BUBBLING OVER
A combadge tocsin went off as Rabbrik was awakened from his slumber. He reached for it and placed the communication device over his mouth.
“What is it?”
“Apologies Rabbrik, but our fortification system has discovered an irregularity that we believe warrant’s your attention.” Khetok, one of his warders, stated.
Rabbrik turned the combadge away from his mouth and respired. There was never enough of a respite for the diligent in Motiecura.
“I’ll be there momentarily. Make certain you’re prepared when I arrive.”
“Yes Rabbrik.”
He tossed the combadge aside and threw his coverings off as he rose. He looked back to his settee with forlornness. It was such a cruel waste of comfort. He pulled the coverings back and took his combadge, just in case this wasn’t a false tocsin. He changed his attire and headed out the door to the Motiecuron command intelligence.
Upon his arrival, later, he was stirred by the fact that so many of his warders were operating and not home. This was unusual for the culmination of a cycle. He spotted Khetok, who was seated in front of a monitor with his back to him. He approached Khetok, flicking him on the shoulder to gain his attention.
“All right, what is this irregularity you deemed necessary enough to disturb me with?”
“I believe it would be best to show you. Look at that.”
Khetok pointed while moving sideways to allow Rabbrik full access to the monitor as well. The Motiecuron aerial sensors were active and had detected by his count, eighteen unique objects that seemed to be traveling at immeasurable speeds.
“What do you believe that could be? The elements? Surely, none of the other cultures would be so foolish as to attack us. We would eradicate—”
Rabbrik waved his hand, indicating for Khetok to desist. His incessant rambling was not helpful.
“I don’t know, Khetok. Do you have a trajectory?”
“I’ll check now.”
Rabbrik stepped aside as Khetok began operating the module beneath the monitor. They waited as the information underwent processing. Once it finished, Khetok moved his fingers away from the module and sat motionless.
“So, what is it?”
“According to our projections, the objects are headed directly towards Motiecura.”
Rabbrik covered his mouth. This was a cycle he had been dreading since he had been given this position. Due to the dogmatic volatility that the abatement had caused with the remaining Kethyrian cultures, the Motiecurons were dogged in their annihilation preparation protocols. Their culture also possessed the strongest military of all and would not hesitate to use the wholeness of their arsenal to defend Motiecura, if pressed.
“What shall we do?” Khetok asked.
“Assemble the Kondoa! Immediately!”
Every Motiecuron warder within earshot sprang into action. Rabbrik moved to a set of monitors that gave him a view of the aerial hangar as it opened. Twelve Kondoa, the finest aerial transports known to Kethyrie, exited the hangar as a section of the convexity above opened and allowed them to depart Motiecura.
Once the convexity had been sealed, he went back to Khetok to observe the Kondoa’s advance on the monitor. Khetok handed him a crown-combadge, which he affixed behind his ears.
“You’re connected.”
“Attention Doa squadron. While we are still not certain as to what these objects that are currently on approach to Motiecura are, we are certain that they must be destroyed. Extreme force has been granted.”
He turned back to the monitor as the aerial sensors had widened their scope, so they would be able to see the Kondoa and the unknown objects at the same time. The Kondoa were on course to intercept.
The Kondoa, leading the swarm, fired artillery at the unknown objects. Two of the objects appeared to disappear from the sensor which brought a smile to Rabbrik’s face. His glee did not last for long as some of his squadron also began blinking out of existence. Within mere moments, all twelve were gone.
“What is going on?” He asked. “Where have they gone?”
“Doa squadron, respond. I repeat, respond.”
There was no answer as Khetok turned to him. He shook his head indicating that they were no longer communicating. An eerie silence fell over the command intelligence as he looked at the aerial sensor. The remaining objects were still heading for Motiecura and there was not enough time to assemble a second squadron.
Rabbrik watched as the objects moved closer and closer to Motiecura. Their impact was imminent. He looked towards the casement as the first object hit. It was powerful enough to shatter the casement, which sent him flying back over a bench. He could hear the sound of the convexity above them shattering from the impact. Many parts of it had to be falling to the surface.
The command intelligence was in shambles. Many of the warders were covered in debris. Rabbrik struggled to get upright and move towards the busted casement. A plash of fluid was leaking from his crown as he ignored it. The convexity that had protected Motiecura from Kethyrie and other cultures throughout the intervals was teetering. There were multiple fissures against the convexity, some of which were growing larger by the moment.
He shaded his eyes and looked above, doing his best to keep the fluid from falling into it. Six bright lights were approaching Motiecura. He sobbed as he fell to his knees. This was truly the end—for all of Motiecura.
How could we have let this happen? No culture was more robust than ours.
The first light passed through the exposed convexity and landed against the surface. The intensity from its impact was inescapable as everything around Rabbrik went dark.