THE
IMPERIUM AT LAST
Commander Beingraul stood
abruptly. He began pacing up and down,
shaking his head in disbelief.
“No,” he spoke, seeming
to address no one in particular. “This cannot be those who defeated us so many
millennia ago!”
“They would seem quite
underdeveloped to have been capable of that feat,” Bastrach agreed.
“Could it be as Professor
Fernier theorized,” I asked, “that they have went through an upheaval, and are
only now reaching for the stars, again?”
The Commander nodded his
head. “Kell and I have been discussing
that possibility during the voyage here.”
First Officer Kell
cleared his throat. “It has been thirty-two millennia since the
humans left the Carmona Star System- “
“After they destroyed all
five planets!” Gerron, the Senior Medical Officer, interrupted.
“Yes, Master Gerron,”
Kell acknowledged. “After raping our
planets for every natural resource they had, after enslaving our people for
twelve millennia, they wanted to leave nothing behind as they left for more… fruitful systems.”
“In truth,” I pointed
out, “it was good strategy, not to leave potential enemies behind.”
“Well, they failed on that part, didn’t they!” Gerron nearly
shouted. “It may have taken us more than
sixty millennia, but we’re here, to exact our just revenge!”
“But these humans are
incapable of long range space travel,” I pointed out. “As our Science Officer has just informed us,
“ I gave the lovely Sheryllock a nod of my head, “There is absolutely no
references in Earth’s historical records to the Human Ordained Imperial
Dynasty. It is apparent that no one on
this planet knows of its own history.
“Their recorded history
only goes back about six thousand years, besides symbols on caves, which they
believe happened about forty thousand years ago. Odd they think they didn’t mature for another
twenty-thousand plus years.” I should
point out for future readers of this transcript, an earth year is only about 5%
less than our own, and their day is only about 15% shorter.
“They believe that,” Sheryllock
cut in. “because they are right.” All at the conference table expressed
surprise. The Science Officer continued
to explain, “Whatever happened to the humans, I believe it happened shortly after
they abandoned our system. It was so
devastating, that it nearly wiped out their entire race. I suspect a virus. That would explain why no humans have been
seen – by anyone – in so long!
“You recall the dispute
at the Ryland Symposium, concerning the time line of the disappearance of
humans? In all probability, the virus
probably spread later to the Ryland System, is all.
“The Rylanders also have
records of human versus human conflict near the end. That figures in with the psyche of
humans. Fearing the end, they began to
blame one another. Old allegiances wee resurrected,
and warring broke out among them.
“There are signs that
nuclear weapons have been used on earth within this very millennium. The old Imperials also had nukes. I suggest that they wiped each other
out. Destroyed every city. Few humans would have survived, and they
would have been reduced to mere animals.
“Or perhaps their DNA was
so damaged that they reverted to earlier stages, like Neanderthals, who could
more readily survive the harshest of conditions and challenges. Tens of thousands of years have buried the
secrets of the past.
“There are even hints of
cover-ups within this current civilization, when any such evidence has been found.”
“So, their ignorance is an
excuse?”
Gerron was incensed. “There will be no punishment for them?” He pounded his fist on the metal table,
leaving a dent. “The Draca only survived
by hiding in the caves and hiding in the crevices of the outer asteroid ring! We
were forced to live in caves! A handful
of survivors, remnants of the great Dracan race!”
“Gerron,” the Commander
spoke in a soothing voice, “nothing has been decided yet.”
“Did I say anything about
forgiving the humans?” Sheryllock sounded a bit incensed herself. “Did you not just here me say they have used
nuclear weapons within the past millennium?
In truth, it was only a century ago, they used the first one in war!”
She turned to the
Commander before continuing. “Commander,
it is my observation that this civilization of humans has no psychological difference
from the one that nearly wiped our civilization, as well as others, from existence. They war among themselves. They use up natural resources as though they
have a never-ending supply, then fight others over those resources.
“They are stretching
their hands spaceward once more. How
long before the Imperium – under a new guise, perhaps – returns?”
“We came here to do a
job, Commander,” Gerron spoke, “I only ask you to complete the mission.”
Commander Beingraul
pulled on his whiskers. I made a note to
myself to get him some Whiska-Stiff. If he couldn’t admit he was aging (and limp
whiskers were an obvious sign), well, maybe the gift would help.
“When we were assigned
this mission,” the Commander began, “It was to destroy the Imperium’s home
world. We had, we believed, developed our war technologies to the point we
could effectively engage the enemy. This
ship is the epitome of Dracan
technology, with a new weapon that assures us of success.
“But the Imperium no
longer exists. Below us is a planet no
more advanced than we were forty millennia ago.
It is within my power, and my discretion, to scrub the mission.” He held up his paw to quell the indignant replies. “BUT… But, I will neither continue with the
destruction of Planet Earth, nor scrub the mission, without your support.
“Further, I demand that
support be unanimous. We will take a
vote right away, to see where we stand.”
He stood, absent-mindedly smoothing his fur as he did. “So… may I see a show of paws for those who believe
we should complete the mission as we were originally assigned?”
Master Gerron’s hand was
up in a flash. I guess the Senior
Medical Officer’s hatred could be traced to his career training.
Not far behind was
Science Officer Sheryllock’s, raising her arm with more dignity.
Senior Engineer Torrin,
who was almost always silent at these meetings, shook his head, sighed, and raised
his paw.
First Officer Kell and
Chief of Security Bastrach put their paws in the air.
All eyes then fell on me.
“Chief Prell?” the
Commander asked when I hesitated, with my arm half the way up. “Which way is it for you? Don’t let the others pressure you.”
I breathed in a lungful
of air, then let it out slowly, in a long stream through pursed lips. “I was against this mission from the
beginning.” I ignored the exasperated
sig from the Doctor and continued, “I have believed from the start that Professor
Fernier’s postulation was correct. It
was the only thing that explained the long absence of humans.”
“Prell!” Gerron
protested, “Your degree is in Historical Research! Certainly- “
I raised a hand to quell
his further objection. As my rank was
the equivalent of the ship’s Commander, he wisely silenced himself. My assignment was to record this moment for
Historical Prosperity. But since no one
is assigned to a ship headed for war without being assigned a pertinent duty, I
was also assigned as Third Officer, otherwise called the Personnel Officer.
“Upon leaving Hanadron [my
home planet and where I had been briefed on the mission] I was convinced this
was an unjust mission, and that we were about to punish about seven billion
people for crimes they were unaware of.
"Now I have sat
through Officer Sheryllock’s report, and recalling the history the humans
themselves told us of. And I cannot help
but see the parallels.
“This incarnation of the
human race is following the same pattern of the previous. Sooner or later, they will reach the
stars. After the discovery of light
speed will come the realization that a new mode of travel – not greater speed – will allow them to
traverse the galaxy as easily as they once did.
“Sooner or later, the harbingers
of the Imperium will return to our quadrant of space. And with them, will come the attitudes of
superiority and supposed privilege they carry with them.
My arm slowly went up,
and I stretched out the fingers of my paw upward.
Three hours later. All equations
were satisfied, and the spot and power needed had been divined.
Before firing, the
Commander gave a speech, extolling the need and reasons to act, and exonerating
the crew for his decision.
On command, Officer Bastrach pushed his padded
finger against the FIRE button.
Three turrets on the
front side of the ship fired in unison.
Three brightly lit rays of energy shot forth, connecting at a point not
far from and directly ahead of the ship.
A half-second later, as I watched the view screen, it seemed that space
opened, at the convergence point of the three rays. From this, a rotating vortex of energy shot
forward toward the Planet Earth.
I wouldn’t call it ‘hitting’
the planet; more like, it went through
it! After it had done so, the planet
began to collapse. Literally. Great masses of land fell inward. Mountains fell. Instead of the expected tsunamis, the oceans
seemed to drain, as though someone had taken out a giant stopper.
I realized, as I watched
the horror, hat I was crying. I looked
about to see if anyone had seen – but everyone else, even the Commander, was
crying as well.
After the planet had succumbed,
and was nothing more than rubble floating in space, I asked to be
dismissed. The Commander gave me one
hour to compose myself, then to make myself available to anyone among the crew
who needed me.
I spent that hour
composing my Letter of Resignation and set it to send as soon as the local
connection was detected.
I will help the crew
members as I can, and perform my duties as well as I can. But in the moment of Earth’s destruction, I
realized the military was not for me. I’m
going home to start work on a new litter with my wife.
May God save our souls.
