To The Stars

«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?»

«By my calculations», Arma replied, «the odds of a favorable outcome rise markedly with that choice. Our speed and striking power outclass nearly every known vessel.»

«Even without the math», Kane put in, «our options are slim. It’s not like we can just stay here, parked next to Crean’s picturesque farm.»