The Spectrum Force Volume One, Heather Ray [epub ebook reader txt] 📗

bench were filled by a variety of beings from many species throughout the galaxy.

"As I am sure you all know, our war against the Denebian Empire has been brutally compromised when one week ago, the G'hen Armada, led by Empress Phaedra of Denebia, managed to accomplish the unthinkable. In one fatal stroke, her forces destroyed Fesp."

While the knowledge had by now spread throughout the confines of the star base, a series of gasps erupted from the rapt audience. Apparently, they had held on to the meager hope that the reports of Fesp's destruction were exaggerated... that there was still some chance of defeating the Denebian Armada.

Those hopes were all dashed to dust.

"We will now hear from General Husdna I'llian of the Fespin Army. He is one of the very few survivors of the recent massacre, who was saved from a severely damaged warship by our own recovery fleet, launched by Councilmember Spectra immediately after we received word of Fesp's plight."

High Father Luminus then took his seat, and cast his gaze upon the empty circular stage beneath, where a lone humanoid figure approached the bench. He stood a noble height of just shy of seven feet, which was about average for the Fespin species. A long ponytail of shimmering sapphire skimmed against his back, and as he lowered himself to one knee before the Council, he trembled slightly from the various wounds he received in battle.

He cast his one good eye up to Luminus, as his other was covered with a white bandage.

"Lord Luminus, members of the Council of Light... distinguished denizens of Lumina City... firstly, I must thank you for your aid. After the demolition of Fesp's forces, our entire civilization would have been annihilated if it weren't for your intervention."

Luminus nodded once in recognition of the thanks, and then waved his hand, prodding the general to proceed with the report.

"As you have all heard, the attack against Fesp was incredible," he stated, pointing his finger to the large white wall on the side of the auditorium. Images flashed for all to see, of the large battle machines, both mobile and stationed, of the Fespin Armada. "Our military might has been able to hold off Denebian advances ever since Phaedra decided to attack Fesp some seven years ago. In fact, we've been gaining ground against the G'hen Armada, and the depletion of her soldiers made Phaedra resort to her Shadow creatures for foot soldiers. Those warriors are incompetent magical drones, unable to plan or strategize. We fully believed we would be able to destroy the G'hen Armada within a year more.

"However, at dusk on Doomsday, a strange ring of vibrant black energy trailed along the entire planet. I shall show you the image captured by our satellite."

He waved his hand again, and the images of war machines gave way to an aerial view of Fesp. All that could be seen from space were the elaborate cities of silver, stretching nearly twelve miles off the ground level, and covering some ninety percent of the land. Then, a strange black flash erupted from the northern pole, and traveled along the entire planet, until it reached the southern pole. In its wake lingered a darkened mist that turned the sterling silver into an ashy gray.

Suddenly, the gray mist seeped out of the planet's atmosphere, and leaked into the surrounding space. It steadily approached the satellite, and once it hit, the screen image was replaced first by snow... and then by blackness.

"This strange mist covered our planet like a blanket, and disabled all our of systems. Everything was disrupted, all our weapons, vehicles, computer systems... even the backup nuclear energy! The entire planet died, leaving us wide open for assault. After four hours, the army was completely destroyed, and Denebian foot soldiers flooded the streets of the capitol. By sunrise, you could see the red flames that engulfed Fesp from outer space."

Shocked and terrified silence fell upon the audience. Then, as the audience slowly recovered their senses from the numbing horror relayed to them, the Spectra rose from her seat at the right side of Luminus.

"General," she inquired, "what have you managed to discover of this energy field that crippled your defenses?"

"We have examined the phenomenon in the Lumina City laboratories, and we've confirmed how it works. It is clearly a magical spell, most likely created by an entire panel of Denebian sorcerers, which dissipates physical energy. The difference between magic and science is that science relies upon physical energy, based in the physical world. For instance, energy is created when atoms, physical particles, are severed. Heat is released. However, magic is fueled by metaphysical energy. Spells and incantations draw from the Weave, the metaphysical structure underlying the universe. If physical energy is crippled by this spell, the only power left is magical. Fespins have relied upon technology for our advancement, protection, and survival. We are not a magical species. As a consequence, we were completely helpless when the Anti-Technology Field was unleashed. In retrospect, we realize Phaedra pulled back her ships, and sent out magical monsters to do the work. Shadows and other conjured creatures of destruction razed our helpless cities, destroying everything."

Spectra's brow wrinkled in mute anger, and she took her seat again, her fingers absently toying with a stray lock of ivory hair.

Another councilmember, a slender young man with flaxen gold hair, rose to speak.

"Why weren't the Star Riders on hand to assist?" he demanded, "They are magically powered warriors, each one strong enough to face a squad of Denebians!"

The youthful Raya stood up, and threw her gaze toward the vehement man. "Luz, brother in arms, the Star Riders roam the galaxy, warring against the Denebian forces that attack planets too weak to defend themselves. While Phaedra leads the G'hen Armada, Acheron's forces move in the opposite direction. Their two-pronged invasion strategy keeps the throne planet of Denebia safely nestled within their empire, and also puts pressure upon us to slow them down. The Star Riders are presently trying to prevent Acheron from conquering the planet Uqar in the Aldebaran system. The Uqarian knowledge of alchemy would be exceedingly dangerous in Denebian hands."

"And until this peculiar Anti-Technology Field Phaedra developed, Fesp was more than capable of defending itself," Spectra added from her seat.

Luminus fingered his short beard, and gazed down at the general again. "What has been salvaged from Fesp, by way of people, weapons, and so on?"

"Fesp has been set aflame, so by now everything is destroyed," the general revealed sadly, "The Denebian fire eats through metal, concrete, and any other material. There are reports of a Denebian Base established in the capitol, so we believe the Denebians will not destroy that sector. Fortunately, Spectra's fleet managed to recover some forty-two Fespins. Twenty-three were already orbiting the planet, and were trapped in dead ships. The other nineteen were saved from the planet. We did manage to retrieve Pinhi Mactier, who is one of the keepers of the Archive."

"Then it is safe to say the Ohana'Kree Archive has been captured," Luminus stated.

Husdna nodded.

"Now Phaedra has with her documentation of the Outskirts," Luminus realized, shaking his head slowly, "If she manages to reach the Outskirts, and form a base there, then she can surround all the territories between the edge of the galaxy and Triolan sector, where Fesp is located. That would put the Denebian Armada in an excellent position to conquer all the area between, which includes the majority of the planets assembled as allies of the Council of Light."

Once again, dead silence fell upon the assembly. The situation was indeed grave... for without the military might of Fesp, the forces of justice were seriously weakened. In addition, this new Anti-Technology Field has made all planets defended by technological means especially susceptible to Denebian attack, making it even more likely for the Denebians to carve their way through the galaxy even more quickly. And finally, with the Ohana'Kree scrolls, Phaedra could easily research whatever planets the Fespins found in the Outskirts, which would make her quite adept in defeating whatever forces they could muster.

"Phaedra must not be allowed to conquer the Outskirts!" Spectra shouted indecorously. While her outburst received a slightly rebuking gaze from Luminus and some of the elder councilmembers, her fury and determination were mirrored in the expressions of most of the assembly.

"You are right, sister-in-arms," affirmed the calm and aged Satagah, rising to her feet, "We are fortunate that Pinhi Mactier managed to escape. General I'llian, would Archivist Mactier be familiar enough with the scrolls to inform us of the planets of the Outskirts?"

The general looked thoughtful. "He is one of the few permitted to make a study of the Archives. If memory serves, he was the archivist appointed by the Chancellor of Exploration to prepare a research team to return to the Outskirts, in order to see if any of those species had evolved enough to make contact. It is customary of our Exploration Unit to update their research upon Infant species every fifty years or so, to see what developments have taken place. If the species has developed some space exploration, but had not achieved interstellar travel, then the update periods are shortened to ten years."

His expression then became grim. "However, Archivist Mactier was critically wounded in the invasion. He is still in the healing ward, and he is unable to be present at this assembly."

Luminus then rose to his feet again, and cast his noble gaze across the whole assembly. "This meeting is now adjourned. When our plan of action has been decided, it shall be announced. All may return to their current duties."

Luminus remained standing, and watched the citizens of Lumina City flood into the aisles, in a brave attempt to continue with their day as if nothing had happened.

Lumina City was his city... a safe haven for the refugees created by the dastardly expansion of the Denebian Empire. This remarkable city, residing within the heart of a powerful star, was hidden from Denebian knowledge. Thousands of beings lived in the large space station, from hundreds of planets that were attacked by the Denebians, or who decided ahead of time to offer their support to the Council of Light, who had been the arch-nemesis of the Denebian Empire from the beginning.

While the Fespins were the galaxy's scientists, the Denebians had always been the magicians. When the rulers decided to attack their neighbors, in order to find life energy to fuel their magical powers, a small segment of Denebians chose to break away from the planet. Those traitors were hunted, and many were annihilated.

Luminus shuddered as he recalled the horrors he faced daily as a Denebian refugee, until the Council of Light was organized, and Lumina City built.

While Denebians were powerful warriors and magicians, they feared the light. The light withered their powers, cutting them off from their occult magic and reducing them to dead husks. Like creatures of mythology, they sucked life from other beings, and ran from the light that revealed their vile works.

The Denebians became a race of vampires.

Only the refugees, who named themselves the Remnant, or White Denebians, were pure of the black magic that made the majority of their race crooked and evil. They were safe from the powers of stars, and even took comfort in the light and heat created by a star's core.

They were the ones given the responsibility to stop their brothers and sisters from destroying all existence.

Luminus rose to the challenge of leading the Remnant nearly one hundred thousand years ago... and he never