, «I wouldn’t have been able to hold my fire anyway. And don’t pretend it was all that precious to you», he laughed. «I’ve heard a lot more about you than you probably think.»
He smiled again, gesturing toward the dense thickets behind him. «Well, no point standing out here all day! Come on – let’s head to our shelter and talk properly. We haven’t seen anyone for years, or spoken to anyone but each other.»
After pushing through a few hundred meters of thick undergrowth, the path curved downhill, and what had first appeared to be a cave turned out to be the airlock of a massive ship. All around grew tall, graceful trees – clearly not native to this world.
Up close, it became obvious the ship would never fly again: it had been broken into several sections, its hull riddled with breaches that had been carefully patched and welded both inside and out, using whatever materials were at hand.
Inside, however, it was surprisingly neat and welcoming – the touch of a woman’s hand was unmistakable. They followed Krean down a corridor into a large hall, where he gestured for everyone to make themselves comfortable. Once they had settled in, he began his story.
«It happened several years ago», Krean began, «when we were working on one of our most ambitious and vital projects – the System Shield. A planetary defense grid so vast it could be deployed not around a single world, but an entire system. Many of our leaders understood how essential it was. The Shield could solve a host of critical problems – from neutralizing the threat of rogue comets and potential enemy incursions to creating a universal network for ship identification.»
As memories resurfaced, Krean grew visibly restless. He rose from his seat, pacing slowly across the room, one hand clasped behind his back, the other gesturing absently as though tracing equations in the air. When he finally spoke again, his voice was a shade more detached.
«We never had trouble securing funding», he went on. «Everyone realized that a successful launch would be a genuine breakthrough – one that would stir enormous demand for this kind of technology. A few high-ranking politicians saw the potential, too. They took a sudden interest in our progress, demanding official reports that probed right into the very essence of our work.»
He paused, glancing toward his wife, who silently met his eyes and gave a faint, knowing nod before he continued.
«That was the main reason we decided to conduct the final tests as far from Vriin as possible. And this system… it proved a convenient choice. If something went wrong, well…» He took a deep breath, his gaze drifting toward the dull haze beyond the window. «These half-dead worlds wouldn’t be much of a loss.»
«Everything went surprisingly well. Perhaps, too well», Krean went on. «We set course for home, already savoring the taste of victory, when, upon leaving the asteroid belt, we were ambushed by unidentified ships that opened fire without warning. It took everything we had to shake them off. Somehow, by sheer luck, we made it to this planet, though landing would be too generous a word for what actually happened.»
After some time, he broke the silence again and went on with his story.
«All hydraulic systems were torn to shreds, and only one landing thruster was still operational. After the impact, only my wife and I survived. She – because I’d locked her in the regeneration capsule; and I – because she dragged me into it after that so-called landing», he added with a crooked smile.
«Why didn’t you call for help or activate your beacons?» Maarv asked. «Your disappearance caused quite a stir – people searched for you for a long time!»
«All communication systems were destroyed», Krean replied. «The beacons were lost during the enemy attack. When the rescue team later found them scattered across the asteroid belt, everyone assumed we’d been killed. And to make things worse, the final phase of testing was top secret – no one actually knew where to look for us. No one except Kvaon», he added, his voice hardening slightly, «who’d been appointed Chief Science Advisor barely a month before the mission.»
At that name, everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
«We believe he’s the reason we all ended up stranded on this planet», said Maarv, and he told Krean their story from the very beginning – how they’d chosen to make contact with the people of the Blue Planet.
«Then you’ve got yourselves a powerful and dangerous enemy», Krean remarked with a dry edge of irony. «I imagine boredom isn’t among your troubles.»
«We’ve got one?» Draam shot back, eyebrows raised. «Sounds like you’re not planning to do much about it yourself!»
Casting a thoughtful glance at his companions, Krean smiled faintly.
«You see», he began, «when we realized that Kvaon was behind the attack, my first instinct was to return and take revenge. But then our daughter was born, and our priorities changed. We’d waited for her so long, and by some strange twist of fate, it happened here, on this godforsaken world.»
He moved a step toward the open hatch that looked out on ranks of greenery.
«After sealing the breaches, we turned the wrecked ship into our home. I managed to reroute the surviving reactor to power not only life-support systems but also irrigation for our crops. Luckily, the vessel had once carried a vast greenhouse filled with plants, mostly edible species, that adapted remarkably well to the outside environment. Who could’ve imagined that a decorative greenhouse would one day become the key to survival on a half-dead planet?»
Krean exhaled, then tapped a schematic plate inset in the wall, its faint glyphs pulsing. «The soil took a great deal of work to cleanse, but eventually I managed to purge the toxins over a wide area. Now we harvest a fine yield several times a year – nearly everything one could wish for.»
He glanced at his wife, who was listening with quiet attentiveness, and winked at his daughter, who instantly winked back.
«The climate here is mild», Krean went on cheerfully. «No severe temperature drops to worry about. Sadly, there are no rains – I used to love the storms on Vriin, but here, that’s probably for the best. The lower layers of the atmosphere still hold far too many toxins.»
«I’m truly glad you’ve found peace on this planet», Maarv said sincerely. «It’s just a pity the galaxy won’t have the benefit of your brilliant mind again. With your permission, we’ll leave you a full comm set and whatever else you might find useful. And should you ever change your mind – », he allowed himself a faint, wry smile, «you’ll know how to reach us. Assuming, of course, we’re still alive by then.»
«Change my mind?» Krean echoed with a faint smile. «I doubt there’s much left to change – at least not for now. But I’m grateful for the offer.»
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, palm-sized device, its smooth surface catching the dull light. Stepping closer to Maarv’s group, he handed it to Kane, who happened to stand nearest.
«Here – take this», Krean said. «It’s my bio-fablet. Everything I’ve been working on is stored here, including the System Shield. For some reason, Kvaon didn’t want our final project completed, or perhaps he simply wanted it for himself, which would be very much like him. If you can uncover the reason, you might find his weakness. Although…»
He chuckled softly, his tone darkening. «If that weakness happens to be his insatiable lust for absolute power, backed by every resource he commands, then I’m afraid you’ll have your hands full.»
He gave a small shrug, as if brushing away the weight of his own words. «Still, the technology on that fablet could give you everything you need – not just to survive, but to turn the tables entirely.»
Krean paused, his gaze distant for a moment before he exhaled and finished quietly:
«But in the end, that choice is yours. I won’t burden you with an old man’s theories.»
Chapter 19
«Looks like your big, bright world isn’t all that welcoming», Kane said thoughtfully as they made their way back to the Armaon. «If even scientists of his caliber would rather hide out in a forsaken hole like this.»
«It’s not just that», Maarv replied. Like the others, he still carried a faint heaviness in his chest – a mix of regret and quiet respect for Krean’s choice. «He understands the risks far better than we do. Going back would mean putting his family in danger – and he’s simply not willing to gamble their safety for the sake of a few questionable values.»
«Speaking of values…» Kane said, pulling the bio-fablet from his pocket and handing it to Maarv. «You’re the one in charge – so you get to decide what we do with this thing.»
«If we ever get the chance to go back to all this», Maarv said, rubbing the back of his neck, «we’ll figure it out together. Though, honestly, I’ve got a feeling things won’t exactly get better after that. We’ll probably end up even bigger outcasts than before.» He gave a short laugh. «So yeah, let’s not forget there’s no smooth road home for us.»
«Yeah, that’s true», Draam said with a thoughtful grunt. «But there’s another tricky question. Do we tell the Vriin Senate we’ve got a ready-to-use System Shield? Or keep it for ourselves?» He paused, tapping a finger against his chin. «If we play it smart, this tech could give us a solid chance against Kvaon. And if we tell the Senate – well, he’s clever enough to put two and two together and figure out where Krean’s hiding.»
«That’s something to think about», Maarv said. «After all, we’re not exactly obliged to report how the Shield ended up in our hands. Or to mention that we ever met Krean. My guess is, Kvaon was after his inventions, not the man himself. He wouldn’t have destroyed him, at least not until he got what he wanted.»
«Well, splendid», John drawled. «So, if we do tell the Senate about the Shield, we can safely assume they’ll rob us first and cut our throats afterward. At last, a clear and comforting prospect! Truly, life never tires of showering us with its generous gifts.»
«That’s only if we actually make it there», Kane said with a grin. «And frankly, I doubt anyone in the whole galaxy would bet even one of Draam’s half-eaten snacks on it. So, our chances of getting robbed seem pretty slim.»
When the friends finally reached the ship, night had already fallen. Maarv suggested they gather in the wardroom. The Armaon’s damages had been repaired, the energy balance restored, and now it was time to devise a strategy for what came next.
Draam brought up the map on the main screens and asked Arma to plot several optimal route options.
«Before we reach the bridge», he said, «I suggest we distribute the generator power evenly between the main weapons and the defense shields. The auxiliary generators we’ll keep in reserve – to be used only if necessary. Who knows what awaits us on the other side…»
«You have to be either shamelessly brave or utterly brainless to stage a diversion next to Ilion», Tarion observed. «I’d give anything to snatch a couple of those Tiavrans and find out who’s really pulling the strings. So, looks like we’re headed for a frontal assault, then?»
