The Wars of Zegandaria by Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov (find a book to read .txt) 📕

Isondar did not doubt for a moment that anything had happened, for the general's face was impenetrable. The two boarded the transport shuttle again. Before they took off, however, one of the soldiers tried to catch up to them and handed some small package to the adjutant.

The two looked at each other in amazement.

- 'Open it!,' ordered Paley.

Inside was a small photograph. It showed a beautiful tropical paradise, and there were three people somewhere. One of them was Gordon Elmbaum. And next to him was General Jacob Wallace and his wife Catherine.

Fortunately, Isongdar didn't recognize any of them in the semantic photograph. Oddly enough, not even General Paley. Everything was falling into place, though. A little less so. Gene Paley had learned too much. Against too little.

Now they could take off. The speeder carried them far-far into the sky. Where the problems didn't seem to exist. Where they could indulge their thoughts, at least for a little while. Where the laws of life could only be reduced to the dividing line between heaven and earth. Perhaps that should have been the natural course of things. Life went on very simply, but people made it hard for themselves. Paley was not grateful to fate for such a turn of events. He had achieved his goal. The sun was already setting. Flying smoothly, the speeder hid beyond the horizon.

^^^

When he got back to his small room, Dislan began to go over some of his future projects. They did not bear delaying. Special enosant projectors containing an electronic microfilm sat on the elatom table. They were going to summon him at some time and he needed to be well prepared. He knew that after the visit, there was no way he wouldn't get another visit from a superior who wouldn't demand the blueprints in question. Yes, the general was coming alone and without demanding anything specific from him, except the visit in question. Yes, he had refused him. How insolent! But that alone was not enough. Much more was needed. He had to make an effort to be on the level and meet the expectations placed on him.

The drawings of the Emzirou were hidden in an electronic microfilm. There were the details of the tachyon engines, detailed specific information about the device's hermetic compartment, the ion stabilizers, and a bunch more features. Dislan painstakingly set about destroying the film. He should have been more prepared. Surely they'd search the premises soon. And he turned out to be right.

Less than twenty minutes later, an emergency inspection of the technicians was ordered. The order came from who knew where, but he obeyed immediately, as he should have. There was no mistaking it! He had managed to get rid of the bulging film. Piece by piece.

After finding nothing, the inspection ended quite ingloriously, but he was ordered to go anyway and was reassigned to maintenance on some installations in Earth orbit. He hadn't minded all that, as spending too much time in the spaceport had taken a serious toll on his psyche. At least this way he would have time to learn and develop. And that was something he wanted badly.

The maintenance of the space installations generally consisted of reading the changed parameters on the movements of certain satellites, and also the Elatorian anti-radar system, which was supposed to neutralize some particular problems that were present. So far, Dislan had always consulted a number of eminent specialists. Now he was just going to stand in their place. It was as simple as that. Simple and straightforward.

The next day he went through the necessary briefing. The Urus Onx spaceport was now a part of his past. Perhaps a not so pleasant part!

Dislan boarded the shuttle that had brought him to the spaceport. This time it was to take him into Earth orbit. As he fixed his gaze on the shrinking silhouettes and the tiny wiggling men hurrying to complete their tasks, it crossed his mind that he hadn't made many serious friendships, let alone any, in all the time he'd been here. He wasn't going to miss anyone.

The command section ordered something before the apparatus took off. Dislan understood it. Later, it turned out that they'd been given further instructions to stay in close orbit longer than previously planned. It wasn't a problem for him. After all, he was going to be tinkering with his beloved machines and equipment. Up there in the sky, in open space, he would be much closer to God!

The shuttle was flying far, far away. Dislan mentally reviewed the knowledge he felt he needed for his new assignment. He was using every second to learn and grow. Something few were actually capable of doing.

A brief orb of lightning flashed before they entered the atmosphere. To the technicians, it was a sign of good omen. Clearly his new field was going to be a success. A thrill of anticipation came over him.

Some of the planet's meteorologists gave a rather strange description of what was to come. The presence of globular lightning was an omen, as those strange balls of light were definitely sparking the imagination. Even in the advanced future, scientists had no precise explanation for the origin of this phenomenon. Their theories in this respect contradicted each other exceedingly. According to some, they even originated in the bowels of the planet Zegandaria.

Dislan thought about it and tried to take stock of his entire life so far. He was the most anti-social person that could possibly exist in the universe. Perhaps to some he was even an arrogant and nasty bastard, donning the mask of humility that ensured his survival in the so-called Society. His inability to tolerate those around him had led him to choose this particular profession. No matter what we say, he was hell-bent on surviving in spite of everything and everyone. He was born stubborn. And he was used to doing his own work. Well, for some things, at least from a professional standpoint, he could make an exception. The welding of the Elator radar system could hardly be accomplished by a lone man due to the nature of the activity. He was well aware that he had some chance to improve his people skills. Before he had boarded the shuttle, the High Command had given him a special electronic seal of ‘Good’, which was a kind of recognition. He had no right to be angry with anyone.

When everything had shrunk as far as it could he realized clearly that he was already far enough away from people and their problems. He had to meet Ennio Hammer, the chief engineer of the so-called ‘Space Ring’, who could help him in some ways. He had enough recommendations to do so. There was also a special electronic identification ring because in the recent past some political criminals had hijacked one of the shuttles and ‘blown’ it to the Unknown Quadrant.

The flight was taking a little longer than planned. The shuttle crossed the stratosphere and directly entered the so-called exosphere. There was no doubt about one thing, however. There, somewhere, lay the key to its success. Dislan had taken the new opportunity as a promotion of sorts and didn't grumble. It was time to see the stars he had dreamed of for so long hidden in his dusty and stuffy quarters many meters underground. It was time to explore new horizons!

CHAPTER FOUR: THE COSMIC SECOND RING

The Cosmic Second Ring was a well-conceived defensive installation located in neutral space - beyond the planet's so-called exosphere. Governor Elmbaum had built it as well. It had cost the taxpayers too much. Separately, its construction had been accompanied by not a few political scandals. But one thing was certain - she was doing her job perfectly. And outsiders were forbidden to stick their noses in there. One of the most common complaints was the governor's monopoly of power over this facility. But the protests went on deaf ears.

After the not-so-great formalities, Dislan was introduced to his new employers. Ennio Hammer wasn't exactly his type, but he wasn't too picky - as long as they didn't interfere with his work and, especially, his personal space.

The first thing he did was walk the entire base. The space installations were interconnected by equanadium hoses that looked like some sort of ‘space guts’. They had girdled the individual modules of the entire system. ‘What a romantic atmosphere to work in,’ thought Dislan, enjoying his own odd sense of humor. Clearly this was where he belonged!

The first assignment he got was manning the radar system's relational sound translators, which were sometimes used in case of need by some straggling combat speeder pilots who had gone into close orbit.

With the zeal of a professional, Dislan began to tinker and fix any irregularities and make any adjustments he deemed necessary. It didn't take him too long to deal with these problems. The thing that bothered him, however, was the complete lack of any signs of life. Not for anything else, but he expected Ennio Hammer to fill him in on some more of his duties.

It wasn't long before he appeared as well. He was a dignified man who certainly knew what he was about. Beside him strode a young woman. No older than twenty-five.

Dislan bowed his head respectfully. Still, seniority was seniority. He also had to admit that the older man might be of use to him.

- 'Andrew Dislan,' he murmured quietly.

- 'I am,' he replied.

- 'I hope our station appeals to you, as new recruits rarely come here,' the dignified man continued. 'You must not feel particularly flattered to be dealing with a variety of things that are far beneath your actual abilities. We will try to give you work that will develop you and keep you with us.'

- 'I appreciate your gesture,' Dislan was touched, despite the difficulty of expressing his emotions.

- Of course let me introduce you to this lady first. She is my wife. Mieru*, meet Mr. Technician. You are our guest tonight. Besides the two of us, there are only two or three shifts of technicians here. And as you can see, it's pretty lonely as it is.

- 'I'm hardly the best company, you must have heard of me,' Dislan whined.

- No need to be modest. We all have our faults. That doesn't enter into my work. You're a wonderful professional. But most importantly you can hold your tongue,' he said confidentially.

- 'This seems to me a prelude to some secret you are about to confide in me,' Dislan began distantly.

- 'That's right, young man,' was the reply.

They sat down to eat in a special dining-room, where the courteous hosts treated Dislan. He did not condescend and dined well. The atmosphere was seemingly relaxed, but he was under no illusions that behind those well-insulated walls of Kevlarite with a coating of hyon fiber, things would be discussed that could be extremely dangerous.

- Look, we didn't call you in to fix any wires or relays. You have something much more important to do than that.

Dislan has turned all ears. He had to be more than careful,