It was well into the night when the first survivors of the mech ambush arrived back at Tusk Mountain. An exhausted handful of men carrying two seriously wounded, one of them a Tygran, both needing immediate attention. Solvjeg and her son Ian volunteered to help and Theo was happy to accept the offer, hoping that by keeping them busy their minds would not dwell so much on Greg’s absence.
When the three of them had returned from the stony, wooded vale where Theo’s unsuccessful assassin now lay dead, it was to a Tusk Mountain base rife with rumour and torn by argument. Earlier, the Tygran squad left behind by Gideon had picked up a brief signal from their ship, the Starfire, saying that Greg Cameron was unable to leave the ship due to enemy action. When the Tygrans also began to overhear fragmentary battle communications from near space, this provoked dark, wild speculation throughout the corridors.
Then a garbled message had been received from Gideon’s comm officer, who said they were under attack moments before he suddenly shrieked in agony and the signal went dead. This turned the prevalent uneasy speculation into a mood barely short of panic. Theo was quick to impose authority and calm, backed by his remaining Diehards. Everyone had to calm down, steady their nerves and their resolve–and to be ready for when the wounded started arriving. Despite some muttering, the personal tack seemed to work and the panic subsided.
As he watched his sister and his nephew help stretcher the injured along to the sickbay, he thought again about their tense, cheerless mood, reasoning that Ned’s death must have had a tragic element. Perhaps he should have been somewhere else when the boatyard went up, or some chance event had led him to the wrong place at the wrong time. Certainly he had witnessed enough incredible coincidences to half-believe that the machinery of the cosmos had a ‘black irony’ setting which inflicted random synchronicities on hapless thinking beings and left them to rise or fall by their consequences. Theo preferred that to the ethos of a watching, activist deity, be it Odin or the Christian God–any god that would deliberately inflict suffering didn’t deserve praise, in his view.
Less than an hour later Captain Gideon arrived with most of the raiding party survivors, of whom a third were walking wounded. But no Vashutkin.
‘I don’t know what happened to him,’ the Tygran said as they went with the injured to the sickbay. ‘He was there, quite close to me, while we were questioning the newcomers…’
‘Newcomers?’
‘Yes, Major, your people recognised them. A Uvovo called Chel, and a colonist called McGrain, I think.’
Theo laughed. ‘Rory–so he’s still alive! Are they with you?’
‘I lost track of them after the mechs attacked,’ said Gideon. ‘But there was something not right about them. As I heard it, Cameron was almost captured aboard one of your balloon boats after being lured to a hilltop by radio contact with the one named McGrain. Well, after we fought off the ambush, and they were nowhere to be seen, they seemed likely candidates as assassins. However, Vashutkin is also missing, which arouses my suspicion.’
‘I find it hard to believe that Chel and Rory would let themselves be used as assassins,’ Theo said. ‘Vashutkin on the other hand has dark corners that make me uneasy.’ He described the reasons for his suspicions and fears that the Rus had been infected with the blue dust.
‘Are you saying that the Hegemony has been using Blue Chain here on Darien?’ Gideon said.
‘Greg told me it was a blue dust,’ Theo said. ‘I see that you know about this stuff.’
‘Oh yes, Major. As a soldier I can appreciate its intelligence-gathering uses, but as a Tygran citizen I find it repugnant.’ Gideon crossed his arms and looked gloweringly thoughtful. ‘What you say about Vashutkin makes me more inclined to suspect him of being a pawn of that Legion Knight creature. However, a rational appraisal would demand more convincing proof. To that end, we should convene in an hour with your sister and her son and hear their testimony on the matter. We’ll also assess what went wrong today. In the meantime, Major, you’ll excuse me while I tend to my men.’
In the event it was several hours before Theo could get everyone round the same table. Stragglers from the ambush arrived in ones and twos and only after the last of them had been sedated, medicated or operated on was it possible to lead his sister Solvjeg away to quarters in the southern sublevel. A nearby chamber had been laid out for the meeting and some twenty minutes later Theo and Captain Gideon were sitting across from Solvjeg and Ian Cameron. Greg’s brother had had a shave and a change of clothing, which if anything emphasised his gauntness. A beaker of water poured from the table jug sat untouched before him.
Also in attendance was Listener Weynl, looking weary yet alert. Seated on a raised chair, he was able to face everyone at eye level.
Gideon began by addressing Solvjeg.
‘Frauwas Cameron, the major has made me aware of the death of your youngest son. Please accept my condolences for your loss.’
‘Thank you for your kind words, Captain,’ she said. ‘Has there been any further news about Gregory?’
‘My communications officer has been unable to re-establish contact with my ship,’ said the Tygran. ‘Unfortunately it appears that all offworld communications across this region are being jammed by the facility on Giant’s Shoulder. But according to the meagre sensor data we’ve been able to gather, it seems that there is a skirmish taking place in near-Darien space. Several vessels are involved and combat exchanges appear to have shifted further outward, beyond high orbit. We continue to monitor the situation as best we can but details are difficult to ascertain.’
On hearing this, the lines in Solvjeg’s face deepened and she closed her eyes.
Well done, Captain, Theo thought. Is that a Tygran attempt at being supportive and morale-boosting?
‘Sister,’ he said. ‘I told the captain here about the boatyard bombing, and what you said about infiltrators…’
‘Yes, and I am now sure that they come from that nest of rogue droids,’ Solvjeg said angrily. ‘On Giant’s Shoulder, the same monsters which brought down destruction on your men, Captain, and which sent a spy into your midst. We saw the possessed host that accompanied my brother’s captor. The internal mind-struggle was plain as could be.’
‘The major tells me that the infiltrators you intercepted off in the Eastern Towns had visible implants, yet this host which suicided had none. Correct?’
Solvjeg nodded.
‘Then it seems likely that our spy’s origin is different from those you encountered.’ Gideon sat back in his chair. ‘I have seen the effects of Blue Chain and the effects you describe correspond to the use of too little. The machine-molecule particulates take time to build, especially when they have to replicate themselves within a host, so what you saw were the results of a Blue Chain collective too few in number to effectively dominate their host, resulting in the indecision and mental instability.’
‘And this Blue Chain definitely would originate with the Hegemony?’ said Ian Cameron.
‘Without a doubt,’ said Gideon. ‘The Hegemony ambassador, this Kuros, who is currently residing in the Brolturan enclave north of Trond. Our planned strike against the Spiralist stockades would liberate nearby villages and Trond itself, making it easier to mount an attack on the Brolturans. Reports say that they have a hangar full of assault flyers and gunships, just what we need to take on Giant’s Shoulder.’ He frowned. ‘Of course, attacking that enclave would be very difficult, and if Brolturan reinforcements arrive then all our plans will be of no consequence.’
‘There may be an alternative,’ Ian Cameron said.
Theo leaned forward. ‘You mentioned the possibility of an alliance with a splinter group of Spiralist zealots.’
Ian nodded. ‘One of their leaders came to us and offered the help of his faction in any attack on Giant’s Shoulder. He told me that the prophet lied, and that an alien machine is now in control up there.’
The Uvovo, Listener Weynl, cleared his throat. ‘This alien machine is actually a creature known as a Knight of the Legion of Avatars. It landed on Darien some days before the Spiral armada’s invasion. Our Seer Cheluvahar was following this vile creature through Greathome Forest–as you call the Forest of Arawn–for several days before he was captured by it. As Rory had been earlier.’
Gideon glanced at Theo. ‘So when we met them on the way north, they could well have been enslaved by this Knight of the Legion.’ He glared at the Uvovo. ‘My men claim to have heard rumours that this thing is an ancient enemy of the Uvovo–is this so? And what is the truth about the Forerunner installation within Giant’s Shoulder?–it has been described to me as a malfunctioning matter transporter but I cannot see the Hegemony or their Brolturan pets expending this amount of effort over something that does not work. In the meantime, this Knight of some Legion now seemingly controls it, supported by an army of combat mechs. A satisfactory explanation would be most helpful.’
Theo and Listener Weynl exchanged a look, almost by chance. Theo decided to respond first.
‘Captain, you are correct–there is more to Giant’s Shoulder than what you have seen or heard. There is a Forerunner artefact inside it, a warpwell. The first time I saw that chamber and that well with the light pouring out of it… an amazing sight, I can tell you. But yes, as I recall it, the warpwell is really the front door of a prison, a prison in hyperspace, y’see, and…’
‘If I may, Major Karlsson,’ said Listener Weynl. ‘Might I tell the tale from our side?’
‘Certainly, Weynl, go ahead.’
‘Captain Gideon,’ said the Uvovo. ‘The Legion of Avatars was the last great enemy faced by the ancient Forerunners. They swept across the star-rivers in vast numbers, hundreds of millions, laying waste to entire civilisations. To fight them, the Ancients caused warpwells to be built on a hundred worlds–Giant’s Shoulder, which we call the Waonwir, is the location of one such device. At the height of that last immense battle the warpwells snatched every enemy machine and creature and dragged them down uncountable, immeasurable distances, thrust them into the lightless, frozen chasms beneath the deepest underdomains…’
‘They were imprisoned in the abyss of hyperspace,’ Theo explained. ‘All except one, a Legion Knight, a kind of armoured cyborg.’
‘So I gather,’ Gideon said. ‘And is this warpwell likewise the last of its kind?’
‘The Sentinel of the well told me that Hegemony scholars have discovered the dead remains of several others throughout their territory,’ Weynl said. ‘But ours does appear to be the only functioning example yet found.’
‘The major described it as the front door of a prison,’ Gideon said. ‘If all that you’ve said about the Knight creature is true, do we know if it has tried to break down that door?’
‘Been wondering that myself,’ Theo said.
All eyes were on Weynl, who seemed to consider the Tygran’s question for a second or two before speaking.
‘It fills me with sorrow to have to say yes, it has succeeded in unlocking the well. Six days ago, before dawn on the day after Gregory Cameron was sent to Segrana, every Listener and sensitive Uvovo on Umara was aware of the very moment when the well was opened. Certain bearers of wisdom estimate that it would take between three and five days for the unlocking to travel all the way to the imprisoning depths, and perhaps the same for the enemy to make its ascent.’
Theo was stunned. Gideon frowned and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Ian Cameron picked up his beaker of water and drank it off in a single swallow. Solvjeg seemed the only one unsurprised, her face still serious, her eyes more intense.
‘So, to summarise,’ Gideon said, ‘the Hegemony and/or the Brolturans are due to arrive here soon in the shape of an undoubtedly substantial battle fleet with the intention of pacifying the colony while deterring any moves from the likes of the Imisil. At the same time, a portal into hyperspace will shortly–maybe today, maybe in four days’ time–disgorge an alien fleet of unknown size, unknown combat abilities and unknown intent.’
The Uvovo looked sombre. ‘Captain, you should expect them to number in the many thousands and for them to fight any who oppose them with a relentless fury.’
‘Well, now,’ Theo said to Gideon. ‘Always handy to know these things, eh?’
Then Solvjeg leaned forward. ‘Then we should mount a joint attack on Giant’s Shoulder, your people, ours and the Spiral renegades…’
‘As I’ve already explained,’ Gideon said, ‘without the Brolturan flyers we would have no airborne force and without that…’
‘Except that we have aircraft,’ Solvjeg said. ‘When we liberated Hammergard, we also liberated North-East Fields.’
‘Ah, zeplins,’ Theo said. ‘How many, sister?’
‘Seven, perhaps eight–our engineers were hard at work on another when we left.’
The Tygran captain’s brow was furrowed with thought.
‘What kind of passenger capacities do they have?’
‘Average is a dozen each,’ said Ian Cameron.
‘It would be a high-risk operation,’ Gideon said. ‘Casualties would very likely exceed fifty per cent, but a slim chance exists. If my heavy-weapons team can take control of that defence battery, that would swing the odds in our favour. However, that doesn’t address the problem of how to close the warpwell and stop this Legion from escaping… could we demolish it with explosives, Listener?’
‘It was constructed by the great Ancients, Captain Gideon,’ the Uvovo said. ‘I doubt that it would be so easily…’
He broke off at the sound of a commotion outside. Then the door swung open and a young, red-furred Uvovo stumbled in, half-restrained by a Human sentry.
‘Listener, Listener!–you must come to the Hall of Discourse!’
Theo gestured at the guard, who released the animated Uvovo.
‘Why are you interrupting us, Ajinos?’ Weynl said. ‘What is this about?’
‘The Seer,’ the young Uvovo said. ‘He is in the Hall… and he speaks with Segrana!’
‘Chel?’ Theo said as he stood. ‘Chel’s here?’
‘We must go,’ said Listener Weynl, slipping down and hurrying to the door. ‘Immediately.’
Minutes later they entered the Hall of Discourse. Normally half-lit by the multicoloured glassy panels dotted across the tall, curved walls, now a column of shining white radiance rose from the Forerunner platform, sending light into every corner. A figure knelt at the centre of it, one small hand held out, palm upwards. As he approached Theo could see that Chel’s lips were moving, and closer still he could make out the Uvovo’s voice, quietly muttering responses as part of a conversation with another voice, deep and muted. At that point, Chel got to his feet and faced his audience.
‘Captain Gideon,’ he said. ‘My apologies for disappearing in the middle of the attack, but neither I nor my companion were entirely in our right minds. I had to get us both to the nearby daughter-forest or risk losing our selves completely.’
‘So, you and Rory,’ Theo said, ‘you were both enslaved by that creature, this Knight… are you okay now? Are you free of its control?–is Rory?’
Chel took off the thin shift he wore, revealing shaven patches in his body fur, on arms, chest and neck. The bare skin showed healing wounds like regularly spaced holes and incisions.
‘Rory was semi-conscious when we reached the forest,’ Chel said. ‘He had to be helped into a vudron for the healing sleep, which has to run its course without interruption. It worked well for me–my body was able to reject the pain implants and begin healing its wounds. I am completely free of the Knight’s enslavement. Rory I am unsure of–when I left he was still in the dream and I could not tell if his implants had been expelled.’
‘You certainly seem more composed than at our last encounter,’ said Gideon. ‘Forgive my cautious nature, but is there any way for us to verify this?’
Listener Weynl was outraged. ‘He is the Seer of Segrana and he stands in the pureness of the Ancients!’
A bright thread of light appeared in the radiance next to Chel, blurred, glowing knots pulsing up and down its length.
‘The Seer Cheluvahar has been made free of the enemy’s devices,’ said a deep, almost gruff voice. ‘I am the Zyradin. I speak for Segrana.’
Weynl raised his hands. ‘Zyradin of the Ancients, we know your name. We have learned that the warpwell has been opened. Have any of the Legion monsters survived the long ages of their imprisonment, and how long before they reach us?’
‘Many have survived and the first of them will emerge in little more than two days’ time.’
There was a long moment of silence filled with the dread of anticipation. Just then, Theo knew that there was only one course open to them. He glanced over at his sister and nodded sombrely.
‘Looks like we attack,’ he said.
‘It appears so,’ said Gideon.
‘But to succeed we must find a way into the warpwell chamber,’ said Weynl, looking up at Chel. ‘Can the Zyradin use the Forerunners’ ancient devices to transport a bomb into the chamber?’
Chel shook his head. ‘The Legion Knight has placed interference machines throughout the chamber. These, combined with the disruptive effects of the activated warpwell, make such a ploy impossible. Other tactics must be considered.’
‘You will need someone capable of getting past the Legion Knight’s machines by subterfuge. There is one such, still resting and healing in the daughter-forest to the north.’
‘Rory?’ Theo said. ‘You mean, he’s not having those implants removed? You get to be free of them but he doesn’t?’ Theo found himself getting angry. ‘Was this planned? Did you arrange this, Chel?’
‘Theodor, I promise you that I did not…’
‘Segrana saw what was needed and acted accordingly,’ said the deep voice of the Zyradin. ‘Your friend will still be able to interact with the Legion Knight’s devices but the implants can no longer hurt or control him.’
‘It’s still unfair,’ said Theo. ‘You did not even ask him.’
‘If the Legion of Avatars breaks through to this world, they will ask nothing of anyone when they begin their slaughter.’
‘We should go and contact Hammergard,’ said Ian Cameron. ‘Have the Spiralist renegade leader ready to talk with you, to agree on a plan of attack.’
‘You’ll have to use the shortwave now,’ Gideon said. ‘I shall join you shortly.’
Theo watched them leave the hall, frowning.
‘We are assuming a lot, you know,’ he said. ‘That Rory will agree to play this part. That he can actually get past the mech security and down to the well chamber, and if he does, what then? What can he do to close it down?’
‘Ordinary weapons and explosives cannot harm the warpwell or disturb its functions,’ said the Zyradin. ‘A thermonuclear apparatus might affect the surface material and suspend its processes but only for a short time…’
‘Such weapons are neither available nor advisable,’ said Chel, as if continuing the Zyradin’s sentence. ‘What is required is a space-fold occluder, which will close up and lock the well, keeping us safe from one threat, at least.’
‘The device will be delivered to this place at this time tomorrow.’
The bright, pulsing thread then thinned and faded into the surrounding milky radiance.
‘The mystical Zyradin departs,’ said Listener Weynl.
‘Meanwhile, we have to go and devise an insane plan of attack,’ Theo said to Chel. ‘I expect that you’ve been given a task too.’
Chel smiled and raised his right hand, palm outward. Theo’s eyes widened–a number of shining blue motes, perhaps a dozen or a score, wandered over and through the flesh of the Uvovo’s hand. The skin glowed as they moved beneath it.
‘Throughout the valleys and forests of Umara,’ Chel said, ‘the song of Segrana sings softly, in the fields, the trees, the streams and the soil, and in the burrows and roothouses of our ancestors. With this gift I can awaken the powers of that song…’
As they watched, the Seer’s form brightened, the details of his face blurring, merging then fading into the flowing radiance which itself then grew faint, a tenuous tracery of glimmer hanging over the patterns of the stone platform. Till there was only a silver shimmer which melted away to nothing.
Listener Weynl sighed, a weary sound, and sat on the flagstones before the raised circular platform.
‘We’ll need to put together lists of volunteers, weapons and supplies,’ Gideon said.
‘I’ll have Alexei Firmanov help you with that,’ Theo said. ‘While I’m away.’
The Tygran frowned. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To persuade Varstrand to fly me north to the daughter-forest,’ he said. ‘A good friend is going to need a ride home.’