Talcon Star City. Gary Boone's Caplan

few remaining damaged Varlon had been improved because they were rebuilt by a being taking no sides, with virtually perfect knowledge, and such a builder would naturally build or restore things to a more perfect or ordered version.

      Chapter 5

      The Archon

      Azura Jin Kra’ag, supreme leader of the Accadian forces in seven galaxies, waited patiently for a particular member of the Jiyarr Archon higher than himself to respond to his communication link. The Jiyarr had created the Accad as their warriors, and over time, some Accads had acquired membership status in their ruling body known as the Archon. The Accad looked like a cross between a crocodile and something human, with greenish-gray hide and a short, partially snake-like snout. They were originally genetically engineered workers and soldiers for the Jiyarr. The Jiyarr were also reptilian, but more raptor-like, with more elongated necks, and they were less brutish looking.

      A special array of communication stations linked to the home galaxy had been set up using natural and Jiyarri-made wormholes in hyperspace. This system would allow for ultra-fast connections, the wormholes bypassing the intervening space. This reduced a potential delay in communication between New Accadia and other Accad- or Jiyarri-controlled regions.

      Lord Solg sat on the inner council and was in his own right as powerful as the Jiyarr Emperor Sujar, who was in the leading family. Lord Solg’s image appeared in the chamber as the connection aligned; there would be minimal delay in communication, even at the vast distances between the senior Archon members. Kra’ag was relieved he was not presently in the same room with Lord Solg. Several of the Jiyarr on the Archon had psionic abilities and Solg’s telepathic abilities could reveal Kra’ag’s worries about his lack of complete success. Lord Kaglar, another Jiyarr, and Kra’mog, an Accad—both members of the Archon—were also present with Solg for the communication. The Jiyarr were dressed in what amounted to pastel-colored robes, and Kra’mog, one of the few other Accad in the Archon, wore military attire and an awards sash.

      As was customary, the senior-most individual spoke first. “I have received your sample of Quellien source crystal, and it is pure,” Solg said.

      “I am happy that you agree with me on its purity,” Kra’ag said. “Now can we agree on the ships you can send to represent its value?”

      “We know you still have more Quellien crystals from the sample report,” said Kaglar. “Perhaps we can come to an arrangement.”

      “Unfortunately, there are problems—not with the quality, but with the removal of additional Quellien crystals,” Solg replied.

      “I am not sure what you mean, Lord Solg,” Kra’ag said.

      “It relates to the preservation committee of the Archon. They decided not to pursue further mining of that system,” Kra’mog said with a slight sneer.

      “What…? It is a rare find; I’m sure I can take the system,” Kra’ag said, his voice becoming louder. “I will need only the other Jiyarr ships to deal with the Calyx guardians who have returned.”

      As you know, Lord Malbane and I are on the preservation committee, and Malbane supports leaving those particular crystals alone,” Solg said. “It is not necessarily because the Calyx have returned as guardians but because he and some others in the Archon wish it so.”

      “As the Archon wishes,” Kra’ag said in resignation.

      “That site is a dimensional nexus, and the crystals there have a protective and support purpose,” Kaglar said. “What you are not aware of Archon Kra’ag is that there are areas where there are zones of weakening in the dimensional planes, and certain configurations of Quellien can stabilize such regions.

      “Unfortunately your mining removed the Quellien the Caylx had used to stabilize that region. If you should find another similar source of Quellien,” Solg said, “be careful where you take your samples, and do not attempt to destroy such a planet. I will transmit a safe extraction procedure—one that will not disturb the key crystals. Now, if you find a less pure source, all the better, as then we will not have the preservation committee edict to deal with.”

      Kra’ag lowered his head slightly. “Then, how many, Jiyarr, Kadjiah-class ships will you give me for the rest of the crystals I have?” asked Kra’ag.

      “As they are pure, they have great value; perhaps forty more starships of the Kadjiah class.”

      “Excellent; I will need them, since the Talcon have sent two Star Cities to the galaxy I am planning to take control of. Mor’ag and I have identified the only notable threats of the local space-faring civilizations, and we have plans in action to deal with them.

      “Two Star Cities? What type?” Kaglar asked.

      “They are the larger Royal class,” Kra’ag responded, “I have distributed the Kadjiah-class ships to support our actions throughout this galaxy. I have kept the first ship as my flagship.”

      “You should not allow those Talcon to gain a foothold in that galaxy, Lord Kra’ag,” Kra’mog said. “Their presence may require a preemptive military action, as we are currently at war with one of their factions.”

      “Or it could be a massive colonization effort,” Solg said. “That particular galaxy is generally stable. In any case, you should not allow the Talcon to mobilize and establish any bases.”

      “Hum, the Royal class are world ships and are larger than many of our own Jiyarr space installations,” Kaglar said. “Such a mission by the Talcon could be for several purposes.”

      “I will arrange for ships to intercept the first Star City now,” Kra’ag said. “I will have Mor’ag, my regional governor, arrange a strike fleet.”

      He could tell the communication was over; the delays were perceptible even with using the slipstream wormhole interface. After the communication ended, Kra’ag muttered. “I have already started military campaigns against several enemies, and now I have to tell my cousin Mor’ag to locate and redirect some of the ships to deal with this new problem. A Star City is a difficult adversary, but a Royal type can only mean colonization.”