Ice Phoenix
Chapter 41 - The hunger

Tiny holes. The In-Between was filled with them. Holes that were strategically placed together to create large walls positioned in all sectors of the In-Between. These walls were the life veins of the ten sectors, so enormous nuclear-powered synthesisers were suspended around each wall in order to stabilise and maintain them. Communication. Minute data communication converters, better known as combots, filled the holes, each one capable of repairing and conducting themselves while being responsible for passing on their data to the next combot it was intended for.

Satellite rods floated above these walls, and beyond them were guard stations manned by real people who protected the walls and made sure no unauthorised person or ship could pass through the area. Overseeing the guards was the Station Commander, a person who had been anointed with the power to fiercely attack any hostile entity in the area.

Right now, the Station Commander and every other person of his status scattered in the In-Between were receiving disturbing orders from the highest authority — an authority they had been sworn to obey and protect. The UWIB Council. “Disable and prevent any ship passing by on sight.” And, “Destroy any ship that refuses to cooperate with the quarantine command, regardless of the number of people on board.” Even as the stations prepared themselves, fighter ships were being dispatched from every part of the ten sectors to confront and stop all ships leaving Pa Gumpina. Every planet was on red alert to carry out the same instruction.

Station Commander Misopta stood on the bridge, gazing out through his remaining good eye at the lonely evacuation vessel, SS Journey 15, which had been disabled by his station’s electromagnetic pulse gun. He was a tall stern-looking Lizonian, and his command of the station was comparable to an iron grip, something his subordinates knew all too well. But right now, even the stern Commander’s heart wavered as he observed the live stream being relayed from the floundering vessel’s com channel.

“Station Commander Misopta, what is the meaning of this?” growled Captain Aftara of the SS Journey 15. The captain’s livid face was right in the camera as he demanded an explanation. “Why will you not allow us to proceed with our evacuation to Mos-El 55?”

“By the mandate issued to me by the UWIB Council at zero ten hundred hours, all vessels leaving Pa Gumpina have been placed under quarantine. You cannot go anywhere,” replied Station Commander Misopta in a stern voice.

“What is the reason for this quarantine?”

Station Commander Misopta hesitated. “One, all, or none of you may be carrying a virus. Until our medical officers can come aboard to inspect you properly after the required quarantine hours have passed, I suggest that you segregate everyone on your ship to prevent them from harming one another.”

“From harming one another?” Captain Aftara’s voice had hit the high notes. “What are you talking about?”

“Some of the wrails that attacked Pa Gumpina were carrying a virus. It spreads through cuts, scratches, and bites inflicted on their victims. Because we cannot identify these wrails, your entry into any of the ten sectors is forbidden.”

Captain Aftara’s face hardened as he processed this information. Finally, he asked the question that weighed on both their minds. “And what are your orders if it is discovered that my passengers carry the infection?”

“My orders are to incinerate the entire ship.”

“There are innocent people aboard this ship!”

“I am well aware of that, Captain Aftara, which is why I’m asking you to obey the quarantine order and begin segregating your people.”

“What does the virus do?”

Station Commander Misopta was about to answer when Captain Aftara was interrupted by two of his officers.

“Captain, a fight has broken out in the passenger holding! Our guards have lost control!” one of the officers cried.

“Bring up the monitors!” barked Captain Aftara.

As the screens lit up around Captain Aftara, the images were fed directly to the guard station, where Station Commander Misopta could observe. He found himself looking into the passenger holding area. Horror and mayhem confronted him. People were running and screaming; some had blood streaming down their faces while others had patches of flesh missing from various limbs as they tried to escape. His shock was compounded when he saw who they were running from.

People, some of them children, raced after the fleeing passengers with tears in their eyes. Their limbs jerked as though they were being forced to move against their will and some even shouted to the others to get away. “Dartkala, what is happening?” This was uttered by one of the female officers who was also watching the live stream. Unable to withstand the grotesque images any longer, she turned aside and threw up.

Captain Aftara of the SS Journey 15 came up on a second screen. His face was pale as he shouted orders to his officers. “Isolate the holding area immediately! Order the officers to use maximum force. Avoid coming into direct contact with them, and do not get bitten or scratched!”

As his officers ran off to execute his orders, the captain turned to Station Commander Misopta. “We require your help to evacuate the non-infected people —”

“I’m deeply sorry, Captain Aftara.”

The blood drained from Captain Aftara’s face as he realised the Station Commander’s intention.

“Wait! I beg you! You can’t just —”

Station Commander Misopta walled his heart in concrete as he pressed a button and watched the ship explode, taking five thousand lives with it. The only indication that revealed the weight of his action was the single tear that rolled down his face.

“Dartkala, forgive me,” he whispered. Without looking at the faces of his horrified officers, he stepped forwards onto the communication dock and began logging the events. Recordings of the live stream were also logged and relayed instantly across the channels to waiting parties across the ten sectors.

Master Kuldor had once been the Communication Infrastructure Chief of UWIB because of his advanced knowledge of satellite communication. He was well known as the designer of the combots, and had secretly developed a tiny communication device called a Flare. This device, no larger than a bottle cap, attached to the left side of his skull, and interfaced directly with his brain. His entire thought process could be transmitted across the In-Between with a single command. He was using this device while coordinating Pa Gumpina’s military forces in the In-Between and on the ground.

At the time of the explosion, he was hovering above the clouds, four thousand kilometres away. He remained absolutely still as he deciphered the message that came through his Flare.

He closed his eyes in sorrow and relayed more commands to all the stations throughout the In-Between. Then, he sent a telepathic message to Grandmaster Deitrux.

Deitrux, it has begun. The guard station outpost in Sector One has shot down an evacuation ship destined for Mos-El 55. They were acting on orders from the UWIB Council. Number of lives lost — five thousand. The Council has already dispatched Fighter ships. Obviously they have been ordered to shoot down all the evacuation ships.

Kuldor, if we allow our people to evacuate, their ships will be brought down. If we prevent them from leaving, they will have the wrails to contend with.

Then I will ground the evacuation ships. At least with the wrails they stand a chance. Against UWIB, they stand no chance. I’ve already issued orders to retrieve blood samples from the dead who were infected. Our doctors can analyse the virus and create the antibodies. You must get to the Dark Star soon. There is not much time.

Master Kuldor continued to hover, his eyes blinking rapidly as he issued several more commands. As soon as he had finished, he spun around and flew straight towards the dark serpent ship. He had only a few minutes to get to Terrana.