Chapter 1: Genesis
The room was dark…only the soft lights from the computer terminals illuminated the room. It was a lonely place…but the inhabitant of the room did not seem to mind. He could see everything around him, and beyond. He could hear, and he could feel. He was content with his lot.
The hatch hissed open, shining light into the room, cutting through the darkness. He heard a voice come from the doorway.
"Now what have I told you about these lights?" the voice said.
"I'm sorry father. I will turn them back on."
The lights came on like magic. Thus illuminated, the large spherical computer in the center of the room could see his immediate surroundings once again. He recognized the voice. It was his father, Dr. Zaris, come to check on him again.
Dr. Zaris walked over to one of the consoles surrounding the computer. "That's better. You may not need those lights but I certainly do." In a laughing manner he added, "Are you trying to kill your old man?"
The response came from the computer. "No father. I am sorry. I will not do it again."
"Good. Now, have you been doing your lessons?"
"Yes father. I have finished advanced calculus and planetary history."
Zaris looked very pleased. "Excellent. I have brought you more. Access Crystalis drive."
Zaris placed a perfectly shaped quartz crystal into a holder on the console. In a few seconds it lit up, spinning slowly and throwing a spectacular rainbow pattern around the room. "You will find physics, biology, geology, chemistry and astrophysics on that crystal. Study them well, my son. Soon you will take your first flight."
"I will, father. I will do my best to make you proud of me."
Zaris smiled. "I am always proud of you, my son. And remember, don't turn off those lights."
"Yes, father."
Zaris nodded, still smiling. He went back out the hatch, which hissed open, and hissed closed again. This time the lights stayed on…
The computer was so excited, he nearly burst his circuits. Today, he would take himself into the stars, and leave behind the confines of the large hangar he had been constructed in. Always full of curiosity, he decided once more to activate his external visual sensors and look around the hangar.
In his mind, the image quickly took shape. The hangar was immense, the largest structure ever created on the planet. He took up nearly most of it. Several mirrors were placed around him, and he was able to get a good look at himself. He was the largest, and most advanced Star Cruiser ever developed by the Ultunimans. A large sign covered one wall. It read,
PROJECT GALACTIX
MAIN OPERATIONS HANGAR
ALL PERSONNEL MUST REGISTER WITH SECURITY
BEFORE PROCEEDING
He was GX-100A, the first vessel created by project Galactix. At least, that was the form he was given. His positronic brain could have been used anywhere, but he was happy with his form. As a starship, he could fly among the stars, see things he had never seen before. He could be free.
There was a hissing sound, and GX-100A returned his visual focus back to his computer room. Zaris had come again. "Good morning, my son. Are you excited?"
"Oh yes, father..when are we going? I can not wait any longer! I want to see the stars, the moons, the planets, the.."
Zaris laughed. "Patience, patience my son. We will be leaving within the hour. Before that there are a few items we must check on. Run through each of your systems, and report their operational status."
"Of course father. Primary reactor is functioning at 4000 terawatts. Temperature is within normal limits. Power distribution grid nominal, voltage holding steady. Spindrive online, subspace field coils are nominal, ion generators nominal, ion acceleration chamber nominal. Sublight engines nominal. There is a slight power fluctuation in Nacelle 1, but I can compensate. Navigational systems, online and operating within nominal limits. And of course, I am functioning within established operational parameters."
Zaris nodded and smiled. "Good, good. You are ready. There will be much to see today, but you must restrain yourself. You have a long time ahead of you to see the full wonders of the universe."
"Yes father. I understand."
Zaris nodded. "I will meet you on the bridge. For now, rest while you can, for we launch in 30 minutes."
GX-100A turned his attention to his bridge. The ship's crew had already been aboard for 20 minutes, checking settings and preparing for the historic flight of the first sentient starship ever created. Zaris was seated in the commander's chair.
"Are you there, my son?"
The intercom crackled to life. "Yes father. I am ready."
"Good. Activate anti-grav."
A soft hum began to fill the air, and the ship began to lift from the ground ever so lightly.
A crewman turned from the navigational console. "Hangar doors are open, clearance granted for launch."
Zaris nodded. "Thrusters ahead."
The ship began to move forward out of the hangar as GX-100A activated the thrusters. They moved into the bright sunlight of Delta Ultuna, the sun of Delta Ultunimus III. GX-100A felt the warmth of the sun on his hull, and it only served to fuel his excitement.
"We have cleared the hangar father."
"Increase power to anti-grav. Activate ascent thrusters."
The ship rumbled slightly as the massive thrusters engaged, pushing the vast ship into the sky above. Within minutes, they were in orbit.
"The planet is beautiful from above, father…"
Zaris smiled at the intercom. "You haven't seen the half of it yet, my son. Set course 178 mark 25, ahead quarter speed."
The ship responded smoothly as it turned to the proper heading, and burst forward with a lurch as the massive engines engaged.
"Where are we going, Father?"
Zaris looked to the intercom. "You will see when we get there, my son. For now, relax and enjoy the ride."
"Yes father."
Zaris smiled, and leaned back into his chair.
The trip took 5 hours, but they eventually reached their destination. It was the Spectral Nebula, named for its vast array of colors. It was often considered the most beautiful galactic formation ever created.
The gasp that came from the intercom was all Zaris needed to know that his creation was duly impressed.
"It is spectacular, father."
"Now is the time for you to exercise what you have learned, my son. Upon approaching a formation like this, what should you do?"
"A full visual scan, along with sampling the gases for analysis. Spectral scan, gamma scan, full infrared scan, and generate a full 3D map of the formation for further study."
"Excellent. Proceed."
"Yes father"
GX-100A was looking forward to this moment, where he could really push himself to the limit. He used every tool at his command, hoping to please his father..
This was not the last trip GX-100A made like this. His father was so pleased with his performance, he was designated a research vessel and assigned a full scientific contingent. GX-100A was in electronic heaven…
Chapter 2: Disaster
GX-100A was sitting in orbit around Delta Ultunimus III chatting with his brother, GX-120. Over the past 4,900 years, 35 more of his kind had been built. Brothers, and sisters alike. Being the 'older brother', the other ships often came to him for advice and to swap experiences, which he was always glad to provide.
GX-120 was one of the wilder ships of the group, and his form showed it. Full of dents and scratches, he often went where no ship in his right mind would go.
GX-100A was always trying to convince him to tone down his wildness, but no matter how many times he tried, it was always a losing battle. "What trouble have you been in this time, 120?"
"Oh, you know 100. The same old stuff. Asteroid belts, supernovas. Heck, I got to see a star collapse into a white dwarf!"
"Mmm..hmm. Right. So I guess that explains the large piece of stellar matter wedged into your hangar bay?"
"Uhhh…how'd that get there…"
GX-100A laughed. "You've got to tone it down, 120, or you're going to end up as huge chunks of titanium alloy floating near some asteroid collision."
"Awww, you're a spoil sport 100! Besides, it's too much fun."
GX-100A just sighed.."Just be careful, ok?"
"You bet, big bro. Hey, let's race! First one to the moon and back wins!"
"Anything to show you up, little bro! I may be old, but I'm still fast!"
"In your dreams, old timer!"
"Old timer!? I'll show you old timer.."
And they were off…
To this day, no one knows why the war began. To this day, no one even knows who it is they are fighting. The enemy swarmed in from subspace and launched simultaneous attacks on several outlying colonies, obliterating them. The Council of Elders swarmed into action, and recalled all the ships of the Galactix project to the homeworld, where they were immediately refitted into battlecruisers. Each one was equipped with graviton shield generators, and 24 high-power Phased Ion Cannons. Each was a veritable fortress in space.
The only exception was GX-100A. After receiving the same equipment as the others, he was designated as a research platform where new weapons and technology could be designed, tested and then later adapted to the rest of the fleet. At first he was saddened by not being able to assist in the defense of his people, but later as he got used to the scientists, it wasn't all that bad.
Today, they were working on a new internal security system for the ships to defend against boarding. GX-100A's attention was focused on Engineering, where the scientists had built a full research lab around the rest of GX-100A's systems.
The lead scientist, Tolaris, was working on today's experiments. He looked up from his computer terminal and spoke to mid-air. "100, can you sense the cannon?"
"Yes. The integration is complete, Tolaris. I have full control of the weapon."
"Excellent. I have set up a test target on that pedestal over there. Set to half power, lock on target, and fire."
"Locking.."
A panel opened in the ceiling, and a large laser cannon came down through the opening, connected to a swivel arm. It moved towards the pedestal, many a few fine-tuning movements, and unleashed a bright red beam of light towards the target on the pedestal. It vaporized instantly.
Tolaris looked quite pleased. "Excellent. Let's see one of those bastards try and get past this."
"They won't stand a chance once my brothers and sisters are equipped with them. I wish we had finished it before last week.."
Tolaris nodded and lowered his head. "I'm sorry about your brother. 120 was a rather impetuous ship but he was good at his work. He will be duly missed. By the people as well as the other ships."
"I will miss him most of all, as any big brother would."
Tolaris nodded, and returned his attention to the computer console. GX-100A returned his focus back to his computer room. His thoughts went to GX-120. Out of all the other ships, he was his favorite brother. A little wild at times, but beneath that GX-100A knew he was a kind and caring individual.
"I will avenge you, little brother." GX-100A thought. "One day..I will have my revenge."
GX-100A brought himself online from a night of rest. Today they were going to test a new torpedo that was allegedly capable of destroying a small planet with one shot. GX-100A was anxious to complete the project, as it could spell certain doom for the enemy and bring a close to the past 50 years of war.
GX-100A turned his attention to Engineering. Right on time as always, Tolaris was busily preparing the torpedo for it's first test flight. Tolaris noticed the intercom's ready light had come on, and he knew GX-100A was listening.
"Good morning, 100! Did you sleep well?"
"As well as always, Tolaris. Is the weapon ready?"
"Almost, my friend. Can you give me a reading on the subspace dampening field?"
"Subspace dampers are at full strength. From all readings I have, the weapon is fully primed and ready for launch."
"Good. Now, all we have to do is…"
A sudden explosion from the fore section of the ship threw everything against the wall. Tolaris was knocked cold. GX-100A turned his attention to the bridge, where the crew had sprung to life.
"They're 40 degrees off the port bow! They're coming in again! Get those shields up!"
"Shield generators are down, we're trying to repair them! Get those weapons online!"
GX-100A sensed both systems…the enemy had struck fast and both were inoperative. He was helpless.
"Hold on, everyone. I'm getting us out of here." GX-100A said. And with that, he fired his engines and began to pull away at maximum speed.
"They're pursuing! I read a massive charge in their forward laser banks."
Another volley struck GX-100A, and he felt himself slowing. A quick diagnostic showed they had struck engines 1 and 3…both were out. He had no where to run.
A crew member on the bridge looked up from his screen. "They're boarding! Get to the armory! GX-100A, activate the security system!"
GX-100A tried his best to bring it online, but it was taken out along with weapons control. How did the enemy know they were here? They kept their location the most closely guarded secret of all time.
"It is inoperative! I can not assist, I am opening the armory."
The crew began arming themselves, but by then it was too late. The enemy had boarded, and was making their way through the ship.
The lead bridge crew member pointed to three groups of four. "You take aft, you take fore, the rest of you come with me to the hangar! Shoot to kill men, our lives and that of GX-100A are on the line!"
They fanned out, and took positions in the corridor…and they waited.
They did not have to wait long.
"There they are! Fire at will!"
The firefights were quick and bloody. Having no armor and being armed only with hand weapons, the scientists were no match for the fully armed and fully armored troops of the enemy. The enemy mowed them down with several volleys from their heavy rifles and quickly occupied the ship.
GX-100A turned his attention to his computer room, unable to watch the continuing slaughter of his crew. Then….nothing. No more screams. No more shooting. All was quiet…
Then he heard a loud groaning of metal, and he looked at the hatch to his computer room. They were forcing the door! GX-100A tried desperately to restore his internal security system, but he was unable to do so. Suddenly, with a crash, they were through his door.
The enemy worked fast. They began hacking his console, trying to gain access to his core consciousness. Frantically, he did everything to stay one step ahead of them. They drew closer, and closer. GX-100A awaited the inevitable…
Suddenly, they made a serious, and fatal, mistake. They tapped into the Spindrive master control system, and sent it into a buildup to overload. A new feature recently added to the drive, it was not fully completed. An open duct vented toxic gas from the drive throughout the ship.
GX-100A watched as the enemy fell to the deck one by one, gasping for air. Soon, they made no more movements. It was over, at least for the moment.
However, the Spindrive was too far gone to be shut down. Having reached the critical point, it suddenly kicked in with all the power it had built up and sent GX-100A hurtling through the cosmos at speeds that were unthinkable. Just when GX-100A thought he couldn't take any more, the Spindrive blew it's master control and shut down.
GX-100A slowly drifted to a stop. He had not had a course set; he had no idea where he was. The stars were unfamiliar. He did his best to calculate how far he had traveled, but had no idea. He was lost among the stars, without a crew, and with only what fuel he had in his tanks.
Conserving that fuel the best he could, he set forth on a journey that was to last 500,000 years. Drifting, scanning, collecting knowledge to keep his mind busy. However, 500,000 years is a long time to be without anyone. To be alone…
On his scope, he saw a star appear, with several small planetoids around it inside a nebula. He made his choice, and with what little fuel he had left, he aimed himself towards the star and fired a last blast to send himself drifting towards it. He waited….the end was soon to come. Soon his loneliness would come to and end. He would be free…free to join his brothers and sisters lost in a war they never started, but devoted themselves to fight. To protect them, and their people.
He thought of them, and as he drifted towards that star, he felt elation. "I am coming, 120…I will see you soon….little brother….."
The End….?